Cougar in Texas: 3 (Rugged and Risque) (13 page)

He held her as she came, her body vibrating against his. “That’s it. You’re even wetter. But still not enough.” Yet he gave her a little time to savor the release.

Finally withdrawing his hand from her panties, he quickly stripped her bare while she still panted from her orgasm. His cock strained against his fly, but he wasn’t done pleasuring her. He shucked his jeans and clothes as well and led her over to the bed.

“Climb on top, darlin’.” He directed her forward and she knelt on the mattress near the edge. He stood behind her, his arms snaking around her. He cupped her breasts and caressed them. Then he teased her nipples tight with his fingers and thumbs. “Those breathy whimpers of yours drive me wild,” he told her.

“I have a feeling I’ll be coming again soon.”

“I can guarantee it.” He released her. “Bend forward.”

Without questioning him, she did as he instructed, going down on all fours. He grabbed a pillow from the pile against the headboard and placed it beneath her, at her chest. She hugged it as his hands skimmed over her ass. He knelt behind her and spread her lips with his thumbs. Then his tongue swept over her clit and her body jolted.

She arched her back and lifted her ass higher in the air. He licked her pussy, loving the way she responded to his intimate touch. Her breathy whimpers turned into throaty moans.

“Caleb, that feels so good.”

He tongued her clit, then suckled her slick flesh. She shivered.

“You’re making me so hot,” she said.

Liquid fire roared through his own veins. But he wasn’t in a hurry. Had no desire to rush the natural progression of their evening. When he finally sank into her warm depths, he’d be damn relieved. Yet he could wait a while longer.

His hands kneaded her cheeks as he continued to lick and suck. She squirmed and panted. He increased the pressure, aggressively making love to her with his mouth.

“That’s perfect,” she said on a ragged breath. “I’m going to come again.”

He did everything he could to ensure it. Seconds later, another cry wrenched from her mouth and her body tensed, then trembled.

“Oh God,” she gasped.

He sheathed himself with a condom and crawled onto the bed. He entered her from behind, his body practically curling around hers.

“So wet,” he murmured. “So tight. Damn, you take my breath away.”

Thrusting into her, he groaned. His lips brushed over her shoulder and his hand slid between her legs. He rubbed her clit as his cock pumped slowly.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I love how you feel inside me.”

“Happy to be here.” His voice was rough as he tried to keep the steady rhythm he’d set rather than drive deeper and harder into her, an animalistic instinct she sparked.

They moved together and she milked his shaft until it was impossible not to pick up the pace. His strokes became longer and a bit more forceful.

“So good,” she mumbled. “Keep doing that.”

His hips jerked and he plunged into her, hard and fast. Her hand covered his between her legs, as though to keep it there. Not that he’d intended to stop the stimulation. He wanted to give her another powerful orgasm.

Fiery sensations coursed through him and his pulse raged. Nothing was quite as exciting as sending both of them right to the edge.

He thrust deep and felt her instant release.

“Yes!”

She clenched his cock and it intensified his pleasure until he could no longer hold onto it.

“Reese. Jesus.” He came with a violent shudder and a harsh breath. “Christ, sweetheart. You push all the right buttons.”

Her light giggle warmed his heart. She sounded as breathless as he did. “I can’t believe how much I’ve missed out on the past eleven years. This is practically addictive.”

“I have no qualms giving you a fix whenever the mood strikes.”

With another soft laugh, she told him, “You’d never get anything done.”

He groaned. “I wouldn’t mind.” His arms wrapped around her. “Making you orgasm on a regular basis is a worthwhile mission.”

“Have I mentioned how sweet your pillow talk is?”

“Yeah, I’m smooth as sandpaper,” he quipped. “But you get my gist.”

“I do. And I like the direction in which your thoughts continually run.”

“All roads keep leading back to you.”

She sighed. “I have no qualms with that.”

He held her a while longer, then reluctantly disentangled himself and ducked into the bathroom. Returning to the bed, he found her cozy under the covers and he joined her.

