Smoke. Fire. Cowboy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 3) (9 page)

He grabbed the used condom from his partly flaccid shaft and tossed it into the nearby trashcan with the others they’d used, making sure he didn’t wake the sleeping beauty. He knew if she woke, she’d be out of his cabin faster than the flashes of lightening that still lit the sky. Thunder rolled in the distance.

He’d crossed a line with Sofie and there was no going back. He’d always suspected that she was a wild woman held back by unseen chains. Well, he’d unlocked a few of those binds tonight and he found a side of her—giving, passionate and sexy as hell—and he wanted more. In fact, his semi-flaccid cock twitched as if in agreement. But he wasn’t a selfish man and wouldn’t wake her up to go for another round. They’d used up most of his supply of condoms, only one was left in the box. If he was lucky, maybe tomorrow they’d throw caution to the wind again and use the last foil packet.

He might be getting a little ahead of himself. Sofie thought he was a womanizer. Hell, he could tell her that he wasn’t, but would she believe him?

Sure, he’d had his fair share of women, and he talked a good talk, but in the big scheme of things, he’d changed. He hadn’t thought much about relationships, and definitely not marriage or parenthood, but here with Sofie cuddled up to his side with her soft leg stretched over his, well, he felt pretty damn good. Almost good enough that he could see giving up his freedom for a woman—for Sofie. After all, she might not think she needed a forever man, nice house in the suburbs, white picket fence and a kid or two, but she wasn’t the type of woman a man fucked and forgot.

Sofie was like many of the women who came to Nirvana. Rich ladies who could get any man they wanted. They flaunted their syrupy smiles and sweet-scented bodies and like most men, Jared found himself sniffing like a dog, but he knew the game. Knew that most of the guests just needed a reminder that she was beautiful. Sofie was different though, in the most important of ways. She had a story hiding behind those milky chocolate eyes and, against better judgment, he wanted to unlock that door too.

He nuzzled his nose in her hair. Vanilla and coconut. She smelled good and tasted better. He brought his hand to his nose and inhaled sharply. Sweet pussy. He wouldn’t forget that scent anytime soon.

She whimpered and nuzzled deeper into the crook of his arm. His heart kicked up in speed. She fit just right next to him. No doubt she’d wanted him and he wanted her. The connection between them was off the charts insanely hot. His dick was now stretching toward the ceiling.

Back down, boy.

He needed to keep a sturdy hand on what they’d just shared. She’d all but told him she wanted sex—and sex only. He could do that—at least he hoped.

CHAPTER FIVE

Sofie opened her eyes and stretched languidly. Crisp hair tickled her thigh and it came back to her what she’d done last night. And who she’d done.

She rolled to her side and came face to face with a sleeping Jared. How could he look so gorgeous, even in the morning? His hair was messy and he wore a layer of beard, but still looked good enough for the cover of a magazine. Her inner thighs trembled in remembering how his mouth was on her—licking and tasting. She inwardly groaned. What had she gotten herself into?

Light was spilling through the window and she lifted to her elbow, scanning the cluttered one-room space. She wondered how often he cleaned. Not often from the look of things.

She saw the digital clock on the nightstand and her heart raced. Oh shit! Eight-thirty. She was late. Pushing her trembling hand through her tangled mass of hair, she looked back at Jared who was still sleeping like a baby. “Wake up!” she whispered. He moaned. “Wake up! Now!”

He grumbled, one eye coming open followed by a lazy grin. A splash of need flashed through her veins. Damn! Why didn’t she get it out of her system last night? The empty packages of condom wrappers laying all over the table were proof that they’d tried. “Good morning, beautiful.” He lifted on one elbow and kissed her shoulder.

“It’s late. We’re late!” she said through tight lips, but was fully aware of the tingling erupting between her thighs.

“I overslept because someone wore me the hell out last night,” he said in a sleepy tinged voice. His eyes twinkled. Did he not have a care in the world?

“Well, good, I’m glad I could help out. Now we have to get up.” She grabbed the sheet and dragged it around her naked body as she stood. Big mistake. He was sprawled out on the bed in all his naked splendor, saluting her. She gulped down air.

He was still smiling. With a body like his, he had every right to. “We should talk about things.”

She found it hard to believe that a rough and tough man like Jared wanted to talk things over. “There’s nothing to talk about.” Her muscles tensed.

“That look tells me there is,” he said, sitting up and her gaze naturally fell to his lap—his stretched lap. A lap that she wanted to climb on and work out the craving that was still lingering.

“We had sex. We’re two consensual, understanding adults who allowed human nature to take over. Now, get up, get going, and move forward.” Did those words really come out of her mouth?

