Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
brIDGER
I don’t remember the last time I felt this content. This relaxed . Or, I admit, this damn smug.
Dani’s curled up around me, draped over me with bare skin, sleeping soundly. And she should be. I woke her up just two hours ago to fuck her again because she was in my arms, just like this, and I couldn’t resist her.
How could anyone resist her?
And how is it possible that anyone lucky enough to be in Dani’s bed never had their mouth on her? Don’t get me wrong, the thought of another fucker’s hands or mouth anywhere near this woman makes me feral, but what a bunch of absolute idiots. She’s so fucking amazing she takes my breath away. Soft, warm skin, breasts that beg for my hands, and a pussy so damn delicious, I know that I’ll never get my fill of her. The noises she makes, the way she clutches my hair in her fists, Jesus, everything about her is just… fuck .
Even now, the mere feel of her, skin on skin, has my cock thickening, but I drag my hand down my face and mentally tell it to calm the fuck down. She needs to rest, and I need coffee.
Gently, I slide out from under her and nudge my pillow against her, smiling when she hugs it close and nuzzles that gorgeous face into it, sighing back into sleep.
Dani Lexington is every fucking fantasy I’ve ever had in my life, and she’s finally in my bed.
I plan to keep her there as much as possible, which won’t be nearly enough, given that I have a five-year-old, but we’ll figure it out. I wasn’t kidding when I told her that staying away from her isn’t a damn option for me.
After tugging on some sweats and a tank, I pad out to the kitchen and get a pot of coffee going. Pickles is curled up, sleeping on the couch as if she’s lived here all her life. When I walk over to pet her, she stretches, blinks at me, and then turns in a circle to go back to sleep.
“Get used to this,” I whisper to her before returning to the kitchen. I usually drink my coffee on the deck, on the rare days that Birdie and I aren’t rushing to get out the door, and I wonder if Dani would like to have breakfast out there today. I have stuff for pancakes and bacon, and I even have some fresh fruit that I picked up the other day.
I’ll give her a while to sleep, and then I’ll ask her. The great thing about today is, there’s no agenda. Neither of us has anywhere to be, my daughter is well taken care of by my sister, and Dani and I can just be.
I’ve just poured myself some coffee when I hear bare feet on the hardwood, and when I turn, my tongue glues itself to the roof of my mouth.
Holy fucking Christ.
Dani’s rubbing her sleepy eyes, and her dark hair falls around her shoulders, messy from my fingers and bed. Those pouty lips are swollen, and I can’t wait to taste them again.
But that’s not what’s rendered me speechless.
She’s in my fucking Bitterroot Valley Fire Department T-shirt. The arms fall to her elbows, and the hem to mid-thigh. Her legs and feet are bare, and fuck me if my heart doesn’t kick into overdrive and my cock isn’t instantly begging for her.
“Good morning,” she says, her voice raspy.
She blinks at me, and I can’t speak yet.
“Bridge? Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I clear my throat and set my mug aside. “Sorry. You’re in my shirt.”
She looks down at herself and bites her lip. “I found it in your drawer. It’s comfy. Really soft. Is it old?”
“Yeah.” I swallow hard and step toward her. “And I didn’t say you could borrow it.”
Let’s be honest, I’ll give her anything she wants, but first, I’m going to fuck her here in my kitchen.
Her gaze whips up to mine, and she frowns. “Uh?—”
Before she can say any more, I frame her face in my hands and kiss her. She moans, leaning against me, her hands immediately going for my ass, and I can’t help the grin that slides across my face.
“I guess I should take it off,” she whispers.
“Let me.” Gathering the hem in my hands, I pull the shirt over her head, and she lifts her arms helpfully. And she’s left bare-ass naked. “Fuck, baby.”
There’s a smile in her cobalt eyes as she bites that lip, and then I lift her onto the counter, and she gasps from the cold marble hitting her skin.
“I’ll warm you up,” I promise. “Spread your pretty legs for me, kitten.”
I step between her legs, and she’s at the perfect height for this. Her arms wrap around my shoulders, and she opens her mouth to me, kissing me with a hunger that matches my own.
Who knew that quiet, shy Dani would be absolute fire when it comes to sex?
She lowers one arm and presses her hand against my hard-as-steel cock, and I drag my lips down her jaw so I can bury my face in her neck.
