Cowboys & Bosses

by Piper Sullivan

  Mason laughed. “You think I have to dress up too?”

  “Hell yeah. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your costume.” I laughed at the affronted look he sent my way. “Don’t even think of going as a cowboy or you’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “Fine, but if you make me look like a male stripper, I swear I’ll make you pay.”

  “As much fun as that would be, I’d still have to look at you all night.”

  “And Sierra, I’m sure she’ll have something…interesting on.”

  The thought of her in that leprechaun costume, or better, in that white and green lingerie she wore underneath, drew a smile to my face. “Yeah well, we’re talking about you.”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “So, I shouldn’t ask you what’s going on with you and Sierra?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t. But you can tell my sister we’re keeping things casual.”

  Mason barked out a laugh, grabbing Mitch by the shoulder and guiding him out of the barn. “I said the same thing until I realized that I couldn’t live without her.”

  “That was different,” I insisted but the defense sounded weak, even to my own ears. “Sierra and I are…,” I searched for the right words but Mason took them.

  “Casual? You say that, but the look on your face says that things are complicated.”

  “Yeah.” More complicated than I would have thought, but if I continued to ignore the pang in my chest, the discomfort in my gut, then things could stay causal. “Of course they are. Am I going to lose everything when this ends?”

  “Should have thought about that before you took her to bed.”

  “Yeah, thanks Mase. You’re a big help.”

  “Anytime.”

  “I need to get going. Sierra bought a bunch of stuff for the bunkhouse that I need to get set up.” We’d already hired two ranch hands who would start tomorrow. Only time would tell how many more we would need. At least six by my estimation. “See you later.”

  “Bye Uncle Jack.”

  “See ya later cowboy Mitch.” He waved adorably and sent me a smile that made me damn glad to be back at home with my family.

  * * *

  “You heard me.”

  Sierra turned to me wearing a blush pink bra and panty set that should seem innocent, demure but really was sexy as hell. My hands twitched with the need to touch her. “I heard the words you said, but I’m asking for clarification.”

  I leaned back on her bed, propped up on my elbows so I could watch the graceful way she moved, the slight movement of her breasts as she pointed at me. “You need clarification on let’s go get some dinner?”

  “And dancing. You said let’s grab dinner and go dancing,” she accused.

  I had no clue how to respond to that, because despite her tone she didn’t seem put off by the idea. Just confused. “So?”

  “That sounds like a date.”

  Ah. Now I understood. “One date can be casual, Sierra. We’ve known each other forever, is it so strange to grab a meal together?” Besides we both had been working hard the past few weeks, and I wanted to spend some time with her. With my arms wrapped around her as we moved to some good ol’ honky tonk music.

  “I don’t know.” She sank her teeth into her raspberry pink bottom lip and I had to stifle a groan. Though there was no hiding the way my body responded so I didn’t bother.

  I sat up and pulled her to me, one hand pressed flat against her belly while the other teased her, stroking up and down her legs. First on the outside, sliding up to cup her ass and back down before moving to her knee and stroking up her thigh, brushing against where she was wet and swollen for me. “I do know, Sage. Trust me.” My lips brushed across her belly and up her ribcage, shooting an arrow of desire straight through my cock at the little hitch in her breath.

  “Jack,” she said on a sexy little breath that shuddered when I swiped a thumb across one hard nipple.

  Those little whimpers and cries were quickly becoming my favorite sounds. Her fingers speared through my hair when my mouth closed around one stiff peak, pulling hard through the fabric. She clung to me as I moved back and forth, licking and sucking, biting down until she cried out again. Begging me for more. “So sweet,” I groaned and she rewarded me with a sexy smile.

  “Say yes.”

  Wary green eyes stared at me, and I could see the gears turning in her head, trying to figure out what my deal was. If she figured it out, I hoped she would tell me, because hell if I knew. I just wanted to hang out away from the ranch.

