Then Luke quoted a purchase price far below what she would expect a house and a few acres of land must go for here. She raised her eyebrows, yet he seemed serious.
“It’s a fair price, Megan, given that Ryder’s going to work off a good portion of the property value over the next month or so while on the build site. I’ve offered him a job overseeing things here at the ranch after the house is finished, too. Having people I can trust when I can’t be here will give me peace of mind.”
She reached onto the table to squeeze Ryder’s hand. “Looks like we’re not going to have to go house hunting after all,” she began before turning toward Luke again, “which is a good thing because we had no clue where we wanted to settle down.”
“You’re okay with it?” Ryder asked. “I was going to talk it over with you tonight, but things are moving fast.”
“I think our hasty wedding established the fact neither of us is one to mull things over incessantly. Sometimes you have to go for the gusto and worry about the consequences later.” She saw no down side to this opportunity. “Besides, we both love it up here and can’t live in Carlos’s house forever.” Megan kissed him.
When they pulled away, he said, “I love you, Red.”
The bundle of fluff on her lap stirred and she bent to nuzzle Kachina’s fur. Using the puppy’s nickname, she said, “Soon I won’t have to leave you here without me anymore, Chee.” She hated leaving her behind the last couple of nights.
His grin told her Ryder was happy about that, too. “Who’d have thought when I saw those horses while camping at Woods Lake that we’d be taking care of some this soon?” He turned toward Luke. “I know I have a lot to learn, but I think I have an affinity with the animals.”
“You sure as hell do. After seeing you with O’Keeffe and Fontana, I knew you’d be perfect.”
Megan loved that Luke had named his horses after famous artists, being one himself. And that he was so supportive.
“Working with your horses calms me. It’s just what I need right now.”
She’d have been blind not to notice how relaxed he’d become since arriving here. They’d come for a family picnic with Adam’s expanded family a couple of days ago and hadn’t been able to tear themselves away since. Last night, they’d camped near the creek, listening to the water gurgling past them and staring up at the millions of stars. They’d probably do the same tonight.
“Megan,” Ryder said, “Luke and I have some special plans for the future of this place that I’ll share with you later tonight.”
Luke stood. “Why don’t you two join us for dinner? Cassie always makes enough food for an army.”
Megan glanced at Ryder who shook his head imperceptibly. They’d made plans to have dinner in Fairchance, and she was anxious to hear what else these two men were cooking up. “I think we’ll take a rain check,” Megan told Luke.
“Anytime. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the house. Ryder, let’s head up to Iron Horse Peak tomorrow morning after the horses are taken care of. I’d like your input on some construction decisions.”
“Sure, man.”
Megan smiled as she returned Kachina to her mama and gathered up her purse. In a very short time, she and Ryder had made new friends, but most importantly, he’d found a job and a purpose in life. Working with Luke would be perfect, helping him avoid the triggers of big cities and crowds.
They left the workshop and headed for the Harley. Ryder walked the bike away from the barn area before kick-starting it. She donned her helmet and jumped on before scooting herself to the back of the seat. While Luke and Cassie had offered to let them stay with them, the house only had one bedroom and she didn’t want to intrude. They had the barn’s tack room if the weather turned bad, but she’d come to love sleeping in their small tent, cuddled together and staring up through the “window” in the top at the stars.
Over dinner at the vintage hotel, she discussed with him some ideas for jumpstarting her own career. The nearest city was Breckenridge, only thirty minutes away. If there wasn’t a glut of photography studios there already—and a quick search of the internet would tell her that—her easiest option would be opening one that catered to a year-round mix of locals and tourists.
Her dad must be smiling down from heaven, pleased with how she intended to spend some of her trust fund income on a house and a small studio.
As they shared a dessert, their conversation returned once more to what Ryder and Luke had planned. “He’s thinking about putting in some bunkhouses for guests. Not a dude ranch, though. We want to create an immersion program for people like me having trouble with PTSD—as well as those with physical disabilities or psychological traumas—where they can spend time with the animals and find a source of peace and maybe even a new purpose.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea!” Cassie had told her how the horses had helped her in many ways, too. Sharing that healing with others would be phenomenal. “Maybe I can take some photos and help set up a web site.”
He smiled at her, reaching across the table to hold her hand. “Thanks for being so supportive of everything I do.”
“I love this idea and am honored to be a part of it.”
After dinner, with the sun lower on the horizon, they rode back to the ranch and out toward the creek on a roadway Luke used for his truck. The ranch was beautiful, small by the standards she knew from western movies, but for this city girl, the open spaces made her feel as though they were two of the few people remaining on earth.
Pulling up to the flat rock area where they’d camped last night, they’d soon pitched their tent and tossed their sleeping bags inside. They wouldn’t unroll them until they were ready to crawl inside. She’d learned that early in this trip—that a sleeping bag unrolled too early accumulated a lot of moisture from the dew and became a haven for bugs.
She smiled, wondering what Patrick would think if he saw her roughing it like this. My, how her life had changed in the past two months. Adam sending Ryder to check on her the night of the break-in at her studio had changed both their lives forever.
