Gone Country: Rough Riders, Book 14

by Lorelei James

  “You and Gavin are so perfect for each other. The hippie chick and the businessman? Who’da thunk, right? But it works.” Ainsley squealed and hugged her. “I am so thrilled for you—for both of you. Just think, when you and Gavin get married? We’ll be sister-in-laws!”

  Rielle’s belly tumbled. “Married? That’s jumping the gun, isn’t it?”

  “Neither of you went into this relationship thinking it would be casual.”

  “How do you know that?” she demanded.

  “Because I know you.”

  A division of space and time still continued in the house and their relationship. It frustrated her at times; sometimes she welcomed the separation of selves. Despite their declaration of love, neither had spoken of changing their agreed-upon living arrangement.

  Ainsley wandered to the far end of the greenhouse, poking her finger in random peat pots. “I do have another reason for showing up besides to gossip about your love life.”

  Rielle grinned like a loon. She did have a love life. She had a fantastic love life. “And what’s that?”

  “This is a nosy question, so go ahead and get your back up.”

  She snorted. “A nosy question from you? Really?”

  “Yes.” Ainsley set her hands on her hips, in confrontation mode. “So straight up, Ree. Are you planning to cultivate twice as many plants this year since you have twice the growing space?”

  “And this concerns you…how?”

  “Because you already work hard enough for two people. If you double the size of your operation, you’ll be doing the work of four people and as your friend, that really concerns me.”

  Had anyone else stuck their nose in her business like that Rielle would’ve bristled. But Ainsley based her observation on logic, not emotion. “Truth? I feel guilty that half of this top of the line, state of the art, brand spanking new greenhouse isn’t being utilized. I went so far as to scour my seed supplier’s online catalogue. But I realized I can’t do that and have any kind of life outside the gardens. I’ve decided to curtail what I plant, as far as the yield to work ration.”

  “Thank heavens. I know how much of this”—Ainsley gestured to the space around her—“defines who you are. But you need to tend your relationship with Gavin with as much care as you tend your plants.” Her nose wrinkled. “That sounded a lot less hokey in my head.”

  “I get what you mean. And I really appreciate your concern. But I have to ask what prompted this?”

  “Joely. Her patient load is too much for one doctor. So my nagging must’ve worked because she is bringing another doctor into her practice.”

  “Good for her. I’ve hardly seen her in the last four months.”

  “You and me both. A celebration is in order.”

  “I’m in.”

  “I’ll get the ball rolling.” Ainsley frowned and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. “My darlin’ husband is mighty impatient today, so I gotta get. Take care, Ree.”

  “You too.”

  After bending and lifting and being covered in dirt, Rielle indulged in a long, hot shower—in Gavin’s bathroom. The scent of his body wash sent her thoughts back to how thoroughly Gavin had rocked her world in this shower. He’d defined relentless, making her come three times before allowing his own shuddering release. As much as she loved his commanding side, it didn’t leave her many opportunities to lead the charge in the bedroom.

  That’s an excuse. You want him, show him.

  For the next hour, their previous sexcapades ran on a continual loop. So by the time she heard the front door open, her anticipation for him had reached fever pitch.

  When he strolled into the kitchen, so hip and hot in a sexy-ass black suit, Rielle had to grip the edge of the counter to keep from pouncing on him.

  His eyes registered surprise. “Hey. I thought you’d be in the greenhouse.”

  “I’m done for the day. How was the meeting with Jack and the guys from Lodestone?”

  “Went better than I expected. I’ve always considered myself a tough negotiator, but I’m an amateur compared to Jack Donohue. Jesus. He hammered them on several points, which forced them to shave off a considerable amount of their asking price.” His teeth gleamed in a shark-like smile. “It’s a done deal. Be interesting to see what Jack does with a historic hotel in Whitewood, South Dakota.”

  “He didn’t tell you his plans?”

  “No. I’m just the money man.”

  Her eyes were glued to Gavin’s nimble fingers as he unknotted his tie. When the ends hung beside the lapels, he flicked open the top two buttons on his pristine white dress shirt.

