The Cowboy’s Claim (Men of Copper Mountain #7)

Men of Copper Mountain

Four wild, untamed men. One box set.

The are defending what's theirs.

BARRON

One look, one kiss, one night—and I know Tamlyn is mine.

KNOX

She needs a man who can protect her, a man she can trust.

POPE

The new sunshiney-sweet librarian is everything I didn't know I needed and I won't stop until she's mine.

ARCHER

I love Bella more than life itself. But is that enough when someone from her past is dead set against it?

Four books set in Copper Mountain, with rugged, fiercely loyal brothers, high heat, heart-stopping action, and plenty of alpha heroes!

Read the first four books in the series here.

Archer

“You don’t know what you do to me standing there.” My voice is rough, thick with need, and I watch her spin, startled, a book falling out of her hands. It hits the floor with a clatter, but I barely notice. All I can see is her—bathed in the golden light, looking so damn beautiful it almost hurts.

She’s flustered, her breath quickening as she looks at me. “God, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were back.” Her voice is shaky, and I can feel her tension, the way her eyes dart around the room like she’s trying to find a way out.

I don’t let her off the hook that easily. “You didn’t change into this flimsy excuse for a dress for me?”

I see the flicker of uncertainty flash across her face. Good. I want her to feel the weight of what she does to me.

She hesitates, swallowing hard before replying, “No.” Her tone is defensive, sharp, but I catch the hint of vulnerability beneath it. She’s scared—not of me, but of what she’s feeling. The same thing I’ve been feeling since the moment I laid eyes on her this morning.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me. She has no idea what’s coming. I step forward, closing the distance between us, and when I’m standing toe-to-toe with her, I tilt her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “You’re so beautiful,” I murmur, my thumb brushing across her jaw. The warmth of her skin under my fingers sends a rush of heat straight through me. “I look at you, and I know you could be my everything.” My grin tilts sideways. “You just don’t know it yet.”

Her breath hitches, and I can see the conflict in her eyes—the mix of desire and fear, the way she’s fighting to keep control. But I’m not letting her hide from this. From us.

“Make no mistake, Bella,” I continue, my voice dropping lower, rougher. “What happened earlier will happen again.” My thumb traces the line of her lips, watching the way she shivers under my touch. Her reaction is electric, and it drives me wild knowing I’m the one who gets under her skin like this.

“You body wants me–craves me. I can see it in your eyes, hell, I can smell your arousal in the air and I’m about to burst through the zipper of my jeans if you keep looking up at me with those big, beautiful eyes,” I warn, my fingers tilting her chin back toward me, forcing her gaze to meet mine. I’m not playing games, and she knows it. The tension between us crackles, thick and heavy, and I watch as she swallows, her lips parting as if she wants to say something but can’t quite form the words.

She finally nods, a small, almost imperceptible movement, her eyes wide and locked on mine. “Oh,” she whispers, her voice barely audible, but the way it trembles sends a surge of satisfaction through me. She’s mine. Whether she’s ready to admit it or not, she’s mine. I feel like I’ve peeled back her roughened exterior, the protective armor she wears for the world has been shed, she can’t hide herself from me.

I step back slightly, letting her drop to the floor to retrieve the book she dropped. My gaze never leaves her as she moves, her fingers trembling as she fumbles for it. She’s rattled, just like I want her to be.

When she stands again, our eyes meet, and I can see the confusion, the desire, swirling in those beautiful depths. She’s torn, caught between wanting me and running from what she’s feeling. But I’m not letting her run. Bella is different, strong but soft in a way that obsesses me.

She turns to leave, but I can’t let her go. Not yet. “Bella?” I call, my voice soft but commanding, stopping her in her tracks.

She pauses, her hand gripping the doorframe, and I see the way her shoulders tense, the way her breathing picks up. “Archer?” she whispers, not daring to turn around.

I close the distance between us in an instant, my body pressing close to hers, the heat between us palpable. My nostrils flare as I take in her scent, her arousal evident even though she’s trying to hide it. She’s fighting it, but her body betrays her—just like mine does every time I’m near her.

“You look good enough to eat,” I growl, my fingers brushing against the back of her neck, sending a shiver down her spine. The soft skin beneath my fingertips is like a live wire, sparking with electricity as I push aside the strap of her silky nightgown, exposing her shoulder to the cool air.

