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NINE

After Mike spent the night—again—Grace wondered

how she had let it happen—again—but didn 't allow herself to dwell on it. They were having great sex and a good time together, but he lived in Oklahoma and would be going home in a day and half, so after that she wouldn't have to be angstridden over it anymore. Why not simply enjoy what they had right now? Right now. They had discussed those two words last night and the phrase seemed to fit, made her more comfortable, eased her mind. With the pressure off, she had settled into whatever it was they had together and just let go.
Wow, had she ever let go. Exploring her sexuality with the same man over and over again was definitely fun. Tiring, since she once again hadn't gotten much sleep, but definitely enjoyable.
Mike had risen before dawn, kissed her on the forehead and told her he'd check in with her later. She'd rolled over, smiled, mumbled a brief good-bye and passed right out again.
That had been four hours ago. Wild Nights was closed today, so she had an entire day off to do whatever she wanted. She made it a point to take at least one day a week completely and totally away from the club, and that meant mentally, too. Not even paperwork. She was free to lie around relaxing, read a good book or get out and do some shopping. After she took a shower and slipped on jeans and a sweater, she sat at the table with her cup of coffee and a bagel, trying to decide how to spend the day. Her mind refused to cooperate. It was filled with thoughts of Mike. Mike's hands on her, his head between her legs, his thick, hot cock inside her.
Yeah, she knew exactly what she wanted to do today. And when the outside elevator monitor buzzed and Mike's voice came through, she was shocked at the giddy excitement coursing through her. For the love of God, she wasn't sixteen. Yet she did run into the bathroom and check her hair while he was coming up the elevator. Brainless twit. She really had to get over this infatuation she had with him. Grace Wylde did
not
moon over men, dammit! Okay, maybe she did, because when the elevator door opened and he walked out, she tried swallowing and it didn't work. Her throat had gone dry. Because he was rolling toward her wearing tight jeans, cowboy boots, a buttondown shirt and a cowboy hat. Oh. My. God. The hat was tipped down low over his brow, shading his forehead and lending him that movie-star dark-and-dangerous look. He hadn't shaved, and the dark stubble across his jaw only added to the sexy allure. Holy cow. She'd seen her share of cowboys belly up to the bar at
Wild Nights, but Mike was a natural, born and bred to the jeans, the
boots and the cowboy hat. All he needed was a holster loaded with two six-shooters and some spurs and she'd probably have an orgasm on the spot. He stopped in front of her, swept his hat off and pulled her into his arms. No, he dragged her into his arms, planting a long, slow kiss on her lips that left her bone-meltingly drugged.
Dayum.
“Mornin” he said when he released her, laying his hat on her kitchen table. She was speechless. It took a couple swallows past the dry desert in her throat to find her voice. “Good morning. You look . . . Wow.” He grinned. “I'll take that as a compliment.”
“Would you like some coffee?” Tea? Her, naked and spread-eagled just about anywhere?
“No, I'm fine. Actually, I'm here to take you on an adventure, if you don't have plans today.”
“I have no plans. What did you have in mind?” Her, naked and
spread-eagled somewhere she hoped.
Way to go with the one-track
mind, Grace.
“It's a surprise.”
“Uh, okay. Should I change?”
He looked at her. “No, you're perfect. Put on some socks and boots and bring a jacket.” She had a date. Holy shit, she had a date. She never dated. This was kind of exciting. An hour later she wasn't sure if she was more excited or terrified as she faced down her very first horse. Probably equal parts of both. Mike had driven them outside Las Vegas to a ranch that catered to private horseback riding tours. They were in the mountains, an area she'd never seen. Actually it was a rocky canyon surrounded by redcolored hills, peppered with brush and tall cactus. The sun warmed the area and kept the early morning chill away.
The ranch was huge, filled with horses and cattle and fenced farther than her eyes could follow. Mike told her it was thousands of acres. She felt like a little kid, turning her head from side to side after they'd parked and got out. She didn't know which way to look. A working ranch, it was owned by one of the veterinarians Mike'd met at the conference, who agreed to let them saddle up a couple of the horses and ride the property. She was about to mount and ride her very first horse. “They sure look a lot bigger in real life than they do in the movies,” she said, sizing up the horse in front of her. A chestnut mare, Mike had told her. The horse looked skittish and about as nervous as she was. “You grew up in Kentucky. How can you not know horses?” Mike asked, a teasing glint in his eyes as he smiled down at her. She looked up at him and rolled her eyes. “City girl. Never been around them in my life. Never went to the Derby, either, because I know that's your next question.”
