Greyson (Cloves County Cowboys Book 1)

by Amelia Shea

  She nodded. “You’re leaving?”

  His lip quirked up. “Just for a bit, then I’m coming back.”

  He stared down at her unsure eyes, a mixture of hope and reluctance. He sensed her confusion. He hated it. He’d spent too much time playing games he didn’t even know he was playing. It ended here and now.

  Resting his head on her forehead, he said, “I know I’ve given you no reason to trust me. But if anything, I am a man of my word.” Catching her gaze, he kissed her lips again. “I’ll make this right, all of it, gonna prove you can trust me.”

  He sat up and pulled the blanket from the bottom of her small bed, draping it over her.

  “Let me do what I gotta do, then I’ll be back up. Okay?”

  She nodded and sank deeper into the bed. Never had he had an urge so strong to lay next to a woman and hold her than he did right then. Watching her curl into bed, it took everything he had to resist getting in next to her.

  Reluctantly, Grey stood up and walked to the door before looking over his shoulder, locking his gaze with her soft brown eyes. He’d make this quick with Lucas and be back with her in minutes. Hopefully, Lucas wouldn’t give him shit. Didn’t matter, he was staying with her, with or without Lucas’s consent.

  She was his, finally.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Stretching her arms over her head, Britt twisted her body, cracking her back in the process. Stretching always felt so good, especially in bed. Rolling to her side, she became aware of the black window.

  Jeez. How long had she slept? Sitting up, she took notice she was alone. Figured. He seemed so convincing when he said he’d be right back. She should have known. His line about trusting him had been bullshit. Britt tried to block the disappointment from her mind. The only thing bothering her more than him saying he could trust him, was Britt believing she could.

  She got out of bed and crept through the dark second floor. Descending the stairs, she could see the glimmer of a soft light coming from the kitchen. The counter lights shone dimly and the house was quiet.

  Britt had just turned toward the living room when she heard voices from outside. Making her way through the kitchen, she stopped and peered out the window over the sink, facing the barn and arena.

  She froze with only her eyes moving, following the scene playing out in front of her. Several of her ranch hands were gathered at the far end of the gate. Lucas was in the ring, close to the barn, elbow resting on the top rail of the fence. His eyes were on the center of the horse ring, but he was talking to a tall man with blue jeans, a dark shirt, and a cowboy hat.

  Britt squinted to get a better look at the man and gasped when he turned his head. Jasper Fords nodded and said something to Lucas before turning his attention back to the ring. What the hell was he doing here? Why was Lucas talking to him?

  A loud whinny from the horse and an aggressive shout had Britt scanning the ring. Stepping up on her toes for a full view, her mouth fell open and her heart dropped. She blinked twice, doubting the sight in front of her, but there he was.

  Black Beauty was bucking frantically, legs flying out from behind her and her back ripping back and forth, fighting against the rope. Following the rope, she saw Grey digging his heels into the ground, demanding the horse submit. She was entranced. The horse would move, and Grey would be one step ahead, anticipating the move before Black Beauty could execute it. It was a dance of dominance, each fighting to lead. Britt leaned closer, propping herself up on her hands.

  The horse backed up and swung her head higher, throwing Grey off balance. Britt gasped, covering her mouth. His step faltered and he tumbled forward. Her heart raced in fear. If he fell to the ground, he would probably get trampled.

  She ran to the back door, threw it open, and raced down to the barn. What was he doing? He was going to get himself killed. She should have never bought the horse. Her heart beat fast and she panted hard, pushing her legs as fast as they could go.

  Stopping a foot short of ramming into Jasper, she grabbed the top fence. Her head darted between the horse, who was slowly circling, and Grey, standing tall and in full control.

  “You okay, Britt? You look white as a ghost.”

  She turned to Lucas and Jasper. They both stared with concern.

  “I saw from the window. Grey fell and I just thought…” She was panting and stopped in mid-sentence, focusing back on Grey, whose attention was fully on the horse. Black Beauty staggered and pulled back. Grey made a clicking sound with his mouth several times, pulling on the rope.

