Prairie Heat (Cowboys of The Flint Hills #1)

by Tessa Layne

  So ready. For him.

  So wet. For him.

  The enormity of the realization took his breath away. Pure love welled up inside of him, pricking his eyeballs again.

  “Maddie, you’re beautiful… So beautiful.”

  “Blake… Ahh.” Her breathless voice tugged at him.

  Slowly, he lowered his mouth to her folds. Tasting her as if she were fine wine.

  Her hips bucked on contact and she gasped loudly.

  “Oh God, Blake. You feel so good.”

  “Tell me more, Maddie.” He spoke into her folds, letting his breath vibrate over her.

  “That. OhmyGod, that. Do it again.”

  “You mean like this?”

  “Yes, yes. The ladies were right.”

  Ladies? What was she talking about?

  As if she read his mind. “The party… Prairie Posse ladies said this was the best,” she panted between little high-pitched sighs. “OhmyGod, they were right.”

  Prairie Posse? What the hell was she talking about? He laughed into her folds, buzzing her clit. She clutched his head closer.

  What else could he tell her? “I love your pussy, Maddie.” He placed his lips over her clit. “You taste like heaven.”

  Her hips took on a rhythm all their own, which he tried to match with his own movements. He took the flat of his tongue and slowly licked from her clit to the opening where her ecstasy flowed out like honey. He lapped it up, diving and swirling in time to the rolling of her hips. He worked his way back up, diving into her folds, tasting. Loving.

  Her clit stood at attention, and he circled first in one direction, then the other, finishing with the flat of his tongue sliding over the very point. Finally, when it seemed like she couldn’t take much more, he placed his lips over her bud and sucked.

  Gently.

  Slowly.

  “Blake. Oh, ooooh. Blake.” Her cries penetrated the deepest part of his soul. Triumph bubbled up, as he kept sucking and using his tongue to help her ride her waves.

  Yearning stirred in his balls. He had to give her more. To prolong this moment, this… whatever it was that was happening in the moonlight.

  He lifted his head to take her in. Sweat glistened across her body, only serving to make her appear more magic.

  “Maddie.” His voice sounded rough to his own ears. “I want you.”

  Her eyes, dark pools of lust, captured his.

  “I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything… anyone.” A wave of emotion lodged in his throat. He couldn’t speak.

  “You have me.”

  When she smiled and reached for him, it spilled over. He couldn’t contain it. His lips met hers, and he plunged his tongue into her mouth, tasting, taking. Giving. He had to be inside her. Now. He had to give her this… this whateveritwas that was pouring from him. His body couldn’t contain it.

  He pushed his pants down, his cock thick and hard again. For her. There had only ever been her. In his whole messed-up secret-filled life, there had only ever been her. He moved over her and stopped, the head of his cock hovering outside her entrance.

  She gazed up at him, hands twining around his neck. It was more than he could take. This emotion that hunted him down like he was nothing more than a scared rabbit.

  He stared at her in wonder. There was humor behind the heat in her eyes. And something else. Something deeper. Something that arrowed straight into his soul and lodged itself there.

  “What are you waiting for?” Her breathy voice and expectant half-smile did cartwheels in his chest.

  “Maddie…I… I…”

  She tilted her hips up and brought a finger to his lips. “Shhh. Don’t talk.”

  His heart squeezed.

  He kissed her gently, savoring the contour of her mouth as he slowly entered her. Little grunty noises came from the back of her throat as she wiggled her hips while her tongue slid over his, and it took everything he had to not thrust hard and deep.

  To prolong this moment.

  This wonder.

  Goddamn, she was tight. And so fucking hot. And wet. The squeeze on his shaft when she clenched him for the first time made his breath catch. So. Fucking. Good. He pushed deeper until he was fully sheathed and enveloped in her heat.

  He lifted his head so that he could see her eyes. He had to see her eyes. Wanted to see her reaction as he slowly pulled out and slammed home.

  He reached up and grabbed one of her hands, twining his fingers with hers and bringing them to his chest.

