Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series)

by Donna Michaels

  When the kiss ended, he buried his face in her hair and inhaled as if trying to capture a piece of her. She trembled, and he pulled her in tighter.

  “I’ve missed you,” he said against her neck, mouth moving over her skin in a hungry rush.

  “I’ve missed you, too.”

  He drew back, eyes raking over her face, searching deep. “God, I’ve been thinking about this for weeks,” he said, hands on her hips, squeezing, causing heat to funnel in that direction.

  Her knees began to buckle. God, she was so easy when it came to him.

  He pressed her back against the tall rock and shoved a knee between her legs to keep her from falling.

  “Easy there, darlin’.”

  That was the problem. She didn’t want it easy. Right now, she needed it hard and fast. She’d been pent up for too long, and the past twenty four hours had been torture.

  The still present moon must’ve cast enough light for him to read her face, because he growled and captured her mouth. Her insides quaked while her whole body trembled as his stroking hands and hot mouth took her toward that edge she’d been nearing for the last two days. He drew back, pushed her shirts up, and made a low, rough sound before he put his mouth on her cleavage playing peek-a-boo with her lacy bra.

  More. She needed more.

  Kerri tugged his shirts from his jeans and dipped her hands underneath, letting them run up his, hot, quivering muscles. His hands and mouth found her nipples. She closed her eyes and gasped as need rocked through her. And still she needed more.

  She let her hands skim back down, over his washboard abs, bellybutton, to brush even lower to the erection bulging out his jeans.

  “I’m not the only one about to burst,” she said, breath hitching in her throat as he sucked a nipple into his mouth, hard.

  Her grip tightened on him, and he swore softly against her chest.

  “Please tell me you have a condom.”

  He nodded. His hair tickling her skin. “Two.” He drew in a breath. “And we’re going to use them both, but this first time is going to be fast, because, darlin’, I’m already there.”

  “Good.” She shuddered against him. “So am I.”

  A minute later, in a series of fast, efficient moves, he had them both naked from the waist down.

  His heated gaze raked over her, and he groaned. “I want you,” he said, burying a hand in her hair as his lips met hers in a demanding, frenzied kiss. His other hand slid down her back to cup her butt, rocking hard against her.

  Kerri moaned and clutched at his shirt. He was hot, on fire and she deliberately rocked into the large erection poking her belly.

  He broke the kiss and gasped, hand trailing around her front, dipping low between her thighs, finder her wet and ready. “Christ, Kerri.”

  A soft, hungry sound caught in her throat. “Connor, I need…”

  He released her, and she heard the sound of a package tearing a few seconds before he sat down on the smaller, flat rock. “Come here.”

  She took his hand and climbed up, and with his help, straddled his lap, holding onto his shoulders as she sank onto his erection.

  Their twin gasps of pleasure echoed in the pre-dawn air as he filled and stretch her in exquisite bliss. Kerri whimpered. He felt so good. So hot. And she was so wound it wasn’t going to take long.

  Three thrusts and she went off like a rocket. Connor followed right behind.

  She slumped against him, face resting on his collarbone while he buried his in her hair. They stayed that way until their breathing evened out.

  “I needed that,” she said, pressing her mouth to his throat.

  He made a choked sound, and his grip tightened on her hips. “Glad I could help.”

  “Me, too.” She nodded, leaning back to look in his face. “You’ve no idea how close I was to becoming intimate with my saddle yesterday.”

  She felt his chuckle all the way deep inside. And just like that, heat started to build again.

  God, she’s adorable.

  Not exactly what Kerri would want to hear with him still stuck inside her. Nor was this the right time to finally tell her he loved her. No. She’d only attribute the confession to hot sex. So, he leaned forward and kissed her while he brought them to their feet.

  He drew back. “Time to move.”

  She nodded, a sad look crossing her face as she stepped back. “Yeah, we’d better get back. I’m surprised no one’s come looking. We’ve been gone for hours.”