He pulled her to him and warned, “I’ll probably be waking you in a couple hours.”

“Chances are good I’ll already be awake and trying to rouse
you
.”

“You won’t have to work too hard. I’m already thinking of how to get you all wet and worked up again.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “I look forward to your creativity.”

Bringing her hand to his mouth, his lips brushed over her fingers. “I won’t leave you hanging for long, darlin.’”

He kept her close to him as they drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Eight

“You wear out the young stud?” Sam asked as he came into the kitchen while Reese poured herself a cup of coffee.

Her shoulders immediately bunched. Heat lit her cheeks. She’d known it would only be a matter of time before Sam broached the subject of the age gap between her and Caleb. “You think I’m too old for him, don’t you? Damn it, am I just making a complete fool of myself?”

“Whoa,” he said with remorse in his low, deep tone. “That wasn’t at all what I was getting at. I was just teasing you, honey, since he hasn’t left his suite yet this morning.”

She let out a long breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be so defensive. Bit of a sore spot still, I guess.”

“Why, because he’s a twentysomething and you’re a thirtysomething?”

“Sounds even worse when put like that.” She groaned.

With a chuckle, he said, “Caleb told me you’re five years older than him. That makes you my age, sure, but that kid passed me in maturity before his voice even changed.”

“He does seem to have an incredibly level head and remarkable focus. Every second I’m with him, he’s doing something new to impress me, without even trying, it seems.”

“Yeah, I should hate him,” Sam said with a self-deprecating laugh. “But I’m his biggest fan. Well,” he amended with a wink, “maybe his
second
biggest fan.”

She grinned. “I’m sure the line for that distinguished honor is a long one. And from what I’m hearing around town, you’re collecting your fair share of admirers. Since you and Caleb are partnering up at the ranch, you two are going to find yourselves at the top of the ‘most eligible and desirable’ bachelor list.”

“I’m not going to have any competition there. He’s not looking, or haven’t you noticed how taken he is with you?”

Her heart fluttered. At the same time she felt a tiny bit of self-consciousness creep up on her. “I suggested he ought to keep his options open from the onset. And for the record, I did tell him I’m too old for him.”

“He’s not much for browsing. Horses are always his primary concern. For you to have caught his eye and grabbed his attention… Well, I’ve got to say, that’s something, Reese. So don’t do the nibble your lip in anxiety thing. Or worry about a five-year age difference. Caleb always knows what he’s doing. Don’t doubt him. Or yourself.”

Handing over the fresh mug of coffee she’d poured, she said, “I can see why the two of you are so close. You’re both all heart.”

“Aw, shucks.” He grinned.

Caleb strolled in and snorted. “Are you two flirtin’ behind my back?”

His tone was such that Reese immediately knew he was teasing—and that he had no question about hers and Sam’s friendship. His confidence in both of them—and in the romance she and Caleb were building—caused her to brazenly stroll over to him and plant a solid kiss on him. Deep and scorching hot.

Sam hooted. When she pulled away, Caleb’s eyes were wide.

“Guess I’ll have to tease you more often. That was one hell of a kiss.”

“No need to mark your territory,” she said. “I’m willing to establish it on my own. Though your brother is
not
the type to make a move on me. And you know it.”

“That I do.” He crossed to the counter and filled a coffee cup.

Reese said, “I’m working at Ginger’s today. Breakfast is warm in the oven. Try to leave the dishes for me. You’re continually picking up after yourselves and I cringe every time I think about the cash Caleb gave me.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Sam gave her an incredulous look. “You didn’t run my card, did you?”

“Why on earth would I? Split the bill with your brother, but don’t think anything more about paying me. You could rent Jack Wade’s cottage on the lake for three months for what Caleb paid.”

“I went by your nightly rate, Reese,” he said. “And you’re feeding us breakfast and, oftentimes, lunch and dinner—and paying utilities and twice-a-day showers because of the work we’re doing at the ranch. Not to mention, since we’re turning the house into an inn, Sam and I will be staying here a while longer, until we get our cottages built on the property.”

