by Kat Catesby
Even at the expense of me prolonging my orgasmic mood.
She shoots me a penetrating look. “So, what happened? Why the hell do you have a welt the size of an egg on your forehead? And don’t spare me the details.”
I breathe out deeply through my nose…here goes nothing. “Well, I guess I was really early, considering I walked in on my new boss hardcore fucking a woman on one of the beds downstairs.”
“Nooo,” she gasps. “Your boss? As in, the insanely hot, muscled cowboy currently downstairs somewhere?”
“Yep. That one.”
“Bet that was a sight to behold?” She can’t keep the amusement out of her voice, or her curiosity.
“You have no idea; he was…impressive. All hard muscles and mouth-watering skills. Seriously, I had to consciously stop myself from drooling…and staring. They were hot. Until I noticed that she was tied to the bed…”
“Oh.” Her voice falls immediately as comprehension clouds her stormy eyes.
“Yeah. In my haste to escape and get my mini freak out under control, I walked flat out into the doorframe. I made it to the front porch and then passed out just as he came out to find me. I can fill in the blanks enough to know he caught me before I face planted the porch and then he carried me back inside.”
“Wait wait wait. He stopped mid-fuck to chase after you?” She lets out a low whistle, “Wow.”
“I guess I didn’t think about it that way. Why would he do that?”
“I guess to make sure he hadn’t scared off his new administrator. Although it must have been hard to stop mid-flow,” she muses.
That might explain his flirtatious behavior in the bathroom; he didn’t get to finish earlier so he was probably still pumped full of sexual tension. Maybe I was just the nearest outlet for his hornyness. And I’ve no doubt the man has quite the sexual appetite – any man who fucks as hard as he was and then still has the energy to flirt with a different woman on the same day has a serious sex drive.
I can’t help but wonder what life would be like with a man as driven as that? All insatiable lust and rock-hard body parts. The notion sends a shiver to my still sensitive clit. My body definitely wants a man like that; I’ve never had my arousal sparked to such a burning degree by just the sight of a man before. It’s new. It’s exciting. It’s something I want to encourage.
I want his smooth, muscular body on me…in me…doing wicked things to me until I can’t even scream my own name.
And then I remember how goddam insane that notion is.
“Earth to Katie?” Maddie’s voice filters through my X-rated daydream.
“Mmhmm?”
“I never realized the word ‘hard’ would make you so distracted, you dirty girl. He’s definitely left an impression on you, hasn’t he?”
There’s no point lying to Maddie; according to her, I suck at it anyway. “I think it’s fair to call that an understatement. I don’t get why or how, but the man is burning up my thoughts to a perilous degree – my sanity is in danger here.”
“What sanity?” she teases.
“Madds! Seriously though. What should I do?”
“What do you want to do?” Every explicit thing I want Asher and his cock to do to me flashes across my mind and my face in the form of the fiercest blush I’ve ever experienced. “That look tells me everything lady. I vote in favor of you fucking him,” she laughs.
“Seriously? The man’s my boss. How awkward would that be when it inevitably went sideways because I develop feelings for him and he doesn’t reciprocate? Besides, he already seems to have a standing arrangement with another employee.” I can almost taste the regret, my voice thick with it. It’s sharp and bitter and I don’t like it.
Logic dictates that I don’t go opening my legs to my boss, assuming, of course, he’d even wanted me to. It’s a bad call, and I’ve had too many of those already this past year.
Maddie looks at me seriously for a moment. “You’re a smart woman, Katie. Trust yourself.”
And that right there is why Maddie is my girl. She can cut through my bullshit and see what’s really simmering below the surface.
Trust.
I don’t trust myself anymore.
I don’t trust what my body and mind are telling me.
After the fuck up of epic proportions that was my relationship with David, how could I? I knew something wasn’t right but I sure as hell didn’t see that level of hurt, betrayal and actual bodily harm coming.
I didn’t trust my instincts when I should have and pushed forward with blind faith that everything would be okay when I shouldn’t have. My interpretation of everything was upside down and ass-about-face.
Has that changed?
I honestly don’t know and that brings me to the crux of my problem…how can I trust myself?
Before that sobering thought well and truly depresses me, Maddie moves the conversation onto blessedly safer territory.
Turns out the job that she had lined up before we moved fell through. Something to do with the original post holder coming back to work following maternity leave after all. She looks mildly deflated but nothing can keep Maddie down for long.
“My savings will see me through for a while but I’m hoping something works out sooner rather than later so that I don’t have to blow through too much of it. That money is my studio start-up fund.”
“Maybe there’s something here on the ranch?”
“Could be worth asking your cowboy,” she arches that teasing eyebrow at me.
“He’s not my…” I begin to protest but right on cue the cowboy in question knocks on the door and enters.
Asher Scott enters…all the oxygen in the room exits.
I try not to gasp at the glorious sight of him, so huge he’s literally filling the doorframe with his height and broad-shouldered, muscular physique.
“Evenin’ ladies. How are we doin’? I hope the patient is okay?” The smooth drawl of his accent haywires my brain leaving me speechless and Maddie answering for me.
