Page 23

Maverick

T his is the longest I have been on the road in a while. A two-week stint and three different rodeos. It’s funny how quickly things change, because I used to love this shit. The different people. The attention. But now there is only one person I want attention from and she’s waiting at home for me.

I gather my stuff for my last ride and head out the hotel door. Sully meets me in the hallway. “You ready?” He looks me up and down as he always does, trying to find a crack in my facade.

“I’m always ready.” Which is usually true, and when I’m not, I’ve learned how to fake it till I make it.

The sounds of boots scuffing against the ground bounce off the walls as we walk.

“Alright, for you to remain the top earner, you have to win this one, or Evans will take the lead.” I nod my head as we walk through the hallway.

It’s always a tight race to the top. There are new up-and-comers constantly coming on to the scene, hungry to make a name for themselves.

That kind of desperation pushes you far.

I would know; it’s been my MO for my entire career.

There is an SUV waiting for us at the front. The drive to the arena takes about ten minutes.

“So how is the girl?” Sully asks. Small talk isn’t his strong suit; I can tell he feels awkward just asking .

Any mention of her always causes a smile to shoot across my face. She’s turned into my own little personal sunshine. “She’s good.”

He clears his throat. “Well, before we meet up with Doug, I want to chip in my two cents. Life is short, kid. If it gives you something good, you better hold on for dear life. Tighter than you’ve ever held on to any bull, ya hear me?

” He looks at me, and I can see the sincerity there.

While Doug is a complete fuck, Sully has always had my best interest at heart.

Even when I didn’t like it. If he is giving me shit, there’s a good chance I deserved it.

His words ring true because now that I’ve got her, you’d have to pull her out of my cold, dead hands for me to give her up willingly. “I know. Trust me, I know.” He nods and continues looking forward.

We get to the arena and make our way inside, where Doug is waiting by the contender’s entry door.

“I had to pull some strings but I got you your own room, no locker room bullshit.” I nod, not bothering to tell him that I like the locker room bullshit.

The shit talking adds to the fire. It helps me focus, but Doug thinks otherwise.

In his mind, it’s a distraction, and he probably thinks it makes us look more important.

We head into the small room, and I start unpacking my things. My leather chaps get clipping around my thighs and my waist. I put my riding vest on and shake out the tension in my body.

Doug and Sully leave the room, giving me a few seconds of peace. My phone vibrates on top of my bag, and I pull it open.

Good luck! If you win, I’ll reward you with a special present. ;)

Well, that’s one way to motivate a man.

Can I get a hint about my present?

Nope, you will just have to find out when you get your sweet ass home.

I love that she calls my little cabin home, that it's slowly becoming hers too. God, I hope she stays.

A knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts. “You ready?” Sully pokes his head in, and I nod.

“Yup.” I grab my helmet and head out the door.

As we get farther from the arena, the cheers get louder, the energy gets higher, and I settle in. Some get spooked by the noise, I get fueled by it.

Looking up at the score, I see the numbers I have to beat.

It’s not bad. A few riders are after me, so I have to aim high.

My bull isn’t the best, but with any luck, he’ll be in a mood and try extra hard to kill me.

It’s a weird thing to wish for, but if it makes the score higher, it’s worth the risk.

Time blurs as I get myself loaded up, wrapped up, and ready to ride.

We get settled into the chute, and I hear the buzzer ding as the chute gate opens.

And my bull is fighting mad. My thighs are screaming for dear fucking life as he bucks around.

My concentration is poured into the next second.

Just one second at a time is all it takes.

When the final buzzer goes off, I rip my wrist and hand loose and hop off.

Darting to the corral, I hop up and swing my legs around before dropping to the other side.

When the score pops up on the screen, Doug and Sully both pat my back.

It would take a fucking miracle for one of the young bucks to come out and beat me tonight.

All of the seasoned riders have already gone.

It looks like I will be cashing in on my prize .

