Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
isaac
The third week of cowboy camp is… challenging. It might not be so bad if the rest of my responsibilities went away while I dealt with a bunch of actors. Or if I didn’t have to spend every second reminding myself to pretend I hadn’t been inside one of them.
By Friday night, I’m contemplating going out and trying to forget my night with Elena. Deep down, I know it’s probably impossible, but it feels like I should try.
The old me would try.
But then, I don’t feel like I’ve seen that guy in weeks.
Instead, I’m walking toward the north fence line with two cold beers and a head full of trouble.
Trouble with long legs, a smart mouth, and eyes like a thunderstorm.
She’s sitting on the top rail, staring out at the horizon, a strand of hair stuck to her cheek. She’s still in her riding jeans and boots, black tank top knotted at the waist. There’s dirt on her knee and a raw edge to her posture, like she’s holding something in she wants to let loose.
I almost turn back.
Almost.
Instead, I scuff my boot in the gravel, so I don’t spook her. “Didn’t expect to find you out here. We’re done for the day.”
She glances over her shoulder. “Didn’t expect to be followed.”
I hold out a beer. “Figured you earned this.”
She eyes it like she’s not sure whether to accept or toss it at my head. Eventually, she takes it with a small nod. Our fingers brush. Just for a second. But I feel it in my ribs.
“I didn’t mean to take over with Nora today,” she offers after a sip.
I try to recall what she’s talking about then remember that she stepped into the help with the actress earlier this morning.
“I don’t mind. I appreciate the help.”
“You sure?” she pushes. “You seemed a little…tense.”
Because I haven’t gotten laid in three weeks.
I shrug. “I’m probably always going to seem tense around you.”
She goes still.
I crack my beer, take a long swallow, then wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
“You surprise me, that’s all,” I admit. “In more ways than one. Didn’t realize you had that much horsewoman in you.”
Her voice softens. “It’s the only thing I ever felt good at growing up.”
We fall quiet for a beat. The sun’s setting low and orange, bleeding across the sky.
Then she says, “Sorry if I’ve been a bitch during training. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get comfortable with people.”
I glance at her. “Someone call you a bitch?”
Because I’m breaking jaws if that’s the case.
“No, not to my face. But I see the way the group all gets along. They hang out, go to dinner together. I never quite fit,” she says softly.
“I don’t think you’re a bitch,” I say. “I think you’re dangerous.”
Her eyebrows lift. “To your ego?”
“To my sanity.”
That earns me a smile, and damn if I don’t feel like I just won the lottery.
“You do a great job helping out with the others,” I add. “It’s been a big help.”
She sighs. “I should’ve probably just pretended to be a beginner. Kept my mouth shut and acted like I was on their level. I’m an actor, it wouldn’t have been that hard.”
I move to stand in front of her. “Hey, no. Never shrink yourself or your talents or abilities to make other people more comfortable.”
The look on her face leads me to continue.
“They’re a little intimidated, yeah. But so what? If anything, watching you pushes them to work harder. That’s a good thing.”
“It doesn’t always feel like a good thing,” she mumbles, staring at her boots.
“Look,” I say, wanting to help her out of this funk she’s in. “I could go around pretending I suck at sex to make every other mediocre guy feel better about himself. But am I going to do that? No.”
Her lips quirk at the corners. “You’re a menace.”
“Only to women who steal my reins and leave me lipstick notes.”
Her cheeks go pink. But she doesn’t deny it.
I lean closer. “Those were my favorite reins, by the way.”
Her lips press together, suppressing a smile I’m betting. “They’re my favorites, too.”
“Something tells me I’m not getting them back. You like to call the shots, huh?”
She nods. “And you’re used to being the one in charge.”
“Typically. Out here at least.” And in the bedroom. But damn it was hot when she took what she wanted. My eyes drop to her lips. I want to kiss her again. I want to taste her so fucking badly.
But I don’t.
Instead, I step back and take a deep breath.
Then I finish my beer and say, “Well, on a positive note we’re doing okay so far, keeping it professional. All things considered. Maybe it will get easier as time passes. Long as we don’t break any more rules.”
Maybe I’ll forget the way her body milked my dick and the scent of her arousal surrounding me while she came over and over.
Doubtful.
She lowers her voice. “That was you keeping things professional? Telling everyone I damn sure like to ride?”
The pause that follows is loaded and thick.
“That was me trying.”
From somewhere behind us, a voice breaks the moment.
“You two coming to dinner?”
Kyle.
Elena glances at me. I wave her on.
“Go ahead, spitfire. Go play nice with the other kids.”
She hops down from the rail, brushing past me. But before she’s out of earshot, she says over her shoulder, “For the record, I’m not planning to break any rules.”
I grin, meeting her gaze. “You mean any more rules. Again.”
She shakes her head but the smile that teases her lips threatens to steal my breath. Then I watch her walk toward the main house, keeping pace behind her and that perfect ass I’d love to fill my hands with at least one more time.
One more time would never be enough.
The thought is so solid, I half-wonder if I said it out loud. And just like that, I know I’m completely and utterly fucked.
And not in the fun way.