The Devil Wears Spurs

by Soraya Lane

“Then you’ll love this,” he said, running his hands down her chest, cupping her breasts as she tipped forward and adjusted her position.

  His hands ran lower and settled on her hips, following her movements as she started to grind against him, back and forth, over and over. She was rocking hard, her head tipped back.

  Ryder released one of her hips and yanked at her hair, tipping her farther back at the same time as he partially sat up. His mouth found one of her nipples, sucking hard, making her moan even louder.

  “Stop,” she murmured.

  “No.”

  “Yes.” She hit back, forcing him back down.

  “Or what?” he challenged, hand still fisted in her hair.

  She laughed, liking being in charge, even if he could flip her and pin her down if he wanted to. “Or this.”

  Chloe pressed one hand to his chest, the other reaching back to touch him, stroking him as she rode faster and faster. He groaned, trying to slow her, but she wasn’t going to slow, not now.

  “Chloe,” he grunted. “Unless you want…”

  She closed her eyes, the same wave of pleasure she’d experienced earlier building with such intensity she couldn’t have stopped even if she’d wanted to. As her body shuddered Ryder went still, his hands clamped down over her hips. He’d been about to force her to slow and instead he’d climaxed with her.

  “You,” he whispered in her ear when she collapsed on top of him, “are wicked.”

  “Says the guy who just did something beyond wicked to me?” she countered, gently biting his lower lip.

  Ryder turned them both sideways so they could face each other, his arms around her. “You know, I didn’t expect this weekend to be so much fun so soon.”

  “You mean you didn’t expect me to be an easy lay?” she asked, smiling as a look passed over his face that told her he was worried he’d said the wrong thing.

  “I just thought you’d insist on this being platonic,” he told her, stroking her hair, gentle now where before he’d been rough. “I’ve wanted you in my bed from the first time I saw you, I just wasn’t convinced the feeling was mutual. Thought I’d have to work harder.”

  Chloe tipped forward, kissing him again, not able to get enough of his plump lips. “If we’re going to do this, we might as well have fun. And don’t go calling me easy.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” he murmured, tracing his fingers down her arm, then her stomach, dipping down then back to her thigh and settling on her butt. “About the fun part, not the easy part.”

  “No strings attached,” she said, gasping as he moved his fingers again, this time stroking her inner thigh. “Okay?”

  “Except for that little rule that while I’m with you I’m not allowed near other women.” His tone was teasing, his low drawl alone enough to make her toes curl when he spoke to her.

  “Is that going to be a problem?” she asked, pushing him off his elbow so he was lying flat on his back and leaning over him so she could brush her mouth across his.

  “With you by my side?” He chuckled. “Honey, I won’t be taking my eyes off you.”

  Chapter 9

  “This,” Chloe said, stretching her legs out over Ryder and wiggling her toes, “is bliss.”

  Ryder was alternating between stroking her arm and her thigh—her body was tangled over his as they lay naked on top of the bed. His touch was light, soft enough to almost lull her to sleep.

  “That’s what all the girls say after a night with me.”

  She threw a pillow at Ryder’s head and received a grin in response.

  “I was talking about the view, actually,” Chloe said with a laugh.

  “Sure you were.”

  Chloe was about to locate another pillow when a knock echoed out.

  “And that will be room service,” Ryder said, leaning over to kiss her before sliding off the bed.

  Chloe pulled the sheet up from where it was bunched down the bed and covered up. She admired the other view as Ryder stretched, then reached for his boxers, his butt firm, shoulders muscular and strong. He wasn’t hard to watch, and she could still feel every groove and indent of his beautiful body if she shut her eyes. She wanted to explore him all over again just so she never forgot. She’d been ready to ditch the good-girl persona, just once, and if he was going to be her one indiscretion, then it wasn’t exactly a bad one.

