Phoenyx Rising: A Possessive Cowboy Romance

by Joanna Blake

  But no. I had to be strong. I was a woman, not a washcloth.

  If Clint didn't want to be my trainer, I'd find someone else who would. As picky as I was, I was feeling more inclined to throw caution to the wind. I wasn't going to offer up my V card to the nearest passing stranger, but I was going to get some action. Practice my flirting at least.

  Maybe I'd get a date on a Friday night once in a while, instead of ordering in and watching TV in my pajamas. Yep, my cousin's ban on dating was long over. I was going to get myself a man or two. Maybe more.

  Come hell or high water.

  Better yet, I was going to show Clint I didn't give a damn what he thought of me.

  In the ring, or out of it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Clint

  "Turn. Alright let's try the basic vaults again."

  Phoenyx didn't respond or even glance my way, though she guided her horse through the motions as I directed. Her body whipped to the ground and back into the saddle. She was stiff, with perfect form.

  Too stiff.

  She hadn't said a word to me all day. Or looked at me once.

  I sighed, realizing I'd hurt her feelings the night before when I said that everything about her was wrong. She hadn't understood what I meant at all. And now both of us were suffering for it.

  My words had come out wrong, but I meant it. She was too desirable. Too perfect. I couldn't stand to be around her.

  Of course, I was starting to realize I couldn't stand to not be around her either.

  When she'd run out on me last night, I'd felt like a prime jackass. A lonely jackass who went home and spent the night staring into the bottle.

  All because apparently, I'd forgotten how to talk to a woman.

  I don't know what had made Phoenyx decide to start flirting with me. She had some bee in her bonnet about getting the upper hand most likely. But now that she'd stopped teasing and joking around with me, I was miserable.

  More than miserable.

  I was downright downtrodden.

  Especially when I saw the way she was talking to Luke Garret. He was one of the top dressage riders in the country and he happened to be training here as well this week.

  I knew him. Didn't like him to begin with. He was rude to the staff at events and too easy with the ladies. With his phony smile and poufy hair, he seemed to charm everyone. Even Phoenyx Delancey.

  Because of that alone, I really, really didn't like him.

  I was jealous as all heck and there was no two ways about it.

  He kept stopping by, right when she was taking a break. Smiling at her. And dammit, she was smiling back.

  She wouldn't even look at me and she was smiling at the smarmy sonofabitch. Not just smiling either. No, Phoenyx was sparkling.

  What a difference from the way her eyes seemed to scoot right past me like I didn't exist.

  I waited for her to finish her water before I snapped at her that it was time to get back to work. We both had a lot to win, or lose, depending on her performance this weekend. It was her first competition under my watch and I wanted her to do well.

  Phoenyx didn't even acknowledge me. She just walked over to Apollo and hopped on without a care in the world. I had a flashback to a decade ago.

  Another girl I had known didn't check her straps. A young girl. Sweet and proud as punch to be in her first competition.

  And she'd paid for it with her life.

  I was over the fence and across the paddock before I knew what was happening. I knew her straps were fine. I'd checked them not an hour before. But all I could see was that other girl lying in the dirt.

  Only this time she had red hair.

  Fear and rage were battling inside me as I pulled Phoenyx down and dragged her to the gate. I didn't stop until we were alone in the coolness of the stables. I set her down and rested my boot on a bale of hay, trying to get a hold of myself before I did something reckless.

  Scratch that. More reckless. Every damn thing I did around the girl was risky.

  "What do you think you are doing, Clint!”

  Well, she was looking at me now. But I was too angry to notice how pink her cheeks were. Or how hurt her eyes looked when she looked at me.

  She could have gotten injured out there. Or worse.

  "Did you check your straps?"

  She stared at me, a frown on her face.

  "What?"

  "Did. You. Check. Your. Straps."

  "Of course. I always check them."

  I grabbed her arm. She stared up at me. Not worried at all. Just annoyed. While I had the fear of God running through my veins.

