Rodeo Riders

by Vonna Harper

  She wanted to fuck. Needed to fuck.

  Lived to have sex with Cougar!

  Her back and legs bore most of her weight, and she became aware of the coverlet abrading her skin. Still, the need to pull him into her as deep as possible made the discomfort pale by comparison. Looking at him, sensing how naked her expression must be, she imagined his buttocks contracting over and over again. Artificial light glinted off his sweat-soaked chest. The hair at his temple broke free of the leather cord designed to contain it, allowing strands to slide forward and darken his features even more.

  This man she really didn’t know was having sex with her. Driving into her offered body. Watching her breasts shake and pushing against her.

  Heat building. Sensation powering her forward.

  He pounded into her. Instead of retreating, he remained in place, his muscles trembling. “I can’t—can’t.”

  “Can’t what?” she gasped.

  “Wait. Too fast, damn it.”

  No! She wasn’t ready for their union to end. As he pulled back, she went deep inside herself, left rational thought behind and focused on her body’s messages. She burned from the effort of matching his frenzy and the heat boiling out of her. A little more and she’d reach her sweet explosion.

  “I’m coming!” she sobbed. Thrashing her head, she dug her elbows into the bed to keep herself from sliding away from him. Again his cock slammed into her, sliding hotly along her inner tissues, wetly sanding countless nerve endings. “Coming.”

  “Already?”

  “Yes. Yes!” She dug her nails into him. Close. So close! Release just out of reach.

  No! He couldn’t be leaving her! She needed him; her pussy demanded him. Both terrified and angry, she gripped his elbows and tried to pull him close again. He’d clenched his jaw. His eyes were the barest of slits, and his nostrils flared.

  Empty. Nearly deserted.

  No!

  Hot, wet bulk plowed into her, driving home like some conquering hero. Beyond anything civilized, she wrapped her legs around his hips and buttocks and made him part of her. When he tried to pull back, she refused to release him. He was hers! She couldn’t climb the mountain without him.

  His cock shuddered, twitched, strained.

  “Yes!” she gasped. “Yes!”

  “Yes!”

  The condom caught and contained his come, but her cunt didn’t care. It acknowledged the gift and grew strong. Took her to the edge. Threw her over.

  “Thank you,” she managed.

  Her muscles still felt as if they’d run a marathon as she watched Cougar dress. She stared at him, not just because she loved the look of him, but because she needed to try to make sense of what had happened. She’d never, absolutely never jumped in bed with a man like this. There’d been no seduction, no candlelit dinner, no whispered sweet nothings. Instead, they’d fucked like animals. He was a stallion, a bull, she a mare or cow in heat.

  But as powerful as it had been, their union hadn’t entirely quieted her need. If he didn’t leave, soon—

  She fingered the sheet she’d covered herself with. “You really have to go?”

  “Yeah. The bulls—”

  “Ah, when will I see you again?”

  “Tomorrow.” He stood over her with his unzipped jeans hugging his hips and his shirt open. “Jordan, I didn’t want it to be over so fast, but it’s been a while since I’ve…”

  “Didn’t want? Have you been planning this?”

  Chapter Four

  Trixie shivered under Jordan. Although she’d anticipated her mare’s nervousness, she couldn’t put her attention fully on distracting the horse from what was going on around them. No matter how resolutely she tried to focus on her upcoming ride, her mind refused to stay in the here and now.

  It was evening. Time for the first day of the rodeo to begin. She’d survived the opening ceremonies by making sure she stayed in the middle of the barrel racers, where, hopefully, reporters and photographers wouldn’t spot her. Cantering into the arena dressed in her show-only, deep-red shirt and hat had nearly been her undoing for one reason. The bulls, although not yet loaded into the bucking chutes, were so close that she’d smelled and heard them. The usually laid-back eight-year-old Trixie had whinnied and tried to buck. Jordan had had her hands full and might not have been able to keep her mare under control if a couple of men on horseback hadn’t come up on either side, effectively squeezing Trixie between them. Their presence must have calmed Trixie, because she’d stopped prancing and whistling. The men’s black shirts identified them as stock handlers, Cougar’s employees.

