by Em Petrova
“It was.” He thought of that asshole deputy he’d gone to school with and wouldn’t do a thing different.
She sighed and set the letter aside, going for another. “This is addressed to you too. Community service? When did you have time for all this mischief, Zayden?”
He chuckled. “I’ll chop some wood for the sheriff or somethin’. Don’t worry—I’ll take care of it.”
Another envelope. “This here’s the vet bill.”
That brought a heavy sigh from him. “I’ll take care of that too.”
“Don’t forget about that fifteen grand you need to buy back the horses.”
“Or the ten I owe the coalition for that loan.” None of this was news to him—he knew he had obligations and a bunch of bills to settle.
She tossed aside a feed catalog to read later and picked up another envelope. Her brows knitted as she read the front. “This looks like…” She blinked rapidly and tore into the envelope. “It is.”
He set down his coffee and moved toward her. “It is what?”
“It’s in Dane’s handwriting. But it wasn’t mailed. There’s no postage. He must have put it into the mailbox before he left town.”
Zayden’s heart flexed hard. “Give it to me.”
She handed the envelope to him and watched as he pulled the contents free. When his gaze hit a check addressed to him with a fifteen and a three zeroes following the number, a rough sigh escaped his lungs.
Mimi hovered over his arm to read the check and then plastered a hand over her chest. “My Lord. Your brother didn’t leave you high and dry, after all, did he?”
He swallowed the lump in his throat. “No…” A small scribbled note sat nestled against the check.
Brother, hope this helps and keeps some of my cut of the ranch. I have a feeling I’ll be needing a home soon. And don’t worry—I won’t come back just to act like Dad.
–Dane
He pinched the bridge of his nose hard. “Damn,” he said softly.
Mimi patted his arm, beaming through her tears. “That buys back those horses your dad stole. Which reminds me that Jefferson called for you earlier. What a terrible jerk that man is.”
“Yeah,” seemed to be the word to cover all those topics. His voice came out gritty.
“Now about that fine for peeing in public—”
He held up a hand against the lecture. “I said I’ll take care of it.”
“I know you will—you’re honorable. I was just gonna add that you handled all this very well today.” She squeezed his arm. “You’ve grown a lot since coming home, Z.”
To cover his emotion raised by her words, he withdrew his wallet and put the check inside. Then he stuffed the note in as well, suddenly unwilling to throw away even a small scrap of paper from his brother. For a moment, he stood there in shock that so many pieces were falling into place.
The loan was going through and soon he’d have his money. His brother just saved his ass with the check that would cover some of the mess his father left behind. Mimi still had his back, and he couldn’t be more grateful for her.
And Esme too.
He needed to make it up to her for trying to walk out without speaking today. What had gotten into him, anyway? His mind was like a wild stallion sometimes, taking off alone to live a solitary existence, when all it wanted really was a warm stall and a bucket of hay. Only thing he could say for certain was Esme deserved better—but if she wanted him, then he’d do his best.
Swallowing hard again, he returned his wallet to his pocket and turned to Mimi. “I’ve got some things to take care of.”
She nodded. “I’ll see you for supper?”
“Yeah. Esme too. She’ll be here.”
Mimi gave him a knowing smile. “Can’t wait to see her again.”
As he walked out to the barn to check on the new addition to the Moon Ranch, he couldn’t help but wait for the other shoe to drop—to find another mess from his father or discover that he really was the biggest dick of all the Moons and Esme couldn’t abide being with him.
He paused in the yard and tipped his face up to the sky.
Whatever happened, he had himself—and he could always rely on that. He wasn’t his father, a drunk or conniving thief. He might not always take the high road, but that didn’t make him a bad man…and he had every chance to make things right.
Starting now, he was going to live on his terms, without the shadow of his upbringing hanging like a dark cloud over his head.
* * * * *
“Mimi?” Esme poked her head into the kitchen. “Is Zayden around?”
The woman turned from a basket of laundry to smile at her. “He’s in the barn.” A twinkle in her eyes made her suspicious as to what the woman knew that she didn’t.
“I’ll come back in to talk to you later, then.” She smiled and headed back outside.
Long shadows of evening stretched across the thawing ground, and she tracked them with her eyes as she made her way to the barn. When she laid a hand on the wood door, she paused.
He was inside, and she couldn’t wait to see him. But part of her was apprehensive too. After he’d tried to end their relationship, she had no idea what side of Zayden to expect.
Time to find out.
She pushed open the door. The scent of hay rose up to greet her, and she blinked at a yellow circle of light coming from a lantern along one wall. On the floor beneath that, a blanket was spread out and several more folded and set aside. Next to that sat a picnic basket.
“What the…” She stepped closer, and then a strong arm came around her middle. The feel of the man behind her had her body on high alert. His scent rushed into her head as he dipped his mouth to her ear.
“Surprise.” His murmur raised the hairs all over her body.
“What is this?” she asked, turning into his arms.
He brought her close. “It’s me making up to you. And since I only know women like romantic picnics, I had Mimi help me out.”