  Ryder yanked on his jeans and answered the door bare chested—she couldn’t see him now because he was in the living room, but she heard him ask for everything to be placed on the table before he tipped the waiter and said good night. When Ryder reappeared he had two silver trays in hand, and a grin on his face that she couldn’t help but return. They’d already consumed the first bottle of champagne he’d had delivered.

  “Shall we eat in bed?”

  She laughed when he waggled his eyebrows at her. “Naked?”

  “You know I already like the taste of you, but if you want me to eat you again…?”

  Chloe shook her head. “You’re not distracting me this time,” she told him. “That food smells amazing and I’m starving.”

  Ryder came closer and carefully set the trays down on the bed. He took the lids off and discarded them, revealing two big juicy steaks and fries.

  “We could have ordered something more gourmet, but…”

  “This is perfect,” she interrupted. “And I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

  Ryder left her with the trays and disappeared, returning with two glasses and the second bottle of champagne. She didn’t wait for him, propping herself up with the sheet tucked up to her breasts, popping a few fries into her mouth to satisfy her growling stomach.

  “Hey,” Ryder protested, walking around to her side of the bed and placing a fresh glass on the side table, then pushing down the sheet. It fell to her waist, her breasts bare.

  Chloe considered throwing a fry at him but decided not to. “Haven’t you seen enough of them for one evening?”

  He laughed, bending forward to plant a kiss on her lips. “Never.”

  She was too hungry to care that he’d so brazenly taken charge, about the fact that he was still wearing jeans when she was as good as sitting naked beside him.

  “I was a vegetarian for years,” she told him, guiltily cutting into her steak and taking her first mouthful.

  “What changed your mind?”

  She sighed. “I hate myself for eating meat but”—Chloe shook her head—“it just tastes so damn good.”

  Ryder considered her, putting down his knife and fork and plucking a few fries instead. “You love animals?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “So what do you think of me riding rodeo?”

  “Honestly?” she asked.

  Ryder started slicing into his steak and she watched him awhile before answering. She knew she had double standards, that she couldn’t judge him for doing something that she’d so blatantly enjoyed watching the other day, but she wanted to be honest.

  “I always hated the idea of rodeos, but being there on Friday…” She didn’t know what to say.

  “It was a thrill. That’s what you want to say, isn’t it?”

  Chloe popped another fry in her mouth. “Yeah. It was exciting and loud and fun.” She paused. “I loved it, but I hate the thought of those animals being used for our pleasure and forced to buck their hearts out for entertainment.”

  “I get it, I do,” he said. “I’ve grown up on a ranch and I respect animals, but seriously? The Pro Bull Riders organization has more rules for bull welfare than they do for the riders. There’s less than a one percent chance of the bulls being badly injured at any event, they’re fed like royalty, and they’re worth a small fortune, each and every one of them. I don’t know about other countries, but we look after them on home soil, I can tell you that.”

  “Really?” She didn’t doubt him, but she just hadn’t realized that they’d actually be that well looked after. “That’s not just a sales pitch.”

  �
��Really,” Ryder said, setting down his fork and reaching for his champagne. “They’re never ridden more than once a day, and they’re rested on local ranches in between rodeos. Then, when they retire they’re put to stud, so they don’t have it half-bad if you ask me.” He held up his fork. “Better then being fattened for meat I reckon.”

  “Is that the life you imagine for yourself when you retire? Put out to stud?”

  His laugh was wicked. “That’s exactly the life I can imagine.”

  “No playing dad to a brood of kids on the ranch? Pretty little wife walking barefoot alongside you?” She might not peg him for a settling-down type right now, but she bet he wasn’t going to be a player all his life. There was a sensitive side to him that she’d glimpsed earlier, something that told her he wasn’t going to roam forever.

  “One minute you don’t want to get serious, the next we’re talking about how many kids you want to have with me?”

  She scowled at his joke, knowing he was just trying to avoid answering her.

