COWBOY: His ranch. His rules. His secrets. (Taking Charge Book 1) Read online

  "We all have more than one side to us," she whispered, slipping her fingers under his disheveled robe.

  "You know you're being a brat, right?"

  "Are you complaining?"

  "You, young lady, went through a terrible ordeal last night," he said sternly, ignoring her question. "I'm not sure you're as well as you think you are."

  "I'm well enough to know you want to stay with me as much as I want you to," she murmured, lightly stroking his hard hungry member. "Your friend down here is giving you away."

  "Keep this up and you'll be in for a hot backside the minute you're better."

  "It will be worth it if you don't go."

  "You are unbelievable," he grunted as he managed to extricate himself and crawl from the bed. "I'm leavin', and you stay right where you are."

  "Uh-huh."

  "I'll see you soon."

  "Wait."

  "Now what?" he said, straightening out his robe.

  "You can't leave without kissing me goodbye."

  "Sure I can."

  "If you don't I'll tell everyone you stayed here."

  "Blackmail?"

  "A girl has to do what a girl has to do."

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lifted her arm and studied the bandage.

  "Carly, how can you possibly be feelin' this good after what you went through last night?"

  "I'm a bouncer."

  "Excuse me?"

  "My mother always said I'm a bouncer. Some kids fall over and skin their knee and cry for an hour. I'd jump back up and keep playing. When I was learning how to ride, if I fell off it didn't phase me. I'd bounce right up and climb back on. I'm a bouncer."

  "I should have known. What about your arm?"

  "Yeah, it hurts, but so what? When did a sore arm ever get in the way of a kiss?"

  "I can't believe what I'm hearin'."

  "You know it's inevitable," she said softly, locking his eyes as she leaned into him. "You're feeling what I am, I know you are."

  "You sure know a lot, young lady."

  "Tell me I'm wrong."

  "The only thing I'm tellin' you is that I've gotta leave," he said firmly, rising to his feet. "I'll check back on you later."

  "Or maybe I'll check on you."

  "Keep it up and I'll stay, but to spank your butt."

  "Promise?"

  "Definitely, and you may not want me to," he said sternly as he walked to the door. "Get some rest."

  Opening it a crack he peered down the hallway. It was clear. With his cock screaming for attention he hurried back to his bedroom, and walking swiftly into his bathroom he dropped his robe and moved into the shower. Carly's unabashed attitude was surprising, but he had to admit it was also a total turn-on. He wanted her. He wanted to ravage her, he wanted to devour her breasts and consume her pussy, and closing his eyes he grabbed his cock and began to stroke.

  "Can I help you with that?"

  His heart skipping he blinked open his eyes. She was naked and stepping into the stall.

  "I know I shouldn't be here," she admitted, ambling close to him and wrapping her arms around his neck, "but sometimes…"

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Keith's impulse to wallop Carly's ass and march her back to her bedroom lasted less than a nano-second. His lips were suddenly on hers, their tongues were dancing, and his hands were feverishly traveling down her spine. As his fingers dove into her soaked sex he heard a muffled groan, and breaking their kiss he moved his lips to suck her neck like a hungry vampire.

  "God, I want you so much," she bleated, not caring that the hot water was soaking her bandage and making her arm sting. "I can't stand it. I want you to devour me."

  Her words sent the blood pumping through his body, and holding her tightly he lowered them down to the bench seat and ordered her to straddle his thighs.

  "That doesn't mean you sit on my cock," he growled as she moved her leg across him.

  "But I—"

  "Do as I say. Rest on my thighs."

  He heard a groan of disappointment, and as she settled he drew her nipples into his mouth.

  "You need to be kept in check," he said huskily, lifting his head to lock her eyes. "You're gonna learn to listen."

  Letting out a resigned sigh she dropped her head on his shoulder, but a moment later she was mewing in pleasure. He had reached behind her, his fingers were plunging in and out of her sex, and she could feel his stiff cock resting against her.

  "Please, Keith, may I at least hold you?"