He laughed. “Don't be scared. These horses are well trained. She won't buck or run off with you. All you have to do is get up on there and learn a few. simple commands.” Not being one to back away from a challenge, Grace was game, and pretty excited about having the chance to do something she'd never tried before.
So she stared up at the giant beast and the stirrup that was as high as her chest, trying to figure out how to do this without falling on her ass and making a complete fool of herself.
“Let me help you. Grab the saddle horn while I lift you. Slide your left foot into the stirrup, then swing your other leg over,” Mike said, putting his hands around her waist. He lifted and she grabbed and swung just as he told her. She was on! The horse hadn't even budged, either. Once settled, she smoothed her hands over the horse's coat, loving the warm, rough texture against her hands.
Mike adjusted the stirrups for the length of her legs, showed her how to hold the reins and what signals to give to make the horse move forward, left and right, and stop. He explained those were pretty much the only commands she'd need to know. Easy enough. This, she could handle.
If seeing Mike walking into her house dressed like a cowboy was devastating to her female senses, seeing him on a horse was nearly fatal. When he mounted and pulled up alongside her, a grin showcasing his dazzling white teeth against his tanned face, her heart took a fast tumble.
Wow, the man was truly a specimen of rugged beauty, just like the backdrop of the Mojave Desert.
They took off down a well-worn trail, away from the hustling activity of the main ranch and toward the towering canyon walls. The day was beautiful, the scenery incredibly gorgeous. Crisp, clean air, not a glittering light or another person in sight. Only Joshua trees, cactus, brush and birds overhead. It was breathtaking. They must have ridden for about an hour when Mike stopped, dismounted and helped her off her horse. “I don't want to ride you too long. You'll get sore.” She'd lost all track of time and could have ridden the rest of the day. The morning chill was gone and she was warming considerably. They'd stopped on the other side of the canyon, the towering, smooth, red-rocked sides surrounding them.
Mike tethered their horses to a nearby tree and reached into his saddle bag for a couple bottles of water. “Not wine, but it'll have to do. Drink?”
“I'd love one.”
He laid out a blanket on a smooth patch of thin grass, a fast-moving stream flowing alongside them. They sat and Grace drank while listening to the sounds of rushing water and birds overhead.
It was amazing. She'd never felt more relaxed or had a better time on her day off. “I've never been out here. In fact, I didn't even know places like this existed.” “They do. Most of us never see what's in our own backyards.” She laughed. “True enough. We get too busy, wrap ourselves around our own little world and stay within our comfort zone. Thank you for bringing me out here.”
“You're welcome. I'm glad I did. You look beautiful in sunlight.” “Thank you.” She warmed under his scrutiny, realizing that while she was extremely knowledgeable about sex, she had very little dating experience. Outside her element, she didn't know how to handle men. Or at least she hadn't yet figured out how to handle Mike. Maybe she should stop trying. Maybe she should just touch him, kiss him and make love to him for whatever time they had together and stop trying to figure him out. She screwed the top back on the water bottle and laid it down, then leaned across the blanket, rubbing her palm across his jaw.
“I love that unshaven look you're sporting today. It's very sexy.”
He arched a brow and rubbed his cheek against her hand. “Really.
I'll keep that in mind.”
“Yes, really. Makes you look very rugged and outdoorsy.”
“Does that make you hot?”
She laughed. “I think we've determined that pretty much everything about you makes me hot.”
In a second she was dragged across the blanket and onto his lap, his arms around her. “I make you hot, huh?”
God, he really was gorgeous. Even without the dark stubble and the sunglasses and the cowboy hat, he'd still make her wet. But the whole package was incredibly stimulating. “Want me to show you how hot?”
The wicked upward turn of his lips was her answer. “Go right ahead.”