Her body reacts to me instantly, her breathing quickening as I lean in, my lips hovering just above her skin. I want to devour her, to claim her right here, but I hold back, teasing, knowing it’ll drive her crazy.

Her fingers lift to her lips, tracing the softness I kissed just hours ago, and I watch, fascinated, as she bites her lip, her body trembling with the effort of holding back. She wants me. She needs me. And I’m not going to let her forget that.

“Good night, angel,” I whisper against her skin, pressing a featherlight kiss just below her ear, my tongue flicking out to taste her. Her soft gasp fills the room, and I smile against her neck, knowing I’ve got her right where I want her.

My hands slide down her body in slow, deliberate strokes, lifting the hem of her nightgown. I can feel her muscles tense, her breath hitching as I push aside her panties and find the heat between her legs.

Her reaction is immediate—a soft gasp, her thighs trembling as my fingers begin to circle her clit, teasing, coaxing her closer to the edge. “That’s it, baby,” I murmur, my voice rough with desire. “I want to hear you. Tell me I own this pussy.”

Her fingers tighten in my hair, and I can feel her body shaking with the need for release. But I’m not letting her off that easily. I need to hear her say it.

“Tell me, Bella,” I growl, thrusting a finger inside her, feeling her tighten around me. “Who does this pussy belong to?”

Her voice is breathless, shaky, but she answers, “You.”

The words spill from her lips, and it’s like music to my ears.

But I want more.

“Say it again,” I demand, stilling my hand, watching as her body trembles with the effort of holding on. She’s so close, but I need to hear it.

“You own it, Archer,” she whispers, her voice desperate, pleading. “It’s yours. Please.”

The moment the words leave her mouth, I’m on my knees, my tongue replacing my fingers, tasting her. She gasps, her hands flying to my hair as she arches against me, her thighs trembling as I work her over, driving her closer and closer to release.

Her taste is intoxicating, and I revel in the way her body responds to me, the way she’s completely at my mercy.

“You taste sweeter than I imagined,” I murmur against her slick folds, my voice thick with satisfaction.

My thumb rubs against her nipple, the sensitivity of the hardened bud making her gasp, and I can feel her body trembling beneath me. My teeth find her clit, nipping at the swollen flesh while my fingers pinch her nipple just enough to send that rush of pleasure surging through her. I love the way she responds, the way her body arches against me as if every nerve is electrified.

Her head falls back, her eyes closing, and her breath comes in ragged pants. She’s right on the edge, her toes curling, thighs shaking. I can’t get enough of this—watching her come undone, knowing I’m the one who’s driving her there.

"Ahh, that's it, beautiful girl," I murmur, my voice low and gravelly, pulling her back from the brink of her release. Her taste lingers on my tongue, sweet and addictive. "Mmm, I love the taste of your pretty cunt on my tongue."

I press my lips to hers, my tongue slipping past her parted lips, letting her taste the honeyed sweetness of her arousal on me. Her body melts into mine, hands tangling around my neck, fingers pulling me closer as if she can’t get enough. I kiss her deeply, the hunger between us palpable, but I’m still in control, holding the moment just out of reach, savoring her desire.

When I pull away, a cocky grin spreads across my face, and I can see the dazed look in her eyes. She’s nearly shaking, her body spent but wanting more. "Naughty girl," I tease, my thumb tracing the corner of her mouth where the wetness lingers. "You like the taste of your pussy on my lips too."

I watch as her eyes flutter closed again, and I wipe the remnants of her desire from her skin before popping my thumb into my mouth, savoring the taste once more. "So sweet," I say, shaking my head in mock amazement. She really is intoxicating.

I let the silence linger for a beat, just enough to make her feel the weight of my words, before I lean down, my lips brushing lightly against her ear. "Sweet dreams, beautiful Bella."

I wink, sauntering away like I own the room—because right now, I do. I know exactly what I’ve done to her, what I’ve left her with.

As I walk out, I can feel her eyes on me, jaw slack, still caught in the web of everything I’ve just given her. She’s shaken, in the best way, and I know she’s standing there wondering what the hell just happened.

This thing between us is more than lust—it’s something bigger. The way she tastes, the way she responds—it’s unlike anything else. And I’m not done with her. Not by a long shot.

I glance back one last time before I disappear down the hall, and there she is, licking her lips, relishing the flavor of her own desire mixed with mine. Sweet dreams, indeed…