I ignored how she made my insides warmer when I said, “I was there to see if everyone was ready to get started and when I returned to the guys, I asked who you were.”
Henry rushed over to us and poked Ridley. Without missing a beat, she rubbed his mane like they were friends and asked, “You asked about me?”
“Traitor,” I joked to Henry’s floppy ear and leaned against the rail. Ridley had won over Chelsea, brides, my horse, and she’d even got my pop as her cheerleader. I watched her when I said, “Sure, you were the calming force in the room.”
“I… hope so.” Henry’s trainer joined us to lead the horse away and I motioned for Ridley to step back. We both did and she said, “It’s shocking she’s never coming back.”
I stilled for a second. My fingers circled her fist that opened for me. My heart beat faster, but I hung my head down. “I felt guilty. I hadn’t even known they’d take a date night when Chelsea was at school practicing for a play.”
She curled her arm around my neck and hugged me. “I… you can’t be. We aren’t all-knowing.”
Tears formed in my eyes. I never cried. I'd lost my entire team in Afghanistan and sent my friends home in body bags, including the woman who loved me. Death permeated the air I breathed and held me in its grip. My deal now, with Ridley, was safer than risking our hearts, for both of us.
Henry bucked and returned to us, and I stopped crying. I petted his mane. “He’s going to be a champion.”
She brushed him again as she said, “He’s handsome.”
I stopped and met her gaze. “I’m jealous.”
She tugged my shirt out of my jeans and shook her head. “Are you joking, Carter? You’re the hottest guy I ever met.”
The trainer came again and took Henry away, and I trailed my hand down her side. “Doubtful, sweetheart, but thank you.”
She made a tsk sound with her lips and reached in her back pocket. “Let me show you on my phone.”
She scrolled through her online profile pictures and then opened one. I saw the old me beside her. “What?”
She handed me a snapshot of the two of us dancing with thousands of likes, and she said, “Look, here you are on my profile.”
I hadn’t imagined that aura of goodness around her, with everything she does. Even now, she made me want to protect her and keep her as my own. Forever.
I handed the phone back and her skin sent a jolt of electricity in me. “You were kind and sweet without overshadowing the bride but still stole my breath away.”
“That’s sweet.” She tucked it away, that blast from the past and shrugged. “And since their wedding, life wasn’t easy.”
My friends, Roberto, Aaron, Liam, Titan, and Marley, might be alive and I’d not carry their memories like weights on my shoulder. And then there was Dora as her death was entirely my fault. I coughed. “The good and the bad come in waves.”
She bumped into me. “I guess.”
The air near her was like vanilla and cinnamon though she hadn’t baked anything. It was her essence. Maybe I was being selfish and self-centered for marrying her with a business deal.
“We’d never have met again if not for our friend’s tragedy.”
She rubbed her shoulder into my muscle and winked, “Or we would have… on better terms.”
Her smile was infectious, and I hugged her side on our way back. “Guess we’ll never know, but I’m happy you’re here.”
She curled her arm around my back. “Yeah?”
I stopped and stared into her hypnotic brown eyes that spoke to my soul. “You dropped your entire world to be here for us…”
Her face turned red and she bounced on her feet for a second, locking that lower lip of hers away. She let it go and then said, “For Chelsea, initially, but staying, half of it was for you.”
I pushed her hair behind her ear. “Then, I’m happy.”
The goosebumps on my arms were warm from the simple touch. She sighed at me and asked, “What are you thinking?”
Waiting to have her started to hurt. I lowered my head so our foreheads touched when I said, “I’m thinking I should take you back to my room.”
“Sounds good.” She said and lowered her eyelids and puckered her lips.
I was a sucker, but I claimed her lips like I had rights. I needed to claim her as mine. Now and forever.
Chapter 8
Ridley
I held his hand as we strode through the house. The sun was still high, but it was well past lunch, which we had skipped.
His father and Chelsea were somewhere in the house, though I didn’t look around too much. We passed his family crest on the front door and we headed down the hall.
For years, I’d fantasized about Carter and now, here we were. My heart whispered we were a dream come true.
We passed my room and Carter directed us toward a hall I hadn’t explored and then opened up the last door.
His room was huge. The bay windows showed the brightness of the day that almost blinded the blooming fields. The red of the sky and sun was still bright.
He pressed a button that closed the blinds, and the room darkened.
I glanced up and a thrill rushed through me.
Carter was about to be mine, physically.
My heart thundered in my chest. For years, I’d read and heard about sex that made a woman see the stars, but the truth was… I’d never had that.
Orgasm was written about in the medical books and the scientific journals, so it must be true.
The energy coursing through me from holding hands gave me hope… tonight would finally be different.
He let me go and tossed his shirt on the ground. My lips grew moist.
I’d never seen a man with so many muscles. A six-pack didn’t begin to describe Carter’s deliciousness. He even had that sexy V that led into his pants from those muscles that were more like mountains.
The excitement in my veins strummed through my body. I had to contain myself, or I’d be too wild.
