Second Dance Cowboy (Second Chance) (14 page)

He
dropped to her side, keeping her in the nook of his arm as if he didn’t want to disconnect. She laid her cheek against his chest, his heart beat wildly in her ear. She played with the small patch of crisp hair in the center between his flat nipples.

Realization spurred through her. She had fallen in love with Dillon.

CHAPTER NINE

DILLON DIDN’T KNOW what Cassie had been thinking when she called Peyton and invited her to the bachelorette party. Things didn’t add up and he intended to get to the bottom.

For many
years, he’d blinded himself to Cassie’s need for attention, especially from the opposite sex. He’d suspected her of cheating, but he’d shrugged it off as his paranoia. Now, he guessed she’d gotten to know Dante long before Dillon had left the picture.

He should be spitting fumes. I
nstead, he had a sense of relief. In the end, he was better off without someone he didn’t trust. He hoped above all that Dante knew what he had to look forward to in the future.

After leaving the studio yesterday, he’d texted Cas
sie and suggested they meet. She agreed and said she’d drop by after class today. She drove up in her red convertible, top down, hair flowing in the breeze. He didn’t want her inside of the house, so he was waiting on the porch. She got out, a wide smile parted her lips. He hoped she didn’t think this was a friendly visit.

He realized she’d stopped and changed before she came. She wore modest clothing at work and the outfit she
wore now suggested she was going through a fashion crisis. What had happened to her? The deep cleavage exposed by a low-cut top and the short skirt that revealed long, toned legs did nothing for him, not anymore. He wanted to blame the lack of interest on the fact that she’d crawled out of his brother’s bed that morning. But it was more than the obvious. The desire he’d had for Cassie was replaced with a craving for a dancer—a slender-hipped, small breasted, dark haired beauty. If he went far enough for truth, he’d say she’d found her way inside of his heart. How had it happened so quickly?

Cassie swayed her way up the porch steps and leaned a hip against the railing, her blue eyes on him in curiosity. “I came like I said I would.” She bent one knee, thrusts out her large tits and
braced her hands on hips. Cassie could be seductive, he’d give her that, but unfortunately, he wasn’t the same man.

He sat in one of the wicker rockers and stretched his
legs, hooking his booted feet at the ankles. “I won’t waste your time and I ask that you don’t waste mine. Why?”

One thin brow curved. “Why what?”

“You know what I’m asking.” He didn’t want to pick bones.

“Are you asking why I asked Peyton to my bachelorette party? Doesn’t it make sense? If you
two are dating, and you did seem close the other night, shouldn’t I get to know her better?” She certainly could make her intentions seem reasonable. He just couldn’t fall for anything that came out of her mouth.

“Coming from anyone else
, I’d believe that excuse. But I know you now. I caught the look you exchanged with Peyton at the party. I’m not sure whether it was anger or jealousy, but I’m leaning toward the later.”

She stiffened and her gaze narrowed. “Mistake number one, don’t pretend you know me that well, Dillon. Mistake number two, don’t pretend that you don’t still have feelings for me. If we talk about
looks, I see the way you stare at me. Just like the old times.”

He chu
ckled. “Believe what you want, but I assure you, I can’t begin to describe what I think of you. Let’s be honest, that boat has sailed.” And he wasn’t sad.

Pushing herself off the rail, she took three steps toward him and stopped, cocking one hip. “You never could lie to me.”

“But you certainly got by with it.” He swallowed back another round of revulsion.

“I won’t
respond to something so wrong. I’m confused. I’m not sure what I want.” She slid her fingers through his hair.

He scrubbed his jaw,
shaking his head enough that she removed her hand. “Not my problem, but Peyton is. She isn’t caught up in this, and I won’t let her get involved.”

“Aww
, so sweet. Peyton has a protector. I bet she bats those milky eyes and you fall to your knees.” Laughing coldly, she stepped across the porch, the wood creaking under her cowgirl boots. She kept her back to him.

“
Now that is definitely jealousy.”

“What do I h
ave to be jealous of? This fling between you and Peyton? You’ve involved yourself with Miss Innocent to get back with me.” She turned and faced him, moisture in her eyes. “Fine, I’ll admit it, you got me. I’m hurt. I want to come back to you.”

Her words stung
his conscious. He searched his soul and came back empty. She’d betrayed him time and again. As cruel as she’d been, how mindless Dante had been, Dillon couldn’t lower himself—he had no desire to stoop to the levels of the drenches. He got up, keeping his gaze on her, and said, “In theory, if you and I would try this relationship again, how long would it take for you to run back into Dante’s arms? A week, a month? Maybe a year? You’ve lied to him, to me, everyone around you. Although my brother has betrayed me, I forgive him because I can see the evil you’ve played. But because I care for him, I’ll forget you and I had this conversation, that is if you leave Peyton alone. I suggest you go back to him and be appreciative that you have your claws sunk into a Brooke, and that’s the closest you’re ever going to get to me again.” He swiveled and pulled open the screen door.

“How dare you! You condemn me
as if I’m dirt under your feet, but we both know our relationship ended long before I broke it off. You’d grown bored, just as you do with everything. When have you ever followed through?” He didn’t turn. “Look at me!” she screamed.

Wanting to continue through the door, he realized she’d only follow him. It was best to get this over. He turned and their gazes met. “I’m looking.”

“What I can’t understand is, you went to college and you are one of the smartest men I know, and you chose to come back here. We had plans, remember. We were going to live in San Antonio. Your capabilities were endless. What changed? Why is it that when you get so close to the prize, you drop the ball?” Her lips twisted. “I wish I would have ended our relationship way before I did!”

“I wish you
would have too. It’d saved us a lot of wasted years. Now you should worry about your relationship with my brother, and let me take care of my own. Goodbye, Cassie.”

