“A slow kiss,” he said, acting like he hadn’t heard her.“Five bucks.”He erased the gap between them, forcing her to meet his twinkling eyes. “One slow, deep, wet, kiss, for as long as I want.That’s my final offer.”“Do I get to pick where you kiss me, slow and long and deep?”“Ornery woman. You’re hell on my intention of bein’ a gentleman.”“If I preferred a gentleman, I’d be dating your cousin Blake.”Shit. That was the wrong thing to say. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—”“Think? Yeah, I get that a lot from you. Just forget it.” He scowled, shoving a hand through his hair. “Let’s just play the damn game and have some damn fun.”For the next ten minutes, India watched him from the corner of her eye. Didn’t seem like he was having fun. At all . He cursed every time the ball landed in the lowly five-point hole, which was a lot.She had to do something to make up for her bout of bitchiness.She could be fun. Playful.As Colt was about to toss the ball, she tickled his left side, from his hip to
She was nervous. Interesting.Colt pulled up to the back of the building.India said, “Is this where you tell me you had a great time and you’ll call me?”“No.”“You didn’t have a great time?”“I had a fantastic time.” He curled his hand around her jaw and turned her face to his. “I’d like nothin’ better than to come in, but we both know it’s better if I say goodnight here.”She kissed him with sweet regret. “I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow night?”“Yep. And afterward, I want to do something with you.”“Not do something to me?” she teased.“Hold that thought for another twelve days. How about if we go out for ice cream?”A devious smile lit up her face. “With the no sex rule, you seriously think you can handle watching me lick an ice cream cone for more than thirty seconds?”The reality of her pink tongue lapping. Her mouth sucking.Watching her throat muscles as she swallowed the creaminess. No way. “Point taken. How about a—”“How about if you leave it up to me?”Colt frowned.
“We’re planting flowers!” the mud-pie maker exclaimed, throwing her hands up, flinging mud everywhere.“Cool. Can I watch?” He stepped inside, bracing himself for India’s reaction.She didn’t growl or demand he leave, like he’d expected, she smiled the angelic smile that twisted his guts into a pretzel. “Sure.Come on in. You can even help.”The bespectacled boy asked, “What’s your name?”“Colt. What’s yours?”“Hayden.” He gave Colt a thorough once-over. “Hey, are you Buck’s cousin?”“Yes. I am. Do you know him?”“Uh-huh. He’s my big buddy.”“Lucky for Buck. So, Hayden, think you can help me make one of these things?”Hayden beamed. “Yes. It’s quite logical, really.”The rest of the kids started talking all at once, offering suggestions. Crowding him, but he didn’t mind.India clapped her hands. “Okay, munchkins, listen up. Once everyone has soil in their cup, we’ll move to the next step, the fun part; planting the seeds.”“Carrot seeds?”“Eww. Gross. I hate carrots.”“No, Anton. Sunf
Rather than snap, she is dating me, Colt said, “I’m tame as a trail pony these days.”“Some of them docile lookin’ ones still gotta lot of buck left in’em, boy. You just hafta pick the right kinda rider to let the beast loose.”Colt couldn’t help but laugh.“I’ll see you tomorrow night. And put on a good show, will ya?I bet twenty bucks on your team.”“So tell me about this charity basketball game,” India said to Bert as Colt headed to the kitchen.He rechecked the coffee pot he’d unplugged ten minutes ago.Although it’d been a short meeting, it seemed he waited for hours for the attendees to leave. From the moment they’d arrived.Might’ve made him selfish, but for the first time in years, Colt hadn’t paid attention to what his fellow A.A. members discussed.His focus was on one thing.India.The outer door slammed, signaling Bert had left. He heard India moving closer, each combat booted footstep across the tile floor pulsed in his groin.“What did you need?”The second he got a wh