  “Cougar said you might have a bit of trouble with her.” The man on her right had indicated Trixie. “Asked us to keep an eye on things.”

  “I appreciate it. She has more of a memory than I’d hoped she would.”

  “Cougar told us what happened.”

  But had he told his men everything she’d endured, she pondered as she waited for her turn to compete. It didn’t matter, at least not now, because she was about to do her best to put her demons behind her. After a year devoted to almost nothing beyond getting to the point where she could compete again, the time had come.

  That’s what was important—not asking herself for the umpteenth time why she hadn’t seen Cougar today. Of course she’d gone out of her way not to be where she thought he’d be, but a considerate man does something to acknowledge the woman he recently bonked, right? Of course that worked both ways, or it would if she had a better handle on her emotions.

  Let it go! You’re here to ride.

  From where she and the other barrel racers waited just outside the arena, she could barely see the woman guiding her horse around the barrels, but yells and clapping left no doubt that the woman was doing well against the clock. A little more than a year ago, she had been one of the top competitors and had her share of awards to prove it. Thanks to the damage to her leg, she’d missed the rest of last season and the start of this one. Making up for lost time wasn’t going to be easy—nearly as hard as getting the Brahma-sized monkey off her back.

  “Damn that Crystal!” the racer next to her exclaimed. “Thanks to a daddy willing to fork over for the best horses, she’s always going to be a pisser to beat.”

  “It’s not just her horses,” another competitor observed. “Crystal goes all out. The broad is fearless.”

  Fearless? What did that feel like?

  When Crystal came cantering back, her face flushed and her smile showing a mouthful of perfect teeth, Jordan applauded. Inside, however, she warred with the impulse to beg Crystal to give her some of her fearlessness. Here. Now. Finally. Goal number one met. Number two coming up.

  “You’ll do fine. All you have to do is believe in yourself.”

  Cougar’s voice rolled over her. The earth-size knot in the pit of her stomach eased. Turning toward him, she took in his black outfit, especially the formfitting shirt with its silver snaps that played up the silver band on his cowboy hat. Even his boots carried out the same theme. Of course his horse was black, and a stallion. Not many rodeo participants risked having a testosterone-charged mount under them, but Cougar easily controlled the wide-eyed, prancing beast.

  “I didn’t expect to see you,” she said when, finally, she remembered how to make her voice work. “I figured you had enough to do behind the fences.”

  He guided his horse a little closer, then reined up, keeping the stallion a safe distance from Trixie, who obviously wasn’t in the mood for a suitor. “How are you feeling?”

  Pretty much like I’m going to fly off in a million pieces. “Rusty. Practicing at home isn’t the real thing.”

  “At least you’re doing it.” He dropped his gaze to her leg.

  “Cougar!” Crystal exclaimed, urging her gelding between Cougar’s and Jordan’s horses. “Fancy seeing you. Are you going to ride? No
matter what bull you draw, my money’s on you.”

  Cougar had started out in the rodeo business as a bull rider and twice had qualified for the finals. He’d finished high both times, and Harney County residents still boasted of the local boy who’d made good. He hadn’t competed in a while, and she’d assumed it was because the contracting business took too much time.

  “Put your money away.” Cougar had been looking at Crystal. Now he returned his attention to Jordan. “Riding’s behind me.”

  “You sure you won’t reconsider?” Crystal asked. “There’s nothing like a stud riding a bull to the bell to ring my chimes, if you know what I’m saying.”

  Just then, the announcer called out the name of the next rider. Knowing she was set to go after Kari, Jordan shut everything else out of her mind. She’d practiced endlessly on the ranch and had been relieved to learn she hadn’t lost her skill or timing. Actually competing wasn’t that different from circling the barrels she’d set up herself.

