Page 23 of Falling For Her Cowboy (Silver Creek Ranch #9)

Chapter Fourteen

“ T his was so good.” Melah patted her stomach and sat back in her chair.

As promised, Ridge had taken her home so she could shower. She’d jumped in quick to wash the long day from her skin. He’d waited in the common area speaking with Aimee while she’d gotten ready. With the promise that she’d be back later that night, they’d left.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He reached for his longneck bottle and took a swig from it.

They’d arrived at his house where he’d grilled out on the deck. They were currently sitting at the small dining table on the deck enjoying the warm weather. Melah was in love with the home. Having a large pond and nature literally at the back door was an amazing thing to have.

She could get used to it.

“I did. It’s so relaxing out here.” She glanced at the sight of a hawk flying.

Its wingspan was spread out wide as it glided through the air.

One thing she loved about South Dakota was the open skies and land.

The air alone was different. She inhaled and swore it was fresher than where she’d grown up.

“If you want, I have dessert in the house.” He stood and began clearing the table.

She pushed back and reached for her plate.

He motioned for her to hand it to him. “I’ve got it. You can sit out here longer while I start the dishwasher.”

“Absolutely not. If you cooked, then I clean.” She ignored his outstretched hand and picked up her dirty dishes.

She was never one to sit down while someone else did things for her.

Pierce had not been able to boil water. It was a wonder he was able to survive on his own.

It was nice to think she had a man who could cook and was willing to clean.

She turned to the house and froze for a second.

She had a who?

Was there any reason for her to keep fighting this? Ridge had made it clear he wanted her. She was here now. For how long, she didn’t know.

She bit her lip and continued on to the door. Ridge arrived before her and opened it. The warmth in his eyes set off a chain reaction in her body. Her breath caught in her throat, her nipples hardened and pushed at her bra, and the butterflies in her stomach fluttered overtime.

No, there was no fighting this. She tried to think of not being with Ridge, or him moving on, and she immediately wanted to do damage to whatever woman tried to catch his eye.

Ridge was her man.

“Thanks.” She smiled and ducked underneath his arm and went inside. She went over to the sink and placed the dishes down and turned the water on.

“You do not have to do this. You are a guest.” He set his down in the sink next to hers and opened the dishwasher.

“You cooked. I clean.” She rinsed off her plate and elbowed him to move out of her way.

He barked a laugh and held up his hands. He backed away from her.

“Fine.” He moved over and snagged his beer, tilted it back, and finished it off.

She worked in silence and quickly loaded the dishwasher up.

Their conversation turned to his work. She was always curious to hear about his day.

It was interesting to hear him speak of his patients as if they were humans.

Anyone could see how much he truly loved what he did.

From scheduled procedures, checkups to emergency surgeries, he’d had a busy few hours.

Once she was done with cleaning, she went over to the fridge and took out a bottle of water.

Ridge fell quiet. She turned and found his gaze on her.

“What?” She twisted open the bottle and took a swig of water then replaced the cap. She tilted her head and met his eyes as he studied her.

“I like seeing you here,” he admitted.

“In your kitchen?” She arched an eyebrow at him. She walked around the island and came to stand before him.

He chuckled and shook his head.

“In my home,” he replied softly.

He took the bottle from her and set it on the counter.

He reached for her and lifted her. He sat her on the island.

Melah’s legs automatically parted to allow him to stand between them.

She inhaled sharply at their closeness. His hands ran along her bare legs.

A tremor snuck through her at the feeling of his hands on her skin .

She had thrown on a soft yellow summer dress and sandals after she’d gotten out of the shower. She had left her hair in twin braids. She’d fixed it up a little because it had felt good to keep her hair off her neck with the heatwave they were experiencing.

“What about me being here?” she whispered.

She rested her hands on his shoulders. Sitting on the island allowed them to be eye level with each other.

She memorized the clearness of his blue eyes, the stubble on his jawline, and his perfect white teeth as he smiled at her.

His muscles underneath her touch were relaxed.