  The longer she went without answering me, the more determined I became to wring a yes from her lush mouth. One hand slipped inside the soft pink silk and I parted her folds, sliding a thumb over her swollen nub, drawing erotic sounds from her. “So slick for me,” I slid one finger deep inside, loving the way she coated me with her arousal. I added another finger and her walls began to clamp down on my fingers, pulsing and I pulled down her bra so I could taste nothing but her.

  “Jack,” she panted in warning, but I didn’t need her to because I could feel how close she was. I knew her body well, and I felt the goose flesh ripple over her flushed skin, the way her nipples tightened and her breath sucked in when the pleasure became too great. Her breaths came fast and shallow and I added another finger, licking and kissing her beautiful breasts to bring her closer to ecstasy.

  “Come for me, Sierra.”

  She looked stunning, head thrown back with her hands on my shoulders as her hips swirled, ground against my hand that pumped in and out of her. “Oh, Jack!” She rode my hand, fast and hard until her body went taut and froze in that sliver of a moment between almost and right there. Then she flew apart, pulsing around my fingers, coating me with her cream. When she came down those big green eyes smiled down at me and she cupped my face. “Jack.” She leaned over so her breath fanned my face and I held her hips as she climbed on top of me, taking my bottom lip between her teeth and pulling.

  “Sierra. Say yes.” After several long minutes of torturous kisses that had me hard enough to pound nails, she pulled back and smiled with affection shining her eyes and gave me an answer.

  “Yes.” Her voice was a low, seductive purr as she slid down my body and freed my cock from my pants, licking it without preamble like it was her favorite ice cream. Butter pecan, I remembered. She let out the sexiest moans and groans as she took my cock in her mouth, slow and sensual at first but as my hips began to thrust she sped up, licking and pumping harder and faster. The sounds she made in the back of her throat made my balls tighten and when she licked them too, my hips jumped in the air. “You like that, do you?”

  “Fuck yeah, I do.”

  “Fuck my mouth, Jack. Do it,” she urged and lowered her head until my cock touched the back of her throat and I sat up to do as she asked. The sight of her kneeling between my thighs, obedient and waiting for me to fuck that pretty pink mouth, had my cock leaking with need.

  I held her face with one hand, the other braced on the bed as my hips began to move, pumping faster and faster down her throat and Sierra took it all, never choking or gagging. She kept her eyes on mine, desire burning bright as her lips provided added friction that stole the last of my control. Faster and faster, I could no longer control the way my hips moved, my cock slamming the back of her throat as my orgasm began at my toes. When I caught sight of her hand moving between her thighs, knowing this turned her on as much as it did me, I was lost. Too far gone to care about anything as I shot my load down her throat, hips jerking as she swallowed every drop, moaning the whole time. “Damn woman,” I dropped back on the bed, loving that she crawled on top of me to slide her still soaked pussy over my sensitive cock. “You’re determined to make me lose my mind.”

  She grinned, hair rumpled and lips swollen from my cock as her hips slid up and down my length. “The sight of you losing control Jack, makes me wet as fuck.”

  By the time we left the ranch my body had calmed down a little, but I still ached to be deep inside her. It w
as a constant ache that scared me because this was casual. Just two adults who were attracted to one another, scratching an itch. A temporary itch. But when I got her on the dance floor in my arms, it felt a lot more than temporary.

  “Hey cowboy, you’re a pretty good dancer,” she grinned and pressed her body even closer to mine.

  “You’ve had me in bed so you know just how well I move.”

  With a loud, throaty laugh she tossed her head back and shook her head. “So arrogant.”

  “You love that about me.”

  Her expression sobered as our gazes collided. “I do,” she answered quietly and looked away.

  My heart pounded in my chest at her soft words. Did she mean that she loved me, or that she loved my arrogance? Call me a coward but I didn’t want to know. I just wanted to dance the night away with a beautiful woman in my arms.

