Dirty Sweet Cowboy

by Bentley, Jess

  “Oh, I’m so relieved!” I smile, stuffing my mouth with the rest of the juicy, perfectly smoked flavor. “Because this is really great !”

  He winks at me. “I’m glad you like it.” We eat in a comfortable silence for a while, savoring the simple, rustic, yet sophisticated flavors of locally sourced meats and cheeses. Even the pears have that non-mass-produced look about them, with a beautiful sun-ripened color and a few intriguing lumps and bumps here and there .

  My phone buzzes two more times, and I notice his doing the same thing. He’s trying to be polite, but his eyes flit toward it again and again .

  “I was thinking about taking a walk. Maybe along the beach?” I offer, basically suggesting that we spend some time apart. As soon as I say it, I feel some relief too. I wouldn’t mind a little personal time to figure out what I want, what I’m ready for, what he’s offering .

  “Oh, terrific idea, you’ll love it,” he agrees immediately. I sense that he was hoping I’d say something like that, or was trying to figure out how to say it on his own. “I’ve got a few things I need to take care of anyway.” I finish off the pile of blueberries, doused in sweet cream with a hint of agave. Each one is sweeter than the last, and I realize I’m completely full, bordering on uncomfortably full. A walk is going to be a great idea .

  He leans back in his chair, extending his strong, muscular arm to point down the beach .

  “If you go that way, you’ll eventually come to a little town. Not much more than a collection of piers and some fishing boats… a couple antique stores I think.” He gestures up the beach the other way with one hand shading his eyes. “If you go the other way, you’ll run into some rocks, some tidal pools I think. Honestly, I haven’t explored the beaches too much .”

  “No?” I marvel, staring out at the unusual black sand, watching the birds swoop back and forth. “I would think you would have had this whole place memorized by now .”

  He smiles wistfully. “Sadly, I don’t have as much time for that sort of thing as I’d like. Feel free to take pictures. Take notes, even .”

  I stand up from my chair, and he reaches out and takes my hand, tugging me down for a kiss. It’s such a sweet thing to do, so romantic. A little more Prince Charming, right? I lean into the kiss, enjoying his scent and flavor again, letting his taste fill my mouth .

  Taking my phone off the table, I take the stairs down to the beach. The surf gets dramatically louder as I get closer. Somehow it wasn’t nearly as loud on the patio. Waves tumble over each other, splashing aggressively, sometimes six or eight feet into the air .

  But it’s a warm day, even the breeze blowing my skirt around is not too cool or anything, so I decide to head toward the town. I’m sort of curious about this picturesque image I have in my head, of a fishing town on the black sand beach. I don’t know if I’ve ever even seen a fishing town, really .

  The sand is gritty, a larger grain. Volcanic, I suppose. I stay close to the water, where the sand is wet and easier to walk on. My Keds are water resistant, but I don’t want to get too close to the actual surf and risk a bunch of blisters .

  I walk for a long time, just luxuriating in the sensory overload of the ocean. The salty smell, the mist of water in the air that’s turning my wavy hair into a coarse halo of curls, the bright blue sky, the thunder of the waves. Something about this combination makes me thoroughly happy. Completely satisfied .

  As I come around a slow curve, I see the town. It’s more or less how I pictured it, and it’s kind of adorable. Two docks jut out into the water with tall, homely boats rocking back and forth. I see a few hand-painted signs along the boardwalk, and some candy-colored houses nestled up toward the redwoods. It’s a perfectly California coast kind of place .

  There is one antique store, with a plump old man sitting behind a counter, his half-moon glasses resting way down on his nose, reading a paperback as thick as my arm. He smiles when I come in, but he doesn’t say anything .

  It’s a collection of knickknacks, buoys, and maritime whatnot. I didn’t bring my purse so I can’t buy anything, but it’s still fun to poke around, to inhale the musty, familiar-to-somebody smell of all these old things .

  Not a whole lot else to see in the town. There is a single bar. If I had brought my purse, I would happily go for a beer, sit on a bench and watch the fishing boats do their thing, but I didn’t .