  Well, that was about to change.

  "Not this time you didn't. Were you too busy making a spectacle of yourself with that fake cowboy?"

  "Luke? No, I—“ she protested, looking altogether guilty. The mischievous, pleased look that crossed her pretty face was too much for me. I knew I was about to do something beyond foolish but I didn’t much care.

  "Stop talking."

  I didn't want to hear another word. I couldn't listen to her talk about him. I just wanted to get through to her so that she never, ever put herself in harm's way again. That nonsense with Luke was the last straw.

  I snapped.

  Her eyes widened as I sat on the bale of hay and hauled her over my lap.

  Face down.

  I rested my hand on her perfect little behind, using my other hand to hold her down in case she started bucking. But she didn’t. I could tell that she still didn't grasp what was about to happen. I struggled for control before I began, making sure I didn't use too much force.

  I took exactly one minute to savor the feel of her perfect fanny underneath my palm. My body was thrumming with fire and ice. But I had enough control not to do something unforgivable. Like hurt her. I grimaced at the feeling of her perky body laying so submissively on my Johnson, then I lifted my hand and smacked it.

  Damn, but that was satisfying.

  Her sweet little tush jiggled like jello. Just a little. But it was enough to send me from rage, to lust in an instant. Not that I wasn’t always in lust around the girl. But this was worse than usual. So much worse.

  I wanted nothing more than to touch her. Taste her.

  But I wasn't done. Not even close. I still needed to get my point across.

  I slapped her ass again.

  Not hard. I would never really hurt the girl. Just hard enough to smart. But I knew she wouldn't like this.

  I rested my hand on her ass and waited. I knew what was coming. Once the shock and surprise wore off, I was about to have a Texas sized temper tantrum on my hands.

  Three. Two. One.

  "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!"

  I held her still while she thrashed on my lap. I cursed as my dick started to get even harder. The damn woman was rubbing herself all over my aching cock without realizing it!

  "Let me go! How dare you spank me like a child! How–"

  I took that opportunity to smack her ass again. I was already sad that I wouldn’t have another chance to do it again anytime soon. I’d never had more fun, or frustration, in my life.

  "Because you are behaving like a child. If you are ready to act like a young lady again, I will stop."

  She kept hollerin' and so I spanked her again. And again. She kept wiggling in a way that made me want to wrassle her in the sheets. My cock could have cut glass at this point. I didn't stop though. Not until she stilled.

  I rubbed her bottom a bit, trying to soothe it.

  "There, there, it's alright, girl. I didn't hurt you."

  She hiccuped. It was the cutest damn sound I'd heard in my life.

  I couldn't help but let my hands wander a bit. Now that she was in my arms, more or less, I didn't have the strength to fight the feelings I had for her anymore. Not one second longer. I breathed heavily, staring down at her gorgeous body. I squeezed her flawless ass cheek, hoping she wasn’t too sore.

  "Can I sit up now, please?"

  I smiled
fondly at her. This was progress. She'd said please.

  She pushed herself up and I caught her around the waist, settling her on my lap. I pushed her wild hair back over her shoulders and tipped her chin up. She'd been crying.

  I frowned. I hadn't been rough. Why was she crying?

  "Hey now babygirl, there's no need for that."

  She hiccuped again, and lifted her hand to slap me. I caught it in mid-air and smiled at her.

  "I'm sure you want to hit me, wildcat. But I think you know I don't deserve it."

  She stared at me, her frown sliding away into something sweet and uncertain.

  "Don't be nice to me, dammit. I can't stand it when you're nice to me!"

  I held her firm, but she wasn't struggling to get away anymore. No, she felt soft and pliant. She felt… willing.

  "You sure about that, darlin'?"

  I used the back of my hand to brush her tears away. That's when it happened. We both tilted forward slightly, our eyes on each other's lips. I groaned as I pulled her hard against me, my mouth crashing down on hers.