  “I want to watch you, Maddie.”

  Her eyes widened, but she held his gaze.

  Steady and clear.

  He slowly pulled out again, and thrust home. Her tongue flitted out, wetting her lower lip. A little moan escaped, as she rolled her hips again.

  “Blake…” She bit her lip, but held his gaze.

  With every breath, with every slow delicious thrust, his heart filled with wonder, and yes, love. He put every ounce of love he felt for her into his movement.

  She matched his rhythm, clenching and unclenching his shaft, and rolling her hips in a way that sent his eyes rolling into his skull.

  “Is this good for you?” he grunted. His voice thickened with emotion. “I want this to be good for you, Maddie.”

  “Oh God yes, Blake.” Her eyes widened. “I… you’re… yes, oh, yes.”

  She shut her eyes and arched her back, her body shuddering underneath him. Her pussy convulsed around him, driving a bolt of lust straight to his balls, and igniting a white-hot fire. And still, he forced himself to move slowly. Although it was getting harder with each thrust to not give in to the urge to plunder her mercilessly and completely.

  She opened her eyes, her mouth shaped into an O. She clutched at his shoulder, her fingernails digging into the flesh. “Blake, oh… oh… don’t… stop.” Her hips rolled wildly and her breath came in nothing but pants.

  The tightening in his balls reached critical mass, and he began to thrust more forcefully. Her walls tightened around him, rippling, and a groan burst from his throat as his own orgasm erupted like a meteor exploding across the night sky.

  “Maddie.”

  His cries mingled with hers. He shut his eyes tight as the fireworks in his heart exploded with his body. Iloveyou, Iloveyou, Iloveyou, Iloveyou.

  CHAPTER 23

  The table at the Hansen house was loud and noisy. Martha passed Maddie a plate piled high with roasted chicken and green beans. Instead of her traditional biscuits and gravy, she’d made a big salad from the corner garden. Martha had pulled out all the stops to welcome Warren home. Even their cousin Parker had come this evening. He was a local firefighter and medic who worked most Sundays. When he had extra time, he also helped out at Hansen Stables.

  Warren was moving on his own, but his color was still pale. And his tall frame looked frail next to the big young men.

  Parker peered at her over the mashed potatoes. “Boys were trying to explain to me what you’re doing in Chicago.”

  She took another bite of juicy chicken before answering. “Well, it is rather complicated.”

  “She spends her time looking in telescopes with sissies from fancy schools,” Warren interjected crossly.

  “Glad to see your tongue has recovered, Dad. Dinner wouldn’t be the same without it.” Why did he always have to put her on the defensive where her career was concerned? She turned back to Parker. “I work at a lab that studies particle physics.” She squeezed Blake’s hand under the table. “It also happens to have a buffalo herd.”

  “Bison.” Her cousins corrected in unison.

  “Geez, Maddie Jane. If you’re going to marry a rancher, at least get the lingo right,” Axel teased. Martha didn’t allow cursing at the table.

  “Mumbo jumbo,” Warren muttered under his breath.

  “Dad.” She didn’t bother to keep the edge out of her voice. “I’m very proud of the work I do. Our research is leading to huge advances not only in quantum field theory, but in practical ap
plications. It’s being used to develop life saving medical devices.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Blake lean forward with interest. The little movement warmed her to her toes. “I actually spend more time with my head bent over mathematical equations and models than I do peering into a telescope. Although I love nothing more than looking through a telescope.”

  She smiled over at her uncle. “You remember when I found that telescope in the attic and you brought it down and set it up for me?”

  He nodded. “You were a little bit of a thing.”

  “Yeah. I think I was six. At any rate, I knew that day that I wanted to be a scientist.”

  Martha reached over and grabbed her hand. “We’re so proud of you too, honey. And so happy you’re coming home.”

  “Well, I do have to get back to the lab soon. There’s a project I’m working on, and I don’t have the equipment to finish it here.”