  “He stumbled but never fell. He’s in full control, as you can see. Never met a horse Grey couldn’t train. She’s a stubborn girl but he can handle her, no doubt,” Jasper told her confidently.

  Grey clicked again. This time the wild horse eased on her pull and slowly edged toward Grey. He backed up, giving her plenty of room to go through the barn entrance. As Britt watched him intently, Grey disappeared through the doors. He never once looked over at her.

  Releasing the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding, she turned to the guys. They were staring at her in question. Lucas looked confused, whereas Jasper seemed amused.

  “What’s going on? Why was he in there with her?”

  “Changed his mind about helping you. Called me a couple hours ago, asking to bring the overheads to your ranch.” He pointed to the lights over the ring. “Got here and he was already working on her.”

  “How long has he been out here?”

  Jasper turned to Lucas. Lucas reached his hands in his pockets and glanced back at Britt.

  “Been here since he brought you home. After talking to me,” he said, raising his eyebrows, “he went back up to you, said you were out cold. Came down to the barn and said he’d start working on the horse.” Lucas shifted his attention to the barn doors. Grey walked out and was inundated with the ranch hands clapping him on the back and chatting him up.

  “He’s been working on her for about four hours.”

  “Four hours?”

  “I told him to start tomorrow but he said he might as well start now. He wasn’t leaving till you woke up.”

  Britt’s heart beat faster at Lucas’s last words. He was waiting for her to wake up before he left? He was breaking her horse? He was making it right? She grasped her hands and twisted her fingers, her gaze back on Grey. He hadn’t lied, he was still at her house, waiting for her to wake up.

  He shook the hand of one of the guys and walked backward until turning around to face Britt. His lips curled up and his blue eyes fixed on her. She could feel her pulse speed up as he got closer. She wanted to walk to him, but her feet were stuck in their spot. She had way too much going in her head.

  “Finally, you’re up.” Grey closed in on her, swung his arm over her shoulder, and pulled her into his side. Her body curled against him so naturally, as though she’d done it a thousand times. She fit perfectly.

  She spared a glance at Lucas, who eyed her suspiciously, and Jasper, who again appeared amused. Looking back up to Grey, she returned his smile.

  He stayed.

  »»•««

  Grey stood in the horse ring for the next twenty minutes, standing by the fence talking to Lucas about the breaking and training process. He almost laughed at the expression of pure shock on Lucas’s face when he told him he’d train him to break in horses.

  His arm was tight over Britt’s shoulders. He felt her body ease, molding into his own, and resisted the urge to smile. He was waiting for her, but he knew she doubted him. She probably woke up thinking he had left and she’d been the fool.

  His hand grazed over her arm, caressing slowly. He never lost eye contact with Lucas, but his mind was not on the horse or the man in front of him. His mind solely focused on Britt, those eyes and body, and being close to her. Everything else was just white noise.

  “All right, then. I’m heading home, see you tomorrow.” Lucas tilted his hat at Britt and nodded toward Grey.

  Grey led her up to her hous
e, hearing the sound of Lucas’ truck start up and take off down the drive. She would have some explaining to do when Lucas got her alone. Later.

  Opening the back door, he ushered her inside, stopping in her mudroom to remove his boots. He could feel her eyes on him as she walked into the kitchen, sending a shiver through his body. This woman drove him crazy. He wanted her like no other. He stood up tall and stalked to her. She retreated until her back hit the counter, and he took full advantage and caged her in with his arms on either side of her.

  Bowing his head low, even with her ear, he whispered, “Hi.”

  He could see her lips curl, her eyes glancing up through her long lashes. Her arms dropped to her side, almost stiff, as if she was nervous. He liked this side of her. He wanted her to have a reaction to him. He didn’t want this desire to be one-sided.

  “Hi.” Her breath hitched and he moved his hands from the counter to her waist, lifting the hem of her shirt and gliding his fingers over her soft skin. Her body trembled under his touch and he pulled her closer, removing any space between them. The quick move jerked her forward, her hands landing on his chest.

