by Lila Kane
“Why didn’t you tell anyone? If they knew the whole story, then—”
“Fuck them. If they’re too ignorant to see any other side, why should I care?”
Willow’s chest heaved up and down, looking angry at the injustice of it all. He’d never had anyone stand up for him before. Never cared to. Until now.
“I’m sorry,” Willow said. “I judged you, too, and I was wrong.”
He jerked his shoulder in a shrug. He was used to it. But something in her eyes had him hesitating. Had him giving her another look when he would have dismissed her like the rest. She was being sincere.
To his surprise, she stepped up to him and set her hand on his chest. “Will you forgive me?”
Her fingers were like fire even though his shirt. He hadn’t been touched by a woman in months. And being touched by a woman who knew his history…that had never happened.
“I’m not as innocent as you believe,” he warned her.
“Trying to scare me away?”
Maybe a little. She had to be sure what she was getting herself into. He could be possessive, and he certainly had a temper. But unlike his sister’s ex, he didn’t resort to using violence to show it.
“You sure you want to be standing that close?” he asked.
“Do you always answer every question you’re asked with another question?”
Damn it. He was a master at deflection and now she’d caught on. “Not always.”
Her lips curved. She leaned in, her breasts brushing his chest. “Then answer this question. Do you want me?”
His pulse spiked and his dick hardened. Hell yeah he wanted her. In his bed, straddling him and riding him until all his frustrations melted away. He gripped her around the waist and only said one word.
“Yes.”
Chapter 5
________________
Willow
Cole didn’t give her a chance to make another move on him. He grabbed her roughly around the waist, grabbed her ass, and hiked her up. She wrapped her legs around him to hang on and he shoved her against the wall. Her breath rushed out as desire swept through her body.
“Hell,” he grunted, eyes on fire. “All you need is a hat and you’d look like a real cowgirl. A fucking hot one.”
“Blue,” she whispered triumphantly.
He narrowed his gaze. “What?”
“Your eyes. They’re blue. I’ve been trying to figure that out since yesterday.”
He kissed her jaw. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
His lips brushed hers once, then twice. “Do you know how fucking hot that is? That you were trying to figure me out.”
He palmed her breasts through her shirt, fingers rough and demanding. Her whole body throbbed, her pussy coming alive with want.
“I haven’t figured you out completely yet,” she breathed, trying to keep her focus. She was talking a good game, but she’d be on her knees from pleasure already if he hadn’t been holding her up.
“What else do you want to know?”
She tugged on his shirt, shoving her hands underneath to run her fingers on his abdomen, his hard pecks. “Do you like it slow or do you like it rough?”
His cock pressed into her, and she reveled in the fact that she’d turned him on. “I like it all ways. But right now? Rough.”
Cole stepped back, still holding her, and walked to the back of the guesthouse. His bedroom. It was dark and cool inside, the covers barely mussed from his short nap.
“I need to be inside of you, buried in you over and over,” Cole said, voice husky.
She slid down his body until her feet hit the floor. In an instant, his hands were all over, tugging at her shirt to free it from her jeans, and then ripping it open so buttons scattered on the floor. She kicked off her boots as he went for the button on her jeans and tugged those down. When she was nearly naked before him, he stood back.
“Take it off,” Cole demanded.
She exhaled. “What?”
“Take off the rest of your clothes. I want to watch. I want to see you touch yourself.”
She shivered, so hot for him she was practically leaking. She reached behind her to unlatch her bra, keeping her eyes locked on his.
She licked her lips and saw his gaze drop. She had all the power right now, and she was taking advantage of it. She pulled her bra off one strap at a time and let it fall to the ground. The she shimmied her panties down her legs, toeing them to the side.
His breathing picked up as his eyes wandered, taking in every inch of her body. When she squeezed her tits, he swore. She teased her own nipples, making them harden into tight peaks before letting her hands wander down to her abdomen, and then lower.
She slid one finger inside of her pussy, and then rubbed it over her clit, so turned on she was practically ready to come.
Cole undressed as he watched, out of his clothes in a matter of seconds. His dick was hard and ready, curving up to his abdomen, a drop of pre-cum on the end.
Holy hell, she wanted him in her.
“I need you,” she whispered.
He stepped closer to her. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation.
He walked to his end table and whipped out a handkerchief. “On the bed.”
She climbed on the bed, crawling up the headboard, with a notion of what he might be doing. When he told her to lie down and then crawled onto the bed with her, she squeezed her thighs together.
“Please, Cole,” she begged.
He gripped her wrists and pulled them over her head. With quick movements, he tied the handkerchief around her wrists and then bound her to the headboard so her hands were useless, body stretched out before him.
“Now it’s my turn,” he said.
He eased back onto his heels, his cock bobbing under its own weight. He stroked it a few times and she whimpered as her clit pulsed. She wanted his tongue on her clit, and then inside of her, fucking her until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
As if reading her mind, he spread her thighs, exposing her gleaming pussy.