  Warren’s head popped up. “What do you mean yer leavin? You just got here.”

  “I’ve been here too long, dad. And given your condition, I can’t afford to get fired.”

  “Yer place is here. With your man.”

  Warren narrowed his eyes and swung his gaze to Blake, who met his gaze straight on. She admired how he handled himself around her father. Most people, other than the ones at this table, were afraid of him.

  “Dad, I’m not going to get into this with you here. You don’t know anything about what I do. And where I do it is my business.”

  “And his.” He tilted his head at Blake.

  He was as stubborn as a mule. She tamped down hard on the resentment that was building inside. There was no reasoning with him when he got an idea into his head.

  “Besides, everyone knows you can’t make a marriage work when yer not in the same place. What about babies?”

  She swallowed, rapidly losing patience and trying to keep her voice even. “What about them?”

  “You pregnant yet? It’s high time you were.”

  Martha shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Now, Warren, they’re not even married. Give them some space.”

  “With all due respect, sir,” Blake interjected. “That’s none of your damned business.”

  Her heart lifted a fraction. At least someone was in her corner. It warmed her that it was him.

  Warren turned on him. “Like hell it isn’t. It’s high time she quit her job and settled down to raise children.”

  “Who died and made you expert?” Her voice rose and she didn’t care. “You’re the poster child for an ornery cuss. No wonder you never remarried after mom died.” She’d be damned if she let Warren meddle any further.

  Blake flashed her a sympathetic look, and turned to her uncle. “You’ve been married the longest, sir. What do you have to say?”

  Eddie wiped his face with his napkin. “Nothing. When you’ve been married as long as I have, you learn to keep your mouth shut.”

  She’d have laughed if she wasn’t so angry. She cast a glance at Blake. He smiled and winked at her. So he thought this was entertaining?

  “Maddie knows her own mind, and that’s enough for me.”

  Gunnar looked at him sharply. “Since when did you get all soft?”

  “Not soft. Just practical.”

  “Seriously, Maddie Jane. Why are you wasting your time doing all that science stuff anyhow?” Axel grunted between bites. “Not like your bosses are gonna let you bring a baby to work.” He pinned her with an intent look. “Kids need to be raised outside, learning real things. Not have their nose stuck in a telescope all the time.”

  White-hot anger and indignation bolted through her. “Are you kidding me?” she cried out, standing, before reining herself in again. She lowered her voice, but couldn’t keep the surprise from it. “You are kidding, right?” She looked to each of them.

  Oh God. They weren’t kidding. Unbelievable. She was related to a bunch of cavemen.

  “How about some coffee and pie?” Martha interjected brightly, standing. “Nothing that a little pie won’t cure.”

  “This conversation is over.” She swept her gaze haughtily around the table. “Auntie M, I don’t know how you manage to keep your sanity around these… these Neanderthals.” She tossed the napkin she’d been clutching on the chair and turned on her heel, rushing to the door.

  She needed to escape. Her anger burned so hot she couldn’t see straight. The screen door slammed behind her as she stepped across the expanse of porch and clutched the railing, gasping for deep breaths of air. Bitter disappointment welled up and settled below her breastbone. She’d expected more from them. Especially her cousins. She didn’t understand how they could be so backward in their thinking. It was truly stunning.

  The screen door opened and footsteps moved toward her. She refused to turn around. Refused to let whoever it was see her cry. Two arms circled her from behind. Blake’s unmistakable scent of leather and pine, sweet hay and musk, overwhelmed her.

  Bringing relief.

  And comfort.

  He stayed silent, just holding her. Slowly, her breathing settled to his, and she let herself lean back into him, to rest in his strength.

  “Maddie. You know I’ll never ask you to give up what you love.” His voice was gentle and low in her ear. “You love what you do, don’t you?”

  “Yes… Deeply.” Emotion threatened to overwhelm her.

  “And…”

  “It’s complicated.” And becoming more so every day.

  “What part of life isn’t?” He stayed silent. As if waiting for her to continue.

