Ashley had never felt anything so wonderful in her entire life. The sensations rippling through her were earth-shattering, yet so pleasurable, as if she were skydiving without a parachute. She wondered how anyone could endure such sweet torture and still live. Her body jerked when he moved to her other breast.
“Oh.” She sucked in a hard breath when his teeth and tongue teased it, then was immediately aware that he’d lifted his head. She opened her eyes and found him watching her, his fingers gently rubbing where his mouth had been.
“Did I hurt you?” he asked, staring into her eyes.
“No.” Her breathing was hard, but she managed to whisper, “Please, don’t stop.”
“I don’t intend to.”
Two
Ryder quickly rid himself of his jeans and underwear. His body met Ashley’s again and he watched her eyes widen when he pressed his rigid length against her soft thigh.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice husky, giving her one more chance to pull back. He brushed her hair from her face so he could see her eyes.
Ashley slowly nodded without speaking. She couldn’t find the words to tell him her body was still smoldering from the fire he’d started and left burning.
Ryder slid the gown the rest of the way off her and dropped it to the floor beside the bed.
“You’re lovely,” he rasped. His mouth covered one breast and he suckled her, then moved to give the other one the same wonderful attention, building the inferno inside her once more. She felt his hands, strong, yet amazingly gentle as he caressed and molded her.
Ashley’s breath came harder as his mouth moved lower and lower. The gentle scraping of his mustache was tantalizing. He drew his wet tongue over her skin, touching her with his mouth and teeth, teasing her body, making her want something wild and beyond her reach.
He kissed her belly, then focused his attention lower, his big hands running up and down her thighs. Her body moved in rhythmic motion as his finger moved between her legs and slipped inside her panties. For a fleeting moment, Ashley felt a sense of embarrassment when he found the moisture at the core of her. Her legs closed together and tightened automatically.
“Easy, darlin’,” he coaxed, urging her legs apart with a gentle caress. “Just relax and let go. I’ll take it slow.” He leaned up and his mouth found hers as his palm covered her.
Ashley held his face with her hands and kissed him back as he removed her panties and began to explore her body. Liquid fire raced through her veins, and she called his name. Her legs fell open, awarding him even greater access as she writhed and twisted with every hot stroke of his fingers.
“Make love to me, Ryder,” she pleaded. “Oh, please, please.”
Ryder did as she bid and eased himself over her, holding himself above her with his arms, positioning his hard sex between her legs. It had been all he could do to hold himself back from taking her too soon, but he had wanted to be sure she was ready for him. He felt her body tense as he began to probe her. Though she hadn’t said anything to warn him, he knew at that instant that she was as innocent as he had thought when he’d first kissed her.
“Relax, darlin’,” he whispered, watching their bodies as he pressed into her. Bending down, he took her mouth in a deep kiss to distract her from the penetration of his body into hers. She was exceptionally tight, and he hesitated, then gently pushed again.
“Ryder,” she whispered when he lifted his mouth.
“Darlin’, you’re so tight I don’t want to hurt you.” Though he was ready to explode, he wasn’t sure he could do this to her.
“I’m okay. Please,” Ashley’s sultry tone pleaded with him. and he felt her legs close tightly around his hips. She arched her body against his. The sudden movement caused him to push against her. She cried out, and then he was inside her. He remained still for a few moments, giving her time to accept the invasion of his body.
His tongue traced her mouth as he began to move, the fever between them igniting a fire that had barely cooled. He kissed her deeply, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, mimicking the movement of their bodies. Ashley’s breathing became hard and fast. Her body tightened as he drove into her again and again, chasing the promise of ecstasy that was so suddenly within reach.
“Ryder. Ryder.” Her nails scraped his back as she climaxed and called his name over and over again.
“Ashley, ah, yes, yes.” Ryder gritted his teeth as his own body lost control. He closed his eyes and let himself slip over the edge and into the black void.
