Her Unbridled Cowboy (Harland County Series) (27 page)

“But…you already took care of me.” She
blinked, her pulse hiccupping at the heat in his eyes. “Didn’t we?”

He shook his head, wicked grin
returning. “Not by a long shot,” he replied.

Connor kissed her again, his tongue
growing bold, his hand daring as he skimmed over her breast, lightly grazing
her tightened peak while his other slid further south and he slipped a finger
into her wet center.

She moaned and rocked into him. He
was right. She was ready for more. She’d never been ready for more. Her hand
moved up and down his hard length still in her grasp, and a new, inner feminine
something rejoiced when he pulsed in her hand.

A groan sounded deep in his throat
before he drew back. “There’s only so much I can take, darlin’.” He ripped the
foil packet, sheathed himself, then pulled her to the very edge of the counter,
where he eased the tip inside.

Gripping his shoulders, she threw
her head back and moaned while her body got used to him. He pushed further,
then further still, and she inhaled at the feel of him. He was so big and
filled her so good…

“You okay, darlin’?” he asked,
eyes, half closed.

She nodded. “Oh, yeah. But I’m
going to need you to start moving.”

His smiled appeared. “Yes, ma’am.”
He gripped her hips and began to thrust.

Things got a little wild. She slung
her arms around his broad shoulders and captured his mouth. Hungry and frenzied,
they kissed, his tongue matching his thrusts, driving her mad.

Heated pressure built and enflamed
and
oh yeah
, she was close again. Kerri had never had two orgasms during
sex before. Heck, she never had two in one night. But she was almost there.
Yeah, the pressure built with each delicious thrust.

When he broke the kiss and lifted
her off the counter, Kerri decided then and there gravity was her new best
friend because she sank onto him even more.

She moaned, then gasped as her back
met with the cold wall. Blinking back surprise, she frowned at him. “We’re not
going to the bedroom?”

He shook his head, expression
strained as he began to thrust again. “Won’t make it. You feel too damn good.”

His words, his praise, the way he
felt driving deep inside had her right back at that incredible edge again. He
was plastered against her, mouth on her neck, magnificent chest brushing her
nipples with each thrust. Little mewls panted up and out of her throat.

She’d never made that sound before.

His body was hot. So hot. She
wrapped her legs around him tighter and he groaned against her throat. God, he
felt so good. He filled her completely. She was done.

“
Connor.
”

He lifted his head and looked into
her eyes. “I’m right with you, darlin’,” he said, then kissed her hot and
rough, and with so much need, she shuddered, bursting clean over that edge to experience
her first ever double orgasm.

 A second later, with a fierce
thrust and a sexy, rough sound rumbling in his throat, he followed her over the
edge.

Unable to remain standing, he slid
them down to the floor, holding her tight, still buried deep inside her. Air
rustled around them as they stayed that way a few moments, working to catch
their breath. Head resting against his collarbone, she’d never felt so relaxed,
so boneless in all her life.

“Connor?”

Spurts of warm breath fanned the
side of her face and neck as his forehead rested against her temple. “Yeah?”

“Is there a time frame on when you
get the feeling back in your legs? Because mine are kind of gone.”

His chuckle rumbled through her.
“Not to worry, darlin’,” he said, drawing back to look in her eyes. “It’ll
return.” A long finger traced her face and pushed a strand of hair behind her
ear. “You okay?”

She knew what he was fishing for.
Some sign as to how he did. If she’d enjoyed sex with a straight guy. If she
enjoyed sex with a cowboy. If she enjoyed sex with
him
. Well she did,
big
time.
Surely he could tell by her moans and panting.

“Better than okay,” she replied
with a smile. “That was…wow.”

His lips curved into a very
satisfied grin. “I like wow.”

“Me, too. But I think you know
that.”

“Yeah. You’re screams kinda gave it
away.”

She smacked him. “I didn’t scream.”
Yeah, she did. She totally did.

“Then you have a bad memory,” he
said, detangling from her before he brought them to their feet. “What do you
say we head into that big shower of yours so we can wash off chocolate heaven,
and I can refresh your memory?” He ran a finger down her chest, lightly grazing
a hardened peak.

