Page 11 of Ash on the Range (Red Hart Ranch #6)

CASS

Hope warmed my cheeks as I glanced back, only to be assailed by a gust of beer breath. Panic slapped me in the face as I realized another man had his hands on me, and not the one I wanted to hit on me.

Reggie, one of the hands who I thought worked with Will, grinned down at me.

One palm rested on my hip as he reached around me for a bowl.

“Why don’ t you sit with us, darlin’?” he purred, putting on an accent I swore he stole straight from Gage.

“I’m sure we could use some company from someone as pretty as you. ”

A sidestep got me out of it, but I swore I’d feel his touch until I scrubbed my skin with hot water and maybe bleach. Pursing my lips into something akin to a smile even though it was fake as hell, I glanced over his shoulder and spotted?—

My brother.

Welp, in times of need, one must do what one must.

“Sorry. Got a hot date.” I winked and slipped around the taller man, scooped up a bowl and placed it in Austin’s hands. “Save me,” I muttered. “I hate being touched.”

Austin, predictably, launched an arm around my shoulders. Not what I wanted but his bulky embrace provided a barrier between me and the rest of the crowd. “Come on, Cass. Lemme tell you what I’ve been up to while you’ve been away.”

I wanted to punch the ego that inflated around him on sight, but since I needed his intervention, I held that impulse back. “Sure, big guy. Let’s do that,” I said, letting out a sigh.

Austin talked all the way back to the table, all the way through his dessert and halfway through the rest of the boys leaving.

I didn’t listen to a word, putting in a nod when I thought I was supposed to, and made a few positive noises of support.

They were the same stories I'd heard before, after all, just different versions.

Ausitn rode the bull, wowed the crowd, and got laid.

Austin won the trophy, downed the yard glass and danced all night and … yup, he got laid. (I didn't need the details that followed, so I vagued out, though from the cheer that went up around the table, he told the story quite well).

Austin saved a cow from danger after interpreting its frantic mood and saved the day. He probably got laid then too.

Okay, so I made that last one up. Actually, I’d never seen him get laid—thankfully—because he never brought any of the women he claimed to discover back to the trailer we had shared for several rounds of the rodeo circuit, and for that I was eternally grateful.

I didn’t know how many of my brother’s stories were true or not, but the more he ate, drank and got rowdy with the ranch hands, entertaining them with endless stories as the night wore on until they frittered away for the next day’s work, the darker and more closed Jude and Trav’s faces became.

Eventually, I pulled away from him, intent on heading upstairs and turning in myself.

So much for I’ll find you later .

I closed my eyes and drew in a fortifying breath, certain I’d have a fight on my hands with Austin when I opened them.

He was never one to hit the hay early, especially when he thought there was at least one member of the audience left to regale, whether they wanted to hear more fake Austin saved the cow stories or not.

A wave of leather and soap scent washed over me.

I opened my eyes to find Will striding across the room, headed in our direction.

His eyes were dark, and the curls I loved to wind around my fingers fell across his darkened eyes.

He made no effort to push them back as he usually did when he reached our table, nor did he stop walking until he reached my side and held out his hand.

“Come on,” was all he said, without a glance at my brother.

Austin stopped mid-story, looking disjointedly at Will like he only just realized the man I left him with at the last rodeo was here. “What are you doing,” he started.

I didn’t give my brother a chance to finish.

“Goodnight, Austin,” I murmured, scooting forward off the bench seat as I placed my hand into Will’s.

Roughened fingers closed around mine in a firm grip as he drew me forward, away from Austin.

Warmth traveled along my arm as he strode away from the table, heading toward the front door of the big house.

I kept pace, my legs working quickly as I shifted out of my semi-dozy state of the night.

Will seemed to have a singular focus. Warmth spread between us where his skin contacted mine.

I felt eyes on us as we crossed the living area, but no one said goodnight or stopped us.

My heart pounded in my chest as he pushed open the door and paused long enough for me to push my boots on, but when I grabbed for my coat, he caught my wrist and shook his head.

“You won't need it,” Will said in a low voice. His eyes were so dark in the shadows I couldn't read his intent.

“It’s cold out,” I said nervously, tugging at the lace sleeves of my top where his hand closed around my wrist.