I end the night with another win and more cash for the bank. Doug walks beside me as we make our way to my dressing room.

“Good work out there tonight. Looks like the girl isn’t too much of a distraction.”

My head whips around. “What?”

“Oh, come on, most boys start to lose their itch the second they find a girl that’s half decent.” She’s more than half decent, she’s the best woman I’ve ever met, and I am pretty sure he knows that.

Feeling fed up with his shit, my tone comes out curt. I want this fucker to know I mean business. “Doug, I’m going to say one thing and one thing only. The only place you need to insert yourself is in my career. My personal life is none of your fucking business.”

“It’s my business if your personal life starts interfering with your career.”

My boots scuff against the concrete floor as I come to a stop. “That is for me to decide. You seem to forget your purpose here. Unless you feel like hopping up on the back of the bull and making this money yourself, I would reconsider your next words.”

He shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “You are so young and naive. I just don’t want to see you make the same mistakes your dad did.”

My mouth falls open for a second. If I thought I was pissed off before, he really added gasoline to the fire. “What? Have a kid. A kid who is currently employing you?”

He waves off my temper. “You know what I mean. Focus keeps you safe. I don’t care if you get pissed. The girl is gone if you start slipping. You’re getting that world title this year.” He’s right. I am getting that title and keeping the girl while I’m at it.

Not bothering with him, I shake my head and march forward because knocking Doug on his ass right now would absolutely prove his ass right. And the itch to knock his teeth in is becoming unbearable. Plus, unlike his miserable self, I have someone at home waiting for me.

Pulling up to the cabin, I feel like I can finally breathe. Life on the road isn’t what it used to be. I miss these mountains—the serenity of it. Knowing what’s waiting inside for me, I don’t bother grabbing my stuff because I’ve got a girl in there I’m dying to see.

Swinging the door open, the smell of freshly baked cookies hits my nose, and I find myself hustling to get the door closed behind me—sweet mother of all things holy.

There’s my girl sitting on the counter in a black lace bra, eating a cookie and staring right at me.

Fuck, I never want to leave this house again.

Cocking my head to the side I ask, “Is this part of my prize?”

“Depends, which one do you want first?” she asks.

“I think I can enjoy both at the same time.” I don’t even bother stripping out of my boots and make my way to her. My long strides eat the distance in a few short steps.

Walking up, my hands glide across her bare thighs, my eyes staying glued on her skin.

I look down to where her legs are crossed.

“Can you open your pretty legs up for me, sweetheart?” She uncrosses her legs as my fingers grip her warm skin and I take a step closer, now eye to eye with the most beautiful girl in the world.

“Can I have a taste?” She offers me the cookie, but I shake my head. I want her lips.

She leans in and kisses me, and the sweetness from the cookie comes across. “Told you I could get both,” I say between kisses, not wanting to break the contact. Everything in me feels settled when we’re touching.

My hands wrap around her backside as I deepen the kiss. Fuck, I missed this. My hands rub against her bare skin and it breaks out in goosebumps against my touch. “Now this is a prize worth rushing home for.”

“Glad I could provide some motivation.” She smirks at me, and I love this bold side of her that comes out.

Leaning in, I kiss her neck with small little pecks.

Her hands thread through the length of my hair as she pulls me closer.

Kissing down her body, I make my way to her perfect tits, reveling in the sound of her whimpers and the feel of her hands pulling me closer.

“God, your body is a fucking masterpiece, baby.”

She tilts her head back, and my eyes catch the way she looks completely undone for me.

It has me wanting to claim every inch of her body as mine.

I hook my thumb into the lace of her bra and pull it down until her breasts spill out.

The moan that comes out of her when my mouth sucks in her pretty pert nipple makes my cock strain against my jeans.

Moving my hand off her thigh, I slip it between us and let out a groan at what I feel. It seems I’m not the only one who missed this because her body is coming alive for me tonight.