  Liar. Cougar wasn’t watching you then. And Rampage wasn’t a short distance away.

  She rode two-handed when she competed, but Jordan had kept only one hand on the reins as she’d walked Trixie in circles prior to entering the arena. The switch had prevented Trixie from anticipating what was coming. Now, however, the sturdy mare shivered under her, prompting Jordan to sit back, shifting Trixie’s weight onto her hindquarters. At the same time, she pressed her knee against the mare’s right side, indicating she wanted Trixie to continue circling. Then a nod from the timer prompted her to stop. Heart hammering, she waited.

  The flag dropped. Leaning low, she urged Trixie into a full-out gallop.

  The first barrel. Close in on it, slow, lean as far as you can without losing your balance, circle, straighten, aim for barrel number two.

  Even as the wind created by Trixie’s hard gallop grabbed her hat, something snagged Jordan’s attention. She couldn’t say what it was, couldn’t make sense of the blur.

  Bull! her insane instinct insisted.

  Horse and cowboy, her rational side countered.

  Rampage hadn’t gotten loose again. He hadn’t charged into the arena, wasn’t pounding toward her and Trixie. There’d be no collision, no terrified and squealing horse being knocked to the ground, no sound of snapping bones.

  Ride, damn you! Ride. Barrel number two coming up fast. Slow. Slow. Lean and turn. Straighten. Find number three and race for it.

  Once again a blur of movement slammed at her nerves. Time buckled back on her. Although it couldn’t be, she heard Rampage bellow, felt herself flying, hitting the ground, Trixie’s weight crushing her. And then, worst of all, staring up at the great Brahma’s churning hooves, thick, curving horns and impossibly powerful chest, knowing she couldn’t move, knowing she was going to be killed.

  “Give our young lady a round of applause, ladies and gentlemen!” the announcer yelled. “This is her first time to compete since a serious accident last year. I know she’d appreciate your encouragement.”

  Fighting tears and self-disgust, Jordan glanced up at the time clock. She’d never ridden that slow. Surely there’d been a malfunction. The hell there had!

  Her fellow racers applauded when she returned to them, and she forced a rueful smile. After dismounting, she loosened the cinch around Trixie’s belly and rubbed the heavily breathing mare’s forehead. “You done good, old girl. A hell of a lot better than I did. And tomorrow can only be better, right?”

  Trixie turned her head to the side and gave Jordan a look she interpreted as it’s up to you. I did my part.

  “I know you did. Just be patient with me. There’s something about a head trip that—”

  Trixie backstepped, compelling Jordan to grip the reins. When the mare stopped tugging, she turned to see what had startled her. She shouldn’t be surprised to see Cougar and his black stallion, but tell that to her heart. The way it pounded had to be attributed to shock.

  “I’m going to be tied up until late tonight.” His too-dark eyes bore down on her, powering through the protective layers she tried to throw up. “You know which is my rig. I’ll leave it unlocked. Wait for me.”

  Wait in that too-small space that’s alive with your essence? Feel your presence on my skin and think about what you’re going to say—and do?

  “What for?”

  “We still need to talk.”

  She swallowed. “Just talk?”

  “It’s your call.”

  Cougar’s personal area had to be twice the size of hers, which helped defuse her claustrophobia, only, if she was being honest, fear of enclosed spaces had nothing to do with the state of her nerves.

  After putting Trixie in her stall and mounting her other mare, she’d returned to the action. Her reason had been twofold. She wanted to get three-year-old Misty used to the sights, sounds and smells of a rodeo, and watching the other events had made it possible for her to take at least a part of her mind off her poor performance and what Cougar thought they needed to discuss.

  All right. There’d been a third reason. She’d watched Cougar. He’d been in constant action, one moment behind the chutes as he supervised those handling the bulls during their event, the next riding pickup in the arena. Like his stallion, he’d seemed tireless. In an environment filled with the most masculine of men, he stood out.