Bright morning sun peeked into the motel room through thin moss green curtains. Ryder stretched, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and rolled over and reached for Ashley. It took him a moment to realize he was in bed alone. He opened his eyes wider and sat up, slowly taking stock of his surroundings. The bathroom door was ajar, but there wasn’t a sound coming from inside. A strange feeling crawled through his belly.
“Ashley?”
No answer.
Ryder told himself she’d probably gone out for coffee or something. He tossed the covers back and stood. It was then that he noticed her luggage was gone. For a moment his heart stopped beating.
“Ashley,” he called again, this time his voice rising. He knew she wasn’t in the bathroom, but he foolishly looked, anyway. He went back into the room and stared at the spot where her luggage had been.
She was gone.
His eyes searched the room for some sign that she hadn’t been a figment of his imagination. Pulling on his clothes, Ryder cursed a blue streak that would have made his brothers blush. He checked the back pocket of his jeans, half expecting his wallet to be gone. Deke was never going to let him live this down.
Rolled by a virgin.
Hell.
He felt some consolation when he pulled out his wallet and opened it. His money, credit cards and identification were all there. Grimly Ryder jammed his wallet back into his pocket. He strode to the bathroom and splashed his face with cold water, thinking what a fool he’d been.
Back in the room he looked at the rumpled bed and the intimate sign that an innocent woman had shared it with him. This was worse than being rolled, he thought.
Seduced by a damn virgin!
Double hell.
Jerking his Stetson on, Ryder stepped outside the room. Though spring hadn’t officially arrived, the unseasonably warm temperatures promised a Texas-hot summer day. With quick, long strides he walked to the room he was supposed to have shared with Deke. He let himself into the cool room, slamming the door behind him.
Deke shot straight up in bed from a dead sleep, his eyes flying open. “Ryder? What the hell?”
“I thought you wanted to get an early start,” Ryder barked. He changed into a fresh shirt, then stuffed the rest of his things in his canvas bag.
Looking confused, Deke ran a hand through his short hair. “What time is it?”
“Time to get moving.” His face set in a permanent frown, Ryder marched toward the door. “Meet me at the truck. You’ve got five minutes.” He was out the door before his brother had time to respond. He covered the distance to the motel office in purposeful strides, his abrupt entrance instantly drawing the desk clerk’s attention.
“I’d like some information about one of your guests,” Ryder said, his voice gruff. “Room 112. The name and address of the woman who registered.” Ryder strummed his fingers on the countertop, tapping out a thunderous beat.
“That information is confidential.” The clerk shifted nervously under the bruising stare of the big man.
Ryder practically growled as he pulled out his wallet and slammed a twenty on the counter. He looked at the little man and glanced pointedly at the money. “The name and address.” He figured the man could take the money or his fist. At this point he didn’t really care which.
Eyes wide, the clerk quickly searched his files and handed the card over the counter.
Ryder stared at the small card. Ashley Smith. A fake name if he’d ever heard one. “No addre
ss?”
“She didn’t list one when she registered.” He shrugged his bony shoulders. “I figured it didn’t much matter cause she paid in cash.”
Ryder swore. Muttering obscenities under his breath, he stormed out of the motel office and headed for the parking lot to look for Ashley’s car, knowing it wouldn’t be parked next to his truck as it had been the night before. He remembered it was a late model Infiniti with Texas plates. He had a vague recollection of some of the numbers.
By the time Deke tossed his bag in the back of the truck and climbed into the cab, Ryder had the motor running. He jerked the gearshift into reverse and backed out, then slammed it into first. The truck took off as if it was being shot at.
“Who put a burr under your saddle?” Deke asked, glaring at his brother.
“Can it!” Ryder snapped. He didn’t feel like talking. He felt like hitting something. He didn’t want it to be Deke’s jaw.
“I thought you were coming back last night.”
“I thought so, too,” Ryder admitted grimly.
Deke glanced at Ryder, then back at the highway. “I guess I don’t have to ask where you were.”
