“Havin’ a good time down there?”
“What? Shit.” She scrambled off him to land butt first in the mud.
The whole crowd got into it by jumping into the pit with them. A huge mud fight ensued with everyone throwing globs of sludge at each other until the entire group stood dripping from head to toe.
The parental unit stood on the sidelines laughing until they bent over at the waist.
Peyton crawled toward the edge, only to be pulled back in by her boot. When she twisted around, Jason was grinning at her like a fool. Dirt smudged his cheeks and dripped from his hair as his shirt lay plastered to his chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Out?”
“Nope.” He dragged her back in until they were stuck in the middle of the dirt party again. Someone pushed him from behind, propelling him toward her until she thought he’d land directly on her, drowning her in the process. Right before he landed, he braced himself with his arms so he didn’t squash her, but it brought them in close proximity from nose to toes.
She lost herself in his eyes until he slowly bent his head, closing the distance between them for what she really hoped to be a light-me-on-fire kiss.
Right before he brought their mouths together, one of his brothers tackled him, throwing him off of her. Damn it! She pushed herself to her elbows, grimacing as the mud squished under the pressure. She laughed as she watched the entire crowd sling mud every which direction at each other.
Two of the Young brothers grabbed their parents to drag them into the fray. Everyone got into it, even the wives or girlfriends of the boys already paired up. Mesa jumped in with both feet, Terri threw a big mud ball at Jeff, and Paige pushed Jacob down even though he took her with him into the mud. They seemed like such a happy family. All of them. Something she wished she’d had growing up.
Her mother had been a single parent from the time of her father took off when she was a child. She’d never had siblings so she didn’t know how to act around a lot of people sometimes. She’d always felt it must have been her fault her father left. He didn’t love her…didn’t want her or something. She’d only been two when he’d taken a business trip and never came back. She didn’t want to find him, never wanting to know the truth behind why he took off like he did. Her mother didn’t discuss him. There were never any pictures. She didn’t even know what he looked like anymore.
Enough feeling sorry for myself. I’m going to enjoy this time with a family even if I’m not part of it.
The party died down as everyone worked their way out of the mud pit and started for their vehicles to head home. The sun started to go down over the horizon, bringing with it the inky blackness of the night way too soon. The Youngs usually had a bonfire with their muddin’ parties, but since everyone was head to toe in mud, they decided to forgo it this time and have one at the house should anyone want to clean up before they came by.
“I’ll take you home to change if you want to come back for the bonfire.”
“I would appreciate the ride, but I don’t think I’ll come back.”
“Why not?” Jason asked, wiping a smear of mud from her cheek.
“Even though it was a lot of fun hanging out with your family, I just don’t fit in with the family thing.”
“Sure you do. You’d get along great with Mesa and Terri. Isn’t Paige one of your friends?”
“Yes.”
“Then there you go. You’d fit right in.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Really? I’m not the good little girl, perfect housewife and mother type.”
“Good. I kind of like the wild ones.”
She braced her hands on her hips. “Are you coming onto me, Jason Young?”
“Is it workin’ ‘cause I can really turn on the charm if it’s not.” He grinned as she laughed.
“I’d be obliged if you’d take me home.”
“Sure enough, darlin’. Let me change clothes and I’ll be happy to take you.” They walked to his truck in silence as she took in the mud slung all over the sides.
“How do you keep the mud from getting inside when you’re all muddy yourself?”
“I have blankets to put on the seats until I get home, but they are leather so it’s a quick wipe off anyway.” He grabbed the blanket out from behind the seats to spread it out.
“Good thinking.” He helped her into the jacked up truck with a hand on her butt. When she turned around to scold him, he just grinned. She rolled her eyes. Being mad at that handsome face wouldn’t go very far so she didn’t try.
Once he sat behind the wheel, the engine roared to life with a distinctive growl that settled low in her belly. She loved the rumble of a diesel engine.
They pulled out, bouncing along the rutted road until they made it to one of the ranch gates where he could get out onto the small highway. “We’ll head back to my place so I can change.”
“Sounds fine.” She wasn’t sure she could handle being in his house while he changed clothes and not jump him. All the looks he was giving her had her wound tight and ready to bust loose. If she could just get home without him touching her, she could relieve some of the pressure with her friendly battery operated boyfriend until she could possibly scope out someone else. Why don’t I bust this dry spell with him? I’m sure if I propositioned him, he’d be willing. A one night stand with a handsome cowboy wouldn’t be so bad, right?
Within minutes, they were pulling through a side gate of the ranch she hadn’t known existed.
“You live out here?”
“Yeah. I built this place over the last couple of years.”
They pulled up slowly toward a wood frame, two story log cabin. “Even though you don’t have a wife or steady girlfriend?” Wow. It’s beautiful!
“Yep. I used to stay in one of the bedrooms upstairs in the main lodge, but it got kind of noisy with the tourists, so I got me a log cabin kit. I’ve been building on it. The outside is finished, but I don’t have any landscapin’ or anything. It’s not finished on the inside yet, although I have my bedroom and bathroom done.”