“There. Oh. Damn. Can I move my hips faster without smashing your cock?”“Move as fast as you want. The faster, the better.”“Thank God.”The air in the cab seemed to increase by a thousand degrees.Heavy breathing distorted the stillness and steamed up the windows.Perspiration coated her skin as he feasted on her. When he felt her thighs tighten, and heard her soft gasp, he bit down on the captive nipple.India came in a bucking, noisy explosion of heat and sound that sent Colt straight over the edge.It’d taken him longer than a minute, but not by much.She slumped forward, burying her face in his neck. “If you don’t want to drive home in those sticky jeans, you’re welcome to come in and take them off.”He laughed softly. “Generous of you.”“I thought so.”Colt pulled her sleeves back up, freeing her arms. He fed her a long, deep, wet kiss while he buttoned her shirt.Looking as dazed as he was, he traced the outline of her bottom lip, while he stared into her eyes. When her saucy
The pain in his eyes nearly had her carrying him to the hospital.“I’m coming in there to make sure you don’t pass out.”“I’ll remind you this is the men’s locker room.”“So?”His breath tickled her ear and his voice dropped to a growl.“So, the first time you see me completely naked, ain’t gonna be in front of a bunch of other guys.”“Good point.”Thirty minutes later, after the game ended and the crowd disappeared, India paced until Dr. Brewer ambled out. “Is he okay?”“It’s not as bad as I initially believed, but he insists he’ll be better off with you than at the hospital.”“With me?”Dr. Brewer measured her thoughtfully. “Are you up for taking care of him tonight? Because he’s as grouchy as a grizzly with a sore paw. And we both know he won’t take pain meds.”“How did I get elected as bear bait?”“Ask Colt. He said that you…” Dr. Brewer looked around and lowered his voice. “You already played Nurse Ratchet when you shot him in the butt with a nail gun and you owe him big time.”“
“I know.”“Talk to me.”“I’m scared, Sky. I don’t want to fuck this up. And I’m afraid I already have.”“So fix it.”“How?”“Channel that anger into a more productive activity.”“Like what?”Skylar slipped on her coat. “Do I really have to spell it out for you? Go out to his place, accept his apology, apologize yourself, and fuck his brains out until Monday morning.”“Which would be a brilliant idea, except Colt and I aren’t having sex.”“Excuse me?”Crap. “We’re dating, not sleeping together.”Sky started laughing.“It’s not funny.”Her sister had to grip the counter she laughed so hard.“I fail to see the humor in this.”“You’ve managed to hold Colt off for almost two weeks?”“Huh-uh. He’s held me off.”“Oh. That’s even better.” Skylar wiped her eyes. “I figured you guys would last about two days with the no sex rule.”India sniffed. “We aren’t animals. We can control our baser instincts.” Maybe. Kinda. Sorta. Not really. Okay, it was a fucking miracle they weren’t balling each othe
“I know, Colt, me too.”“No foreplay.”“Fine.” She kissed him. “Good.” She kissed him again.“Whatever. We’ve had two weeks worth of foreplay.”“Hell, woman, we’ve had three fuckin’ years of foreplay,” he growled. “In my bed. Now.”“No. No more waiting.” India trapped his face in her hands.“Right here.”“Where? Against the wall? On the couch? Over the chair?”“On the white rug. Move the coffee table.”“Done.” He set her down and dragged the iron and glass table out of the way as if it weighed nothing. Then he reached for her again.The kiss was explosive. She tasted of mint and coffee. She fought him for control, her tongue dueling, then coy and teasing.Colt could kiss her for days. And he would, right after he fucked her. At least twice. “I wanna see you. All of you. Clothes off.”India whipped her shirt over her head. Unhooked her satin bra and tossed it aside.He groaned. “Those pierced nipples are about the sexiest things I’ve ever seen.”“Oh, trust me, you ain’t seen nothin’ ye
“No way,” she sneered. “I hate that whining, puntastic drivel.”“And ‘Poker Face’ is what? Pure musical artistry?” Chase sneered right back.“Yep.” Ava cranked the music a notch higher.He turned it back down. “You’re starting to piss me off.”“The feeling is mutual.”How had they survived these last two weeks?Wait a second. Hadn’t Chase told her he’d rarely made it past the two-week mark with any lover? Maybe this was how he intended to end it. By picking fights.But you started it. Be the bigger person and let it go.“I wish I had your damn camera pointed at you right now so you could see your diva side, a side which you claim ain’t there, because darlin’, it sure as hell is.” Spit. Spit.That smart comment totally screwed him for her being the bigger person. “I wish I had my damn camera pointed at you right now so you could see how ridiculous you look with your mouth crammed full of sunflower seeds,” she mimicked. “Ooh, and the bonus? You’d get to hear how fucking irritating it is
