Saddled On The Cowboy: A Hot Western Romance Read online

  I still felt the same way when she walked through my door, looking like a Bohemian goddess. She was wearing a steel gray sundress that came to her mid-thigh and a necklace with an elaborate stone pendant. I had to bat away thoughts of kissing those shapely legs from her perfect toes, across the landscape of her well-toned thighs, and upward to heaven.

  “Welcome y’all,” I said as I ushered them in, still hazy with lust.

  They’d brought expensive wine, and I stifled a good-hearted laugh. Wine wouldn’t go over well with this beer-drinking crowd, but I appreciated it.

  “Howdy,” her father responded, and she rolled her eyes. I didn’t think she intended to do it, but she did. I couldn’t contain myself any longer and I laughed—kindly, I hoped.

  “Thanks for inviting us,” she added, trying to smooth over the edges.

  “Glad you could join us,” I replied.

  God, I wanted to take her right then and there. I felt like I was possessed, which was insane because I didn’t even know the woman. As the evening progressed, I was happy to see her father connect with a few of the other ranch hands and a few other friends I’d invited. He would need their help on the ranch and all of them were good people, willing to pitch in and work together.

  Since her father was otherwise engaged, I got a moment to be alone with Lainey. I saw she’d made idle chit chat for some time with a throng of men who’d cornered her, like bees around a honey pot. The women, I noticed, stood by coolly and just watched, sizing her up and judging her, no doubt. It was going to be hard for her to fit in around here, but my heart swelled for her. Seeing her glass was nearly empty, I popped the cork on a fresh bottle of wine, and seized my opportunity to interrupt the parade of suitors.

  “Are you enjoying the BBQ?” I asked as I approached.

  Her beautiful, wide smile was captivating.

  “I am,” she said with strain.

  I chuckled, realizing she clearly wasn’t, and raised the bottle of wine. It was an excellent Pinot Noir I’d saved for this moment. She recognized the winery it had come from and her face brightened some.

  “May I fill your glass? I noticed you were getting low.” Finally, she gave me a genuine smile.

  “Yes, please.” She seemed relieved and raised her glass toward me.

  “To the rescue,” I said, tipping the bottle, and her eyes told me she understood my double meaning as I poured the wine.

  “Thank you,” she sighed.

  “You bet.” That small exchange of words was enough to know I wanted to be alone with her. Very alone.

  Half the men who’d been ogling Lainey were married, and the other half had girls who thought they were in relationships with them. Only one truly single rival was any threat, and I was determined to knock him across the playing field and out of the park, but first, I had to get rid of the married men.

  “Hey, Ralph, where’s Mary? I haven’t seen her for a while.” Of course, I knew exactly where Mary was. She and Tom’s wife, Abigail, had gone upstairs to put their toddlers to bed for the night.

  Ralph’s face reddened, as did Tom’s, being caught red-handed flirting with the new girl.

  “They went to put the kids down,” Ralph mumbled. “Guess we should go check in with them. Nice meeting you, Lainey,” he said as they sheepishly retreated.

  Lainey’s eyes perked up. Boy, I liked her even more the way she flashed those baby blues at me.

  “Thanks for your advice on the farm equipment,” she said as they slowly moved away. I knew she was trying to sound sincere, but the statement came off as absurd. “I’ll let you know what my dad and I decide.”

  “Sure thing,” Ralph replied over his shoulder as he slunk away.

  That was the call to scatter, and everyone—even my lone rival—returned to the BBQ to find their spouses or girlfriends, leaving Lainey and I together.

  “Sorry about that, I hope they didn’t bore you too much, but they don’t see too many new faces around here,” I apologized.

  “Oh, it wasn’t that bad, though I was beginning to feel like Scarlet O’Hara at Twelve Oaks.” She laughed, hoping I’d get the reference. “It’s okay, they meant well,” she said with a smile—and she had such an amazing smile, too.

  “Do you want to take a walk, or would you like some more food?” I offered. What I really wanted to do was whisk her away from everything and everyone, but I was a gentleman and the choice was hers to make.

