Resisting the Rancher

by Kadie Scott

  The sheets rustled as Will shifted to look over his shoulder. “What?”

  No time to wimp out now. “You said you pay attention. To what? What do you think you know about me?”

  He stared at her for long moment, and she wondered if he was going to ignore her and go back to trying to sleep.

  But he didn’t. Something tight in her chest loosened as he rolled over to face her. Despite the lights being off, the full moon illuminated the room through the blinds and she could see his expression. Earnest now, like he wanted her to believe what he had to say.

  “Will you listen and actually hear me?” he asked.

  “I’ll try.” The damn lump in her throat just wouldn’t go away.

  “Okay.” He seemed to think for a while.

  She couldn’t help but smile. “Is it that hard?”

  He chuckled. “No. I’m trying to decide what I think you’ll be open to hearing.”

  As if she was this closed-off person who was hard to communicate with? Which, if she was honest, she totally could be. She’d had her heart trampled on too many times to just put it out there. Rusty gave a mental wince. Perhaps she’d held back too much with Will, but that was self-defense for what would eventually have to end, and the fact she was already a tiny bit in love with the guy. Way too risky…

  “Don’t get mad,” he said.

  “I’m not,” she lied. Granted, she had to school her face from a scowl to what she hoped was a more open expression.

  He snorted. “Okay. How about this… I know you’re irritated when this little crease appears between your eyebrows.” He lifted a hand to trace the spot in a whisper of a touch, and Rusty sucked in a breath at the contact. And the words.

  “And…” he continued, “I know you’re really mad when you do that and won’t look at me at the same time.”

  The low, deep tone he was using, like he would with a spooked horse, was messing with her breathing. Lungs that usually functioned fine had apparently given up.

  “Not enough?” Will asked when she didn’t speak. “Okay… more. I know the woman I met singing at a traffic light is a genius at math and horses.”

  An unexpected laugh popped out of her. “I wasn’t sure you recognized me.”

  “I did.”

  She shivered. “Okay, horses I get. But math?”

  He nodded. “Remember helping me with my books the other day?”

  “Yeah.” So what? She wanted to say.

  “You did all the math in your head. I checked. It was right.”

  “Huh. And that’s impressive?” she asked.

  “To a guy who hated math? Yeah.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound very intuitive about me,” she pointed out.

  “Damn. My next one was going to be that the woman I proposed to is very helpful. Anytime she sees that something needs to be done or someone who needs help, she steps in.”

  She giggled and shook her head, even though the fact he’d noticed something nice about her gave her a glow of warmth. “Nope. That doesn’t count either.”

  He gave a dramatic sigh that made her want to giggle again. “I figured. Okay.” He pretended to think, making a big deal of running his hand over his jaw, the rasp of his day-old beard against his skin loud in the room.

  “I know the woman I married thinks it’s not normal for family to be close and support each other.”

  “Given that I just called you the Cleavers, that’s not hard to—”

  He put a finger over her lips, silencing her. “You get this sort of dazed look in your eyes, and sometimes I think you’d like to join in the fun, but other times it seems like you want to run and hide from it. Do you?”

  Will was being brave enough to be honest with her, she could only do the same. She pulled back from his touch. “A little.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged, unable to share. She wanted to be part of it, let herself be enveloped by this warm and caring group of people, but it was only temporary. Will originally married her to help his business, and she married him to get Rising Star, even if attraction was making itself felt between them. Even if he and his family showed her what nice really was.

  He let it go. “Okay. One more.”

  Some contrary part of her didn’t want it to end, these nice things he was saying, as though he admired her. As though he saw something special in her.

  “My wife is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  Oh my. Rusty’s heart pinged around inside her chest at the words and the way his voice had gone all intense and dark.

  She licked her lips. “You mean on a horse.”

  “No.” He ran a knuckle down her cheek. “I mean period. Inside and out.”

  Rusty glanced away. “Now you’re just teasing.”

  “Darlin’, look at me.”

  She glanced up and caught her breath at the burning hunger he let her see in his eyes. He looked at her with an intensity, a possessiveness, she’d never seen before.

  Every part of her throbbed in direct response to such a look, strained toward him.

  “Go out with me?”

  She slowly blinked, not expecting that comment. “You… want to go on a date?”

  He took her face between his hands. “I want to spend time with you.”

  “In my bed you mean.” Why was she pulling away?

  The heat sparking between them was tangible, real. Even she could feel that. And she knew this wasn’t merely lust that could be slaked by a quickie in the barn.

  Will kissed her, short and sweet, before pulling back again. “I won’t deny that’s part of the plan. But not all of it. I’m not a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kind of guy, Rusty. But I also want our first time to be special—and not where we have to worry about my entire family hearing.”

  First time. Special. The words set off little explosions of happiness inside her, like sparklers lighting her up. Every part of her wanted to say yes, but, was she setting herself up for heartbreak when this ended? Because a marriage that started the way theirs had couldn’t work out, even if Will was the greatest thing since sliced bread. She hadn’t picked Will, and he hadn’t picked her. They’d been thrown together. The important end goal was Rising Star and Will’s business.

