Rugged Cowboy: A Grumpy Sunshine Western Romance

Chapter 14

He could feel her eyes on him, boring into his back like tiny lasers. He had been hoping to avoid this, didn’t know why he shared those feelings with her. He’d never told anyone that before. He would blame alcohol, except they hadn’t been drinking. He knew he should have brought beer or whiskey or something on this trip. Maybe it would have knocked them out sooner, put them to sleep. But he’d wanted them to stay up to see any meteors and the best chance was later in the evening and going to bed early wasn’t going to achieve that goal.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Her voice was small, regretful, behind him.

He poked at the fire to revitalize it and, yes, avoid facing her.“You didn’t know.”

A quick rustling of the blanket, then she laid her hand on his back, lightly, tentatively.“I know how it feels to not belong anywhere. To not feel a part of a family.”

He whirled around, dislodging her hand and making her take a couple of quick steps back.“Do you? From where I’m standing, you left your family because they didn’t agree with what you were doing. But they still supported you. They were still there for you. You have a place with them if you choose to go back, am I right?”

“I’ve seen you with Michael, and I know your aunt and uncle. They speak so highly of you. And Michael treats you like his own brother. You’re not an employee to him.”

He gave a mirthless laugh.“Really? Every member of the family has a role on the ranch. I herd cows. I don’t have a role here.”

She placed a hand on his chest, above his pounding heart.“I’m sorry. I know how painful that is. Have you talked to them about it? Asked for something more?”

He shook his head. How do you explain the fear of rejection? “What if they say no?”

“What if they say yes?” She stepped closer and wrapped herself around him, her heat seeping into him.“Wade, I know how it feels not to fit in somewhere. I think you have a place here. You just need to find it. Maybe talk to Michael about it. They’re your family. They’ll understand.”

“Like your family understands you?” He winced as soon as he said the words. When she stiffened and started to pull away, he hugged her close.“I’m sorry, Viv. That was a bullshit thing to say and way out of line. If your family can’t see what an amazing person you are just the way you are, then fuck them. You may not fit into their little box, but you’re pretty fucking awesome.”

She sniffled and buried her face in his shirt.“You shouldn’t say such nice things to me. I might think you like me.”

He lifted her chin to look at him.“I do like you, Viv. And trust me, I’m kind of a miserable bastard most of the time, so that’s saying something.”

He lowered his lips and brushed them against hers, once, twice, then settled them for a deeper kiss. She opened her lips under his, their tongues tangling. He slipped his hands under her ass and lifted her, walking the few steps until they reached the blanket spread on the ground. He broke the kiss and lowered her down, stretching over her, caging her neatly against the soft plaid blanket.

“Now, this is more in line with what I had hoped would happen tonight. Not a baring of the souls, but baring of another kind.”

Her lips curved in a teasing smile.“Well, hell, Buchanan. Why didn’t you say so? I would have gotten naked a while ago. Anything to avoid the bullshit we went through.”

He sat up and shifted to the side. He pulled his T-shirt over his head, tossing it aside. Viv also unbuttoned her shirt, her fingers fumbling a little as she stole glances at him, licking her lips every once in a while. She pushed the shirt off, leaving a delicate lace bra that stole his breath.

She snickered.“I know you said leave everything a city girl would pack, but I didn’t think you meant this.”

“Thank God you didn’t listen to me about that.”

His eyes drifted south, and she chuckled.“Yup, it’s a matching set.”

“There is a God.”

“And she owns Adore Me lingerie.” She slid her jeans down and his mouth went dry. She gave him a wicked look and leaned back.“I’ll have you know, while this is a comfortable set, it wasn’t the most comfortable to ride in. You’re welcome.”

“Thank you again.”

He took off his boots and undid his jeans, sliding them down along with his briefs. His cock bobbed free, and she eyed him from her spot on the blanket.“I hope you came prepared.”

“Would it alarm you to know I did?” He drew a couple of condoms out of his jeans and tossed them on the blanket.