Ryder shot him a hard look. “I guess you don’t.”
“I thought you weren’t going to take advantage of that girl.”
There was a reproachful note in Deke’s voice that, even through his fury, caught Ryder’s attention. He had the feeling that his respect had slipped a few notches in his brother’s eyes.
“It wasn’t like that,” Ryder said tightly, keeping his attention on the road. “Nothing was supposed to happen.”
“Yeah, right. Tell me another one.” Deke shifted and settled into the worn leather of his seat. “You’ve been loving ‘em and leaving ’em ever since Ariel walked out on you.”
Ryder shot Deke a wrathful stare, then turned back to driving. “This has nothing to do with Ariel,” he denied, his voice harsh. Just the sound of his ex-fiancée’s name dredged up bitter memories. It irritated the hell out of him that she still had the power to affect him two years after she’d humiliated him.
Deke didn’t plan to let his brother off easy. “Quit lying to yourself. You might have wanted to play the hero last night, but you had ulterior motives from the get-go,” Deke accused.
“Look,” Ryder insisted, pushing thoughts of Ariel from his mind. “I’m the innocent party here. When I woke up this morning, she was gone. Lit out sometime during the night.”
“What a hoot!” Deke chuckled.
“Dammit, it’s not funny!”
“Oh, I don’t know. I have a feeling Jake and the hands are going to find it hilarious when I tell ’em.” Deke cackled, holding his gut.
Ryder glowered at him. “Go on and have fun. Just remember that if you open your big mouth, I’m gonna have to retaliate.” His tone promised revenge in a big way. “I guess you don’t mind anyone finding out about you and Mary Beth Adams.”
Deke sat up, his back arrow straight as he removed his hat, his expression suddenly sober. “All right, all right,” Deke said, sulking. “But it’s not like you wanted to be saddled with her so what’s the problem?”
Ryder growled, “There’s no problem. No problem at all.” Except there was. Memories of the way Ashley had clung to him when he’d loved her that very last time raged in his mind. He couldn’t forget the black-haired beauty, couldn’t forget what had happened last night between them.
Dammit! He wondered if he ever would.
Three
Ryder stomped on the accelerator, swerved to the left of the paved two-lane road and passed a loaded-down flatbed truck. He couldn’t get a grip on the restlessness inside him, and it was driving him crazy.
For four months he’d been as ill-tempered as a bull in a rodeo. Jake had finally given him an ultimatum—clean up his act or take some time off. Fuming, Ryder had chosen the time off. He’d headed down to Kinney County to negotiate the sale of some quarter horses, then spent a few days trying to find the mysterious raven-haired beauty he hadn’t been able to forget.
Finding her had been like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Pulling in a favor from a friend, he’d tracked the medicine bottle labeled in the name of Iris Bennett to San Antonio. He’d discovered that Iris Bennett was Ashley’s stepmother, and that her father was Jacob Bennett, a well-known oil magnate. Further checking had shown that Ashley had been missing since the night he’d met her—the night that was supposed to have been her wedding night.
What the hell had she been doing sleeping with him when she was supposed to be married and on her honeymoon? Ryder cursed under his breath. Had she fooled him with her innocence and been out for a cheap thrill? Maybe for reasons of her own she’d set out to lose her virginity, and he’d been a means to an end. He had no idea, but she was going to answer some questions when he found her.
Ryder bad put out a few feelers, and one of his friends had traced some activity on her savings account when she’d deposited money from her paychecks, money she’d earned working at a small diner. Though her account held a decent amount, it was far less than it should have been for someone whose father was worth millions.
His friend had also provided him with her address. That information had come to him just a few days before he’d found out she’d registered her car in the small town of Rocksprings in Edwards County. He’d cajoled another friend into periodically checking her records.
Now Ryder was just as uptight as when he’d left home. It all boiled down to that one night. One unforgettable night with a mysterious virgin.
Hell.