“I’ll keep you warm,” he promised, sliding his hand down around mine, and pulled me off the veranda.

I tripped down the steps after him, my objection half stuck in my throat, lodged halfway between my heart and my curiosity.

Will rounded the corner of the big house, stepping into the shadows.

Darkness engulfed us a moment later, as we moved from the noise and the warmth and laughter inside the house.

It wasn't the only thing—a shiver worked its way across my shoulders as the night's cold tendrils reached out in an intimate caress. I pulled my hand free of Will’s wrapping my arms around myself as he stopped, staring up at the mountain behind the house.

“Will, it’s freezing,” I whispered. The contrast of the warmth from inside the house and the chill air, heralding winter’s brisk call was all too evident as gooseflesh followed my shiver in a full body ripple.

“Come here.” Warmth engulfed me again as Will’s arms slid around me. His jacket wrapped around my back as he tucked me into his chest and angled my chin up. “It took me too long to get back. I wanted a chance to make that up to you.”

I started to say that it didn’t matter, but that would have been a lie. Beside Austin I’d been uncomfortable since the start of the night and wanted to hide in Will’s arms the entire time. Call me needy or whatever, but tonight was the night that I really had needed him.

And now he was here, smelling like all over leather and soap with freshly washed hair that fell over his eyes in soft curls. I reached up to brush his curls back, but he trapped my hands between us, lowering his mouth to mine.

“Don’t move, just for a minute,” he murmured. His voice was low and lazy, like he savored the moment.

I nodded, and then his mouth was on mine, his lips moving in a slow pressure that left me inhaling sharply. Glad he pressed me tight to him, I knotted my hands in his shirt, holding his closer.

“ Don’tletmego ,” I mumbled against his mouth.

Will made an amused huff and swept his tongue across my bottom lip.

Tingles raced through me as I gasped softly.

The hands around me tightened, pulling me closer as he drove his tongue inside my mouth, and shifted us backwards.

The cold surface of the house hit my back through my lace top as his kiss grew intense, the tips of our tongues touching, then so much more.

Rougher. All I could think about was trying to match his fervor, but I could barely concentrate enough to kiss him back.

A knee slid between my legs as he pressed his body to mine, pinning me against the wall.

Sensation flared through me with every tiny shift, leaving me beyond flustered, kneading his chest lightly with my nails.

I couldn't move, and I didn’t want to. Will hadn’t seemed that dominant before but now…

Will’s tongue drove into my mouth relentlessly, removing the need to think.

I moaned, arching against his touches that left me aching in all the right/wrong places.

His hands travelled along my back, warmth searing through me from both sides as his jacket draped around both of us.

I pressed up to kiss him back and found my moan muffled by his deep kisses that left me needier than ever.

And breathless.

I inhaled the scent of him, knowing I'd want to sleep in this shift to keep that fragment of him near me.

As though reading my mind, one hand wound between us to cup my breast through my bra, squeezing gently as he traced over my nipple.

I let out a startled gasp. Pleasure rippled through me as I pressed my breast into his hand and swore he laughed into my mouth at the action.

My moan as I ached did little to alleviate the need tearing through me.

I needed to be closer to him. I needed these damn clothes off.

I needed?—

“Whoa, honey. Slow down,” Will drew back from our kiss, his lips gliding across mine as he spoke. “You gonna let me taste you tonight?”

I frowned. “You just did.”

He huffed a breath against my lips as his thumb traced across my waist band. “You sweet mouth, yeah, honey. I know what that tastes like. I want to lick you here.” His hand dropped between my legs, rubbing the seam of my jeans with two fingers.

I moaned at the riot sensation that overwhelmed me, knowing he’d be able to feel the heat emanating through the stretchy denim, how needy I was from just his kisses and a few touches.

“You want me to taste you, Cassie?” he murmured across my lips, flicking at the button to my jeans.

I couldn’t answer, could barely think. “Here?” I shivered again as he stepped back, looking me over.

“Fuck, I want you so damn bad.” One hand wrapped around my nape and pulled me forward, until our mouths crashed together again.

I left him in no illusions that this was what I wanted too. “Please,” I gasped as his hand pushed down the front of my jeans.