The Rancher's Rose: Ranchers Only Series

by Elle Christensen

  Rose

  I raised my face to the sun and soaked in the warmth of the summer day. I’d needed this ride to alleviate the stress that was starting to wrap itself tightly around me. We’d taken the horses out to the fields and since Lia was pregnant and Helena had never ridden before, they stayed at a steady walk while I took Chrysanthemum for a hard run. I’d joined them after a while and now we were leisurely making our way back to the ranch.

  “How are things going with Garrison?”

  Lia’s question startled me, and I jerked hard on the reins causing Chrysanthemum to whinny in protest. I patted her neck and whispered a soft apology before sitting up straight in the saddle and throwing Lia a quick glance.

  I agitatedly smoothed back the wisps of hair that had come loose from my ponytail during my ride. Did she suspect something? I wanted to look at her and see if she was fishing, but I was afraid she would see the nervousness on my face. “Uh, what do you mean?”—I tried to keep the anxious squeak out of my voice—"How we are working together?”

  “That was what I meant, but from your reaction, you obviously thought I might be asking about something else.”

  Son of a bitch. I should have known I wouldn’t be able to hide this for long. Not only did Lia know me too well, but I was the worst liar on the planet.

  Helena snickered, her blue eyes dancing merrily. “It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who falls victim to her freaky ability to see right through me.” Her shoulder-length, wavy blonde hair swished as she shook her head in mock exasperation.

  Lia laughed and shrugged. “It helps that you both telegraph your every emotion on your face.”

  I frowned and finally looked over at Lia. “Am I that transparent?”

  She winked at me. “Nah, I just know you both that well.”

  “Well, that’s a relief,” I said flippantly, then tried to change the subject. “We have a couple of potential buyers coming in next week to look at—”

  “Oh no,” Lia interrupted me. “Back to my original question. What’s going on with you and Garrison?”

  “No, you asked how things were going with him,” I corrected.

  “Okay, so now I’m asking what’s going on between you two.”

  I started to deny that there was anything happening between me and Garrison, but the truth was, I needed to confide in someone. He had me so confused and turned around that I felt lost and didn’t really know which direction to go. “I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell James.”

  Lia laughed heartily, making her pregnant belly bounce. “James is so oblivious to you and men, Orchid. He likes to live in his little bubble where he can believe that his sister doesn’t even know boys exist.”

  My eyes rolled so hard I wondered if James could hear it from wherever he was. “Let’s not burst his delusion just yet.”

  I hadn’t intended to tell Lia the whole story, but it just spilled out of me once I’d started, going all the way back to what happened when I was eighteen.

  When I was done, Lia’s eyes danced with amusement. “I’ve been wondering when the chemistry between you two would ignite.”

  My upper body reared back in surprise. “You knew?” I asked incredulously.

  Lia smirked and brushed her long red braid over her shoulder. “It was obvious to everyone except the two of you. Well, and James because, you know.”

  “Bubble.”

  “Right. Anyway, it was a good thing that neither of you realized what the sparks between you really were. You were too young, and Garrison wouldn’t be the man I know he is if he had.” She grimaced a little before saying, “Instead, you drove us all nuts with your bickering.”

  “Good grief,” Helena piped in as she leaned forward to look at me over Lia’s horse. “Even on my visits, I remember you two squabbling whenever you were in the same room. At first, I thought you two absolutely hated each other’s guts.”

  My face heated and if I hadn’t been on Chrysanthemum, I would have buried my face in my hands. That is so not how I wanted people to remember me.

  Helena laughed and shook her head before sitting back again. “That’s not what I remember most about you, Rose.” Apparently, Helena could read me as well as Lia…just great. Still, I was glad she told me because I’d always admired her, and we were becoming good friends. I didn’t want her to think of me as the smartass kid she’d known years ago.

  Hold up. “At first?” I queried.

  She looked around Lia once more and smiled knowingly. “Yeah, at first. Because then one day, after one of your big fights, I saw your expression as Garrison stomped out of the room.” She pointed to her face, her smile growing.

