by Em Petrova
Her face fell. Finally, he was getting through to her. He didn’t view her as impetuous, but now he was beginning to wonder if the running away from her wedding thing, the buying pricey horses on the spot thing, was just Aria.
“Oh. I wasn’t thinking about you needing some updates to your barn. Those stall doors could be replaced and of course, the new horses will need a new run.”
“Yeah. And I work full time on Blackwater—or I will be in a coupla months. I don’t have time to drop everything and train horses.”
“I’ll do it.” She said this so simply that he believed her—almost.
He took her hand—no use in holding back any longer. “Honey, you have a full-time job too. When are you coming up to train those horses? And how am I building the run or stall doors when I’m on crutches?” It was one thing to tear out the countertop, as he’d been doing all week, but demolition was a sight easier than rebuilding.
She turned her hand up in his and threaded their fingers. The warm hit to his heart nearly had his eyes shutting. “Wheeler, that rancher needed help. We took the horses off his hands, and now he has money to help his wife.”
“So you did this purely as an act of altruism?”
She shrugged. “I can’t stand a sad story without stepping in to help. And I admit it was somewhat selfish of me, since reining horses is what I always wanted to compete with. I know that time is past me now, but the training I still love, and I can see it done. The horses could be good earners for you.”
He didn’t know whether to laugh at her crazy idea or pinch the bridge of his nose in consternation. She was impulsive and insane but so earnest and excited that he couldn’t help but bring her hand to his lips. When he skimmed his mouth over her knuckles, she sucked in a breath.
“I have no damn clue what to do, woman, but now you’ve purchased two horses, and we need a place to house them. I might be able to see if King has some leftover lumber I could—”
She pressed her fingertip to his lips. “Leave it to me. Oh crap, is that the time?” She glanced at his dash.
“Yeah.”
“I’m due on set in ten minutes. I’m playing catchup. But Wheeler… what if I come to you tonight? Could I?”
Hell, she was actually asking if he wanted her? How could she even wonder such a thing?
“Pretty sure I’ll be home, honey.”
She cupped his jaw, looking into his eyes. “Good. Don’t worry about getting… um, supplies. I’ve already picked those up.”
His eyes bulged. “Do you mean—?”
She reached for the door handle and started to slide out.
“Aria!” He lashed his fingers around her wrist, holding her a minute longer.
“I gotta run, Wheeler. I’ve got a lot to do. Oh! And you wouldn’t mind running some lines with me tonight, would you? The writers have made some changes and I don’t quite have them all memorized.” She pulled away.
“Aria, wait, dammit.” His tone brought her to a halt.
Across the seat, she stared at him, a crinkle between her brows. “What is it?”
“This.” He stretched the distance and captured her lips in a kiss, taking control just as he felt her give herself up to him. He probed her lips and deeper, stroking his tongue over hers only a few times before she hummed her delight.
Just as she began to respond, he withdrew, thumbing her lips with the pad of his thumb. “Go. I’ll be waiting for you.”
She flashed a grin.
“And just so you know, I’m gonna suck at running lines.”
“I know.” She giggled and closed the door. He watched her jog across the street, shaking his head. What was he going to do with that woman?
Grab on with both hands and hold on tight for the ride.
Chapter Eight
Halfway up Wheeler’s driveway, Aria’s nerves hit.
She was feeling a bit wishy-washy about the horse deal. She’d made a decision, but was it the right one?
It was the leap of interest she’d seen in Wheeler’s eyes when Spence offered him the pair of horses that had spurred her to jump on the chance to buy them. For once, she’d seen something Wheeler wanted, if only he had the means.
That she could help with.
And, if she was honest, she had wanted those horses. Suddenly her own abandoned hopes had rushed to the surface, and she just couldn’t walk away and regret sitting on the fence.
Now, she was wondering if she’d been too rash. Sure, she’d thought of the logistics—housing, training, cost to feed. But the future was uncertain. She owned horses that would be housed on Wheeler’s land. On the surface, it was a good business transaction, but they both knew more than partnership was at work between them.
Her emotions were like roots, burrowing deeper by the hour she knew the sexy cowboy. But if things went south, what then? He wouldn’t want her horses on his land.
When she saw the cabin, she peered closer at it. What was stacked outside? She couldn’t make out what the strange bars of blue were. She parked the truck near the barn so the lumber in the back would be easily unloaded once the guys from the lumber store got here.
She was just climbing out when she spotted Wheeler coming out of the barn. One look at him had her stomach fluttering with joy.
“You came.” His low tone made her think he hadn’t believed she would. He slanted a look at the truck. “What the…”
She stepped up to him and tilted her head to look into his eyes. “I have to apologize to you, Wheeler.”
“What for?”
“I didn’t consult with you about the horses. I just bought them, without thought to our arrangement.”
He slid an arm around her back, tugging her closer. “Why don’t we negotiate now?” Before she could draw in a breath, he planted his mouth over hers.
The flavor of man and desire permeated her head, and she embraced all the tingles that went along with it. Her body stirred to life as she angled her head so he could probe his tongue deeper into her mouth.