“You’re living out here then?”
“Yeah. I’m slowly doing things when I have time away from my duties at the ranch. Do you want to see the inside?”
“No!” She cleared her throat. “I mean, no. I’m head to toe in mud. I don’t want to get your floors dirty or anything.”
“You could shower here and I could wash your clothes.”
Wow, the opportunity to have Jason Young all to herself in his house almost overwhelmed her. No other women around. No one hanging on his every word.
“What do you say? I’ll even share the shower with you if you want.”
“Oh you are so tempting.”
“I only want what is best for both of us, darlin’. When you have clean clothes and showered, we can go back to the bonfire. No hanky panky unless you are feelin’ the burn.”
“What if I say yes?”
“To what?”
“All of it. I wouldn’t mind ridin’ you like a wild stallion.”
His sexy-ass grin reappeared. “If you are propositioning me, babe, I’m ready, willing and able to take care of your needs all the way around the clock if you want to.”
“Let’s check out your bathroom then and we’ll see where it leads.”
The moment the engine cut, he was around the passenger side of the truck, pulling the door open with a yank. He scooped her up from her seat into his arms, hurrying for the cabin. “Uh, you forgot to shut the door.”
“Crap.” He walked back and used her booted foot to push it closed.
Seconds later, he fumbled with the key to the door lock. “Let me.” She took the keys from his hand to open the door. Even though the house wasn’t finished, what he had done amazed her. A large stone fireplace encompassed one wall to her left. Although it wasn’t lit currently with the warmer temperatures of the early summer months in Bandera, she could see him sitting in front the flames reading a book. Oka
y, maybe not reading a book, but reclining in his naked glory on a fluffy rug just waiting for a woman to rub him all over.
She blinked as he set her down on her feet.
“Strip it off, babe.”
“Right here?” she asked as he plucked a couple of buttons loose down the front of her shirt.
“Yeah. I mean this way we won’t carry the mud through the house and I can put your clothes in the washer right now.”
Self-consciousness swamped her. This would be the first time he’d see her naked and she wasn’t sure what he’d think. She wasn’t slender like a lot of women. She had curves, bulges and even some cellulite. What about her tattoos and piercings? Would he find them sexy or disgusting? She covered her breasts with her hands.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve never undressed in front of you before.”
“I know.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to see what treasures you’re hidin’ under there.”
“How do you feel about tats?”
“I love them. I have two myself.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I have a band around my left bicep and a tribal swirl around my right shoulder and chest.” He pulled his shirt out of the waistband of his jeans, then eased each button down the front from its hole, one by one.
Her breath caught in her throat as the spit in her mouth dried up like the Mohave Desert. She was going to finally see the fine pecs of Jason Young. The man she’d fantasized over for the last several months.
When he pulled the shirt from his shoulders, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Dayum!
“You like?”
Without realizing it until she touched his chest, she had reached her hand out to trace the swirling black along his pec. “Nice. It suits you.”
“Thanks.”
She glanced at the band around his bicep, noting the simplistic design of the silver spur brand entwined in the ink. “You have the ranch brand in there.”
“Yeah. The ranch means everything to me, probably more than any woman ever will.”
“Not makin’ points here, cowboy.”
“Sorry, but I figured you should know up front, I’m not lookin’ for a wife.”
“Good. I’m not lookin’ for a husband.”
He worked the buttons on her shirt until it hung loose at her waist. She’d worn a chemise top underneath with the sleeves cut off and a pair of jeans to the party.
“So where are yours?”
“I have a few.”
“Where?”
“My ankle. My shoulder blade. One above my breast for my mother who died of breast cancer last year.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said in a soft whisper as he brushed his lips against her temple.
No one had ever moved her as deeply as he did with that simple touch. “It’s okay. She’d been sick a long time. Even beat it once, but it came back with a vengeance. Brain cancer finally took her life in the end.”
He worked the shirt from her arms, dropping it at her feet in a heap. “Toe off your boots so you can shed those jeans.”
“I think you’re just trying to get me out of my clothes, mister.”
“Is it workin’?” he asked with a grin.
“Seems to be,” she said, glancing down at her slowly building pile of clothes at their feet.
“Good.” He unbuckled her belt and pushed down the zipper until her pants gaped at the waist, then fell to the floor. “Step out.”
She complied blindly. Why, she wasn’t sure other than she’d had it bad for this man for some time and if it meant taking the bull by the horns this one chance, she’d do it in heartbeat. Before she could change her mind, she lifted her chemise over her head, exposing her complete nakedness to his roaming gaze.
“You’re beautiful.”
“I bet you say that to every girl you have naked in your house.”
“Nope, since you’re the only woman who’s been naked in this house with me.”
“Really?” He’s never had a woman here before?
“Yes.”
“The sexy Jason Young? Hmm.”
“Believe it or not, I haven’t had a woman here before.” He glanced around before his gaze came back to her. “This is my space. My sanctuary so I don’t usually bring women here.”
“Why me? Why now?”