“God, baby. Take it out.”
She pushes my sweats down my hips, and when my cock bobs free, she grips it.
“Yes, stroke it, just like that.” She swipes her thumb over the crown, and I bite her fleshy shoulder.
“You’re so big and thick.” Her words are a whisper, making me groan against her.
“What is?”
She whimpers and presses her lips to my own shoulder, but I want to hear the words. I want to hear the dirty words from her clean mouth.
“What is, Dani?”
“Your … appendage. ”
My head jerks up at that, and my eyes narrow on her. “Oh, you can do so much better than that, kitten. Try again.”
She frowns. “I don’t like to swear.”
“I’m going to make all kinds of filthy things come out of your perfect little mouth. Come on, you can do it. When it’s just you and me, no one else, you can say it.” I kiss her neck and palm her breast, rubbing her nipple between my fingers, and she gasps. “What’s big and thick, Dani?”
“Your …”
“Say cock, baby.”
Her aroused gaze finds mine, and as she continues to work me over, she lifts that chin in that way she does when she’s being particularly brave, and she says, “Your cock is so big and hard, and I want it inside of me, Bridger.”
Fuck me sideways.
“Good girl.” Wrapping my hands around her ass, she lifts herself up as I drag her closer to the edge of the countertop, and Dani herself guides me to her, burying the crown in her slick wetness. She’s so damn wet, so ready for me, that I slide inside of her effortlessly, balls deep. “This thick cock is going to fuck you until you see stars, sweetheart. Lean back.”
She moves back to her elbows, and I lift her legs higher, fucking her as if I wasn’t inside her four times in the past twelve hours.
But who’s counting?
“Bridger. ”
“Yes, sweetheart?” God, I fucking love it when she rasps my name, when she whimpers and clenches around me.
Her mouth is open, her bright eyes on me, and I can’t resist reaching up and resting the pad of my thumb on that lower lip. She sucks me into her mouth, and I’m the one who sees fucking stars.
I’m an animal possessed now, hammering into her, making her body quake with every thrust. I pull my wet thumb out of her mouth and cover her hard clit with it, and she cries out, her head falls back, and her pussy clenches around me like a goddamn vise.
“Oh. My. God!”
“Yes, baby. God, you’re so fucking perfect.” She’s squeezing me, milking my cock, and I can’t hold my climax back anymore. I pull her to me, bottoming out, and come so hard I lose my breath.
After taking a few lungfuls of air, I reach over for a towel, rest it under where we’re connected, and then pull out of her and use the towel to catch my cum.
“Wow,” she whispers, chest still heaving, nipples hard as stone. She sits up, and I grip her jaw and kiss her hard. “Gonna need another shower.”
“You do that, and I’ll get breakfast going. We can eat on the deck.”
She smiles softly. Her cheeks are still so rosy, her lips puffier, and I can’t resist pressing my mouth to her once again.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. ”
She blushes harder, which I didn’t realize was possible, and I help her down to her feet.
“Breakfast on the deck sounds really nice,” she says as she reaches for my T-shirt. “I’m wearing this today, by the way.”
“It’s way too big for you.”
“But it smells like you.” She shrugs. “So, I want it.”
“Then it’s yours.”
Before she can walk away, she turns back to me with a frown. “What are we doing today, anyway? We can’t just hole up in here and have…sex . ”
I cross my arms over my chest and grin at her. God, she’s fucking adorable. “Why not?”
She swallows hard.
Okay, sex all day is off the table. Literally and metaphorically.
I do know something that she’d probably love to do. When Millie found out that the Lexington girls had never ridden horses—thanks to that cruel bastard of a father—she was determined to make sure they not only learned to ride, but would love it as much as she did.
So, I think I know what would make my girl happy today. I can give her more orgasms later to put the icing on the proverbial cake.
“I was thinking we could go out to the ranch and ride some horses, if you’re up for it.”
Her whole face lights up at that. “Oh, I’d love that. Millie’s been teaching me, and it’s been a couple of weeks since our last ride. I don’t want to get rusty. ”
I reach out and push a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Then we’ll go ride. But first, breakfast.”
“And a shower.”
She turns, stark naked, and I enjoy the view of her ass, the dimples in her low back, and the bruises from my fingers as she walks away.
“I’m impressed.”