  “I have ideas. Thoughts. Hypotheses I want to explore. With people who will give me the space to think, not just regurgitate formulas I could work out in my sleep.”

  “What about teaching?”

  She laughed bitterly. “Where scientists go to die?”

  “Some teaching positions are research based.”

  “How do you know so much about my field?”

  He sighed against her. “Are you happy where you are?”

  She shrugged. “I guess. I love my research. I have my horse.”

  “That doesn’t sound like the answer of a happy person.”

  So he’d caught the hesitation in her voice. “I didn’t have a very happy childhood. It was easier to cope by throwing my life into things that are quantifiable. Predictable.”

  “But maybe now you’re not so sure?”

  “Well… I don’t know. You scare me Blake.” The confession slipped easily from her. He got her. “You make me want things I don’t know how to compartmentalize.”

  He nuzzled her neck, kissing her in the sensitive spot below her ear, sending hot shivers through her body. “Like what?”

  Anxiety twisted with hope, and the two expanded in her chest, making it hard to breathe. “Companionship… I guess.”

  “And hot sex…” His breath tickled in her ear.

  “Ha. You’re pervy.”

  “Hmmm.” He peppered little kisses along her jaw, weakening her defenses. “Maybe I am. At least where you’re concerned. I’m a lot of things where you’re concerned, Maddie.”

  Her insides grew warm and tingly. Like a coal had been placed inside her chest and was cooking her from the inside out. Melting her.

  “Ask for what you want, Maddie. Anything. If it’s within my power…”

  Ridiculous as it was, his offer touched her. Was this the real Blake? Tender, funny, chivalrous? It tore at her. All of this… whateveritwas… would be ending in a few more days. Her father was home, and she needed to get back to Chicago. But she didn’t want to go, and that tore at her too.

  She felt like she was falling through a wormhole in her heart. The more she fought it, the harder it pulled her down. Was she brave enough to surrender?

  He chuckled again.

  She loved his laughter. The way it slid over her like melted butter.

  “Stop thinking, Maddie. We’ll figure it out. Whatever it is. Together.”

  The crea
king of the screen door and the clearing of a throat broke them apart. But Blake kept his arm around her.

  Warren stepped outside and narrowed his eyes. “You two get yerselves sorted out?”

  She prayed to the Gods he hadn’t been there long. She wouldn’t put it past him to meddle. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time he’d wreaked havoc in her life.

  She put on a wide smile for his benefit. “Of course, Dad. There was nothing to sort out.”

  “Good. Good.” He cleared his throat again. “A word with your man if you don’t mind.”

  “What could the two of you possibly have to talk about that doesn’t concern me?

  “Jes a little man talk. Now run on in and help Martha.”

  Her radar was up in an instant. He was scheming again. She just knew it. Every instinct in her body told her he was meddling. “Dad.”

  He turned to her. There was something going on all right. He looked innocent. Too innocent. She glared at him. She mustered her most authoritative, no-nonsense voice. “No meddling. I won’t tolerate it. Understand?”

  His eyes widened innocently and he shook his head. “Sweetheart, I’m just having a little man to man with your fiancé.”

  “Don’t sweetheart me. I know what you’re capable of.”

  She shot a glance at Blake, who appeared distinctly uncomfortable. “Let me know if he gets out of hand okay?”

  He nodded and she turned to go into the house. She had a bad feeling about this.

  CHAPTER 24

  Blake waited to speak until Maddie had shut the screen door behind her. “Walk with me.” Warren had stretched his patience beyond the breaking point. He turned on his heel and stepped off the porch, heading down to the corral.

  He measured his pace so the old man could keep up without asking for help. They both knew exactly where this conversation was headed. It was time he took the reins in this unholy mess before Maddie got hurt.

  He stepped up to the rail and grabbed it, seeking strength from the steel beneath his fingers. A moment later Warren joined him, panting. Damn. He’d gone too fast. Guilt stabbed through the anger. He shouldn’t have made him walk so far so soon.