  Still, I find a bench looking out at the boats and sit down. Instantly, my phone buzzes again .

  Fine.

  Before I really think it through, the call is connecting. I put the phone up to my ear, pushing my hair back with my other hand and squinting at the hazy horizon, so far away .

  “I’ve been trying to reach you,” is the first thing he says .

  “Hello to you too, Aden,” I chirp .

  “Where are you right now ?”

  I swallow hard. I really should’ve thought this out before I took the call. What am I going to say? But instantly, I decide what I’m not going to say. I’m definitely not telling the whole truth .

  “I just got a new job. I-I just started training. Today .”

  “A new job?” he repeats, and I’m not sure if he’s happy or disbelieving. “Wow, well I guess… congratulations .”

  “Thanks! Actually, I need to go get — ”

  “—did you see Ethan? I know he was there .”

  I thought for a second he wasn’t going to mention Ethan, but I guess I was wrong. I slump against the wooden bench, digging the toe of my sneaker against the flaky dock boards .

  “Yeah, I saw he was there. I suppose he gets asked to do a lot of those kinds of things .”

  “Yeah, I wonder what kind of scam he’s running,” Aden sneers .

  “I don’t think it was any kind of scam,” I say, trying to keep my voice even. “People pay him to talk. So what? He’s a big success story .”

  “His whole family is a bunch of con artists and money launderers, Ava,” Aden huffs. “You need to stay away from him. You know that, right ?”

  “I didn’t even get to see him talk,” I retort. It’s totally true, too. Sort of. I mean, kind of. I barely remember it .

  “Good. I shouldn’t have to tell you these things .”

  Biting my tongue, I remind myself to count to ten. I hate the way that he thinks he can just lord it over me. Like I’m supposed to take on his personal battles as my own. But if I defend Ethan, it’s definitely going to sound suspicious .

  “Yeah, I need to get back to work here. I think break time is over …”

  “What are you doing? You got an internship ?”

  “Yeah, an internship,” I repeat uneasily, hoping that the sound of the water and seagulls will conceal the tone of my voice .

  “You have a contract? Send it to me .”

  “Yeah, okay, fine, bye,” I say in a huff, thumbing the button to disconnect the call. Then I open my mail client, save the PDF locally and then start a new email, just shooting it off to him. He wants the contract, he gets the contract .

  I just hope he leaves me alone .

  I walk back, and it seems to take a very long time. After a while, I begin to feel a little exhausted from being pushed around by the wind and booming sounds. When I finally get back to the patio, I’m weary. I really want a nap .

  But Ethan strides out at pretty much just the same time, grinning broadly when he sees me. I watch his eyes drift toward my hair, which must be quite a fright right now, tangled and enormous .

  “I thought you ran away,” he smiles .

  I climb the stairs, relieved as the sound of the ocean recedes slightly. When I reach the top stair, he holds me in his arms, sliding his strong muscles against me, pulling me close. His hands play with the tangled mess of my hair as he lifts my chin, tipping my face toward his for a kiss .

  “I think I would like to have you tonight, Ava. I don’t think I can wait anymore,” he murmurs, his lips pressing against my lips with every word .

  I gasp, startled to hear it
so succinctly. He holds me tighter as I begin to tremble .

  “Only if you want to, Ava,” he assures me. “You have to tell me this is what you want .”

  Pausing for a moment, I ask myself that very question. Do I? Do I want to spend the summer with this playboy? Do I want to give myself to someone who I could never develop feelings for? Who could never feel for me? Someone who’s probably made the same speech to a thousand other girls ?

  “Tonight,” I sigh, glad to hear myself say the word. “That’s all I want too .”

  “Perfect,” he growls, pulling me even tighter, closing his mouth over mine. He kisses me deeply, plunging his tongue into my mouth, lifting me gently off my feet. It’s so easy to just submit, to just get swept away by Ethan Mercer .