“Just how . . . remote, are we?” she asked, squeezing the muscles of his upper arm, loving the feel of being caged within them. “Remote enough for you to do whatever you want. I told Carl where we were headed. He said his hands were working up north today. We're south. Completely alone.”
She rubbed his face again, the sensation across her palm sending little shocks between her legs. “Alone, huh? So I can do anything I want to you?”
“Anything you want, babe.”
She slid off his lap. “Lean back and stretch out your legs.” Mike didn't know what Grace planned, but he was more than willing to put his body in her hands. Her eyes sparkled with devilish delight and he forced back a laugh at the eager way she licked her lips. He rested his upper body on his elbows and slid his legs out straight. She maneuvered herself to his side and flipped over onto her stomach, her head at his hip. When she began toying with his belt buckle, he had a pretty good idea what she had in mind. So did his cock. A rush of heat flooded there, hardening him. Her eyes widened as the bulge grew against the denim.
“I haven't even touched you yet.” Her gaze flitted from his crotch to his face.
“You don't need to touch me. My mind is already there.” “Hmph,” she said, her mouth affecting a cute little pout. “I might simply intend to lay my head in your lap and quote Shakespeare's sonnets.”
“Baby, if you lay your head in my lap your mouth is going to be too hill to talk.”
She snorted. “You're rather sure of yourself, aren't you?”
“Are you saying I'm wrong about your intent?”
She shrugged, undoing his belt buckle. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
She didn't say another word, just popped the button open and
drew the zipper down. When her knuckles brushed his erection, he
sucked in a breath. Christ, she wasn't even touching bare skin yet and heat burned through his jeans. Good thing there was a cool breeze to go with the warm sun, because Grace was burning him alive and his cock wasn't even free of his jeans. “Lift,” she commanded. He did, and she jerked his jeans down, freeing his erection. It sprang up, hard and ready. Her hands were on him before he'd even settled back down. She wrapped her palms around his shaft and stroked upward, then down, seemingly fascinated with watching the skin move over the head of his cock. He, on the other hand, was trying to maintain control and not erupt all over her in seconds. She had magical hands and knew just how to stroke him, squeezing as she reached the head, rolling her thumb over the soft crest and eliciting drops of fluid that she swirled around with the pad of her thumb.
Though he'd always enjoyed having a woman touch him, this was different. Grace was different. At the moment, he couldn't stop to examine why. And her touch was a sweet balm across his tortured flesh, her warm breath a teasing caress that nearly shattered his control. He gritted his teeth and dug his fingers into the blanket as she bent low and licked his balls, the sensation so overpowering he shuddered. He jerked in response, his hips rising, giving her access as her hands glided along his flesh, her tongue doing a magical dance with the sac below. She murmured against him, a vibration that made him weak in the knees. He was glad he wasn't standing or he'd have embarrassed himself. She looked up at him, her braided hair falling over her shoulder. He reached for the band holding it and pulled it off, unwinding the strands so her hair blew free in the wind, falling against her face. He wrapped it around his hand and fisted it, jerking her toward his swollen cock head. He'd never needed a woman's mouth on him more than he needed Grace's. He needed it and now.
“Suck me, Grace. Wrap those sweet lips around my cock and suck me.”

TEN

The musky scent of Mike 's arousal encompassed
Grace's senses, his hands in her hair telling her how much he needed her. So hot. So incredibly erotic, her mouth just a fraction of an inch from the wide, swollen head of his cock. She shot him a sidelong glance; his jaw was set, his chest heaving as he panted and she knew she had him right where she wanted him.
But who was the victor here? Her body was on fire, her nipples hard and tingling as they pressed against the soft fabric of her sweater. Her pussy was damp with desire and the denim rubbing against her was only stoking the flame. She wanted to fling off her clothes and impale herself on his cock, pinch her nipples and ride him to a quick, satisfying orgasm.
Not yet. Not until she teased him a bit. And herself, too. The buildup would be so worth it.
“Grace.”
Mike's tone was a warning, a message that if she didn't do it voluntarily, he was going to push. She thrilled to his dominance, wondering how far she was willing to press it. She moved against his hand to lift her head so he could see her face.
Then she licked her lips.