Dani’s just finished buckling the saddle to the horse that I chose for her. Crackers is a sweet girl, easygoing, and I know that she’ll love Dani. “I’d never know that you just recently learned how to do this.”
My girl grins with pride and runs her hand over the horse’s flank, then she gives her a hard pat. “I love it,” she confesses. “It’s one more reason for me to hate my dad. It still aches, you know? His wickedness. How could I have grown up on a ranch and never learned to ride a horse? Why did he hate us that much?”
Oh, kitten. Fuck, I hate him. I want to tuck her into my side and protect her from the pain in her eyes, but I’m going to keep it positive today.
“He was cold-blooded. But despite his attempts to crush you, you’re learning now, and you have a whole lifetime ahead of you to enjoy horses. And that’s something he can’t take away from you.”
She nods and grins, and she doesn’t look particularly sad or angry. “You’re right. Did you know that Millie and Holden are going to build a new barn to house rescued horses?”
“Yeah, they told me about that. I think it’s pretty cool.”
“So do I. I plan to volunteer as much as I can, and I think it would be fun to do a field trip out there once a year with my class.”
I wrap my arms around her from behind and kiss the top of her head. She smells like my shampoo, and I like it.
She is good to her word and is wearing my T-shirt, but she’s tied it into a knot around her waist so it doesn’t look like she’s wearing a dress, and she looks adorable in it. She paired it with a pair of jeans that she fetched from her house, along with some boots, and I’d like to fuck her here in this barn.
But I promised her a different kind of ride.
“Need a boost up?” I ask her.
“Nah, I’ve got it.”
I reluctantly let her go and watch as she expertly lifts up into the saddle, settles her feet in the stirrups, and holds on to the reins, smiling down at me as she pats Crackers’s neck.
She looks sexy as fuck on a horse.
I boost up onto my own horse, Copper, and then we stride out of the barn.
“You know, aside from the farmhouse and this horse barn, the ranch doesn’t look much like it did when I was a kid,” Dani says. “And we spent a lot of time out here.”
“Beckett’s been changing a lot since he took over for Mom and Dad,” I agree as we ride, side by side, over to a new path that’s been forged this year. “This is a horse trail, but it’s also going to be a cross-country ski path in the winter.”
“Do you guys do that often?”
“Not really. But Beckett just had eight tiny cabins built back this way, on the other side of this grove of trees, for guest cabins.”
“He’s making the Double B into a guest ranch?” she asks, surprised.
“He is, yeah. He’s keeping the dairy farm, of course. That’s the bread and butter of this ranch, and it always will be. But with so many more tourists coming to town every year, he thought it would be worthwhile to add the guest ranch side, and he’s already booked up through next summer. He hasn’t even officially opened yet.”
“That’s incredible.” She tips her face back and takes a deep breath. “Fall is here. I mean, it’s still warm enough, but can you feel the cold on the back side of it? Does that even make sense?”
“Yep, I feel it. The trees will be turning in the next week or two.”
“It’s my favorite time,” she says. “I love all the colors and the more comfortable temps. Also, the bugs die and go back to hell where they belong.”
With a laugh, I grin over at her. “All good things, for sure. Can I ask you a question, kitten?”
“Of course.” She grins over at me. “Go ahead.”
“Since the day that you and your sisters met up with Holden at your ranch and took out what you wanted from the farmhouse, have you been back out there? ”
She frowns, staring over the top of the horse’s head, and I worry that I’ve just ruined our day.
“No,” she says at last. “There’s nothing out there for me except for bad memories, Bridge. The best thing my brother ever did was have you burn it all down. It’s like it cleansed the land or something, you know?”
I nod, waiting for her to continue.
“I know that Holden would give me a piece of that property if I wanted to build a house out there or something, but I honestly don’t want it. I don’t care if I never go back out there, except to the horse rescue when it’s finished. I go out to Ryan Wild’s ranch for riding lessons with Millie. And we’ve been out to the Wild ranch for dinners and stuff, which is so ironic because my dad would rain down hellfire if he knew that was happening.”
I nod, listening, so proud that she’s able to talk about this without it upsetting her.
“So, no. I don’t have a need to go out there. My sisters and I grabbed the few things of our mom’s that we wanted to save, and Charlie has all of that in her garage for some time in the future when we want to go through it. The rest is over.”
