At the Cowboy's Mercy (5 page)

She turned with him, trailing her fingertips down his belly and wrapped them around his cock, her grip firm as she stroked up and down. He stilled for a moment, enjoying the caress, her slender fingers finding the perfect rhythm. God, how often had he fantasized about her doing that very thing, when they'd been up at her dad's place? More than once he'd caught himself staring at her hands thinking just that. More than once, he'd jerked off to the image.

"Jesus, you need to stop." He caught her hand and placed it on her belly. He flipped over, grabbed a condom out of the drawer and ripped it open. After sheathing himself, he rolled over. Parting her legs, he positioned himself and drove home. She stiffened and for a moment he stilled. Had he been too rough? In too much of a hurry? But then she wriggled, moving into him, watching him through half-lidded eyes, and he stroked forward. Again and again. Needing--hell, just needing.
 

"I can't come this way," she panted. "You have to touch me."

Without a word, he drew halfway out and rubbed the head of his cock against her inner walls. Her head went back with a click of her teeth, her body went rigid, and her channel became even slicker. She rolled her hips against him to keep him in the right area, then arched, her pussy squeezing him rhythmically as she came. He plowed into her to the hilt and rode out her orgasm with deep, hard thrusts as her muscles clasped, and his climax ripped from him, taking part of him with it. What part, he was too mindless to identify.
 

He released her wrists to hold himself over her on shaky arms for a moment, then he dropped onto his back, one leg bent, the other hanging off the edge of the mattress.

"Didn't expect you to know about the g-spot," she said breathlessly.

He turned his head toward her. "Not my first rodeo."

She laughed, but kept her hands to herself. So he did, too.

"You need to get into the shower?" he asked.

"As soon as my legs work."

What did that mean? But he didn't ask. A few minutes later, she curled up into a sitting position, not looking at him, pulled some clothes from her bag at the end of the bed and slipped into the bathroom.

Well, hell. How bad had he screwed things up?

CHAPTER FIVE

"I'm heading out to Gonzales tomorrow since I don't have to compete until Monday," he said after his shower, sitting on the bed and pulling on socks. "I'll take my tent and sleeping bag and you can have the RV to yourself."

Since she had to work, of course. He wasn't leaving her behind because he needed space. Exactly. She shifted on her seat on the couch. "Okay. Thanks."

"I'll get some work done out there, be back here on Monday, probably after lunch. Will you take care of Rocky for me?"

"Of course." It was the least she could do.

"Come to bed, Kennedy. It's big enough for the both of us."

She hesitated, then rose, bringing the blankets from the couch with her. He took them from her, then sucked in a breath when he saw her wrists, still red from his grip. He captured them in one big hand, gently this time.

"I hurt you. I'm sorry."

"It doesn't hurt," she said with a shrug. "I'll be fine." But she felt her cheeks heat at the outward sign of what they'd done--what she'd enjoyed.

He shifted to one side to make room for her. Again she paused. The bed was tiny, with his big body taking so much space. And while he'd dressed against the cold night in sweatpants and a t-shirt, she could still feel his hot flesh pressed against her. The fact that she wanted him again so soon scared the hell out of her. It was enough that she'd teased him into acting on his desire, that she'd let her attraction destroy her reservations.

She sat, then stretched stiffly beside him, her back to him. Moving just as slowly, he rested his hand on her hip and drew her against him. She wasn't going to be able to sleep with his breath stirring her hair, his hand still on her hip. The way he'd touched her only minutes ago, the way he'd moved over her, in her, played through her head over and over and she couldn't relax.

He had no such problem.
 

***

Luke stretched out in the sleeping bag and stared at the ceiling of his house the next night, the first night he'd slept inside it. He was determined not to count the cracks, to find the flaws, not if he wanted any sleep, but damn, it was in bad shape. He'd worked his ass off today on it, should be dead to the world, but he still ached for Kennedy. Damn it.

He'd reached for her this morning, hoping for a slower-paced lovemaking, but she'd already been gone. He hadn't seen her before he packed up the truck and left. That added to his disturbance. Did she regret sleeping with him? Was that why she bolted?
 

