Page 20 of Ash on the Range (Red Hart Ranch #6)

WILL

Chatter in the big house had been muted all day.

Apart from the only Christmas I’d spent at Red Hart, I’d never not worked a day on this land whenever I stayed here.

Not even on the day we buried Travis’s father.

It just seemed the right thing to do. But today, with the rodeo boys still around, and everyone either exhausted, hungover, or both, Jude and Travis called it and we took the day off.

I was happy with that choice as it left me with my arms wrapped around Cassie for the better part of the day.

But as much as I loved socializing with friends who I hadn't seen for the last month and that I could relive last night’s false start a million times over just for the fun of it, by the time dinner rocked around, I was as tired of seeing other people as my girl was.

I grabbed a hamper out of the pantry, thanked Jude for letting me take off, and grabbed Casie’s hand.

“Get your jacket. Some shoes. Anything else you need for the night and meet me out the front,” I murmured into her ear, tucking her hair back from her face tenderly.

She twisted to look up at me with tired eyes. “Huh? I think I'm on servery tonight."

I shook my head. “Cleared you already. As soon as you can, okay?” I kissed her temple and headed for the door.

She let out a soft sound behind me, caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Some chatter followed her footsteps. Her hand slipped into mine as I pulled my jacket on and helped her into hers.

“Where are we going? You can’t possibly get your truck down the drive in that mess.” She pointed to the cars and trailers, some occupied, that lined the yard in a gridlock pattern.

I shook my head, grinning, though she probably missed it. “Nope. We’re going that way.” I pointed toward the trees, and jammed a pair of blankets into the handle of the hamper, along with a rug I tossed over my shoulder, bundled into a sling. “You ready?”

“For what?” Her brow furrowed. “I have no idea what we're doing, Will.”

“I owe you a real date. Not the one we had that got interrupted last time.” Our perfect day.

“Or the morning that we had to give up because we had people around us.” There were so many times that I wanted to do things with Cassie in the last weeks, times when I needed him to myself that just hadn’t happened.

Suddenly, that week driving across the country together seemed wasted.

I wished I’d taken more time with her but we weren't new to each other then and the trust we had now hadn’t been established between us yet when we first met and decided to go on this whirlwind trip together for the hell of it.

And now here we were.

“You gonna walk into the forest with me, honey?” I held out my hand and prayed she’d take it.

She flicked her hair back and sent me a challenging gaze. “That depends. Are you going to feed me and hold me and show me something amazing?”

I leaned down and caught her mouth with mine in a slow kiss that left us both breathless. “And love you. Deal?”

“Deal,” she whispered back.

Then her hand folded into mine, so small and fragile yet tough and perfect, and she walked beside me the whole way into the forest the hour before darkness closed in.

I’d found the perfect spot by accident a week earlier when I was rounding up a doe and her fawn who wandered off along the creek line.

Here, just beyond where the river diverted into a small stream, a clearing formed a small divot in the ground.

It probably got a little colder overnight, hence the blankets, but we were protected from winds and the waterfall’s cool spray just around the bend by a granite outcrop.

Plus, if Cassie didn't like it, I had two other spots nearby kicked out, but we’d be walking there in the dark.

“Is this okay,” I asked softly, letting her walk through the pine needle bed scattered beneath her feet as she turned in circles, looking up the tall pines.

The small stream gurgled softly beside us, just out of sight.

“I figured we could set up here for the night, head back tomorrow sometime, midmorning.”

“Don’t you have to work?” Cassie finished her circuit of the location and turned back to me. “Won’t Jude be pissy at you?”

I huffed a laugh. “I got permission, honey. We're not breaking any rules. Double permission, actually. Travis knows exactly what we're doing and where we are for the night. He’s pretty protective of you, actually.”

Twice as protective as he’d been of any other girl I’d seen on RHR land other than his sister. Not that it was a bad thing at all. I just figured it would make things tougher when we left.

