by Jodi Redford
“The way you come is beautiful, sweetheart. Goddamn.”
His praise was everything. But the best part of all was him groaning her name as he pulsed inside her, joining her on the wild ride into nirvana. His fingertips brushed the outer swells of her breasts as she floated back to earth, the touch oddly comforting. She snuggled against him. “Can we stay like this the rest of the day?”
“I’d say hell yeah, but I reckon the pastor wouldn’t much appreciate us makin’ a spectacle right outside his doorstep.”
Oh Lord. Yes, they did just have sex in a church parking lot. “Guess there goes any shot of me getting a first class ticket to Heaven.”
“Funny, I thought that’s where I took you.”
She sighed heavily. “There’s going to be no living with you now, is there, you arrogant SOB?”
He nuzzled her neck. “Admit it, you’re crazy about me.”
Her traitorous heart fluttered, providing the answer she couldn’t give voice to. If she freed the words there’d be no taking them back. No hiding what he meant to her. She couldn’t take that scary leap into the unknown. Not when she had no clue if this was anything more than sex to him. Better to keep things light and her emotions out of this.
Twisting slightly in his arms, she nibbled the corner of his lip. Fortunately that response seemed to satisfy him. Palming the back of her head, he delved his tongue inside her mouth, stirring up a new wave of sinful heat. He tipped her back toward the seat, smoky determination glinting in his eyes.
She tucked her hands on his shoulders, woozy from his kisses and the potent, spicy male scent overpowering her senses. “I thought we had a reception to get to.”
Leaning over her on one elbow, he flicked his wrist, the movement pushing his shirtsleeve down enough to reveal his watch. “We’ve got exactly ten minutes to play another game.”
“Mm. Which is it this time?”
“Cowboy on top.”
“Well, I only have one thing to say to that.” She smacked his firm tush. “Giddy up, pardner!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Your boutonniere looks like it’s seen some interestin’ action.”
Ford stalled with his champagne flute midway to his lips and double-blinked at Jason. “My what?”
Jason jutted his chin toward Ford’s lapel, and the bedraggled white rose bud limply holding onto its last thread. Ford grunted. “Ah, that’s what you meant. For a second there I thought you were talkin’ dirty to me.”
“I’ll leave that to Kait. By the way, noticed the two of ya were thirty-five minutes late gettin’ here.”
He offered a shrug. “We got lost.”
“Can see how that’d happen.” Jason’s mouth twitched. “Easy to get lost during that two-block drive.”
“Never was much good with directions.”
“Uh huh. Any closer to poppin’ that question yet?”
He drained the champagne flute in one long swallow and grimaced. Thank Christ he only had to stomach the stuff at weddings and New Year’s Eve celebration. “Been what, a whole twenty-four hours since you brought up that crazy notion the first time?”
“Shit. Took less than that for me to know Mary was gonna be my bride one day. Somethin’ for you to chew over.” Clapping him on the shoulder, Jason lifted from his seat at the head table and moseyed to his sweetheart’s side over by the DJ stand. Mary paused her conversation with the man as the clink-clink-clink of silverware tapping an army of glasses echoed in the banquet room. Dutifully obeying the tradition for the thousandth time that night, she stood on tippy-toe and smooched her new hubby amid a round of applause and catcalls.
Damn lovebirds were gonna need to stock up on ChapStick before the evening was done. Still, he had to admit their happiness and enthusiasm was mighty contagious. He wouldn’t mind one bit getting in a little quality liplock time with Kait. Hell, it’d been at least an hour and a half since he’d last kissed her. His damn lips were getting lonely.
Intent on hunting the woman down, he shoved up from his seat just as he spotted her heading toward him. Isaac and Avery McCoy trailed next to her. The trio stopped in front of him and Avery gifted him with a sweet smile. “I was just tellin’ Kait that you two should come out to Tebow Ranch tomorrow. Can you believe she’s never seen a cow up close before? We need to fix that right quick.”
He arched his eyebrows at Kait. “You’ve never seen a cow?”