She shuddered and heat pooled low
in her belly.
Holy smokes
. She was so easy when it came to him. Her hand
skimmed up his taut abs to his muscled chest, and the thought of soaping up his
hot, hard ridges made her ache.

“Yeah,” she said, leaning forward
to lick a spot of dried chocolate from his pecks. “I think I need a few more
lessons.”

In a swift move, he swept her off
her feet and strode down the hall toward her bedroom. “Then we’d better hurry,”
he said. “We don’t want to be late for class.”

M
arch was nearly over
and Kerri had spent most of that time going through the applications and résumés
in order to fill the staff for the restaurant. And trying not to think of
Connor. Dang him. Darn cowboy had his way with her body and now he was in her
head.

Last week, his visit had been
unexpected and well, magnificent, but they were supposed to keep it casual
friendly. They’d talked it out. Discussed a few simple rules that would help
keep things free and easy. No sleeping over. No consecutive visits. Staying all
night in either of their beds was a no-no. That was a sure way to form an
attachment neither of them wanted. So, after their shower and another round of
incredible sex
—
proving Jordan’s theory about a
king-size bed correct
—
Connor had left.

Surprisingly, she’d been fine with
that. Sore as heck, but fine. Parts of her body she didn’t even know had
muscles hurt for a few days. She’d even walked funny. Trying to keep that from Jordan had been a big challenge.

And now, staying away from the
cowboy was proving another. Six days without his kisses, without his touch was
a test of her resolve. But she’d had the restaurant to keep her occupied, and
she knew he was busy getting ready for his spring cattle drive.

“Earth to Kerri,” her sister was
saying, snapping her fingers. “Uh oh, Brandi, I think my sister’s out in orbit,
again.”

Kerri blinked, and the two smiling
women came into focus. They were sitting in a booth in the restaurant, having
coffee and brownies, discussing the remaining renovations and upcoming
inspections.

Brandi’s design was coming to life
and was just amazing. The wooden walls were completely done and stained, as
were the floors. The tables, booths, and bar were complete. A big barbeque pit
was ready for firing up. The kitchen was glorious with state-of-the-art
industrial-size everything, and Kerri never wanted to leave her own little bit
of heaven.
Texas Republic
, the name they chose for the restaurant since
the public would have a say in the music and menu specials, was just about
done. Only the stage area and restrooms needed to be finished.

“I’m here. I heard you. I was just
thinking how nice it’ll be to have everything complete,” she told them, sipping
her coffee.

Jordan snorted. “Yeah, right. That
dreamy look had nothing to do with a certain brother-in-law of mine.”

Brandi’s brown eyes widened. “Oh?
Really? You and Connor?”

“No.” Kerri shook her head, knowing
the designer had met him when he’d stopped in with Cole a few weeks back.
“There’s no me and Connor.”

Not really.

“So, it wasn’t his truck I saw
parked here the other night. The same night he got home at four in the
morning.” Jordan raised a brow.

Cripes. Really? How the heck did
her sister see all that?

Kerri sighed. “We had a one-time
thing.”

She wasn’t sure there would be
another. So it wasn’t a lie. Sure, he’d called her once and texted a few times,
but they’d never made any definite plans.

Jordan’s palm hit the table. “Hah.
I knew it. That explains why he’s walking around with a smile on his face
again.”

Connor was smiling?

Darn, if that didn’t put one on
Kerri.

“Kind of like that?” Brandi asked,
pointing to her.

Jordan nodded. “Exactly like that
one.”

“Ha ha. All right. Funs over,” Kerri
said, opening the folder on the table. “We still have applications to go
through.” She turned to pretty designer sitting next to her. “Thanks for
helping, by the way.”

“No problem,” Brandi said. “Your
place is almost done. I’ve got your mandatory inspections all lined up and my
next project doesn’t start for another month. I’m glad to help.”

“Well, since you won’t let us pay
you for this extra time, at least have one of my sister’s to-die-for chocolate peanut
butter brownies,” Jordan said, pushing a piece to the designer.

Brandi eyed it with longing, but
shook her head. “I’d better not.”

“Why?” her sister asked. “Surely
you’re not worried about your figure. You look great.”

“Yeah.” Kerri nodded. “If I had
your curves…”

“You’d be ten pounds heavier,”
Brandi said, cutting Kerri off. “I’m almost to my goal weight. The past year
I’ve lost forty-two pounds and would really like to get back down to where I
was before my thyroid quit working.”