  And no matter how hard she’d tried not to let it happen, thoughts of the body beneath the clothes stalked her.

  “Is that why you’re here?” she asked herself. At the moment, she was looking through a folder filled with newspaper clippings about the various rodeos he supplied bulls for. He appeared in only a handful of the photos, too often at a distance. But there was one close-up of him being interviewed with a pen full of Brahmas behind him. His hat was pulled low on his forehead so she could barely make out his features, but his sweaty shirt clung to every muscle and rib. Just looking at him, she could feel his heat.

  A sound outside spun her around. Heart hammering, she opened the door and looked out. Cougar and a short, slim man were standing a short distance away. Cougar glanced at her and then turned his attention back to his companion.

  “If you can find better hay, see if you can get it delivered tomorrow,” he said. “But I’m guessing this is the best we can do.”

  “I’ll get on it at first light.” The spare and weathered man was looking at her, but she couldn’t guess whether he was surprised to see a woman waiting for Cougar. Probably not. “Anything else?”

  “Get some sleep.”

  “More than you will, that’s for sure,” the man said as he walked away.

  “Who was that?” she asked when the silence threatened to drive her crazy.

  “Todd Little Deer, but we call him Slim. Not too original. He’s been with me since shortly after I got into the business. He knows what I’m thinking before I do.”

  “That’s good, I guess.”

  “Sometimes. Let’s go for a walk.”

  Although he’d presented it as a statement, she recognized the undertones of an order. Instead of refusing, she closed the door behind her and climbed down the two steps. As before, the moment the distance between them disappeared she felt his power and strength, the testosterone rolling off him. If she’d been a mare in heat, she would have turned her back to him and lifted her tail, signaling her readiness to be bred.

  Bred. Carrying Cougar Lighthorse’s child?

  “Where—where are we going?”

  “To where we both belong.”

  Chapter Five

  “Have you ever wanted anything else?” Cougar asked when he stepped in the large barn with its multitude of stalls. The double doors hung open. Faint light slid in through the opening to touch the stalls on either side of the center space. Every stall was occupied, but only two of the horses acknowledged their presence. The rest, worn down from their long day, couldn’t care l
ess.

  “Other than being involved with the ranching life? When I went to college, I thought a lot about my options, but too many entailed spending my days in an office, living in a city.”

  He shook his head. “And you need space.”

  “I do.” And the chance to prove I haven’t lost my nerve. “What about you?”

  He hadn’t touched her tonight. Instead of feeling safer and more self-contained, she ached for the brush of skin against skin. Every molecule of her being was tuned in to him, so much so she half believed he could see beyond her clothing to breasts, belly, hips and mostly what waited between her legs. Even after her eyes adjusted to the muted light, she felt isolated from the outside world. There were just them and the horses.

  One stomped its hoof, shaking her mind loose of whatever spiderweb it had sunk into and reminding her that she’d asked a question. “It goes without saying that you need to be where you can see the horizon,” she said. Her voice seemed to echo off the weathered wood.

  “Because I’m Native American?”

  “Because you grew up surrounded by nature.” She touched his forearm. Just like that, her flames were fed. “I think the setting gets in our blood. No matter what people like us do with our lives, we’re not satisfied unless we’re surrounded by what was embedded in us as children.”

  “You’re philosophical tonight.”

  Either that or something was driving her to lay more of herself before him. Someone might be in the barn, maybe bedded down in a stall with his or her horse, but she didn’t sense the presence of another human. Just him. “It hasn’t been an easy day for me,” she admitted.

  “No, it hasn’t.”

  She forced her hand back to her side. Maybe she wouldn’t be this aware of him if they hadn’t had sex, but she wouldn’t take bets. Possibly he’d touched her hormones in ways they’d never been touched.

  “Is—is that what you wanted to talk about?” she asked. “Why my time was so slow?”

  “I don’t need to ask. I know why.”