  I raised my brow curiously. “What expression?”

  “The look of a girl who’d been hurt by the man she had a crush on.”

  Okay, now I wanted a black hole to open up and swallow me. I stared ahead, focusing on the main house that was coming into view. Had everyone known I had a crush on Garrison?”

  “Everyone but James and Garrison,” Lia answered. I hadn’t realized I’d asked the question out loud. “Then when you were about to turn eighteen, I watched as the way Garrison looked at you started to change.”

  “He started avoiding me like I had the freaking plague,” I added with annoyance.

  “Tulip, you were too young, and he knew it. He did what was best for both of you.”

  “Is that what he did after fucking me in the barn?” I hissed. “What was best for us?”

  Lia sighed and gave me a sympathetic pat on the back. “I’m sure that’s what he believed at the time, Rose.” My eyes flew up to Lia’s at her use of my real name. She was glowering at me. “He may not have handled it in the best way and as much as it must have hurt, I think you know that too.”

  Guilt trickled in as I thought about how I’d treated Garrison after our interlude in the barn. I’d been young and brash, and I’d let my emotions get the best of me. I’d been a typical eighteen-year-old, assuming I knew everything because I was finally an adult.

  Her expression lightened up and she reached out to tug lightly on my ponytail. “You were always older than your age, Daffodil. But, even so, you had a lot of growing up to do. And now look at you.” She beamed at me, her green eyes watery. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become.” She giggled and fanned her face with her hand. “Sorry, pregnancy hormones.”

  Helena muffled a laugh and Lia swung her gaze in her direction, glaring harshly. “I can’t wait until it’s your turn.”

  Helena held up her hands in a surrender pose. “I don’t think so,” she disputed. “I’ll leave the baby making up to you. With your condom-hating, insatiable husband’s big—”

  “No!” I shouted, covering my ears. “No, no, no! Ewwww. That’s my brother. Just…no.”

  Helena and Lia fell into fits of hysterical laughter as I continued to shudder and wish that I could sterilize my ears.

  Once Helena calmed down, she smirked at Lia. “Anyway, I’m sure you’ll pop out enough for the both of us.”

  We were approaching the Red Hill barn, so our conversation turned to more benign topics.

  Once we’d taken care of the horses, we walked up to the main house and grabbed our cars before driving over to Locke Creek for lunch. I hung out with them and the kids for a few more hours before deciding to head home.

  Lia walked me out to my truck and as I opened the door, she put a hand on my arm to stop me.

  “Peony, I know you didn’t ask outright for my advice. So, I hope I read your signals right and I’m not overstepping.”

  I gave her a hug and stepped back. “You’re my sister, Lia. I’ll always listen to your advice”—I grinned—"just don’t expect me to always follow it.”

  She laughed and took my hands in hers, giving them a light squeeze. “Give him a chance, Rose.”

  I squeezed her back and let go, then opened my door and hopped up into the truck. Before I closed it, I looked up at her and smiled reassuringly. “I’ll think about it
. I promise.” I closed my door and rolled down the window.

  Lia nodded, then smiled slyly. “Besides, if he breaks your heart again, I’ll castrate him, James will kill him, and we’ll bury him and his jewels on opposite sides of the earth so that even in the afterlife, he’ll be as ball-less as he was on earth.”

  I burst into laughter, my body shaking and tears running down my cheeks. “I love you!” I shouted as I put the truck in drive and started for home.

  10

  Garrison

  After I left Rose at the house, I worried that I might have come on too strong and scared her away. But, something told me it was now or never. This was my last chance with her and I was going to throw everything I had into it.

  My fears were somewhat alleviated when I got home to find Rose had made dinner and after we ate, she dragged me back to the bedroom.

  The next morning, I stood at the counter drinking coffee when she wandered into the kitchen. She always looked fucking sexy in her jeans and boots, making me want to throw her over my shoulder and spend the day buried inside her. Today though, she was wearing cutoffs that showed off her toned, smooth legs and the craving was strong and hard to control.

