by Em Petrova
Happiness rushed up, mingling with all the feelings of desire he’d whipped into a frenzy, and she couldn’t hold still.
“I need your mouth on my nipples,” she rasped with a twitch of her hips that pulled him deeper inside her.
“Hell.” He ducked his head and claimed one nipple, sucking lightly at first and then grazing it with his teeth.
She cried out and rocked on him more, drawing guttural noises from him that only turned her on more. This man had quickly become her reason for waking and the last thing she thought about before she fell asleep. Everything in between was all Ford too.
He released her nipple and moved to the next, tonguing it with exquisite slowness she could only describe as torture. Each flick sent her shooting higher and higher until all she wanted was the end. Though she never wanted it to end.
When she withdrew on his shaft and slammed down on him again, he stiffened and issued a primal noise. She watched his face, needing to see the instant he came apart—if she wasn’t already flying over the moon herself.
Passion flowed between their lips and tongues as they started kisses and broke them off to explore every bit of skin within reach. Her knee was jammed against the door, but she hardly even cared when he was making her feel so… feel so…
“Ford!”
“Come on, sweetness. Let go for me.”
“Oh my God!” Her breaths came in harsh pants as she moved faster and faster, reaching for what was within her grasp.
He watched her face, eyes burning, and the words flew out of her mouth.
“I love you, Ford.”
His eyes changed, he bucked upward once and split her wider on his cock. She shattered with her orgasm and felt his hot release pump into her body. Her body moved on its own, taking what it needed even as more love words fell from her lips.
“I fell for you the first time I saw you,” she whispered against his skin.
He made a throaty noise and hauled her up for his kiss.
* * * * *
She deserved way more than to be bedded in his truck. She deserved downy mattresses and fluffy pillows, the finest silk sheets…
His heartstrings were firmly knotted, and she had her small, capable fist around them. She loved him—and damn, if he hadn’t fallen in love with her.
Except he couldn’t find any words to say in return. He was a man of few words anyway—but he could show her.
Planting his hands on her round ass, he pressed her fully atop him, loving the stroke of her skin against his. Then he brushed his mouth over hers with all the tenderness rising inside him.
The caress stretched on and on forever, and he hoped she knew he never wanted to let her go. Even though there was the not-so-small problem of him not having anything to start a life with her. No land, little money and no way to settle with her or raise a family. Not that they’d decided on this right now, but still, any man worth his salt thought about it.
He withdrew from the kiss, staring down into her eyes, which seemed brighter green whenever they made love.
“I want to take you home and find someplace more suitable to show you how I feel, sweetness. Did you come here with your brothers?”
She nodded, and he caught the slight crease between her brows. Was she waiting for him to return the words? He would, but in time. He wanted to make sure he wouldn’t fail her first.
“Text them and tell them you’re with me.” He handed her top to her and she plastered it to her chest as she rolled over the console into the passenger seat.
He sneaked glances at her curves as she dressed again, and he caught her stolen glances as well. Tossing her a grin, he handed her a boot.
“Thanks. Where’s my other one?”
“Gotta be here somewhere.” He hunched over the wheel to fish around on the floor. He came up with his own boot and then hers.
Her smile was a ray of sun. After all this time, feeling its warmth showered on him was like emerging from a cave of pain and desolation into a brand-new day.
A new chapter of his life. One he prayed he could hold onto.
* * * * *
“See that shooting star?” Susannah pointed to the vast sky overhead, following the path of a blazing, glittery star with her finger.
“I see it.” He was lying on his side, staring at her.
She turned her head to meet his gaze. “You liar. You didn’t see anything.”
“I see a heavenly body.” He ran his hand over the curve of her hip and between her legs. At his warm fingers on her sensitive pussy, she moaned. Would she ever get enough of this man? He’d taken her twice already in the hay loft and once in the truck back at the rodeo grounds. But it seemed her body wasn’t finished.
She put her arms around him. She’d never given looks a thought with her past boyfriends but having a man like Ford who was as hard as steel was exactly what she wanted. She couldn’t imagine being with anybody less now, and she planned to squeeze his hard body whenever she got a chance.
Too bad she didn’t exactly know where she stood with him. He mentioned showing her how he felt, and that had been… amazing. But she needed the words too. Did he feel the same way she did or not?
He moved his fingers against her sex, and she parted her thighs to give him better access. His touch was too good to ignore. They could put aside words for now.
She wiggled against his hand, and he sank his fingers into her tight heat. Stretching her, sending mind-blowing shivers up and down her body.
“Oh God…” She gasped.
Leaning over her, he watched her face as he eased his digits in and out of her. When he added his thumb to her clit, depressing it with just enough pressure, she focused only on her physical awareness.
His breath crossed her breasts, tightening her nipples. His body heat enveloped her. And his fingers… He knew exactly how to tease her to a pinnacle in seconds.
He nuzzled her throat, scraping his five o’clock shadow over her skin and enflaming her more. Need spiked. She clung to his shoulders, digging her nails in lightly. Each breath she released sounded like a sob of pleasure. Mingled with the noises of the night outside the barn and the snores of a few barn cats, she didn’t think there could be a better music for their night together.