He motioned toward the bed and I glanced at the simple light blue sheets and darker comforter and tried to sway like I was confident though that was a lie.
My heart rate increased, and I climbed on the bed before he touched me.
I was turned on and would soon find out how well he fit into me.
He followed me as I laid on the bed.
He traced my already hot body, making me all steamy, and his lips opened.
My breathing increased, and his lips met mine. Fire grew inside me as his tongue meshed with mine like we were still teenagers.
If there was any man I might have loved, it would have been Carter. His French kiss made my body tingle, and this blaze inside made me believe in the impossible.
I needed him and this kiss of his.
My muscles tensed. And his lips caressed me everywhere, despite our clothes still being on.
My body relaxed and he brushed against my skin everywhere, gently tugging my shirt up. He rubbed his sexy stubble against my abs, sweetly tickling my skin.
I wanted to fast forward everything and wrap my legs around him. I wanted him to quench my thirst for him.
My face was hot and so was my back, and his brush of lips urged my hunger.
My nipples were like bullets, but with his jeans still on, he pushed against me and his cock pressed against me. I yearned for more.
Blood flowed through me and to my sensitive parts that hoped he’d devour me.
As he kissed me, I ran my hands through his coarse, short, dark hair.
His erection grew larger and I saw his lips curl higher on his cheeks.
Despite how turned on I was becoming, the moment I met his gaze, I let out a small laugh. It was nerves, but he joined me, so we both laughed together.
He teased me from a simple brush against my arm, but I’d needed to hear that sexy deep sound from his gut. His soul connected to mine in a way I’d never understand.
My dreams were about to come true to know him like this. I squis
hed my fingers into his jeans to squeeze his bum.
He slipped out my hand and sat. I followed, and then my heart swelled as he lifted my arms and took off my shirt. Finally, we were getting somewhere.
His lips met mine and I swear all my parts were ready for more.
I needed to speed him up, so I playfully squeezed his nipples to give him directions. My breasts swelled, and I tossed my bra away.
Too many obstacles still.
He traced my pants and even my buttocks ached to be his.
I leaned forward to kiss him, but he stood and stripped off his pants and underwear, showing me how hard he already was.
Damn, that body of his was hard and firm and deliciously all mine now.
My heart beat wildly, and when he returned to me, I ached to know how thick he was. I used my tongue to lick Carter like he was a lollipop.
I’d never been this forward. Ever.
But Carter was here and he was mine.
He made a small sexy groan when I sucked, but he gently nudged me back to stop me.
With Carter, I now had a fervor in my blood to have him lose control, for me.
I readily rolled his balls behind his cock which revved him up, to take me as his own. He tugged my pants off and played with my buttocks. Once I was naked with him, he directed me to lie down. I followed, and his tongue and lips sucked on my lady bits.
Damn.
I hadn’t expected him to tease me like this.
I lifted my hips and hoped he’d get the hint that I wanted him inside me to light my fuse.
He continued to ravage my folds with his kisses and my vaginal walls were swollen for him.
With his fingers, he teased the apex between my thighs, but then, like he read my body like a map, he found my button and used his tongue to urge me on.
I cried out, “Carter.”
I needed him more than I needed air to breathe.
Finally, he kissed up my naked body and suckled on my peaks.
His soldier found my target and my ass went higher to guide him inside me.
He squeezed my butt and whispered, “Relax.”
I responded to his commands and his cock shoved deep into my secret folds designed only for him.
My nipples were like beads as he drove into my slowly, and my temperature soared.
This was what ravaged meant. Damn. His passion spurred my own.
His black pupils were almost my undoing, and he smashed into me, but then slowed down to a steady pace.
I ran my hands over his ass to speed him up.
He crashed into me steadily.
My pulse increased and he nudged me further up the bed, brushing against my waist and then plundering his staff back in, deeper.
More air came into my lungs fast and furious. Adrenaline rushed through me.
He cupped my breasts, sucked, and pummeled into me.
Wow.
He played my body like he knew the tune I lived on. Then I arched when he tugged my legs together while still inside me.
The tightness was like heaven. My muscles tensed and sent spasms through my body.
He steamrolled in and out, pounding me hard and then slowing. He rubbed against my sensitive skin that now was branded as his.
But the best part might be how he kissed me like he owned me and I wanted to be his and only his, forever.
His lips brushed against my pebbled nipples and I almost lost it when his dick hit my love button.
I hadn’t thought I’d be this heady, but his carnal kiss burned me.
I hadn’t ever had this fast of a race in my heart and I knew I was red. Everywhere, but I didn’t care.
He liked me naked and pummeled me.
My vaginal muscles contracted and he laughed.
So I laughed, but he then sped up, and all I could do was moan.
Even my feet had spasms and my damn toes would probably curl.
His wood seemed never-ending as he enjoyed being in my honey pot.
And it was like he had the rhythm that struck my core.
I lost the ability to think.
I flew into the stars and lost the ability to see.
Yet he continued to use my body as a battering ram for his hard package.