* * *
After making love, Ryder held Megan, her head resting on his chest, as he stared out through the opening in the tent’s roof. Somehow, those stars had suddenly aligned to take years of misery away and turn his life around—well, the stars aligned with Megan, a force to be reckoned with.
“When will you start working on the house?” she asked, drawing him back.
“We’ve already drawn up the plans, so any day. The first building materials should be delivered tomorrow, so I plan on spending the day up there waiting on them.”
“I’m sure it’s gorgeous. If you won’t need me, I’ll make myself scarce and take some photos. Perhaps I can find some shots that can be used for the décor later on.”
“Cassie and Luke would like that. Sounds good. With all the hands we’ll have to unload, I doubt I’ll need you. But once we get started, I may recruit you. Handy with a hammer?”
“I’m teachable.” She plucked idly at the hairs on his chest. “It might be fun working with you on this. Patrick never let me do anything when we were kids, although my mom usually made him include me.”
“My sister and I were pretty much left to our own devices, but she had no interest in the projects I was involved in during my late teens.”
“Does Marcia know you’re moving to Colorado?”
“Not yet. It took a whole day for me to even tell you. She’s witnessed enough of the failures in my life that I don’t care to add to the list.”
“She loves you. A lot. I didn’t get the impression when we were in Santa Fe that she judged you as harshly as you do yourself. Marcia wants you to be happy and fulfilled again.”
He shrugged. “You’re the one whose opinion matters most. I wanted to think through every angle and make sure this was right for us both before getting your hopes up, too. Everything’s been happening so fast with us. I guess I keep waiting for it all to blow up
in my face.”
Megan leaned up on her elbow and stared down at him, although he could only see the silhouette of her head with the moon as backlighting. “I told you before I’ll be happy wherever you are. You also know I’m versatile enough in my career choice to be able to bloom wherever I’m planted.” She traced her finger down the stubble on his jaw. “I feel in my heart this is where we’re meant to be at this point in time. Well, not here by this creek,” she grinned, “but living on this ranch. The horses, especially. I had no clue how horses could possibly enter into our lives—and now look at you. Amazing things are going to happen here, Ryder. I can feel it to the depths of my soul.”
He hoped she was right. His decision to marry Megan after being together such a short time had him worried, but he was gaining confidence in that decision every day. This decision felt right as well.
“What do you think your brother’s going to say?”
“Patrick?”
“No. He took the wedding calmly enough, so I’m not worried too much about him. I mean Adam.” Facing his former master sergeant last month to tell him he’d married the man’s little sister after knowing her only a couple of weeks had been one of the most stressful things he’d faced since Fallujah.
“I guess I don’t see the same man you and the others who served under him do. I really didn’t know him growing up, either. Mom always idolized him as if he could do nothing wrong. I’ll admit, there were times as a teen when I was more than a little envious that he was forever suspended in a bubble of perfection from the moment he ran away at sixteen, unlike me who gave Mom daily reminders that I’m a flawed child of hers.”
She sighed, and he wondered how they’d grown so close given that she’d only known him for less than a year.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to go there. But I love both of my brothers; I just don’t give them power over me. Adam also treats women differently, so I may never see what you guys do. But he’s been nothing but supportive of our being together. Of course, I don’t know what the two of you discussed when I wasn’t there. However, you ought to know that he expects me to run to him if I ever have any trouble with you.” She laughed and tapped his nose. “Don’t you worry, though, Ryder. I’ll take care of you myself if you ever get out of line.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Red.” He wasn’t prone to violence, but what about accidentally or inadvertently hurting her?
“You’ll also be harder on yourself than I could ever be.”
“True.”
Ryder placed his hand at the nape of her neck and drew her to him for a kiss. He’d intended it to be chaste, but she ignited a flame inside him once more. Not that he could do anything about it this soon, but he sure as hell could bring Megan to another orgasm.
Enough serious talk. “I’m going to make you scream again in a few minutes.”
Her voice grew husky. “I just came. Give a girl time to recover.”
He lightly brushed his fingertips over her arms from her shoulders to her wrists and back again. “Maybe we need to do a little warming up, while I tell you everything I intend to do to your beautiful naked body.”
He skimmed his hands over her back on his upward journey. “First, I’m going to touch every sexy inch of you, nice and slowly like this until you reach the point where you’re begging me to touch you…” He reached between their bodies to the juncture of her thighs and squeezed hard, but fleetingly. “Here.”
Her breath hitched, and she braced her hands on his chest.
“But not yet. No. I still have a lot of territory to cover before we get there.”
“Damn you, but you already have me wanting to beg. How do you do that?”
He chuckled. “Naturally gifted, I suppose.” He slapped her butt. “Now, focus, Red.”
“I will if you slap me harder.”
His cock stirred. Hell, maybe he wasn’t finished for the night after all. “Face down over my lap.” He sat up and guided her into place, stroking her ass and thighs before squeezing her luscious globes to heighten the sensation of what was to come.
Slap! Slap!
He landed one smack on each ass cheek. She squirmed in a way he knew meant she wanted more. Brushing his hands over her skin again, he let his finger trail between her crack to rub the area between her star opening and her pussy. They hadn’t tried anal and he wondered if that would be her thing, but they definitely weren’t prepared for that tonight.
