He could’ve moved to California with her—he’d had no family ties or obligations that he knew of at the time—but he’d been afraid he would weigh her down. She deserved to be with someone educated. Someone on her level.
Someone whose own father hadn’t rejected him.
Shit.
Where the hell had that thought come from?
It was stupid. So was the way he’d handled Brittney.
He wasn’t going to make that mistake twice.
Tanner was right. He deserved to be happy. And Evie made him happy. She was a knockout with a kind heart and didn’t give a flying fig about his lack of education, or his relationship with his father. And she seemed the type who would always have his back.
***
Evie left her house Saturday morning, wearing her favorite boots, long skirt and sweater, and with an extra spring in her step. The week had flown by, and her short dates with Lucas weren’t nearly enough. The fact he was attracted to her but didn’t want to jump into bed, made her feel special. They’d shared dinner and a movie on her couch Tuesday evening when Missy was at her workshop, and Thursday, she’d gone on one of his hikes, but hadn’t touched or kiss him because he’d been working.
Then she’d had to go to work.
Unsatisfied.
But today…today, she was done waiting. And after the kiss he stole last night in the back room at the restaurant while Missy had been finishing her shift, Evie got the impression he was ready, too.
So, when he’d asked her to meet him at the resort for lunch, while Missy was in her workshop, Evie fixed porketta sandwiches on a big breadstick she made especially for them. A simple meal they could eat in the stables, which was where he was at tending to the horses.
With her good parts already tingling in anticipation, she parked her car, grabbed the paper bag filled with food, and a blanket off the front seat, then got out. They had a little over an hour, and she didn’t plan to waste a second.
Chapter Seven
Evie walked past the resort and turned left at the gazebo, taking the trail that led to the stables and away from the lake. The sky was clear, and she smiled up at the sun, marveling over the lack of snow this far into December. Not good for ski season, but welcomed for her trek to eat with Lucas.
She found him inside the heated stable, murmuring sweetly to a tied horse, as he rubbed it with a cloth in a circular motion, head to tail, top to bottom. His discarded flannel shirt hung over a stall door, giving her a clear view of the play of muscles in his arm and back, visible through the thin material of his black T-shirt.
And when he bent? Mamma mia! Her breath caught and heat funneled low in her belly.
Jeans were meant for that man.
He straightened, then turned to face her. “Hey, Evie. Didn’t hear you come in.”
“Just got here.” She cleared her throat and lifted the bag. “Where do you want me?”
Per carita.
She’d meant to say lunch, but well, right now, she wanted him to have her for lunch. The need infusing her body was crazy. Never in her life had she felt this aroused just by looking at a man.
“That’s a dangerous question, darlin’.” His lips quirked while need darkened his eyes. But he didn’t come near her. He stayed by the horse. “Why don’t you go in the room past the tack room? There’s bales in there we can sit on. I’ll be right in. I just need to pick out her hoofs.”
Evie nodded, but her dang feet didn’t move. The sight of his fabulous backside outlined perfectly in those jeans while he gently ran his hand down the horse’s front leg had her rooted to the spot.
He lifted the hoof, tipping it up, and braced the leg with his knee while he gripped the tool in his other palm and picked the debris out and away from the shoe. When he gently placed the hoof down, he stood, running his hand over the horse as he walked toward the hind leg.
A grin broke across his face as he caught her still standing there. “Never seen anyone pick a horse’s hoof before?”
She cleared her throat and felt heat rush into her face. “Yes…I’ve done it myself a few times, too.”
“So…you were just watching me to see if I was doing it correctly?”
“No.” She smiled, turned, and walked away, warmed by his soft chuckle that followed her into the room he’d mentioned.
It was actually warm and cozy. A few bales were stacked to the ceiling against the back wall, with two more rows high and three wide, forming a flat surface in front. She tossed the blanket over them, then shrugged out of her coat and hung it on a hook on a side wall near an ax, shovel, and rake.
“All done,” he said, waltzing into the room, drying his hands with a paper towel. “Hope you don’t mind eating in here. Seemed like there was enough space to sit comfortably.”
She smiled. “It’s perfect.”
A delicious gleam entered his eyes as he walked straight for her and gathered her close. “You look great, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
Not only had she worn the long skirt, boots, and sweater just for him, but the matching thong and bra underneath, too. On the off chance he’d see them.
Then he was kissing her, and she slid her arms around his neck and eagerly kissed him back, letting him know she was ready to take the next step. When he lifted his head, they were both dragging in air.
“Sorry,” he said, resting his chin on her head. “I only intended to kiss you hello.”
She smiled and snuggled closer. “You have a great way with words.”
His chuckle vibrated through her as he drew back to smile. “I was inspired.”
“I hope you’re hungry, too, because I brought you a big sandwich.” She pushed out of his arms to unpack their lunch.
“Looks great,” he said, but she wasn’t sure if he was talking about the food, or her. Then he picked her up and set her on the bales before hoisting himself up on the other side. “Smells good, too.”
“My pasta salad’s good, but Nona’s porketta recipe is to die for.” She nodded toward the sandwich in his hands before she bit into the succulent, seasoned meat.