  A wicked smile curled the edges of his lips. She had asked permission.

  "No, but you can get on your knees and suck me."

  A hot thrill swept her up, and moving off his lap she settled on the marble floor and lowered her mouth around his rock-hard rod. His fingers were curling themselves into her wet hair, and as he began guiding her movements she slipped her hand against her pussy.

  "You only touch yourself when I say," he said sternly, pushing her hand away then tweaking a nipple. "Your job is to pleasure my cock, not your pussy. That's it, just like that, now hold me with both hands and lick the head."

  Her punished nipple was throbbing, but there was pleasure with the pain, and as she fervently rolled her tongue around the top of his penis she heard him take in a sharp breath. Motivated by her success she began devouring him with gusto, drawing him into her mouth then pulling back, swirling her tongue around the nib as she did.

  Keith could feel his arousal growing. He wouldn't last much longer, and he held her still, relishing the divine feel of her mouth.

  "Straddle my lap like you did before and stroke me with your hand," he ordered, releasing her hair and helping her up.

  Settling on his thighs, she wrapped her fingers around his rod, but rocked forward and pressed her pussy against his leg. His hand came around her neck, and pulling her forward he crushed her lips in a profound kiss. Her hand accelerated almost of it own accord and she could sense his orgasm was looming. His lips continued consuming hers as his tongue explored her mouth, and swept up in their fervid fever she urgently rubbed her sex against his hard thigh.

  "Take your hand off me and get on your hands and knees."

  He'd abruptly pulled back, and completely breathless she stared at him.

  "On my hands and knees?"

  "Now. Ass towards me."

  Carly had played in the world of kink and had loved it, but she'd never had a man be so forceful. It was making her toes curl and her heart race. Carefully moving off him she positioned herself on all fours, and she caught her breath as his hand began smoothing itself over her wet cheeks. She knew what was coming, and as his flattened palm began to slap, she spread her knees and arched her back.

  Keith was at the edge, and gazing at her swollen pussy and glistening wetness as he reddened her curvaceous cheeks was almost enough to send him into his climax.

  "Play with your clit," he rasped, leaning down and reaching under her chest to fondle her breasts. "Play with it, stop once, then make yourself come."

  Her mewl of gratitude told him she too was nearing her orgasm, and straightening up he slid his fingers into her hot open channel. Zealously thrusting them in and out as he listened to her cries of pleasure, he delivered several sharp swats, and when she suddenly stopped rubbing herself and threw back her head he knew she was at the brink.

  "Count to three, then start again and come for me!"

  His direction had been sharp, and as she panted out the numbers and dropped her hand back between her legs, he took hold of his cock and shifted to the edge of the bench. Gazing at her fingers urgently massaging her drenched pussy and staring at her crimson cheeks, he stroked himself into a shuddering climax, exploding over her luscious ass just as her orgasm seized her. She wailed through her spasms, then to his shock she unexpectedly crawled around to wash him with her mouth. Closing his eyes he leaned back against the wall and surrendered to the bliss. He knew she was doing it to show her capitulation. She had challenged him, and he won her su
rrender.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Sliding on the floor next to her, he quietly held her for a few minutes, then helping her up they stepped from the shower and toweled off, but as she pulled on the T-shirt it dawned on him it was all she'd been wearing when she'd left her room.

  "Carly," he said softly, moving over to her and wrapping her up in his arms, "what were you thinkin'?"

  "When?"

  "When you decided to follow me down the hall in nothin' but this T-shirt."

  "I was thinking I had to be with you," she replied, gazing up at him, "and after what happened last night…"

  "You didn't wanna waste a single second cos it might be your last?"

  "Something like that," she mumbled, dropping her eyes.

  He tightened his hold, and as she moved her arms around his waist he could feel the fragility she'd been working so hard to hide.

  "It's okay, baby," he murmured, then realized what he'd said. He'd never called a woman baby in his life.

  "I know it was a freak thing," she continued, "but it still makes me feel like there are no guarantees about anything. I kept thinking, what if something like that happens again and I've let this chance slip away? I had to follow you, I had to."