“Perfect,” he murmured. “So wet.”
He lowered his head, trailing his tongue over one thigh, then the other, before running it to her center. He licked just below the small thatch of hair, teasing her tiny bud without relenting. Her breath caught, body bowing off the bed. He brought her close to the brink and then slowed, running his tongue lower. He used his fingers to spread the lips of her pussy, then licked from bottom to top before sliding it into her heat.
Eyes shut tight, she relished the sensation as he inserted his tongue into her over and over again. Then he used the rough pad of his thumb at the same time, circling her clit.
“Cole. God, I can’t—”
Words vanished as the orgasm hit her hard. Fireworks exploded behind her eyelids as her body tensed. Her legs went ramrod straight, body bowing off the bed. Cole kept tormenting her with his tongue, but held her thighs tightly as her body rolled with pleasure.
“No,” she gasped. “No more. I can’t—”
He smiled at her devilishly, but let her have a break. Her hands twisted against the handkerchief.
“I want to touch you,” she murmured.
His smile widened. He stroked his cock. “Like this?”
Pre-cum oozed down the side, and she watched as his dick grew, dying to have it inside of her.
“Cole. Please.”
He crawled between her legs and slid his dick along her moistened entrance. “Are you ready?” he asked, eyes the darkest shade of sapphire that she’d ever seen.
“Yes.”
He took his time running his cock along her slit and then finally, painstakingly, he entered her.
Chapter 6
________________
Cole
Shit. She felt so good. So hot and wet and smooth. It had been so long since he’d felt like this. Free and open to be who he was.
Willow accepted him as he was, and he had no doubt
she trusted him. She was lying under him, spread wide open, and letting him take her however he wanted. That was true acceptance.
He kept easing further inside, and when he’d gotten almost as far in as he could, he shoved that last inch and swallowed the moan that slipped from her lips. God, he wanted her so bad. He wanted to lose himself in her—had nearly gone that far already. Enough that he wasn’t even thinking about work or the fact that he should be out there right now.
Cole massaged her tongue with his, slowing the pace some as he slid in and out of her leisurely. He wanted to make the moment last, to draw out every ounce of pleasure. After all, this might be his only shot with Willow.
She fought the restraints, trying to get closer and closer to him. Her breasts pressed against his chest, nipples tight, taunting him. He swiveled his hips and was rewarded with another moan.
“Oh, God,” she said, “you feel so good.”
She did, too, and he was already having to hold back the orgasm. He licked her nipple, focusing on pleasuring her even more.
“Tell me what you want,” he said.
“I want to be on top of you. Driving you crazy,” she said.
Just like he’d pictured her back in the kitchen. He pulled out of her, reluctant to take away that connection. But when he undid her wrists, she was on him in an instant. She pushed him back on the bed and climbed on top of him, taking him deep inside of her. She felt even more incredible from this angle. Even silkier and warm.
“Willow,” he bit out, grasping her hips.
She bent down, brushing her tits against his chest, driving him wild. “I’m going to ride you so hard you’ll be thinking about me for the rest of the day.”
Hell. Her words alone almost made him come. She made true on her promise and started moving, back and forth, the friction devastating him. Her short thatch of hair rubbed against the most sensitive parts, making him grip her hips harder.
“Faster,” he said, guiding her. “God, Willow—”
She grabbed her own tits, squeezing hard as she rode him. His brain short-circuited, his nerve endings going crazy before he exploded inside of her. He’d never come so hard and so fast, dick spasming in her heat. She bowed against him and he crushed her to his chest, hanging on at the feel of it, his complete surrender.
Her hair tickled his arm, but he felt too good to move. She felt too good. He’d never taken a woman like that in the middle of the day before—practically had her taken him. She gave as good as she got. Why had he ever questioned her?
“Do you need another shower?” she asked, a smile in her voice. “Things just got a little dirty.”
He chuckled and ran his hand over her arm, the affection coming easy to him. “I might. As long as you join me.”
“Absolutely.”
He helped her up and they showered together, another thing he hadn’t done in forever. Why the hell had he never met Willow before? Why couldn’t he have met her sooner?
When they finished, she led him to the kitchen and pointed to a tray. “Your breakfast, which is probably cold now.”
“I’ll eat it anyway.” He didn’t care that it was cold. He felt too good to care.
“So…” Willow leaned against one of the counters. “I’m sorry for doubting you.”
He jerked his thumb to his bedroom. “I think you just apologized in there.”
She laughed. “How’d that work out for you?”
He grinned. “You’re forgiven.”
When her smile faded, he stopped eating and walked over to her, setting his hands on either side of her. “What is it?” She shrugged, but he tipped her chin up so she had to meet his eyes. “Tell me.”
“This isn’t weird for you, right? I mean…with my parents being who they are?”
“No. Don’t see why it would matter.”