I was in a storm that transformed into a tornado, unable to do anything but react.
Finally, he exploded into my center.
My entire body was all nerve ends, lost in its vortex.
Slowly my mind returned to my body and I saw the sex flush was all over both of us.
I was never this stimulated, and I cuddled into his side.
Slowly my body came back to normal and my legs curled beside his and my head rested on that wall of muscles and chest.
At this moment, I was better than I ever was. He gently wrapped his arms around me and let me rest.
I wondered if we’d always be this in sync.
He leaned over me and asked, “Ready to go again?”
So much for rest. Maybe I’d skip sleep forever. It didn’t matter, as his lips on mine had me almost inebriated on having him as my own.
Chapter 9
Carter
My entire body still hungered for Ridley. She’d been the one sustenance missing in my life for the past decade.
We’d slept beside each other as she’d passed out. Outside I knew the moon was growing in the sky now.
Pop and Chelsea would have eaten without us. We should be good adults with responsibility soon.
However, I didn’t want to let this goddess out of my arms. If I did fuck a baby into her belly, maybe she’d stay beside me forever.
Her sighs told me she was tired, for now, and I shouldn’t let that base emotion take over my every thought. We’d made a business deal. This wasn’t about fulfilling this gap in my heart that only she could fill. So I held her naked body near mine until my heart was almost at its normal speed.
Her eyes were closed, but she was awake; Her lips curled in that sexy smile of hers.
I kissed her cheek. “We missed dinner.”
She tapped her belly. “I am hungry.” Once she sat up, I saw her orbs had love marks from when I’d suckled on them. She yawned and then said, “And we should check on Chelsea and your father. We avoided them today.”
“We were busy settling things,” I said. She stood and I followed, tugging my pants, zipping them up without underwear. “I’ll grab us something in the kitchen and bring it back.”
She went into the bathroom and strutted out with my white, terry cotton bathrobe on.
My heart thumped to not let her go and she called out, “Wait. Do you know where my clothes are?”
“Wrinkled. Let the staff clean them until your stuff arrives.”
“I guess. Okay. Look, I’ll go with you. I rock your bathrobe.”
I let out a small laugh and headed into my closet. I plucked a few items from a drawer and handed them to her. “You make it look great, but here’s a shirt and a pair of sweats.”
She gently pushed into me and I kissed the top of her head.
She said, “Even better.” She unwrapped the robe and shimmied into the shirt and pulled up the sweats. Last, she tied the waist and gave me a thumbs up. “Ready.”
I opened the door for her and trekked beside her to head to the galley kitchen. We wandered past Chelsea’s room, so I tugged her closer and we listened at the door.
Neither of us said anything as I peeked inside. Chelsea was already asleep in her bed.
Tomorrow we all needed to be together and focus on this girl. Logic and the plan needed to sink into my brain, not the primal need to pump my seed into Ridley until she was pregnant and mine forever.
We strode down the hall. I asked her, “What was your life like in Pittsburgh before you came here?”
She tapped her hands in front of her. “Honestly, I was in a major rut. For two weeks, I worked eighty hours in the ER.”
“Your work ethic is admirable,” I said and then we stopped at the second door. We peeked ins
ide and Pop was also in his bed, snoring.
“Glad you think so.” I closed the door and we tiptoed away until we were clear and then made it to the kitchen. I perused the options in the refrigerator with her at my side. I took out the fruit tray again as apples, and grapes, and orange slices were usually great for the first round of snacks.
A ring reverberated on a chime.
She perked her eyebrow and asked, “Is that the doorbell?”
I put the tray down on the counter, but as she passed, I said, “Yeah. Grab an apple.” She handed me a few slices that I quickly ate. I opened the door to whoever security must have let in and saw one of the go-getters like my mom, but my age, from town.
“I know it’s late, but I saw your lights on and decided to take a chance to say congrats.” Sally Sheraton stared back at me, but her husband, Aaron’s, brown eyes haunted me. She had a small bag in her hand but threw her hands out to hug Ridley and me as she said, “I heard you were getting married.”
I placed my hand on Ridley’s lower back. “Ridley, this is Sally Sheraton.”
“I was stocking the food bank in town with Church donations and Carter has the warehouse that he lets us use nearby.”
She had asked for my support of various charities since I returned and always quoted my mother.
Ridley shook her hand. “Hi.”
She’d been checking on me like a brother since I'd brought her husband’s body home for her to bury.
As she finished, she said, “Lovely to meet you. I had no idea Carter was even seeing someone.”
Ridley stared at me. For a second, I wasn’t sure what she’d say, but then she focused on Sally. “We were pretty long distance and I was shocked he asked.”
Sally laughed and patted Ridley’s arm like they were friends already. “All the ladies in town were trying to get his attention. Now I know he was already in love and that’s why he wasn’t interested. Congrats.”
I’d not intended to settle down at all.
Ridley’s lips curled under her lower one again and her face went white. A minute later, she pointed to us. “So you and Carter…”
Wicked Cowboy (Steel Series Book 4) Page 6