  Sierra

  This time of year always wore me out. The holiday season meant more people spent time with their families, which meant they needed more booze and came to the Double Barrel to get it. On top of that, I cleaned out the bunkhouse and aired out all the bedding so it was fresh for the new ranch hands. Between the physical work of getting the bunk and ranch houses ready, I spent two late nights at the bar bookkeeping, and even later nights spent in pure bliss wrapped up in Jack.

  And I felt more than tired this year, I felt rundown. And now I was headed into Houston because Sage and I needed costumes for her ridiculous costume party, more food for said party and I had a doctor’s appointment to see about getting a shot of vitamin B to help me get through this season without falling sick.

  The drive in was uneventful, and thankfully traffic was light thanks to my mid-morning departure. The scenery flew by, and all too soon I found myself surrounded by noise, pollution and clogged up roadways. Luckily my trip had been mapped out the day before, and I quickly took care of everything I needed, giving me a full hour to wait before my scheduled doctor’s appointment.

  Sitting in a parking space just outside the intimidating structure of the medical center, I took several calming breaths feeling more uneasy than I had in some time. Which was odd since I’d been running myself ragged for months. Even before Jack and the ranch, I put in long hours at the bar and helping Sage with her growing family when I could. I probably needed a week-long vacation on a tropical island, but since that wouldn’t happen anytime soon, I just hoped the doctor could help.

  By the time I sat in the exam room wearing the paper gown I felt strangely settled. A quick shot and a lecture on eating properly and resting, then I would be back on the road to Lucky Flats.

  If the doctor ever came in to see me. The wait felt never ending to the point I almost put my clothes back on and left, but finally Dr. Valentine made an appearance. “Sierra, how are you feeling?”

  “Not all that great to be honest with you, Dr. V.” I told her of my symptoms and she went through all the litany of questions.

  “Is there any possibility of pregnancy?”

  “God no! I mean…well.” Shit. I’ve been having nonstop sex with Jack for weeks. But we used…absolutely nothing. Not one time had he reached for a condom, or me for that matter. And with my pitiful sex life before him I had no use for birth control. “Yeah, it’s possible.” What the hell am I, a teenager?

  “We’ll do a few tests then and see what’s causing this feeling, alright?”

  I nodded and, on wooden legs went to several rooms to give various samples. And waited.

  And waited.

  Ninety minutes later I sat in my car with tears in my eyes and a numbness permeating my arms and legs. My chest. Not a vitamin deficiency. Not fatigue. Nope, just pregnant.

  By a man who wants absolutely nothing from me but a no strings attached affair.

  * * *

  “If I didn’t know better, I might think you were avoiding me.” Jack stood, looking like all kinds of sinful in the doorway of my office. Legs crossed at the ankle and fingers hooked through his belt loops, he looked good enough to eat. And I was starving.

  Unfortunately, that particular diet would soon be making me fat. Very, very fat. “Then you might be wrong.” I had spent the past two days sleeping in my bare apartment upstairs, in part to avoid seeing Jack, and in part to get my head twisted on straight. “I have a lot of paperwork to do and by the time I finished up each night, it was too late to drive.”

  He looked like he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t call me on it. “Will you be home tonight?”

  “Probably.” Truthfully, I didn’t think my back could stand another night on the air mattress, so I had already planned on sleeping at the ranch tonight.

  “What’s up, Sierra? You’ve stopped coming home and you’re acting weird. Talk to me.” He sat in the chair opposite my desk, blue eyes looking deep into my soul.

  “I’m just feeling tired lately Jack.” Which was the truth. Three days had passed since I received the news that would change my life.

  “Are you okay?” His question sounded sincere and it nearly undid me. My resolve crumbled in the face of his concern.

  “No I’m not Jack, but I am also not ready to talk about it. Yet.” I added when crinkles fanned out around his eyes.

  “Can I help?”

  I shook my head quickly because if he couldn’t love me, couldn’t be with me, then there was nothing he could to do help. “Thank you for your offer though.” He winced at my formal tone. The bland words were so unlike me they might as well have come from a stranger.

