19. Evan
NINETEEN
EVAN
When the door to the tack room creaked open, my heart jumped into my throat. Slim fingers wrapped around the thick wooden door as Val peeked in.
I crossed my arms over my chest, leaned against the island table, and smiled.
Her dark eyes went wide, taking in the interior of the tack room.
I’d forgone the harsh overhead lighting and instead brought two small lanterns.
The dim, warm lighting soaked Val’s tawny skin as she stepped inside.
She was glowing and my chest swelled. Her dress was a simple black that wrapped around her small waist and flowed out around her hips.
My eyes traveled down her tight little body and stopped when I came to the canvas sneakers.
She wiggled her toes and my eyes met hers.
“Apparently, heels really aren’t great on a ranch.”
I moved toward her, capturing her elbow and dragging my hand down her arm. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze before brushing my lips against the back of her knuckles. “You’re perfect.”
Her lashes lowered as she tried to hide the blush that stained her cheeks. My fingers felt her pulse point beneath the thin skin of her wrist—her heart hammered wildly out of control.
I used my other hand to brush a strand of hair from her face as she closed her eyes and leaned into my touch.
“You are stunning. But why are you nervous?”
Her eyes fluttered open. “I’m not nervous,” she lied.
I smirked. In the weeks Val had been at the ranch, I’d been studying her. Learning her quirks and tells and the masks she sometimes wore.
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, and I followed that path with delicate, featherlight kisses. The ache in my cock intensified the slower I went. It was a delicious torture for both of us.
“Evan,” she breathed.
“Mmm.” The rumble from my throat had Val’s hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. She arched slightly, urging me to go faster, give her more.
I took a step back. “I have something for us.”
Her breathing was uneven as she looked at me. I know she figured coming here was just to fuck, and her look of surprise was worth it.
Next to the large island, two stools were pulled up, facing each other. A bottle of wine and two paper cups, along with a stack of playing cards, were on the table. I gestured toward one seat.
“Evan. What is this?”
I couldn’t hide my smile at the confusion and awe laced in her voice. “A date.”
She sat, crossing her gorgeous, toned legs and resting her chin on her hand. “You are full of surprises.”
A wink was my only response.
You’ve got no idea what I have in store for you, baby girl .
I poured two glasses of wine. “Red okay?”
She took her glass and sipped. “More than okay. It’s my favorite.”
I took a tentative sip and tried not to make a face.
“You don’t like it?”
I shook my head, surprised by the dry, complex flavors that exploded on my tongue. “No. I’m just a little surprised. Wine isn’t really my thing. Really, the only wine I’ve had was the table wine at some Italian restaurants, but this isn’t half bad.”
She nodded. “All wine is definitely not the same. You made a great choice.” Val clinked her paper cup with mine, and her coppery brown eyes sparkled in the dim light of the lanterns.
I grabbed the stack of playing cards and started shuffling. “How about a game?”
Her eyes danced with excitement. “Yes! I love cards. What’s your game? Texas Hold’em?” She tapped a finger against her plump lower lip, and I paused. “No,” she continued. “I bet you’re a blackjack kind of guy.”
I smiled. “You got me. But how about we up the stakes?”
Val sipped. “What do you have in mind?”
I traced a finger up her arm. The goose bumps that erupted under my touch only spurred my desire for this woman. “Truth-or-dare blackjack. If I win the hand, you pick. Truth or dare.”
“You forgot I was a cop who worked the midnight shift. I had plenty of boring nights to get good at cards. You’re on.”
I dealt the hand and watched as Val eyed me carefully.
A jack and three for her. “Hit.”
I flipped a card, revealing the king of spades, and she shot me a playful glare. “Bust. Okay, truth or dare? ”
Val’s pert mouth twisted as she considered her options. “Truth.”
“What’s your favorite color?”
Her brows drew downward. “That’s it? Of all the truths, that’s the thing you want to know about me?”
I leaned in close to her, breathing in her bright scent and running my nose along her jawline. My hand gripped her thigh and squeezed. “I want to know everything about you. But I gotta start with the basics.”
A shiver ran down her as I nipped at her jaw.
When I leaned back, releasing her, she sighed. “Green, you tease.”
My laugh was hearty and genuine. It was so easy to allow myself to be open with her. I lived my life being guarded and careful. It was the smart choice, but there was something about Val that pulled me in and wanted to share every corner of my soul with her.