  “They won’t look. And we’re not going back yet,” he told her, tracing a line from her temple to her chin, watching her eyes widen.

  “We’re not?”

  “Hell no.” He smiled, dipping down to kiss her neck. “I’m not done with you. We have one more condom.”

  She shuddered into him. “I’m all yours, cowboy.”

  At that, his heart cracked wide open, as open as the very ranch surrounding them. He cupped her face with both hands and stared into the heat and warmth of her gaze. She’d slayed him.

  He took her lips, gently, softly. She could have anything she wanted. He’d give her anything and everything.

  Again and again, he kissed her until a slow burn warmed, heating with frightening intensity.

  Drawing back, he grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Stay here. I’ll be right back for you.” He didn’t want her walking barefoot in the still dark, early morning.

  Connor jumped off the rock, shook their discarded clothes, then quickly but carefully headed to the grassy area by the brook a few feet away. He dropped their things, peeled off his shirts and spread them on the cool grass before returning to get Kerri.

  She was waiting by the edge, eyes full of anticipation and need, her half naked body making his knees weak. His heart caught and snagged.

  He swooped her into his arms, his body growing hard at the feel of her soft curves in his hands and her warm breath against his neck. By the time they reach his make-shift bed, his whole body was throbbing with need.

  Slowly, he let her feet touch the ground and turned her to face him. “Someone is over-dressed,” he said, reaching for her top button.

  Alleluia. She reached for the bottom, and two seconds later, their fingers brushed in the middle and she shrugged out of the first shirt. Before he could reach for the second, she ripped it off and tossed it aside, standing there in only her white, lacy bra.

  She tugged the straps down her arms and the cups loosened, teasing him with the glimpse of nipples. His body tightened at the sight, and he reached behind her to unhook the lace, his erection bobbing when her gorgeous breasts bounced free.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” he said, taking in the sight of her standing naked and aroused before him.

  He reached out and traced a line from her collarbone down to her tempting nipple, reveling in the goosebumps and hitched breath caused by his touch. She trembled and leaned into him, and he cupped the full weight of her breasts, brushing his thumbs over her tightened tips.

  A moan sounded low in her throat as her palms traveled over his chest and abs, stroking a path to ground zero. Oh yeah…there. He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her hands working him. Damn, she felt good. And knew his rhythm.

  She lifted her head and stared at him, the heat and longing blazing in her eyes ripped a groan from his chest. Burying a hand under her hair, he cupped her head and kissed her long and deep, thrusting his tongue into her mouth matching her tugs that were driving him wild.

  Magical and talented, her touch made him sweat. He trailed his other hand between them, down her quivering belly, over her soft curls to the heat between her thighs. Jesus, she was wet. He felt himself pulse in her hand, and when he slipped a finger inside her, she broke the kiss to gasp.

  Her hands shot to his hips, gripping tight as her knees began to buckle. He caught her and guided her down.

  Kerri smiled up at him, running her hands over his chest. “You’re so beautiful.”

  This startled
him. “Me?”

  Her grin widened, and she brushed her thumb over his jaw. “Yes, you.”

  He nipped at her thumb. “You and I obviously have different views of beautiful.” Shifting onto his elbows, he glanced down at her body, blowing a breath over her nipple, watching it pucker tighter in the moonlight. “Now that’s beautiful,” he said, then bent down for a taste.

  She moaned and arched into him.

  Connor took his time, loving, touching, showing her just how he felt. He didn’t want her to leave. He wanted to be with her, but if she was leaving, he’d make damn sure this was memorable for them both.

  Starting at her throat, he kissed his way down her body, missing nothing, touching, tasting everything as she writhed underneath him. He was on fire by the time he got to her toes. But still he didn’t rush. He started back up, stopping at her thighs, spreading her legs. His erection throbbed at the sight of her glistening pink warmth.