  She said, “Stop.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Stop undressing. I’ll do that.” Rielle ambled toward him. Wrapping the ends of his tie around her fingers, she drew his mouth to hers for a teasing kiss. Licking at his parted lips. Keeping her mouth a whisper away, she began to leisurely unbutton his shirt. “I’ve been thinking about you all afternoon. How hot and sexy you are. How every time you touch me I lose myself in you.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” he asked softly.

  “Yes, when I’m content letting you have your wicked way with me and I forget turnabout is fair play.” Rielle’s hands were greedy on his bared chest. “I want you. Just like this. Looking professional and a little tight-assed in this snappy suit. But I want you my way. Do you have a problem with that?”

  “Ah. No.”

  She placed a kiss on his sternum. “Put your hands on the counter behind you and don’t move.” She tugged the tie from around his neck, watching it slither free. Holding the body-warmed silk up to her nose, she inhaled. “I love your scent. Cologne and man.”

  Gavin’s eyes were a stormy blue as she snapped the tie between her hands.

  She reached up and draped the silky fabric across his eyes and fashioned a knot at the back of his head. Wouldn’t be light tight, but it’d work for her purposes.

  “Ree. What are you—”

  “This is my show, remember?”

  “How can I see the show with my damn eyes covered?”

  Laughing, she kissed his pouting lips. “Poor baby. You’ll just have to focus on your other four senses, won’t you? Stay put. I’ll be right back.”

  His mouth opened. Then he closed it without a word.

  She couldn’t stop the smug smile as she heated the squeeze jar in the microwave and tested the temp. Using a feather-light touch, she traced the bottom edge of the tie stretched across his eyes. Then her finger moved to outline his lips. “I love this mouth. The things it can do to me…”

  Gavin didn’t lodge a protest as she unbuckled his belt, unzipped his suit pants and dragged them and his boxers to his ankles.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention I’ll pay for dry cleaning.”

  “Dry cleaning?” he repeated hoarsely.

  “Yep. This is gonna get a little messy.” Rielle squeezed the bottle, releasing two thick rivulets of warm honey on his chest.

  He hissed.

  She dug her nails into his hard pectorals as her tongue lapped from the bottom of his ribcage up. She used her teeth to scrape up every bit of sticky goodness on the second stream of honey. Once she’d licked him clean, she reached for the bottle and squirted a dollop above his left nipple, watching as it slowly slid down and coated the dark disk. She attacked, sucking, rubbing the tip of her tongue over the hardened nub. Over and over.

  “Goddamn.”

  Rielle directed the next river of honey down the center of his body. She didn’t begin lapping until the stream teased the top of his belly button.

  Gavin arched into her with a deep groan.

  Drizzling honey all over him had become more than a sexy game. She gloried in eating every amber-colored drop, sometimes ferociously, sometimes delicately, his masculine textures a feast for her senses. While her tongue happily zigzagged here and there, looking for spots of forgotten honey, her hands became stickier. But she couldn’t stop from touching his sides, his ribs
, his hips, his abdomen.

  And Gavin made these fucking hot little noises, deep, almost growling whimpers.

  Then Rielle dropped to her knees.

  “Oh, fuck no.”

  “Oh, fuck yes,” she said before her mouth engulfed every inch of his rigid cock. She withdrew slowly and blew a stream of air across the wetness.

  Gavin’s whole body jerked.

  She chuckled and dropped a glob of honey on the sweet spot where his shaft flared into the wide head of his cock. Sucking the sweetness until the only flavor that remained was his.

  Her hands were too sticky to use on his cock, so after drawing a line of honey on the underside of his shaft from tip to root, she fluttered her tongue down to his balls. And back up. She brought that long, hard honey stick into her mouth and opened her throat. Gripping his thighs, she shuttled his cock in and out of her mouth exactly how he liked it.

  Gavin’s legs started to shake and he pumped his pelvis into her face.

  Rielle closed her eyes. Blowing him always made her body throb with want and her pussy slick with readiness. Even her skin seemed stretched too tight.