It was too cold outside for such a thing, and the fact that he’d brought it into the barn was the sweetest thing she’d ever heard.
“I cleaned the barn real good first.”
She smiled up at him. “It’s perfect. Zayden…” There weren’t words for what she felt, so she went on tiptoe and kissed him.
The soft brushing of lips spoke of promises untold. But in time, she’d get each and every one from this man. He wasn’t as tough as he looked—or acted. And he was hers.
She broke the kiss and rested her forehead against his, breathing hard.
“What do you want to do first? Eat or see the calf?” He tipped his head toward the far stall where he had the mother and baby tucked up warm and safe.
“See the calf. I’ve been wondering about it all day.” She stepped back, and he caught her hand. They shared a long look before he led her to the stall and opened the door.
The momma looked up at them, munching hay while the baby nestled next to her side, nursing.
“She’s on her feet!” Esme exclaimed.
“Yeah, happens pretty quick.”
“She’s adorable. I can’t believe I helped her be born.”
Zayden’s stare was a warm weight on her, and she met it. Electric desire passed between them.
He closed the stall and took her hand again. This time he drew her toward the glow at the other side of the barn.
He waved a hand for her to sit on the blanket, and she did. Her coat was bulky but necessary—at least till he started touching her. Then she’d warm pretty quick.
Looking a bit nervous, Zayden sank to the blanket as well. She wondered if he’d ever had a picnic in his life.
“What have we got to eat?” She leaned to peer at the basket.
He popped open the wood lid and reached inside. “Tea.” The plastic jug was set aside, along with a couple mugs. “Chicken.” He set aside a small container. “And biscuits.”
“Mmm.”
“And for dessert—”
/> She threw herself forward to kiss the words off his lips. When he sank his tongue into her mouth, she moaned and deepened the caress. Passion was a wick inside her caught aflame by Zayden’s lips and tongue. As he dragged her into his lap, she threw off the coat she wore and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He moved her so she straddled him. The hard bulge in his jeans nudged at her center, and in seconds they were both panting for more.
“Dinner can wait,” she muttered between passes of his tongue.
“Dessert first.” He captured her lips and stole all thought of food from her mind. All she wanted was to taste this cowboy, feel his callused hands stripping her… and then his thick cock pounding into her.
He had the same idea. Cupping her breasts, he moved to kiss her neck. Dizzying seconds passed, and before she knew it, his hands were on bare skin, her top discarded.
He dragged the work-rough pads of his thumbs across her nipples, and she sucked in a sharp breath. He kissed her open mouth, tongue swirling with hers in the deepest of kisses as he laid her down. To her surprise, the blanket rested on a bed of hay. She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and drew him closer.
“This is perfect,” she whispered.
He searched her eyes. “You’re perfect.”
Her heart flip-flopped with another injection of love. When she’d been stranded and alone on that mountain, she never would have believed this was in store for her. That she’d have someone as noble and strong as Zayden in her life was still a shock. And their fledgling friendship—and his protectiveness of her—had morphed into so much more.
She tangled her fingers in the hair on his nape and took pleasure in the rasp of his stubbled jaw against her skin. He moved down to her throat, then her breasts and continued on.
She fumbled off his shirt and skated her hands over all his warm flesh. The chiseled bumps fed into her desire, and the glow of lantern light carved him out of stone. She kissed every inch she could reach, and he did the same. When he stripped off her dress pants and then his own jeans followed, they stared at each other.
“I’m shaking,” she whispered.
He clenched his hands into fists. “You’re so goddamn beautiful.”
She arched her back, pushing her breasts forward. The hard peaks begged for his lips and teeth. “Are you gonna tie me up again?”
His eyes burned. “You liked that, did you?”
She nodded, hardly able to catch her breath let alone form words. “It was more than sex.”
“I know.” His gritty tone had her nipples pinching harder. Then things got fuzzy, as his mouth enveloped one tip and she stopped thinking.
Reaching between their bodies, she cupped his cock—hard and turgid, the head swollen and slick with pre-cum. She moaned and enveloped him with her fingers. Stroking up and down his length, she drew groan after wild groan from him. He dropped his head against her neck and let her have her way for several long heartbeats before he grabbed her wrist.
“Let me taste you,” she rasped.
He gave a rough shake of his head. “Can’t hold back if you do. I want you too much, sweetheart.” He rolled onto his back and grasped her by the hips. “Straddle my face.”
Dark heat slithered through her belly at the idea of his mouth hitting her wet folds. With a quiet mewl of desire, she eased her thighs on each side of his ears. Hot breath washed across her pussy.
He cupped her ass cheeks and dragged her down to meet his lips.
* * * * *
He’d never played the seduction game, but he couldn’t help planning out more scenarios for him and Esme in his mind. By the time he had her sitting on his face, he’d made a mental list to execute and had her squirming atop him all at once.
She tossed back her head on a cry, and he sucked her tight bud into his mouth, flickering his tongue across the bundle of nerves till she quaked. Her delicious flavors flooded over his lips, and he eased a finger between her cheeks, down to her dripping pussy.
