With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1)

by Aliyah Burke

  She waited with baited breath for him to kiss her. He didn’t, instead he cupped the side of her face and moved his thumb along her skin. Immobile, all Finn could do was sit there and allow him to touch her. She just couldn’t pull away from the caress of his fingertips. Lord, she was ready to forgo the entire rodeo and allow him whatever liberties he wished to indulge in with her body.

  Pathetic, Finn. To be rendered into such a mess with nothing more than a simple touch.

  Ignoring her brain’s commentary, she swallowed and gave him a slight smile. “What?” Somehow, she managed to push that word past her lips instead of allowing it to come out sounding more like, “Take me back to the trailer and fuck me until I forget my own name.” Yeah, that would have gone over so well.

  Dustin gave a slight shake of his head, removed his hand, and looked out over the arena at the announcement of the first rider. She missed his touch but didn’t say anything about it, opting instead to follow his example. Finn turned to watch the first of the “roughstock” events being put on. There would be three, and the first was saddle bronc riding. The other two were bareback riding and the bull riding. Timed events made up the rest of the competition, and she was looking forward to them as well. Including the barrel racing.

  It didn’t take her long to get swept into the excitement of the rodeo. She cheered, screamed, and guessed scores right along with the crowd as well as the man beside her. Hoarse from all her hollering, Finn took a long drink from the water Dustin had brought her earlier during one of the breaks.

  “What’s your favorite?” he asked as she recapped the bottle.

  “Don’t think I have one. I like them all, both roughstock and timed. So much talent is needed for all of them, I’m in awe. Although I will say for the roping events and steer wrestling I enjoy watching the horses as well. The women are impressive also.”

  “Not giving me a straight answer, are you?” he asked with a smile.

  “Can’t pick just one, sorry.” She gave him a grin and focused back on the emptying arena around them. It was time to head back to the trailer, and she took her time gathering up her items.

  He helped her up but refused to release her, instead pulled her flush to his chest. She peered up at him, the sounds of retreating fans fading with each thump of her heart. Dustin slid his hand along her cheek until it cupped the nape of her neck then threaded his fingers into her hair. Anchoring her.

  She didn’t move, merely watched him as he closed in for his kiss. At the first touch of his lips on hers, she sighed and bit back her whimper. That was all it took for her to be jelly in his arms. One touch. Pathetic? Possibly. Did she care? Nope. All that mattered was he was kissing her again.

  Their tongues slipped along one another. Stroking, rubbing, and twining about. His taste infused her, and she brought up her hands to clutch his shirt, so she didn’t fall from wobbly legs. He wrapped his other arm around her, supporting her.

  Eyes closed, she lost herself to the kiss. Thick and heady. Slick and wanting. Her body responded with the force of a hurricane, and she struggled to not lose all her sense. When it ended, she wondered if her nipples wouldn’t cut through her bra and shirt they were so tight, almost to the point of being painful. She wanted his hands on them. Touching. Holding. Teasing.

  “Let’s go,” he muttered.

  She was ready to follow him anywhere. Allowing him to curve his arm around her, she dragged her tongue over her lips, desperate for any remaining taste of him. It wasn’t enough, it never would be enough.

  “Where to?”

  Trailer. Bed. Words dangled on the tip of her tongue. “Let’s walk around,” she suggested, determined to prove to herself she could behave like anyone else and not jump his bones just because he had her more tuned up than any instrument had the right to be.

  The look he leveled at her almost had a completely different phrase slipping free, it was so hot and so damn intimate she nearly lost her cool. Instead, she locked away her passion and slipped her arm through his.

  They meandered slowly through the grounds, which were beginning to close down for the night. She didn’t interrupt when people walked up to him and talked. Only when her phone rang, however, did she leave his side.

  “Hello?” she said without checking the Caller ID.

  “Finn, I’m so sorry to call and bother you, but I need you.”

  She frowned. “Who is this?” The voice was female, but unrecognizable.

