RED HOT RANCH

by Swale, Lizzie

  When they got out of the store with a new pair of work boots for him and a pair of really cute bargain bin shoes for her that white sporty car was sitting in the parking lot again.

  I’ve been careful. I changed my phone number. I removed him from my social media. I haven’t posted where exactly the ranch is or what it’s called online anywhere. Wait, didn’t Veronica message me like two weeks ago, just out of the blue? I thought it was odd she wanted to talk again. What did I tell her?

  “Jenn!”

  She looked up and took a step back as a car drove by just inches in front of her.

  Christopher was at her shoulder. “Okay, something is on your mind. What’s got you so distracted you just about got run over?”

  “I keep thinking I’m seeing Austin’s car,” she said.

  “Your ex?”

  She nodded.

  “Is there anywhere else you need to go?”

  “Groceries for the ranch, but that’s it for me. You?”

  “Everything else can wait until my next day off. Let’s go.”

  They made it through the grocery store without incident and Christopher talked her into going to out for dinner. ”To relax,” he said. “I’ll buy you a beer.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I wasn’t really looking forward to lasagna anyways.”

  “You make good lasagna,” he said.

  “Thanks. I still didn’t want to eat it today. I should have pulled out something else.”

  “Well now you don’t have to eat it. Come on.”

  He took her to the same restaurant where Andrew always took her, but of course it was one of the few nice places in town and she’d looked the menu over enough to know the prices were reasonable.

  “I’ll have the chicken dinner,” he said, when the waitress came by. “With mashed potatoes and veggies.”

  “Gravy with that?” she asked.

  “Please.”

  She turned to Jenn. “I’ll have the chicken strips with sweet potato fries and salad.”

  “And to drink?”

  “Water,” Jenn said.

  “For me too,” Christopher said.

  The waitress nodded and smiled at them. “I’ll bring the water right out.”

  “You like chicken?” Jenn said. “I thought you’d be more a steak and ribs kind of guy.”

  He shrugged. “I like a good steak, but it has to be really good. My father knew how to grill the perfect steak. I’ve never found a restaurant to compete so I don’t order them. And ribs are too much bone for your money.”

  “That’s the way I felt about them.”

  “Do the sweet potato fries mean you’re watching your weight?”

  “No. I just like the spicy dipping sauce they come with even more than I like gravy on fries, which is a lot.”

  “So you like things hot?” he asked, his voice dropping into that low husky almost-whisper that made her shiver.

  The waitress appeared with their water and after that he changed the subject to embarrassing childhood stories, cousins, school friends, and anything else that was fun and safe. Soon she had him talking about the rodeos.

  “Jim’s real good about them, he gives me time off to ride the local events. There are quite a few in the area, a big one about twenty minutes up the highway from here.”

  “You ride Blaze?”

  “How’d you guess?” he said, smiling, and she realized just how handsome he was when he smiled. Handsome in a rough, rugged way. It was like Andrew was trying to hide the ranch in the way he kept himself so neat and clean-shaven while Christopher was all about the cowboy look.

  “It sounds like a rodeo horse kind of name.”

  “Yeah, I ride Blaze in the barrel races but I also ride bulls.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Really? And you want me to do that?”

  He laughed. “No! I wouldn’t put you on top of a bull. You get up there because you’re a crazy stupid adrenaline junkie not because someone put you up to it. That would be stupid. But I could see you barrel racing.”

  “That sounds easy. How fast could a barrel go?”

  He laughed again and she decided she liked the sound very much. “You race the clock while riding a pattern around the barrels.”

  “So, how fast could a clock be?” she said with a grin.

  “Faster than you’d think sometimes and slower than molasses when you’re holding onto an angry bull with only one hand.”

  They finished dinner and split a slice of pie and then had a cup of coffee each just so they wouldn’t have to stop talking. Jenn was still laughing as they walked out of the restaurant together into the summer twilight.

  “I think I learned more about you today than in the last three weeks!” she said.

  They rounded the corner and the laughter died on her lips. They were face-to-face with Austin.

  “Hi Jenn, long time no see. You didn’t return any of my calls.”

  “I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “This your new boyfriend? You busy playing house together? You didn’t waste any time trying to move on, did you?”

  “You’re the asshole who was emotionally abusing Jenn?” Christopher said.

  “Oh look, it talks. I never abused her, not once.” He turned back to Jenn. “Is that what this is all about? You’re spreading lies about me?”

  “It’s not a lie,” Jenn said but she was starting to shake.

  “She broke up with you,” Christopher said. “And she said she doesn’t want to talk to you, so move on. Now.”

  “Shut up asshole. This doesn’t concern you.”

  Christopher picked Austin up by the front of his shirt. “You listen and you listen good you little piece of shit. You will leave Jenn alone or I will toss you in the street, do you understand?”

  Jenn could see the fear in Austin’s eyes and it made her relax a little. He was nodding vigorously. “I got it.”

  “Good.” Christopher set him down and even went so far as to straighten his shirt.