“I’m so glad he’s dead.” I swallow hard with that admission, and Dani turns her gaze to me. “I didn’t know until this year that he killed your mom. I knew he was an abusive fuck, and I hated that you always had to go back.”
“He and the sheriff were best friends when I was young,” she reminds me. “He got away with anything and everything.”
“I know. It was just so fucked up that he never paid for what he did.” And that fact makes me so goddamn angry. How they’re not all screwed up is a testimony to Holden’s determination to love them so much. I notice where we are and then say, “The cabins are just around this bend.”
A row of eight A-frame cabins come into view, and when we circle around to the front of them, we see that this whole side is nothing but windows, letting in the view of the beautiful mountains ahead.
“Oh, Bridger, these are amazing . ”
“Come on, I’ll show you one.”
I hop off Copper and then help her off Crackers, and we secure their reins before I take her hand and lead her to the first cabin. I know that the door isn’t locked.
“This is the biggest one and can sleep up to six. The others sleep either two or four.”
She nods, and I open the door, and we step inside. They aren’t furnished yet, but they’re already impressive.
The kitchen and living room are open to each other. There’s a loft above, which sleeps four, and there’s a tiny bedroom that sleeps another two. There’s one bathroom for the whole cabin.
“It’s so much bigger inside than it looks from out there,” she murmurs, walking around. “And these windows . Bridger, someone’s going to come in here and never want to leave. ”
I chuckle and shove my hands into my pockets, nodding.
“I know. I told Beck he’ll have people offering him a million dollars to buy one.”
“You may joke, but I think you’re right.”
“It’s not really a joke.” I stay back and let her wander through, then up the stairs. She leans over the railing, smiling down at me.
“Hey.” She waves.
“Hey yourself, beautiful girl.”
She laughs and then comes back down the stairs. “Beckett is going to kill it with these. Is he going to offer hunting guides and stuff, too?”
“Yeah, that’s the long-term plan.” I can’t help it. I pull Dani against me, wrap my arms around her shoulders, and plant my lips in her hair, hugging her to me. I need to touch this woman constantly. She’s like a drug, and I’m completely addicted to her.
“You’re so fucking amazing, sweetheart.”
“Gosh, Bridger, you give the best hugs. I know others have told you that, but it’s so true.”
I like to hug. And not any of that half-assed pat-you-on-the-back bullshit, either. If I care enough about someone to hug them, I want to hug them.
And I love the way Dani melts into me, her head pressed to my chest in exactly the right spot, her arms wrapped around my torso.
She fits me.
“How are you feeling?” I ask her softly. “Ready to keep going? ”
“Yes. I want to see the cows. I’ve always had a soft spot for them.”
“What about the goats?”
She frowns up at me. “You have goats?”
“Yeah, and chickens—” She stiffens at that, and I narrow my eyes at her.
“No chickens, okay?” Her lower lip quivers, but she firms it and raises her chin. “Not today.”
“No chickens. Let’s go see the cows and goats. How do you feel about puppies?”
“Oh, I am fond of puppies.”
“I thought you’d say that.”
She’s not just fond of puppies, I discover when we make our way over to the dairy barn, where Beckett’s milking cows and keeping an eye on the little terrors that are almost ready to find homes.
She freaks out over puppies.
Dani sits on her butt, right on the ground, and giggles as all seven of the dogs climb around her, into her lap, and all around, trying to kiss her face.
Beckett and I share a smile, and then Dani climbs to her feet again and scoops one of the pups into her arms.
“Oh, you’re just a baby.” She kisses its nose and then buries her face in its neck. “You’re so sweet. And you smell so good . ”
“Puppy smell,” Beckett agrees. “Someone should figure out how to bottle it. They’d make a fucking fortune. By the way, are you going to say hi to me ?”
“Hey, Beck,” Dani says with a laugh and crosses to my brother, lifting onto her toes to kiss his cheek. “Why do you keep getting more handsome every time I see you?”
“Hey now. No flirting with my brother.”
Dani smirks at me and then sets the puppy down so it can run back to join its siblings.
“Wanna learn how to milk a cow?” Beckett asks Dani.
“Heck yes, I wanna learn how to milk a cow. Show me.”
We spend a couple of hours with Beckett and his men in the barn, and as he shows Dani how to set the cows up to the machines as well as the process of getting the milk from them, I change the water for the dogs, tidy up their pen, and then go out and water our horses.