“The patients’ own stupidity won’t kill her today,” she mocks.
Asher laughs, warm and gentle while I punch my ex-friend on the arm, shooting her with a look that could kill.
“My head is fine, thank you,” I force out a little indignantly.
“In that case, I made some dinner if you ladies wanna join me? Nothing special so don’t go gettin’ excited, but I’m not totally incompetent in the kitchen.”
* * *
Asher Scott, the rugged cowboy of my rapidly developing fantasies, is as far from incompetent in the kitchen as the Moon is from Earth.
The man can cook. And I’ll be damned if watching him confidently command his way around the kitchen doesn’t turn up the heat of my desire. Much like the ragingly hot oven he just pulled his homemade lasagne out of.
My panties have melted into a puddle at my feet.
Shit.
The creamy smell of the lasagne and warm garlic bread further scatter my senses.
Asher places a plate of the delicious smelling food in front of me and looks at me knowingly. “Enjoy.” There’s a hint of something in his smooth voice and a suggestive glint to his chocolate brown eyes flecked with caramel. My cheeks burn crimson under his seductive perusal.
Oh. God. He. Knows.
I don’t know how, but he does.
Think of me
He told me to, I did…and somehow, he knows. I’m certain of it.
He hands Maddie a plate of food before turning back to me and subtly running his tongue along his kissable, full bottom lip, the sexual innuendo clear and doing strange things to my body south of my belly button.
He. Definitely. Knows.
But how?
I suppose when I think on it, I didn’t leave a particularly gracious amount of time between him leaving and me getting buck wild with my own fingers, which raises the tantalizing yet troubling thought that he was outside the whole time.
Listening to me gasp his name.
Oh. My…
Fuck it. I’m gonna pull on my big girl panties and own that shit. If he heard me masturbating to thoughts of him then I hope he enjoyed the show. I’m not ashamed; it was a kick-ass fucking orgasm and I’ll probably give myself another one tonight. Because I want to and because I can.
I flash him my sweetest smile and turn my attention to the food before me.
“This is seriously tasty Asher,” mumbles Maddie between mouthfuls.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he smiles, looking a little too pleased with himself.
I take a bite of the creamy and perfectly seasoned lasagne, fighting back a groan of pleasure. It tastes so much better than it smells and that’s no mean feat.
“Is it okay, Katie?” the genuine sound of his voice catching me off-guard.
Swallowing, I nod. “Delicious.”
His responding smile is breathtaking; like my approval is worth having and my compliment made his night. I can’t help but return such an earnest and heart-stopping smile.
And then I have to drag my attention away from his beautiful, full lips before my mind unleashes a thousand fantasies of what that sexy mouth could do to me…
My desire is like an unruly child, give it an inch and it will take a mile. I don’t need any more fuel to stoke my fire; I’m already ablaze.
Mercifully Maddie takes control of the conversation and makes pleasant small talk with Asher while I finish my meal and then excuse myself. It’s still early but the day’s events are catching up with me and I’m exhausted. The kind of bone-tired where you don’t even feel like you can lift a limb.
Definitely time for sleep.
Chapter Five
Asher
A little while after the women excuse themselves, the sound of footsteps rouse me from the book I’ve been attempting to read next to the roaring fire in the lounge. It might be spring but the nights are still cold and nothing beats the flicker of real flames and warmth while reading a good book.
Secretly I hope the footsteps growing louder belong to Katie; something about her is drawing me in and I want to spend some one on one time with her. The smiles she was flashing me over dinner had me sporting a semi the entire time – for my dick’s sanity, it’s a good thing that the footsteps belong to Maddie and not the beautiful woman I’m rapidly becoming fascinated with.
Just because my dick can finally have a much-needed breather doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed.
“Everythin’ okay?” I give Maddie my full attention. She’s a very beautiful woman and objectively I can appreciate her appealing attributes. But not even the graceful sway of her hips can entice a glimmer of my interest. Seriously, my dick doesn’t flicker the tiniest twitch and that bad boy has been active all fucking afternoon – ever since Katie walked in on me in all my naked glory. I register a small amount of alarm that not even the sight of a woman as sexy as Maddie can divert some of my blood south to the contents of my pants.
“She’s okay but she’s crashed for the night. All of today’s excitement will keep her knocked out until morning.”
This area of the downstairs is open concept but Maddie hovers around the periphery of the living area, unsure of what to do with herself and obviously not wanting to intrude on my reading time. Honestly, though, I couldn’t even tell you what book is in my hands; I literally picked it up to try to shove all thoughts of Katie from my mind for the evening. I shouldn’t be this preoccupied with a woman I barely know and an employee no less.
I nod my head towards the large sectional sofa, indicating that Maddie should join me. She was full of pleasant conversation at dinner and it would be nice to get to know her a little and glean more information about Katie Morgan in the process.
Maddie sits gracefully and looks at me with piercing storm grey eyes; they tell me everything I need to know – Maddie is a lady, but not one you cross…not unless you’ve made peace with parting with your balls.
“Tell me about you and Katie? How long have you known each other?”
