CHAPTER FIVE
Riley
I woke up warm.
Not just warm—surrounded by warmth. By big, solid muscles and a scent that was becoming as familiar to me as the smell of overdone biscuits.
It took me a second to remember where I was. On Dalton’s couch. In Dalton’s arms. Under a warm blanket with Christmas lights still twinkling above us and… oh God, I was completely naked.
I tilted my head back slightly and found him already awake, watching me with those dark eyes that seemed to see straight through me.
“Morning,” he rumbled, his voice even deeper than usual with sleep.
“Morning.” I was acutely aware that I was pressed against him skin to skin, that his hand was resting on my bare hip, that his very obvious morning erection was pressing against my thigh through his jeans.
Jeans he’d never taken off last night.
Heat flooded through me as I remembered what he had done. And why I wasn’t wearing any clothes. His fingers inside me, his mouth on my breasts, the way he’d made me come apart so completely.
“Did you sleep okay?” he asked, thumb stroking small circles on my hip.
“Yes. You?”
“Best sleep I’ve had in years.” He said it simply, like it was a fact, his voice rumbling in my ear. “We should get up. The men will be expecting breakfast soon.” But he made no move to let me go.
I didn’t want him to let me go.
“Five more minutes?” I asked, then felt stupid. Like I was asking for more than just time on the couch.
His arms tightened around me. “Yeah. Five more minutes.”
We stayed like that, wrapped around each other while the pre-dawn light started filtering in. His hand kept up that slow, hypnotic stroking on my hip. I pressed back against him even more, loving the feel of his warm skin against mine.
“Last night—” I started.
“Was fucking perfect,” he finished. His mouth found the shell of my ear and started nibbling on it. “And if you’re about to apologize or say it was a mistake, I’m going to have to strongly disagree.”
A smile tugged at my lips despite my nervousness. “I wasn’t going to say that.”
“Good.” He tilted my chin up, pressing a soft kiss to my mouth. “Because I plan on doing it again. Very, very soon.”
My thighs clenched at the promise in his voice.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“Okay.” He kissed me once more, then reluctantly released me. “Come on, Disaster. Let’s get you dressed before someone decides to come up early.”
We got dressed quietly and I didn’t feel the expected awkwardness of the morning after. It felt more like we were an established couple just going about our morning routine. It made something inside me blossom. This was something I’d never experienced before, and I liked it.
What I didn’t like was cooking breakfast alone for the first time. Dalton had dressed, kissed me goodbye, and headed out, assuring me I could do it without him.
I wasn’t so sure, but I loved the confidence he had in me.
And the confidence I had in myself—because of him.
Maybe it was because I could still feel the imprint of his hands on my body. The way he’d looked at me last night and again this morning.
I’d always been self-conscious of my curves and that had at times played havoc with my self-esteem. I’d gotten over it for the most part, but when it came to sex…
I wasn’t a virgin. But I wasn’t very experienced either. Honestly? Last night had been more pleasurable than all of my limited experiences put together.
And I couldn’t wait to repeat it.
I looked around at the kitchen, realizing it wasn’t the disaster zone it had been on that first day. I didn’t want to jinx anything by thinking I was actually getting the hang of this cooking thing, but…
The biscuits had came out only slightly dark brown in color. The eggs were fluffy, not rubbery. The bacon was crispy without being burnt, and the gravy wasn’t lumpy. Making that was still a mystery I hadn’t solved. Flour, milk, and poof! You had gravy. Magic.
When the ranch hands filed in through the mudroom, stomping snow off their boots and bringing cold air with them, I felt a flutter of nerves. But I kept my chin up as I started serving the meal. The smile from Dalton helped.
Jake took the first bite of eggs and his eyebrows shot up. “Damn.”
My heart sank. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He grinned at me. “These are actually good. Like, really good.”
“Don’t sound so surprised,” I muttered, but I was smiling.
Daniel tried the biscuits and gave a low whistle. “Mae’s going to be out of a job if you keep this up.”
“I wouldn’t go that far—”
“He’s right,” Tyler interrupted, loading his plate with seconds. “This is delicious, Riley.”
I looked across the table and found Dalton watching me with something that looked suspiciously like pride in his eyes. He hadn’t said anything, but the slight nod he gave me said everything.
My chest felt too full, like my heart was expanding beyond the space available.
These men—these rough, hardworking cowboys—were complimenting my cooking. Actually enjoying food I’d made with my own hands.