  Chapter 31

  ETHAN

  T he afternoon crawls by, while I’m distracted and edgy. Unfortunately I can’t just blow everyone off, but I find myself being short with people who deserve better from me .

  After three more video conferences and markups on two more contracts, I’m nearly done. The sun is setting .

  And my phone goes off yet again .

  It’s Aden .

  I try not to see what he’s been texting me. Gradually ruder messages—they all have a common theme: telling me to stay away from Ava. I don’t know that he knows for sure she’s here, or that I even saw her. I’m wary of giving him any information at all .

  He can wait .

  As the sky grows dark I change into a light silk sweater and linen trousers, feeling excitement building inside me. It’s a strange feeling, something I haven’t felt in a long time. This is real excitement, real eagerness to set my eyes upon her again. I’m like a kid .

  A dumb kid, I tell myself. Calm down. She’s really just another girl .

  But before I go out to the patio to meet her, I take the bottle of Dom and a couple champagne flutes with me. When I see her, she’s perfect. Her back is to me, with the wind swirling her pink skirt around her thighs. Her hair is pulled up high, revealing the sweet, pale skin of the back of her neck .

  My heart jumps. Then my cock, because I know this is definitely the night. She’s mine. Finally .

  She turns to face me, smiling shyly. The stars start to twinkle behind her as the sky grows inky black .

  “Aren’t you cold?” I ask her, drawing her into my arms. She’s so pliant and willing, she nestles perfectly against my chest .

  “Not anymore,” she answers .

  Slowly we begin to sway together, as though there’s music even though there’s nothing but the sound of the pounding surf and our heartbeats. I fold her hand into mine, drawing it up to my lips to kiss her fingertips .

  “Come with me, Ava,” I whisper, and she nods sweetly .

  Back in my room, I can see the moonlight glittering across the water reflected in her eyes. She watches me warily, unafraid but alert, as though committing everything to memory .

  I begin by untying her dress, slipping it to the floor. Her hands drift over my chest and shoulders, and I take off my sweater to feel her more distinctly. I can’t help but drink in the sight of her—this lush, beautiful creature, finally mine to enjoy .

  As soon as our lips touch, we’re falling toward the bed, legs entwined, arms locked together. I want to feel her all at once and she slips under me, angling her hips toward mine .

  “Tell me you want it, Ava,” I murmur .

  She bites her lower lip, gasping slightly .

  “I want you, Ethan,” she whispers. Then, louder: “I’ve always wanted you .”

  Her knees fall open and I find myself on top of her, nudging at her tight, wet entrance, as effortlessly as though we have done this a thousand times. I stare into her eyes, so bright in the dark room. I want to see her at the moment I’m finally inside her sweet, hot pussy. The first one inside her. My perfect girl .

  “You feel so good, Ava,” I tell her, still moving against the wetness on the outside of her. Her furrow is swollen and slick. She nods, her face a mixture between fear and desire. For a second a vision of Aden’s angry face appears in my mind, and I will it away. “Just relax, baby,” I tell her, willing myself to be gentle for her .

  She does as she’s told, and I slide my hard length into her wet, tight channel. I’m so fixed on her I hear the guttural moan of lust that swells in my throat as if it’s coming from someone else. Her eyes widen, and then her brows come together as she pants softly. Already tight, she closes around me more as I angle inside again. When her eyes finally close, she arches into me, locking her hands around my neck .

  We move together naturally in sync, each meeting the other’s needs without words. She grinds against me, faster and faster, drawing me as deep as I can go. Her cries rise as she clasps me deep inside, drawing out the earth-shattering orgasm from my roots .

  “I’m coming,” she breathes, and her voice rises until it fills my ears. We quake together, breathless and shaking, trembling as the ecstasy crashes through us again and again .

  She folds me into her arms, holding me tight .

  Chapter 32

  A VA

  I can’t believe this is real .

  As he lies on top of me, breathing hard, groaning like a bear, I’m swept away by everything I’m feeling. It’s like a dream. Like a made-up fantasy .

