Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
ROWDY
“ T ell me more about your divorce,” I order, leaning back against the sofa and rubbing my belly. Diving into pizza and beer allowed us to stay awkwardly silent for a time, but now we have to get down to brass tacks.
“Well, I thought you’d know all about that,” Red says scornfully, taking another swig of beer. Despite my many warnings, the redhead’s getting sauced. But I have to admit I’m drinking more than usual, too. It’s the easiest way to deal with the firecracker across from me… “After all, you sent my ex a ‘Congratulations’ card to celebrate dodging the biggest mistake of his life?—”
“No, dodging the biggest bullet. That’s what I said.”
“Either way, it was mean-spirited,” she declares, licking her lips and nodding firmly.
Red’s words surprise me, and I furrow my brows. Why does she care if I was being mean-spirited to her ex? But I don’t pretend to read her mind or have her figured out. I reply firmly, “I don’t regret that one bit.”
She frowns, side-eyeing me like she’s trying to figure something out. God help us both if it’s the same thing I’m trying to figure—why the fuck I need to bang her so badly. I mean, what the hell’s wrong with me?
This is all Billy’s fault. I’ve worked hard as an adult to avoid spending time alone with Red, realizing since puberty, my weirder feelings for her didn’t need encouragement. I chalked it up to an innocent—okay, counting masturbation sessions, not so innocent —crush.
I never for one minute entertained the idea it could be consensual, though. Honestly, I just thought I was a bit of a sick fuck. No harm, no foul… as long as no one ever found out . Every excuse I used in the past to stay away from the equivalent of my older sister melts in the hot rays of this newfound mutuality, leaving me dangerously close to mastering the situation in a way that could blow the family apart.
Am I seriously considering repaying the Cashes’ generosity and affection over the years by fucking their only daughter?
Yes.
Because even more than loyalty to family, I need to make Lesley happy…with every fiber of my being, every bone in my body. I don’t know where the impulse comes from, but the power behind it makes it difficult to breathe.
A couple of hours ago, I hated everything the big-city wannabe stands for, and tomorrow, I will again. But in this singular moment, with her reminding me of the country girl I first crushed on, I need to please her more than I need my heart to beat. If she asks, I won’t hesitate, though I know better.
Fuck …
But then again, that kiss in the conference room blew things wide open, and the whole world thinks we’re engaged anyway. Her parents have to know by now, and Armageddon hasn’t begun. Maybe all these years, I’ve overestimated the drama a move like this could bring. All I know is with how her eyes rove over my body, and her voice sounds breathy and seductive, I’d brave the fires of hell for a chance with her.
This is not good…
“Shouldn’t surprise me, I guess...” Her voice trails off. I don’t even know what she’s referring to now, my mind swimming in indecent thoughts, my cock pressing hard against the zipper of my jeans. “Despite everything, I’m a big enough woman to admit we worked well together today once you got over your bullshit and agreed to a second fit testing.”
Still on work? How can her mind be at the office? I swallow loudly, trying hard not to devour her with my eyes and failing miserably…again.
I say, “Oh, we’re being nice to each other now? Well, in that case, I’m glad you showed up at Jameson & Cash because some of the details the team signed off on during the first fit testing go-around didn’t sit well with me. I wasn’t sure if I was being overly sensitive or neurotic, though.”
“If you want to make it in the fashion industry, you must be demanding, neurotic, and religiously dedicated to perfecting every detail. There’s no other way.”
I rub my chest absent-mindedly. “And let me guess. You don’t see any of those traits in me, so I’m going to fail. Is that it?”
The redhead frowns, peeling another label from her current beer bottle as she thinks. Finally, looking up, she says, “Demanding? Not nearly enough. Your team isn’t there to be your friends. They’re there to respect you and do what you ask. Period.”
“And does your team do that?” I ask.
Red’s eyes narrow, and her face looks torn. Pressing her lips firmly together, she admits, “Ninety-nine percent of the time. Respect for women is tough, though. You’re either a pushover or a bitch. There’s no in-between.”
“Well, there’s got to be a cunt category for bosses like you,” I challenge.
She almost chokes on her beer, laughing. “You keep getting funnier with age. Fascinating to see actual humor in a creature with such a low IQ.”
I smile begrudgingly.
“As for neuroticism, you always were a strange little kid, but did that translate into neuroticism in adulthood? I’d have to be around you more to know for sure.”
“Here’s your chance,” I mutter, feeling warmer by the minute, thanks to the beer and the stunning woman across from me. As she struggles with her next answer, my eyes consume her whole, my heart races, and all the blood in my body beelines for my cock.
God, I want her…
“And as for attention to detail, I think you have everything you need if you’ll stop second-guessing yourself—” She looks up, catching me examining her. “Okay, you seriously need to stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop looking at me the way you’re looking at me. Like some wild animal about to pounce.” She fans her face with her hand, her cheeks flushing again.
“I can’t help it,” I reply, immediately kicking myself for my forthright statement. What the fuck is Red doing to me?