  “A walk sounds nice.” Bingo, a lightning flash of nerves shivered my spine and rocketed straight to my cock. I slowly reeled her in as we walked together. I showed her my horses and the barn animals. It was obvious she was way outside of her comfort zone, but she was being gracious about everything, then she innocently asked me a question that had me in stitches.

  “So, do you still call yourselves cowboys? Or are you cow people now? How does the cow… modifier work in these days of political correctness?”

  She was being earnest, but came off sounding completely weird. I knew she must have had a vision of banjos, whoopin’ and hollerin’, and shit-kickin’ in her head, and I wanted to tell her that modern cowboys were honest men of the land and weren’t gun-toting land jockeys fighting Indians anymore. She’d understand our way of life soon enough, though—no need to start defending my existence just yet. I was sure when she met my best friend, Alan Redfeather, her ideas about Old West Cowboys and Indians would fade.

  We stopped at the gazebo I’d built between my house and the alfalfa fields. It was a place I liked to go to when I wanted to get away from everything. I could see the cows and sheep from that spot and the alfalfa fields in the distance. At this vantage point, I could survey the entire expanse of my property. We sat there for a while, just talking, and got to know one another better.

  “I bet New York never seemed so far away,” I started.

  Her head dropped, and I wondered if I’d upset her.

  “You have no idea,” she said softly, rubbing her fingers.

  “Downtown El Paso is only about half an hour from here and we have some of the best Mexican restaurants in the world. It’s not New York, but if you ever want to run away to Mexico for the weekend, it’s just a hop over the border.” I was selling, I knew, but I didn’t want her starting her life here hating my hometown.

  “Thanks. I’m sure it’s exciting. It’s just that I miss the noise, the bustle… and the people. We’ve only been here a few hours, but I feel like I’m living in another country.” She crinkled her nose in a way that made her look immature, yet so adorable.

  “It’s not too exciting here compared to the city. I understand.” I smiled and patted her on the back. I wasn’t ready to let her know that I’d lived a life like hers in New York with endless meetings, an insane schedule, and people, lots of people… everywhere. I wanted her to fall in love with everything she saw first before I’d let her in on that part of my life.

  “In fact,” I added, “You’re probably the most exciting thing to come around these parts in a long time,” I said, and smiled at her in what I hoped was a seductive way.

  She laughed and shook her head.

  “Is that the best you’ve got, cowboy?” she playfully reprimanded.

  “Sadly, yes,” I laughed. “I’m a little out of practice,” I confessed, genuinely embarrassed.

  Her piercing eyes met mine, and she shot me a hot, smoldering glare. I’d forgotten how much I loved modern women.

  Chapter Four

  Lainey

  While I really didn’t want to like it in Texas, somehow Calvin made me feel more at home with each passing minute. We talked for a few hours the first night I arrived, his deep Texan accent giving me goosebumps whenever he spoke, and by the time people started to filter out from the barbecue, Calvin and I were practically making out like teenagers.

  We were naughty, sneaking away from a gathering he was hosting, and yet, it seemed to continue just fine without him. The guests sat around talking, eating food, drinking beer, and occasionally holl
ering over to us sitting in the darkness to check we were okay. Our absence from the main party didn’t seem to cause alarm and as it got later, everyone drifted over one-by-one to say their goodbyes and thank Calvin for the evening.

  “You two seem to be getting along pretty good,” Dad said as he approached us in the gazebo and Calvin stood to face him. “I’ve had a great time, but I’m heading home now. Are you coming, Lainey?”

  “Not yet. I’ll be home in a little while. Just getting to know our neighbor here,” I replied.

  “Well, all right. Just don’t be stopping up all night. We’ve got everything to unpack tomorrow,” he said in a tone that let me know he wasn’t fooled about what was going on. I could’ve died of embarrassment right there and I felt my cheeks burning. I was just thankful it was dark, so no one could see.

  “I won’t, Dad. I’ll just finish this rather large glass of wine then I’ll be coming home, I promise.”

  “Okay. Well, you kids be good and thanks for inviting us over, Calvin,” Dad said, shaking his hand. “Real neighborly of you to welcome us like that and I hope we can return the favor sometime.”

