The Cowgirl’s Secret Love: The Colemans of Heart Falls, Book 2

by Vivian Arend

  Maybe the cast was a good thing, because he shouldn’t move too fast.

  The heat between them flared like a bright flame under a pitch-dark summer sky. Finn fed the passion, licking and biting, holding her against him as her soft curves met the rigid planes of his body.

  They fit. They fit so damn well. They were both panting when he let their lips separate.

  He grabbed a towel off the rack and dragged it around his neck, tilting his head toward the bedroom. “In there. Now.”

  Karen backed up slowly, mischief rising in her eyes. “You’re supposed to be all relaxed and happy right now.”

  “I’m very relaxed, and extremely happy, and if you’re not naked in about ten seconds, I hope you’re not too fond of those jeans.”

  He crowded after her, fighting to keep from growling when she demurely glanced up from under her lashes.

  Then she laughed, reaching for the bottom of her shirt and peeling it up and over her head an instant later.

  She went to work on the button of her jeans, but Finn was more interested in ditching the crutches and doing more than admire from a distance.

  Only that strip show? Already she was blowing his mind. “Dammit, Karen.”

  Karen paused in the middle of shoving the denim off her hips, examining him closely.

  He hopped forward the half step it took to close the gap, balancing on one crutch as he brushed his knuckles along the edge of her shimmering red camisole. “You walk by in the arena, your hips swaying like the sweetest temptation. I get so freaking hard because you’re wearing these sexy things underneath, and I’m the only one who knows. Satin and silk, soft to touch, but nowhere near as soft as the skin you’re covering up. And I want to strip you bare and touch you everywhere until you’re ready to scream my fucking name.”

  He slipped a finger under the thin silk strap of her camisole and the thicker supporting one of her bra. He slowly brushed his fingertip over her shoulder and down her arm so that the camisole dipped to reveal the smooth creamy swell of her breast, rising and falling more rapidly as the pace of her breathing picked up.

  “And this bra should be illegal.” The camisole fell away enough the edge of her nipple was visible, peeking out from the supportive bra cup.

  Finn dipped his head and slowly licked along the line between her breasts. Up along the curve until he stopped directly over her nipple. Closing his lips, he pulled it into his mouth and pulsed.

  Fingers dragged through his hair as Karen moaned, arching toward him.

  He didn’t have the ability to hold himself on one leg for as long as he needed to enjoy this the way he wanted. Time to get creative. He worked his way up the side of her neck and to her lips, crowding her backward to the edge of the bed.

  Easing off just enough to look her in the eye, he spoke hungrily. “Need to take some weight off, but as soon as I do, you’re going to give me what I want. I’m not done checking out that pretty bra, and I’m definitely not done making you feel good. Won’t be done until you’re sitting on my face and my tongue is deep inside, fucking you until you come so hard you forget everyone but me.”

  Karen moved out of his way, her cheeks red and a flush covering her chest. “Those painkillers make you very dirty mouthed.”

  He got on the bed, all the while grinning. “I didn’t take any today yet, so let’s just say you inspire me. Take off your panties then get up here.”

  Finn lay flat on his back, legs stretched out. his gaze fixed on Karen. She reached behind her—

  “Leave the bra,” he ordered. “That’s my job. You ditch the panties and come straddle me.”

  He didn’t think it was possible for her to blush any harder, but she did, which set something inside him boiling. Or maybe it was the way she hooked her thumbs into the thin line of fabric covering each hip and wiggled with a natural grace. The silky scrap slid out of sight to the floor, the dark curls covering her sex a bit of nirvana in the bedroom.

  Placing one knee then the other on the mattress, Karen carefully centered herself over his abdomen. “Don’t you do anything to hurt yourself,” she warned.

  “When the shoe was on the other foot, I trusted you to let me know if something didn’t feel good,” he reminded her. “Not going to try anything yet that’s too hard and too fast, although the day I get to sink my cock into your sweet pussy can’t come soon enough.”