When he dipped the tip into her channel, she thrashed. He held on, sinking his finger deeper into her pussy as he sucked her clit. His cock ached and his balls throbbed. If he lasted through this moment, he had more stamina than he thought.
Hell, I’m a Moon. If nothing else, I can pleasure a woman and keep her coming back for more.
He never wanted this woman to leave his bed. Or his side. With her, the future wasn’t all storm clouds and trouble on the horizon. He could see the sun through the storm.
As this poetry passed through his mind, he pulsed his finger faster. He gathered her juices and sucked her clit between his lips. The moment she tightened on his finger, he added a second and brought a wail from her lips.
She came hard, churning her hips, ass grinding and taking everything she needed from him. A heady power unlike anything he’d known before stole his mind, and he lifted her, flipped her onto her back, and got a condom from the stash he’d placed under the blankets.
Their gazes locked, he took her in one hard thrust. When the haze of passion in her eyes was too much for him to endure, he began to move.
Their harsh noises filled the barn, and he couldn’t think of anywhere else he’d want to be right now than buried deep inside Esme. She stared into his eyes and kissed him with the wildness he needed to tip him over the edge. She wasn’t ready for a second orgasm yet, but it was too late—he couldn’t stop it.
Sensation rushed up from the base of his spine, a tingling that erupted on a wave. He growled low in his throat, and she gripped him to her as the release struck.
When she raked her fingertips down his spine, another jet pulsed out of his cock, and another. Someday he’d have her without barriers, and that day would come soon.
‘Til then, there was always rope.
* * * * *
“There’s a new vet in town.” Mimi’s announcement had him stopping midstride to the front door.
He half-turned. “Maybe this one doesn’t know our bad reputation.”
Mimi laughed at that. “Or maybe you finally paid off the other and she skipped town before you could rope her into more work here.”
He chuckled. “That too.”
“Where are you headed?” she asked.
He shot her a crooked grin. “To do my community service.” He’d agreed to cut down bushes outside the sheriff’s office and come spring thaw, he’d dig out the roots for new plantings. He had a feeling the decision to make him dig up the roots was all Dickies’ idea, but he wasn’t about to argue. Things were going too well to let that old rival get to him.
Mimi bustled over to put her arms around him. She gave him a fat kiss on the cheek and he rubbed it away, like he did when he was thirteen.
“Ew.”
She laughed. “I’m going to start painting the kitchen next.”
He nodded. “Want me to pick up some paint in town?”
“If you wouldn’t mind stopping by the hardware store, I have a paint chip selected. Let me get it.”
He looked around the living room while she fetched the paint chip. Funny how a coat of paint changed things. The blue was brighter and pale enough to look like clouds. As soon as he got back from the cattle auction with some more stock, he’d budget out a new floor in here. Maybe hardwood if the used tractor he planned to buy didn’t cost that much.
She returned with a smile and put the chip into his hand.
“It’s just white,” he said.
“It’s farmhouse ivory. Not white.”
He shrugged. “I’ll pick some up. Be home for supper.”
“Bring Esme.”
He grinned. “I will.”
The work cutting down shrubs lasted him all afternoon, and he felt grubby and his muscles burned from all the hard work. He had a few more days on the job, but at least he could say he dug himself out of trouble at the same time. Maybe a Moon could learn from his mistakes, after all.
He just passed the steakhouse on his way to the hardware store, when he spotted Esme’s car
.
His heart gave a hard jolt. Why had she come here so late in the day? Hell, lunchtime had just passed.
Unusual for her to buy such a pricey lunch. Who could she be with?
Trust her. Drive past and buy the paint.
He couldn’t do that. What if she got in over her head? Last time she’d come here, she’d met that idiot ex who’d dumped her on the mountain.
He whipped into the parking lot.
With measured strides, he stormed into the building and looked around for her curls.
“Can I seat you, sir?” the hostess asked.
He shook his head. “Lookin’ for someone.” When he spotted her mop of hair, his throat closed off.
She sat alone.
He took off toward her, weaving through tables till he reached one near the window. Esme sat looking out, her chin propped on the heel of her hand.
“What are you doin’ here?” he asked unceremoniously.
She jerked and blinked up at him in shock. “Zayden.”
“Are you meeting somebody?”
She shook her head and then smiled softly. “Sit down.”
Chest tight with confusion, he dropped to the wooden chair. “What’s going on?”
“I was celebrating.”
His jaw dropped. “Celebrating what?” Without him?
She folded her hands on the table. “My promotion.”
He gaped at her. “Promotion? I thought that jerk-off wasn’t giving it to you without a degree.”
“It seems that I’m the best candidate for the position. He’s interviewed about a dozen people, and since I know the credit union policies already and I am currently attending classes to complete my degree… Well, it wasn’t only Jason’s decision, anyway. The president of the credit union came today and told us all that I’m the new loan officer.”
He issued a breath of relief, and on the heels of that came a whoop of happiness.
The few people enjoying the lunch menu looked over at them, but what did he care about a little attention when his woman had gone after her own dream and attained it?
She grinned at him and reached out to take his hands. Her touch jarred him back to his darker thoughts.
