Cougar in Texas: 3 (Rugged and Risque) Read online

Page 12


  Sweeping a few strands of hair from her face, he said, “We’re big boys. A little gossip never hurt anyone. I just want you to be safe.”Leaning toward her, he cupped her cheek with his hand and kissed her. Then he suggested, “Why don’t we call it a night?”

  She sighed. “I’m good with that.”

  They left all the papers on the coffee table and he took her by the hand and led her into his room. He closed the door, then stepped behind Reese. His mouth grazed her neck and she moaned as she leaned back against him. His arms wrapped around her waist.

  “You smell like cinnamon,” he murmured.

  “It’s the baked apples I made for dessert.”

  “They were delicious,” he said. “But not as tasty as you.”

  She laughed. “Oh come on. All that buttery, sugary, goopy sweetness? And topped with vanilla ice cream, no less. Neither you nor Sam came up for air until you were done.”

  “Remember, he did mention we each had a sweet tooth. Fortunately for me, I get to indulge mine a second time this evening.”

  His fingers eased the buttons of her sweater through their small holes. Then his hands covered her breasts, kneading them through the lacy cups of her bra. His tongue swept along the side of her throat and she shivered in his embrace.

  “You send wicked thrills down my spine,” she told him.

  “I can do better than that.” He slipped the sweater over her shoulders and it dropped to the floor. He unhooked her bra, tossing it aside as well. Then he palmed her breasts again and massaged them as her ass wiggled against his crotch. His cock swelled instantly. “I was dog-tired the last several nights. Sorry.”

  “I did miss you inside me,” she said. “But I got to catch up on my sleep.”

  “My snoring didn’t bother you?”

  “Not at all. In fact…I like listening to you when you’re sleeping. There’s almost a therapeutic quality to it.”

  He kissed her neck and said, “Hope you’re well rested. I’m in desperate need of you.”

  In a teasing voice, she mocked him. “Desperate? Now who’s being the smartass?”

  “Definitely not me. I’ve been too wiped out to make love to you and you rise with the sun and leave my bed.”

  “I do have breakfast to make for my guests. Hence the bed and breakfast label.”

  He smirked, though he knew she couldn’t see it. “Funny.”

  “You and Sam are paying guests. Leaving cash on the kitchen counter… You didn’t have to go to that extreme.”

  “I did. You weren’t charging our credit cards. And, like you said, we’re guests.”

  “Hmm, and I’m sleeping with one of you. That’s a bizarre line to cross.”

  “Unfortunately,” he said as his thumbs swept over her nipples and his excitement escalated, “sleeping is all we’ve done lately.” His tongue flicked her earlobe and she moaned again. “I want you, Reese.”

  One of his hands slid down her belly to the apex of her legs. He rubbed her through her jeans and her ass ground against his cock in response.

  “Caleb,” she whispered in a lusty voice.

  “What do you want, darlin’?”

  “You. Inside me.”

  The fact she didn’t hesitate to tell him that, despite seemingly still having some sort of issue with him paying for his room and the food she served him and Sam, made him grin. Regardless of semantics, she was apparently as hot for him as he was for her.

  He unfastened her jeans and slipped his hand behind the lacy material covering the heart of her. His fingers glided over her slick pussy lips and he groaned.

  “Damn,” he muttered against her temple. “You’re already wet for me.”

  “Since you walked through the door much earlier this evening.”

  “Now that’s hot, darlin’.” He rubbed her labia and then her clit, while his other hand cupped her breast and toyed with the hard nipple. “But I want you even wetter.”

  He pushed a finger deep into her pussy and she let out a sharp gasp. “Oh God, yes.” She raised an arm and twined her fingers through his hair as his mouth trailed along the crook of her neck to her shoulder. “Caleb,” she said in the provocative voice that made his pulse spike. “Make me come.”

  A primal grunt fell from his lips. “How many times, sweetheart?”

  Her fingers tightened around the strands she held. “At least twice before you make love to me.”

  “Greedy little thing.”

  “You keep falling asleep on me. I deserve them.”

  He liked her playful tone. Maybe she was finally starting to grasp how desirable she was—and how worthy she was of affection.

  “Darlin’, I’ll make you come all night long if that’s what you want.”

  She sighed again. “Could you be more perfect?”

  “Yes,” he was quick to say, knowing he had a slew of shortcomings, some of which she knew nothing about, particularly when it came to his family. “But like I said before, I’m working on it.”

  “Work on me,” she told him as her cunt clenched his fingers. “I am all kinds of crazy for you.”

  His lips slid along her skin, to the nape of her neck. He rubbed her clit with two fingertips and more pressure. Her breathing picked up. Her legs shook, but he held her against him, her back melding to his torso. She let out a low moan and her head fell back on his shoulder.

  “Enjoying yourself, sweetheart?”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Oh I have some idea.” He pushed two fingers into her wet pussy and stroked her while the heel of his hand massaged her clit.

  “Yes.”

  Her ass ground against his cock again, and he grunted. “Keep that up, and you’ll only get one before I make love to you.”

  “I can live with that.” Her voice was tight and dripping desire. “Because this one is going to be a doozie. Good God.” She squeezed his fingers and a small cry fell from her lips. He kept stroking her. “Caleb!”

  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.”