A small groan rumbled through his chest, and she wiggled closer. The brush of hard muscle against sensitive nipples had her fires blazing after three passes of his tongue. She clung to his neck, swayed into his hold, and kissed him with all the fervor she’d kept bottled up over the past few days.
Breaking away, she met his stare. “If that kiss means we split the ownership of the horses, then that’s exactly what I was thinking.”
“Uh-huh.” He flattened his palm over her spine, hauling her flush to his body. Need spiked, and she rubbed against the bulge in his jeans.
“They’re on my land, so I supply the feed.”
“No. I provide feed as part of the boarding cost.”
“You give too much, honey.”
“Then you’re not angry with me for buying the horses without your say?”
“Well, I would have preferred to do things a bit differently, but I see how happy this makes you.”
A warmth spread across her insides, like honey on hot bread. She pulled back to meet his gaze, pleased that he wanted to make her happy. “But does it make you happy? I saw how much you wanted those horses, Wheeler.”
“I did,” he grated out. “But I want you more.” He went for her mouth again, claiming her lips and tongue like he planned to do this the rest of his days.
Her heart gave a wild leap at the thought.
As he put both arms around her, his crutch hit the ground. She laughed against his lips, and he swept her up, turning on his good foot and pinning her to the side of the barn.
“Oh God, I want you,” she rasped.
He ripped open her pants and spun her to face the wall. With her hands braced to support herself before her knees buckled, she gave herself up to him. He bit into her earlobe as he nudged her jeans and panties down her hips. Then he latched onto her neck and cupped her by the pussy.
“You’re fucking drenched. Did you want me?”
“Told you I did,” she said faintly as he sucked at a sensi
tive spot on her throat.
He rocked his hips, pressing his erection into her ass. “Can you tell I want you just as bad?”
He swirled his tongue up and down her throat, and she barely registered the sound of his zipper, when all of a sudden she felt the head of his hard cock probing at her slick folds from behind.
A deep throb took up residence in her pussy. She angled her ass back, pressing against him for more. For all of him.
Now.
“Take me, Wheeler.”
“Fuck, I don’t have a condom.”
“Front pocket of my jeans. I just need to feel you stretching me. Please.”
“Hell.” His voice grated over her senses, and a minute after, he located everything he needed and slid home in one long glide.
The insane pleasure of having him sent her stomach into backflips. She reached around to grab his nape and draw him back to her throat. A rough grunt left him as he sagged at the knees, almost lifting her on his cock. She cried out. He pulled out and shoved deep again.
Her insides clutched at every inch of him. When he knotted her hair in his fist and angled her head the other way so he could kiss that side of her throat, need exploded. She shoved back. His cock hit the innermost spot inside her, and she wanted more.
He sucked on her neck, fucking with precise jerks of his hips that were going to drive her to the brink of insanity.
No, she was already there.
He drew her head around and landed a kiss on her mouth. The seeking tongue plunging between her lips was all she needed to send her sharply up the slope toward ecstasy.
A long moan left her, and her pussy clenched on him. Pulsing hard and fast.
He answered with a growl, and it was all it took. She came. Waves hit, and she was helpless against them. She let them swallow her, clinging to the wall while he plunged in again and again.
When she gave a final cry, he yanked out. “Fuck, I can’t come yet. I want to make it last.”
She gathered her wits swiftly, realizing he’d give her all the pleasure and taken none for himself. She turned into his arms. A glance down showed her that he gripped his cock at the base and a glance up revealed how hard he was battling his control. Jaw clamped shut, brows creased.
She dropped to her knees before him and cupped his balls in one hand. She worked off the condom and stroked him through her fist ten times, twelve. A desperate sound left his throat as he guided his cock to her lips.
She parted for him and swallowed the warm length.
He let his head droop, eyes hooded as he watched her pleasure him. “Fuck, honey. You sure you can take me? When I blow…”
She smiled around his thickness. He braced a hand on the wall and one on the back of her head, feeding her his hard cock with rhythmic twitches of his hips.
Closing her eyes, she let him sink into her mouth and beyond. The tip of his erection probed the back of her throat, and she swallowed reflexively.
“Hell. Here it comes. Oh fuck, honey, your mouth…” He stiffened. His cock hardened in her mouth before erupting. Spurts hit her tongue, and she swallowed again. Tasting man and his sweet essence as he gave himself up to her.
At that moment, she realized just how happy she wanted to make him too.
As the last pulse of juices hit her tongue, Wheeler curled forward. Tenderness struck, and she slowly let him go and slid to her feet, gathering him close.
He folded her against him, cupping the back of her head and bringing her lips to his once more.
The moment stretched on.
When he drew away, his eyes burned with an intensity she hadn’t seen before. It reached out and captured her heart.
Suddenly, he raised his head, listening. “Is that an engine I hear?”
“The guys from the lumber store coming to unload the wood for us.”
“I could have managed. You’ve done enough.”
“You can’t manage with crutches. Now let me do what I can here, Wheeler. But you’d better zip your fly and I’d like to have my jeans back in place before they show up.”
