“Sounds like a nice date.”
“It was. Then we were supposed to have a date the following evening, but I screwed up. You remember telling me to call her?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I forgot. She was pissed I stood her up.”
“I don’t blame her.”
He raked his fingers through his hair before putting his hat back on his head. “I don’t either. I went to the bar to apologize, but she shut me down.”
“Again, I don’t blame her.”
“I know. I fucked up. I wanted to make amends. She got pretty wasted that night. Did some things I’m sure she wasn’t proud of. Anyway, she said she was dating someone. I checked it out when they met at the bar. I did something stupid again.”
“And?”
“I hauled her over my shoulder, brought her back here and we had sex.”
His father’s eyebrow shot up, but his dad didn’t say a word.
“I know. Not good, but it happened. Anyway, we kind of argued about what I wanted in life. How I wasn’t ready for a relationship. We agreed to start dating other people, but the plan has backfired on me.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. She’s having a blast while I’m miserable. I’ve tried dating other women, but they aren’t measuring up to her.”
“Sounds like you have an infatuation with Callie Lewis,” his father replied, coming into the conversation for the first time. “Are you sure you aren’t halfway in love with her?”
“No way, Dad. I can’t be.”
“Why not? You’ve known her for a long time. You’ve been friends for a long while and now you’re lovers or were anyway. How is it hard to come around to being in love with her?”
Jeremiah jumped to his feet, pacing back and forth a couple of times in front of his parents. This was crazy. He couldn’t be in love with Callie. In lust, yes, but in love, no. Not possible. Why not? It can’t happen like this. He liked her a lot and they were pretty good in bed together, but in love? “I like her.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“We were pretty good in bed together.”
“You’ve had that before, though. You’ve had a pretty active sex life for quite a while.”
He didn’t like talking sex with his parents, but yeah, they were right. Good together in bed didn’t make for a healthy relationship.
“What is it about Callie that makes her so different to you?”
“I’m not sure. She gets me. She knows me. She’s not afraid of the angry me, the me who kids around, or the me who shows off.”
“Does she know about your money in the bank?”
“No.”
“Then you know she’s not after you for your money.”
“She’s not after me at all, Mom. She seems indifferent to being with me now, much to the detriment of my ego.” He raked his fingers through his hair before putting his hat back on his head. “Fuck.”
“Is it the fact she doesn’t act like she wants you that has you attracted to her? You know, the want what you can’t have scenario?”
“I don’t think so. I mean, I like her. She’s funny, smart, kind, gorgeous, good with kids, helpful to other people even if it means she loses something in the end.”
“Well, I think you should continue to stay away from her. Clearly, she’s not the girl for you.” The smirk on his mother’s face told him she was kidding, but the thought of not seeing her made him sick to his stomach. “Oh, and watch your language, mister. We don’t talk with such dirty mouths around here.”
“Sorry. I’m upset right now and my mouth gets away from me.”
“Well, see that you curb it a bit.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Chapter Nine
Callie watched Jeremiah leave with a heavy heart as Craig continued to kiss her neck from behind. The disinterest she felt in having the other man even touch her crowded her heart. She didn’t want Craig. She didn’t want any other man but Jeremiah. He was driving her nuts with his behavior though. First he didn’t want her, then he got pissed because she was with someone else, then he did want her. What the hell?
“Yo, Callie?”
“Sorry.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a girl who didn’t want to be with me.”
“It’s not that.”
He tipped his head in the direction of the door. “Jeremiah?” he asked, moving around so he could look into her eyes.
“Yeah.” She dropped her gaze to the tips of his boots. Disappointment raced through her. She didn’t use people, but this felt like she’d been using the men she’d been out with since Jeremiah’s statement about dating other people. She didn’t want anyone but him. How in the heck did she convince him they belong together? “I’m sorry. I’ve been a really bad person this week. I don’t normally do this kind of thing, but…”
“It’s okay. We can be friends.”
“Thanks, Craig.”
“Sure.” He trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Do you want another beer?”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
She watched him walk toward the bar, stopping every few feet to talk to someone or another. Craig was a pretty popular guy in Bandera, a great catch, so why couldn’t she get into someone like him and not the guy who didn’t want her?
“You know he wants you as much as you want him, right?” Joey whispered in her ear from behind.
Startled, she swung around, almost hitting his shoulder with her nose. “Sorry. What did you say?”
“Jeremiah. He’s being stubborn, but he wants you as much as you want him.”
“How do you know?” she asked, leaning on the pool table.
“I’ve seen the way he watches you. When he took you out of the bar a few weeks ago, he almost had steam coming out of his ears watching you with Brad.”
“Then why doesn’t he just give in?”
“Because he’s a Young. We don’t do anything the easy way. And love? That’s the worst one of all for us to admit.”
“You’re one to talk, Joey. You don’t have a girlfriend either.”
“No, but I’m always looking. I’m a little young to be settling down yet.”
“No, you aren’t. You aren’t that much younger than me.”
