Sun Burnt (7 page)

Kesslyn was just as tight and hot as he remembered. He wanted to go slower this time. He wanted to be a gentleman and find an appropriate place to give her pleasure, but it was too late for that. As soon as Kesslyn touched him, it had been too late for anything but fulfilling the pounding need to possess her. Her nails dug into his shoulders. Her legs wrapped tightly around Bea
u’
s waist.

Beau let go of all thought. His body took over, and he gave it free reign. Kesslyn was in his arms. She was wrapped around him like a vine, pushing back against his pounding thrusts. Harder and deeper he pressed. Making her scream his name again and again. He joined her, falling over the edge of a violent orgasm. Never stopping the steady slide of his hips until he felt ready to collapse, and Kesslyn hung limply in his arms.

Slowly, Beau lowered Kesslyn to her feet and held on until he was sure she was steady. Avoiding his eyes, she straightened her skirt and picked up her panties. He knew he should back up and give her some space, but he did
n’
t want to. He wanted her to feel his presence. He wanted her to remember him. Beau Knox, the cowboy, who could
n’
t get enough of her.

****

Kesslyn stared up at the stars from her blanket on the grass a few hundred yards from the house. The night was a deep black around her. Without the distraction of streetlights and so many buildings to block the view of the velvety ceiling above her. And the stars. There were so many stars. Kesslyn knew there were billions of stars in the night sky, but sh
e’
d never really seen them. Not like this. You did
n’
t really understand the beauty of the night until had the opportunity to see like this, in the quiet solitude away from the noise and lights of man.

Sh
e’
d come out here to think. The last few days had been filled with social calls and meetings. She and Tippy had made the rounds of Walker Creek, letting everyone get a good look at her. Hopefully being seen out and about would make her less of a stranger. She just wanted to be less of a sensation when she left the house. Wherever she went, people pulled out their phones and started texting. Maybe it was her imagination. Sh
e’
d been just a bit paranoid since that first day at the diner.

Sh
e’
d learned a few interesting things, too. Like asking for a Coke does
n’
t work. The word Coke in Texas is like saying soda back home. All sodas there were Cokes. She still was
n’
t sure how to order an actual Coke.

Sh
e’
d also learned that rain had an odd effect on Texans. Sh
e’
d stopped at the gas station on the way home from a visit to Mr. Bair
d’
s office to sign some paperwork transferring all of her grandfathe
r’
s property, investments, and business to her. While she was pumping gas and contemplating the enormity of recent changes in her life, the sky suddenly opened up and it poured down on Walker Creek. The surprising part of this happened when the other drivers began to hoot and applaud. The clerk rushed out to high-five everyone. One motorist even stopped to get out and dance in the rain. That was life in Texas sh
e’
d been told. Rain was a reason to celebrate vigorously. The memory made her smile.

A shooting star crossed overhead. Kesslyn closed her eyes tightly and wished like a child. She wished for the strength. Strength to do what needed to be done. Strength to figure out what exactly that was. The strength to spend the day with Beau without throwing herself at him . . . again.

Kessly
n’
s cheeks burned fiercely. Good god. If she came within three feet of the man, it was like the elastic melted right out of her panties and they hit the floor. She covered her face with her hands. Volcanic. Tha
t’
s what it was like to touch him. Just a brush of his hand, and she exploded in a shower of lust followed quickly by shame.

How did he do that to her? Sh
e’
d seen him several times in the last few days, but they never spoke. Not really. Tippy had the cattlemen coming up to the house for meals again. Kesslyn had met most of them and got to know them a little. She wanted them to feel comfortable coming to her if they had a problem. Normally, they would go to Beau, but if Beau was off or not around, she was the boss. Tippy was right, again, and Kesslyn did
n’
t know what she was going to do when Tippy went back to retired life.

During these meals, Beau was polite, but quiet, and he did
n’
t speak directly to her. He seemed to be keeping an eye on the other cowboys. As if maybe he were jealous and did
n’
t want anyone getting too close. That idea warmed her. Was it possible that he was interested in her for more than blazing hot barn sex? She was afraid to hope for it. Getting close to Beau only to get her heart broken could make day to day life very messy. He was her foreman, and he was the best man for the job. She could
n’
t send him away because it did
n’
t work out between them.

And was
n’
t that line of thought telling? Every hour of every day she was thinking of Walker Creek as her home more and more. Now she was thinking of her future on the ranch and wondering if Beau would be a part of it past his position as foreman. With a deep sigh of resignation, Kesslyn gathered up her blanket and began the short walk back to the house. Sh
e’
d be up with the sun and riding the range with Beau in the morning.

Kesslyn peeked at Beau from under the rim of her hat. Bea
u’
s eyes were focused on the trail ahead of them. His strong hands gripped the reigns expertly. Kesslyn could
n’
t help remembering how those large hands had felt on her body. She could
n’
t stop the racing of her heart or the desire to feel those hands on her again, but she was trying.

Beau was stunning as ever to her foolish heart. He looked powerful sitting on Zeu
s’
s back with his hat tipped to block the sun. She noticed that he used those powerful legs of his to control the horse more than the reigns. She barely had the strength to hold on with her legs. She was a decent rider, but she was used to leisurely rides with her dad from time to time. Not this kind of long ride that punished her backside and tested her tolerance for pain. She would be hurting the next day for sure.