  She licked her lips, breathing heavily.

  He gestured her forward. “Closer. I’m not done playing.”

  The confusion on her face vanished as soon as she adjusted position. He ran his palms slowly up her torso until his hands cupped her beautiful breasts. A slow circular sweep over the fabric followed by teasing touches of the exposed skin playing peekaboo with his senses.

  “Damn if I can figure out how this can be comfortable, but it’s one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen,” Finn confessed.

  “The bra gives me a lot of support.” Her words slid into a soft moan as he rolled her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.

  “Bet it feels good,” Finn prompted. “When you’re out riding and that silky camisole is rubbing your bare nipples, you ever think about me? About my mouth on you? Sucking and biting until you squirm?”

  Karen leaned forward, her breasts all but spilling out of the cups. Inches away from his mouth as if offering them like a sacrifice. “Sometimes. Sometimes I come back home and get myself off in the shower. Just let the water slick over me and dream that it’s you.”

  The image was the last straw. Finn undid her bra and stripped it away even as he surrounded one taut peak with his mouth and sucked.

  He used his tongue, circling the tender skin until she pushed harder against him. Then it was time to use his teeth, alternating gentle nips with increasing suction. The taste of her was perfect, and he used both hands to press her breasts close enough to alternate from one sensitive tip to the other. She held herself over him, eyes closed, pleasure streaking over her face.

  And then it was enough, because it wasn’t nearly enough. Finn reached down and caught her hips, dragging her upward.

  Karen grabbed hold of the headboard to balance herself, but he held her tight enough she wasn’t going anywhere.

  He pressed a kiss to the apex of her sex. “Damn, I’ve missed this.”

  “Me too.” The words were whisper-soft, with a bit of a laughing lilt to them.

  Finn met her smiling eyes. “My tongue missed you.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but he wasn’t waiting any longer. He licked through her curls, opening her. Her flavor rushed him, and he lifted her higher to work greedily. Teasing the bundle of nerves that set her hips wiggling.

  He dug his fingers into her ass muscles to grind her down on his face. Stabbing his tongue deep, driving her pleasure higher from the sounds escaping her lips.

  He slipped his fingers into her sex and concentrated on her clit with his tongue. Moisture bathed his hand as he teased her entrance. Fucking her slowly with his fingers, she rocked against him, drawing closer to the pinnacle.

  The only thing he didn’t like about this position was he couldn’t see her face, but for here and now, he would take it. Take the sounds spilling from her lips, the moisture coating his fingers, and then as she came, her body clamping tight and squeezing even as he continued to fuck her through the aftershocks.

  He left his fingers buried deep, licking slowly over her folds to feel her quiver. The headboard shook as she clenched down again, every motion of his tongue setting her off again.

  “Oh my God, Finn. Slow. Slow.” She breathed out another long gasp, lifting her hips high enough to break contact with his mouth.

  He glanced up. Pulled his fingers out partway.

  Slowly slid them back in.

  Her face contorted as another pulse rocked her. “Oh my God. Oh my God.”

  He did it again, and this time she cursed softly. “I’m going to die.”

  Finn stilled his hand. Twisted his head enough
to press a kiss to the inside of her thigh. She quivered and sighed.

  “Want some more?” he asked.

  “No. Yes.” She laughed. “Later?”

  Curling his fingers inside her gently set off another scream. This time he took pity and slid his hand all the way free. “Later,” he agreed.

  She carefully lifted herself then grabbed the spare blanket off the chair. She spread it over him before crawling onto the mattress by his side.

  Flat on his back, there weren’t many options for holding her. But Finn opened his arm, and she curled up next to him, head resting on his shoulder, her arm draped over his torso. Both of them naked except for the hugely present cast.

  They lay quietly for a moment. Finn pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You okay with this?”

  “The being naked in bed with you or the part where we got each other off in the middle of the afternoon?”

  He went for honest. “Both. The orgasms are fun, but the being with you part is pretty damn important to me. Naked or not.”