  “So what’s our plan tomorrow then?” Chloe asked, slowly sipping her champagne, the bubbles tickling over her tongue before she swallowed. “Are you going to join me gambling all day?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  She considered him, watching him eat. “No, actually. You can play with me a bit, then just be my eyes and ears. I’ve got more chance of running into someone I know at the smaller places than the big casinos, so I might need you as backup. And I want you to start watching for me, see if I miss any obvious tells.”

  “Are you worried about running into friends or enemies?” he asked.

  Chloe grimaced. “Acquaintances. Ones that my father pissed off big-time on his last few trips through town.”

  “Does he owe them anything?”

  “Who knows?” She set down her knife and fork, no longer so hungry as a chill ran the length of her spine. “I can’t believe I never even thought about running into him. I doubt he’d be back here, but maybe he’s back on his feet again. I don’t know and I don’t want to know.”

  “Your dad?” Ryder asked.

  “Yeah. If I see him, well, let’s just say things could get heated.”

  “How about we cross that bridge if we get to it,” Ryder said, taking both their plates and putting them out of the way on the floor. “I have plenty of ideas about what we can do to fill in time before then.”

  “Oh yeah?” Chloe giggled as he pinned down her arms, grabbing hold of the sheet between his teeth and pulling it down to reveal even more of her naked body.

  “Yeah,” he growled. “Let’s deal with reality tomorrow.”

  She could live with that. Ryder’s mouth fell over hers, caressed her lips, then moved down her neck, his wet mouth making her moan, nails digging into the sheet beneath her as he took one of her nipples gently between his teeth, grating them across the sensitive tip then sucking, first soft then hard.

  “Don’t stop,” she choked out as he moved to her other breast, his tongue moving across her skin then reaching her nipple and starting to suckle.

  “Not until you beg me,” Ryder murmured, making his way down her body. “I could keep doing this all night.”

  And she could take it all night. Chloe gasped as he let go of her hands and ran his fingers down her thighs, his mouth in hot pursuit. There wasn’t a bone in her body that wanted him to stop, not one.

  * * *

  Ryder flicked through the paper, not really reading it. The words were a blur, because all he could think about was why he was here. Chloe was a great distraction, but the reality of the stakes he was playing for now? Fuck. Every time the phone rang he expected it to be Nate ready to hunt him down and kill him, and he deserved it.

  He stood and looked out at the view, the city buzzing even this early in the morning. Right now, knowing Chloe was naked in the bathroom wasn’t enough to take his mind off what he’d done, and even if she did win the deeds back as easily as she thought she could, he needed to man up and confess to his brothers. He’d outright lied to Chase the day before. All the things he’d done in his life, the trouble he’d gotten into and the fun he’d had, he’d never lied to Nate or Chase. They’d stolen one another’s girls, gotten into fights that’d left them with black eyes and worse, but they’d never lied. He loved his brothers and he’d do anything for them, no questions asked.

  The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to just come clean over the phone now, while he wasn’t in Texas. And while they didn’t have a plane at their disposal so they could come and hunt him down.

  “You ready to go?”

  Ryder turned to find Chloe, standing with her hands in her pockets and looking sexy as hell, even though she’d made a big deal about dressing down.

  “I thought you wanted to slip under the radar.”

  She looked confused as she glanced down. “What do you mean?”

  It was even more amusing that she had no idea what he was talking about. “You might be wearing jeans and a tank, but there’s nothing understated about how you look.” She had her blond hair loose, tumbling halfway down her back, and that alone would make any man turn to take a second look. “I hope you’re not wanting to go unnoticed.”

  Chloe laughed at him. “You do realize you’ve already had me in your bed, right? That means you can lay off the flattery.”

  Ryder crossed the room, stopping a few feet away and looking her up and down. “You’re a goddamn knockout, Chloe.”

  She didn’t move when he ran a hand down her arm, catching her hand and linking their fingers, but she did lean in when he bent to kiss her.