A second later, he echoed her groan.
“Damn, this is good.”
She nodded, and for the next few minutes, they ate their food and drank their bottled waters in companionable silence. It was nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of people at the resort and in town. Nice to spend quiet time with Lucas.
For the first time in a long time, she was excited about everything.
“Who’s manning the pizza shop? Nico?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Vera. She’s one of two managers who’ve been with the restaurant for over two decades. My dad hired her at Missy’s age.”
He finished his sandwich and nodded. “I was wondering how you and your brother were both going to be able to take time off for the party tomorrow.”
She wiped her hands on a napkin and tossed it in the bag. “We all alternate. I go in tonight at four.”
“Well, I’m glad you had time off now.” He jumped down to stand in front of her, grasping her legs to tug her closer to the edge. “Thanks for spending it with me. I know it’s tough trying to work time in around our schedules.”
Her heart raced at the feel of him through the thin material of her skirt, and the intimacy of him positioned between her legs. “So…” She ran her hands up his chest. “Are you officially on the clock right now?”
“No. I have the day off because it’s drill weekend but, it turns out, we only have drill tomorrow morning before the Christmas party.”
Nico had probably mentioned it to her, but her mind had been in the fog lately. At the moment, the fog was thick due to the warm hands slowly rubbing her legs.
“You came in on your day off to be with the horses?” Her voice came out a little breathless.
He laughed and tightened his hold. “Not exactly. I had to drop Missy off for her workshop, so I thought I’d spend the time here, with you. Thanks for bringing lunch.�
��
“I brought dessert, too,” she said, and deliberately rocked against him, so he caught her full meaning.
Air hissed between his teeth. “Damn, Evie.”
Then he initiated another glorious kiss, and by the time it ended, she was grateful to have the bales beneath her to keep from falling.
“Lucas?”
“Yeah?” Spurts of warm breath washed over her head.
“Do you have a condom with you?”
He groaned, “Evie,” then grasped her shoulders and drew back again. “I’d truly love to have you for dessert, but not here. I don’t want our first time to be in a stable. I want it to be memorable and perfect.”
“This is perfect. You’re a cowboy. My cowboy. What better place for our first time than right here?”
“It’s just…I want better for you.”
She cupped his face with both hands, shivering at the feel of stubble rasping her palm. “I don’t need better, Lucas. I just need you.”
Heat entered his eyes as he held her gaze. “You have me, Evie.”
“Can I have you here? Is there a security camera?”
“There’s no camera in here. Just the hall and stalls are monitored,” he replied, indecision clouding his gaze. “Maybe I can come by your place after the party tomorrow night.”
“Yes, I’d like that.” She nodded, running her finger down his chest and delicious abs that quivered under her touch. “I’d also like to have you here, too. Right now.”
“Why?” His gaze searched hers. “Why now?”
“It’s just. I’m…” Hotter than hell. And damn, she ached for the guy. She didn’t know how to answer him without sounding stupid. But she wanted to be truthful. “I’ve only been with two men before, but I’ve never…you know.”
God, now she was embarrassed, and would’ve ducked her head, but he reached out to cup her chin.
“What? Tell me, Evie? Are you a virgin?”
“No.” She shook her head, heat scalding her face. “I’ve had sex, but it…I never climaxed, and well, I’m so darn attracted to you, I don’t think that will be a problem.”
His gaze softened while a determined gleam appeared. “No, it won’t be a problem with us, Evie. Trust me. You are going to climax. Often.”
She shivered at his words, and her heart rocked against her ribs when he let go to shut the door and lock it.
“Starting right now. Come here.” He helped her down, then surprised her by settling her back against his chest. “Close your eyes, and just relax.”
Then, oh yeah, he moved her hair aside and kissed her neck. His delicious stubble scraped her skin, sending goosebumps down her aroused body. She moaned and pressed back against him.
“Like that?” he asked, pressing open mouthed kisses on her skin, while his wicked hands slid around front to cup her breasts.
She moaned again. “Yeah…”
They needed to be naked. She wanted to feel him flesh on flesh. As if knowing, he ran his hands down to her waist and slid under her sweater to stroke his way back to her breasts.
“So soft,” he breathed, nipping at her ear.
He was magic. She turned her head to tell him, but he caught her opened mouth with his and kissed her, slow and deep, brushing his thumbs across her peaked breasts trapped behind the lace of her bra. Heat pooled low in her belly and parts south.
She broke the kiss, and threw her head back against his shoulder. “Lucas.”
“Mmm…right here.” He found the front closure of her bra and unhooked it, releasing her aching breasts in to his warm palms.
Yes…that’s what she wanted.
She cupped his cupping hands, completely eaten up with desire. And when he pinched her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers then tugged, she nearly lost it.
“Damn, Evie, you’re gorgeous.”
She was close. So close. An incredible tightness built inside her, and she was lost in the sensations caused by his hands and mouth. And tongue.
A second later, he twisted her around, lifted her up, and set her back on the bales, while his mouth captured hers. She wrapped her legs around his hips, enjoying his grunt when she rocked against the hard bulge in his jeans.