When I return inside to gather my girl and take her home, I can hear her laughing with my brother.
This woman can do anything. She’s currently helping Beck unhook the machines from a cow’s teat, and she’s giggling like crazy.
Birdie would love this. I can picture the two of them here, playing with the puppies and harassing Beckett, and I make a mental note to bring them both next time.
“Are you about ready to head back?” I ask Dani when she turns and smiles at me.
“Yeah, I think so. I hope I didn’t ruin all this afternoon’s milk supply, Beck.”
“Only most of it.” Beckett winks at her. “It’s a good thing you’re an excellent teacher because it’s safe to say that you’re not a dairy farmer.”
“Well, shucks. That breaks my heart.” She giggles again and walks right to me, wraps her arms around me, and hugs me. “Let’s go.”
Beck winks at me over the top of her head, and I turn to guide her out to the truck.
“That was so fun,” she says with a happy sigh as she settles into her seat, and I maneuver the truck onto the highway to town. “The ranch is so beautiful. Do you ever miss living out here?”
“Nah.” I shake my head and reach over to rest my hand on her thigh. “I love going out to spend some time there, but my life is in town, you know?”
“Definitely. But it is fun to visit.” She yawns, and we’re quiet as we drive the rest of the way into town.
Suddenly, my phone rings, and I answer it on the screen.
“Bob’s Pizza.”
Tinkling laughter pours out of the speakers, and Dani snickers next to me.
“Dad, you’re not Bob’s Pizza!”
“What are you up to, peanut?”
“Aunt Bee and I got nachos, and I helped her at her new store. And we saw Millie and Holden, and I got a hot chocolate. And now we’re going home so I can have a bath, and then we’re going to have pedicures and facials.”
“Wow, you’re really going all out on the girls’ weekend, aren’t you?” I smile and slow down when a logging truck pulls onto the highway in front of us. “Are you having fun?”
“Of course, she is,” Bee calls out. “She’s with me. ”
“Yeah, of course, I am,” Birdie echoes, and now Dani’s laugh fills the cab of the truck.
“Do you have a girl with you?” Birdie asks.
“I’m with Miss Dani,” I reply easily and take Dani’s hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “We went out to the ranch for a while and rode the horses.”
“Did you see the puppies?” Birdie demands.
“We did,” Dani replies. “They’re so cute. Do you have a favorite puppy?”
“I can’t decide. They’re all my favorite,” Birdie replies. “Okay, I have to go. Love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, peanut. Have fun.”
I end the call, and Dani sighs next to me. “She’s so funny. She’s like this all day in class. Not afraid to speak up and volunteer information or ask questions. I never know what she’s going to say, and it cracks me up.”
“I love that you get along with her.”
“Who wouldn’t get along with that beautiful girl?”
That makes me smile. Takes one to know one, Miss Lexington.
When I pull into my driveway, Dani waits for me to cross around to open her door. When she lowers to her feet, I see the wince on her pretty face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. I’m fine.”
I cup her chin and make her look me in the face. “What’s wrong, kitten?”
“It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“No way. Tell me.”
She nibbles that lower lip. “I’m sore . My…nether regions…aren’t used to this much action. Between last night, this morning, and then spending all day on a horse, yeah. Ouch.”
I pick her up and carry her into the house. “Come on. Let’s put you into an Epsom salt bath to help relieve some of that pain. I have some ibuprofen for you, too.”
“Thanks, that sounds nice, and your bathtub is insane, but I can totally just go home and? — ”
“No.” I tighten my arms around her. “You’re staying, and I’ll take care of you. No arguing allowed.”
“I really do love that tub.”
“I know.” I kiss her temple as I carry her back to my bedroom and set her gingerly on the bed. “The previous owners did the renovations on this place, and the tub was here when I bought it. You’re okay with the bath these days?”
She nods and lets me tug off her shoes and socks, then wiggles her toes as I lean over to kiss the top of her foot. “Tubs are fine. Now, it’s mostly just bigger bodies of water and swimming pools that I won’t go near. But thank you for asking.”
She’s fucking incredible. The shit she’s overcome, the incredible strength she has to be so amazing slays me.
“Good to know. Hang tight, I’m going to get the water going.”
“I’ll be right here.”