Cowboy's Break

by Lexi Post

  His hand came to his lower left side as he spun around. “Yeah. Just a case of taking action before my back-up arrived.”

  The reality that she might have never seen him again sunk in deep—all because she’d pushed him away. “You must have had a good reason.”

  He scowled at the memory, his whole naked body tense. “I did. They were going to rape a thirteen year-old girl. I couldn’t wait.”

  Her belly did a somersault. “And you stopped it?”

  He nodded though his hands had fisted at his sides. “But she got hit with bullets, too.”

  She swallowed hard, afraid to ask her next question, but needing to know. “Did she live.”

  He nodded, but didn’t say another word, the tic in his cheek reappearing.

  She could see his mind sifting through his horrible memories. He would stew on them, but she wouldn’t let that happen now. She was here this time.

  They needed a change in topic. She wiggled her hips. “I think I have too many clothes on.”

  His eyes refocused on her and the tension left his cheek. “Let me see if I can do something about that.” He knelt again and hooked his thumbs in her practical pink cotton panties.

  She lifted her hips, and he slid them down her legs, but not before she saw the wet spot on them.

  He pulled them off and threw them on the rocking chair to join her jeans. Then he looked at her and his warm brown eyes darkened. “You’re ready for me.”

  She flushed that he’d seen the evidence, but played it off. “I am.”

  He remained kneeling. “What would you like next?”

  “I’d like you to make love to me.”

  His nostrils flared. “Good because that was my plan.” He ran his hands up the outside of her bare legs to her hips then stroked them down the inside of her thighs, pushing her leg on the outside of the couch aside until her foot touched the floor.

  Her heartbeat kicked up a notch as her folds were clearly in view now.

  “I want to taste you, Rae.”

  Oh Lord, she hoped he didn’t expect an answer because her throat closed up so hard at his statement that she couldn’t even swallow. Their private time together years ago had been minimal and oral sex had not been the priority. She knew what his mouth could do to her breasts. What could he do to her below? Just the idea had her juices seeping again.

  Vince leaned forward as he brought his hands up the inside of her legs straight to the juncture of her thighs. His gaze was intensely focused on her there as his fingers spread her labia, revealing her opening to him.

  Every nerve ending became sensitized as her blood rushed to where his fingers played.

  He brushed her natural blonde curls upward, lightly grazing her clit as he did so.

  She barely kept herself from jumping.

  “Beautiful.” His words, whispered on an exhalation of breath, permeated her brain, making her flush.

  She had no time to be embarrassed. His head descended and she felt the first swipe of his tongue as he licked at her opening.

  “Hmm.” His vocalization vibrated against her, causing her sheath to contract.

  He licked again, holding her nether lips open so he could taste her fully. He pressed himself closer to the couch like a man starved for sustenance as his tongue burrowed into her opening.

  Instinctively, her hips pushed upwards, but his elbows held her down, forcing her to lay back and enjoy. She tightened around his tongue, and he groaned again. Her entire body shivered with need, ready for penetration.

  Then he pulled his tongue out and licked up and over her clit.

  “Oh wow.” Her exclamation was torn from her as her entire body jerked at the touch.

  Once there, he didn’t leave, his tongue playing with her sensitive nub, rubbing it upwards and side to side, every movement sending her closer to orgasm. Desperately, she tried to hold on, to wait for his entrance.

  Vince let go of her labia and pushed two fingers into her sheath.

  Her hips came up of their own accord, despite his weight on one side. The feeling intensified as he started to pump in and out with his fingers while his tongue continually played.

  When he lapped upward against her clit double time, she lost it. Her sheath tightened around his fingers, grasping hard as her clit vibrated with pleasure. She gripped the couch and pushed her pelvis against his tongue, prolonging the exquisite ecstasy.

  He slowed his tongue on her sensitive nub as he pulled his fingers away.

  “Oh Lord, that was—”

  She didn’t finish. Vince lifted himself over her and kissed her with her own taste on his tongue. She’d never done that before and the eroticism of the experience had her body revving up again.