  “Yeah, right. Because I’ve been so much fun to be around lately.” Karen rumbled a little before sighing heavily. “Sorry I’ve been so damn grumpy.”

  “Isn’t that my line?”

  She laughed, but it wasn’t bright and clear the way he wanted to hear it.

  “I don’t know. It’s just—” She took another deep breath then shook her head, her hair sliding over his chest and biceps. “We have a goal. To get the ranch up and running, and it’s a good goal. I’m glad to be able to help you with it.”

  Her words said one thing, her tone another. For some reason it sounded as if working with him was an item she was determined to succeed at even though it wasn’t really what she wanted.

  Not being able to look into her eyes sucked. Not knowing a way to reassure her he’d give up the entire damn ranch if there was something else she wanted.

  But something told him to wait. He tightened the arm around her briefly. “I’m glad you’re here. Not because of the ranch, but because you’re here.”

  She softened a little at that, twisting her head to press a kiss to his chest. “Are naps legal on this particular ranch?”

  “Definitely. Especially after a good workout.”

  That got a soft snicker and then quiet. Finn held on as her breathing slowed and they both relaxed.

  How the hell would he survive waiting another four weeks until the cast came off to take their relationship to the next level?

  But as distracting as thoughts of sex were, he wondered what else he was missing and how to fix it. The miracle of having her trust him again had hit hard.

  He still needed to up his game.

  15

  It wasn’t as if they’d hit a turning point and it was now all naked fun and full-on dive into a relationship time.

  Finn wouldn’t have minded, but he figured reality wouldn’t work that way. And even as he took the time to enjoy the brief nap cuddled up together, he thought she’d likely wake up and find a way to put distance between them again.

  Frustrating as that was, Finn didn’t fight it. Not as if he could chase her down and demand she stop running from what was between them.

  Still, he took the fact that she kissed him sweetly before getting out of bed and pulling her clothes on as a win.

  Karen gave him a wink. “One of us has to get to work. My boss’s boss is a real hard-ass.”

  Finn folded his arms behind his head and grinned. “You go on and tell Zach I’m his boss. I want to hear what he says.”

  She took off with a wave.

  He took his sweet time finishing getting ready to restart his day. Thank God for the strange extended clamp tool Zach had bought him that allowed him to get dressed in less than an hour.

  Karen had grabbed his wet clothes and popped them in the washer, so he puttered around the kitchen for a bit, getting things ready for the evening. By the time he made it over to the house to catch up with Zach, it was nearly four o’clock.

  His friend was looking over lists of something with an atypical frown creasing his brows.

  “What’s up?” Finn asked as he made his way across the floor, crutches solid on the new wood sheeting being used as a base for the future hardwood floors.

  Zach blinked before focusing, answering with a wave of the papers in his hand. “I was checking to see what was on our recent order list, because we’re missing a hell of a lot of things. Cody informed me they had to stop the plumbing installations on the cabins because they’re short nearly all the elbows they need.”

  That didn’t make any sense. “The contractors wrote up quotes for everything we required. Did a box get stored somewhere it shouldn’t?”

  “That was my first thought as well. Got some of the guys out looking,” Zach told him. “In the meantime, I was double-checking I hadn’t screwed up.”

  “Or me, considering I’ve been the one doing the paperwork,” Finn said bluntly. “Don’t spare my feelings. Who knows what I did while higher than a kite?”

  “I don’t think it’s either of us. That’s the problem.” Zach glared at the paperwork again as if his disgust would scare the truth out.

  Finn eased back on the tall stool waiting for him. “Put that down for now. Catch me up on how things are really going. I’ve been easing off the painkillers. I want to make sure I didn’t miss anything important the past couple weeks.”

  It didn’t take long. Partly because Zach knew how to get to the point, and partly because they had a pretty straightforward way of working together. If it was good, that’s all Zach said.