  “You stayed.” Her head was bowed, eyes on his chest. He could hear the quiver in her voice.

  His voice rumbled softly. “Yeah, I stayed. Told you I would.”

  She nodded, but she didn’t look up. She was a contradiction. One minute she was yelling and cursing, slapping a horse’s ass, feisty as hell, and the next she was shy, vulnerable, and almost unsure of herself. He wasn’t sure what side of her he liked better, but one thing was for sure, he liked them both.

  “One thing you need to learn quick ’bout me, Britt.” He stepped in closer to her. “I always get what I want.”

  “What exactly do you want?”

  He leaned in, his mouth hovering over her ear. “You.”

  He could feel her heartbeat pump under his own. She was smaller than him by about five inches but a perfect fit in every way. Her fingers caressed his chest and he felt his body stiffen, along with his cock. This wasn’t the first hard-on she’d created for him, but it would be the first she ended.

  She peered up, those soft eyes staring into his. He was done. His lips crashed down over hers, his grip on her waist tightening. She gasped at the sudden onslaught. He took advantage of her parted lips and slid his tongue over hers, exploring her mouth. She reached up to his neck and pulled him toward her, digging her nails in and moaning loudly. Her tongue swirled with his.

  The sound of her moan riled his heart and erection. His hands on her waist gripped hard as he lifted her to the counter before stepping into the spot between her open legs. Her arms embraced his neck, and their bodies meshed together tightly.

  He broke the kiss only to slide his mouth down her neck. Licking her skin and getting high from the taste, he wanted to devour every part of her body. Stripping her down and tasting her sweet lips for hours was what he wanted.

  He ran his teeth over her pulse and her body quivered. He smiled at her reaction.

  His mouth found her ear and he licked the shell of it before whispering, “You gonna let me take you upstairs?”

  He felt her nod and his smile became a grin. “Hope you’re well rested from your nap because I got plans for us. They include you and me and at least ten hours.”

  She giggled and pulled back from him, giving him a view of her amused face. She quirked up her eyebrows. “Ten hours, huh? That’s a pretty big promise, Grey. You sure you can deliver, ’cause ya know, a man is only as good as his word.”

  “I can deliver, don’t you worry.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  Grabbing her around the hips, he lifted her from the counter, her legs wrapping around his waist. Exactly where he wanted them. His mouth descended on her neck, and she moaned again when he rubbed his hard jean-covered cock against her pussy. They needed their clothes off.

  “Grey.”

  He swore his dick got harder from his name on her lips. Hugging her closer he meant to pick her up and bring her upstairs to her bed. Gripping her waist, his mind was lost in the feel of her mouth trailing over his neck and her hand reaching over his jeans, grasping his straining cock.

  She bit down on his neck.

  Tearing at the hem of her shirt, he lifted her tee off in one quick flash. Her body was flushed and his eyes were drawn to her bare breasts. If it was possible, he got harder, ramming his cock into her hand, and immediately his lips were on her hard nipple. He sucked hard, taking long pulls, flicking the bead with his tongue. She moaned, “Yes,” while gripping the back of his hair, holding him in place.

  He trailed across her chest to her other breast while unbuttoning her shorts with his free hand. He relentlessly licked her nipple, getting so hot from her panting. Releasing her beaded nipple, he took her mouth.

  Her hands released him and he felt her wiggling under his kiss. She surged forward, knocking teeth, and he pulled back. Smirking at the sight, he realized she was trying to get out of her shorts on the counter. It was awkward in the small space. They needed to go to a bed, where he could spread her out and take his time.

  He ignored the ringing of his cell phone in his back pocket. There was nothing more important than what was happening right here, at this moment.

  He wrapped his arm around her waist. “Need to get you upstairs.”

  She shook her head. “No.” Her mouth crashed down on his and she suckled on his tongue before letting go with a pop. Her panting was loud, matching his breathing.

  “Take me here, just like this. I need you inside me, now.”

  His hand gripped her shorts around her thighs, pulling them down swiftly. Her legs wrapped around his waist, tugging him closer.