We spent the next few rounds with simple truths—my childhood pet (I never had a pet, and she looked genuinely heartbroken at the thought), how difficult her first years as a Latina police officer were, and her first boyfriend’s name (Derrick—he sounded like a douche).
Val upped the stakes when she finally dared me to take off my shirt.
I happily took my time unbuttoning and peeling it off.
For a moment, her eyes held on the scar on my chest. Something passed over her features, but she seemed to hide it, and I didn’t miss the way Val licked her lips as I tossed the shirt aside.
When I won the next hand and she chose a dare, I couldn’t resist. “I dare you to not move.”
Her eyebrow tipped up. I grabbed her hips and positioned her in front of me.
My fingertips started at her shoulders and made a torturously slow descent to her hips.
There I found the tie to her dress and pulled.
She sucked in a breath as the cool air hit her skin.
I allowed the black fabric to drape open, revealing a matching bra-and-panty set in a deep plum.
“Holy fuck.” I sucked in a breath.
Her chest heaved as my eyes roamed over the perfect curves of her breasts. Just under the dark fabric, I could see her nipples, tight as diamonds beneath the lace.
Leaning forward, I nipped one firm peak with my teeth and felt the weight of her in my other hand. Her moan sent hot liquid pooling in my middle as my cock strained against the zipper of my jeans.
I took my time torturing us both. Heat rolled off her in waves as I kissed and teased and sucked at her over the lacy bra. Her hands shot to my hair, threading around the back and pulling just enough for the pain to stack and build upon my growing pleasure. She was a wildcat and I needed more.
With her hands tangled in my hair, I looked up at her, heat intensifying my glare. “You moved. I win.”
Desire darkened her eyes, and she looked down at me under her lowered lashes. “What’s my punishment?”
My cock twitched at her words. “You want to be punished for breaking the rules, baby girl?”
Val sucked her lower lip into her mouth, and I had to stifle a moan. She was so fucking hot. I hitched her hips up and sat her atop the island table. With her dress still draped open and pooling at her sides, I reveled in her beauty.
“You are so fucking gorgeous. Just look at you.”
Her eyes glanced down, then met mine again as she opened her knees a bit wider. Glancing around, I spotted the thin leather strap of a horse rein hanging on a wrought iron hook beside us. Slipping it from the hook, I let the smooth, worn leather glide through my palm .
I carefully laid her back and positioned Val’s arms above her head. “Seems like you need a little help staying still.”
She flashed me a wicked smile as I anchored her to the table.
After I tied her hands with the cord of leather, I trailed my hands down her skin.
Heat radiated from my fingertips up my arm.
I tucked the stool underneath me as I settled between her open legs.
Wrapping my hands around her thighs, I gently squeezed. “Don’t. Move,” I warned.
Val arched her back and nodded.
Starting at her knee, I peppered her toned thighs with open-mouthed kisses, licking and sucking as I drew closer to her center. The smell of leather and sex hung in the air, and the anticipation of touching her, tasting her, was almost too much to bear.
“Talk to me. Tell me what you want.” I rubbed my nose along the slit in her underwear, loving the damp spot that gathered at her opening.
“Yes. That.”
I licked again at the edge of the purple thong, not giving in to what she wanted. “No, baby. You can do better than that. Tell me you want me to eat your pussy.”
“Jesus, Evan. Yes.”
I planted one hand on the table beside her and leaned over her. Layering kisses over her ribs, I nipped at the thin skin. “Say it.”
“I want you to eat my pussy. Fucking devour it.”
A growl tore free from my throat at the desperation in her voice.
Without removing them, I pulled the fabric to one side and ran the flat of my tongue up her seam.
The taste of her slick arousal crashed over my tongue, and I nearly came.
I licked and swirled around her clit, using every moan and arch of her back to learn what she liked—what she needed to get closer and closer to the edge .
Her inner walls pulsed around my tongue as I groaned into her.
Tasting her, touching her, was better than I could have ever imagined.
Using my thumb, I teased her clit and watched her teeter on the line between ecstasy and bliss.
I slipped one finger into her heat and had to palm my raging cock.
I needed to make her come before I slipped deep inside her.
Still circling her bundle of nerves, I added a finger.
She pulled her knees higher. “Oh yes. Don’t stop.”