“We met the first day of college and I’ve been following that whirlwind of blond hair around ever since,” she smiles genuine, true affection for her friend.
One of the things I value in people is loyalty; Maddie is clearly loyal to her friend and that is a damn admirable quality in my book. “Sounds like you’re lucky to have each other.”
“Katie is one of those rare souls; the type that lights up a room without trying or noticing they’re doing it. She knows she’s smart and classifies herself as somewhat pretty but she’s totally oblivious to her true presence. Katie is unassumingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent and has such warmth and care for others that you want to snap the neck of anyone who would dare to hurt her. I will kill that ex of hers if he’s ever stupid enough to be in a room alone with me. Fucking asshole.”
I notice how she says she ‘will’ kill him and something about her tone makes me doubt her threat is empty. Maddie can join the murdering-David queue.
“I want you to know that Katie will be safe here. That man” – I spit the word – “is not welcome here and in your absence, I’ll gladly kill him myself. No person should ever be allowed to abuse their power over someone like that and get away with it.”
“Thank you. Not that it will come to that – he shouldn’t be able to find her even if he were looking. He has a new plaything to torture now…Lord help the poor woman.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me for keeping her safe. We’re like family on this ranch; we protect our own. That extends to you too, Maddie, anythin’ you need, you can turn to us.”
She smiles her appreciation at me. “I may need to take you up on that offer but I have something I need to get off my chest first and I hope it doesn’t make you rethink your generous offer of including me in your ranch family…” She lets out a deep breath and her posture goes a little rigid. I’m not sure I’m going to like what she has to say but I keep my features open and neutral to invite her honesty.
“…I saw the way you were both looking at each other over dinner. I’d love to say it’s none of my business but Katie and her welfare are my business. There’s nothing wrong with either of you being into the other so please don’t misinterpret what I’m getting at as I mean no disrespect to you or her or your intentions towards each other. You’re adults after all. But Katie has a big heart of gold and it got battered. It’s not just her body that took a bashing; it was her confidence and faith in people and herself too. She has a good handle on most of the demons David unleashed but her confidence and trust in herself are still lacking. She won’t trust her feelings towards you so if you want them, you’re going to have to work for them. Be warned though, if you work for them and you make her fall for you, she will fall hard. She is still very capable of deep and lasting love so if you pursue her and she decides to let you in, it will be intense and epic and all kinds of amazing so be sure that you want that. Don’t be the asshole that made her feel again, only to let her down and obliterate her heart.”
“I hear you. Consider the consequences of my actions before I make a move, not after. I appreciate your candor, Maddie; you’re a good friend and I would never make an ill judgment against someone for protecting their friend. You don’t know me so you’re right to caution me but I promised you that Katie would be safe here, that includes from me. I can’t promise that I won’t act on any feelings I develop for her but you have my word that if I do, it will be an informed decision from a man who wants to commit to her.”
This is a pretty heavy conversation and I’m not known for wanting to commit to one woman but, given Katie’s history, it seems appropriate. I pride myself on being every bit as honest and forthcoming as Maddie is so I’m not lying when I say I will think seriously before pursuing Katie.
Not that I’ve even actively thought about having Katie that way – it’s still just a flirtation but our desire has legs, I can feel it, and those legs will run away with us if left unchecked.
“So, what was the oth
er thing you wanted to ask me, Maddie?”
“The job I originally had lined up has fallen through. Do you know of anywhere that’s hiring?”
“What’s your skill set?” I don’t have anything for her on the ranch but depending on her skills, I might be able to point her in the right direction in town.
“Dance and fitness instructor. My end goal is to open my own studio teaching yoga classes and pole and aerial hoop fitness but while I’m saving for that I can turn my hand to anything. I’ve done bar work, office work, you name it – I’m versatile.”
“Pole? As in dancing on a pole?” An idea has struck me and she’s just Dix’s type but I need to be cautious with what I say next.
“Not like dancing-in-a-gentleman’s-club pole dancing, teaching acrobatic skills on a pole; like gymnastics but instead of a horse or beam, there’s a pole. There is an element of floor dance in heels if my students want to learn that but it’s not for the pleasure of men in a dark and seedy club. It’s a recognized form of dance and fitness.” She doesn’t sound insulted by my faux pas, more like she’s had to explain the difference a thousand times in her life already.
“Apologies, Maddie, I wasn’t tryin’ to insinuate anything by my ignorance.”
“Nothing to apologize for. If I can avoid the assumption that I’m a stripper then I’m happy to explain the difference.”
“Not sure you’ll go for a vacancy I know about then,” I say, leaving it open just enough to pique her curiosity.
“There’s a stripper job in town?” She gives me a very uncertain glance as she mulls this over.
“Not ‘stripper’ and not a strip club. Dancing on a pole, yes, in a seedy gentlemen’s club, no. You wouldn’t be naked or taking any clothes off; you’d be scantily clad for sure but you wouldn’t be revealing any more of yourself during your routine. People are not allowed to touch you either or pay for private performances.” I’m being vague but I don’t really know how to approach this.