  But the chance to be a little more… more than the in-between, sort-of-friends thing they’d had going… was too much to completely ignore. Maybe a temporary slice of heaven was better than none at all?

  She bit her lip. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Put on shoes, then meet me out front.” Will threw back the covers and started pulling on clothes, hopping about in a hurry.

  Rusty couldn’t help but laugh—though it came from a combination of shock and amusement and excitement all rolled into one indecipherable bubble of emotion.

  Excitement and a need to see what Will had in store for them overrode all her natural instincts to keep her walls up. She wanted him. It was as simple as that.

  Forty-five minutes later, she stepped out of his truck into a magical world of the Texas Hill Country on a rare cool autumn evening. She’d sat through the drive on edge with need, her hand in Will’s and her body aching more with every minute of anticipation, undeterred by the bumps along the dusty track. Then they’d gone where no roads wound.

  I can’t believe I’m here.

  Rusty watched as Will set up what she should be thinking of as a mobile one-night stand, but what honestly was stacking up to be the most romantic night of her life.

  He’d packed the truck damn fast as it hadn’t taken her long to pull on shoes and follow him outside. He’d kissed her, too, fast and hard, before bustling her into the truck and driving her across the ranch to a hilltop that overlooked the rolling hills.

  A full moon lit the landscape, casting it in navys and blacks and silvers. Will lowered the gate and got to work. While she watched, he used a motor to blow up a mattress which took up almost the entire bed. Then he’d made it up with sheets and pillows and blankets, fol
lowed by a tent that affixed to the sides. Their own, private personal bedroom where, any second now…

  Heat pooled low in her belly at the mental pictures running through her mind. Only she was so dang nervous. She wasn’t a virgin. Another rebellion against her father’s strict upbringing more than an act of teen love. But she was also picky and wary, so men had been few and far between in her life, and none of them got her heart pounding like the man she married.

  He turned to her and must’ve caught her expression, because his face softened.

  He stepped right into her, taking both her hands in his. “If you’re not ready, we can snuggle. Talk.”

  Why that offer to slow things down sped things up for her, Rusty had no idea. She released one of his hands so she could put hers on his cheek, relishing the fact that she could let herself touch him this way. “You are a good man, Will.”

  He leaned into her touch. “Good as in the friend-zone. Or good as in something more.”

  “More,” she whispered. “Definitely more. I don’t want to just snuggle.”

  The breath punched from his lungs, and he scooped her up into his arms, planting a hard, possessive kiss on her lips before drawing back. “Thank God, because I would’ve waited, but it would’ve been the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

  Rusty couldn’t stop the happy giggle that escaped her. “No pun intended.”

  He laughed as he lifted her up and deposited her on the mattress. “That would’ve been hard too.”

  Rusty kicked off her shoes and scooted back, her heart picking up speed as Will climbed up onto the mattress and crawled toward her, the intense, hungry expression back in his eyes.

  He settled on top of her, his weight welcome and pressing her into the mattress, adding to the feel of his lips against hers. He took her lips in an urgent kiss, immediately asking for her total surrender, which she gave willingly, opening for him.

  He swept his tongue over her lips to tangle with hers and she moaned low as sensations pulsed through her. Rusty swept her hands up over the hard planes of his chest and around to his back where she tugged at his shirt.

  Will sat up to yank it over his head and went to gather her in his arms again, only she stopped him. “Wait.”

  “What?” His breathing was labored, as if he’d been running hard.

  She grinned. “Give me a second to touch.”

  With that she ran her hands over his pecs, exploring the warmth of the skin, the hard muscles underneath, honed from years of hard ranch work. Will’s jaw clenched, but he sat back, letting her touch all she wanted. She trailed her fingertips over each ridge of his stomach. But when she got to the top of his boxers, he grabbed her wrist.

  “What?” she asked.

  Will dropped his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck. “Honey, if you keep going like that, I won’t make it to the best part.”

  “Oh,” she breathed.

  A sense of empowerment rolled over her that she could turn him on that much with a simple touch.

  He dragged his lips along her neck to her collarbone and she closed her eyes, letting the sensations build with his touch. With a grunt, he snagged the bottom of her tank top, and she levered up, helping him pull it off.

  He stared down at her, his face tight with need and, if she wasn’t mistaken, awe, as he gazed at her body.

  “God, you’re beautiful, honey.”

  He dropped his head and took a straining nipple into the warm, wet heat of his mouth. She speared her hands through his silky hair and arched up into him.

  With a groan, he gently tugged at her nipple with his teeth, drawing a shudder from her body. A moist heat gathered at her core. But he wasn’t done, shifting his attention to her other breast to do the same.

  “Oh. Oh. Oh.” Rusty hummed her excitement, even as she held his mouth to her. “Will, that feels so good.”

  “You feel so good, honey.” He lifted his head to smile down at her. “I don’t know that I can take it slow, even though I want to. I’ve been waiting too long. I need you too much.”