  Jack sat there a moment, clearly unsure how to respond. Concern warred with his desire not to get too involved and finally he stood. “If you’re sure, I’ll see you tonight.”

  I nodded and watched him stand and leave, shoulders slumped slightly and his normally long legged purposeful stride was sluggish. Fatigue wore heavy on me and I knew I needed to figure my shit out, and soon. It wasn’t his fault he felt—or didn’t feel—the way I wanted him to, and punishing him was unfair. The Black Friday party was a couple days away and once that was out of the way I could breathe easy and make some decisions.

  I left the bar early and made it home just shy of eleven, but despite the late hour Jack was up and waiting. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” His wet hair and lack of a shirt told me he’d recently gotten out of the shower. “What are you doing up?”

  “Wanted to make sure you got home okay.”

  Damn he wasn’t going to make this easy on a girl. “Well I did.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  Before I could think better of it, I shook my head and he was on me, hands guiding me to the table and into a chair. “Sit. I made food,” he grinned full of pride.

  He pulled a plate from the warming oven and set it in front of me. “Wow, Jack. Thank you.” My voice shook with emotion. I wish I could say it was hunger, but the fact he thought of me, touched me. “You didn’t have to do this.”

  “I know.” He set a glass filled with soda next to my plate and sat across from me, patiently waiting. For what I didn’t know. “What’s going on Sierra?”

  I took a bite of the steak and chewed and chewed, giving myself time to figure out what to say. “Nothing. I’ve been eating and sleeping like crap. I’ll sleep in my own bed tonight, probably like a baby after this meal.” Did I really just say I would sleep like a baby? What the hell is wrong with me?

  “I don’t believe you, but I’m not going to push you tonight.”

  But he would, and soon. “Why do you need to push at all?”

  “We’re friends and I care about how you’re doing.”

  Friends. I couldn’t say anything to that because it wasn’t anything I didn’t already know. So, we sat in silence while I inhaled the steak, fries and corn on the cob like my life depended on it, because a life did depend on it. I started to chug the soda and stopped after remembering that Sage only drank herbal tea while pregnant. Something about caffeine not being good for the baby. “I should have water so I can actually get some sleep tonight.
”

  He stood and brought me a fresh glass filled with water and drank the soda himself. “I want you to sleep with me tonight.”

  I knew exactly what he was asking. He wanted us to lie together in bed, cuddling, while we slept. It should be no big deal, people shared beds all the time especially with their lovers. But I knew that taking that step would lead to madness. To emotions. Complications he wasn’t ready for even if he didn’t know it yet. My hand went to my stomach as my conscience niggled that things couldn’t possibly get any more complicated. And this would give me one night in Jack’s arms. “Okay.”

  “That felt too easy, but I’m not gonna argue with you.”

  My shoulders sagged in relief.

  “Tonight.” He grabbed my hands and pulled me to a standing position. “Tonight I just want to feel you in my arms. Your naked body pressed against mine while we sleep.” I couldn’t suppress the shiver that rocked through me and he grinned. “Good.”

  “Good?”

  He nodded and guided me up the stairs. “It’s good to see you’re still as affected by me as I am by you.”

  “Jack,” I moaned. I wanted to tell him not to say those things to me because they confused me, but that would be a lie. I wasn’t confused at all about my feelings for Jack. I loved him. It wasn’t just a crush anymore. It was full-blown, hearts and flowers, pounding chest, sweaty palms and dreams of forever and ever, kind of love. “I’ve been affected by you since the day I met you.”

  He grinned as we stepped inside my bedroom this time, unbuttoning my pearl snap buttons. “You mean when I had to rescue you and Sage from that big oak on our old place?”

  I smiled at the memory, gasping at the way his knuckles grazed my belly. “You were the handsomest boy I’d ever seen with those broad shoulders and big blue eyes. I thought you were a hero coming up there and getting us down.” I’d fallen in love with him almost instantly.

  “I remember. Those blondies you made were delicious. And the note was sweet.”