  But it’s totally real. And it’s totally perfect .

  I’m not a virgin anymore. Finally I know what this body is for, and it feels brand-new. I’ve never had a man give me real orgasms before. The ones I achieved by myself were nothing like this. I’ve heard people say “toe-curling orgasm” before but thought it was an exaggeration .

  Yet here I am, with my toes actually curled. My body is still having little mini-orgasms as I think about it .

  For a long time we lay together, watching the moonlight reflections on the ceiling, feeling bliss seep through our pores .

  “You should probably stay for the whole summer,” he finally says, his voice rumbling and low .

  “Oh you’re funny,” I smile .

  He pushes himself up on his elbow, taking my hand in his and kissing my fingers playfully .

  “No, I’m serious,” he insists. “You really could. Why not ?”

  I search his face. Is he really serious? It’s hard to tell .

  “Because my boss would kill me,” I tease, trying to figure out what he really means .

  “Oh that guy,” he grins. “I hear he’s a real tyrant .”

  “An absolute beast,” I agree .

  Silence falls between us again. The sound of the ocean is like a remote heartbeat. It’s so soothing I could fall right to sleep .

  The next morning, I wake in his arms, the little spoon. Just for a brief moment, I’m amazed at how easily we have fit together. I love having his strong body around mine, wrapping me almost completely. I love all the new feelings he’s inspired deep within me. I feel like I’m just waking up, for real .

  I know that we should be doing something serious, like maybe touring his companies, looking for that job he mentioned, but I just can’t get enough of him. The day stretches out with some delicious food, a walk on the beach. He holds my hand as we retrace my steps toward the town. It really seems like he hasn’t made this walk before, and he gets a look on his face of concentration and wonder every few steps .

  He seems to see everything: the different birds, the subtle change in the waves that indicate a sandbar maybe a hundred feet from shore, a quick change in temperature. He even points out a rustling in the underbrush on the other side of the beach, and tells me he just saw a bobcat. For real. An actual bobcat .

  I’m sure he is telling the truth, but I didn’t even notice. Must be his military skills at work .

  When we get back to the house, we don’t even make it back to the bedroom. My skin welcomes his touch, turning instantly back on like a neon light. We fall to the floor in the middle of the living room, tearing each other’s clothes off, desperate to reconnect .

&n
bsp; The next day, everything is a little bit easier. I wake in his arms again, this time without much surprise. It feels more natural. More of an expectation, like this is where I belong .

  I could get used to this, I think to myself, then push the thought aside. I’m definitely not going to get used to this .

  But my body almost is. I feared sex — slightly uncomfortable, awkward, and speckled with moments of nervousness or fear. But my mounting desire overwhelmed any apprehension that I had. I had to have him, any way I could .

  As I’m getting accustomed to it, everything gets easier. It’s like learning to ride a bike, learning to drive my body. Learning to appreciate all the striking beauty of his long limbs, his thick muscles. It’s almost like being drunk, like being drugged. I can only stand to be away from him for a few minutes at a time before I’m starving all over again, eager to get my hands on him .

  But by the end of the week, I get the feeling we’re not doing everything we’re supposed to be doing. I’m sure those looks he keeps giving his cell phone are about work he’s not doing, because most of what he’s doing... is me. And we haven’t even left the mansion. None of that “tour” has actually happened. We’ve just been in a fantasy, a bubble. A really sexy bubble, but still .

  As we lay under the hot sun on twin cedar lounge chairs, I feel that I need to say something. I don’t want to say it, but I have to. It’s nagging at me, and now I can’t avoid it .

  “This has really been wonderful,” I start .

  He groans immediately. I push myself up on my elbow and squint at him, shading my eyes with my other hand. His body glistens in the sunlight, shiny with sweat. My mouth starts to water as I imagine licking that salty musk from his broad chest .

  “Why are you groaning?” I ask him .

  “Let’s just try to enjoy ourselves,” he sighs .

  I scowl, slightly irritated. “Who says I’m not enjoying it ?”