  He lifted his mouth from hers, and she opened her eyes, no clue when she’d closed them. His dark gaze was filled with promise and need. She pulled his face to hers again and pushed her tongue into his mouth.

  His moan was her only warning before his bare cock entered her to the hilt.

  At his penetration, her body lit up like a firework and she squeezed him tight, loving the feel of him inside her.

  Vince didn’t move a muscle, even when she pulled her lips from his. “Are you all right?”

  His eyes opened. “Better than that.”

  She grinned. “Me too. This is right.”

  He nodded, but still didn’t move. So she squeezed him again and his eyes widened. “I’m going to come.”

  She practically purred. “That’s the idea.”

  “Now.”

  That simple word combined with the look in his eyes set off a chain reaction inside her, so when he pulled back and thrust into her hard, she splintered.

  Vince rocked her body as he pumped into her, sending her orgasm soaring into the atmosphere. His groan of pleasure grew louder until he shouted, spilling his semen into her and jumping with her to another level of satisfaction.

  They lay there catching their breath. Vince somehow kept himself from crushing her. She didn’t have an iota of strength left in her and she didn’t care. She was happy, purely happy for the first time since she’d sent him from her life.

  The stars had finally aligned for them. It was their time.

  “I’m guessing from your scream that I did as you required?” He’d lifted his head and looked at her with one eyebrow raised in question but a prideful smile on his face.

  She smiled back at him. “Perfectly.”

  He lowered his lips to hers and gave her a gentle kiss that reminded her of the kisses he used to give when they were younger.

  She loved the mature Vince even more for having the old one inside him.

  The sound of a car pulling into the yard sent her thoughts scattering. “Shit. Someone’s here.”

  He looked over his shoulder. “It’s Crystal.”

  His tone made her pause for a moment before panic set in. “We have to get dressed.”

  “It would serve her right for dropping in un-announced.”

  She hit him on the arm. “Don’t be silly. This is her house, too.”

  He gave her an odd look, but she was too busy pushing him away so she could get up and dress.

  He sighed and slowly separated them.

  The loss of him inside her made her want to call him back, but that just wasn’t possible. She looked outside just as her sister exited her car. “Uh-oh.”

  Grabbing up her jeans and panties, she ran into the kitchen and started dressing. She’d just hooked her bra when she heard her sister’s high-heeled tread on the porch steps. Pulling her shirt over her head, she looked for her socks and boots. “Ah, shit.”

  Vince pulled on his underwear, jeans, socks and boots then waited. He didn’t plan to hide what he and Rachel had done. Crystal needed to know that there would be a lot of changes now that he was here, the first being that she needed to confess.

  Crystal entered the house. “Rache, I just heard. I’m so sorry.” She closed the door then stepped into the living room and stopped. “Oh,
hi Vince.” Her gaze swept his naked torso. “I take it you were comforting my sister over Foxglove and things went too far?”

  He didn’t smile. “No, they went exactly as they were meant to go. Why would I be comforting Rachel about Foxglove?”

  She sauntered into the room, her navy blue suit with matching heels and purse made her look every inch the executive. The expensive floral perfume she wore was not to his liking at all. “Didn’t she tell you? Foxglove is missing.”

  He watched her like he’d watch any perp. No eye contact, exaggerated voice inflexion. Hell, even if he didn’t have all the damning evidence, which he did, he’d suspect her. “How did you hear?”

  She looked at him startled. “Where’s my poor sister?”

  “I’m right here.” Rachel strode into the room and gave Crystal a warm hug. “You heard about Foxglove?”

  Crystal nodded. “I’m so sorry.” She put her arm around Rachel and steered her toward the kitchen. “Have you called the Sheriff? What did he say?”

  Vince followed the women into the room and nonchalantly picked up his shirt from the chair he’d thrown it on and shrugged into it.