“I mean…I’m not saying you want to do this again or anything, but—”
“I want to do this again,” he said simply. “And unless you tell me no, I’ll be expecting to see a lot more of you.”
She rewarded him with a smile and a kiss. “Good. Then I’m going to check on the horse and then get to work.”
“I’ll be out there shortly.”
He watched her leave, her ass snug in her jeans, giving him a hard on. Damn. Willow had already gotten under his skin. He just wasn’t sure what to make of it, especially since she was only back for a visit as far as he knew.
He told himself it didn’t matter right now. She was the only one who hadn’t judged him as harshly as the rest. The only one—besides her parents—who had given him a second chance. Right now, he was going to enjoy the hell out of it.
Chapter 7
________________
Willow
The summer went by too fast. She spent her days working hard to keep the ranch going, and her nights in Cole’s bed, his cock inside of her and arms closed tightly around her. It was better than she could have ever imagined.
She couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do more. But…she was only supposed to be here for another few weeks. Then she had to decide if she wanted to stay and work for her parents or move on. Step out on her own and live her life.
As she washed up for dinner that night, she heard a knock on her door. When she opened it, she found her father there, his hat in his hands. “Hey, sugar.”
“Come in.”
He walked into her room, pacing by the window. “I just wanted you to know that your mom and I have decided to retire. Find a place down south and relax a bit. Spend some time together.”
“Are you sure? You love this place.”
“I’d love for it to stay in the family, but…I’m not sure how that’s going to work out.”
Willow sat at her desk and waited for him to tell her the rest. By the time he walked back out of her room, they’d talked for forty-five minutes, and she felt more conflicted than ever. Even during dinner, she couldn’t focus.
Cole kept brushing her leg with his foot under the table but she could only give him a forced smile.
Once night fell, she walked outside, breathing in the fresh air and using the time to think. She hadn’t gotten far when she heard someone walk up behind her. She whipped around, startled to find Cole.
“Hey.” He caught her hand. “What’s going on?”
She flashed a smile. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you were quiet tonight.”
Willow shrugged, not knowing what to say. After this week, things were going to change forever, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. How much she really wanted things to be different.
Cole tugged her hand, guiding her to the stable. “Come on. Let’s talk.”
But when they got inside, she wasn’t sure what to say to him. She hadn’t decided where she wanted to go or what she wanted her future to look like. All she knew was that she didn’t want to miss any moments with Cole.
“Talk to me,” Cole said.
She shook her head. “I just want you inside me. I don’t want to think, I just want to be with you.”
He narrowed his eyes, looking torn. But when she pressed against his chest, he growled low in his throat. “Willow.”
“Take me. Right here.”
He gripped her waist hard. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
He pushed her back on a bale of hay, his eyes on fire with desire for her. She reached for him, but he seemed to need her just as badly as she needed him, and he knocked her hands away. “Let me.”
He unbuttoned her shirt, thumbs brushing her nipples through her shirt, before yanking her jeans down. He flicked the button on his own and barely had his dick out before he shoved his finger inside her, swirling it around and making her back arch.
“I need to make sure you’re ready for me, baby,” he murmured, lips brushing hers.
“I’m ready.”
She was. She was wet and bowing her body against his, trying to get closer and closer. He slid between her legs, the feel of hay roug
h on her ass—but she didn’t care. She spread for him, and watched him slide into her wetness, aroused by the sight of their bodies joining.
“God, that feels so good,” she whispered. “Fuck me, Cole.”
“Damn it, Willow. I want to take my time with this.”
But she didn’t care. She wanted it rough and fast, wanted to take everything he had and drown in it. He speared her with his dick, shoving into her time and again until she nearly shouted out. Cole swallowed her moan as he continued to thrust.
Her breath caught at the same time as his body tensed, and they were going over the edge together, hearts racing beat for beat as his cum filled her.
“Don’t stop,” she huffed.
She wanted to be driven mad, to forget everything for a moment and just feel. He shoved his dick into her a few more times and then grasped her in his arms as the orgasm took him. Her pussy clenched around him, milking him for more and more, until she couldn’t control her muscles anymore.
“You’re so good,” she said, panting.
He kissed her long and hard. “So are you.”
When he wouldn’t release her, she touched his cheek. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he murmured, kissing her again. “Nothing’s wrong at all.”
“Then what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Still buried inside of her, the warmth of his body covering hers, he said, “I love you, Willow.”
Chapter 8
________________
Cole
It had been two weeks since he’d told her he loved her. Since he’d lost his heart to her in the stable, and she hadn’t said the words back. In fact, tonight was her going away party, and damn it—he was near pissed off at her.
They’d given everything to each other this summer—or at least, he’d given himself. All he had. But Willow seemed to be holding back.
The barn was full of townspeople. They talked and drank and danced while he brooded in the corner. Willow made the rounds in her summer dress, those same sandals he’d seen her in the first day she’d been back at the ranch. Was it really that easy for her to think of going away again? For her to leave him behind?