Her throaty moan made him hornier.
Slap! Slap!
He rained a dozen more blows onto her cheeks and upper thighs in rapid succession until she squirmed to avoid his hand. Oh, no, baby. I’m not finished yet. Spanking her hadn’t been among his original plans, so he rolled her onto her back and took a hard nipple between his teeth, pulling until she arched her back. Kissing it, he moved to the other, only for this one, he alternately sucked and flicked his tongue against the stiffening peak. Her hands went to the back of his head to hold him in place, but he pulled away.
“Tsk, tsk. Who’s in charge of this fantasy?”
“You are, Sir.”
“Remember that.” He grinned, knowing she could probably see his face in the moonlight but not caring. “And if you try to manipulate this scene with your hands again, I’ll tie you to the tent spike.”
“Promises, promises.”
He pinched her side, shaking his head. How’d he find such a brat? Yeah, who are you trying to kid? He enjoyed the hell out of her brattiness every time. They wouldn’t be this carefree forever, so he’d sure as hell make the most of their honeymoon period.
“I’m going to use my tongue and teeth to bring you to the edge multiple times before I let you come.” He kissed her again on the mouth and continued his slow arousal of her senses, spending a lot of time kissing and nibbling her neck, loving the moans she made. But he didn’t remain there so long she could grow accustomed to or anticipate his actions. Instead, he made forays to her shoulders and the hollow at the side of her neck periodically, avoiding her nipples and pussy for the moment.
Out here, she could be as loud as she wanted, and no one would come running. He loved hearing her scream her release, but if he postponed gratification, she’d enjoy it even more—as would he.
Homing in on her nipple again—he’d never get enough of them—his lips and teeth tormented her while his hand roamed over her abdomen, lower and lower, but still not touching her where she wanted him. His cock became stiffer. He was insatiable when it came to his beautiful bride.
* * *
Megan’s body burned for the man beside her, now more than ever. Would she ever reach the point where she was sated and unable to be turned on again?
Doubtful. Not for their first few decades anyway.
His lips teased her nipple to the point of aching, leaving her wanting so much more. To keep from inadvertently grabbing or manipulating him, she lifted her hands above her head and pretended she was in restraints. While they’d had some imaginative lovemaking while camping, she missed being tied to a bed. Call her old-fashioned.
She tamped down a giggle, which would be wholly inappropriate at the moment. A pinch to her hip told her he knew she wasn’t focused, so she pushed all other thoughts aside and let him worship her body. He trailed kisses over her abdomen to her navel where he licked her. She cringed, that area being less than erogenous given her surgery. But he didn’t seem focused on her scars and couldn’t see them anyway.
Focus.
His hand stroked her thighs, parting her legs. Here we go.
But he only teased her, glancing off her pussy hairs but not touching her there. He knelt beside her and continued the path his lips had started, over her hipbone and toward her knee, pausing for a nibble or two on her inner thigh. She spread her legs wider, but he didn’t take the hint. Instead, he kissed the inside of her knee, surprising her at how sensual it felt, then kissed the other. She realized she’d been holding her breath and let it out in a gasp.
Ryder spread her legs wider
and crawled between them, facing her, but instead of homing in on the place she most wanted him, he scooted backward until he placed a kiss on her ankle. She still wore her no-show socks because she didn’t want her feet to be cold. He’d never paid any attention to her feet and toes before, but this time, he removed first one, then the other.
This can’t be good.
When he kissed her instep, she recoiled. While not ticklish, she wasn’t sure she wanted to have him kissing her feet.
“I thought you weren’t ticklish on your feet.”
“I’m not. It’s just…I’m not sure how clean my feet are for kissing.”
He chuckled. “We were wading in the creek a while ago. They’re fine.” Ryder pulled her leg by the ankle, cradling her foot in both hands as he kissed the same spot. A jolt of electricity zinged straight to her clit. Perhaps he’d discovered a new erogenous zone. Knowing he had no issues with her feet, she shed her unease and gave in to the feelings.
But he soon moved away from her feet and blazed a trail of kisses up the insides of both her legs. The slight stubble from his scruff only added to the delicious sensations he sparked along the way, but when he crooked his forearms around her thighs and spread her open, she held her breath.
Finally!
Only he seemed intent upon driving her slowly insane, because he focused everywhere but on her clit. He nibbled at her lower lips, blew on her clit hood, and toyed with the opening of her pussy. She tilted her pelvis to give him better access, but he still avoided her clit.
“Ryder, honey, I need to come!”
The vibration of his chuckle reverberated through her. He pulled away. “Good to know. Because I need to make you come. I’m just not ready yet.”
She groaned, and he went back to his slow torture. He’d probably make her wait even longer now because she’d begged. Not that he hadn’t wanted exactly that response from her, no doubt.
When his tongue flicked the outside of her hood, her hips bucked involuntarily. She willed them to remain still, intensifying the feelings and improving his aim.
Western Dreams (Rescue Me Saga Extras #1) Page 3