  Rachel sat in the chair across from him while Crystal pulled two glasses from the cabinet. Rachel looked at him, and he shook his head, knowing she would tell Crystal the truth.

  He wanted to give Crystal a chance to come clean. “I spoke with the Sheriff and it appears they have a good lead on who took the horse.” Crystal paused for a split second, not enough for Rachel to notice, but he did. He was quite sure Rachel was as surprised by his announcement as Crystal, since they hadn’t called the Sheriff.

  Crystal finished pouring two glasses of ice tea. “Oh, that’s a relief. Who did it?”

  He moved to the cupboard and pulled out another glass and placed it next to the still empty one. She looked at him in surprise, but smiled graciously.

  “The Sheriff said it was some guy named Jack who works for a known loan shark, but this time he was working for a woman.”

  Crystal didn’t pause this time. She spilled the tea, missing the glass completely. “Oh sugar. What a mess.”

  Rachel rose to help her, but Vince motioned her back down. He plucked the kitchen towel from its ring and wiped the counter. “No harm done.” He looked Crystal in her eye. “Mistakes happen. As long as we learn from them, then they are worth making.”

  Crystal’s eyes widened with understanding.

  “From spilling tea. I don’t think there’s much to learn from that.” Rachel’s voice cut through Crystal’s surprise.

  “Here, maybe you better pour.” Crystal handed him the pitcher. “I’ve had a stressful day.” She turned away from him and took the chair at the head of the table.

  He didn’t pour. He left everything as it was. “Why was it stressful? Couldn’t you find a buyer for Foxglove?”

  “What?” Rachel frowned at him. “Why would…no.”

  Her voice trailed off, the hurt almost more than Vince could bear, but he needed Crystal to tell her.

  Crystal looked at him as if he had spouted horns. “What are you talking about? I would never sell Foxglove. Besides he’s not even here.” She looked at her sister. “I’m sure the Sheriff will find him.”

  Rachel moved her gaze from her sister to him. She begged him with her eyes to tell her what she thought he said wasn’t true, but as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t give her that.

  He’d thought long and hard about confronting Crystal privately and never telling Rachel, but he didn’t want to live with that wedge between them. It would come out eventually and she would never trust him again.

  He shook his head at her and returned his attention to Crystal. “You didn’t get nearly half Matterhorn’s value. If you weren’t in such a hurry, you could have raked in more. Then you wouldn’t have had to take Foxglove.”

  Fear showed in Crystal’s eyes, but he steeled himself against it. “Luckily, I had that paltry sum and was able to reimburse Matterhorn’s buyer. He’s out in the north pasture even as we speak.”

  Crystal turned to Rachel. “Rachel, I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “I’m talking about the condo you own on the twenty-seventh floor of Sky Towers, the thousand dollar bar bills at Seventh Heaven, the six hundred dollar pair of heels you’re wearing and the five hundred square-foot closet that houses your designer suits and dresses.”

  “Crystal?” Rachel’s face showed so much pain, he couldn’t go on.

  Chapter Nine

  Maybe it had been a mistake to confront Crystal with Rachel in the room. Vince still hoped Crystal would confess.

  “Rache, these aren’t the real thing.” Crystal lifted her shoe for inspection. “You know I like the nice stuff, but I buy the fakes. I can’t afford anything else. You know that.”

  Rachel closed her eyes.

  His heart went out to her. He should be protecting her from this, but Crystal had a problem and Rachel had to see it.

  Crystal turned and glared at him. He didn’t blame her, but he also felt no guilt. Maybe if she confessed, neither would she.

  Rachel opened her eyes and stood. She looked at Crystal. “Get out.” Her voice had no emotion to it at all. “Just get out.” He knew Rachel was hurting, and he wanted to help her through it.

  “What? Rache, this is my home.” The whine in Crystal’s voice grated on his nerves.

  The woman he loved suddenly changed, her voice turning to steel. “Apparently, it isn’t. You have your own home. Get out of mine.”

  “But I’m your sister. All you have left.”