  Austin eyed Christopher for a moment then looked at Jenn. Wariness turned to a sneer. “You’re not worth it,” he said and then spit on the sidewalk. Whether he meant to hit her or not didn’t matter, the spit hit her shoes, the new shoes she’d changed into in the truck on the way to dinner.

  Christopher moved faster than anyone Jenn had ever seen. He had Austin by the arm and was dragging him down the sidewalk. They disappeared around the corner of the building before Jenn could rouse herself from her shock enough to follow.

  “Don’t kill him!” she called, scared Christopher would get himself in serious trouble over a bit of spit that would wipe off.

  She rounded the corner to find Christopher wiping his hands on his jeans. He turned. “I won’t kill him. I didn’t even hurt him. Come on, let’s get back.”

  She let him lead her away but looked over her shoulder in time to see a hand holding the edge of the dumpster. From the inside.

  Chapter 9

  The next day she and Christopher rearranged their chores so their afternoon was free. After lunch Jenn went to change. She threw her bathing suit on under her comfortable jeans and the loose long sleeved shirt she’d taken to wearing while riding. It kept her cool and bug free and safe from the branches.

  She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, then changed her mind and braided it instead. She slipped on her boots at the door and ran straight into Andrew.

  “Where are you off to?” he said with a smile. “Because I’ve got a free afternoon.”

  She returned the smile and said, “I’m going out riding. We’ll have to find a quiet evening though. See you later!” She jogged out to the barn oblivious to the way he was staring after her with a mixture of adoration and irritation.

  Christopher was waiting for her with the two horses, the saddles, and the bucket of brushes. “You look happy today,” he said.

  “I’m just really looking forward to this ride,” she said, taking a brush from the bucket and setting to work. They brushed the h
orses, cleaned their hooves, and saddled them, talking little. In addition to his saddle, Christopher also had a long leather something on the horse’s back.

  “What is that?” Jenn said.

  “It’s a saddle bag,” Christopher said, laughing. “It has the food and the picnic blanket in it.”

  She blushed. “Oh, of course.”

  He laughed again. “Don’t worry about it. Come on, daylight’s wasting.”

  She got up on her own and nudged her horse to follow his. The ride to the pond was uneventful and utterly peaceful. The afternoon was warm and quiet and the woods were at peace around them. They spoke little, which was fine by Jenn. She’d grown up in the city and had never really experienced nature in this way before.

  When they got to the pond Christopher tied the horses to a tree and grabbed a few handfuls of long grass which he tossed on the ground for them. He grabbed the saddle bags and started unpacking a blanket and some food. “Did you wear your bathing suit?” he said.

  “Yup. Are you sure it’s not going to be too cold?”

  “It’ll probably be freezing. Don’t worry, it’ll still be fun and it’s still warm enough that we’ll dry off quickly. I brought towels.”

  “You think of everything, don’t you?”

  “Everything except my bathing suit apparently.”

  She pouted. “So you’re not coming in?”

  “I’ll still come in, I’ve gone swimming in my boxers before. Eat first or swim first?”

  “Swim first, then we can eat while we dry off.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He stripped his shirt off and dropped it in a heap on the picnic blanket. For a second Jenn’s breath caught. Christopher was ripped. There was a lot more muscle on him than his lean frame suggested. When he unbuttoned his jeans she turned away and worked at taking her own shirt and jeans off. She didn’t turn back around until she heard a splash and a yelp.

  “Are you coming in?”

  “Yes!” She turned and ran towards the pond, leaping into the water. It wasn’t deep and it was cold but at least it wasn’t too murky. She swam out to him. “This is freezing!”

  “Just wait,” he said, grinning.

  “Wait for what?”

  He grabbed her and pulled her under the water. She came up spluttering, her hair plastered to her face and neck.

  “You jackass! Oh, that’s cold! You’ll pay for that!” She lunged for him and he leapt away, though being chest deep in water they moved in mostly slow motion. She jumped on his back and he dunked her again. They jumped and chased and splashed and laughed and shouted until she said, “Enough! I can’t feel my lips anymore!”

  He took her hand. “Come on then. We’ll dry off and eat and then ride back to the ranch.”

  He handed her a towel and she rubbed her arms and legs dry before wrapping it around her body. He rubbed dry as well and then hooked a thumb in the waistband of his underwear and started peeling them off. She looked away quickly, blushing.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m putting them in the sun to dry. I’ve got my jeans on now, you can turn around again.”

  She was still blushing when she turned back and it made him laugh.

  “So, uh, what did you bring for food?”

  “Sandwiches and water bottles and raw veggies. It all had to be easy and light to fit in the saddle bags. The blanket and towels took up most of the space.”

  “I never had a problem with sandwiches. Pass me one.”

  As they ate he told her about quadding out to check on the pasture fencing and the other routine checks he did while out there. He talked about the camping, the rainy cold nights, the beautiful sunsets, and the coyotes yipping in the night.

  “I think if I’m going to go camping I’ll start with a campground where there are more people and less coyotes,” she said, shivering.

  He laughed. “Yeah, the coyotes can sound eerie. You look like you’re still cold. Come here.” He scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her. “I’d keep you safe from the coyotes.”

  “I feel safer already.”

  He leaned in very close and her heart started beating faster. “Who’s going to protect you from me?”