  “Mrs. Pendle.”

  Finn’s heart careened to the bottom of her feet. “My father? Is everything okay?” Christ, her legs didn’t want to even hold her up. She barely noticed that Dustin’s arms went around her, supporting her. Her nails dug into his arm, and she fought for breath.

  “He took a spill today and says he doesn’t have any medication for the pain. He refused to go to the hospital. If you could just tell me where his pills are, I’ll give him some.”

  Relief swamped her. “Do I need to come home?”

  “No, sweetie. I can handle the stubborn old coot. I just didn’t want to leave him alone while I continued looking for the pills.”

  In the background she could hear her father arguing with Mrs. Pendle. “They’re in the top drawer, left bedside table. Let me talk to him, please.”

  “Thank you, dear.” A slight pause. “Here, talk to your daughter, you stubborn fool.”

  “Meddlin’ old woman,” he called out before his tone softened. “Hey, babygirl.”

  “What’s going on, Daddy?” she demanded.

  “Nothing. I don’t know what that woman was thinking calling you.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Daddy. What is this spill you took? That woman is—”

  “I should fire her,” he muttered. “I’m fine, babygirl.”

  “You will take your pills and be nice to Mrs. Pendle, Daddy. Stop yelling at her. She doesn’t have to help you like this.”

  “I didn’t ask for it,” he snapped.

  Finn breathed a bit easier. If he was this grouchy, he couldn’t be all that bad off. When it was truly bad, her father didn’t speak to anyone.

  “You didn’t have to, Mrs. Pendle is a lovely woman, and you will be pleasant to her for staying to help you out.”

  “I don’t—”

  “Either her or me, Daddy. And she’s nicer than I am, I’ll drag you into the doctor.”

  “I’m the parent here, Samantha Mallory Finley, not you.”

  “Don’t you Samantha Mallory me, Daddy. If the roles were reversed, what would you do?”

  A charged silence before he grumbled under his breath. “Take you to the hospital and ensure you took your pain meds.”

  “So, you will do it, you will be nice to Mrs. Pendle, and I will see you when I get home in three days.”

  “Love you, babygirl.”

  “Love you too, Daddy.” She ended the call and sagged against the powerful chest anchored at her back.

  “Everything okay?” Dustin’s deep voice rumbled in her ear as his hands rubbed her arms.

  “Yes. Daddy just took another spill and was being difficult, so Mrs. Pendle had to call and ask me for something.” Her heart continued to pound out of control. “Damn, I freaked out when she called me.”

  Dustin turned her in his arms so her cheek brushed the warm cotton of his shirt. The steady beating of his heart calmed hers. It didn’t take too much before their hearts had fallen into the same rhythm. Clutching the sides of his shirt, she opened her eyes and gazed around the grounds. The setting sun had given way to the start of night and as they stood there beneath the scattered lights, she watched as the stars came out. First one, then another, then as if someone had scattered a handful of diamonds across the dark velvet cape of sky, it became illuminated by the gentle pinpoints of light.

  “Come on, Samantha Mallory Finley,” he murmured.

  It sounded odd, hearing her full name on his lips, but she offered up no argument as he guided her back to where the trailer sat parked. She entered first as he
held the door for her. Legs still a bit weak she sank down on the sofa.

  The clink of a bottle brought her head up, and she found Dustin had placed a beer before her. “Drink.”

  She blew out a breath and shoved her hair back with one hand. “Thanks. I think I should cook supper first.”

  “Drink. It won’t hurt you. I’ll start on the meal.”

  She would have loved to say yes, but she shot off the sofa and grabbed his arm, spinning him back to face her. His intense stare held hers and burned with a fire she knew would set her world aflame.

  “I’ll start. You should check on your boys one more time.”

  “I have something for you,” he said with a shake of his head.

