Chapter 25 Sam
SAM
Duke doesn’t leave until well after dark. He helps me check on my cattle, and we make sure the ranch foreman doesn’t need anything.
He updated us on the lawsuit. Apparently, the lawyer thinks the cheapest option would be to try and settle with the woman who brought the suit against Redford Ranch. Holden is refusing, so they will be going to court.
I also told him about seeing Ben at the fight, but he shrugged it off, not seeming to think it was important. I guess it really is just my possessive jealousy over Dolly that makes me suspicious of the guy.
I mentioned what Matthews had said: “She’s gonna look even better than you do under me.”
For all I know, the guy is deranged. Star City isn’t far, so he could have just as easily been talking about my ex, Keely.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that it must have been about her.
Dolly and I don’t have any history—at all.
I can’t tell Duke it could have something to do with what’s happening between Dolly and me, so his first thought was that it was in reference to Keely.
Either way, he agreed to check out Matthews.
By the time he pulls his truck out of the driveway, Dolly is asleep on the couch. She spent all day baking for her Sun Butter Bakery stand at the farmers market. The whole house smells like cinnamon and honey, just like she does when I lean down to brush a hand over her hair.
I carry her up to her bed, fighting the urge to lay her down in mine. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of her, resisting is off the table.
I want more.
When I wake up the next day, the bruising on my ribs is turning purple. The pain is worse, and I lie in bed until I hear Dolly moving around.
Once I make it downstairs, I see her packing up her baked goods. I help her load the Bronco up, trying not to wince as I lift the boxes inside.
“You should stay home and rest. Holden will be there to help today.”
I shake my head and open her door for her.
Once she climbs inside, I lean over and grab the side of her neck.
Her eyes widen as I move closer and press my lips to hers.
She sinks into me immediately, parting her lips to let me in.
My tongue pushes through, swiping across hers.
She sighs, reaching up to scratch her fingers through my hair, gripping the roots.
I lean closer to her, my ribs complaining with the movement. She tastes like cinnamon and vanilla. Her lips are soft and pliant. I deepen the kiss, slanting my mouth over hers.
When I finally pull back, she’s breathless, her lips swollen from my kiss. I press my thumb to the bottom one, wondering if we have a few extra minutes to go back inside and pick up where we left off yesterday morning.
She seems to read my mind. “We’re going to be late.”
I nod, finally shutting her door.
While driving to the market, I consider grabbing her hand and wrapping it in mine, just to touch her. I crave the feeling of her skin.
That’s not what this is.
The market is crowded today, which means Dolly and Rosie sell out of their pastries and canned goods within two hours. They greet every customer with bright smiles. I’m surprised that they know almost everyone’s name. Holden and I don’t bother with small talk.
Once we’re done loading up their supplies in the Bronco and his truck, he turns to me.
“Why don’t y’all come over for lunch? We’re grilling smashburgers.”
Rosie nods. “Dallas is coming over with the twins.”
Dolly perks up. “Will Sterling be there?”
Rosie nods, winking. “Oh, yeah, and I think he’s finally agreed to take her out on a date.”
“Oh goody, I love to play matchmaker.” Dolly laughs, clapping excitedly.
“Unfortunately, Duke is probably going to throw his usual tantrum.”
Dolly rolls her eyes. “He needs to get over it. He’s so bossy about everyone else’s relationships, but can’t take it when someone has something to say about him.”
Rosie raises an eyebrow. “Uh, yeah, I guess. Okay, we’ll meet you there.”
Holden shakes his head, muttering, “Women.”
He reaches out to grab my hand in his vise grip of a handshake.
“See you soon, Seymour.” His eyes have turned deadly serious.
Oh fuck.
I nod, matching his hold. “I’ll be there.”
I open Dolly’s door for her, and she climbs into the Bronco. I quickly shut it, not even entertaining the idea of letting myself kiss her again right now. I walk around to the driver’s door and climb in, starting the engine.
She turns to me. “Do you think we could stop by Moonlight? I want to change into something more comfortable.”
I turn to look over at her. She’s wearing a red dress today, with little white flowers stitched around the neckline. It has a corset bodice and frilly sleeves. Every time she bent over to fulfill an order, I had to turn my face away so her brother didn’t catch me waiting for the wind to pick up.
“Well?” she asks.
I realize I was lost in the fantasy of bending her over my kitchen island. I nod.
When we pull up to Moonlight, she doesn’t wait for me to open her door, hopping out and rushing inside. I grab the empty boxes from the back and follow her in.
She’s stopped in the kitchen to get a glass of water. Her eyes meet mine from in front of the stainless steel refrigerator.