“Maybe I’ll be your boyfriend.” He waggled his eyebrows. “You know, I’m better than Jeremiah in the sack.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Joey, you are so full of shit, your eyes are brown.”
“Why, yes they are.” He laughed along with her as he drew her into a hug. “He’ll come around.”
With her arms wrapped around him, she hugged him tight, hoping he was right. “I hope so, Joey. I wish I knew what to do to make him see me as the woman for him.”
“He will.”
Craig brought her back her beer finally. “Are you makin’ a move on my girl, Young?”
“Nope, but she ain’t your girl.”
“She is tonight.”
“She belongs to my brother.”
“Well, he hasn’t figured out what the hell he’s missing yet, so for tonight she’s mine.”
Joey’s eyes narrowed and Callie thought the two men would fight if she didn’t do something quickly. She stepped between them, putting a hand on each of their chests. Joey and Craig were close to the same height, but towered over her by at least several inches. She didn’t care. She wouldn’t have them fighting over something that wasn’t their concern. “Easy, boys. This isn’t your fight. You’re both right, but tonight I’m here with Craig. He’s being a perfect gentleman, Joey, so calm down. Nothing worth fightin’ over here.”
“But—”
“Nothing, Joe.” She stepped in front of him and put both hands on his shoulders. “Stop and listen to me. What’s between me and Jeremiah is just that, between the two of us. I know you love your brother and want to see him happy. I get that, but fighting other men over me isn’t going to change the situation.”
“You should be with him
.”
“I know that. So does Craig, but he also saw Jeremiah walk out of here without a backward glance.”
“I saw your conversation with Jeremiah. Neither of you looked happy.”
“We weren’t. He was trying to tell me who I could see and who I couldn’t after he told me to date other people. I’m doing what he asked. I’m sorry if he doesn’t like it.”
“He’s being an idiot.”
“I know this and so do you. So does a lot of people in this bar, but he has to come to the same conclusion before he’ll change the way things are. For now, we live with what he has decreed.”
“You are too good for him.”
“Thank you.” She put a hand on his cheek. “You’d make a great brother-in-law.”
“When he finally figures out what he’s missing, maybe, until then I’m on your side of this fight. I’ll do what I have to so you two can be together.”
“I appreciate your support. Really.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Now what do we have to do to find you a girl?”
“No, no. Not me.”
“Oh, yes.” She glanced around the bar, but didn’t see anyone she thought would fit the tough as nails cowboy in front of her. The man rode horses for a living, bucking and kicking horses. She was amazed he still seemed to be in one piece.
“Forget it, Callie. I don’t need one woman. I need a few.”
“Well, I don’t see anyone here good enough for you. I’ll keep my eye out though.” When she glanced back to the bar, she saw a dark-haired woman talking with her hands to some guy sitting on a bar stool. Wow. I wonder what that’s all about?
“I’ll leave you to your date, but I’ll keep an eye out for you too.”
“Thanks.” She watched Joey walk toward the bar and take a seat next to the woman she’d seen a little bit ago and then turned to talk to Jackson who had one hand wrapped around the waist of some leggy blonde. Leave it to the Young brothers to have women hanging all over them. “I’m sorry about that, Craig. You know how those guys are.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve had a run-in with one or two of them before.” He picked up the pool cue. “Shall we play another game or two while we waste a few hours here at the good old Dusty Boot?”
For the next few hours she drank, laughed, shot pool, threw some darts and generally had a good time. She didn’t think of Jeremiah more than a million times during the time period, or so she thought.
She found she really liked Craig as a friend. If she hadn’t been in love with Jeremiah, things would have been a lot easier, but alas, she was, and she would have to deal with it.
* * * *
Jeremiah stared at the computer screen in his cabin. He did his own trading with stocks on his own computer so he didn’t mix business with personal stuff. Soft country music played in the background while he watched the numbers change and blur. He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing them with his fingers to try to bring everything back into focus. He really needed to see an eye doctor, he figured. These episodes of blurry vision were getting more frequent. Not that anyone in his family had vision problems, but there was always one.
Two fingers on his right hand tingled like they were going to sleep. He rubbed them with his left to bring the feeling back into them. Things like this had been happening more and more, he noticed recently. He probably needed to see the family doctor. After all, it had been several years since he’d had a physical, probably the last year of high school so he could run track. Cross country running was the only sport he’d done in high school. Running long distance gave him time to think, lots of time to think.
The numbers are the screen came back into focus. He was doing well. His bank account was steadily increasing as well as the family finances. Complaining at all didn’t seem right. He smiled as he flipped off the computer to head to bed. It was midnight and he had to be up early for cowboy call as he named it. He had wrangler duties tomorrow and Joey wanted his help breaking a new mare he’d recently purchased. The duties on a ranch never ceased.
After his talk with his parents, he’d headed back out to his cabin for some me time. He didn’t get enough of it with a large family. Tonight he wanted to veg out in front of the television and not think about Callie Lewis.
He shook his head to dislodge the thoughts of her, but it was difficult since he’d fucked her hard over the side of his bed. Those images wouldn’t leave him alone.