  To my surprise, she walked up to me and slid her arms around my torso, hugging me tightly. Her head rested on my chest and I put down my coffee so I could hold her and lay my cheek on the top of her head. For a few minutes, we simply stood like that.

  The only time she’d been this relaxed in my arms was after I wore her out with multiple orgasms. This was out of the blue. It was sweet and comfortable, and I loved it.

  “Okay, I’m in,” she whispered. Her voice was muffled because she’d turned her face into my shirt.

  I lifted my head and stared down at her. “Rose.”

  She burrowed farther into my chest.

  “Baby, look at me.”

  She sighed, and her head fell back so she could look up at my face.

  “What do you mean ‘you’re in’?” I raised an eyebrow, challenging her to explain. I knew what she meant, but I wasn’t sure she really understood the magnitude of what she was saying.

  She narrowed her eyes, clearly aware of what I was doing. “This. Us. I’m going to let go of my issues and really try to make us work.”

  “We can tell your brother?”

  Rose dropped her eyes to my chest for a moment, then met my eyes again. “I’m not ready.”

  I frowned and started to argue, but she interrupted me.

  “Not because I’m assuming this won’t work out before we’ve even tried. When I said I was all in, I meant it.”

  I picked up a lock of her hair and twisted it around my finger, trying to be patient. “Then why do you want to keep us a secret?”

  Her face softened as she held my gaze. “Because I’m not ready to share it. Once everyone knows, it’s no longer just ours. Something special that only we share. I want to concentrate on you and me and not deal with what everyone else thinks.”

  I had to admit, it made sense. I grasped her waist and turned us around so I could set her cute little ass on the counter, then wedged my way in between her legs. “How long?”

  She bit her bottom lip as she thought. I used my thumb to pull it from between her teeth, then nibbled on it with my own. Her breathing picked up as I dragged my mouth along her jaw, up to her ear. “How long, baby?” I murmured before licking up the shell. I smiled into her hair when I felt her shiver.

  “Um, six, um, months?” she stammered.

  My hands had been connected loosely around her waist, but now I slid them around to her stomach and up to cup her gorgeous tits. “Six?” I rumbled as I gave them a soft squeeze, my thumbs brushing lightly across her hard nipples. She gasped, and I took her mouth in a deep kiss.

  “Three?” she panted.

  One of my hands made its way down between her legs and cupped her pussy. “Three?” I rasped.

  “Oh, um, oh! Yes, th-three, oh fuck.”

  I smacked her ass hard. “Language baby. Your mouth is too pretty for such crude words.” I put both hands on her ass and dragged her forward until her pussy was pressed against my hard cock.

  “Two?” she squeaked.

  “Six weeks, Rose. That’s as long as I’m willing to wait.” I ground my hardness into her and placed hot, wet, open-mouthed kisses on her neck.

  “Okay, okay…six weeks. Now, stop teasing me!”

  I chuckled darkly. “You want me, baby?”

  “No”—I glared at her and she smirked—"but Chris Pine isn’t available, so you’ll have to do.”

  “Well, I’ll just go then, and you can call—” I let go of her and started to step back, but her legs came up and locked around me.

  “Kidding! Kidding!” she yelped.

  “Let’s try that again. Who do you want?”

  “You, please. I need you. Only you.”

  “Better fucking be only me,” I snarled before pressing my mouth to hers.

  A primal need rose to the surface, a need to make sure that Rose knew who she belonged to. I wanted to mark her, claim her, and all that caveman shit.

  Keeping my mouth on hers, I pulled her legs from around me, unbuttoned her shorts and yanked them off. Then I went to work on my own snap and zipper. I groaned in relief when my cock was free of my jeans. It had been tight to the point of pain.

  With two fingers, I drew the center of her soaked panties to the side and slid them up her center. She was so fucking wet, ready to be fucked.

  I held the fabric out of my way and teased her center with the swollen tip of my dick. She gasped into my mouth and I swallowed the sound as I continued to devour her. My other hand gripped one ass cheek for leverage, holding her in place as I plunged into her heat.