She pushed her hips upward, and he flicked his fingertips against her innermost point. Liquid heat soaked him, and they both groaned.
“I never want to stop seeing that look of pleasure on your face, sweetness. Or feeling how tight you grip me here.” He thrust his fingers in again, and she threw her head back on a cry. Each stroke was sending her on a dangerous steep climb and the only end was to leap off.
She might have giggled at her own thoughts if he wasn’t driving her so crazy with his touch. One more press of his thumb and she’d be… right… there.
He did better by strumming her clit fast.
She climaxed hard, barely swallowing the cries erupting from her mouth, but he stole each noise with his kisses as he drew out her orgasm for long moments. When she finally collapsed back to the blanket they’d spread in the hay, her body felt weightless. She closed her eyes and drifted.
He drew her into his embrace, and his cock jutting against her hip made her smile. She ran her hand down his hard chest to abs and lower into the thatch of hair cradling his erection. When she closed her fingers around him, he grunted.
“God, woman, you have me so turned on. Just when I think I can’t possibly go again, I’m ready.”
She opened her eyes to stare into his. The blue pools were darker in the moonlight. They’d spent long hours together, forgetting to eat and shucking their chores, too caught up in each other to care about responsibility.
She gave him a stroke of her hand, letting his velvet steel glide through her palm. His thick head was moist at the tip with arousal, and an idea took hold.
Shimmying down his body, she clutched his hard hips and swallowed him. Inch by inch until she couldn’t fit any more in her mouth.
A primal noise l
eft him. “Hell, Susannah.”
He tasted as good as she knew he would. She worked her mouth up and down his shaft, pulling moan after moan from him. When his hips began to thrust in time to her moves, she knew she was making him unravel, and that was heady as hell. She wanted him to let loose with her and give up everything he had. After all, wasn’t that what sharing a life meant?
She sucked firmly and his thighs tensed. His back bowed. The first spurt of his release hit her throat, and she swallowed reflexively. Never in her life had she enjoyed doing this for a man, and because she loved Ford, she could do it all night. Wanted to.
He threaded his fingers into her hair, holding her in place as he emptied into her mouth, a constant growl rising from his throat.
When she’d taken all of him, he loosened his hold on her hair and opened his eyes. His stare was filled with love. Wasn’t it? She didn’t think a man like Ford could be this way with her and not feel that emotion—he was just afraid of voicing it. After what had happened to him before, no wonder.
They rolled into each other’s arms again, and she rested her head against his chest over his thumping heart. He might not have spoken the words, but for now, hearing how she affected him was enough.
Chapter Nine
Ford had been on the ranch at rooster crow, and he’d had little sleep if any. Spending the night in a hay loft with a beautiful woman was well worth the fatigue he’d experience all day, though.
He’d guzzled two cups of coffee right after each other in hopes of amping up his energy, but now he was falling flat again. His cousins would razz him about it, and he definitely didn’t want Uncle Ted getting wind of it and possibly sending him home.
He looked out across the land. Golden grasses dotted with cattle, the sun watching over Paradise Valley and all the people on it. He loved it here, never wanted to leave. And he wished like hell the ranch was in his immediate family so he could work toward earning a piece of it. A place to build a home and carry a beautiful blonde across the threshold.
He dragged in a deep breath of air.
“Having trouble breathing, cuz?” Cash clapped him on the back.
He chuckled. “No, just breathing it all in.”
“Love the scent of manure in the morning.” Cash grinned, flashing white teeth.
Laughing, Ford shook his head. “You’re all damn lucky to have a bit of this place. I can only dream of owning something that’s even a shadow of this someday.”
Cash eyed him.
“What?” Ford asked.
“My dad didn’t talk to you yet?”
“Talk to me about—” The scream of an engine and gravel spraying had a sound of urgency that sent Cash and Ford running around the barn to the driveway.
Susannah leaped out of the truck, her face a mask as she ran toward them. “Tell me you’ve come and taken back the horses.”
“The horses?” Ford echoed. “Why would I do that?”
“Oh God!” She pasted her hands over her face and then dragged her fingers through her loose hair.
“Susannah, calm down and tell me what’s happening.” Ford took her by the elbows.
Her green eyes were shiny with tears as she met his stare. “They’re stolen. I got up to take care of the horses this morning and they’re all missing.”
He threw a look at Cash, who was already striding for the house to get the others. He looked back to Susannah. “Okay, sweetness, give me all the details. Did anybody come up there this morning your father might know?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. It was early and I went straight out to the barn. Then I searched the corral and the fields. Nothing. They’re gone, Ford.” She choked on the words, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. Looking at her closer, he realized she’d been crying the whole time and he hadn’t noticed it until now. His heart slammed against his ribs, and he pulled her into his arms.
“It’s going to be all right. We’ll find them.”
She was too jittery to be held and pulled away. “I’m sorry, so sorry. You guys never should have trusted me to keep the horses!”
“Did you tell your father or brothers?”
She shook her head. “They were up and gone before I came outside. They wouldn’t have taken them, though.” She trailed off and swiped angrily at her eyes. “Standing here bawling like a baby won’t find those horses. I’ve gotta do something.” She moved toward her truck again, and he grabbed her.