  If there was a problem—like the missing parts—the issue got put into priority according to the effect it would have on their deadline. Which so far didn’t seem to be a problem.

  “I think we should narrow down our focus a little, though,” Zach admitted. “Alan already told us he’s bringing his extended family. That means we need six cabins completed to beat the challenge. Karen said she’ll have enough animals and staff to deal with the trail rides. At least the exterior of the row housing will be done—that’s more for looks and the fun of it than anything. Once we have everything we need to install, at least.”

  Finn considered. “Are you suggesting we don’t finish this main house?”

  Zach shrugged. “We need a place for a cook and to serve up meals. Karen and I were talking about that. As sweet as it sounds to have that in the house, it involves a whole lot more changes than I think we can do in our timeframe. All things considered.”

  “Probably should’ve figured that out sooner,” Finn said with a grumble.

  “Probably would’ve, but life happened,” Zach said brightly. His face lit up as he smiled toward the doorway. “Karen. Awesome. Come tell Finn about your cookhouse idea.”

  She slipped across the floor, completely professional. It was his own damn fault that he kept picturing that silky red fabric moving under her flannel shirt.

  “You want to talk about that?” Karen asked. “It was just an idea.”

  “It was a good idea,” Zach insisted. “Spill.”

  She shrugged as if not wanting the attention. “Just got to thinking about some of the comments we had at Willmore Wilderness Park. We had a mess hall set up. Nice big building at the opposite end of the parking lot from the horses—cuts down on the scent of the country.”

  Finn’s lips twitched. “Always a good thing at a dude ranch.”

  She nodded slowly. “What ended up happening was people started asking to hire out the hall for weddings and anniversary parties. And while the Willmore setup is a little different because we run full weeklong camps which don’t leave a lot of downtime, if you made a cookhouse with two rooms for dining, you could rent out one for private parties and still provide for your guests.”

  “You don’t think it would be a problem catering to two groups?”

  “Depends on how you set it up, but the people who come out here for a wedding or an anniversary will be horse people, or love the cou
ntry, or have some reason to pick Red Boot ranch. Heck, they might be interested in a one or two-hour trail ride without staying the night. With how close we are to Calgary, it’s a definite possibility. And I hear the rental price on wedding venues has gone through the roof.”

  Zach pulled out the map of the ranch and pointed to a level spot to the west of the space currently earmarked for the parking lot. “Wouldn’t ruin any of the sight lines for the cottages. If we build a nice size deck off a basic building, that would only enhance the experience. I think it would be great.”

  He was catching the vision of it. Finn considered it from another couple of angles, including how much money it would take to get it done PDQ.

  He nodded at Karen. “Great idea. We’ll double-check a couple things, but I think you’re right. New sources of revenue are always good to include. Zach, see what we have to line up to get it started. Permits, design stamps, etc. We’ve got that architect who owes us a favour if we need blueprints stat.”

  Karen hadn’t moved. “Really?”

  He wasn’t sure how to answer that. “Really…what?”

  “You’re just taking my idea and running with it?” Karen shook her head. “I hope I didn’t give you a shitty idea. Don’t go wasting money—”

  Zach held up a hand. “We just told you it was a really good idea.”

  “And we will check the money part before we start, but that won’t take long,” Finn told her.

  She shrugged again as if they were both slightly confused. “Oh, by the way. Cody wanted me to tell you guys he found one box of plumbing elbows, but the whole case looks as if it was driven over a few times by a tractor. We’ll have to reorder those.”

  Finn stifled his curse.

  “Hey, Zach.” Karen changed the topic. Happiness shoved into her tone. “Someone was teasing you earlier about the bachelor auction. I never did hear the details about your winning date. Who bought you? Where are you taking her?”

  “Rose Fields,” he said with a smile. He raised a hand at the soft whistle that arrived with his announcement. “Don’t go getting all excited. She already told me this is not a date date. Brad and Hanna’s wedding is next week, and Rose wants a date who promises to dance with her as much as she wants. She put that into the auction contract.”