  The tension radiated from his stiffly held muscles to the way he shook slightly, holding himself back.

  “Me too,” she husked. “Slow is overrated.”

  *

  Will laughed and shook his head, marveling at the woman in his arms. Finally in his arms. She was glorious. Her responses, her kisses, the way she’d touched him like she wanted to memorize his body. He couldn’t get enough of her.

  His throbbing dick demanded action. With another grin, Will tackled her shorts and panties, hampered by her hands trying to get at his shorts.

  Somehow, between the two of them, they ended up naked. Will reached for the stash of condoms he’d made sure to bring. No repeat of the pond situation. With hands shaking slightly from the blood pumping through his body, he rolled it on. Then he moved over her again, to settle between her legs.

  Her sweet warmth drove him crazy and he had to kiss her. He cupped her breast, pausing to tweak her nipple and loving her indrawn gasp, then smoothing over the dip of her waist, the curve of her hip, and the smooth skin of her thigh. He hooked his hand behind her knee and drew her leg wider, giving his body better access.

  Then he went up on one elbow and watched her face as he found her hot, moist center. Her lips parted in silent need as he brushed his thumb over the bundle of nerves hidden in her slick folds.

  Slowly, torturing himself as much as her, he slid a single finger inside her. She was ready for him, but he wanted this to be as perfect for her as it already was for him. He found her clit with his thumb again, and with tandem movements, pumped his finger into her while pressing and circling that spot guaranteed to drive her body higher.

  He drank in the sight of her—red curls spilling over the white of his pillow, pert breasts rising and falling with each breath, ripe lips parted as she panted in time to his pumping fingers.

  “You are so beautiful.”

  Her eyes snapped open then widened slightly as she caught his stare. “You… are… too…” she got out between breaths. Then she moaned as he pressed a little harder with his thumb.

  “I’m so close,” she said.

  He could tell, as her hips started to buck under his touch.

  Will pulled his hand away.

  “Don’t stop,” she begged.

  “Don’t worry, honey. I’m not.”

  He took his cock in hand and lined up with her entrance, then pushed slowly, slowly inside her, in little rocking motions, giving her body a chance to adjust to his until he was fully inside her.

  Will paused, needing to take a moment to relish this, marvel at the feel of her around him, more exquisite than he’d ever imagined.

  “Will, please,” she moaned.

  Everything inside him tensed and heated at her words, the hoarse sound of need in her voice. She craved this as much as he did.

  Slowly, he started to move inside her, sliding in and out of her tight channel, his own low moans joining hers as the tension built inside them. He gradually increased the pace, moving faster. Wanting her to be there with him, he pulled back so he could get a hand between them, pushing against the spot that would enhance things for her.

  “Rusty. Look at me, baby.”

  She opened her eyes and stared back at him as he moved. One more pump, one more press of his thumb and she tipped over, her face beautiful as waves of ecstasy pulsed through her. He didn’t think he’d ever see anything more perfect than his wife at this moment.

  The tightening of her body around his, the sounds issuing from her, pulled him under. He thickened, then his release poured from him in hot spurts. He kept moving until he’d wrung every shudder of pleasure from their orgasms.

  Then he dropped, chest heaving as he caught his breath, and buried his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet rose scent.

  “You slay me, honey,” her murmured in her neck.

  “Back at ya.” She shifted underneath him, and Will realized he was probably crushing her.


  He rolled to his side, and disposed of the condom, tossing it over the side of the truck out from under the tent siding, making a mental note to pick it up later to throw away.

  Then he pulled Rusty into his side, tucking her head on his chest. After a long moment he dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Please tell me you don’t regret that.”

  Her eyelashes fluttered against his skin, then she lifted her head to look at him. “Never. I could never regret that.”

  Something tight inside his chest gave way and Will smiled as he traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “Good.”

  Still, he didn’t miss the flash of worry that entered her eyes. “What?” he asked.

  Her lips pressed together and she lowered her eyes.

  He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear then touched her chin, lifting her eyes to his. “Talk to me, honey, or I can’t fix it.”

  She shook her head. “There’s nothing that needs fixing. I’m just…” She sighed. “You said you want more than one night?”

  “Yes.”

  She blinked at his swift and assured answer. “What do you mean?”

  Now was Will’s turn to measure his words. He ran his free hand through his hair, thinking. He’d tell her straight out if he wasn’t afraid she’d run off screaming. Still she was asking. “I want you.”

  Nothing could be more clear than that.

  But apparently that wasn’t clear enough. She traced a pattern on his chest. “That sounds lovely. What does it mean?”

  He blew out a long breath. “Before I explain what that means, I want you to know that there’s no pressure. We can take this as slow as you need. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She drew out the word. The way her muscles stiffened she seemed to be readying herself for bad news.

  “I don’t want you to leave.”

  She frowned. “Leave here?”

  He shook his head. “Leave me.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Because you need a good trainer now that Holly is having twins?”

  Will gritted his teeth to keep from giving her a little shake. Why could she not believe he wanted her? Only her.

  “No. I want you to stay as my wife. I want this marriage to be real.”