  "I'm glad you did," he said, feeling a wave of fierce protection sweeping through his heart. "For the record, it was almost impossible for me to keep my hands off you last night, and even harder to leave you this mornin."

  "I could feel it when you climbed into bed with me, even though you'd kept that robe on," she remarked, pulling back and looking up at him, "and when you left to come back here it was written all over your face."

  "It was?"

  "It was, otherwise I wouldn't have come after you. I knew you wanted me."

  "You were right," he purred, leaning in and kissing her. "The truth is, I felt somethin' from the moment you walked into my office."

  "I felt it too, and in that couple of weeks before I came back to start work I thought about you all the time. When you almost fired me I was panic-stricken."

  "And when I spanked you?"

  "Um…the truth is…" she began hesitantly.

  "The truth is," he repeated, lowering his voice, "it didn't turn you off, it turned you on, right?"

  "Oh, my gosh, so much."

  "So much for it bein' a deterrent!"

  "I was totally embarrassed as well," she said hastily, "and it's still a deterrent in a weird sort of way."

  "But Carly, weren't you in the least bit worried about runnin' into Andy or Elsie?"

  "Andy was at the barn."

  "What if he'd come back for some reason?"

  "Highly unlikely."

  "And Elsie?"

  "I could hear her in the kitchen. She had the television on. I was a teensy bit worried but not enough to stop me."

  "Apparently. You are such a brave, bad girl."

  "And you wouldn't have it any other way."

  "True, but I can't have you runnin' down the hall like that. Put on my robe," he suggested, releasing her and lifting it off its hook.

  "Oh, sure, that'll look innocent. Me prancing around in your bathrobe."

  "It's better than you bein' half-naked, and what about your arm? That bandage is wet. It needs to come off. Good grief. I'm gonna need to speak to Elsie."

  "I could tell her I took a shower."

  "Nope. I'm not lyin' to Elsie. I'm not sure how this is gonna play itself out but I've gotta let her know what's happenin' between us."

  "What do you mean, play itself out?"

  "It's complicated," he said evasively, a slight frown crossing his brow.

  "Keith? Can I ask what this is?" she murmured, picking up a key hanging around his chest. "Does it open the door to Fort Knox? It must be important for you to be wearing it."

  "Once upon a time it was the key to Fort Knox. Now it's more like a talisman, and that's all I can tell you."

  "Maybe more later?"

  "If you're a good girl," he grinned, "and I hate to say it but I've gotta call to make and some work to do. You'd best get your butt back into bed and I'll—"

  "Back to bed? I don't need to go back to bed, I'm perfectly fine. Has the wind died down?"

  "Most probably. I don't hear anything. Those winds come flyin' off the mountain overnight and they're usually gone come sun-up."

  "In that case, what I need is some breakfast, then I have to see Daisy. My poor truck, I hope it's not totally wrecked," she said sadly. "After that I have to jump on a horse."

  "I just had a thought. I have a track suit you can wear."

  "How could you possibly have a track suit that would fit me?"

  "I threw it into the washin' machine and the water was hot. It shrunk," he declared, moving into the bedroom.

  "You do your own laundry?" she asked, watching him pull open the bottom drawer of a large dresser.

  "I was passin' the laundry room and I heard the machine goin'. I was in a hurry and just tossed it in. Ah, found it. See if it fits."

  Taking it from his hands she pulled on the pants and tucked in the T-shirt.

  "I can't believe it. It's perfect."

  "Put on the top. That thin T-shirt isn't doin' anything to hide your high-beams."

  "Very funny," she giggled, pulling the sweatshirt over her head. "Is this more presentable?"

  "Yep. I'm so glad I didn't toss it."

  "It's really comfortable."

  "I guess it's yours now. I don't have any socks but Elsie will."

  "So, can we have breakfast?"

  "Sure, but I need to speak to Elsie alone first."

  "Didn't you say you had a call to make?"

