Maverick (Star Valley Book 3)

by Dahlia West

  “Um,” she replied, sucking her lower lip into her mouth.

  He really wanted to do that for her. Instead, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I intended to spend the evening with a pretty girl and now I’ve found one. What a relief. It’s entirely up to you what we do with our night.”

  She hesitated, then reached again for his glass and drank down what was left.

  “Slow down, girl,” he cautioned. “We’ve got all night.”

  “I can’t slow down. I’ve got a long list,” she said curiously.

  “I hope I’m on it.”

  Thankfully, she nodded. “You’re at the top.” She set down the glass and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

  His grin widened. “Yes, ma’am.”

  The bartender gave him a wink and he left the man a big tip. He picked up his glass trophy in one hand and held Leah’s with the other. “What is that?” she asked, peering at it.

  “That…is my award.”

  “It’s pretty,” she declared as they left the bar. “Award for what?”

  “For a gamble that paid off.”

  “Do you gamble a lot?”

  Austin pushed the call button and drew her in closer. “Yep. But I almost always hit the jackpot.”

  “Are you gambling on me?”

  He laughed as the bell indicating the car had arrived sounded. “Darlin’, if all I did now was walk you back to your room and go to sleep in mine, then I’ve already won. I’ve got a pretty girl on my arm and a shiny new award for my shelf and I’d say that’s coming out a little better than even.”

  The doors slid open to reveal an empty, mirrored car. “Looks like my luck is holding out.” He ushered her in quickly and pressed the Close Door button until it whispered shut, leaving them all to themselves. He rapped the button for the top floor, where his room was located, and then pushed her against the mirror and brought his lips down over hers. She tasted like the whiskey she’d swiped from him and she smelled like flowers.

  “The elevator might stop!” she rasped as he trailed kisses down her neck. “Someone might see us.”

  “I’m still feeling lucky,” he growled, nipping her shoulder. “I’m willing to risk it.”

  “I’m never lucky.”

  “You’re about to be,” he told her. “If you want it.”

  She gripped both his arms and pulled him closer. “Oh, God, I do,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Excellent.”

  He skimmed his hands along her waist, down over her hips, and began inching the lower half of her dress up her thighs.

  She gasped. “Here?”

  “No, not here,” he chuckled. He’d much rather get her alone, where there were so many more options. “Just a preview. I just want to look.” He drew up the fabric while pulling her bottom lip into his mouth, sucking it gently. He gave her plenty of time to change her mind as his fingertips dragged over her soft skin. Finally he pulled away, just enough, to glance down at a pair of black lace panties. “Well. It seems I’ve lied.”

  She looked up at him with her wide, blue eyes. “What? Lied?”

  “I said I just wanted to look. But now I want to touch.” He moved in closer and pressed his palm to her skin.

  She gasped.

  “Keep your dress up,” he ordered gently as he raked his fingers down the rough fabric of the waistband toward the smooth lower half. Her belly quivered as he explored the silky feel beneath his fingertips. She radiated warmth and excitement.

  He almost lost his balance, sauced as he was, when the elevator slowed and stop with a small jolt. He rocketed away from her just as the ding sounded overhead. A quick check at the car’s illuminated numbers told him they weren’t at the top floor yet. He cursed silently as the doors slid open.

  The man stepped on and Austin shuffled to the side of the small compartment, throwing an arm around Leah and bringing her with him until they stood hip to hip. He began ticking up the back of her dress again with his hand. Leah looked horrified but said nothing, nor moved away, out of reach.

  As the two of them stood at the back, the older man glanced over his shoulder and gave them a sheepish look. “The ice bins are only on every other floor.”

  Leah held her breath, apparently, but Austin nodded. “Thanks for the heads up,” he replied with a smile. “I’ve never been here before.” His hand slipped underneath her dress and cupped her bottom at that moment. “I’m glad I don’t have to waste time trying to find what I want.”