She grinned.“I love Boy Scouts. I wasn’t taking any chances. I have a couple more in my pockets. Now bring your hot bod over here and kiss me, cowboy.”

“I love a woman who knows what she wants.”

He prowled over to her and settled between her thighs, his cock brushing against the lace covering her damp center. She tugged him down to her mouth and their tongues dueled. He stroked a hand along her side to cup one of her lace-covered breasts. He tweaked a nipple, and she gasped into his mouth, arching into his hand. He chuckled and tugged it again, the lace adding to the friction.

He kissed his way down her throat, sucking a little at her rapidly pounding pulse point, leaving a little bruise. Moving farther, he traced his tongue along the edge of the bra until he reached the spot between her breasts. He tugged the cup out of the way and sucked a peak into his mouth, tonguing and sucking and nipping it until she writhed beneath him. His fingers teased her other nipple, then he switched. She breathlessly called out his name, her fingers digging in his hair.

He briefly lifted his head and smirked.“Not as much fun being teased, is it?”

She glared.“I had every intention of finishing what I started in that hot tub. Blame your cousin.”

“Oh, I do. But no one is around now. You’re all mine.”

His fingers skated lower on her belly and she sucked in a breath as they drifted across the lace covering her mound. He dipped beneath the edge and stroked the soft skin just above her cleft. She twisted her hips, pushing into him, and he laughed.

He slid down and pulled her panties down. She lifted her hips to help him and he tossed them over to her other clothes, then wedged himself between her thighs. Using his thumbs, he opened her and swiped her with his tongue and she gave a low shout, arching her back, then settling back onto the blanket. He traced her folds with his tongue, paying special attention to her clit, and she moaned, long and loud, her hips twisting, but he held her firmly in place. He slid one finger inside, then another, and curled them to find the spot that made her go wild. Her hand clutched his hair hard, tugging as she cried out to the stars above them. He sucked her clit into his mouth, his tongue swirling as his finger worked her. She came around his hand, her pussy clenching his fingers, pulling them inside, and her arousal soaking his hand and face.

He drew out her orgasm until she settled against the blanket, panting lightly. He came up next to her and lightly stroked a few strands of hair away from her face. She blinked drowsily up at him.“Damn, I think I saw stars, Buchanan.”

He frowned. Did she hit her head or something while she orgasmed? He ran his hand around the ground under where her head was lying and she laughed.“Dude, the sky is literally all stars. I literally saw stars. But you blew my mind.”

He fell back on the blanket, laughing. God, she was something else. She rolled on top of him, his erection in her hands.“So, you have plans for this?”

“Kind of, if you’re not too tired.”

Her hand played up and down his cock, teasing the head, then stroking the stalk.“I could be persuaded.”

She grabbed one of the condoms, opened it, and rolled it over him. He sat up, but she pushed him back down.“I think I like you exactly where you are.”

She straddled him, his cock positioned between her thighs. She slowly settled over him and slid down, carefully, gently, her eyes widening as she took his length deep inside. Finally, when he was fully seated, she groaned.“Damn, Buchanan. How do you ride a horse all day with this?”

He wrapped his hands around her waist, his thumb close to where he was settled inside of her.“Years of practice.”

She tightened around him and they both groaned. Then she began to move, a slow, gentle up-and-down motion, guided by his hands and hips. Every once in a while, his thumb would swipe her clit and she’d gasp at the touch, clenching hard around him. Finally, he took control, holding her and snapping his hips up into her, their gasps and moans filling the night. She braced herself on his chest and met his thrusts just as eagerly, finally coming around his length with a loud cry.

He rolled her onto her back and drove into her with a few quick, hard thrusts, but he couldn’t hold on and followed her, orgasming with a loud shout, her pussy spasming around him. He collapsed over her, her hands stroking his back. He rolled to the side, taking her with him so he wouldn’t crush her. They lay there for several long moments, catching their breath.

Finally, she said, “Weren’t we supposed to be looking for something out here?”

He choked a laugh and hugged her.