  “What’s that?” Her attention was instantly on him. She couldn’t get over the way he looked standing there. And right now, for the moment, he was all hers.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a smaller box. She set her beer down and took it. Opening it, she gazed inside.

  “Oh Dustin, this is beautiful.” Seated upon the white support board was a silver necklace with a horseshoe pendant. She touched it and looked up at him. “What is this for?”

  “It reminded me of you.”

  She took it out of the box and held it to him. “Put it on me?”

  He complied, and she dipped her head to see the pendant resting against her shirt. She couldn’t begin to say how much this meant to her, especially since she figured the last piece of jewelry he’d purchased was the wedding set for Charlotte.

  She turned to face him again and pushed up on her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for this. It means more to me than you can ever know.”

  He didn’t speak, just threaded his hand into her hair, angled her head, and kissed her. She went weak in the knees all over again and sagged against him, fingers gripping the fabric that sat taut across his chest. Then the kiss ended and he was gone.

  She reached for her beer, held the bottle up to her neck, and tried valiantly to cool down. Nothing helped. She glanced up at the sleeping area and quivered with anticipation. “Focus,” she admonished herself as she opened the fridge and searched for something to make. Why make anything? There was chocolate sauce and whipped cream in there. Surely, she could come up with something using those things that would surpass the need to actually ingest food.

  Her body flushed at the thought of him spreading it on her and lapping it off. Locking her knees, she swore under her breath before staring at the food he’d packed. What to make? What to make?

  Chapter Eight

  Dustin ensured his boys were securely bedded down for the night and left them all with a final affectionate pat. While he spoke to those he passed, he didn’t stop to engage them in conversation, wanting instead to make his way back to the woman who waited for him at the trailer. Samantha.

  The night remained hot even though the sun had already sunk below the horizon. Not that he minded, it was Texas after all. Slipping from the building, he wove through the lingering people and made his way back to his trailer.

  “We need to talk.”

  The feminine voice wove out of the dark and surrounded him. He scowled as cold tendrils curled about him. It brought to mind what happens when one falls into a pit of vipers. One knows danger is abound and yet is afraid to move for fear of having a creature strike.

  “There’s nothing for us to talk about, Charlotte.” He paused, not wanting this woman near either Samantha or his LQ.

  “I think there is.”

  She stepped from the shadows. As usual, her face perfectly painted, showing the world the side she wanted them to see. The good side. He wasn’t a fool. He’d heard the rumors she’d been spreading about him and why she called off the wedding. Personally, he didn’t care about that. He was thrilled to have found out her true colors before he tied her last name to his.

  “Not at all. I don’t have the time or the inclination to deal with you now. You claim you’re pregnant and carrying my baby. When I’m back in town, we’ll go to the doctor and have a DNA test done. Until then, stay away from me, stay away from my things.”

  She crossed her arms and arched one blonde brow. “Does that include Samantha?”

  Anger churned in his gut. “Leave her alone, Charlotte.”

  The smile that lifted her lips equated to a pit viper sliding around his shoulders and neck, just looking for the perfect place to sink dangerous fangs and unleash potent venom.

  “Are you worried for her?”

  “There’s no reason for him to be, Char. We both know if it comes down to a fight between us, you don’t stand a chance,” Samantha said, sliding her arm around his waist, her heated body pressing against his in an intimate and comforting gesture.

  He hadn’t even known she was near and didn’t want Samantha to hear all of these claims. The thought of losing her before he could actually have her didn’t sit well with him. Charlotte’s expression almost made him laugh. It reminded him of someone who drank turned milk.

  “You little—”

  “Charlotte!” Dustin snapped.

  “Run along, Char. Dustin and I have plans tonight, and they don’t include you.” Samantha splayed her other hand across his chest. “I have to erase all the horrid times he had in bed with you and show him how things should be, you know, how they can be when someone isn’t afraid of getting sweaty, messing up their hair, or anything like that. So run along and find some dumbass to sink your claws into.”

