Crazy For You (6 page)

The smell of popcorn came from the concession stand and Clint moved his gaze toward it. A familiar figure, carrying what looked like a heavy load, walked from the parking lot toward the back of the concessions.

Ella.

One part of him knew he should stay right where he was, but the part that wanted to be close to her won out. He found himself striding toward her. She looked cute in her western jeans, white tank top, and brown western boots. Her thick blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, which fell over her shoulder and covered one breast. She looked tanned and healthy and very much a grown woman.

He saw that she was carrying a case of cola with a box of paper napkins on top of that. He reached her just as she made it to the back door of the stand.

“Let me take that.” He took the load from her without waiting for a response and hefted it into his arms.

“I don’t need you to carry that for me.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I was doing perfectly fine.”

He managed to hold back his amusement. She looked so damned cute as she glared at him. “There’s nothing wrong with asking for a little help now and then.”

She narrowed her gaze. “Your help is the last thing I need.”

He nodded toward the door. “Want to open that for me?”

She let out a huff of breath. “Might as well,” she grumbled.

After she opened the door, he set the box to the side on the floor and saw two women working the concessions. Before Ella could go in, he closed the door and cornered her outside.

“I need to get in there.” She tried to push past him but he wouldn’t let her. She put her hands on her hips again. “And for future reference, I can carry something all by my little self.”

Every time he was around her she made him want to smile and he hadn’t done a lot of smiling in a long time.

He wanted to reach for her and touch her soft skin but he hitched his shoulder up against the doorframe. “Why don’t you just accept my help?”

She blew out her breath and pushed her ponytail over her shoulder. She looked like she’d realized she was overreacting but it was killing her to admit it. “Okay. Thanks, Clint.”

He did smile then. “No problem.”

“Where’d you get the shiner from?” She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “Back to your wild ways?”

“Those days are long past.” He shook his head and touched the side of his face with his fingertips. “You slapped me. My brother punched me. I think you each got your message across.”

“Cody punched you?” Her lips twitched like she wanted to smile. “Can’t say you didn’t deserve it.”

Clint nodded. “I deserve more than that.”

“Damn straight.” She gestured to the door. “I need to get to work.”

He stepped out of the way. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

She reached for the door handle, turned it, and pushed open the door. “Don’t be late,” she said as she entered the concession stand and closed the door behind her.

As he walked away, he thought about how fiery she got when her temper flared. She was like a wild mustang that needed to be tamed—strong-willed and fired up when she didn’t get what she wanted.

He liked her that way, liked getting under her skin.

Her personality reminded him a lot of Bucky and he felt comfortable with her, despite the fact that she probably wanted to slap him whenever they were around each other.

She was a grown woman now, a beautiful woman.

A woman he wanted to touch, to taste.

He gritted his teeth and shook his head. He needed to get his mind off of Ella and back to thinking about the future and exactly where he belonged.

After the rodeo ended for the day, Clint spent time talking with Walt. The older man spoke as if Clint’s comeback was signed and sealed, and just had to be delivered. Clint gave up on telling Walt that he didn’t even know if he’d be hanging around much longer.

As he was walking away from Walt, Clint spotted his cousin, Reese McBride. Clint was a good six years younger than Reese. When Clint was just a kid he’d had a case of hero worship when it came to Reese.

Reese shook Clint’s hand while gripping his shoulder. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Here and there.” They released hands. “Was out of the States for a while.”

“I’ll say it’s been a good long while,” Reese said. “Planning on hanging around?”

Clint shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“We need to get together.” Reese hooked his thumbs in his jean pockets. “We’ll have a barbeque. A good ol’ McBride family reunion.”

At that, Clint couldn’t help a grin. “Now that would be some reunion, especially now. I hear your brother and all five of Bull’s sons are hitched or engaged, and there’s a young one or two running around.”

