Bowles, Jan - Bound by the Montana Mountain Man [Cowboy Bad Boys 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (6 page)

Now they’d had that talk, she felt better about their relationship, too. It seemed Brad didn’t want to get serious, either. Well, that suited her just fine. After her divorce from Aaron, getting serious was the last thing on her mind. This way might just work for them.

She followed him into the kitchen, her gaze immediately drawn to the large oak table in the centre of the room. Images of their intimately joined bodies flashed through her mind. Her breathing automatically speeded up at the thought. Sex with Brad was something to be savored.

He caught her stare and smiled. “I don’t suppose either of us will look at that table in the same way again.”

“I’m just grateful it can’t talk.” Laughing, she shrugged on her coat and boots and found her hat resting against a jar of spaghetti where it had been tossed earlier.

“I’ve gotta feed the horses first. Then we can go over to your place.”

Snow had just started falling again. The soft white blanket soaked up most of the sound around them as they walked across to the stables.

Inside, with steam rising from their coats, six horses stared back as he introduced them. He put more hay and food into their stalls. “This one is Rufus,” he finally said, running his hand over the muzzle of a beautiful black stallion. “He helped me rescue you the other day.”

Cassie stroked the fine-looking beast. “Thank you, Rufus. I guess I owe you one.” It still felt strange that a whole chunk of her life had happened without her knowledge.

She followed him over to a barn, and he dragged out a snowmobile. “Best way to travel when the snow starts getting too deep.”

He sat astride it and motioned her to sit behind him. “Now hold on tight. We don’t want you falling in any more ditches.”

After she wrapped her arms tightly around him, he fired the noisy engine into life. Clouds of smoke billowed from the exhaust. Then they were on their way, the snowmobiles’ skis slicing effortlessly through the snow.

Eventually, they reached the edge of her land where a river separated it from his.

He stopped the engine. All they could hear was the sound of running water.

They dismounted, and he pointed to the river. “This is why I want this piece of land, Cassie. The river here is at its shallowest during the summer. I can cross it easily with my horses. You see, I take specialized expeditions into the unmapped part of the mountains. There are some wild tracks up there that I can really explore.”

Suddenly she saw Brad in a whole new light. He seemed even more potent. She studied him more closely. The snow had now begun to settle in the brim of his black Stetson. The cut of his jaw just showed the early signs of stubble. The way he stood tall and manly, in the tan sheepskin jacket. Brad was a risk taker in the extreme.

“Isn’t that kind of trekking dangerous?”

He smiled. “Sure is, baby, but I only take the most experienced adventurers. Novices need not apply. ”

“Brad, I’ll grant you the access.”

“Thanks, Cassie, but I prefer to own the land because you never know what the future holds. I book expeditions up to a year in advance. If we fall out, or you sell the ranch, then that access could stop overnight. It would just ruin my reputation as a serious mountain guide.”

“You saved my life, Brad. I’ll give it to you.” She could certainly see his point of view. He needed to be sure of ownership.

He stroked the side of her face. “That’s very generous, but I’ll pay you the going rate. That’s if you’ll sell it to me. I’ve had more than enough thanks with you just being in my bed. Besides, if we fell out, you would only end up despising me because you’d given it away.”

“I know what you mean.” Brad certainly talked sense. He seemed to be able to look ahead and judge a situation in its entirety. It probably came from his skills in assessing the risk from his guided treks. Nothing left to chance. “Okay, Brad, I’ll sell it to you. I guess I could use the money.”

“It won’t make you rich, Cassie.”

“I know it’s not worth that much. It’ll just tide me over until I get my freelancing properly set up.”

“Ah, yes, I noticed you did web design when I was at your place the other day.”

“Is there anything you don’t know about me?”

He smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes. “Guess I’m just someone who notices the details.” He pulled her into his arms and delivered a kiss that left her breathless and wanting more. Never mind that they’d spent the last three hours in bed.

His hand slipped inside her coat. After unbuttoning her jeans, he rubbed a finger over her clit. Gasping for breath, she tried to pull away, but he held her fast. “Your fingers are ice cold, Brad.”

He chuckled and slipped his finger deep inside her pussy. Nuzzling her forehead, he murmured seductively, “Don’t you think the combination of heat and ice is very erotic?”

“Yes,” she whimpered, barely able to stand upright.

“Well, when I come over to yours, I’m gonna bring a whole lot of ice, and a whole lot of heat.”

The exquisite feeling felt tortuous and deliciously erotic. “I like the heat part, Brad, but not the ice part. I don’t think I could stand it. You won’t get me to stay still for long enough.”

He nuzzled down to her ear, his voice deep and sensual. “That’s what I thought. I’ll just have to come up with a way to keep you in place, while I administer the pleasure.”

“And what would that be?” Raising an eyebrow, she looked at him. A tight coil of desire centered low in her stomach as he gazed back.

“Mmm, that’s part of the enjoyment, not knowing what’s coming next.”