  They all rode up in silence, with Leah’s cheeks (possibly both sets) burning. Austin rubbed her lower set slowly, tracing a finger along the elastic that disappeared between her thighs. She didn’t move away. In fact, she didn’t move at all. His trapped little rabbit. This was the most fun he’d ever had hunting.

  They reached the top floor and exited the car, turning left where the man in search of ice headed right. Austin gave him a polite nod and then moved swiftly to his room, with Leah in tow.

  “Oh, my God!” she whispered fiercely. “We almost got caught! You are so, so bad!”

  Austin snorted as he swiped the plastic card. “You’re about to find out how bad.” As the door closed behind them, he tugged on her arm, just above the elbow. She turned, half-stumbled, and fell into his arms. He wrapped them around her as his lips finally—finally—touched hers again. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and she obliged, parting her lips for him. Almost to the bed now, he reached for the zipper on the back of her dress but she stopped him quickly. “Oh, don’t do that.”

  Austin leaned back, looking down at her quizzically. Was she changing her mind? God he hoped not. “Don’t take off your clothes?”

  “Um…” She bit her lip and looked up at him. “Let’s not do it that way.”

  Austin cocked his head to the side and grinned at her, amused. “I’m always up for learning new tricks. How do you propose we have sex with our clothes on, darlin’?”

  “Not all our clothes,” she said quickly. “Leave your boots on.”

  “Oh, now that sounds…interesting.” He didn’t know what game she was playing but he knew he’d win, whatever it was. He moved in suddenly, placing his hands on her hips, and pushed her back against the hotel room wall and lifting her to her toes. “So, like this, huh?” he asked, pressing his jean-clad erection right into the cleft between her thighs.

  She gasped.

  “A slow, comfortable screw up against a wall, huh?” he murmured in her ear as he gripped her thighs. “If I weren’t already so fucking drunk, I’d call downstairs and order us a round of them.” He set her down on the floor and sank to his knees in front of her where he pulled down her panties and let them drop. He placed his hands just above her knees and squeezed. “Lift your dress for me again.”

  “Oh, god,” she protested but reached down anyway.

  “Lift it high,” he ordered and waited patiently. “If I can’t look at those tits, I’m going to look at your pussy.”

  She giggled and tugged at the hem. The fabric slid over her thighs like a curtain. He was certainly ready for a show. “Nice,” he growled approvingly as she revealed a thatch of soft curls, neatly trimmed. “A real blonde.”

  “I think you’re the devil.”

  “Well, I am very horny.”

  It was a terrible joke but they both laughed, anyway. The whiskey gave the room (and the girl) a nice, warm haze that felt almost like home. Austin moved his hands up her thighs. “Spread your legs now,” he told her.

  “This…this is not…”

  He could tell his little rabbit was getting awfully nervous now, on display like this. “I won’t touch you, I promise.”

  Startled, she looked down at him. “You…you won’t touch me?”

  “Nope. I give you my word as a vaquero, as a man of honor. I won’t touch that sweet, pretty little pussy of yours. Just let me take a peek.”

  “You lied before,” she reminded him.

  “I did,” he slurred, “but I did not give you my word as a vaq
uero…and I am now. I’m only going to look this time, rabbit. I will not touch.”

  She hesitated, then lifted one of her high heels accordingly. “A real, live cowboy,” she sighed as he ran his hands along her lower belly. “A vaquero. I’ve lived here all my life and never knew one…like this.”

  She tensed as he moved his fingers over her, as if waiting for him to break his promise. He skimmed her sweat-slicked skin all around, her hips, her thighs, inching closer but drawing back every time. Not one fingertip brushed over those downy soft curls. He chuckled at her nervousness and traced a line down the crease of her thigh. She gasped and jumped. “I’m still not touching you,” he pointed out.

  She pushed out toward him, grunting in frustration.

  He laughed. “Problem, little rabbit?”

  “Damn it, Austin! Will you stop?”

  He leaned back on his heels, pulling his hands away and resting them on his own thighs. “Stop?”

  “No, damn it!” she snapped. “Don’t stop! Start!”