  "Elsie has to come first. You go back to the guest room and wait about ten minutes, then go down to the dinin' room. That'll give me time to talk to her. After that I'll come back here and make the call."

  Taking her hand he began to lead her to the bedroom door, but she stopped and stared at a large framed photograph on the wall.

  "Is that this place?"

  "Yeah, that's how it looked when I bought it. Kind of a mess, huh? I have two pictures. That's the view of the paddocks and barn, and over there is a photograph of this house taken from in front of the barn and looking up at it."

  "You've done so much. My gosh. How did you manage it?"

  "It wasn't easy, but it was worth every sore muscle and every last penny. Come on, let's go. We both need to get some food in us."

  "I'll have to call my dad about Daisy," she grimaced as they started down the hall.

  "You have insurance, right?"

  "Of course."

  "So why is it a problem?"

  "Neither of my parents wanted me to buy it, but it was my money so I did. Dad said it was a death trap, and mom couldn't understand why I wanted to drive around in an old truck that had a terrible heater and no air-conditioning. I have to admit there were days I had to agree with her."

  "It's what I'd call a funmobile, a vehicle for fun, not every day use. Your dad was right. That windshield alone could've killed you. They don't shatter like that anymore."

  "And no doubt he'll remind me. I guess I'll have to rent something until it's all sorted out."

  "We've got a sedan in the garage you're welcome to borrow if you need it. Elsie uses it when she goes into town."

  "Thanks, Keith. Though now that I think about it, I have no plans to go anywhere."

  "This is where you get off," he said, stopping at her door. "Check your watch. Ten minutes. Okay?"

  "Sure, okay."

  "You like old things?" he asked, spotting her battered Timex.

  "Uh, not especially. I just never got around to buying myself something better."

  "Ten minutes," he grinned, then pecking her on the cheek he sauntered off,.

  As she watched him she thought he had the sexiest walk she'd ever seen. He took long strides, his arms swung easily at his sides, and his shoulders were straight and square. Turning the corner he disappeared and she let out a happy sigh.r />
  "What I wouldn't give to be a fly on that wall," she said wistfully. "I wonder what you'll say about me. What will Elsie say?"

  Her fingers were wrapped around the bedroom door handle.

  She was pushing it down.

  Then she wasn't.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Carly wasn't sure why she was refusing to listen to her voice of reason. She knew she should have slipped into the guest room, waited ten minutes just as Keith had asked her to, then ambled down to the kitchen, but instead she was walking silently down the hall. Promising herself she'd only listen for a minute or two, she paused deciding which direction to take. She could enter the dining room and listen through the door that led to the kitchen, or eavesdrop through the kitchen door itself. Thinking there'd be less chance of discovery in the dining room, she was about to enter when she heard Keith and Elsie talking. Startled, she abruptly stopped, and heart thumping she prayed they wouldn't come out and find her there.

  "Why am I doing this?" she mumbled. "I must be crazy."

  But she knew the answer. It wasn't just because she wanted to hear what he said about her, there was so much secrecy surrounding him and the ranch, she was hoping she might get a glimpse of what was behind it all.

  "You make the best coffee, Elsie," she heard Keith remark. "You always have."

  "You haven't asked me to sit down with you to discuss my coffee, and I'm going to make this easy. I know you've been with Carly."

  "How could you possibly…? Oh, you checked on her."

  "I did, early this morning, and there you were snuggled up together."

  "Elsie, I have real feelin's for this girl. You know I wouldn't have let that happen if I didn't."

  "This isn't news, Keith. I told you early on that you'd taken a liking to her. I think I knew it before you did, and you have my blessing, but you already know that."

  "I can't hide this from you and the guys, I'll tell them later, but that's not the issue."

  "No," Elsie said solemnly, "that's not the issue."

  Carly's pulse ticked up. Was she about to hear something important?

  "You're probably feeling you should tell her who you are, but it's early days. Anything could happen, and that father of yours will do whatever he must to get you back to Houston. If he learns about this place he'll find a way to shut it down, mark my words."