  He nuzzled her thigh, and she made a low, hungry sound that nearly set him off. God, the woman was responsive, and he loved to make her respond. He glanced up and found her resting on her elbows looking down at him.

  Holding her gaze, he ran his thumb over her wet folds. Her head tilted back slightly as she sucked in air.

  He grinned. “I’ve been dreaming of this...” He used his fingers to open her before he leaned in and stroked her with his tongue.

  Her whimper met his ears, and soon he was sampling, and testing, checking her reactions. She moaned, thrust her hips and gasped. Even called out his name. God, he loved that. But when her fingers shoved into his hair, he knew he’d found the oh, yeah, there spot.

  “You taste so good, Kerri.”

  She was trembling, panting, her hips rocking, and he wanted to give her more. He added a finger, and she let out sexy as hell sounds from her throat as she fell back and panted his name. She was wet and quivering and gorgeous, and he kept building her orgasm, wanting to make her scream.

  And she did.

  Connor brushed his thumb over her, applying the right amount of pressure and she cried out a low, throaty yes as she shattered. He lapped and laved, bringing her down slow, prolonging her orgasm before he lifted up to stare at the gorgeous, sensual woman.

  Still panting, she crooked a finger at him, and he wasted no time crawling up her shaking body. Before he knew it, he was on his back, and Kerri was biting his neck, then kissing her way down his chest and abs. Licking and nipping, she tested his control, because he was about ready to burst.

  When her finger stroked his erection, he set her aside. “I’m not going to last much longer.”

  “Good,” she said, then rolled onto her back and a sexy, lazy smile tugged her luscious lips.

  Ah hell. A growl rumbled in his chest.

  With lightening speed, he fished the condom from his jeans, rolled it on and moved to kneel between her spread legs.

  “Now,” she purred, spreading further.

  Christ. He sucked in a breath, grasping what control he could before pushing into her. Again, their twin sounds of pleasure hissed into the rapidly approaching dawn.

  Grasping her hands, he held them by her head, leaned down until they were heart to heart, gazes locked...then he began to move.

  God, yeah, this was heaven. This was home. Slowly, he pulled away then pushed back in, over and over, bringing her to that edge so they could plunge off into the depths together.

  Her heart hammered beneath him, body writhed, fingers squeezed his hand, but she didn’t close her eyes, her emotional gaze remained on his, and he let all his feelings, hopes, needs come to the surface so she would know she was his world. His home.

  Tears spilled down her face, and she closed her eyes.

  He slowed his movements. “Kerri,” he said. “Look at me.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. The need and affection and hope within would’ve brought him to his knees if he’d been standing.

  “I’m with you,” he said, bending to kiss her slow and deep, and she moaned into his mouth.

  All too soon, the need became too much. He began to move again, faster, picking up the pace. Kerri wrapped her legs around him, taking him in further.

  It was too perfect.

  Too good.

  Too much.

  He broke the kiss, and a second later, she called out his name, tightening around him as she burst and took him with her over that edge.

  Kerri could barely feel her body as she floated back down to earth. Three times. Connor had given her three orgasms in the same amount of time it took her to make a tray of lasagna.

  He was a much better cook than her.

  She smiled and played with his hair as his ragged breaths washed over her neck. That was amazing. He was amazing. He made her feel. She felt him. And as soon as she could catch her own breath, she was going to tell him exactly how she felt.

  Somehow, saying it while he took her to those gorgeous stars slowly disappearing overhead didn’t seem like they’d be taken seriously. Throws of passion and all.

  Because what Kerri felt was...real. Very real. And she didn’t want Connor to doubt it.

  He lifted up enough to look down at her. “Morning,” he said, voice still low and husky.

  She smiled and traced his grin with her finger. “And a good one at that.”

  “Mmm…hmm…” He nipped at her finger, then his mouth was moving over her throat, making her shiver. With a sigh, he drew back and stared into her face. “As much as I hate to say it, we should get dressed. It’s getting light.”