I walk up behind her, getting within an inch of her body as I reach inside to grab a Gatorade. She freezes, not moving a muscle as I chug it. Once I finish half of it, I screw the lid back on and put it back in the fridge. She takes a tiny step back, bumping into me.
My hand moves around her front, cupping her inner thigh. My mouth dips down to her ear.
“All your little dresses are too fucking short.”
“I didn’t think you noticed.”
“I notice, Dollface. I notice everything about you.” I kiss her neck, sucking on her skin.
My fingers slide down to reach under the fabric before moving upward across her sensitive skin. She drags in a sharp inhale when I meet the edge of her panties.
“What color are they today?” I growl into her ear.
“If my dress was really too short, wouldn’t you already know?”
“I tried not to look.”
“You’re such a gentleman.”
I grab her hair, pulling her head back by the roots and leaning my face up against her cheek. “I’m not a gentleman right now.” I shove my knee between her legs, spreading them wider.
My fingers reach up higher, brushing over her pussy, finding it completely soaking through her panties.
“Someone is already wet and ready, hmm? Do you just stay this way, drenched for me and waiting ’til I find out?”
She shakes her head.
“You look so pretty when you tell lies, baby.”
I pet the seam of her lips in slow circles. She makes a frustrated grunting sound, her hand reaching back to grab the front of my jeans.
I let her, craving the feeling of her touch on me. She finds the erection easily enough since it would be impossible to miss it, crushed up against her ass.
She tries rubbing on me through the denim, but quickly loses her focus when my fingers slide underneath the cotton panties. She whimpers, trembling in the cold air the refrigerator is hopelessly pumping out. She grabs for my arm to steady herself.
I use my other hand to reach up to her chest, pulling down the frilly scoop neckline to expose her breasts.
She writhes against me, not trying to get away, but to chase her orgasm that’s floating close by.
My left hand plays with her nipple, puckering from the cold air.
My right hand is toying with her clit, lightly pinching it and massaging the same place over and over again.
“Sam—Sam, it’s too much. It’s too much …”
“No, it’s not. You can take it. Let yourself take it because you’re gonna have to take a lot more than this once I break you in.”
The fantasies I’ve secretly had about Dolly for years are finally coming to fruition, and I want to savor every single one.
She tenses underneath me, trying to squeeze her thighs together.
I twist her nipple harder, still breathing into her ear how pretty she is and how good she’s taking it when she cries out.
Her body convulses, rocking back against my chest as she shatters with an orgasm.
My dick is painfully aware that we don’t have enough time to keep going before her family starts getting suspicious about how long we’re taking.
Telling them we stopped for her to change is only going to work if we get moving.
She slowly comes back to reality, slumping forward.
I hold her up with my left arm, giving her nipple one last pinch with my fingers before pulling her panties off and dragging them down her legs.
She steps out of them, turning to face me with eyes like saucers as she watches me tuck them into my pocket.
I’ve always collected things since I was little.
It used to be pretty arrowheads I found down by the stream or vintage Matchbox cars from garage sales with my grandmother.
Now, it’s Dolly Redford’s panties, soaked with arousal that she felt for me.
I rise back to my full height before gently tucking her breasts back inside her dress. She licks her lips, reaching for the front button of my jeans. I step back.
“Hey, we’ve gotta go. They’re waiting on us.”
She shakes her head. “Absolutely not! I want a turn.”
I bite back a smirk. “You’ll get a turn, trust me. Now go change so we can get going.”
She scowls, crossing her arms over her chest in preparation to protest. After she’s been glaring at me for a few seconds, I lift my finger up to my mouth and stick the tip of it between my lips to taste her.
The fight dies on her face. She blinks at me and flushes crimson before shaking her head. She slowly walks toward the stairs.
Thankfully, my erection is mostly calmed down when she makes her way back down the stairs. She changed into black leggings and an oversize long-sleeved shirt that looks very familiar. It’s my favorite one—a soft heather gray with a faded vintage Miller Lite logo on the front.
Great. Now I’m going to be sporting a semi all afternoon.
She’s pulling her long hair back into a high ponytail when I notice the mark on her neck.
“Whoa, whoa, maybe you should, ya know, leave it down.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Just because we’ve been … messing around doesn’t mean that—”
I hold up my phone to take a picture of her neck. Mine. Some deeply primal, possessive part of me very much likes how it looks on the side of her neck, right under her jawline. I flip the screen around so she can see it.
She gasps, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Sam Seymour! How dare you!” She yanks the ponytail holder out of her hair, cheeks reddening.
I shrug. “I can’t apologize if I’m not sorry.”
She tries to turn away and hide her smile, but I see it. I grab my keys and walk out the front door behind her as we make our way to the carport.
“Let’s take my truck.”