“Sofie, I—”

A knock rattled the door. Sofie almost jumped out of her skin. “Who the hell is that?” she mouthed.

Jared shrugged his shoulder. “Who’s there?” he yelled.

She sighed, giving him what she hoped was her best pissed expression. “Why did you do that?” she whispered.

“Uh, I think they would have to know I’m still in here.” He didn’t seem a bit stressed, although he was sitting naked in his bed with used condom wrappers laying everywhere. She was so nervous she could have almost passed out. She gripped the sheet like it was a magical wand and wished she could tap her feet three times and then disappear.

“Jared? Get your ass up!” It was Maverick calling back through the door.

Her stomach turned and sweat beaded between her breasts. “Oh shit! Get rid of him.”

Jared sighed and slid out of bed, not grabbing anything to cover his nudity. The man was too proud! He went to the door, with her gaze following his shapely, horse-riding ass. She guessed if he had it, he should flaunt it. He most certainly had it and more. He looked at her over his shoulder, “You going to just stand there?” he asked.

“Yes—I mean, no.” She scurried into the bathroom and shut the door. Turning on the light, she caught her fatigued refection in the small mirror above the sink and cringed. Her wild, tangled hair framed her pale face. Her eye makeup was smeared below her eyes. She didn’t even think to wash her face before bed. Really, she hadn’t been thinking about much of anything except how good Jared felt between her legs. How had she fallen asleep? In his cabin! The last thing she remembered was Jared pulling away, dragging her close to his side and a feeling of complete sedation had moved over her.

She spent the night with a bad boy. Huge mistake, but very satisfying.

There wasn’t anything she could do to fix it now—but she had to fix herself before someone saw her. Looking over Jared’s small supply of manly products, she found a black fine-toothed combed and, with great effort, forced it through her tangled hair. Content that it wouldn’t get any better, she was glad she no longer looked like she stuck her finger in an electrical outlet. Splashing her face with cold water and wiping the remnants of mascara from under her eyes, she decided she was presentable enough to face the beast.

She opened the door an inch and listened. Nothing but the rattling sounds of Jared in the tiny kitchen. He was filling the coffee maker with water. She stepped out the rest of the way.

“Coffee?” he asked.

“No, I have to go.”

****

Jared swallowed the lump in his throat. “You might wait a bit, until all of the hands are busy before you walk out.”

“Okay.” She went to the bed and sat on the edge. “What did you tell Maverick?”

“That I drank too much last night and had a hangover.” He tried not to look at her, but he couldn’t believe how lovely she was. Bright eyes. Rosy cheeks and swollen lips from his kisses last night. His cock stretched behind his zipper, aching for another round.

“Did he believe you?”

“Sure.” He couldn’t tell her the truth that Maverick could see straight through the lie. But at least he didn’t ask questions.

“Thank you,” she said in a soft voice.

He blinked. “For what?” God he hoped she wasn’t one of those women who thanked him for sex as if it was a present.

“For not telling the truth.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said a little too quickly. He didn’t bother measuring the coffee granules and dumped them into the filter, hit start and concentrated on Sofie. He needed caffeine, fast. How awkward it should be to have Sofie in his cabin, in his cluttered cabin, but instead it seemed natural. Hunger still pulsed through his body, landing like a solid mass in his groin. And as he’d suspected, she wanted no part of another round. Figured. Didn’t change the fact though that he still wanted her.

She was so damn lovely and smelled like heaven. The edge of the sheet set daringly on the swell of her breasts. He wanted to drag it down and lick her tits all day long. He could certainly see himself doing that, repeatedly, every day of the week. He lowered his eyes to her slender feet poking out from under the material. The color of her toenails matched the color of her lips. He wondered if she’d chosen the color for that reason. He didn’t understand all of the girly girl things, but he guessed women liked to match up their colors. She shifted and he pulled his gaze back to her face. She looked ripe for the taking and he wanted to, now and fast.

He remembered how her face had changed while she was having an orgasm. Eager and frantic. That image would torment him forever.

“You’re staring,” she said.

“Yes, I am.” No reason to mince his words.

“I must look a mess.” She pushed her fingers through her hair.

“You look beautiful.” The coffee maker gurgled and spit out the last drop of the brew.  He went back to focusing on something other than his hard cock and the incessant need in his gut.

He heard the bed springs pop. He watched her go to the window and peer out, her body silhouetted in the light coming through the window. He’d never seen a lovelier picture and wished he had a camera. “I should get dressed and leave. Looks like it’s pretty quiet outside.”

“I guess you should”
No! I don’t want you to go!
Can we have another round? Or can I sit and look at you for a little longer?
She took her clothes from the chair and started for the bathroom, the sheet dragging at her feet making her look even more delicate and small. His cock sinfully stretched and he groaned. It was going to be a long day.

