A Rancher’s Song

by Vivian Arend

  She shuffled herself to her feet, his hands sliding off of her reluctantly. “I’ll call you.”

  “When it works. No agenda, no expectations,” she reminded him.

  His expression twisted as if ready to protest, but instead he rose to his feet then caught her fingers in his as he walked her to the front door. He turned then, looking her over with that strangely serious expression, so different from the carefree boy she’d known for many years.

  Walker leaned down and caught her chin in his fingers again, looking her straight in the eye. “No toys.”

  “What are you talk—?” Oh God. Her cheeks lit on fire and her heart was suddenly racing.

  His lips twisted into a smile that was mean and tormented all at the same time. “You know what I’m telling you.”

  Ivy forced her head higher, the grip of his fingers a sensual control. “Which means you’re not going to go take care of yourself, either?”

  “You think I’m riding a thin line?”

  “You’d better get moving or you’re going to be late,” Ivy teased. “I have something I need to do.”

  He growled, and a shiver raced up her spine. “No toys,” he repeated. “Not unless I’m here to see it.”

  Well, that opened up an entirely different line of potential adventure.

  “Okay, fine.” Her words didn’t come out quite as obedient as they might have because she was quivering over her dirty future plans.

  Walker stroked his finger over her lips, staring as he swore softly, then leaned in to kiss her one last time. Brief, hard.

  Pulling back with a smile as he licked his lips. “Cherry. My favourite.”

  He turned on his heel and headed out the door, and Ivy wondered exactly what she’d just agreed to.

  10

  Walker stared over the edge of the pen at the new foal that had joined the Silver Stone ranch that evening, the surprise arrival working out better than they’d hoped.

  “Josiah is on his way, but I think we’re okay.” Luke laid a hand on Walker’s shoulder and squeezed. “Thanks for coming back from wherever you were. I appreciate the helping hand.”

  “Didn’t do anything special,” Walker said.

  Luke cut him off with a shake of his head and a firm tone. “’I swear sometimes you can’t see your nose in front of your face. Just having you around helps the horses. Snowflake was a lot more settled after you arrived.”

  It certainly ended up being a different evening than what it might have, but the praise from his brother sent a different kind of heat through him. Acceptance and a touch of pride. “Glad I could help.”

  Luke tilted his head toward the exit. “Go ahead and hit the sack. I’ll stick around until Josiah shows up.”

  But Walker was in no hurry to get back to his lonely bunk. Because even though he had permission to go over to Ivy’s, he planned to keep that on a slow track.

  It was too tempting to jump in full speed, but he couldn’t do that to her, no matter how much she said she wanted everything. Everything could come one step at a time.

  God, this was going to kill him.

  Instead, he got himself comfy, leaning against one of the upright posts. “What else are you up to these days? I’m only gone for a few weeks at a time, but it feels as if this past year is nothing but a blur.”

  Luke offered him a long, hard look. “You really interested?”

  What kind of question was that? “Of course.”

  His brother shrugged. “Just asking because it feels as if there’s a bunch of stuff going on in your life you’re not telling us about. I assumed that meant you wanted space both directions.”

  Walker cursed softly. “Nothing of the sort.”

  “So you’re not keeping secrets?”

  Busted. “There is something I’m working through that I want to figure out on my own,” he admitted. “But not because I don’t trust you and Caleb. I need to figure out a way I can contribute to the ranch, and it’s my issue.”

  Luke made a face. “Every now and then you and Caleb come up with the most boneheaded comments. You do a lot when you’re around, and we certainly don’t begrudge the time you’re out on the circuit.”

  “Or the cost for me to travel? Or the equipment I take with me? Or the fact that when I’m out there I’m not here helping? It’s not simple,” Walker insisted.

  “As long as it’s something you like doing, it is simple,” Luke snapped in return. “If you’re done because you’re done, then stop. But if you think for one minute we want you to give up on your dreams, then you haven’t been paying attention.”

