Page 2 of Filthy and Fierce (Stone Cold Cowboys #1)

FAITH

I knew Dixon Chase would be at the Whiskey Whistler.

I didn’t know that he’d have a buckle bunny sitting in his lap when I got here.

Of course, I can’t blame the woman. If I had the chance, I’d be in the same spot he just moved her from.

I’m trying to pay attention to the three guys talking to me and Lucy, but I can’t seem to focus because Dixon is watching me. It’s nothing new; he’s always watched me, but there’s something about it now that makes me want to walk over to him and beg him to take me right here in the bar.

“Hello. Earth to Faith. Come in, Faith.”

I jerk my eyes from the thick cowboy with black eyes across the room and look at my friend. “Lucy, I’m sorry. I was daydreaming.”

She smirks at me knowingly. “Oh, I know exactly what you were doing, but Chris here was asking you what your plans are while you’re in town. ”

I bite my lip and try to come up with some excuse of why I’m not going to be going out with Chris.

Or hell, any of the three cowboys standing in front of me, for that matter.

I’m not interested in them. The only cowboy I’d go out with is sitting across the bar and probably wishing I’d leave so I wouldn’t be cramping his style.

“I haven’t seen my dad since I left town five years ago, so I’m going to be hanging out at the ranch and spending time with him. ”

The cowboy doesn’t take the hint. “I’d love to see your dad’s ranch. Charlie Allen is a legend and?—”

The guy goes on, listing all the awards my father has won through the years, but I’m not paying any attention because Dixon Chase is walking toward me.

He has his hat on low so I can’t see his eyes, but I know he’s looking at me.

My body feels as if it’s on fire, my nipples are poking against my thin shirt, and there’s a slickness between my legs that wasn’t there before.

My body betrays me in every way when it comes to Dixon.

It was like this when I was eighteen and ever since then anytime I watched him on television.

There’s just something about him that I’m drawn to, and no cowboy compares to him.

It’s not until he’s almost to where I’m sitting that I realize I’m holding my breath. I let it out in a big whoosh just as he stops next to me.

I inhale, and the scent of him takes a hold of me. He smells like leather, sunshine, and pure Dixon Chase. I’m addicted to the smell of him, but before I can embarrass myself and lean in to sniff him, he grunts, “What are you doing here?”

I roll my eyes. So this is how he’s going to play it. Fine. I can give it right back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know I had to tell you what I’m doing. ”

He juts a big fat thumb into his chest. “Well, you do. Just call me your keeper. Now, does your dad know you’re home?”

I clasp my hands together in front of me. “I didn’t tell him I was coming.”

He opens his mouth and then closes it before turning to Lucy.

“Hey, Lucy.” She’s all smiles as she looks between us.

I’m sure she’s enjoying the show. She’s always made cracks about how I’m attracted to Dixon and told me I had daddy issues since he’s so much older than me, but I never let it faze me.

When Dixon turns his gaze to the three cowboys, he snarls. “Do you mind? Take a walk.”

“But…” the cowboy that was asking me out starts, but his friends seem to be the brains of the operation because they grab their buddy. “Sure thing. See ya.”

They walk away, and I’m glaring at Dixon. “What the fuck was that?”

He’s on me so quick that all I can do is gasp. His hand is holding my chin, his body is pressed against mine, and his voice is thick and husky. “Don’t talk like that, princess.”

I jerk from his hold, my breath coming in as little pants as I take a step back from him.

Lucy mumbles something about going to dance or something, so I’m alone with Dixon as he glares at me.

I put a hand on my hip. “You can’t tell me what to do, Dixon.

You’re not my keeper, you’re sure as hell not my dad, and you’re not the boss of me. ”

His whole body is pulled taut as he stares at me. “If men hear you talk like that, they only think of one thing, Faith.”

Shocked, I rear back. “Oh yeah, so what? Fuck? Just because they think something doesn’t mean I’m just going to bend over and take it. I can talk however I want to talk, and people can think whatever the hell they want to think. ”

He’s staring at me, and my body is practically vibrating with desire.

He looks like he’s a man barely hanging on, and that’s when I decide to be brave.

I take a step toward him, put my hands on his chest, and blink up at him.

“Unless you’re talking about you. Does hearing me say fuck turn you on, Dixon? Is that what this is about?”

He growls, and his hands go to my waist. His big, thick fingers dig into my skin, and there’s no stopping the moan that leaves my lips.

We’re staring at each other, his eyes on my lips, and for the first time ever, Dixon’s guard is lowered enough to where I can see that he wants me.

He’s usually a wall, never showing any kind of emotion, and for just a second, he lets the shield between us slide.

I go to my tiptoes. “What do you think, Dixon? You want to take me for a ride?”

He leans down, and he’s going to kiss me. I’m so sure of it, I go on my tiptoes, and our lips are inches apart. We’re sharing the same air, and I can almost taste the beer he’s been drinking. When he doesn’t move any closer, I whimper, almost begging for his lips. “Dixon?”

He inhales and lets it out, low and slow. He’s barely holding on, and I’m just standing here, body vibrating, waiting for him to give in.

Just when I think he’s about to, he jerks backward, breaking the connection that was burning between us.

“Does your dad know you’re home?”

I shake my head. “You already asked me that, and no, he doesn’t. I didn’t tell him.”

“Surprise?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No, it’s not a surprise. I knew if I told him I was coming home, he’d try and talk me out of it. ”

His forehead creases, but he doesn’t say anything else. He points to the bags next to my feet. “These yours?” He doesn’t wait for me to answer. He puts my bag over his shoulder and then grips the handle of the suitcase and picks it up. “Let’s go.”

I let my head fall back. Truth is, I should fight him on this.

He can’t just go around thinking he can tell me what to do and I’m going to do it, but my body is still recovering from the almost-kiss.

Damn, I can just imagine what would happen if he actually did kiss me. I don’t know if I could survive it.

I follow behind him, seeing the curious looks from everyone around us. As soon as we’re outside, I catch up to him. “What if I’m not ready to leave?”

He lifts the suitcase into the back of his truck. “Tough. I’m ready to leave, so that means you gotta go too.”

I block his path. “I wasn’t kidding back there, Dixon. You’re not my keeper.”

He leans down and looks me in the eye. “Princess, as long as you’re here, I’m your keeper. Wanna know what that means? I’ll be keeping the cowboys away from you and keeping you safe. You don’t like it, then leave town.”

Instead of waiting for him, I jerk open the passenger side of his truck. “Oh you would love that, wouldn’t you? What is it with men that I lo—” I catch myself before I give something away I can’t take back. “Men that I like that want me gone? I mean, am I that much of a pain to be around or what?”

I don’t wait for an answer. I get into the truck and slam the door because I’m done dealing with Dixon Chase and his hot and cold.

I had high hopes when I came home, but I’m quickly learning that I should have just stayed away because so far Dixon’s not happy to see me, and I’m pretty sure my dad is not going to be either.