“Goddammit.” He tugged at her hair and the sweet pain made her clit tingle. Taking control, he jerked his hips upward and pushed her mouth over his cock. She smiled as she took the head between her lips, her tongue snaking out to wrap around the crest and lap at the drops of pearly fluid gathered there.
He tasted hot and spicy. She covered the head with her tongue, feeling it pulse, so alive with a soft strength and a maddening allure. She engulfed him then, taking him deep, as far as she could, swirling her tongue around him as she swallowed him.
“Christ, Grace,” he murmured, tangling his hands in her hair now, holding onto the sides of her head to pump his cock into her mouth with rhythmic strokes. She raised up on her knees to bob up and down over his shaft, using her hands to stroke the base while she sucked him, wanting to pleasure him like no woman ever had. She cupped his balls, feeling them tighten within her grasp. She wanted him to come in her mouth, needed to have that part of him inside her. With relentless pursuit she went after what she sought, stroking and squeezing, loving the power she held within her hands and mouth, the way he jerked underneath her, rising up to meet her as she tightened her grip and massaged the soft head with her tongue and mouth.
“Oh yeah, baby. Just like that,” he murmured, jabbing his cock upward, driving with hard thrusts into the back of her throat. She felt die hot, salty burst as he let go with a hard groan, erupting, flooding her mouth with his come. She swallowed, the taste of him making her hot, wet and desperate to be fucked.
She held on to him until he stopped shuddering, but he still stroked her hair. A damp sheen of sweat coated the skin of his thighs and stomach as she let go of his shaft and glanced up at him. “Damn,” was all he said before dragging her across his chest to plant a hot, long kiss on her mouth. He slid his tongue inside and licked at hers, kissing her with such force she moaned and crawled into his lap, needing to be closer. Now it was her turn to latch onto his hair, rocking her pelvis against his quickly rehardening cock. Because as much as she could kiss him all day out here in the breezy sunshine, she wanted more. And he had to know that.
He pulled his mouth from hers. “You want me, Grace?”
“You know I do.” She reached between them to stroke his cock.
“Give it to me.”
He grasped her wrist and pulled it behind her, latching onto her mouth again and driving her crazy with a kiss that was filled with passion, with promise. It was meant to torment, to seduce, but she was well past the point of foreplay. She needed him inside her. Having his cock in her mouth, swallowing his taste—such an incredibly intimate act, it made her yearn to get closer to him—closer than even this. And he was keeping her from it.
She whimpered against his mouth, tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let her go. Passion erupted as a violent force. A new game—one offeree and take—one she was more than willing to play. She tore her mouth away. “Let me go.”
He didn't. Instead, he rolled her onto her back, pinning her there with his strength. “You don't really want me to let you go.”
Arousal fired her nerve endings. She searched for a vulnerable spot,
finding his hand near her head, and bit down on it. He growled, but
didn't release her, instead pulled her arms above her head and lifted her sweater, exposing her bra. Without preamble he bent down and captured the peak of one breast between his teeth, nipping at the quickly
responding nipple through the thin fabric. It hardened, an exquisite sensation shooting between her legs and dampening her further. But she struggled, trying to throw him off—a senseless effort, but fun nonetheless. Who knew that trying to fight against him could be so incredibly arousing? She tried not to laugh, but it was difficult, especially considering how easily he held her down. With any other man she'd be scared to death. With Mike, she knew it was just a game. If she got serious about it and asked him to stop, she knew he would. She sure as hell didn't want him to stop. She was stimulated beyond the ability to think rationally. Instead, she bucked up against him, inflaming her senses and, apparently, his. He tore at the button and zipper of her jeans, jerking the denim down her thighs and to her ankles. He dragged her to a sitting position, with one hand holding both her wrists together, and pulled her boots off, then her jeans, pushing her to the ground again. She continued to struggle against him to no avail. He was really strong.
Once he had her pinned, he palmed her sex through her silk panties. “You're wet.” “I am not,” she protested.
“You need to be fucked. Hell, you
want
to be fucked.”
She refused to answer, though she knew it to be true. “You need a hard cock inside you, ramming hard against that sweet pussy of yours until you come.”
“Fuck you. Get off me.”
His low laughter infuriated and excited her.