When she met Beau in the barn that morning for their scheduled ride, h
e’
d paused when he saw her standing in the breezeway looking a little confused before he continued saddling Butterscotch for Kesslyn.

He was taking her along to ride the fences and check for damage. Apparently downed fencing was a regular occurrence. The fences had to be check to ensure the cattle did
n’
t wander out of their grazing areas. Having the herd wander onto a neighboring far
m’
s property and eat their crop would be a problem. The fences also keep other critters out. Likewise, they did
n’
t want their prize grazing land eaten up by neighboring cattle either. The cattlemen rode the fences and repaired damage caused by the cattle, winds, or rains as needed.

They had been riding for over an hour, and Kesslyn was amazed at the size of the property. This was what sh
e’
d wanted. To see the land for herself. The cattle itself was going to take some getting used to for her. They were big and kind of cute grazing peacefully from afar, but the smell was not something that sh
e’
d ever adjust to.

For the most part, the land was very flat except for the occasional rise. It was at the top of one of these rises that Kesslyn had to pull Butterscotch to a stop. The sheer beauty of the land stole her breath. The small valley before her was like an ocean of bluebells rolling over the gentle hills like waves.

Beau pulled up and circled around behind her. She looked over her shoulder in amazement.

“
I
t’
s beautiful, is
n’
tit? This being my home, I sometimes forget to stop and appreciate the glory of the land
.”
He was smiling. It was the first genuine smile sh
e’
d seen on his face since h
e’
d found her in the Walker Ranch kitchen and thought she was there to find to him.

Beau was looking out at the beautiful field of bluebells, but Kessly
n’
s eyes were locked on Beau. As lovely as the scene was, it did
n’
t compare to the sight of Beau sitting tall in the saddle with a look of relaxed happiness on his face.

****

Beau watched Kesslyn fidgeting in the saddle on poor Butterscotc
h’
s back and tried to keep his need to have her again in check. It had only been five days. H
e’
d had long dry spells without a woman and been just fine, but being in close proximity to Kesslyn on a regular basis was wreaking havoc on his libido.

When sh
e’
d strolled into the stable wearing those tight faded jeans and a little smile, Bea
u’
s brain had stuttered to a momentary stop. She was a cowbo
y’
s wet dream on the back of a horse with that red braid hanging down her back and a Stetson on her head. Good lord, how was he going to keep his hands to himself all damn day?

H
e’
d stayed out of her way since h
e’
d nailed her sweet ass against the wall in the barn. Instead of making her less argumentative and more affectionate, the encounter had pushed her further away from Beau. Sh
e’
d been embarrassed and shy when she slipped out of the barn and scurried back up to the big house.

Then and there, Beau decided to give the woman some space. Sh
e’
d been through a lot in a short time. Her parents passed away and left her alone. Then, her long lost grandpa passed and left her a company she knew nothing about and an entire town to look after a world away from her home. The welcome wagon was a randy cowboy who could
n’
t keep his hands off of her. No wonder she ran. Beau knew women, and this lady was not the sort who had one-nighters. That made him want her all the more, because sh
e’
d chosen him to be naughty with. He wanted to see her naughty side again. Frequently.

He peeked over at her again and wondered how long it would take her to admit she had far less riding experience than she let on. His little yankee princess was in for sore muscles in places she did
n’
t know she had muscles by the end of the day. He chuckled inwardly. The woman would
n’
t be able to walk in the morning.

The longer he watched her, the stronger the desire to pull her from her saddle and set her firmly in his lap grew. H
e’
d tell her it was for her own good, and it would be true, but Beau just wanted to get his hands on her again. Kesslyn was a sexy handful of a woman, and his hands itched to roam over those sensual curves again.

The
y’
d been riding for hours, and h
e’
d only had to stop twice to replace a downed post. It was about time to head back if they wanted any of the ribs Tipp
y’
d promised for dinner. The other cattlemen would clear the place out. Tipp
y’
s ribs in that magic homemade sauce of hers was legendary.

Beau turned to tell Kesslyn it was time to turn back just in time to see Butterscotch rear up. Kesslyn valiantly tried to hold on, but she was a greenhorn, and something had spooked the usually placid horse. She reared again, and Kesslyn tumbled backward. She hit the ground with a thud and lay there motionless. Butterscotch reared up one more time, her hooves coming down perilously close to Kessly
n’
s still form before she took off back toward the ranch.

Beau pulled Zeus to a stop and slid from his back. Fear for Kesslyn had his guts lodged firmly in his throat. As he approached Kesslyn, he looked around to see what might have spooked the horse just in time to see a massive rattler slink off into the brush.

He skidded to a stop at Kessly
n’
s side. She was breathing but shallowly. He first checked her limbs for breaks and found none. He gently ran his hands over her head, being careful not to move her neck. There was no blood or obvious large lumps.

“
Kesslyn, baby, please do
n’
t do this to me. I just found you
,”
he heard himself say as if from afar. His heart was pounding in his ears. He could
n’
t lose her this way. He could
n’
t.