“Shit.” He let her go and bent to retrieve his jeans and boxers. While he fixed his belt, he eyed her in the hungry way of a predator and its prey.
“You look like you want to take me again already.”
“I do. Your lips are swollen from sucking my cock, and I can’t stop staring at you.”
Electric heat washed through her. Somehow, she managed to right her clothing just as she heard the truck come to a stop in the driveway.
Glancing down, she made sure she was completely clothed and hadn’t forgotten anything—her muddled brain would make it easy enough to forget. But both of them were presentable.
Except…
“Did you chop your jeans off at the knee?”
“Yeah, this pair wasn’t fitting around my cast so easily, so I took the knife to it.”
She giggled.
“What, it’s not a good look?”
“One half of you looks like a cowboy and the other a castaway.”
“If you wanna play pirates, later, I’m down with that.” He flashed her a grin and headed around the barn with his crutch.
For a moment, Aria stood there, leaning against the wall, letting her mind catch up to everything that was happening. And wondering how, in such a short time, she’d managed to find all the things she’d ever wanted right here on a small ranch in the mountains of Washington.
* * * * *
“Don’t go.” Wheeler brushed his lips over the crest of Aria’s breast. The tip puckered, and he gave it a gentle lick, raising a moan from her.
“I have to be on set.”
“Bellarose stays at her place and goes down in the morning to film,” he rumbled against her smooth skin.
“And they’re married.”
He locked her in his stare. The words on his lips—right there.
Marry me then.
He couldn’t say them and put her into another bad situation, and definitely not so soon. Hell, she’d just gotten done running from a different man who’d wanted to bind her to him. Aria was the type of woman who made men lose their heads, and Wheeler was officially one of them.
“It’s not that late,” he cajoled. “Besides, didn’t you say you want to run lines?”
“Oh yeah.”
He scraped his teeth lightly over her nipple before pushing onto his knees. Aria was spread out on his bed, looking languid and sexy as hell after he’d just given her three more orgasms. He smirked with satisfaction.
“What’s that for?” she asked.
“Now your lips are really puffy from all the attention I’ve given them. Guess that means they’re mine now.”
Her eyes softened, and she ran a hand over his pec. “Will you grab my script? It’s folded up in my jeans pocket.”
“Sure.” He climbed off the bed and fumbled to grab his crutch. He made his way to the bathroom to clean up, and when he returned he got the script. She was sitting up, leaning against a pile of pillows, and the sheet was tucked under her arms, covering her nudity from him.
She couldn’t look lovelier. And Wheeler was pretty far gone now. The lust he’d felt from the start had mellowed into something sweeter, more desperate, and he had a feeling that something was love.
He lay next to her and handed her the script. She unfolded the sheets of paper and read them over. He closed his eyes a second, just drinking in her nearness. He loved having her here. Even when she scolded him about doing too much work on his kitchen by removing all the countertops, he ached for more.
“Okay. I’m Fallon and you can read the parts of Braxton.”
“Braxton.” He snorted. “Pussy name.”
“Not everyone can have a name as tough as Wheeler. Okay, I think I’m ready.” She passed him the pages, and he stared at the lines.
“Fallon, will you just stop for a second? Think about what you’re doing—to this ranch. To us.”
She pushed out a sigh, and he saw the moment she w
as in character. Stunned, he couldn’t look away from her. “The ranch means everything to me. But I just can’t spend my life here, fighting with my relatives over what our father wanted for us. This was his dream.”
“It could be yours too.”
“It is—but it’s a different sort of dream. I’d do everything so differently…”
“Those words were off. Are they supposed to be exact?”
“Crap. What are they again?”
He read the lines, and she repeated them twice.
On the pages, it said Braxton moved closer to her. Now that Wheeler could get on board with.
He shifted, covering her with his body.
“What are you doing?”
“Gettin’ in character.” He lowered his hips to hers, settling his erection at the notch of her legs with the thin barrier of the sheet between them.
“Mmm, I’m on board with this.” She grabbed his buttocks, and he rocked into her again.
She ground back, and he felt the liquid heat of her even through the cotton.
Staring into his eyes, she said, “What are my next lines?”
“I think they were something about me taking you.”
Her lips, a breath away, curved up. “Is that so?”
“Yeah. I think it says something about you begging me to tongue your pussy.” Leaning away, he pinched the sheet and dragged it to the side.
“God, I hope it says that.”
He flashed her a grin and slithered down her body. Parting her thighs, he wet his lips. “What’s your next line?”
“I think it was along the lines of ‘Please lick my pussy, you hot, hunky cowboy.’”
Using his thumbs, he spread her plump labia to expose her straining clit and drenched inner folds. “I hope it says I don’t come up for air until you scream my name.”
She gripped his hair and pressed him downward. “Running lines with you is…” her breath hitched as he sank his tongue deep “…definitely more fun than with anyone else.”
“Nobody else gets to touch you, honey. You’re all mine.” Closing his eyes, he opened his mouth and claimed her.
* * * * *
Wheeler gave Gusto’s neck a soft stroke. “You’re healin’ slowly but surely, aren’t you, boy? Doin’ good. Real good.”