  “Ryder…”

  “Don’t argue, just take the compliment,” he murmured against her mouth.

  She didn’t reply so he kissed her again, shoving his body up against hers and wrapping his arms around her waist. Even if he had her in his bed for a week he doubted he’d get enough of her—the closer she was to him the better, and preferably naked.

  Chloe eventually pushed him back, hands on his face as she stared into his eyes. “We’ve had our fun,” she muttered. “Now it’s time to go play.”

  “We never did talk about where this was going,” Ryder said, rubbing her lower back. “Was it just a one-night thing or can we keep having fun a while longer? Since we’re going to be pretend dating and all.”

  She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his chin before escaping his hold and heading back to the bathroom. “I’m not done with you yet, Ryder. So yeah,” she said, glancing over her shoulder and grinning at him. “We can keep having fun. Until this whole thing is over.”

  Ryder laughed as he watched her go, then he checked his phone for the hundredth time. He hadn’t missed any more calls from his brothers, and by the end of the day he wasn’t going to sweat it out any longer. He owed it to himself to tell them, and after he’d watched Chloe play poker for the day, he needed to seriously consider confessing.

  “Let’s grab some breakfast on our way down, then we can head to the Orleans. Spend a few hours there then decide if we need to find another room to play in,” Chloe called out from the bathroom.

  Ryder shrugged on his leather jacket and grabbed his phone and wallet. It was time to see Chloe in action, and he couldn’t wait. Being in bed with her was one thing, but seeing her take money from a bunch of guys completely unaware? Now that was something he was dying to see.

  Chapter 10

  Chloe dug her fingernails into her palms and kept walking. She knew better than anyone what these kinds of places were like, that a shimmer of fear was noticed faster than a drop of blood among swarming sharks, so she kept her shoulders squared. Ryder was at her side and she took his hand. They were supposed to be a couple and after the night they’d had it seemed only natural to touch him. Besides, he might be a devil, but she didn’t mind so long as he was her devil.

  “You ready to play?” he asked.

  She smiled at Ryder as they walked. There was no need to tell him to put his game face on�
��the man was a walking advertisement for a self-assured gambler. No one here would ever guess he’d just lost big-time, and she doubted he’d ever actually had much experience being the loser.

  “You bet I am,” she muttered. “I’ve stayed away for so long but now that I’m here I’m itching to feel cards against my fingers.” She hated herself for feeling so buzzed, but she couldn’t help it.

  Ryder laughed and touched a hand to her back, his palm firm. “After you.”

  They entered the room and she paused to scan the tables. It was just before midday and the place wasn’t full, but it was busy enough for her to know she was able to play a few different tables if she wanted to. The whole point of coming here was to get some practice in, make sure she wasn’t rusty after a couple of years away.

  “Take your pick, darlin’.”

  She nodded and let go of his hand. “You go get the chips, I’ll do a scout, figure out what I want to play.”

  Ryder grabbed her hand back and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thank you.”

  She turned and looked into his aqua-blue eyes, wishing they were still back in bed, snuggled under the covers instead of standing in a poker room. There was a part of her thrumming with excitement just thinking about betting again, but another part was equally terrified. This kind of lifestyle was addictive, she knew that better than anyone, and she didn’t want to get sucked back into playing for a living. When the money was easy it was fun, but she was afraid of when it all turned sour, especially with the types of guys and places she’d used to play. It was an underworld she’d been pleased to be rid of, and she needed to keep reminding herself of exactly that.

  “You don’t have anything to thank me for yet,” she said.

  “When you first told me you could do this, I wasn’t convinced. Now?” He chuckled as he backed up. “That look in your eyes right now tells me you’re gonna kick some serious butt today.”

  She blew out a breath, listening to Ryder but with her attention focused on the room in front of her. “Here’s hoping.” It still amazed her that he had trusted her, but then again he didn’t have much to lose in giving her a shot.