  Sweet Jesus, the woman felt right!

  Her skin was living silk under my hands. I held her face so I could kiss the hell out of her. She made a sexy whimpering sound as her lips parted. I took the opportunity to taste her, slipping my tongue inside her mouth. I teased her a bit, stroking and retreating, then darting forward to tangle with her tongue again.

  My hands slid down to her ass, cupping a cheek in each hand. That's how much bigger I was, how small she felt in my arms. My hands swallowed her up completely.

  She wiggled a bit and I bit back a satisfied laugh. All this time wanting her, and she was as agreeable as a kitten! I should have done this to begin with.

  I should have just made her mine.

  I kissed her neck and then lower, unbuttoning her shirt with one hand. The top of her bra came into view and I moaned, letting my lips wander even lower. In no time her buttons were all undone and I was tugging her lacey white bra down, licking and sucking her nipples until they were tight little points.

  Phoenyx Delancey had perfect breasts. Not that I was surprised. The woman had perfect everything.

  Her hands were in my hair as she held me against her. I murmured my appreciation for her beautiful, delicious breasts as I kissed them again and again. One hand slipped lower, stroking her pussy through her jeans.

  I almost lost it when she started to circle her hips against my hand. She was so passionate and natural– there was nothing coy about my wildcat. I wanted her, and she wanted me right back, and made no bones about it.

  Damn, if that wasn't sexy as hell!

  I kissed her mouth again, turning her so she was laying flat on a bench made up of bales of hay. I covered her with my body, and fitting myself against her. I replaced my hand with my hard on.

  Right… there.

  Oh sweet lord, have mercy!

  We rocked and rolled together, dry humping like teenagers. My cock felt like it was going to explode, or catch fire. We created that much friction where our jeans rubbed together like kindling.

  Right there. I was right there. So close to getting inside her I could taste it. But we were not completely alone. Hardly anyone came back here, but there was no lock on the door.

  And that just wasn't the right situation for making love to a hellcat. Especially the first time.

  I moaned in frustration but didn't stop. I couldn't. I was going to take what I could get. I wanted anything and everything. But not now. Damn it all to hell, I was going to have to wait. Hours or minutes or days, the thought itself felt like an eternity in hell.

  Either way, I was getting inside her tight little jeans.

  Real damn soon.

  Chapter Twelve

  Phoenyx

  Oh. My. Word.

  I gasped as Clint's tongue traced my ear. Right before he bit it. His hardness was between my thighs, his fingers busy with my nipples.

  He felt so good- so strong and manly and right. He did want me after all. He was stretched out on top of me, as aroused as I was. At least as aroused. Maybe more. The huge bulge in his pants was creating these wonderful, hungry feelings in the pit of my belly. Urgent feelings.

  Something was just out of reach– something wonderful. I could feel it, even though I didn't know what it was.

  I just had to reach for it…

  "Phee… Phee, we're gonna have to stop, babygirl… oh Lord, have mercy…"

  He didn't stop though. I was so close. I wanted–

  "Please…"

  He cursed and pulled his upper body away. His hips were still wedged between my thighs, his erection pushing against me. He stared down at me, his hair mussed up in an adorable way.

  I circled my hips in need and he chuckled knowingly.

  "I know, darlin'. I want it too. But you're going to have to wait for me to scratch that itch until we have some privacy."

  His words were like a cold splash of water. He was telling me to wait? He made it sound like I was desperate for him. Like I was begging. I had begged, hadn't I? Or nearly. Humiliation washed over me as he rolled away, moaning about his hard on.

  "I need a cold shower, you brazen little hussy."

  A hussy? Did he just call me a hussy???

  My cheeks were flaming as I stood up, pulling my bra cups over my naked breasts. I'd let him look at me. Touch me. And more. In the middle of the stable! Maybe he was right. Maybe I was a hussy.

  I buttoned my shirt in haste. I was so embarrassed I could scream.