 “Won’t find me getting that serious about a woman or having kids.” Reese shook his head. “But I have to say my brother and our cousins married a fine bunch of ladies.”

 “Still with the police department?” Clint asked.

Reese rocked back on his heels. “Detective now.”

“Moved up pretty fast,” Clint said.

“Not that fast.” Reese shrugged. “You’ve been gone a good long time.”

“True.” Clint pushed his Stetson with one finger. “No telling what I’ve missed.”

“Yep.” Reese glanced around. “I’ve got to find my partner. She’s here somewhere.”

“Then I’d better let you get on out of here.” Clint slapped Reese on the shoulder. “Good to see you.”

“Same here.” Clint gave a nod.

When they parted ways, Clint headed for the parking lot. He rounded a pickup and caught sight of the familiar cute little ass of a blonde who was lifting a box from the ground to put into the back of an old truck.

He strode up behind Ella, took the box from her grasp, leaned over the side of the vehicle, and set the box on the truck bed.

When he turned back to face Ella, she had her hands on her hips again. “Clint McBride, I told you—” She gasped in surprise as he took her by her upper arms, drew her tightly to him and brought his mouth to hers.

For a moment she struggled, fighting him. She placed her palms against his chest, trying to break free of his hold. Within moments she gave in with a soft moan and began kissing him back as if she was starving for him. She moved her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on to him as if she needed his support.

He tasted her sweetness and drew in her scent. Damn, but she smelled good, a light floral perfume that caused him to growl low in his throat. The need to have her, to possess her was so powerful that his cock hardened and he pressed her even more tightly against him.

The kiss grew fiercer and all he could think of was grabbing her up in his arms, going someplace where they’d be alone and taking her hard. He knew she’d be a wildcat in his embrace. Untamed and free, demanding her pleasure.

When he finally had to catch his breath, he broke the kiss and raised his head. She stared into his eyes, looking slightly dazed and completely taken off guard. Her lips were red and swollen, and no doubt his stubble had chafed her skin where it was pink.

In the next instant, her features changed from soft to hard. “You—you—” She sputtered the words. She spun out of his arms and marched to the driver’s side door of the old truck.

He did his best to hide a grin as she climbed in, the door squeaking as she slammed it shut. He stood outside the driver’s side window and smiled at her. The truck coughed and sputtered as she tried to start it. On the third try the vehicle rumbled to life and the gears groaned as she shifted into reverse. He stepped away as she backed up the truck. She came close to hitting another car before she slammed on the brakes and threw the truck into first. Tires squealed as she stomped on the gas and the vehicle lurched forward.

Damn, but he enjoyed getting a rise out of her.

As she drove away he realized his cock and balls were still aching with need for her and he adjusted himself. His jeans felt tight and constricting as his cock pressed against the tough material.

His amusement faded, replaced by a sense of frustration. He wanted her badly and he had a feeling she wanted him just as much. But now she was gone and he was left to head back to his hotel room.

A part of him felt guilty for what he’d just done, and for the thoughts rampaging through his head. All of the things that he’d been thinking and feeling about her were wrong.

But at the same time a sense of satisfaction also went through him. He’d stirred her up and had given her something to think about. And just maybe she’d admit that she wanted him.

He shook his head as he walked to the Mustang and adjusted his jeans again.

It took fifteen minutes from the time he left the rodeo grounds to walking into his hotel room. He gritted his teeth and rubbed his cock through the jeans. He was still as hard as hell. He couldn’t stop fantasizing about what he wanted to do to her and with her.

He stripped out of his clothing, his cock big and hard, jutting out as he walked into the bathroom and straight for the shower. He waited until it was almost hot before he stepped under the water.

The spray hit him full in the face as he tilted his head back. His cock ached and he grasped it in his hand before leaning forward and bracing his other palm on the tile.

He closed his eyes, picturing Ella’s face, the fire in her gaze as he held her up against him. He imagined pushing her down so that her face was directly in front of his cock. He’d unfasten his jeans, release his erection, then grasp her head in his palms as he pressed his cock against her lips until she parted them as he slid inside her mouth.