“You’re special and I want to help you. Nothin’ says anything has to happen between us unless you want it to. Really, I only brought you here so you could shower and I could wash your clothes. You seemed like you were having a good time at the muddin’ and didn’t want it to be over. This was a way to keep the night from ending.” He slowly traced the heart tattoo on her upper breast. “This is nice. Kind of a tribute.”
“Yeah.”
He stepped back.
“Aren’t you going to strip too?”
“Yep.”
“Right here?”
One eyebrow lifted. “Care to watch?”
“Oh hell yeah.”
She admired his chest again. He sure was pretty to look at. Next, came the pants. Without preamble, he unbuckled and unzipped his jeans, pushing them to the floor in a whoosh. “Sweet mother of God,” she murmured when his cock sprang free.
With a quick spin, he headed down the hall, assuming she would follow blindly. How could she not with his tight ass jiggling slightly as he walked.
“Come on. I’ll show you the bathroom before I throw your clothes in the washer.”
Even though he said the inside of the house wasn’t done, most of his personal space was. They walked by the kitchen with its hickory cabinets and stainless steel appliances, to the next doorway at the end of the hall. It opened to reveal his bedroom. The deep grey on the walls complimented the dark furniture expertly. A burgundy red comforter graced the bed with deep pillow softness she wanted to sink into and never come out.
“The bathroom is through here.”
With a flick of the switch, he illuminated the beautiful bathroom. “My God, Jason. This is gorgeous.”
Travertine tiles graced the floor, but it was warm to the bottom of her feet.
“Radiant heat.”
“Wow.”
A huge shower sat in the back corner with a big rain type showerhead, glass walls, and silver accents. “The shower has several jets so you can get water everywhere.”
“This is beautiful. You sure went all out.”
He shrugged as pink stained his cheeks. A blush?
“What can I say, I like my luxury in the bathroom.”
Her gaze kept bouncing from one thing to another as she tried to take it all in. “I’d say. I haven’t seen a bathroom this nice in a long time. Usually at a high end hotel or something.”
He pointed to the floor to ceiling cabinet to their left. “There are towels in the cupboard. Shampoo and soap in the shower. Take your time. I’ll find you something to wear until your clothes are washed. It’ll take about forty-five minutes in the washer and half an hour in the dryer probably.”
She pressed her lips together for a moment. “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. I really never thought I’d be here with you like this when this evening started out.”
His lips quirked up in a half smile. “You’re welcome. Take your time. I’ll use the other bathroom.”
“What? Wait! No, I’ll use the other bathroom. You use yours.” She stepped toward him. “I’m not going to take your bathroom from you.”
“I insist. Use it. I need to get other things together before I can get in.”
She captured her bottom lip between her teeth. “Maybe you’d like to join me?”
Chapter Two
Jason sighed. I’m actually going to walk away from having sex with one of the hottest women in Bandera. Yeah, damn it! “You know, darlin’, I would love to.”
“But?”
“I don’t think now is the right time for you and me.”
“Why not?”
“It would be just sex.”
/> “Yeah and?”
“I don’t want to use you like that.”
“Neither of us is looking for a relationship at the moment, right?”
“True.”
One sharp fingernail skimmed down his chest. “Then what’s wrong chasing away the lonely night with someone we are attracted to?” She glanced down at his erect cock. “I assume you are attracted to me.”
His cock bobbed in agreement. “Not just yeah, but hell yeah.”
She encircled his left nipple with the sharp end of her nail. His whole body went on high alert as shivers rolled from the top of his head to the tips of his toes.
Hot didn’t do her justice. Brown eyes sparkled with mischief as a small smile curved her lips at the corners. Her breasts were high and full, plenty for a man’s hand. Long, light brown hair brushed the curve of her waist. A waist that dipped in, not sharply like a stick model thin woman’s, but gracefully like she wasn’t afraid to eat. He groaned silently at the thought of those willowy legs wrapped around his waist as he sank into her heat.
Getting tangled in the sheets with her sounded like an awesome idea. Unfortunately for his willing cock, tonight wasn’t the night. For some crazy-ass reason, he wanted to let the sexual tension build like the pressure of a volcano before he let it loose on the beauty standing in front of him.
“Make no mistake, baby. I want you. I want you bad, but I’m not going to take advantage of the situation. When we fuck for the first time, it’s gonna be mind-blowing. Tonight ain’t the night.” His cock ached for the tight wetness he would find between her gorgeous thighs when he stepped back and left the bathroom with a click of the door.
He released a tortured, frustrated sigh as he leaned against the door jam. Why did I think denying myself the pleasure of her body was a good idea?
“Because in the end, it’ll be worth it.”
He dejectedly pulled himself away from the door before heading down the hall toward the other bathroom. After a minute, he reversed direction to grab their clothes from the front hall to throw them in the washer. He hoped she didn’t require her unmentionables to be hand washed or anything. Like any typical bachelor, everything went into the washer together after he poured soap in the dispenser. A quick turn on the dial had the washer filling with water. He chuckled. She might end up with pink underwear should he do anything fancy with them.
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