“Oh. That’s really sweet.” Cassie worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “Does Eve?—”

“Yes. She knows. Do you want me to take you back? I can if this is too much.” I hadn't thought about her being freaked out about staying overnight in the forest. “I’ve slept out here plenty of nights, Cass. But if it scares you, I’ll take you home.

Just tell me.” I slid my hands around her waist, stepping into her space.

“Tell me,” I whispered when she stared up at me, her mouth moving but nothing came out.

“I just want you,” she breathed.

My mouth crashed into hers, my kisses harsh and desperate.

Every inch of pent up energy burst from me and collided with her as I pulled Cassie flush against my body.

A soft sound that might have been a sob or a sigh echoed from her lips to mine.

I held her tight and kissed her fiercely, pulling back only to check in.

“Tell me again,” I asked softly, cradling her face in my hands. "I promise I'll stop any time. But I need you to tell me if there’s anything you don’t want about tonight.”

“Everything I want everything from you." Cass rose onto her toes, finding my mouth as she slid her tongue between my lips.

My cock hardened instantly. I growled softly, kicking the hamper back to locate the rug.

“I don't want to stop, but give me a second, okay?” I squeezed her arms and dropped my knees, pulling out the rug then the blankets.

She helped me set up a nest, then slid her hands up my thighs, working on my belt buckle.

I watched her in silence, then rested my hands over hers, halting her motions. “Cass.”

She looked up at me. “Yeah?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“But I want to.” Her head tipped to one side. “You gave me everything last time. I want to do the same for you now. Plus after last night, you kind of deserve it.”

My throat tightened. “I didn’t win anything, Cass.” Yet again I proved just how easy it was to fall off a bull in my own personal style. I was getting pretty good at it actually.

“I didn’t care if you won or not, Will. I cared if you came back to me.

That was all.” Her thumb brushed across my plain silver buckle, then pulled it open.

I let out a fragmented breath, struggling with not fisting her hair and pulling her up my body or shoving her down onto the mat and tearing both our clothes off then and there.

Instead, I fisted my hands at my sides and waited. “You know how to torture a man.”

“I had a good teacher.” Her gaze flicked up to meet mine. “Someone taught me recently how to wait. Again and again and again…”

Her palm grazed my cock through my jeans, and just as quickly the contact disappeared, leaving me without the pressure I craved. I let out a groan, needing to be on my knees between her legs.

“I’ll get to the begging stage real soon,” I murmured, reaching out to stroke her hair, sweeping blonde waves back from her face. “You know I’m gonna want you bad after you tease me like this.”

Her eyes flashed her defiance. “Slow was fun, Will. But sometimes fast and rough is just as good.”

This. Girl.

Blood surged south. The moment her hands closed around my length I thought I’d end up disgracing myself.

Then her lips closed around my cock and I was fucked.

Royally. I fisted her hair, wrapping the pale blonde strands around my knuckles as she sucked on me, playing with balls and teasing the ever loving fuck out of me.

I gritted my teeth, tipping my head back to study the stars between the tree tops.

I knew if I watched her, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from spilling my seed straight down her throat.

The vision of my length disappearing between her lips was too damn good, even in the reflected light from the full moon that made it between the trees.

The river helped and the clearing gave me the perfect visual on a clear night.

My cock flexed as she sucked hard, bobbing her head. I let out a groan and gripped her hair, pulling her up to me.

“Tease me another time, honey,” I murmured. “Right now, I need to see you. Strip for me.” It wasn't a question and I didn't pose it as one.

Cassie watched me, her breaths shallow and short as she dropped her jacket in a heap at one corner of the rug. Her shorts followed and I drank in the sight of my girl in her bra and jeans.

“Pants, too,” I murmured, unbuttoning my sleeves and my shirt, letting it hang open for now as I ditched my jacket. I didn't care how cold it was, but she might in a minute.

Kneeling as she peeled off her jeans. I grabbed a blanket without looking, needing to memorize the sight of her naked for all the months we’d be apart while she was at college.