“Yup. On my way.”

“Damn body!” he mumbled.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Oh, nothing.”

“You didn’t say something?”

“Not a word,” he growled.

“Okay, then. I’m going to get dress.” She disappeared inside of the bathroom and a few minutes later she returned, dressed in the wrinkled clothing. “Last night was—well, I’m glad we had…well…”

“I feel the same,” he said over the rim of his hot coffee. Now they headed straight into awkwardness.

“I’ll see you around.” She was at the door.

“Of course.” Never once in his life had he been vulnerable when it came to a woman, and he certainly wouldn’t start now. Especially one who was in such a hurry to get out that she didn’t even put her shoes on or ask about the missing bra that was still on the floor. It almost seemed too obvious to point it out, and yet he did. “Shoes?”

She laughed, but her cheeks flushed. “Yeah, I don’t want to forget those.” She slipped her feet into the flip flops. “Now I’m all set. I have lots of work to catch up on.”

“Let’s not make this anymore difficult than it has to be,” he said.

“Okay. You’re right.”

She left with the soft click of the door and it shot him through the chest. She was gone, but her scent remained. It was embedded in his nostrils and he guessed he’d be tormented for a good month or more.

Swallowing back a large gulp of coffee, it burned all the way into his stomach. He didn’t even care. Finishing the last drop, he rinsed out his cup and went into the bathroom, climbed into a freezing cold shower and washed off the remnants of last night.

By the time he headed toward the barn to take care of the horses, he believed he’d lost some of his tension and could talk with people without sounding like a stuttering fool.

Jared had his head lowered as he rounded the corner and ran smack dab into Maverick who was walking out of the barn. “Whoa there, cowboy. Where’s the fire?”

Jared shrugged. “Just hurrying to catch up on chores.”

“No worries. I fed the horses. I figured it must have been something serious that kept you late. Hey, don’t forget to stop in Sofie’s office and grab the purchase order for the load of hay coming this morning. You’ll need it.”

Sofie? In her office
? Jared cringed. Yeah, he wanted to see her again this morning, but he wasn’t quite ready or didn’t think he could manage the poker face. Emotion for a rough and tough cowboy like himself was a dangerous thing. A strong man wasn’t supposed to show a gentle side. These were all new feelings and he had no clue how to respond. Maybe he should send Dade. After all, the kid took every opportunity he could to see Sofie.

Damn!

Guilt slithered through Jared. How would Dade take the news that Jared and Sofie had slept together? Well, no one would know. He wasn’t one to kiss and tell. He’d go to his grave with the secret if that’s what she wanted and expected.

“Sure, I’ll get to it,” he grumbled.

Maverick chuckled and continued on his way.

Jared grabbed the radio from inside the barn and called for Dade, but didn’t get a response. He waited, tapping his foot against the hay-strewn floor in irritation. Time was ticking. He couldn’t wait much longer. The horses needed brushed and the truck would be here soon.

He had no choice.

Getting back into his Gator, he headed to the administrative offices, irritation building.

Inside the lobby, Jennifer was sitting at the desk, biting into a powdered donut. When she saw him, she must have exhaled because sugar clouded around her face. She waved her hand through the air as if to get rid of the evidence. “Hi, Jennifer.”

She dropped the donut into the wastebasket and wiped her mouth, looking at him through fake lashes, her cheeks turning pink. She rolled her tongue along her teeth and smiled. . Yeah, he realized the girl had a crush on him and although she was sweet, he just didn’t feel anything. “Hi, Jared.” Her smile grew wider and he saw a flash of gold from her tongue piercing.

“I need to see Sofie. Is she in her office?” he asked.

Jennifer nodded and continued to stare. “Yes.”

He dipped his hat to her, then turned down the hall. The door was slightly ajar to Sofie’s’ office, but she wasn’t alone. Chase was with her.

“I hope you don’t hate me after last night.” Jared heard Sofie say.

He went tense. What about last night? Did Sofie tell Chase what she’d done? Jared took a short step back so they couldn’t see him.

“How could I hate you?” Chase said. “I hope you don’t hate me.”

What the hell?

“I don’t,” Sofie answered. There was a thickness to her voice. Was she nervous?

“I feel like a jackass, like I didn’t handle the situation the way I should have.” Chase’s strained voice made the hairs on Jared’s arms lift.

“What is the proper way to handle a situation like that? I know you were caught off guard when I told you that I had feelings for you.”

Jared’s stomach turned.
Feelings? She has feelings for Chase? This is the man she’d kissed? Not Dade?