  Dustin wasn’t sure he could speak much less what he should say. All he could focus on was the proprietary claim Samantha levied upon him. Her nails dug slightly into him as she issued her statement to Charlotte.

  “You will never be anything but a rebound screw to him,” Charlotte snapped.

  “Yet, you’ll only be a memory.” She shrugged. “Well, that and a slut.” Samantha hooked her finger in his belt and tugged. “Come on, Dustin. Chocolate sauce and whipped cream awaits.”

  The expression on Charlotte’s face was reminiscent of one who smelled an entire batch of rotten eggs. Dustin wanted to smirk at the way Samantha claimed him in front of her, but he didn’t dwell on it. Those two items she’d mentioned created all kinds of images in his mind, and he followed her without a second spared glance at Charlotte. Samantha kept her hold on his belt until she got back to the trailer and opened the door. He followed her in and shut out the warm Texas night.

  “Samantha—”

  She whirled around to face him, her brown eyes ablaze with…anger?

  “Look, what you do with that woman after this weekend is up to you and between the two of you. None of my business. But you came here with me and for all intents and purposes we should have had sex this morning, but didn’t because of Mac’s intervention. I’m feeling possessive,” she pushed him back against the door, “and am not going to be sharing you at all this weekend. You don’t want me in your bed, I suggest you speak now and I’ll leave.”

  His pants grew tighter at the words coming from her addictive mouth. With a low growl, he spun them, pressing her against the door and blocking her in with his arms and lower body.

  “Does that feel like I don’t want you?” he demanded, rubbing his erection against her belly.

  “I don’t know that’s for me. It could be because of Char—”

  He kissed her silent. Thrust his tongue deep into her mouth and took her submission. “Her name,” he rumbled drawing back. “Her name has no place where the two of us are. This has nothing to do with her and everything to do with you, Samantha.”

  She reached up and grasped two fistfuls of his shirt, hauling him closer. “Good to know.” Her tongue snuck out and traced along his lower lip. He groaned and bucked against her.

  “You said something about chocolate sauce and whipped cream,” he reminded her.

  She smiled a siren’s smile. “Supper first.”

  Not likely. He lowered his hands to capture her ass and hefted her up. She automatically curled her legs aroun
d his waist, anchoring them together.

  “Fine,” he rumbled, his face buried into the skin at her neck. “But you are on my supper menu.”

  He didn’t release her until he made it to the queen bed in the gooseneck and laid her back upon the quilt. Her hair fell about her like a silken cloud and her eyes—Lord help him—they were like a kick from a horse to his gut as she watched him.

  The only light on in the place was the one in the bed area, soft and inviting, as it played along her skin and curves. It was hard for him to ignore the pounding lust in his veins and take his time, to allow himself to enjoy her leisurely.

  “Are you just going to stare at me?” she asked.

  “Figuring out where to start,” he replied as he moved down to remove her boots. Her socks followed, and he grinned over the silver metallic paint on her nails with the black horseshoe on each big toe.

  “Adorable.” He kissed the arch of each foot. “I didn’t figure you for one who painted their nails.” He laid another few kisses along her skin.

  “Nails on my hand chip with work so that’s my way of feeling feminine.”

  He flicked his gaze up to her. “Your only one?”

  She took her plump lower lip in her teeth and gave him a smoldering look. “You’ll have to discover that for yourself when you undress me.”

  Oh, he intended to. He moved up her until they were face to face. “Can’t wait,” he whispered.

  The turquoise of her button-down short sleeve shirt made him want to lick the smooth brown skin exposed at the neck. Four buttons, that was all that stood between him and the bounty he sought. While earlier in the day, the shirt had been tucked in, now it hung over and he began at the bottom. One. Two. He sucked in a breath at the sight of her smooth stomach. Three. His mouth watered, and he focused on the fact her breathing seemed a bit strained as well. Fingers trembling a bit, he held them over the final button before undoing it with a deftness belied by his shaking.