“I
am
going to fuck you.” With a quick jerk, her panties were history.
Oh well. The cool breeze wafted over her naked sex and she longed to spread her legs wide, but this game wasn't over. She was supposed to fight this for a while longer. Mike shoved his jeans aside and he was on her again, his hips against hers, his cock sliding along her the top of her pussy.
Oh God, yes. Right where she wanted and needed him. But she fought it, keeping her thighs together. His teeth gleamed as he smiled, his knee insinuating between hers as he dropped down fully on top of her, pushing her thighs apart.
“Open for me, Grace.”
“No,” she said, gritting her teeth, loving this. Her pussy was flooded with moisture now. Excitement pulsed through her bloodstream. She was throbbing, aching, desperate to scream the words, to beg him to fuck her. She was hanging on by a thread and if he didn't take her soon, she was going to give in.
“This isn't going to be gentle.”
Good. She hoped not. She wanted it hard, forceful, violent, needed him to plunge inside her with a desperation she couldn't fathom. With a final push, he opened her thighs and moved between them, positioning his cock at the entrance to her pussy. He bent his head and took her mouth in a punishing kiss at the same time he drove inside her.
He was right. It wasn't gentle. She screamed against his mouth as he thrust his cock all the way inside. She was so wet he slid in easily, his balls slapping her ass as he immersed himself to the hilt. He stilled then, panting against her, and she was afraid he was going to gentle his movements, but he didn't. He reared up and powered inside her again, this time deeper, harder, this thrust with more force than the first. Her walls closed in around him, gripping him tight and firm. Now that her legs were open, she acquiesced, wrapping them around his waist, lifting her ass to give him more. Anything he wanted was his for the taking.
“Fuck, you're tight,” he murmured against her mouth, only to slide his tongue inside again, pulling out to nibble at her lips, then her jaw, sliding down to capture her earlobe with his teeth. He bit down on the tender spot between her neck and shoulder as he rocked his shaft against her with punishing thrusts.
She cried out as she tightened around him, spilling her juices as she climaxed. He growled and continued to fuck her, refusing to stop until she was climbing again. She was exhausted from the fight and still he wouldn't let up, dragging his shaft against her clit. And she was going to go over again. The rush of her orgasm brought tears to her eyes as hot splashes of ecstasy spilled from her. With a harsh oath he went with her this time, grinding against her and then stilling, shuddering, clasping her tight against him and kissing her in the way only Mike could.
He rolled to the side, taking her with him, stroking her hair, her face, pressing light kisses to her bruised lips.
“I hurt you, didn't I?” he whispered.
“I'm tougher than you think.” She smiled at him, stroked his hair.
“You're an amazing woman, Grace.”
“You're an equally amazing man.”
“I hope there were no low-flying aircraft going over when we were having sex.” She laughed. They cleaned up and Mike rolled the blanket, tucking everything into his saddlebag. Sweetly sore and spent, then rode quietly back to the ranch and turned in the horses. When they got back home, Mike ordered her to undress. He pushed her onto the bed on her belly, but instead of sex, he grabbed some lotion and rubbed her back, butt and legs, massaging out the kinks from the ride. Then he curled up against her and they napped. Napped! She never napped. But it was so easy to fall asleep in the middle of day, wrapped up in his arms.
She fixed him dinner at her place that night. Steak and potatoes, figuring that was a “real man” kind of meal. They had wine and great conversation, and Grace realized how much she was going to miss having him around.
She hated the idea of missing anyone. For years she'd lived alone
and liked it that way. She had friends whom she hung out with when
she wanted company. Otherwise, she had always been content with her life, with her solitude.
Mike refilled her wineglass.
“I've really enjoyed the time we spent together, Grace.” Her stomach knotted. She smiled and reached for her glass, taking a long swallow of wine before answering. “I have, too. Thank you again for the ride today.”
“You're welcome.”
“What time is your flight tomorrow?”
“Early. I have to be at work the next day.”
She studied her wineglass, feeling stupid for the tears that stung her eyes. “I'm going to miss you, Grace.”
Don't say it.
She couldn't bear the emotion stabbing at her heart. “I've . . . really enjoyed spending time with you.” Didn't she say that already?