“Do not give me any more money,” she insisted. “What you gave me already is perfectly fine. For
both
of you.” Sam opened his mouth as though in protest, but she silenced him with a raised hand. “I get a startup bonus for my pre-work at the inn, Sam, you know this. I am perfectly set financially. For once in my life, I can say that. I don’t need anything else. So just stop thinking you’re cheating me out of something. I wouldn’t charge
anyone
the full nightly rate if they were here long term.”

“She is a stubborn thing, isn’t she?” Sam asked.

“Yeah, but she’s damn pretty.”

Reese rolled her eyes. “Go to the ranch. I’m due in town.”

* * * * *

The ranch was abuzz with activity. Construction was well underway on the med facility and the new corrals. The crew for the inn renovation was scheduled to start on Wednesday, the day after Christmas. Caleb had told Reese he wanted her to be onsite as often as possible to oversee the renovations. She’d been nervous about the responsibility, but both he and Sam trusted her judgment and ability to handle the process. In addition, she had Lance Bauer, the project manager, backing her up. But it was her vision they needed to capture.

Caleb and Sam took the ATVs they’d bought out to the far perimeter of the property to inspect and repair the fencing that ran the boundaries, most of which was concealed by tall foliage and trees.

As Caleb checked a post, Sam, working alongside him, said, “Dad’s party is Saturday night. You make a decision on going with me?”

“You really think it’ll prove anything?”

“I think it’d clear our consciences. After all, we are about to go against our previous convictions and dip into our trust funds. We can’t afford the inn any other way, or the cottages we’re planning to build for ourselves.” Which they would tuck away on the far northeast side by the lake.

Caleb cringed, though his brother was right. They were entitled to the money by birthright but neither one had fully subscribed to the concept of entitlement. Or the constraints it placed on them.

He mused, “Maybe we can make it a loan we pay back.”

“To ourselves?”

Caleb laughed. “I don’t know. This is a strange moral dilemma.”

Sam seemed to give the situation some thought, then nodded and said, “I agree. On the other hand, we’re not doing something reckless or frivolous. This isn’t about our social and economic status. It’s about horses and people. And dreams.”

“True. And I feel very strongly we’re doing the right thing. With the inn too. Reese has already booked a wedding, a vow renewal ceremony and three parties, all scheduled in late spring. She’s going to start interviewing for her staff and has a number of prospects she’s excited about. I’m really looking forward to her pulling it all together.”

“She has great instinct and insight. She’s a hard worker too.”

“I think this is exactly the project she needed. Something bigger and more challenging than her B&B. She lost her passion for it because of her ex, but this inn has her undivided attention.”

“Almost,” Sam joked.

Caleb grinned. “Thankfully she can juggle the inn and me.”

Sam was quiet as he put more thought into the situation, then said, “You need to take her to Dallas on Saturday. Let her meet Dad and Judith.”

With a shake of his head, Caleb said, “Not a chance in hell. They’d chew her up and spit her out.
Look
at her. I’m not sending a lamb into the lion’s den no matter how crazy I am about her.”

“That’s your problem right there,” Sam said with the stern, older-brother voice he only used when needing to drill a point into Caleb’s sometimes stubborn head. “You keep her under wraps and it’ll be hell to pay when everyone finds out about her.”

He groaned. “I know. But it’s not fair to subject her to our family.”

“I’ve seen the way the two of you look at each other. And you practically feed off the other’s ideas. There’s something there, Caleb. Don’t fuck it up by trying to shield her. You’ve seen Judith go to work before. Don’t make my mistake by thinking you can ‘eventually’ spring her on our parents. It’ll never happen.”

Caleb removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair. Sam was perpetually single because the only woman he’d ever loved had caved under the pressure of Dallas—and Bennett—society when he’d finally brought her around.

“Reese seems resilient. And don’t forget…I’ll be there to help run interference.”