  Clint shook his head as I covered myself up.

  "What a shame. Those are the prettiest titties I've ever seen."

  I bristled, hating myself for letting him get the upper hand again. I'd just let him do whatever he wanted. I gave him a cold look and straightened my hair.

  "And I'm sure you've seen your fair share of them."

  He caught me in his arms, chuckling.

  "No need to be jealous, wildcat. I'm a one woman kind of man."

  He squeezed my bottom familiarly, the faint soreness reminding me that he'd spanked me like a child not twenty minutes ago. I didn't think. I just jumped back, lifted my arm and smacked him clean across the cheek.

  "Don't you ever spank me again!"

  "Alright darlin'. I'll let you have that."

  He smiled at me lazily, his eyes roving all over my body. That cocky bastard! I was going to leave him high and dry! Let him stew in his own damn juices!

  "I know you didn't mind the rest of it."

  "That too! I will never let you touch me aga–"

  He reached out like a shot, his hand covering my lips.

  "Don't say it, girl. Don't make a promise neither one of us can keep.”

  Then he left, denying me my grand exit. I stared after him, feeling frustrated and embarrassed. He had a bounce in his step I’d never noticed before.

  But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was what he was doing as he left.

  The bastard was whistling.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Clint

  I took my hat off, using it to check my breath. I smiled. Minty fresh and clean, just like the rest of me.

  Oh, I'd taken about three showers since leaving the stables. Cold ones. Not that it did a damn thing to dampen my urges, but I was fresh as a damn daisy.

  My fingernails were trimmed. My shave was as close as it got. My hair was combed and parted. I was ready to come callin'.

  Hell, all I needed was a bow wrapped around my cock. Which was still aching for the girl inside the house. I stood on Phoenyx's front porch and whistled. All I had to do was some sweet talkin' and I'd be spending the night in heaven.

  I hoped so, anyway.

  I knew redheaded women could be ornery, but she'd surprised the hell out of me with that slap. I'd probably deserved it, but it didn't change a damn thing about what had happened between us. What had almost happened. Just holding and kissing her had been a thousand times more arousing than any sex I’d ever h
ad.

  Fireworks didn’t begin to cover it.

  We had chemistry, alright. With a capital 'C.'

  The kind they wrote stories about. Anthony and Cleopatra. Romeo and Juliet. Bonnie and Clyde.

  I frowned at that last one, hoping she didn't keep a gun in the house.

  For all I knew, she might still want to shoot me.

  I cleared my throat and rang the bell. Phee's place was a very pretty, very charming, very Southern looking house. It wasn't huge, but it was well maintained, with white painted trim and roses climbing up the porch rails.

  A couple of rocking chairs and a table just waiting for a pitcher of lemonade completed the picture.

  I could see us out here, sitting together and sipping the cool, tangy drink. We'd need to take a break from all the other stuff we were doing inside. Naked, filthy stuff. And lots of it.

  "Who is it?"

  "You know damn well who it is. You saw me drive up."

  I'd seen the curtains twitch. She knew I was out here. I waited. And waited a little bit more.

  Finally the door opened.

  Oh my word.

  My little hellcat stood there, dressed in the girliest little nightgown and bathrobe I'd ever seen. It was white with pink roses and green leaves. The robe had ruffles around the neckline where I could see white lace peeking out.

  I glanced down and noticed how short the outfit was. Those long tanned legs of hers were bare, all the way up her thighs. And her cute little tootsies were stuffed in fuzzy slippers.

  My mouth went dry. This was worse than the damn bikini. That made me think of the beach. This made me think of getting her right into bed.

  And all the things we could do once we got there.

  Hell, I didn't think I'd make it to the bed at this point. I just wanted to make it past the front door. My cock wanted to pop out and say ‘howdy’ alright.

  There was something so innocent and sweet about the way she looked. I wanted to steal that innocence. I wanted to make her mine.

  And I wasn't just talking about tonight either.