Santo cielo! He felt good.
“Killing me,” he rasped after breaking the kiss.
Then he yanked off her sweater and helped her out of the bra before bending to suck a nipple into his mouth.
She gasped, arching up, gripping his head. “Lucas…I need…”
Something, but she wasn’t sure what. He apparently knew, because his wicked hands hiked up her skirt and skimmed her quivering thighs, brushing delectably close to where she ached the most.
“Lift up,” he urged, and removed her skirt, and then stared at her. “Gorgeous.” Gaze smoldering, he pulled off her boots, before hooking her thong with his fingers and tugging the lace completely off. “So gorgeous.”
He dipped down again, brushing open mouthed kisses up her thigh. His breath warmed her skin, and when he slipped a finger inside her, she cried out and clutched his shoulders.
“So wet.” He kissed a path up her belly, breasts, then neck while he continued to drive her mad with his finger.
“Lucas…” she panted, sliding her hands down to grasp his biceps. “I’m…that feels good.”
“Yeah,” he said near her ear, then bit her neck, soothing the site with his tongue. “Come for me, Evie.”
The ache in his voice matched the one he was building with his long, sure strokes. He had one hand around her back, holding her close, while the other worked in and out of her, stealing her strength, building a tightness and blazing heat inside.
“Oh, God…Lucas…don’t stop.” She rocked into him, encouraging his movements.
“Never.” He lifted his head to stare at her. “I’ve got you. Come for me.”
His thumb brushed across her center, and she burst so suddenly, the horses stirred in the stalls, their whinnies mixing with her low, needy cry of release.
When she finally came down to mother earth, Evie found he was still watching her with a very satisfied grin on his handsome face.
“Thank you,” he said, gently brushing a strand of hair back from her temple.
“For what? I should be thanking you,” she rasped, still trying to catch her breath.
“Hell, no.” He kissed her forehead, then nose. “That was the best gift I ever had.”
She reached up to cup his face. “Me, too. But we’re not done, are we? There’s still time.”
He nodded, stepping back to yank off his shirt with one hand.
Sexiest thing ever.
“Oh, there’s time, and we are far from done.” He kissed her then, dipping his tongue into her mouth, sending more heat to stir up the simmering in her belly.
When he broke for air, he shucked the rest of his clothes, effectively knocking the breath out of her with the sight of his rippling muscles, and the light sprinkling of dark hair that crisscrossed down his taut abs to lead to his glorious erection.
He was big and thick, and her insides ached with need just looking at him.
Chapter Eight
“Damn, Lucas, you’re magnificent.”
Evie never wanted a man in her before, but damn, she wanted…needed him inside her.
Now.
Lucas rolled on a condom he’d fished from his jeans, and stepped close. “Only with you.” His hands slid down her throat to cup her breasts before he dipped to take a nipple in his mouth and suck.
An invisible pull tugged straight to her center, and when his hands dropped to her thighs, and he slipped a wicked finger inside, she moaned, completely at a loss at how close she was again to the blissful edge.
He released her nipple. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She nodded and scooted closer.
Positioning himself between her legs, he held her gaze and pushed inside with one sure thrust. Their shared cry of approval echoed around them.
He grasped her hips, his b
lue gaze nearly pitch black. “Damn, Evie. You feel so good. So, damn, good.”
She wanted to tell him she agreed, he felt incredible, but he’d taken her breath. She simply couldn’t form a word if her life had depended on it. So, she nodded, and ran her hands up his chest, then down his sides to grip his hips.
That’s when he began to move, and her voice returned. She moaned and called his name. He was bringing her so much pleasure. Was there such a thing as pleasure overload? Because she was there. He slid an arm around her back and pulled her closer, sliding even farther inside.
“Oh…yeah, Lucas…” she managed, between breaths, arching her back. “Don’t stop.”
“Never,” he muttered, again, gazing down at her like he was just as lost, just as found as her. “God, Evie, look at you.”
She’d rather look at him, bask in the sight of him enjoying her body, her curves. He made her feel perfect, and needed, and desired. His hair was messed where her hands had played, eyes smoldered with a heat that burned deep, sweat glistened off his face, neck, and body bunched tight with need.
Magnificent.
Empowerment rushed through her to know her curves brought him to this state.
He took her mouth in a frantic, demanding, devouring kiss that had her trembling and ready to burst again. And his tongue, santo cielo, the delectable movement matched the deep, consuming thrusts of the throbbing erection driving in and out, making her crazy.
She was close again, so very close.
And when he slid a hand between them and pressed a thumb to her center, she broke the kiss to cry out his name as an intense orgasm ripped through her body. Lucas let out the sexiest damn groan and gripped her hips as he thrust one last, single, deep thrust and followed with his own powerful release.
A few minutes later, or maybe a year, Evie opened her eyes, and the room, and their discarded clothes came back into view. And one sexy as sin cowboy.
“Hey.” He drew back slightly to trace her face with his finger. “You okay, darlin’?”
She smiled and kissed his hand. “Very. When can we do that again?”
He chuckled and returned the favor. “Not soon enough, trust me.”
Wine and Her New Year Cowboy Page 7