“And why can’t you help yourself, Ronald?” she croons in a voice far too seductive for me to ignore. For once, I appreciate the intimacy of her using my actual first name instead of the rodeo nickname I’ve gone by for years.
“Because despite hating your rude, presumptuous, New Yorker attitude, you still manage to be one of the sexiest women on the planet. How do you do that?”
Licking her full bottom lip, Red swallows loudly. “I suppose the way you manage to be one of the hottest fucking cowboys I’ve ever seen.”
Her words knock me back, and my pulse jumps. Steeling my voice to give her one more out, I observe, “You just flew direct from New York City. I imagine I’m the only cowboy you’ve seen in years.”
She smiles mischievously, her cheeks crimson. “We’re both adults here, and considering we’re theoretically engaged, what would your thoughts be about… you know .”
Is she really asking what I think she’s asking?
“Hate fucking each other?”
“You make it sound terrible.” She smiles seductively.
“It does sound terrible,” I admit in low tones. “But something tells me it would be mind-blowing…and something I’d regret to high heaven tomorrow.”
“Can you keep your mouth shut?”
“As in, keep it a secret? Of course.” I’ve kept secrets about Red since before I started shaving.
“That. But also, as in, don’t talk while we do the deed. Because if I’m reminded it’s you, Rowdy, it’ll ruin everything.”
I laugh, feeling the painful strain of my cock against my jeans. “See, that’s the thing. I want to be reminded it’s you. It’s a fucking turn-on to think about you berating the hell out of me as I grab onto those juicy hips of yours and rail the hell out of you.”
“Well, if you’re going to talk like that,” she replies with a wicked smile, her eyes rounding. “I suppose I might let you open your mouth.”
“Oh, you’ll let me open my mouth once you get wind of what I can do with it,” I promise, feeling the heat and sting of the sparks flying between us.
“Maybe it’s the beer talking?” She shakes her head, fanning herself and giggling. “Are we really saying these things to each other?”
“Yeah, we are. But neither one of us can deny we’ve been eye fucking since you showed up in town. Besides, if we’re going to pull off this whole fake engagement thing, we need to master some of the insane sexual tension between us. Don’t you think?”
“All I know is I’ve wondered for a while now if you fuck as good as you ride and rope.”
“Girl, you just made my damn heart stop. Say that again.”
“Say what?” she teases, leaning forward to crawl towards me. Fuck, I’m hard as granite now and ready to explode. “I’ve wondered for a while now if you fuck as good as you ride and rope.” As she passes the coffee table, she grabs my Stetson and puts it on her head.
Fuck me …
A real city girl I might let off the hook with few repercussions. But Red knows precisely what she’s asking for.
“Wear the hat, ride the cowboy,” I say darkly, my body throbbing and aching with years of pent-up need.
She giggles. “I know exactly what putting on your hat means, Rowdy.”
“You don’t have to ask again, city girl,” I growl in raw tones, pulling her into my lap so she straddles me seated on my crossed legs. My cock digs into her inner thigh, begging for a taste of her sweet pussy.
I’m out of my fucking mind with need. This is not good.
“I’m not sure if I can do this looking at you,” she says, shaking her head.
“Woman, you sure know how to kill a man and ruin the moment,” I growl, squeezing her hips and grinding her crotch hard against my cock. But I’m determined to do this with her, even if it means wearing a potato sack over my head. “Close your eyes if you have to.”
“No, I don’t mean it like that,” she says, her voice relaxed from the beer. “If I look at you, I might catch feelings. And that’s the last thing either of us needs to do.”
“Honey, you already have all sorts of feelings for me. They’re just of the negative kind. Let’s get you wet and see if I can change your opinion of me.”
“You already have,” she whispers against the shell of my ear.
“What? Changed your opinion of me?”
“No,” she shakes her head. “You already have me wet.”
“Fuck,” I growl, my heart racing out of my chest as I reach for the button on her jeans waistband, pulling her closer. “I don’t think I can take your word on such a crucial topic. I need to see for myself where you’re at before I take you further.”
She whimpers, breathing hard.
“I’m clean, and I have condoms,” I say, staring raptly at her as the zipper of her jeans snarl at my urging. I have to concentrate hard to keep my balls from pulling up at the suggestion of Red. Right or wrong, she’s my ultimate fantasy.
“I’m clean, too,” she replies, holding her breath as my fingers tease the top of her lacy underwear. “And I’m on birth control. So, wrapped or raw is fine by me.”
“Raw, then,” I growl. “I don’t want anything between us when I fuck that slick cunt of yours.” I dip into her panties at the last statement, my fingers marveling at her warm, slippery invitation. “I hope you know this is going to be more than a one-time deal.”
She nods emphatically. “Yes, Ronald, I want you, and once won’t begin to cut it.” Red arches her head back, surrendering to my fingers as I lean forward, covering her smooth, pale throat in open-mouthed kisses.
Between breaths, she pants, “But what about your injured hand? I don’t want you to hurt it. You’re supposed to be icing it.”
“You let me worry about that, girl. The only thing I want you to concentrate on is enjoying the ride.”