  Vince walked over to Crystal and pulled her up to stand. “Let’s go.”

  She glared at him. “Where are you taking me? Let go of me.”

  He moved her toward the door of the kitchen.

  “Rachel, don’t do this. I didn’t do anything. It’s not me. It’s him.” She glared at him then a smirk curved her face as they walked down the hall. “It’s him, Rache. Vince is trying to come between us. He resents my bond with you. He wants the ranch for—”

  He opened the front door and brought her out into the night. She stopped yelling as he walked her down the steps. When they arrived at her car, she struggled to be free, and he let her go.

  She turned on him like an angry bull. “How dare you do that in front of my sister?”

  “I dared because I have all the evidence. I know the CR Seed and Grain Company is just a funnel for you to receive money. CR, Crystal Rachel, not hard to figure out. And Dr. Fielding’s bills as well. As if soaking the ranch for your penthouse wasn’t enough, you needed to make your sister think you were getting help so you could buy your expensive clothes.”

  “I was getting help!” Crystal yelled loud enough that the horses in the barn nickered.

  He kept his tone low. “Buying things isn’t help. I investigated Dr. Fielding. There is no such doctor, only a clothing line with that name.”

  She turned away from him and opened her car door.

  He grabbed her arm. “You need help.”

  She pulled her arm away. “I’m fine. You’re the one who needs help if you believe what you’re saying. My sister will hate you for this. You’re the one who’s screwed.” She sat in her car and slammed the door.

  He moved out of the way as she started the engine, not sure if she was threatened enough to commit vehicular homicide.

  Crystal spun the convertible around and drove off the ranch, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.

  Vince watched the cloud settle to the ground, looking like snowfall in the moon’s bright light. Finally, he strode back to the house, his heart hurting for the woman he loved.

  He found her still in the kitchen, sitting in the chair she’d been in before, a blank look on her face. He moved toward her to pull her into his embrace.

  She put her hands up. “Don’t touch me.”

  His heart stilled. “Rae, I can help.”

  “Don’t. Just don’t. Leave me alone.”

  H
e knelt in front of her. “I can’t. I won’t. Not ever again.”

  She looked at him then, her pain so clear it was all he could do to not touch her.

  “I wish you’d never revealed that. I want to be alone.” She held up her hand as he opened his mouth to speak. “Just tonight. Please.”

  His gut told him that wasn’t what she needed, but his heart said to give her whatever she wanted. “Okay. I’ll be back tomorrow morning, if you’re sure that’s what you want.”

  Her eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. “I am.”

  Hell, how was he supposed to walk away from this woman when she was in so much pain? It was like leaving a friend bleeding to death while chasing down the man who shot him.

  He couldn’t do it. But he’d let her think he would. He rose. “I don’t think this is a good idea.” Her head snapped up, her face angry again. “But I’ll go.”

  The relief in her eyes was not what he wanted to see. Was she anxious to be alone or to do something drastic? “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  She nodded, already looking through him with that blank stare that made his gut twist. With more willpower than he thought he had, he walked away and left the house. As he strode toward his truck, he created a plan.

  Getting in, he started it and drove down the road. When he was out of the view of the house, thanks to a small patch of trees, he parked it on the side and started his walk back.

  This time, he would stay right where he belonged.

  ~~~~~

  A loud banging on the front door forced Rachel to open her eyes. The sunlight streamed into the kitchen, making her close them again. They felt puffy and sore.

  More banging had her covering her ears.

  Shit, all right already. She thought about moving then promptly put her head back on the table. Blessedly, the banging stopped.

  Voices in the house had her opening one eye. The low tones meant men. Her men were in the house? The sound of cowboy boots heading upstairs jogged a memory of Vince and her making love.

  She closed her eye. That was something she’d like to dream about.

  “Rachel!”

  Now what? Couldn’t a girl sleep on her kitchen table in peace if she wanted to? She opened her one eye again. Why was she in the kitchen?