“Up close,” she pointed out, rolling her eyes. “I’m a city slicker, but I’m not that sheltered from nature.” She shifted her attention to Avery. “It’s nice of you to invite us, but I don’t want to impose or anything.”
“You won’t be at all,” Isaac assured. “We’re always used to folks stopping by. If you feel up to it, you can even take a horse ride.” He barely kept a straight face as he tacked on that last part.
With all the excitement of the day, he’d nearly forgotten about the ruckus with the biker. He’d make sure to throw some extra cash Isaac’s way to make up for the damages. Poor Avery appeared completely perplexed, however. “Why do I feel like there’s a joke I’m missin’ here?”
Isaac squeezed his honey against his side, instantly dissolving her frown. “I’ll tell ya about it later, angel.” He returned his gaze to Ford. “So we’ll see ya tomorrow?”
“Sounds like a plan. We even promise not to bust up the joint.”
Grinning, Isaac nodded. “The missus and I are headed out. Just stop by Hardbodies anytime tomorrow and we’ll caravan to the ranch with ya.”
They bid the couple goodnight and he watched Isaac and Avery walk toward the exit. A strong sense of envy filled him. Partly because they were getting to call it an early night. He’d kill to be able to hike Kait over his shoulder and kick back at the cabin for some peace, quiet, and sexy times. But a strange wistful tug also pinched at his chest as Isaac cuddled his wife to his side as they stepped out the door together.
All this coupling shit was getting to him. Hazards of a wedding. It got a man to thinking dangerous thoughts. Like the fact that he wasn’t getting any younger. Hell, he was nearly twice the age his parents were when they got hitched and began popping out kids. But that wasn’t what he saw for himself. Not what he wanted. And what woman in her right mind would put up with him for life?
As if he held absolutely no power over his own gaze, it drifted to Kait. When you got right down to it, she was the longest relationship he’d ever been in. None of his other PAs had stuck it out longer than six months. Oh, she’d threatened to quit plenty of times. But she’d never left him, no matter what he threw at her. If there was any woman brave enough and strong enough to stick it out with him, it was absolutely Kait. The thought that he was even thinking of her in the long term kinda scared the shit out of him. He’d set up this long weekend to burn her out of his system, not bury her in deeper. But that was exactly what’d happened.
She squinted at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason, darlin’.” Time to get things back on a sexy track and stop imaging a crazy future that didn’t exist. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
“Silly man, there’s no music playing.”
Right on cue, the DJ keyed up Big N Rich’s Save a Horse. Several Yee Haws erupted from the surrounding tables. Within seconds the dance floor was packed with guests getting their groove on. Humor dancing in her eyes, Kait plopped her hands on her hips. “Is it a coincidence he’s playing this?”
“Well, I mighta asked Mary to put in a special request. Ya know, to commemorate our earlier backseat booty bounce.”
Looking like she was struggling to hold in her mirth, she looped her arm through his. “Let’s do this, cowboy.”
They joined the other dancers and he twirled her around the floor before tucking her close against him, enjoying the feel of her sweet body swaying along with the catchy beat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and smiled up at him, her face flushed with pure joy. A funny sensation knocked in his chest. Unwill
ing to decipher what it could mean, he slid his hands to her face, bracketing it as he leaned down to kiss her. Her lips parted beneath his and he swept his tongue over hers, the embers of desire flaming to life at her needy whimper. He pulled his mouth away. “Let’s get the fuck outta here.”
“Lord, I’m so glad you suggested that. I was trying to think of a subtle way to bring it up.”
Grabbing her hand, he tugged her in the direction of Mary and Jason. The couple ended up not being the least bit put out about him and Kait ducking out early. Judging from their grins, they saw it as them being a step closer to one of them winning their insane bet. Wisely choosing to not let his mind wander down that dangerous alley, Ford swung a giggling Kait up into his arms and raced to the Yukon. Maybe he was courting trouble by continuing to play with fire. But damn if he wouldn’t keep stoking the flame until it consumed him alive.