“What? Why?” Recognition lit her eyes and a secretive smile appeared. “Really, Chase? Right now?”“Yep.”“But I’m all sweaty. Can’t I take a shower first?”He growled, “No. Seeing your hot, bendy body stretched out over that ball does it for me in a bad way.” Using a single rough-edged fingertip, he leisurely traced the waistband of her yoga pants, low on her hips. But not nearly low enough. “Take. Them. Off.”She stood and peeled the stretchy black fabric down her legs. She began to remove her bra, but he said, “Leave it. Same position you were just in. Arched over the ball, hands on the floor behind you, feet on the floor, legs spread.”With effortless grace, Ava returned her body to its previous pose.Goddamn she was beautiful like this. Not just her bared body, but also her willingness to cede control to him. His hands skated up the outside of her thighs, still trembling from her workout. Or were they trembling in anticipation? He palmed her hips and squeezed, stopping to stroke t
He growled at the visual feast before him. Ava bound, at his mercy.Chase rocked his hips faster, driving his cock against that pliant skin, pinching her nipples in time to his thrusts. When his balls lifted, his hands fell away and almost told her to open up and swallow him to the root. But he stopped.Too soon. Not about you. About her. She needs this.Ava whimpered at the loss of contact.He caressed her cheek as he leaned forward to grab his supplies off the nightstand. “You’re beautiful. Incredible. Christ, Ava, you undo me.”She twisted in her bonds. “I want—”He placed his fingers over her lips. “In time. Now hold still.” He scooted back until he straddled her pelvis. Holding open the old-fashioned, spring-loaded wooden clothespins, he simultaneously attached them to her nipples.When she arched and emitted a surprised cry, he murmured, “Seems you have some feeling there after all.” He hopped off the end of the bed. Tapped her ankles. “Spread your legs for me. Wider. Nope wider
“Thanks.” Ava sat up and drank all the water. “So I crashed for over twelve hours. Guess I missed the rodeo last night. How’d you do?”Chase wore a stoic expression.“What? Did you have like a ninety-nine point ride or something?”He snorted.“Seriously. What happened?” Her gaze swept over him. “Did you get hurt?”“Nothin’ happened, Ava. I didn’t compete last night.”“What? Why not?”“Do you really think I’d just leave you here alone when you were so goddamn sick?”She froze.Chase grabbed her hand and rubbed her knuckles against the razor stubble on his cheeks. “I was freaked out about you. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do. I’m not…well, I don’t have much experience taking care of sick people. My first response has always been to get the hell away, so I sort of winged it.” A sheepish smile curled the corners of his mouth. “You don’t look too worse for the wear.”“I can’t believe you didn’t compete last night.”“There are more important things in life than bull ridin’.”This tough man
“The camera showed you that?”“Ava. I don’t need to look through a viewfinder to see you’re upset.”Damn intuitive man.“The camera is off. Talk to me.”“My grandfather commissioned a necklace for my sixteenth birthday. A tiny beautiful Swarovski crystal rose with a gold stem artfully twisted into an ‘A’. The one time I didn’t take it off before I jumped into the ocean? I lost it. I don’t know if the chain broke or what, but I was devastated because it happened about a month after he died.”“Aw, sugar, I’m so sorry.”Evidently Chase had enough taping. He returned the camera to the case and faced forward, wiggling to get comfortable.“Before you nod off, tell me why we’re backtracking. You planned a route through Montana and now we’re back in Cornhusker territory.”He rolled his eyes. “South Dakota is not Cornhusker territory. The reason I’m not goin’ to the event in Billings is because Ryan told me a former PBR bull rider who switched to the PRCA circuit will be competing. I don’t wan