  “Ree.”

  She kept on plunging his dick in and out.

  “Stop. Please.”

  No way. This was her show. Her prize.

  “Rielle, stop. It feels so goddamned good but I don’t want to come in your mouth.”

  We’ll see about that. She wanted a full taste of him mixed with the honey sliding down her throat.

  Then his hands were on her face, stopping the movement of her head and pulling his dick free from her mouth. She looked up and saw he’d ditched the blindfold too. “Not happy that you’re trying to steal my moment, tycoon.”

  Gavin answering smile was decidedly…animalistic. “Your moment is over. Now it’s my turn.”

  If he put his hands on her anywhere she’d come undone. She couldn’t make this easy on him.

  “You want your turn?” Rielle rolled to her feet. “You’ll have to take it.” She ran out the swinging door.

  She was feeling pretty smug, because she’d basically hobbled him with his pants and underwear, when two steel bands clamped around her upper body, immobilizing her. She screamed. Her heart slammed into her throat.

  “Don’t dare me,” he breathed in her ear, “because I always take it. And I always win.” His mouth latched onto the curve of her throat in that knee-weakening spot and her traitorous legs buckled.

  He laughed.

  Then he spun her around and ripped her blouse open, jerking it down her arms and to the floor. “I’ll pay the sewing bill.” He peeled off her camisole and he pressed his sticky chest to hers, ravishing her with a kiss packed with raw passion, completely erasing her will to do anything but surrender.

  Using his mind-controlling kiss, he herded her backward until her butt connected with the couch.

  Gavin tore his mouth away and bit that same spot on her neck and she fell into him with a startled gasp. “I’m going to bend you over the couch and fuck you, Ree.” He nipped the skin again. “Fuck you hard.”

  She shuddered.

  “Stay right here. But those jeans better be down around your ankles when I get back.”

  Talk about bossy. His sexy, terse commands did it for her in a bad way, yet she had the urge to push his buttons a little. See if she could get that control panel to short out completely. She pulled her jeans down, but left her panties on.

  Gavin strolled into view. That’s when she realized he still wore his suit coat, and his shirt, but he was naked from the waist down—except for his socks. He should’ve looked ridiculous, but damn he looked like sex on legs.

  His eyes blazed, seeing her underwear still on. “Didn’t I tell you—”

  “To lower my jeans? Yes. But you didn’t say anything about my panties.”

  That devilish gleam appeared and she understood she was seriously fucked.

  “Leave them. Just like the first time I fucked you, remember? You said you came so hard you forgot to breathe, so let’s see if we can’t up the ante some.”

  So so so fucked.

  Gavin held up his hand and a skein of yarn dangled from his fingers. “Bend over the couch and put your hands behind your back.”

  “What the hell are you doing with my yarn?”

  “Using it to bind you since I’m fresh out of rope.” When she continued to stare at him, he snapped, “Move it.”

  She whirled around and leaned over the couch.

  “Hands.”

  “Impatient much?”

  Gavin laughed. A little meanly. “You have no idea.”

  Her anticipation skyrocketed as he wound the soft fiber around her wrists.

  “Lift your chest up.”

  As soon as she obeyed, Gavin slid the buffalo robe underneath her. When he pushed her chest down, the incredibly soft hair rubbed her nipples.

  Then his mouth was on her ear again. “There’s one other thing before we get started.” Two sharp smacks landed on her ass cheeks and she yelped. “That’s for leaving your panties on.”

  Gavin kicked her legs out and adjusted her underwear so the elastic stretched directly over her clit. His big hands angled and spread her lower half to his liking.

  Then he plunged into her.

  Rielle arched up. “God.”

  Then he curled his hands over her shoulders, using her body for leverage as he hammered into her. Bottoming out with every thrust, pulling out completely and surging into her pussy again and again.

  The buffalo hair constantly caressed her nipples like soft tongues. Add in the continual friction against her clit and she knew it wouldn’t take long.

  Her ass stung, she couldn’t move her arms, she was utterly at Gavin’s mercy. And she loved every second of it.