~*~
Without tearing his mouth from Kait’s, he pushed her up against the cabin door, the desire to devour her whole buzzing in every cell in his body. He dipped his head lower and bit her chin. “I’m gonna fuck you so hard, you’ll feel me into the next month.”
“Unless you’re intending to do that out here, maybe we’d best take this inside.”
“You think I wouldn’t?” He slid his hands to her breasts and squeezed, making her sag against the doorframe. Her breath shuddered loose and the shivery look on her face nearly made him follow through with the wild compulsions flashing through his head. But just because he was a kinky exhibitionist didn’t mean Kait was quite ready for that. Didn’t mean they couldn’t still skirt the edge, though. Reaching around her, he keyed the lock and shoved the door open. He caught Kait in his arms before she tumbled backward into the entry.
Claiming her mouth in another hot kiss, he shuffled her toward the kitchen. Reluctantly tearing his mouth away before they crossed the threshold, he released her and nodded to the French doors. “Wait for me on the deck.”
“But I thought—” She broke off with a sharp gasp when he smacked her ass.
He didn’t fail to notice the brightness of her eyes as he rubbed her buttcheek. So she enjoyed a little spank play. This was gonna be fun. “Outside. Now.” He half expected her to balk. Not necessarily to disobey him, but to potentially get another spank for disobeying. Apparently the thought didn’t occur to her, because she rushed to the doors. Good girl. He’d reward her well.
Whistling to himself, he trekked to the master suite before recalling that Hairy needed to be let out. Aw, damn. He returned to the living room and the Newfie perked up his ears, his expression hopeful. “C’mere, boy.”
Not needing to be asked twice, Hairy lumbered to his side. Deciding to risk forgoing the leash, he escorted the dog out to the front yard and patiently waited for him to do his business. By the time they made it back inside he was chomping at the bit to get Kait naked and squirming for his cock. Curbing his antsiness, he grabbed the necessary accoutrements from the front zippered compartment in his suitcase and made his way out onto the deck.
Kait’s eyes doubled in size as soon as she spotted the items in his hands. “Um, what are you intending to do with those?”
He set the silk ties, feather tickler, and vibrator on the edge of the deck rail. “What do you think?”
She gulped, her gaze darting to the French doors. He calmly stepped in front of her, sealing off her escape route. She licked her lips. “I-I don’t know about this.” There was a distinct nervousness to her tone, but also excitement. Like with the spank, he’d tapped into something that intrigued her. Something he was willing to bet she hadn’t even fully realized she might be into. The realization ignited the furnace on his lust.
He wanted to give her everything she’d never known she wanted. Those exes of hers who’d failed to tap into her deepest sexual desires were the biggest morons alive. Because Kait was a treasure worth exploring to the fullest. “Strip.”
She gaped at him. “W-what? No.”
“No?” He cocked an eyebrow. “I’m gonna have to punish you for disobeying me.”
Her quickened breath making every cell in his body buzz with electric anticipation, he shrugged out of his tuxedo jacket and dropped the garment onto the nearby Adirondack chair. Next he removed his bowtie and unbuttoned his cuffs. Holding her gaze, he rolled up his sleeves and advanced on her. She pressed back against the rail and scraped her teeth along her bottom lip. He was all too primed to take a big ole lusty bite out of her too. Reining that urge for later use, he fingered the wisp of hair that’d loosened from her fancy updo, following the curl all the way down to her bare shoulder. Goosebumps broke out on her skin and she leaned toward him unsteadily. He stilled her with a gentle touch. “You’re trembling.”
“I know.” She released a low, husky laugh. “I might be a little aroused right now.”
“A little?”
“Okay, a lot.”
“I appreciate you being honest. You earned another reward.”
“Does that mean I’m not getting punished?”
Curbing his grin at her evident disappointment, he turned her to face the rail and slowly ghosted her zipper down. The sides of the dress parted, revealing the graceful curve of her spine and the cute dimples at the top of her tailbone. Needing to see more of her delicious body, he gave a little tug on the dress, coaxing it to fall. The gorgeous picture she made standing before him in only her bra and high heels punched him square in the solar plexus. He’d nearly forgotten her panties were still tucked in his jacket. Probably just as well he hadn’t thought of it while they were at the reception. For sure he would have hauled her into the ladies john and fucked her senseless. Hot as that woulda been, this was a million times better.