He couldn't really blame her. He hadn't been the nicest guy in the world, hell, he hadn't even kissed her, given her any kind of seduction, just demanded to see her tits. He hadn't been able to think of anything else since she made that offer. No seduction, no build up, and he'd left red marks on her wrists.

Worse, he'd taken her from Liam that first night because he didn't want his brother to take her to bed. He rolled onto his side and punched the wood floor. He'd been no better, unable to resist the temptation for more than one night. He'd always prided himself on having more control than Liam. Guess Kennedy proved him wrong.

He worried over her disappearance this morning, and the fact that she hadn't shown up to say good-bye. Maybe she thought he was sleeping with her as payment. He could understand her being upset about that. Maybe she was mad that he hadn't invited her to come with him to Gonzales, but she had to work. She'd be miserable out here anyway--nothing to do. Of course, she wasn't one to keep idle. He could imagine her out here, too easily. Worse, he could imagine her back at the RV, sprawled on his bed, her hair fanned over his pillow. He'd never be able to stop smelling her in his bed.

Jesus. She'd only been back in his life for a few days and already he missed the hell out of her. He'd tried to keep his anger at being able to say good-bye to Red between them, but since he'd spent time with her, he had trouble propping up that wall. He found it too easy to remember what he'd loved about her then, and wanted to draw that part of her back to the forefront.

***

Two days later, Luke's heart did something funny in his chest when he walked into the barn and saw Kennedy leaning against the rail, one foot hooked over the lowest bar as a pair of team ropers practiced in front of them. She was laughing, her head bent toward a cowboy who stood beside her--too close--his hat tipped back, his pose mimicking hers.

Liam.
 

The thing going on in his heart took control of his better judgement and he strode forward. His footsteps must have caught her attention because she turned, and a smile started to curve her lips in greeting. That only made the thing in his chest wilder. He caught Kennedy around the waist and plastered her against him, all in one move, before covering her mouth with his. She made a tiny sound in the back of her throat and pressed her hands, trapped between them, against his chest before curling her fingers in the front of his shirt and angling her head to welcome his kiss.
 

What started as a need to brand her melted into a need for more as she responded, for feeling her body against his, for her taste, her scent, filling his senses. He flattened one palm against the small of her back, pushing her belly against his hips, and curved the other around the back of her neck, stroking the soft skin beneath her ponytail.

Hoots and whistled echoed through the practice barn as the other cowboys noticed.

She broke the kiss, bringing her chin down, pressing her hands hard against his chest, and stepped back. The color in her cheeks was heightened, her lashes lowered. He cupped his hand under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. To his surprise, her eyes flashed and her lips pressed together. She wasn't embarrassed--well, not only embarrassed. She was pissed. She shot a glance in Liam's direction, then pivoted and strode away.

"So you're sleeping with her," Liam said laconically, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Or you don't want me to be."

Luke scowled at his brother.
 

Liam considered the team ropers in the practice arena and nodded. "Did you sleep with her because you wanted to, or so I wouldn't?"

"You were not in my head in the least."

"Good. Then maybe it bothers you a little that she's pissed at you?" Liam inclined his head toward the door where she'd disappeared.
 

Luke sighed and straightened. Where was his brain where that woman was concerned? Well, he knew
where
, but why it chose that location with her.... "Yeah. I'd better go see what that's about."

***

Kennedy marched down the fairway, which was beginning to get busy as showtime neared. She wished she had the money to get on one of the rides and have it spin these thoughts out of her head. What had he been thinking, kissing her like that in front of everyone? No, she knew what he'd been thinking about. He'd wanted to claim her as his. But didn't he know what everyone else would think? Didn't he care how it would make her look?
 

Probably not.

Worse, it had been a top-shelf kiss, knee-melting and all that. He'd just showered and shaved and tasted of mint toothpaste. His shirt was new and crisp beneath her hands, and the way he'd held her--under any other circumstance she'd have loved every second.

"Kennedy! Hey, Kennedy, wait up!"