  “It was a pleasure, sir. Been nice meeting you both and if you need any help with anything, please just ask.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you’re gonna regret making that offer,” Dad chuckled as he turned to leave. “See you soon.”

  I could’ve talked to Calvin all night, but inside I was dying to kiss that stubbled face. I felt wanton and needy, and I didn’t care how bold I was—I wanted to ride that cowboy. After he’d confessed to being out of practice when it came to the subtleties of dating, I thought, dating be damned, I just wanted a kiss, so I gently grabbed his face and planted a soft peck on his tender mouth.

  I was expecting rugged leather, but his lips were smooth and gentle, and when he returned my kiss, I opened my mouth and let him in. He felt warm and comfortable as his soft tongue slipped in deeper, caressing mine with gentle strokes. I ran my fingers through his hair, grabbing a handful of it and tenderly tugging. I needed him closer, deeper. I felt so horny. I wanted his body and soul. He responded to my advances and shifted closer to me. My aching nipples pressed against the thin material of my sundress, and I was glad I wasn’t wearing a bra. I had small, perky breasts, so they didn’t need one, anyway.

  I couldn’t believe how forward I was being. In truth, it had been a long time since I’d dated, too. After spending a year traveling with my mom, and another year grieving over her death, I’d had neither the time, nor the inclination for men. I felt so willful kissing my hot neighbor before even one of my bags were unpacked, and I’d probably have some explaining to do in the morning, but right then, there on that bench under the wide-open midnight sky, it felt so right.

  As I pressed my chest into his, he withdrew from my mouth for a moment and whispered in my ear in his sexy-as-hell Southern drawl as his hand gently hovered near my beckoning breasts.

  “I want you, Lainey.”

  I almost melted into a puddle when he gently nibbled my earlobe, his hand cupping my breast. “I want you, too,” I sighed, softly nestling his calloused hand into my sundress.

  “You are beautiful,” he said as he tenderly slipped a strap from my shoulder, exposing my pert and wanton nipples to the moonlight and his steamy gaze.

  His hand grazed over the aching bud and I could feel the roughness of his skin as he teased it even tauter, striking a fire between my legs that made me writhe with desire. He chuckled at my reaction which made me laugh, too.

  “I’m not normally this forward, but I feel like a horny teenager with an insane crush right now,” I confessed.

  “Me too,” he said as his thumb danced across my breast again.

  A hot sigh escaped me, and that was his cue to lower his lips to my aching nipple and devour it, softly. I felt his scruff tickle my skin—a heady mix of startling sensations and pure pleasure. I bucked against him, my thigh rubbing his erection—thick and solid. He moved me closer, lifting me in his strong arms and shifting me into his lap. I sat astride his rock-hard cock and presented my other, neglected, nipple to his mouth. I slowly rocked on him, feeling his length strengthening under my soaking wet panties.

  He grabbed my ass with both hands as he continued to nibble and tug on my nipples with his teeth. First one, then the other. Pulling me in closer to him as I continued to rock back and forth, stimulating his erection nestling between my legs. I couldn’t help letting out a moan—I wanted more.

  Suddenly, he stopped his exquisite ministrations on my breasts, leaving me ravenous with desire.

  “I, um... I...” he stuttered.

  I looked down at him, confused. I knew it was late, like long past midnight, and my dad… well, that could be an awkward breakfast conversation, but I was twenty-three for God’s sake. It wasn’t like I was a virgin.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked, concerned.

  “Um, this is kinda awkward for me to say. Don’t get me wrong, I think you’re a beautiful gal and all, but…”

  “But, what? You’re not one of those Brokeback Mountain cowboys are ya?” I interrupted. After all this time without a man, please don’t tell me I’ve hit on a gay boy, I thought, pulling up my dress to cover my exposed breasts.

  “No!” he half-shouted, shaking his head. “I mean, no I’m not,” he reiterated in a quieter tone. “I really want to make out with you. Right now, right here, but I… you… we just met a few hours ago, and you’re my new neighbor and all. I like to think I’m a gentleman, so we should probably stop this before we do something we might regret in the morning, you know?”