  He pressed a kiss at the top of her spine. “You blow my fucking mind, Ree, every time.”

  Gavin owned her. Heart. Soul. Mind. Body. His every primitive groan and animalistic thrust drove that point home.

  “Please—”

  “What will it take to get you there?”

  Mouth dry, brain scrambled, she could barely speak. “You know.”

  “Will it take…this?” He sucked on the side of her throat and it was over.

  The warning flutter in her lower belly lasted a nanosecond before she climaxed. A gasping, shuddering, shattering orgasm. The sensations coalesced. Then her body and mind splintered—her mind cried uncle, the sensations overwhelmed her as her body pulsed and throbbed, screaming more more more.

  Gavin roared, his hips furiously pounding into her pussy with such force the couch slid forward.

  His body shook.

  And shook.

  He layered his chest over her back and panted in her ear. “You destroy me.”

  Something about that sweet masculine bewilderment settled the emotions raging inside her.

  Turning her head, she breathed him in and tenderly kissed his strong jaw.

  “I love you. Jesus, Rielle. I love you so much.”

  “I know. I love you too.”

  “We’re a sticky mess. Let’s get cleaned up.”

  “Okay. But no water games. I have a feeling I’ll be a little sore.”

  “Shit. I’m—”

  “Don’t say it. It’s a good sore, okay?”

  “Okay. But I will point out it still makes you a sore loser.”

  She heard the smirk in his tone. Such a crazy competitive man. But she loved that about him too.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Late March…

  Gavin listened to Rielle’s slow breathing as she started to drift off. They were both exhausted but they’d managed to sneak in some alone time for the first time in over a week. She was gearing up for spring planting and he’d been drafted to help with calving.

  Quinn and Ben had a great time teasing him about his missing rancher gene, but Gavin hadn’t minded. He looked forward to spending time with his brothers—even in the dead of night in the miserable cold a
nd snow. Nothing built a brotherly bond faster than having your arms up a cow’s birth canal together. Chase had shown up for a week, claiming to need a break from his pregnancy-hormone-crazed wife, but the truth was he hadn’t wanted to be left out. It was weird having brothers…and yet, not.

  Sierra had made a full recovery after her accident and was at the physical therapy stage. He drove her to Moorcroft for sessions with Keely. He hadn’t replaced her car and so far, Sierra hadn’t asked for a new one, which weighed heavily on his decision to buy her one. If his daughter wasn’t with her best friend, she was hanging out with Boone West. Sierra swore they were just friends and Gavin believed her—he’d never caught them even holding hands. Sierra also spent time with Charlie and Vi, who absolutely doted on her. The entire McKay family had rallied around her after the accident and she fit in with them like she’d always been part of the rowdy clan.

  Which led him to the issue he and Rielle needed to address.

  He idly stroked the side of her breast. “Ree? You awake?”

  “Barely. You wore me out, tycoon. Man. You can do that thing with your tongue anytime.”

  Gavin laughed.

  She yawned. “So now that I’m awake…why am I awake?”

  “We need to talk.”

  Her body stiffened slightly. “Okay. About?”

  “This living arrangement.”

  She rolled over. “What about it?”

  “I don’t want you to build your own place. I want you to stay here, living with me.”

  “Like we’ve been?”

  “No. I want to end the division of your space and my space, and make it all our space. Our home. I want to end the division of our time, too. I want you doing family things with us.” Gavin ran his hand down her arm and threaded his fingers through hers. “This isn’t a fling for me. It hasn’t been from the start. I love you, Ree. I want to spend my life with you. Every part of it.”

  “You’re not just saying that in the wake of smoking-hot sex?”

  He frowned. “Can you be serious—”

  She smothered his protest with a laughing kiss. “You accuse me of being too serious.” She propped her chin on his chest. “The honest truth? I don’t want to build that house. I want to live here with you. I adore Sierra and I know she’s part of the package. That said, I’ve always been so independent and in a short amount of time I find myself depending on you more and more. What if…”