He was running after her? Oh, for...She turned to face him, and her pulse picked up. He did look so damned good in his black shirt with gold flowered stripes and his black hat on his dark blond hair. His brow furrowed as he stopped in front of her, and he shoved his hands into his front jeans pockets, looking just like the teenager he'd been when they met.
 

"Why'd you run off?"

God, he sounded just as clueless as that teenager, too. She folded her arms over her chest and glared. "Why'd you kiss me like that?"

He rocked back on his heels. "Maybe I was glad to see you."

She snorted. "Maybe you were jealous because I was talking to Liam."

His lips thinned and she knew she'd hit it.
 

"So why are you pissed? You kissed me back."

"Because now everyone knows we're--we slept together." The kiss had said told her he wanted her, but she wasn't sure that was such a great idea. It looked like she needed to be the brains here.

"So?"

"So, they think I slept with you for a place to stay."

He set his jaw. "You were going to sleep with Liam for a place to stay."

Her entire body went hot, and she was certain she looked like a thermometer. Her fingers curled into her palms and she willed herself not to strike out.
 

"That's right, Luke. I was going to fuck Liam for a place to stay. But that's not why I fucked you."

Aware people were watching, and a woman was covering her child's ears, Kennedy pivoted and race-walked down the fairway, back to the campground. But she couldn't bring herself to go into the RV, not knowing he might follow her and trap her there, not when she wanted nothing more to do than cry. Instead, she headed to the barns. Most of the stock was gone, waiting for the show. She closed herself in Rocky's empty stall, slid down the wall to the hay she'd just changed this morning, and cried until she was empty.

She couldn't stay away from the rodeo, though. She had to watch him ride tonight, to see if he advanced to the next round. If he didn't...she still hadn't worked out what she'd do next. She hadn't figured out how to apply without a permanent address or phone. She should probably talk to Luke about that now that he was back in town. Still, she didn't have much time.

Pushing the worry from her mind, she slipped into the arena during tie-down roping--Liam's event--and took a seat near the chutes. This time Liam and Luke weren't hanging out together. Luke paced behind the chutes, his shoulders tight. Damn, she hoped that didn't affect his ride tonight. Maybe she was being selfish hoping he'd move on to the next round, but she wanted it for him, too. He deserved the money, just for being a good--if clueless--guy.

He turned, and as if he knew right where she was, met her gaze. She twitched her lips into a smile and waved. She might be imagining it, but she thought his shoulders relaxed a little.

He tensed again when Liam's name was announced. He walked to the chute where his brother was mounting. She couldn't see Luke's face, but Liam nodded and grinned, then shot out of the chute. The rope circled overhead a couple of times before he sent it sailing through the air, right over the young steer's horns. He was out of the saddle before the animal took up the slack, followed the rope and tossed the steer to the ground, looping another rope around three of its feet, tugging it and stepping back, hands raised. His grin told her he knew already he beat his last time.
 

The announcer confirmed it, and after waving his hat at the crowd, Liam jogged back toward Luke, who embraced him. Kennedy teared up a little before anxiety took over as Luke's event approached.

So much could go wrong. The hazer could fail to keep the steer in line, Luke could misjudge, he could get a bad grip and fail to bring the animal down. Kennedy's stomach knotted as the first rider rode out and the steer outpaced his horse. The next rider's time was almost five seconds--not terrible, but he'd gotten to this round with a faster time.
 

And then it was Luke's turn. Rocky moved back and forth in the chute, Luke gave a sharp nod and the steer lunged forward. When it broke the rope, Rocky followed. Luke was in the saddle only a second, but Rocky blocked her view. Her gaze moved to the overhead screen, and she had to orient herself. She forced herself not to look at the timer but to focus on his performance. Luke's heels dug into the ground and he had a good grip. Finally, with a twist, he dropped the animal into the dirt. The clock stopped and Kennedy finally let herself look at it. What had seemed like an eternity was three point eight seconds. A shriek of delight tore from her throat and again he found her in the stands, grinning like a fool. A time like that would be hard to beat tonight. Looked like he was heading for the next round.