When was the last time I’d felt proud of something I’d accomplished? When was the last time I’d stuck with anything long enough to get good at it?
After breakfast, the men headed out to work, each one thanking me as they left. Dalton lingered behind, helping me clear dishes even though I told him I had it handled.
“You did good today,” he said, setting a stack of plates by the sink.
“Thanks to you. You’re a good teacher.”
“You’re a good student when you want to be.” He moved closer, backing me against the counter. “When you’re not being a stubborn pain in my ass.”
“I’m always a stubborn pain in your ass. I don’t limit that to just cooking.”
“True.” His hands found my hips, squeezing slightly. “But I’m starting to like it.”
I looped my arms around his neck. “Just starting to?”
“Don’t push your luck, Disaster.” But he was smiling as he lowered his mouth to mine.
This kiss was different from those last night—like we had all the time in the world. His tongue slid against mine in lazy strokes that made my toes curl, and I pressed closer, needing to feel more of him.
His hands slid down to cup my ass, lifting me slightly, and aligning our bodies almost perfectly. I groaned into his mouth, his erection pressing right where I needed it most.
“Fuck, Riley,” he growled. “Keep making those sounds and I’m going to bend you over this counter.”
“Promise?”
He pulled back, his eyes so dark they were almost black. “Careful what you wish for.”
I shivered. “Maybe I know exactly what I’m wishing for.”
We stared at each other and I could feel his restraint hanging by a thread, could see the war playing out behind his eyes.
“Tonight,” he said roughly. “After dinner. When everyone is in the bunkhouse and we have the house to ourselves.”
“Tonight,” I agreed, even though my body was screaming at me to say now, right now, please God right now.
He set me aside gently, then adjusted himself with a grin and put on his coat and hat. He was the most handsome cowboy I’d ever seen. “Get back to work before I change my mind about waiting.”
The day dragged by with agonizing slowness.
I prepped lunch—sandwiches and soup, nothing that required much concentration, which was good because I had approximately zero ability to focus. Every time I looked out the window and saw Dalton working, my brain immediately went to places that made my panties damp.
I thought about his hands on me last night. His mouth. The way he’d looked at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
I thought about what tonight might bring. Would I finally have him inside me? Would I get to learn what he felt like, tasted like, sounded like when he came apart?
By the time dinner rolled around, I was wound so tight I was surprised I didn’t spontaneously combust.
I made chicken and dumplings—comfort food that the men devoured with enthusiasm. But I barely tasted my own plate, too aware of Dalton sitting across from me, his eyes tracking my every movement.
Under the table, his boot nudged mine. I nudged back, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
“This is delicious, Riley,” Jake said around a mouthful of dumplings. He looked at the others and then smiled sheepishly back at me. “We were, um, concerned about your cooking skills.”
That made me laugh. “You had every right to be. But, I’m learning, and Dalton’s been teaching me.”
I knew better than to look at Dalton just then, knowing what expression would be on my face.
Daniel raised his eyebrows. “That right? Didn’t know the boss was so… hands-on with his teaching methods.”
The double meaning wasn’t lost on anyone, and I felt heat creep up my neck.
“Riley’s a quick learner,” Dalton said mildly, but there was an edge to his voice that made Daniel grin and wisely change the subject.
After dinner, the men lingered longer than usual, which made me want to scream. Finally—finally—they headed to the bunkhouse for their nightly poker game, and it was just Dalton and me.
Alone.
In the house.
For the entire night.
I started clearing dishes with shaking hands, Dalton moving around the kitchen behind me. The air was charged with anticipation.
He came up behind me at the sink, his body heat radiating through my clothes. “Leave them.”
“But—”
“Leave them, Riley.” His hands settled on my hips, pulling me back against him. “They’ll still be here tomorrow.”
I set down the plate I’d been holding, my heart hammering against my ribs. “What about—”
“The boys are in the bunkhouse. They won’t bother us.” His mouth found the sensitive spot below my ear. “It’s just us, baby. All night.”
I turned in his arms, looking up at him. His eyes were molten, his jaw tight with restraint, and I’d never seen anything sexier in my entire life.
“Bedroom?” I whispered.
“Bedroom,” he confirmed, and then he was lifting me, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me toward the stairs. I’d never been carried by a man and had always considered myself too big to be lifted comfortably. But Dalton was picking me up as if I weighed nothing.