  Rose ripped her lips away, crying out as her head fell back. I brought the hand that had been in her pussy to my mouth and licked it clean.

  “Fuck. You taste so good, baby,” I groaned. Then I tangled my fingers in her hair, gripping a chunk to keep her head back while I licked and sucked at her neck. I started pounding in and out, the tight grip of her pussy making my cock drag along her walls with each retreat. “You feel so fucking amazing, Rose. Damn.”

  “Harder,” she begged raggedly.

  I slowed down to a torturous pace that I knew would drive her crazy. Her eyes flew to mine, her lips pinched in frustration. “This pussy is mine, baby. Say it.”

  “If I do, will you stop messing around?” she barked.

  My lips twisted into a wicked grin as I continued with my slow, even strokes. “Maybe.”

  Rose cursed under her breath but not low enough. My hand in her hair and the one on her ass tightened. “That mouth of yours is going to earn you a spanking, baby.” She glared at me, but I just smiled and kept my pace. “Whose pussy is this?”

  “Yours, okay? Now will you fuck me already?”

  Her legs were circling my waist again, so I kept one hand on her bottom and stepped back so she was no longer sitting on the edge of the counter. I let go of her hair and brought my palm down hard on her ass.

  Rose yelped and stared at me in shock. I raised an eyebrow and said, “I warned you, babe.” Before she could come up with a response that would more than likely earn her more spankings, I shuffled over to an empty wall by the door and shoved her up against it. My hips held her up as I quickened the movement of my hips. We moaned in unison as our fiery desire engulfed us in its flames. My hands slammed onto the wall by her head and buried my face in her neck.

  “Garrison! Yes! Yes! I’m so freaking close.”

  I bent my knees just a fraction and changed the angle of my thrusts, making sure I hit just the right spot every time. Her pussy clamped down on my thick cock as she neared her release. “Yeah, fuck! Squeeze your pussy, baby,” I rasped. “Oh, yeah, just like that. Fuck!” I bit down on the skin of her neck then licked the spot to soothe the sting before drawing it back into my mouth and sucking hard. Rose began to chant my name as the muscles in her body grew increas
ingly taut.

  I was close and knew I wouldn’t last much longer. Her pussy was already milking cum from my dick. Suddenly, I pulled out and, ignoring her cry of protest, tore her panties from her body. Then I spun her around so her back was to my front. With one hand on each thigh, I spread her legs wide. “All mine,” I growled as I spanked her pussy. Rose screamed and began to shake uncontrollably. I bent her over and put her hands on the wall. Her beautiful ass was on display and I couldn’t help slapping each cheek, the sight of my handprint on the pale skin causing me to lose some control and spurt cum onto her ass. Fuck, I loved the way that looked.

  Because of our height difference, I had to bend my knees to get low enough to drive my dick into her pussy again. But, I could go even deeper, the tip of my cock hitting her womb as I bottomed out.

  Rose’s body was shaking, on edge, ready to explode. Reaching beneath her, I found her hard little pearl and rubbed it frantically until she finally detonated, screaming my name as her orgasm blew her apart.

  Her pussy squeezed the fuck out of my cock as she came, and I joined her with a shout. I blew apart inside her, releasing surge after surge of cum, and filling her so full it started dripping down her legs.

  I felt as though I was giving her a piece of my soul as I poured my seed inside her. I wanted to own her, but only because she already owned me. My lips pressed together to keep from moaning how much I loved her. This wasn’t the right time to tell her again. I didn’t want her to think it had been a ‘heat of the moment’ thing. Instead, I told her how beautiful she was, how much I loved being inside her, and other sweet, senseless things.

  As the last waves of my orgasm ebbed, my legs turned to jelly. I stood Rose back up and held her against me as I turned to lean my back on the wall and slide down to the floor.

  She was straddling me, my cock still wrapped up in her heat. Somehow, after all that, my cock was still fucking hard. Rose sighed and fell back against me.

  “Feel free to start every morning with a reminder that my pussy belongs to you,” she quipped. I laughed and hugged her as I placed a soft kiss on her shoulder.