  “There’s my problem. I don’t know what my dream is anymore,” Walker said without thinking. The words slipping from him as if Luke had triggered some confess your deepest fears button.

  He and Luke stared at each other for a moment before his brother dipped his chin slowly. “Okay. I understand. And if that’s what’s got you so tied up in knots you’re not thinking straight, I’ll back off. You take the time you need, but if you want to talk it out, we’re here. Caleb or me, or heck, Ashton’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

  “I know.” Luke’s words echoed for a moment until Walker had to ask. “Not thinking straight? What the hell are you talking about?”

  Luke grimaced. “Ivy Fields bought you at the bachelor auction. But you told Josiah you’re not seeing each other. Are you out of your goddamn mind? One date and you’re done?”

  He had been, and he was asking for all sorts of trouble changing paths, but for better or worse Walker had set his boots in a new direction and he was going to enjoy the trip. “Don’t you know a tease when you hear one, bro? Josiah fell for it too. Ivy and I are quite happy both being in the same postal code for the first time in a long time.”

  A slow sort of shock slid over Luke’s features before he schooled them back into nonchalant amusement. “Well. I might have to take advantage of this bit of information to make a little money, considering someone was laying odds on you staying single this summer.”

  Good grief. “Did Kelli start another betting pool?”

  “When doesn’t the girl start a betting pool?”

  They laughed together before chatting quietly about a couple other things. Luke mentioned he could use a hand at the house he was building in a couple of days.

  Walker agreed then headed back to his bunk, slipping through the door and closing it behind himself a whole lot happier than he’d been hours earlier.

  He checked his phone before putting it aside for the night and spotted a message from Ivy sent only ten minutes earlier from a messenger account.

  Call me.

  He opened it, setting his phone down on his night table as it rang. Only when the screen opened, he tripped over his own feet and fell onto his bed because Ivy was naked.

  Mostly covered by bath bubbles, but still naked. He snatched up the phone and ogled her. “Jesus Christ, woman.”

  Her head tilted as she offered the wickedest smile he’d ever seen. “Such language.”

  Walker recovered enough to pull himself to a seated position as he scanned the picture more thoroughly. She was in her bathroom, in the tub, which explained the bubble-line drifting along the swells of her breasts. She had her legs bent so her knees poked out like two creamy islands. “Is this an obscene phone call? Because I’ve always wanted one of those.”

  “I called because you said I wasn’t allowed to use this unless you were watching.” Ivy leaned forward slightly to reach over the side of the tub, and Walker took advantage of the opportunity to sneak a peek as new skin was exposed.

  Ivy leaned back and lifted something purple in the air, and for a second he had a hard time thinking back on exactly who had said what and when.

  She clicked a button, and a low vibrating sound began.

  He swore again. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Ivy raised a brow. “It’s not my fault if you turn off your phone to come racing over here, because by that time I’m going to be done. S
o I suppose it’s your choice if you want to watch or not, but I was trying to play by your rules.”

  His sweet, innocent Ivy had developed some kinky edges over the years. “I guess I should’ve been more specific with my instructions, but now that you’ve gone through all the bother of getting warmed up, it would be mean to not appreciate your efforts.”

  “Exactly.” She dipped her chin firmly as if pleased he was falling in with her plans. She let her hand slip under the water, and he realized the flaw in the system.

  “I can’t see what you’re doing,” he pointed out.

  Her knees eased apart slightly then her lashes fluttered, pleasure streaking across her face.

  His entire body turned into one solid rock. He might not be able to see the vibrator touching her, but he sure as hell could see the effect.

  “Ivy,” he said with a warning tone.

  “Hmm?” She opened her eyes, a haze forming over her pupils already. She licked her lips before eyeing him up and down. “You’re welcome to join me. I mean right there where you are.”

  Never had a man stripped so fast in his life. His clothes might have been on fire.

  He sat on his bed, back against the wall with his phone propped on the bookcase so he had a good view of the show.