As he pictured her on her knees, sucking him, he moved his hand up and down his erection, his cock aching more with every stroke.

She’d suck on him until he couldn’t take it anymore. He’d bring her down to the floor, strip away her clothes, then thrust his cock deep inside her. She’d moan with pleasure as he fucked her and watched his cock move in and out of her wetness. He’d take her hard and fast, and she would cry out as she climaxed.

He stroked himself harder then came with a rush. He opened his eyes as his semen spurted against the tile, stroking himself until he was spent.

His cock was still big, as if one orgasm hadn’t been enough. He braced both palms against the cool tile and lifted his face to the spray. When the ache wouldn’t go away, he switched the water to cold.

Damn, but this was insane. He wanted what he couldn’t have. Shouldn’t have. And he didn’t think his desire for Ella was going to go away anytime soon.

* * * * *

Ella plopped onto her bed and fell on her back, half-on, half-off the mattress. She stared at the ceiling, trying to ignore the throbbing between her thighs.

She didn’t like how she was on fire for Clint, didn’t like it at all…except that she’d dreamed of his kiss before. It had been a long time ago, when she’d been young and naïve and hadn’t thought about sex. She’d imagined what it would be like to be in his arms, to feel the warmth of his embrace.

A schoolgirl’s fantasy.

Her fantasies were altogether different now. Yet here she was, still a virgin at twenty-three. She wasn’t “saving” herself for some special man. It was only that the right one hadn’t come along, and most of all, she hadn’t had the time to even look for the right one.

Working on the ranch took up so much of her days that she wasn’t left with a lot of time for anything else. It had been that way since Bucky had died—her parents hadn’t been able to handle the ranch without her help. Not with her mother’s disability, and her father’s failing eyesight before they could afford to make payments on a cataract surgery. It had taken a long time to pay off that surgery.

Ella had been a surprise baby, her parents already forty-five when she was born. She hadn’t had a lot of friends given that she’d had no time to party like other kids she knew. She’d rarely had the time to do more than go to school and complete her homework. Although there had been guys who’d wanted to date her, she’d never had a boyfriend. All she’d been able to do was say no when they’d asked her out on dates.

In her high school art class, she’d fallen in love with sculpting and when she’d had time, she’d read every book she could get her hands on. The artist she’d loved the most was Remington and she’d wanted to emulate him, but in her own style.

When her parents were finally able to afford to hire Pistol, Ella had been able to throw her free moments into her art. That was what had mattered to her more than dating, more than anything but her family. Her father had even let her use the room in the cabin as her studio and had helped her make it the perfect place to allow her to be free to pursue her dreams.

She’d had a year at an art school in Phoenix before she’d had to return to the ranch. She’d driven the three-hour round trip four days a week. The gas alone guzzled by her old truck had cost a small fortune. One year was all they’d been able to afford, but she’d loved what time she’d had.

Life had gone back to working the ranch and slipping away to work on her art when she had a little time. That was until Pistol left and time in her studio had become rare.

That had been her life up to this point in time.

Now Clint was back, turning her world upside down. He’d rekindled her fantasies of him, only now they were far more intense. She didn’t know how to make love, only what she’d read in books, but she knew he could show her. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms over her head. Her nipples felt hard and ached, and she imagined Clint touching them, sucking them, while at the same time filling the burning need between her thighs.

She groaned, rolled onto her belly, and buried her face in her hands. Clint made her so mad on so many different levels. But she wanted him…needed him… She sighed and flopped onto her back again.

He’d come back and turned her world upside-down even before he’d kissed her. Now she was thinking about him more than her art or her work around the ranch.

She clenched her teeth. She had to get him out of her mind and not let him affect her like this. Kissing him again was out of the question. She couldn’t even believe that she had let him and even reciprocated the first time.