His hands slipped underneath the edge of her dress. “You belong here.”

“And you know this only after me being here a couple of times already?” She arched an eyebrow at him again and slipped a hand up along the column of his neck to the new growth of a beard on his face.

She loved the feeling of the prickliness of the short hairs on her palm.

She ran her thumb along his bottom lip. “I’m just a woman visiting. ”

“It could be more than visiting.” He gripped her thighs tight and moved one of his hands up to her face and held her in place. He lowered his head. His lips brushed hers in the softest kiss.

Melah’s breath caught in her throat. This man did not beat around the bush when it came to sharing what he was thinking. What was between them was moving faster than a bullet train, and at the moment, she didn’t want to get off.

“Ridge, we just met,” she whispered. It was a feeble excuse, but it was the truth. A few weeks ago, she’d only known of him. Now, she’d slept with him already and was clearly falling for him.

“And? What is that supposed to mean? I know all I need to know about you.” He nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck.

She tilted her head to the side to give him access. His devilish tongue slid along her skin. A moan slipped from Melah. Her core clenched with need from the feeling of his hands and his tongue.

“Say you’re mine.”

“Ridge,” she gasped and dove her fingers into his thick hair.

She loved the feeling of his strands. She gripped it tight, and he nipped her gently.

“Say it.” His lips brushed along her skin. He pressed hot open-mouthed kisses to her neck while his hands got busy and lifted her dress from underneath her bottom. He bit her again. “Melah.”

“I’m yours,” she moaned.

It was freeing to have the words spill from her lips.

It was the truth. In the short time they’d been together, she felt owned and possessed by this man.

Not in a negative way, but Ridge immediately had her feeling as if she truly belonged to him.

He was open with his feelings, made her feel wanted, was ready to protect her—everything she had never felt before in her previous relationships.

Fuck it.

She was his and he was hers. This was something she was damn certain of. Everything else, she’d figure out in the future. One day at a time was going to be her new motto. And each day, Ridge would be included.

“What about you?” Melah asked.

He pulled away from her and raised her dress over her head. He tossed it down on the floor. The heat that poured from his eyes had her pussy drenched. It was amazing how this man could just look at her and she was primed and ready for him.

“Baby, you had me the first time you smiled at me.”

A gasp escaped her just as he swooped down and took her lips in a hard kiss. This wasn’t a docile, cute kiss. This was the type of kiss a man gives a woman that left no doubt in her mind of his intentions. Melah leaned into it, no longer afraid of the unknown.

Because right now, she knew exactly where she stood with him. She may not know what her future held, but at this moment, there was her and Ridge.

He was like an incoming storm. Electricity filled the air between them.

She removed his shirt. She slid her hands down his perfectly chiseled chest to his belt.

She undid it and moved it out of the way to get to the button of his jeans.

His hands were busy removing her bra. The offending material fell from her body to reveal her aching breasts.

“Fuck, you are gorgeous,” he murmured. He paused and stared down at her. His hand came to cup one of her mounds. “I hope you know this.”

A lump formed in her throat. She couldn’t formulate a word.

The expression in his blue eyes had her feeling things she was unfamiliar with.

He kissed her again before pushing her down on the island.

The chill from the surface was welcome against her warm skin.

She lifted her hips so he could tug off her panties.

There was no embarrassment at the position she found herself in. Her legs fell open, and a growl rumbled from Ridge when he gazed at her. She was open and exposed to him, but she felt sexy and empowered with the reaction her body drew from him.

“Ridge. I ache for you. I want your mouth here.” She reached down between her legs and parted her slick folds to showcase her delicate pearl. She used her finger to roll her sensitive clit.

“What else do you want?” He braced his hands on the counter with his focus on her center.

She smirked at the look of hunger on his face.

She played with her clit again and rolled it between two of her fingers.

A moan slipped from her from the sensations the move gave her.

She slipped her finger farther through her slit and guided it to her opening.

She pushed her finger inside and arched her hips to meet it. “I want your dick here.”