  He was doing a great job of taming his passions, but I saw the wild look in his eye and I felt his arousal between my legs.

  “Calvin, we’re grown-ups. We can do crazy things,” I said as I pressed myself onto his cock, wanting it inside me. “Are you worried I’ll get all possessive, just because we had sex the first day we met?”

  “No, I’m worried you’ll think I’m a total asshole.” He seemed so earnest in what he said.

  I lifted myself off him and watched as his face dropped.

  “It’s probably for the best,” he said, in an attempt to console himself. “I don’t know what came over me. I should have had more control, but I really like you.”

  “I know what came over you,” I smiled as I slipped out of my soaked panties and tossed them in his lap. “Because it came over me too.” I leaned in and kissed him sweetly on his gorgeous lips. “But maybe you’re right. Maybe we’re moving too fast, and this isn’t normally me at all. I’m usually far more of a lady than to give myself to a man I’ve only known for a couple hours.”

  He brushed the hair away from my face, the tips of his fingers gently trailing down my cheek. “I’m sure you are,” he said, then he looked back at my panties, all crumpled on the bulge in his jeans and scooped them up in his huge hand.

  “Whatchoo gonna do with those, cowboy?” I asked, and stood there shocked when, without saying a word, he lifted them to his nose and took a long, deep breath—like he was inhaling a drug. Watching him do that?

  So.

  Fucking.

  Hot.

  “I can’t believe you just did that. No one’s ever done that with my panties before. Is this a Texan thing? Are y’all crazy out here?” I said, but it had turned me on even more as I felt the cool night air on my wet pussy.

  “I’d be crazy if I didn’t. I bet you taste as good, as well,” he said, tucking my discarded underwear into the pocket of his jeans.

  “Seriously? You’re keeping my panties, dude?” I said with a smile.

  “Yep. You don’t mind, do you? Just a little memento from our wonderful time together tonight.”

  “Uh… um… I guess not, but I’d better be unpacking fast tomorrow. They were my last spare pair I put on for the BBQ,” I said incredulously. He just gave me a big smile then took my hand.

  We laid together beneath the night sky, just talking and getting to know each other a l
ittle more. He felt good nestled against me. I didn’t want to move, even though I was desperate for a shower with the muggy Texas heat clinging to my skin, and the grass and dirt laced in my hair. I had to be home before sunrise—I didn’t want my dad even thinking we’d been doing anything but talking all night.

  “I should probably get home… before my dad worries,” I suggested.

  He lifted his head and smiled.

  “If you must,” he fake-pouted.

  “It’s not like he’d really be bothered. He’s a totally cool father, and I can tell he likes you, but it is our first night here,” I laughed.

  “Well, I’m glad we met and had some time together,” he said, trailing his finger across my wrist then bringing it to his mouth and kissing it.

  “I am, too,” I smiled as I gently caught his hand in mine. I’d enjoyed our crazy night, but it was time to get cleaned up, get some rest, and figure out what I was going to do with my life. I looked over at Calvin. He seemed as unsure of his next move as I did, so I took the lead. After all, it was my reputation in a new town I had to consider.

  I bent in and kissed him softly on the lips then tightened my arms around my chest. I looked down to check myself and swiped as much of the dirt from my dress as I could to make myself look somewhat presentable.

  “I don’t have your number, or I’d say I’ll call you… or um something.” God, I was feeling awkward. He seemed to understand my embarrassment and was smooth and confident in his reply.

  “Go home and get some sleep. I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon to take you and your dad into town. I’m sure you’ll need groceries and other essentials. A moving truck probably isn’t the easiest of vehicles to park at the store.”

  “I completely forgot, we don’t even have a car,” I replied. “We didn’t need one in New York City. There was no point as we had a driver if we needed one.” I knew that sounded pretentious as soon as I’d said it. We didn’t have our own driver—we hired one, but it was too late at night to worry about details like that.

  “Well, maybe we can find you a reliable vehicle while we’re in town, as well.” He was nothing but charm itself.