The thought of Brad seeing to her every need made her arch her wet pussy into his hand. His other hand held her in a tight embrace as he kissed her possessively on the lips.

Standing in the middle of nowhere in such a tight embrace made her feel like they were the last two people alive. When the snow began falling harder, they made their way back to her place on the snowmobile.

He stilled the engine just outside the door to her ranch house. As she dismounted, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms, and she rested on his knee. “So when do you want me to come over, baby?” His gaze caressed over her, a slight smile to his lips. When he looked at her like that, desire flared instantly within her.

“This Friday,” she said breathlessly, already anticipating what would happen as soon as he arrived. Maybe she should at least show that she didn’t just want sex. It would be nice to get to know him on a more personal level, too. “Come for dinner at around seven. I make a mean chili.”

He nodded, the creases developing at the side of his mouth. “Make it a real hot one, then you’ll enjoy being cooled down.”

Chapter Six

When Friday arrived, Brad packed a small bag and headed over to Cassie’s.

The day she moved to Whitewaters, he felt he’d been blessed. She was exactly the type of woman he’d been looking for. Beautiful, resourceful, sexy, and available, and above all, she wasn’t looking for commitment.

Settling down had been the bane of all his previous relationships. None of his girlfriends had realized that by giving him an ultimatum.
It’s marriage or nothing.
He’d always chosen nothing.

He liked the freedom his lifestyle provided. Sometimes he’d head out into the mountains and spend days under the stars. Having a wife and children would only interfere with that.

Grabbing a bottle of bourbon from the shelf, he headed outside to the white Dodge pickup.

When he reached her place, he drove straight into the open garage. He slid from the driver’s seat and then knocked on her door.

Almost immediately, a vision of pure delight greeted him. Dressed in some tight black leather pants and a skimpy cream top, he could barely drag his eyes away from her full cleavage. With her blonde hair hanging loose, she smiled and ushered him inside.

“You look sexy as hell,” he said, following her cute ass as she sashayed into the kitchen. He had to fight the sudden urge to bend her over the nearest chair and fuck her senseless. Instead he handed her the bottle of bourbon.

“Thanks. I haven’t dressed up for ages. It makes a nice change.”

He smiled. He felt sure she’d spent hours getting ready. It made him feel wanted and desired, and horny as fuck. He pulled her into his arms. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

“Me, too.” Her husky reply as he kissed her full lips. His hands automatically splayed across her ass as he pulled her into his embrace. He squeezed her butt, dragging her against his hard cock.

She wound her hands around his neck and kissed him back. “I can’t wait for you to take me to bed, Brad, but I insist we eat and talk first.”

He grinned. Tonight was looking better and better.

“Baby, I’m hungry for whatever you’ve got.”

* * * *

While Brad poured the bourbon, Cassie served their meal. She couldn’t wait for Brad to take her to bed, but she was determined to hold out as long as possible. Surely this relationship wouldn’t just hinge on sex. Besides, it had taken her all afternoon to finally settle on what to wear. She knew she’d chosen well when Brad couldn’t take his eyes off her. Now she wanted to enjoy the moment for as long as possible.

“Any ice, Cassie?”

“Just a little,” she said absently. “There’s plenty in the freezer.”

“That’s good.”

She just caught his smile as he pulled the bag of ice from the cool box and dropped two cubes in her glass.

His eyes flicked to hers as she just stared at him. “What?”

“I’m sure you’ve got something planned that involves ice.”

“Whatever gave you that idea?” The dimples at the side of his mouth deepened as he put the bag back in the freezer.

Placing a finger to her lips in mock thought, she said, “Hmm, let me see.” She pointed at him. “Why, you did.”

“Wait and see. Half the fun is not knowing.”

He was right. Already she could feel her pussy moisten in anticipation. Though she knew if Brad came anywhere near her with an ice cube, she’d run a mile.

“Anyway, let’s eat.”

They both sat down, and she raised her glass to his. “To newfound friendships.”

He echoed her sentiment as their glasses clinked over the table. His eyes twinkled from the overhead lights. He certainly looked sexy in his dark gray shirt, and open collar. The neckline revealed a tantalizing amount of masculine body hair. He looked the maverick mountain man, all right.

Wondering how he viewed her, she asked, “Still think I’m a city girl?”

“No.” He chuckled and began forking the chili to his mouth. He raised his eyes back to hers. “But, you look like a city girl tonight, with your spray-on leather pants. And I admit I did call you that shortly after I’d met you, but I’ve seen what you’ve done with this place. You’re obviously determined to make a go of it.”

“I am, Brad. Maybe it’s thanks to you that I’ve done so well.”

He raised his brows. “Oh?”

“I guess it’s the stubborn streak I inherited from my mother. When someone tells me I can’t make a go of it, I invariably go out of my way to prove them wrong.”

He laughed out loud. “Then I’m glad I could help. By the way,” He pointed to his plate of food with his fork. “This chili is excellent.”

“I made it especially hot.”

“I noticed. Then you remembered what I said?”