  Now Ivy wore an adorable pout. “I can’t see you,” she complained.

  Walker chuckled evilly. “That’s too bad.”

  She winked before wiggling to a more upright position that, glory hallelujah, exposed her breasts. Bubbles clung to their surface here and there, like erotic clouds that refused to let go.

  He didn’t blame them one bit.

  Walker adjusted position until she could see the motion of his arm as he wrapped his hand around his cock. “Put the vibrator between your legs and squeeze it in place so your hands are free.”

  She flushed, and he didn’t think it was from the heat of the water. It wasn’t for him as he slowly jacked his hand over his stiff length. Curling his palm over the head and spreading the moisture.

  “Like this?” Ivy wiggled again, her hands under the surface of the water as her knees vanished. He could tell the moment she touched the vibrator to sensitive parts. She didn’t have a very good poker face, and that was a glorious thing, because Ivy heading toward an orgasm was one of the most beautiful things he’d ever seen in his life.

  “Perfect. Now bring your hands up and touch yourself where I can see it.”

  He considered leaning over to grab some lube but it wasn’t going to be necessary. Not with the way his body was getting ready to spill as if he were seventeen again. He wasn’t even touching the woman, just watching as she touched herself. Hands rising under her breasts, circling once before she cupped them and squeezed together. Lifting, with her thumbs coming over her nipples.

  Part of his brain was watching and taking notes of what she liked and what she was doing so that the first time he got a chance, he could prove how good of a student he was to this particular teacher.

  The other part of his brain had shut down completely and was enjoying the show. Pleasure streaked through his body, not only where he applied pressure around his cock but somewhere deep inside where he was tickled that his sweet Ivy had come up with this perfectly dirty scenario.

  “Pinch your nipples,” he ordered, just to see what she would do.

  She obeyed instantly, rolling the peaks between her thumbs and forefingers as her head fell back to rest against the wall, her chest moving erratically with each breath as she panted, the surface of the water shimmering.

  He didn’t bother to swear he was so mesmerized. “I can tell your legs are shaking. Got that toy right on your clit, don’t you? The next time, baby, that’s gonna be my fingers. That’s going to be me slipping my fingers into you and putting my mouth on your clit, licking until you scream my name.”

  Ivy moaned, but her lips twitched. “I didn’t know you could hold your breath for that long.”

  He stumbled in his rhythm for a moment, laughing before he picked up tempo again, pleasure rushing forward like a steam train. “Sassy girl.”

  “Stubborn rock.” She quivered, shaking on the spot. “Next time it’ll be my hands on you, stroking up and down as you teach me how you like it. Or maybe it’ll be my mouth…”

  She licked her lips and that was it.

  Walker gave up control and let pleasure take him, seed exploding from the end of this cock to land in stripes over his hands and belly. He was done, but it took forever to finish, especially when a breathless cry escaped Ivy’s lips, the word turning into his name as a tsunami hit the surface of the bathtub. Bubbles broke into lone icebergs, crashing into her limbs as they escaped.

  It took a while for both of them to come back. He bet he looked as dazed as she did when she finally met his eyes.

  She smiled sweetly before lifting a hand to kiss her fingers then blow it at him. “Good night.”

  Ivy hung up and left him with his head ringing and his body reeling.

  Whatever was going to happen this summer, they were in for one hell of a ride.

  * * *

  Ivy wasn’t sure how she would feel the next time she saw Walker because she’d used up most of her stock of boldness that night in the bathtub.

  She’d had a good time, and so had he, obviously.

  But other than texting they hadn’t a chance to get together the next day, or the next. And after her little “I’ll take as much of you as I can get, but I won’t interfere with your life” spiel, Ivy had accepted the gap and dove back into her activities as well. There were a lot of things she needed to accomplish before the fall, all of which created a good distraction.

  Tall, sexy cowboys needed to be distracted from.