Caleb groaned. Of course he wanted to take her to the party. But he didn’t want her tangled in family politics.

Giving more thought to what Sam said though, Caleb knew if he was truly serious about Reese—and he was—he had to let her presence in his life known.

Sooner rather than later.

So that night, as he and Reese lay in bed, he said, “Sam and I are going to a party in Dallas on Saturday. Interested in attending?”

“What’s the occasion? New Year’s Eve isn’t until next Monday.”

He didn’t bother mentioning the new jewelry bestowed upon his mother at Thanksgiving, just said, “There typically isn’t one. It’ll be a quaint shindig of two or three hundred of our parents’ closest friends and relatives.”

She whistled under her breath. “They call that a quaint shindig?”

“It won’t be without ulterior motives from both my mother and my father. But I’d like to introduce you around.”

With a smile, she asked, “As what? New manager of your imaginary inn?”

“Well, there is that.” He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “But I was thinking more along the lines of my girlfriend.”

Her brow crooked. “Girlfriend?”

“Yeah.” He kissed her. “You have a problem with that?”

“Not in theory. But the label seems kind of youthful for a thirty-one-year-old divorcee.”

“I’d introduce you as my sex goddess, but that might not go over too well.”

“Ha, ha.”

He grinned. “What would you prefer, darlin’? Significant other? I’m more than okay with that.”

“For now, why don’t you just introduce me as Reese?”

His grin faded. “I don’t mind everyone knowing about us.”

“Neither do I. But maybe it’s best if we let them draw their own conclusions. I’m sure it’ll be obvious, considering how difficult it is for me to take my eyes off you.”

“Well, you know, Sam usually gets all the women’s attention.”

“I doubt it. He’s pretty amazing, yes. But doesn’t quite hold a candle to you.”

Caleb didn’t want to delve into the gold-digging factor in his or his brother’s lives. They’d both been played. Sam’s real love, however, had been thwarted by their parents. And he’d never given a relationship a second chance after that. Not that he was bitter per se. Caleb thought his brother was more of a realist. Being an heir to the kind of fortune they both were meant everyone in the family thought they had a say in what the brothers did and certainly who they dated.

Of course the thought agitated Caleb. It wouldn’t matter how beautiful or genuine Reese was, his mother would find fault in her because she was simple and grounded. Perfect in Caleb’s mind. Which would never do for Judith Bennett because she lived to be a big-shot diva. Reese would prove to be too country mouse for his mother. The Glam Goddess simply wouldn’t get her.

But he knew Sam had a valid point. Even if Caleb tried to hide his new relationship, his mother would eventually ferret it out. In doing so, she’d likely make Reese’s life a living hell whenever Caleb brought her around in the future—her way of getting back at him for keeping a secret.

So showing her off was his only solution. But he did warn her, “Remember when you said you should come with cautionary signs?”

“Yes.”

“Now it’s my turn to say that. Don’t take anything my family—other than Sam—says as gospel. They’re of the ‘you should be just like us’ variety. Know what I mean?”

She smiled. “I’ll completely underwhelm them, I have no doubt. But if that bothered you, you wouldn’t ask me to go.”

“Damn,” he said with a slight shake of his head. “You do catch on quick.”

“I can keep my shoulders squared.”

“That’s my girl.” He kissed her, then amended, “Woman.”

* * * * *

Caleb had to chuckle come morning when he rolled over and discovered he was sleeping alone. The smell of coffee and waffles told him exactly where he’d find his missing bedmate.

He hauled himself up, showered and dressed. Reese’s soft laughter met his ears as he entered the living room and found her at the table in the nook with Sam. Another platter full of food sat in the center. He settled in next to her and handed over a small, baby-blue box.

“Merry Christmas.”

She eyed him curiously. “Tell me you did not break our rule of keeping the gift exchanges simple and practical. Nothing outrageous.”

“I heard you loud and clear.”

Her low snort made Sam laugh. He said, “You do tend to have Dad’s overboard mentality when it comes to gift giving, Caleb.”