“Hold up there. If we’re really dealing with rustlers, we need more than just a woman storming after them.”
She rounded on him. “What’s wrong with a woman?”
“Nothing at all. I said that wrong.” He didn’t seem to be getting anything out that he wanted to convey. “I only mean that anyone who stole horses—if that’s what happened—isn’t going to be brought in to the authorities without a hell of a lot of trouble.”
When the Daltons exited the house, they all held shotguns. Stealing cattle of any kind was serious business in these parts.
Hank pointed to his truck and Ford gave a nod. His cousins all piled into the vehicle and Ford put Susannah into her truck and got behind the wheel.
“Wait!” Shelby ran out of the house, and Ford rolled down the window to call out to her.
“What is it? Do you need Witt?”
“No, but I want to go along. Maya and Charlotte too.”
He shook his head hard. “Definitely not.”
Susannah looked to Ford. “But I’m going.”
He met her stare for a heartbeat. How to argue that point? He knew his cousins would kick his ass if he showed up with their women, though.
“If your husbands didn’t tell you to come along, then they want you to stay here. Safe and sound.”
Shelby made it to the truck and moved to step up onto the tailgate and climb into the bed.
“Wait a minute, Shelby. You’ve got children and I don’t think—”
“I’m coming. I might be able to help in some way, even if it’s support for Susannah.”
Now she’d gone and poked his heart, getting to him the only way she could.
“Fine, just you though. Maya definitely can’t. She’s with child.”
Shelby and Charlotte gaped at the woman. “Maya! Why didn’t you tell us?” Shelby asked.
Dear God, this conversation was going south fast. He needed to get on the road with his cousins and get to the Ryan Ranch.
“I’m not very far along yet, and I wanted to keep the secret a bit longer. I see Cash didn’t do that, though.” Maya looked past her sisters-in-law at Ford. She waved. “You two go on. Ford’s right—I’ll stay.”
Giving a resigned sigh, he waited for the women to settle in the back before zooming out of Paradise Valley. When they reached the Ryans’ place, the guys were just gathering around the truck again. At sight of their wives, Hank and Witt came up to the bed and demanded the women get out.
“This isn’t work for you. Now have Susannah give you both a ride back home and…”
She shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere that Ford isn’t. This is my mess—my fault, and I’m not letting you guys do it without me.”
Ford scrubbed his knuckles over his jaw. “Unless you sold those horses, it’s not your fault. Now, Hank’s right.”
“We’re doing our part. Cooking and cleaning for all you men isn’t enough responsibility,” Charlotte said.
“What about the children? That’s way more work than we want to add to our plates.” Hank gave himself a shake. “Never mind. I’m not engaging in this conversation. You two head home and take Susannah with you. Ford, you call her brothers or daddy and let them know what happened.”
He got out his cell phone and had to walk a bit away from the group to get a good enough signal to make the call. When he had Ryan on the line, he stated the facts and asked what they knew.
“We don’t know anything. Dammit, guys, those assholes are at it again,” Ryan said.
“What?” Ford’s ears
perked up.
“Few months back we had someone jump the fence and rustle a couple steers out while we were sleeping. Did anybody check to see if the barbed wire’s cut?”
“I’ll check now.” Ford ran around the barn and looked over the corral. The horses would have been led from their stalls into the open area and then into a trailer or maybe ridden away on horseback.
Susannah appeared at his side. “Ford! There! I don’t know why I didn’t see it. I guess I was panicked when I realized the horses were gone and missed it.”
He caught her hand and held it fast. “It’s okay.” To Ryan he said, “Yeah, it’s cut on the backside. No tire tracks—looks like they stole in on foot.”
“That means they didn’t get too far.”
By now all the Daltons were on the scene, and the guys had seen the cut fencing too.
“We’ll follow the tracks. Ladies, you get home or at the very least inside the Ryan homestead.” Cash lifted his jaw in the direction of the house.
All three of them shook their heads. With a growl of irritation, Hank and Cash directed their women into the truck and to drive out to the end of the driveway and wait for them.
Ford pushed Susannah after them. “Go.”
She stared at him. “I thought we were a team.”
“Not in this case. Now go.” His tone might have been harsh, but it was for her own safety. Anybody who stole cattle was serious about not getting caught. Prison time and big fines would be in their future. He couldn’t have Susannah hurt any more than his cousins wanted their wives in the thick of this.
She shot him a look that would wither the balls of any less of a man. “Once again you think you know what’s best for me. I’ll admit you were right about me needing help with the therapy program, but you’re not right about everything. You can’t even admit you have feelings for me.”
She might have punched him in the gut—he felt the blow just as sharply. Irritation swept over him, and he turned to go after his cousins without another word.
Seconds later he heard the truck start and Susannah drive out. He couldn’t quite focus on what his cousins were saying about the hoof tracks leading from the corral, though. His mind was back with Susannah. She was right. Pure and simple. He couldn’t admit his feelings because he was afraid of putting himself out there. She was far braver than him in that respect and others. The horses didn’t belong to her, and she was still willing to put herself on the line for them.