****

Peyton sped down the narrow graveled drive as excitement grew like a drum inside of her chest. Oliver was at soccer practice and she had enough time for a quick pick-me-up.

Pulling in front of Dillon’s house
, she realized she was taking a risk showing up without calling first. What was life without challenge though?

She knocked and waited. Heavy footsteps
sounded from inside, the lock unclicked and Peyton quickly got into a sexy pose, one hand on hip and the other entwined in her hair. She’d recently bought the lacey shirt, and although the neckline was lower than all of her other shirts, yet still modest, she liked how it looked. Dillon certainly seemed to like her chest. He’d suckled and licked her nipples like a lollipop.

The door came open. She focused her gaze on a spot on the screen.
“Hello, sexy.”

“You must have been expecting Dillon.”

That’s not Dillon’s voice
.

Peyton stiffened, dropping
both hands to her sides as the heat of embarrassment drizzled through her. She peered closer into the shadow of the screen. Deckland was smiling from ear to ear. “I—I thought you were at a cattle auction?” Had she heard Aspen right? She looked over her shoulder. Dillon’s truck was the only one parked in the driveway.

“That’s tomorrow,” he said.

Figured.

She
moistened her lips, gathered up courage and trudged ahead. “Yes, I was expecting Dillon. His truck is out front so I’m assuming he’s here.”

“He sure is. Well, sort of.” Deckland stepped out onto the porch. He didn’t seem bothered at all by her humiliation.

“Sort of?” She started backing toward the steps, ready to get out of this uncomfortable situation.

“He’s out at the barn
.”

“Oh, he’s busy. I’ll catch up to him later.” She made it to the driveway.

“He’d want to see you. Go on out there. But drive because you’ll get stuck in the grass wearing those heels.” Deckland called after her.

Turning, she gave him a wave and
quickly got back into the car. “So much for spontaneity,” she whispered.

She followed the worn pat
h across the grass to the barn, pulled her car off to the side and got out. Peeking her head into the open door, she didn’t hear anything. “Dillon?”

No answer.

Stepping inside of the barn, a strong scent of hay and wood swept across her nostrils. She looked around, but he wasn’t there. She turned on heel and ran into an iron hard wall. She bent her head back on one shoulder and stared into the most amazing eyes. “Dillon.”

“I thought I heard a car drive up.” He pulled off his gloves and stuck them into his back pocket. She took a small step back and
glided her gaze across his slick bare chest, flat stomach to his waist. The moisture made every muscle appear rock hard and defined. Her fingers ached to trace each hard line of his abs, like a map to a treasure. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I had a craving that I’d hoped to satisfy.”

A broad smile curved his lips and it sent the hairs on the back of her neck erect. “It seems we had the same thought.” He slipped his gaze over her and she squirmed.

“Looks like you’ve been working hard. Your muscles are bulging and your skin
is glistening. Have you been working outside long?”

“For a few hours.
I’m sure you don’t want to be near me though. You’re all dressed up and I’m soaked from head to toe.”

“That
turns me on.” She chuckled. “Are we alone here?”

“Deckland’s done for the night,” he said,
grinning from ear to ear. “The rest of the crew is working the cattle.” Taking three steps backward, she motioned for him to follow. He did. “Where are we going?”

“Away from the door,” she said.

“What do you have planned?” One brow lifted.

“To taste you.”

A growl escaped his chest. “Damn. Instant hard on.”

“Good.” She brought her
trembling fingers to his waist and undid the buckle, followed by the button and the zipper of his jeans. She lowered them on his hips and slipped her fingers inside of his shorts, pulling him out. He was warm, hard and inviting, everything a horny woman could want.

Spotting a bale of hay, she sat—
the right level to pleasure him. Circling her fingers around his girth, she brought him to her mouth and licked the slit on his pink head. His ragged inhale bounced off the walls. “You do realize I’ve never done this before?” she said against his skin.

“A blowjob
in a barn?” His thick voice sent ripples of excitement through her.

She lif
ted her gaze to meet his. “Well, no, I haven’t pleasured a man in a barn before, but I’m talking about showing up unexpected with the objective of having hot sex. Are you having a bad influence on me?”

“
There’s a first time for everything…a second…third…fourth.” His words were more like a rumble. “And sweetheart, there’s nothing bad about this. It’s all good.”

“I can tell you like my tongue on you
. I think you grew another inch or two.” She slid the pad of her thumb along the thick vein at the base of his cock, sliding further to his balls and cupped his sac. His muscles jerked.

“Believe it or not, it’s
the person performing the act as much as the act itself.” He entwined his fingers through her hair. “You look sexy as hell.”

His words made her toes curl. “I’ve never been this excited before,” she admitted.
“The need is scorching my insides.”

“A
nd you know I won’t last that long, right?”

“I’m
shooting for a record. Are you up for the challenge?” Not waiting for his answer, she drove her mouth over him, lapping up the bead of pre-come and suckling the head to the back of her throat. His moans deepened, encouraging her, as excitement simmered inside of her.

“You’re driving m
e over the edge,” he whispered as he pushed his hips forward, bucking, silently asking for more. She didn’t let him down and replaced her mouth with her hands, surrounding him with her palms, fingers connected, and began pumping while licking him. He began to tremble.

Removing her hands, she once again plunged her mouth over him, taking as much of hi
m as her mouth would allow. “You certainly are talented,” he growled, his fingers twisting in her hair at her nape.

His hips
rolled and thrust and she matched the rhythm, building more suction with her mouth and lips. Sliding her hands to his ass, she kneaded the tight muscles as she swallowed more of him deeper into her throat—wanting to give every inch of him attention.