  “Start what?”

  She growled—actually growled—at him.

  He tried not to laugh.

  “You know!” she hissed.

  “Nah, I’m just a country boy, little rabbit. I’m afraid you’re going to have to tell me what that means.”

  She growled at him again, this time clenching her hands into fists, and he suppressed another grin, one that was likely to get him a smack in the face at any moment. “Touch me!” she demanded. “Like before, in the elevator. Oh, God. Just do it. Just touch me.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he drawled and moved closer again. He ran his fingers along her slit. Her lips were hot and swollen. When he parted her, he could feel the scorching heat of her core on his palm, along with her increasing wetness. She rode his hand, without needing instruction or encouragement. Whatever anxiety she’d felt earlier seemed to have melted away.

  Leah ground herself on his hand, pushing her clit into him, and groaning in frustration and pleasure. He pretended a bit longer that he didn’t know what she wanted, what she needed, just to see how far she’d go to get it for herself. Her thighs squeezed him hard and she finally reached down to place her own hand over his. She pressed harder, rode faster, squeezed tighter and gasped.

  Austin had just enough sense left to realize she was about to give herself an orgasm and he hadn’t even gotten inside her yet. “Don’t ride off without me,” he growled suddenly and lurched to his feet. She hissed and slammed back against the wall.

  “I’ve got a condom in my bag,” he told her, starting to turn away.

  She clawed at him, pulling him back. “You don’t need one. It’s okay.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her in the darkened room. “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “It’s safe.”

  Needing no more encouragement, he tore at his belt and zipper frantically, wanting to get inside her before she clawed his face off. And judging by her expression, she just might.

  He shoved his pants and boxer briefs down to his knees and surged forward. She made a surprised noise as he gripped her hips, lifted her, and set her down on his aching, freed cock. Austin let out a loud groan as he inched his way into her tight channel. Leah cried out loudly and he panicked, forcing himself to stop. He set her on her feet and pulled back out, body rigid with fear. He glanced down at the end of his throbbing erection. Just to be sure.

  God, she’d been so tight!

  “What are you doing?” she shrieked. “You can’t stop!”

  He blinked, unable to see very clearly in the dark. But there was no blood that he could make out. He sighed audibly, relieved. “Sorry, sorry, rabbit,” he mumbled, lifted her, and sank back in. He grinned and felt for her thighs again, wrapping her legs around him once more. She knew what she wanted, he had to admit, and it was obvious now that she’d had it before, if not recently at least. That made him feel so much better. This was no way for a girl to lose her cherry, sloppy drunk and fumbling around in the dark. It was all good, though. They were safe.

  He spread her legs wide and plunged in over and over, causing her to cry out again, though this time he was certain.

  Any minute now the manager would probably bang on the door and ask them to keep it down, so Austin banged his little rabbit harder, faster, trying to finish before someone else finished them.

  He erupted inside her with a wrenching growl and collapsed against her, panting and sweating. It was nearly a minute before he recovered enough to push his weight off her and set her on the floor. He gathered his jeans, didn’t bother with fastening them, and flopped onto the unused bed. He felt the mattress dip as she lay down beside him.

  The room was spinning even faster now. He gave her a lopsided grin, rolled, and closed his eyes with a groan. “Ride a cowboy,” he said quietly into the hotel’s cool soft pillow, finally realizing what it was she’d meant to say earlier.

  “Yee haw,” she replied with a breathless giggle.

  His lower belly clenched with renewed interested, but the whiskey had done him in. He tried to respond but fell asleep instead.

  Chapter Six

  ‡

  Leah opened her eyes in the darkened room and it took her a moment before she remembered where she was. She’d had a dream about the dam, of walking along the bridge in the summer sun, listening to the birds that often gathered at the water’s edge. Still riding on the wave of contentment, she turned to gaze at the man lying next to her.

  He was still asleep. Thank God for that.