Oh wow, Kerri never would’ve
guessed the woman had trouble with her weight. Brandi was a little shorter than
her and Jordan, probably around five seven and looked wonderful. The designer
had big, brown eyes, golden strands in her caramel color hair that fell past
her shoulders, and curves, not rolls, that turned the construction crew’s
heads.

“So you’re hypothyroid.” Jordan nodded. “I had a cop friend in L.A. whose wife had to take a pill for it every day.”

Kerri frowned at Brandi. “Is that what
you do?”

“Yeah.” The designer nodded. “But
it doesn’t help me lose weight. It just controls my TSH levels. I have to watch
my diet and eat smart and small every two to three hours to keep my metabolism
going.” Her gaze rested on the brownies. “So, as much as I’d love to devour
that beauty, I’d better not.”

“Must be tough to eat out,” Kerri
said, mind beginning to run with possibilities as she sipped her coffee.

Brandi snorted. “You’ve no idea.
Sure, I can pretty much eat anything I want, but in such small portions I’d end
up wasting money and food.”

“Really?” Yeah, her mind was
running rampant now.

Jordan smiled. “Okay, sis. What’s
cooking?”

Now Kerri smiled. “Well, it’s just
a thought, but you know how some restaurants will have an under 500 calorie
dish? I was thinking we could maybe do that, but tailor it better.” She glanced
at Brandi. “Could you help me? Maybe make a list of acceptable food and
portions so I can put together a few meals to add to the menu?”

Brandi’s face lit up. “Oh, wow.
That would be great. I’d love to.”

“Thanks.” Kerri nodded. “You can
either email it, or stop by when you’re ready and we can concoct.”

“Sounds good,” Brandi said.

“Then I guess we’d better get to
work.” Jordan divided the applications and they each took a stack.

An hour later, they had a nice pile
of hopefuls sitting in the middle of the table and were fleshing out a training
schedule when the door opened and four handsome cowboys strode in.

“Hi, husband.” Jordan scrambled to her feet and met Cole halfway, causing the remaining cowboys to step around.

“Hi, wife,” he said, crushing her
sister in for a kiss.

“Hi, bathroom while I puke,” Kevin
muttered, without missing a beat.

Kerri stood and laughed with the
others, while her heart pounded in her chest as her gaze strayed to Connor. This
was the first time she saw him since they’d shared more than ice cream.

Dang, he looked good. All tall, and
lean and smiling.

Did he tell anyone? Had any of the
guys guessed like Jordan? Her gaze studied the others as they approached.
Friendly smiles, warm gazes, no knowing glances. Her secret was safe. Well, it
wasn’t a secret, but she was relieved she didn’t have to fend questions.

“Hi, guys,” she said, moving aside
as Brandi scooted to her feet. “Brandi, you already know the McCalls. The other
two handsome cowboys are Dalton’s. Guys, this is our designer, Brandi.”

Kevin, of course, stepped forward
first and held out his hand. “Well, what do you know? I could go for a Brandi
right about now.”

Half the room groaned the other
half laughed.

“All right, Kevin. Let her go,”
Cole prompted, stopping at his side.

“What? She has soft hands,” Kevin said,
reluctantly releasing their designer.

Kerri motioned to the silent man at
his other side. “And this is his cousin, Kade.”

Brandi held out her hand, and when
Kade shook it, Kerri could feel the designer tense next to her.

“Nice to meet you,” Kade said,
slight frown on his forehead.

Brandi nodded. “Likewise.” Then
tugged free.

Connor stepped closer, placing a
hand on Kerri’s shoulder and one on Kade’s. “They own the Shadow Rock Ranch on
the other side of town,” Connor said, thumb brushing Kerri’s shoulder in a
slow, circular motion.

Pulse hiccupping from his touch,
she ordered her body not to sway into his yummy, hard, lean warmth. But her
body remembered that motion all too well, when his touch had strayed to all her
good parts…and lingered.
Shoot.
He was making her damp.

Kevin nodded. “Yeah, but, Kade runs
it. I only help out when the
bossman
doesn’t need my expertise with the
keys at McCall Enterprises,” he said, nodding toward Cole.