Why couldn’t he forget? It wasn’t just because she’d run out on him, though that had made him madder than a dog gettin’ a bath. The morning after just wasn’t supposed to end like that.
Ryder had had all the experience he’d cared to get when it came to becoming emotionally involved with a woman. After Ariel, he’d been determined never to go down that road again. Ariel had acted innocent, too—until she’d shown her true colors.
Ryder’s jaw hardened. He could still hear her laughter when she’d told him she was too good to dirty her hands on a ranch. She’d taken pleasure in telling him she’d found someone else who had a lot more money and class than he had.
He’d been stunned, not believing he’d been so gullible. Stupidly, he’d persisted, asking her why she’d led him on, why she’d agreed to marry him. Her laughter still stung. She’d never intended to marry him. The sex had been good, she’d told him, but she could get that anywhere.
Ryder heard she’d gotten married only a couple of months after that to a man twice her age. He’d learned a bitter lesson from that experience and had tucked his heart safely out of reach. No woman was going to lead him down that road again.
Although, he had to admit he’d been awfully damn tempted that night with Ashley. He’d taken his time with her, shown her all the ways a man could please a woman. Exhausted, they’d finally fallen asleep and she’d snuggled up against him, fitting her body snugly inside the curve of his. As it turned out, she’d seduced him, used him, then she’d cut out behind his back.
Ryder figured it was male pride eating at him. It was a hard pill to swallow—knowing a woman had used him, when he thought he was too smart to let that happen again. It made him think about her even more, which made him madder than hell. He wanted some questions answered. Why hadn’t she gotten married, and why had she been making love with him on what should have been her wedding day?
He turned off the country road when he finally saw a weathered sign advertising his destination, a diner just outside of Rocksprings, Texas. He was surprised to learn that Ashley had been living in this small town, only a few hours away from his family’s ranch in Crockett County.
Ryder spotted Bess’s Diner and turned into the dirt-andgravel lot. Pulling to a stop, he got out of the truck and stretched.
He stepped into the diner and took a look around, his eyes searching for a tall, dark-haired woman. There was a long counter with faded re
d Formica. Metal stools lined the front of it, their red vinyl seats worn and discolored. Behind it was a huge grill and oven. A row of booths ran along the outside wall, and a sign over the grill boasted The Best Home Cookin’ in the County.
His eyes narrowed when he spotted his quarry. He made his way over to one of the booths, slid onto the seat and picked up a menu propped between the salt and pepper shakers.
Ashley was waiting on an elderly couple when the customer entered. She turned and started in his direction, then stopped abruptly when she saw the way the cowboy’s hat dipped low on his head.
It can’t be, she thought, her heart beating wildly. Her hands started to shake and she nearly dropped the pad and pencil she was holding. She stuffed them into her apron pocket, then detoured and hurriedly walked behind the counter.
Stealing another look at him, Ashley let her eyes linger long enough to verify she wasn’t seeing things. It was him, all right. Ryder McCall. What in the world was he doing here? Had he been looking for her? She shook her head. Of course he hadn’t. Why would he? She’d only spent that one night with him four months ago, and she was sure he wouldn’t even remember her.
“Better see to him,” Bess suggested from behind her.
Ashley turned around and faced the owner of the diner, a stout woman approaching middle age. Ever since Ashley had come in asking for a job, Bess had treated her like a daughter.
“You wouldn’t want to handle this one, would you, Bess?” Ashley asked, her hand pressed against her stomach.
Bess gave her a steady look. “Well, that’s going to be hard to accomplish, seein’ as how I’ve got to stay behind the grill.” She winked and added, “Besides, he’s right handsome, don’t you think? With that blond hair to his collar and his hat and mustache, he reminds me of one of them sexy country singers.”
Ashley groaned, seeing no way out of the situation. She rubbed her damp palms against her apron, took a deep breath and walked over to his table.
Cowboys, Babies and Shotgun Vows Page 3