  It had been a crazy night. The craziest she’d ever had, by far. She didn’t know what his favorite food was or even his last name. The sex had been incredible, if not exactly perfect. So what if she hadn’t had an orgasm of her own? This was still the hottest guy she’d ever even laid eyes on…let alone been laid by. It was certainly worthy of anyone’s reverse bucket list. She swiped a hand through her frazzled hair and imagined what he’d see if he opened his eyes right now. A mess, she decided. And not even a hot one. She didn’t relish the idea of him seeing her this way.

  She carefully slid out from under the blanket and crawled around in the dark for her heels and her panties. After she dressed in the dark, she slipped out of the room, leaving the large cowboy snoring loudly, warring with the air conditioner humming underneath the curtained window.

  In no time at all she was back to her room, with no keycard, though, and a towel-clad, dripping Candace flung open the door on the third knock. “There you are! I was getting a little worried. You should’ve taken your phone with you.”

  Leah wrinkled her nose apologetically. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about stopping by the room to get it.” She glanced at it, sitting on the nightstand where she’d left it charging.

  “In too much of a hurry to get to his?” Candace asked.

  Unable to help herself, Leah grinned. “Maybe.”

  “Maybe? So how was it? What happened? Tell me everything! Give me details!”

  “Details?”

  “Well, give me something,” Candace insisted.

  “It was good!” she said, giving up on her limp hair.

  “How good? Like you had five orgasms before you started to lose count and you might’ve had another one in your sleep dreaming about him?”

  Leah blushed and looked away. “It was…fine,” she amended quietly.

  “What does ‘fine’ mean?”

  “It means…I don’t know! Fine!”

  Candace pursed her lips and scrutinized her. “How many times did he get you off?”

  “Um…” Leah looked away and reached for some lipstick. It all looked garish to her, though. She wasn’t a Gilded Pink kind of girl.

  “How many?” Candace pressed.

  Leah sighed. “None.”

  Candace’s Raspberry Rush lips formed a perfect O, which was its own kind of irony. “What do you mean none? That guy had muscles in places where no one has muscles! Surely he had skills, stamina, and at least one signature move!”

&nb
sp; Leah frowned at her. “Well, we were drunk,” she reminded her. “I could barely stand up for most of it and he passed out right after.”

  “Oh, lord!” Candace wailed, tossing her eyelash curler into the sink. “You left him your number, right?”

  Leah bit her lower lip and shook her head.

  “What? What were you thinking? Why not? You don’t know where he’s from. He could be a semi-regular thing, to get you back into the dating game.”

  “Back?” said Leah with raised eyebrow.

  Candace snorted. “Okay, true. Get you into the dating game. Like training wheels on a bike.”

  The whole idea of dating seemed daunting. Leah had a couple of backseat encounters with a high school boyfriend, but no one wanted to get serious with a girl who might not be around to go to the prom. “Well, I didn’t give him my number.”

  Candace threw her a sharp look in the mirror. “You know where he is! Go do it now!”

  “I…I’m not…”

  “Go! Gawd! You can’t let an opportunity like that pass you by, Leah. You’ve gotta seize it by the…horns,” she said with a lopsided grin.

  Leah groaned but couldn’t deny that the idea was tempting. She stripped off her borrowed, rumpled dress and threw on a t-shirt and jeans. She straightened her shirt while looking closely at herself in the mirror. She still looked a little flushed, maybe even a little different. She didn’t want to leave just yet and head back to Cody. She wanted to hold onto the whiskey-soaked memory of last night a bit longer. Maybe it didn’t have to be only a memory.

  Impulsively, she snatched the door key off the sink ledge and shoved it into her jeans pocket. “I’ll be right back!” she called out over her shoulder.

  Candace laughed. “Get his number, too!”

  Leah hurried down the hallway and hopped onto the elevator to ride it up to the third floor. When she stepped out onto the low-pile carpet, she saw the hallway mostly empty save for a large housekeeping cart parked outside the room next to Austin’s. Leah hurried past and before she could talk herself out of it, reached out and knocked on the heavy door.