  She worked on her house, and she stopped by her Grandma Sonora’s ranch with the delivery of baked goods Tansy had sent from Buns and Roses.

  Her grandma looked the same as she had the last time Ivy had visited, and Ivy shook her head as she placed a basketful of treats on the well-worn kitchen table. “I hope someday you’ll share and tell the rest of us where the well of eternal life is on this property.”

  Sonora laughed, the sound dancing brightly off the walls like a reflection of the sun shining off the squeaky-clean windows in her tiny kitchen. “Good living and hard work, sweetie.” She lifted the cloth off the top of the goodie basket and peeked in, making a noise of approval. “And just enough treats to make the tough moments easier.”

  Ivy sat at the table, the sweetness of being there a treat all in itself. This was why she was moving back. This was what she needed—her family.

  Sonora settled opposite her, pushing a steaming hot pot of tea her direction. “Make yourself useful,” she ordered.

  It was one of the oldest tricks in her grandma’s books. Tongues tended to get looser when their hands were busy. Only Ivy didn’t mind. This was exactly why she’d stopped in.

  She poured the hot liquid into two cups carefully as she considered. “Are you still happy living out here, Grandma?”

  “It’s my home,” Sonora answered. “I’ve gotten rid of a lot of the animals, and I don’t do as much gardening as I used to, but I can’t imagine being somewhere I couldn’t get up every morning and go for a ride.”

  The word home was one that resonated the loudest. “That’s what I figured.”

  Her grandma eyed her, suspiciously. “Did your parents put you up to this?”

  “What?”

  Sonora waved her hands in the air, gesturing around at the small room. “This. They’re worried that I can’t take care of this anymore, but I’m still capable, so I don’t see any reason why I should leave.”

  “Neither do I.” Ivy took a sip of her tea, staring out the window at the familiar rolling hills that backed onto Silver Stone land. It was pretty, and it was wild, but that didn’t make it wrong. “I’m sure there will come a time that you need to move, but you’re smart enough to make that decision on your own.”

  Her grandma nodded firmly.
“I don’t mind a bit of friendly advice, but I don’t need to be dictated to. Certainly not by any stubborn, interfering…”

  She stumbled for the next word, so Ivy offered a suggestion. “Family?”

  Grandma Sonora blinked, coming back from somewhere else with her thoughts. “I was going to say asshole, but I didn’t want to shock you.”

  Ivy laughed so hard. “Oh, Grandma. I love you.”

  She didn’t bother to ask who her grandmother was referring to because she could guess, and that would be something else she could laugh about with Walker the next time they got a chance to be together.

  She visited for a while then got up and headed to her next destination, which was a date with Emma Stone.

  The first couple of times they had gotten together, Tamara had sat with them, working on something at the table as Emma went through her exercises. But the last time Emma had been the one to speak up and tell her mom she could go and work.

  “Ms. Fields is my teacher, and I like her.” Which was as solid a recommendation as anyone could ask for.

  Tamara had smiled and offered a wink, and then managed to not hover, which impressed Ivy a great deal.

  Then again, it’s not as if Ivy and Emma were ever truly alone, not with big sister Sasha on guard duty.

  She wasn’t obvious about it at first; just had to get something out of the refrigerator while Emma was working through pages at the kitchen island. And when Ivy had suggested they go outside for a walk while they talked, Sasha had magically appeared with an over-sized walking mop at her side.

  Emma had rolled her eyes at her sister then dropped to her knees and grabbed hold of the dog’s big ears, the move terrifyingly quick until Ivy realized the creature was more sheep than sheepdog. Gentle enough that it didn’t matter how much the girls tugged him one way then the other. He just sat there and adored their attention.

  Demon didn’t like the bonnet Sasha fastened on his head, but other than that, the creature was a welcome part of their new rambles.

  The sun was shining too hard today to do any kind of activities inside the house, so it was inevitable they ended up heading toward Big Sky Lake. The few puffy clouds floating overhead reflected in its depths.