He’d known the second he touched her he was done for. Ava needed him in a way no other woman ever had. He was a different man when he was with her, regardless if they were naked. So maybe that’s why he couldn’t freakin’ wait to get naked with her again, day after day after day.Seemed to take forever to check-in. He ditched the bags in the corner of the room. In the mirror above the sink, he saw Ava flop on the bed and heave a huge sigh.“Before you get too comfy, maybe you oughta see if you got the door shut.”She popped to her feet and resituated her skirt as she crossed the room, those fucking sexy little pleats teasing the back of her legs.When he’d gotten a look at her outfit this morning—short plaid skirt, plain white blouse, black ballet shoes—his cock had been hard all day as his head conjured up bad-schoolgirl-needing-a-spanking scenarios.Ava tested the door by pushing on it. “I don’t know why you were worried it wasn’t shut—”“Lock it.” He put his mouth below her ear and p
He stirred, moaning as his cock hardened. Lengthened.When Ava started sliding his shaft over her tongue, his hand landed on her head.Immediately it snapped back and Chase scrambled upright. “Ava? What the devil are you doin’?” He inhaled a sharp breath through his teeth when she tongued the tip. “Hell. I thought it was a dream.”She pulled off his shaft long enough to say, “Nope. I want to make this buff body to squirm.” She licked him like a lollipop.“Oh, I’ve no doubt you can make me squirm. You probably could get me to beg.” He brushed her hair back from where it’d fallen in her face. “But—”Again, Ava eased off and met his gaze in the near darkness. “But nothing. You don’t get to direct this.”If she thought he’d lovingly pet her, agree, and murmur encouragement, she was mistaken. Chase’s big hands were on her face, gripping her jaw. “Yes, I do.”His answer turned her panties damp. As did his explicit command, “On the floor. On your knees.”As Ava moved, so did Chase. He perche
She loved his reaction to the scrape of her teeth, the sucking kisses, the feather light placement of her lips in random spots on his neck. Goose bumps spread across his arms and up his nape. He shifted on the bed, not thrashing, but wiggling enough she knew he liked what she was doing to him. She reveled in this immense power of worshipping rather than being worshipped.Ava immersed herself in him. The scent of his skin. The tangy taste of his sweat. The way his muscles strained beneath her tongue. She kissed, licked and nibbled her way down the center of his throat, from his square jaw to his breastbone. And could she get a halleluiah that he had chest hair? Talk about manly, masculine goodness. She rubbed her face over the dark patch of hair, breathing him in, listening to the pounding of his heart, warmed by the heat from his skin, and knowing his body’s response to her was echoed in her body.Bracing herself on all fours above him, she watched his face as she tongued his nipple.
She pushed her hips back, meeting his every hard thrust with a soft grunt. The fringe on his chaps swung forward, the leather connecting with her skin.Even as his cock plunged into her fully, even as his balls drew up, aching for release, even as his legs shook and sweat coated his skin, he planned for the next time he fucked her. The next hundred times.Chase closed his eyes; his hands yanking her body back to meet his escalating thrusts. Faster, harder, deeper, the only words echoed in his head as primal need roared. Impossible to hold off his orgasm, no matter how much he wanted to prolong the sensation of sinking into her soft, wet, flesh.He threw back his head, groaning as his cock emptied in hot pulses. Groaning louder when he felt Ava’s pussy contracting around his dick as she came again.Heart thumping, mouth dry, lungs lacking air, Chase fell forward onto Ava’s back, bracing himself on his hands. Although this rendezvous was supposed to’ve been a dare, a fun, wild slap and