  “Do I need protecting?”

  In answer he kissed her hard, leaving her breathless.

  “Do you?” he asked.

  She shook her head, no, and he kissed her again. Her hand went to his chest and she returned his kisses. His hand snuck between the folds of her towel and grabbed her breast. She pulled back. “Cold.”

  “Take it off.”

  Normally she’d blush at that but he had her heart hammering and her body temperature on the rise even though her bathing suit was damp and chilly against her skin. Now she dropped the towel from her shoulders and peeled off the damp fabric, all too happy to have it away from her skin. His hands closed over her breasts and his mouth covered hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer until she was sitting on his lap.

  He squeezed and caressed her breasts and let his hands wander down her back and sides leaving her breathless and panting. Her hands traced the muscle lines on his chest and she flicked her thumb over his nipple. When he groaned with pleasure it made her bold and she leaned forward and licked his nipple.

  “If you keep doing that I’m going to take you right here and now,” he growled.

  The edge in his voice sent shivers down her spine. He was serious. This was the only chance she had to back down, the only chance she had to change her mind and calm things down. She stared him in the eye, watching him breathing hard, watching him subtly relax, and then she oh so slowly bent forward and licked his nipple again.

  “You little … “ he growled, and then he had a fist full of her hair. He tipped her head back and kissed her hard, releasing her hair as soon as his mouth had captured hers. Their hands were wild after that, looking for any exposed skin to touch and they kissed any skin their mouths could reach.

  She reached for the button on his jeans and he said, “Oh yes.” Spurred on her fingers found sudden dexterity and she had his jeans undone in a flash. He released her and shuffled off the pants. And with that he was completely naked.

  His cock was already hard, long and thick, just like she expected. She reached out, still feeling bold, and wrapped her hand around his cock. He groaned and let her stroke him for a while. Finally he said, “It’s your turn. Take your bottoms off and lie back.”

  She nodded and peeled the bathing suit bottoms off. When she stretched out he stretched out beside her and kissed her. His hand worked slowly down her body, touching and caressing as it went. Soon his lips followed down her neck and chest until he took one of her breasts in his mouth. His hand went between her legs and started caressing her.

  She tipped her head back and moaned as he paid extensive attention to pleasuring her. Her first climax came upon her almost without warning. He was rubbing her clit with his fingers and flicking his tongue back and forth over her nipple and then he slipped a finger inside her and she felt a sudden rising heat between her legs. She’d felt that rising heat before, but never like this, never with this intensity, and it had never built so fast before. He closed his teeth over her nipple gently, more pressure than pain, and it was enough to send a spike of pleasure through her. That spike of pleasure triggered her orgasm and she actually shouted at the suddenness of it.

  He kissed her hard as she came down from her climax and gently nudged her legs apart with his hand. She spread her legs willingly, her fingers lingering on his chest.

  He stared into her eyes as he positioned himself between her legs and pressed against her. He went slowly but never did he ask her for permission. Yet she knew, if she had tried to close her legs or had said ‘no’ it would have been respected. She had no reason to test that respect, to test him, but she knew. He pushed, gently but without hesitation, and he didn’t stop until he was buried all the way inside of her. He bent over her and kissed her, deeply and passionately
.

  And then he started to move inside of her. Every thrust was deliberate and forceful. He pulled out until he was almost completely out of her and she was whimpering for him and then he pushed into her with just enough speed and force to make her gasp. Slowly out, hard thrust in, over and over until she was whimpering with need.

  He pushed deep inside her and groaned and she was scared he was going to cum already. Instead he muttered, “I want you so damn bad right now, I don’t know if I can be gentle anymore.”

  She looked at him. His head was hanging, his arms were trembling. She pushed down against him. “Don’t stop being gentle,” she said.

  His head jerked up and he stared into her eyes again. She stared back. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were wide. He searched her face a moment longer but there was no trace of sarcasm or worry. This time when he started moving his pace was quicker, his thrusts more forceful. She gasped with each thrust, and then the gasp turned into sounds that were a mixture of pleasure and discomfort. Soon he was pounding her and the volume of her exclamations increased until she was shouting to the trees.

  “Yes,” he muttered. “God yes.”

  He sat back, grabbed her hips, and fucked her faster now. She grabbed his wrists, squeezing tight. Her eyes were open too wide. She was still shouting with each thrusts, the sounds being slurred together by moans of pleasure.

  “I’ve wanted this for weeks,” he said. “I wanted to hear you scream. I wanted to make you scream. Fuck, you’re just so fucking hot right now. Scream for me, Jennifer, scream louder.”

  She was panting and groaning and then he slammed into her and she practically shrieked at the suddenness of it.

  “That’s right, scream for me.”

  So she screamed. She let go of her fears and embarrassments, she let go of herself, and gave herself over to the pleasure that coursed through her. She didn’t care how far her voice would carry. She didn’t even consider that someone might come to investigate her screams.

  “Oh fuck,” he muttered and then he groaned and slammed into her one last time. He held her tight against him as he filled her with cum.

  When she stopped panting he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t even stop to ask about …” he cheeks went red.