  She nodded, and he helped her to stand. Kerri had a whole lot to say to the gloriously naked cowboy, but the naked part was a no-no if she wanted him to take her words seriously.

  He shook out each piece of their clothes, and by the time the first rays of sun broke the horizon, they were pulling on their boots. Kerri stilled and sucked in a breath.

  “God, it’s so beautiful.”

  Connor nodded and moved behind her, banding his arms around her as they watched the beauty unfold in contented silence. She could happily stay there, in that moment, forever. It was perfect.

  Well, almost perfect. They still needed to have their talk—get everything out there so they knew where they stood. Where their relationship was headed.

  If they had one.

  She inhaled and turned in his arms. “Connor, I…” The words got stuck in her throat as it swelled at the sight of his emotional gaze.

  He brushed away a tear she hadn’t even realized fell, then slowly lowered his mouth to hers. She shuddered and sank into him. She shoved her hands in his hair and melted.

  Connor groaned. One hand around her waist, the other cupping her head, he kissed all thought, all reason…all agendas away. They were gone just gone. Which left feeling wide open, and oh yeah, she did…feel, wide open and didn’t care because she felt him, too.

  “Uhum.”

  They broke apart at the sound of someone discreetly clearing their throat.

  “Sorry, boss, but it’s getting late, and the men were beginning to wonder about breakfast,” Cal informed, standing in the distance.

  Kerri felt her face heat—friggin’ blush—but kept the embarrassment from her voice. “I’ll get right on that.”

  “All right. I’ll tell the men.” Cal turned away with a knowing grin and headed back toward camp.

  Connor wasted no time drawing her back into his arms. “Where were we?”

  If only they could continue…

  She placed a hand on his mouth. “Whoa up there, cowboy.” Drawing a hand lightly across the stubble on his chin, she sighed. “Sorry, but duty calls.”

  He groaned. “Duty sucks.” He captured her hand before she could pull away. “We’ll finish this later?”

  His gaze darkened and held a promise she longed to explore, but they’d run out of time this morning…thanks to her three orgasms. Kerri really wanted to feel bad about that but failed.

  A smile tugged at her lips. “You’re darn right we will.
You can’t kiss a girl like that, then drop her like a ball and expect her to just bounce away,” she admonished playfully. “Seriously, Connor, we do have a lot to talk about.”

  “Yes, we do,” he said, tracing her temple as he pushed back a strand of hair. “But it’s going to have to wait until later.”

  He released her, and together, they made their way back to the camp in a charged silence.

  It was late in the day by the time they reached the holding pen at the ranch. Kerri was hot and tired and hungry, but felt so alive. Her heart was pounding in anticipation of their talk.

  A talk with her cowboy.

  That was how she came to look at Connor. He was indeed her cowboy, and she was going to do whatever it took to convince him he didn’t want her to go.

  She wanted to tell the men to take care of the cattle because she needed to steal their boss, but instead, she stayed out of the way and watched as the last of the calves were rounded up and secured inside the pen.

  Her father and Mr. McCall were at the stables when they rode up. They stared at her and Connor, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt, they were indeed the reason she’d been on the drive.

  The buggers.

  Should I thank them now or later?

  “Why am I not surprised the two of you are here?” She shook her head and smiled as she dismounted her horse.

  “What? We just wanted to know how things went.” Her dad kissed her cheek and grinned.

  “Yeah. I bet.” She grinned back and sent Connor a sly look as he joined them.

  “Things are fine. All five hundred and fourteen head are in the pen, and we even got to sample some rattle snake for supper.” He winked at her before he began to unsaddle his horse.

  Her pulse accelerated and so did the heat low in her belly.

  “Rattle snake? What are you talking about?” Mr. McCall questioned, but Connor just smirked and continued with his task.

  Kerri shrugged. “I thought the men should taste real Texas cuisine.” She bit back a smile as she turned to start unloading her equipment.