A sigh escaped his lips as he climbed to his feet. Dizziness swamped his head for a moment as he grabbed the back of his chair for balance. These symptoms were coming more frequently. A doctor’s visit needed to happen soon. This wasn’t normal for a twenty-eight-year-old guy. He’d make an appointment tomorrow, well, today when he woke up.
After checking the time again, he decided to hit the bed. His duties required him to be up by seven in the morning for breakfast and rides, then working with Joey on the horse. Maybe he’d throw some hay tomorrow or something to work off some of this frustration he felt. Couldn’t hurt, right?
He stripped off his jeans, tossed his T-shirt over the back of the chair and then climbed under the cool sheets. Lucky for them, they had air-conditioning in all the cabins. He’d die in the summer heat without it even though fall was in the air. He liked to sleep with a very cold room. The moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted off to sleep as dreams clouded his thoughts, dreams of Callie.
She walked in through the door of his cabin wearing a silky blouse and short shorts. Her tanned legs went on forever as she strolled toward him with a smile on her lips. “Jeremiah.”
“Callie. What are you doing here?”
“I came because I want you.”
“Want me?”
“Bad, cowboy.”
“Come closer.”
She straddled his legs, bringing her pussy into warm contact with his bulging erection. Lord, he wanted her too. More than his next breath. More than food or water. More than anything.
He trailed his fingers down her cheek until he reached her red lips. She nipped at the pads of his fingers with her teeth, sending shivers down his spine. His cock throbbed behind the fly of his jeans. She knew what to do to drive him crazy.
With a tug on the hem of his T-shirt, she pulled it over his head, dropping the soft cotton to the floor beside the chair. Her fingernails raked across his chest until she reached his nipples. The sting of her sharp nails made his skin bust out in goose bumps.
“Do you like a little pain with your pleasure, Jeremiah?”
“Maybe.”
She scooted back on his knees enough where she could reach his chest with her mouth. Her teeth sank into the right nipple, sending pain and pleasure shooting straight to his balls. When she sucked it between her lips, he almost came in his jeans. God, she was good.
“I’m going to suck you dry, cowboy.”
She shimmied off his lap before she grabbed his belt buckle to undo it. His jeans came next with a tug of her hands at his hips. He raised his ass high enough she could work the stiff material down his thighs to the tops of his boots. She didn’t worry about getting them completely off as she dove into giving him pleasure with her mouth. The slick feeling of her tongue as it danced down his cock pulled a deep growl from his throat. He didn’t know how she got so good with her wicked tongue, but he loved it. Her fingers worked his balls into a frenzy as she continued to lick, suck and deep throat his cock.
As his balls drew up in the impending climax of his desire, he pulled her off his cock, pushed her shorts to the floor and forced her to straddle his lap. When he sank balls deep into her pussy, his whole world narrowed to the feel of being deep inside her.
Hot wetness surrounded him. The ridges of her vagina caressed him as she slowly rode him.
“Fuck me, baby.”
“Oh I plan to, cowboy. I’m gonna ride you into tomorrow.”
The slow crawl of her movements had him panting in moments. He couldn’t hold back. He needed to come more than his next breath, but
he couldn’t, not without making sure she had an orgasm along with him. “You need to come along for the ultimate ride.”
Her movements sped up. She rocked her hips back and forth, drawing his own orgasm to the tip of his cock before she moaned softly. “I’m right there. Help me.”
He reached down between their bodies, rubbing her clit with his finger faster and faster as she continued to rock. His own climax was held in check as he gritted his teeth until he felt her quiver around him. “Come with me, Callie.”
“Fuck!” she screamed as her climax broke.
He released the steely hold he had on his own the moment he felt her squeeze him like a vice.
Jeremiah woke up with a start to find cum across his abdomen. Damn, I haven’t had a wet dream since I was a teenager. He tossed his legs over the side of the bed and struggled to his feet to go to the bathroom to clean up. Wow. That was intense. It has to be from my forced celibacy the last several weeks.
Once he cleaned off, he strolled over to his nightstand to check the time on his phone. He wondered if Callie was asleep or out partying at the bar. No, the bar would be closed by now. Was she alone or with Craig?
He crawled back into his bed and lay staring at the ceiling wondering what he should do. Talking to her didn’t seem to get him anywhere, but he really needed to try.
That’s it. Tomorrow we are going to sit down and have a nice long chat to get all of this out in the open. I’m tired of the way things are so something has to change. Either we are a couple or we aren’t. No more beating around the bush, playing Mr. Nice Guy and letting her date whomever she wants. She’s mine, damn it! It’s about time she realized it.
The jingle of his cell phone startled him. Who the hell would be calling at this time of night? He reached over to grab it, realizing his fingers were numb again. Damn it!
The caller ID said Jeff. “What the hell are you doing calling me at this time of night?”
“It’s Mom. Joey just called. There’s been a bad accident. Get your ass dressed and meet me at the main lodge.”
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