He unhooked her bra and tossed it on top of the porch rail. “Wrap your arms around the post.”
She shot him a hesitant look, but dutifully obeyed the command. He took his time binding her wrists together with the silk tie, enjoying the pretty pink flush cresting her cheeks as she peeked up at him through her eyelashes. Knowing Kait, she had no damn idea how sexy her expression and her pose were, or that he was seconds away from busting out of his jockeys. Adjusting his fly, he stepped back and inspected his handiwork. She was a wet dream brought to life. How many times had he fantasized about having her like this? Tied up and begging him with those big brown eyes of hers to fuck her brains out? He’d lost count, but it didn’t matter. Because he was about to blow every jackoff scenario he’d ever had clean out of the water. “First, the punishment.”
He knew damn well it wasn’t really. Oh, she’d feel it. But she’d already made it clear how much it excited her. He warmed her butt with his palm, readying it for the hotter sting to come, and then he spanked her beautiful tush. Five firm whaps on each cheek, leaving a faint imprint of his palm on her creamy skin. Massive turn on as it was, seeing his mark on her, the shudder causing her to slump against the post especially did him in. His cock stiff as a poker, he pressed into her and kissed her neck. “Did you come?”
“N-no.”
“I can easily find out if you’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“We’ll see about that.” He slid his hand between her legs. “You’re fucking soaked.”
“I didn’t come. But I need to. God, please. Fuck me.”
“You want my cock?”
Her needy whimper seared his nerve endings. Everything inside him hungered to fulfill his primal urge to nail her hard and deep. Shatter her with so much pleasure, she’d be ruined for all men after him. Then she’d have no choice but to spend out the rest of her days in his bed. It was a weirdly possessive thought, but one he couldn’t shake.
Instead of giving in to the demand, he snatched the vibrator. She frowned. “I thought...?”
“That I was gonna fuck you? Oh, you better believe I am. But first you’ve gotta get through my challenge.” He swirled the tip of the vibe along her labia, lubing the device before easing it inside her. “The objective is to hold i
t in your pussy. Let it drop, and you won’t get my cock.”
Her focus lowered to his straining erection. The small, crafty smile playing at her lips triggered his chuckle. “Darlin’, don’t think you have me over a barrel. Either way, I’ll still get off. Keep the vibe in place, and I’ll come in your pussy. If you don’t, I’ll make you suck me dry.” A thick wave of desire sluiced through him at the hot spark of wantonness in her gaze. Though it about killed him, he tacked on the necessary amendment. “Without me fucking you first.”
A frustrated noise rose from her throat and he patted her ass. “Just pretend it’s my cock in your pussy and you can’t stand the thought of letting me go.” He hadn’t deliberately picked those choice of words, or even considered the double meaning behind them. That maybe it wasn’t only his cock he was referring to, but all of him. Frowning, he tried to shove the musing away, only to have it continually swoop into his conscious like an overzealous gnat.
Determined to get his head back where it belonged, he dialed on the vibrator. Kait immediately clamped her thighs together with a shaky groan. He sent a silent prayer to all known deities that she’d be able to keep the dildo in place. He loved a blowjob as much as the next guy, but he wanted her pussy more. Yeah, he could say to hell with it and fuck her anyway. If he did that, she’d never take him for his word again. Some things you had to see through to the end, even if he ultimately tortured himself in the process.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, he grabbed the feather tickler and trailed it down to the crack of her ass. She squirmed, threatening to dislodge the vibe. He smacked her rear end and she settled down, but not before twisting slightly so she could bear her teeth at him. “I’m going to get you back for this.”
“Trust me, sugar. I’m already sufferin’.”
That seemed to appease her greatly, if her triumphant grin was anything to go by. He hunkered behind her and bit her soft buttcheek before retracing his previous path up along her spine with his tongue. He nuzzled her neck. “I think you like the idea of me sufferin’, you evil woman.”