“Come here,” I murmured, flicking my fingers forward.

Cassie walked straight over to me, not the least self-conscious, and my cock stiffened painfully in my jeans. She planted one foot either side of my hips and lowered herself so she knelt over me, and rocked her weeping pussy over my denim covered cock.

“Fuck,” I whispered cupping her hips with my lightest touch, watching her breasts bounce with every movement. “Christ, you're beautiful."

Cass gave me the smallest smile and tugged at my shirt. “You’re overdressed.”

I tossed my shirt and pressed her back onto the rug, kicking my jeans free. “Can I fuck you raw, honey? I won’t last as long, but I’m aching to fill you up.”

She shivered at my words. “I want to ride you,” she whispered, her cheeks darkening.

I hovered above her. “Show me.”

Light hands pressed to my hips, she pushed me down until my back hit the mat. Then she rolled her curvy body over mine and straddled me, rubbing her saturated little pussy over my cock.

“Fuck, that’s beautiful.” I cupped her breasts in my palms, rolling the nipples. “Condom’s in my jeans. Otherwise, I’m all yours, honey.”

Cass let out a shuddering breath as I played with her and reached for me. She gave my cock an experimental pump, then lifted her hips, rubbing the head through her wetness. A soft cry ripped from her as she impaled herself on my length, then started to slide down me.

My hands flew to her hips, aching to control her descent. “I don’ t want to hurt you,” I groaned, trying to hold back the need to coat her insides on the spot.

“It’s not sore. Just so fucking good,” she gasped, her pussy clenching down tight on me.”

“Yeah” I squeezed her hips and pushed her down another inch and swore she screamed.

“Now, fuck me with that tight little pussy, Cass. All the way up and all the way back down. I want to feel your soft ass cheeks resting on my balls, or I’ll flip you over and use my tongue from your back entrance all the way to your pussy.

I sore the hole in question clamped down on me tightly. She even gushed a little. A moan ripped from her lips and I smirked.

“You like talking dirty, huh? I’ll remember that.” Maybe she was filthier than I thought. I could live with that.

Her body rocked slowly over my cock. I gritted my teeth at how tight she was, clamping around me.

“Will…” A breath shuddered from her as she rode me slowly. “I think I’m–” Seconds later I swore she detonated over me from the inside out. Heat suffused my cock, liquid gushing over her thighs and mine as she squirted on me.

“Christ.” I gripped her throat and pulled her tight to me for the sort of kiss I swore to myself years ago I'd only ever reserve for one woman.

Cassie gasped in my hold as I clamped my other hand to her hip and bucked up into her, again and again, fucking her until her cries melded with mine. We worked together, riding fast and hard and rough until I swore my balls were fit to burst, but there was no way that I would come before she did.

Casie shivered around me again. I leaned up, capturing her nipple in my mouth and sucked, flicking the top with my tongue.

She screamed, slamming down onto me as she tipped her head back. Heat gripped me a second time, her flutters close as she milked me. I let out a long groan, my balls beyond the tingling stage as I came. Pleasure rippled through my body in a high beyond epic. So far beyond.

“Come here.” I tucked the borrowed blanket around us, needing her close.

“Not gonna let you go, pretty girl. Not gonna let you go all night. I promise, alright, Cass?” I stared into bright blue eyes and prayed she’d let me take her back to school.

Prayed she’d let me come and pick her up at the end of term, too.

Or semester. Or whatever she studied. I’d be there at the end, as long as she still wanted me afterward.

“I love you," I murmured, grazing my lips along her neck.

“You’re crazy, " she whispered still sighing and catching her breath.

“Probably.” I sank into the rug, the blanket next and wrapped her tight in my arms, pulling the blankets over us.

Everything else, including food could wait. She came first in this, and all I needed right now was her. I wrapped her in my arms until my eyes shut and I fell asleep, knowing I’d finally sleep well for a night and wake without an alarm going off in my ear.

And when I did wake, the forest was full of smoke, the wildfire's heat not so far away.