He grinned. “I think we both agreed that we enjoyed our time together.”
Shit.
“It's okay, Grace. Neither of us is going to handle this very well. It's not like we've had what you would call a relationship. We've had fun. Let's leave it at that.”
Yes. Lets do that.
Before she started feeling any worse than she already did. Her stomach hurt.
He stood and walked around the table, reaching for her hand. “I want to make love to you.”
She laid her glass on the table and slipped her hand in his, letting him lift her. He led her to the bedroom and he undressed her slowly, kissing every inch of her skin that he revealed. She sighed at every touch of his lips, a hot, melting sensation that made her shiver.
“On your knees.”
Her skin broke out in chills. She crawled onto the bed and he got behind her, pressing his lips to her back. He kissed every vertebra, from her neck all the way down to her tailbone and farther, his hands all over her. He parted her legs and licked the length of her pussy, drawing out a long, low moan that she couldn't hold in. She was already wet, quivering with the need to join with him. She bent forward, her head hitting the mattress, spreading her legs farther to give him better access as his tongue snaked out to flick at her clit. When he parted her buttocks and licked her anus, she cried out at the exquisite sensation of having his mouth there, circling the sensitive nerve endings with his hot tongue.
“I want to fuck your ass, Grace.”
“Yes.” She'd allow him any intimacy, wanting him close to her, inside her in every way possible.
He licked her there again, his tongue probing inside the tight hole. She nearly came off the bed at the hot, stabbing motion of his tongue invading her anus. Dear God, that was erotic as hell. He moved behind her, positioning, then reached around to stroke her clit while he parted her pussy lips and slid inside her cunt, fucking her with long, slow strokes until she was writhing against him, needing the orgasm that was so close. “Make me come,” she begged, pushing back against his cock, trying to get closer to the hand massaging her clit. And then she was there, tightening around him as she climaxed in a rush of hot, spiraling pleasure. He wrapped one arm around her middle and pulled her against his cock while she spasmed, rocking back and forth as the sensations rushed along her nerve endings. Panting, she barely had time to catch her breath before he pulled out and coated her anus with lube. He kept his hand on her clit, massaging gently now but keeping her in a state of heightened arousal. She wanted his cock again, dammit, needed him inside her.
“Mike.”
“Easy, baby,” he said, sliding his finger against her anus. He pushed, entered her, the burning sensation subsiding quickly as he finger-fucked her ass. The pleasure rocketed her. His finger inside her tight hole, his other hand rubbing her swollen clit, and her mind somewhere lost in the stratosphere.
He moved his finger in and out until she grew accustomed to the sensation, then withdrew. “My dick is going to be a lot bigger, baby. Push out when you feel me enter. That'll make it easier to take.”
She nodded. He coated her with more lube, then she felt the wide crest of his cock against her anus.
“Push, Grace.”
He was so gentle as he entered her. She relaxed her muscles and pushed and he breached the tight muscle. The burn was intense and she breathed through it. Mike didn't move, just let her settle into the sensation, her body adjusting to the invasion of his thick cock. It only took a minute, and he slid in farther.
He was so easy with her, stopping when necessary, never ceasing his movements along her clit, making sure she was okay. That alone was such a turn-on—his care of her.
And when she was adjusted to his invasion, it finally started feeling good—oh Lord, was it good. Thick, filling her, sliding in and out of her while his hand drove her insane. He strummed her clit in slow, easy, maddening motions. She was going to come and it was going to happen in a hurry. “You have the best ass, Grace,” he said, his voice tight with strain. He wasn't going to last either. She liked knowing that she could take him to the edge so fast. She moved, fucking back against his cock. His loud groan was incredibly arousing, making her tighten even more around him. “Goddamn!” He pushed forward, not as easily as he had before. She was ready for it, pushing back, taking it all in. Her body was on fire, her skin covered in moisture. She grabbed the bed sheets and pushed again, listening to the rasping sound of his breathing, feeling the way his movements along her clit intensified. Her orgasm rocketed her and she tensed, then screamed. She felt the pulses of her orgasm in her anus, and knew Mike would, too. He groaned and yelled out her name, pushing with relentless force as he came, then becoming still against her while she shuddered out the last ounce of energy she possessed.