  “Not gonna take you on a counter our first time, darlin’.”

  She gripped the buckle of his jeans, pulling it open and unbuttoning his pants. She almost had the zipper down when he grasped her wrist. He kissed her lips, stroking the seam of her mouth. “If I don’t get you upstairs, I’ll be fucking you against this counter in seconds.”

  “Fuck me,” she whispered against his lips.

  All restraint lost, he let go of her hand and pulled down his jeans, letting them fall to his ankles. The crown of his cock brushed against her opening and he could feel the moist heat—she was ready for him and he was about to explode. All rational thought gone, he needed to be inside her as if she were air. The tip breached her pussy and his dick throbbed.

  She threw her arms over his shoulders and kissed his neck. His head shot back and she licked across his neck.

  “Hold on,” he whispered. He leaned down to his jeans, grabbing his wallet and standing up. She pulled him to her, his cock lining up between her wet lips. “Fuck.” He slid inside her and they groaned in unison as he felt her walls stretch to accommodate him. He had the condom in his hand, crunching it in his palm. The feel of his bare cock sliding into her warm, wet pussy had any rational, responsible thoughts filtering out of his head. He rocked forward slowly, grasping her bare ass and squeezing her closer.

  “You feel so good.”

  “Your heat is driving me crazy.” He panted in her ear.

  His cock drove into her slowly before pulling out and slamming back into her. He’d never fucked so slow with anyone before. He wanted this to last, but he knew it wouldn’t. She urged her hips closer, trying to lead the rhythm. He cocked his neck and took her mouth, all tongue and teeth clashing as he fucked her harder, thrusting into her pussy and riding her hard.

  She ripped her mouth from his and screamed his name as the walls of her pussy gripped his dick and her body convulsed. The moisture over his cock drenched him and he drove into her body, fucking her relentlessly until his own orgasm built up. He gripped her ass, digging his fingers into her firm flesh and came hard inside her.

  His cock jerked as his hips slowed. The only sound was their heavy breathing. Grey kissed her neck, tasting the salty sweet moisture over her skin. Her hands caressed over his back soft
ly and she whispered. “Now, you can take me upstairs.” Her soft giggle caused Grey to smile and pull back. His cock was seated inside her and he had no desire to detach from her. He gripped her jaw and kissed her slowly.

  “Didn’t use the condom.” He said it as an apology.

  “I’m clean and on birth control. You?”

  Grey smirked. “Clean but no birth control.”

  She laughed and leaned in, brushing her lips against his mouth. Laughing while still inside a woman—it was a first, and Grey liked it.

  His cell phone rang again. He dropped his head back, staring up at the ceiling. Whoever it was would not stop calling until he answered. He glanced down. Britt was pouting.

  “You gonna answer it?” she asked.

  “Fuck, no.”

  Her mouth pressed against his neck and she licked in a circle and then grazed her teeth. The phone continued to ring, and Grey swore under his breath. It wouldn’t stop.

  “Don’t answer it,” she purred. A request never sounded so sweet.

  “Darlin’, it’ll ring until I do.” He kissed her lips again and reluctantly pulled out of her, immediately missing her warmth. Her lips twisted, and he figured she was feeling the same.

  His mind was in a fog. Shit! He didn’t want to answer it. He wanted to burn his phone. The next ring blared and he knew he had no choice. He had to answer it. He stepped back, pulling up his jeans, not bothering to clean up. She hopped off the counter and put her shorts on, pulling her top over her gorgeous tits. His eyes were glued to them as she covered up. Next time, he’d spend more time loving all over her body.

  He gripped her hips, lifting her back onto the counter and stepping between her legs.

  He leaned in to kiss her again when the phone rang for the fourth time. He reached into his back pocket, bringing the phone to his ear, and snapped, “What?”

  “Is that how you answer the phone? Boy, it coulda been an important customer and you answer the phone as though you’ve been brought up with no manners or couth. What the hell’s wrong with you?” The tone in his father’s voice had him shaking his head. He should have checked to see who was calling.