Page 21

Chapter twenty-one

Twice stricken

Mason

“When did you start babysitting cattle half naked?” Ford’s chuckle startles me awake.

Shit. Laying here in the sun with empty balls and the smell of Lori’s sweet pussy still in my nose, it was easy to doze off.

His feet thump when he lands in the dirt nearby. The rustle of bushes mark where his dog runs through.

“Never mind.” Ford walks over to a low sage and pulls up a strip of white.

Fuck.

Lori’s bra.

“Busted.” I grin and roll off of my sleeping bag.

I’m almost standing when I glance down and remember the blood stain.

No one else needs to see that.

She gave that to me.

Folding it over itself, I have the evidence covered when Ford saunters over with the lacy garment dangling from his finger.

“Lucky ass, getting field calls.” He flings her clothing to me. “Great way to pass the night, not so good for watching cows.”

I stuff her bra in my pocket and track down my t-shirt. “Didn’t see anything.”

Probably because I was buried deep between Lori’s thighs.

Ford frowns. “East pasture got hit. Tommy found fresh tracks of a trailer and saw where they loaded up.”

“Shit.” That sours my mood. “How many?”

“He wasn’t sure. Figured twenty or thirty.” He picks up the plastic bag my dinner came in. It was still lying where I dropped it last night.

That explains why my belly is growling.

“Fast food and all. Might wanna keep her.” He opens the top and peers in before glancing up at me.

I wave my hand idly as I walk to catch Hank who’s highlined nearby. “Go for it. I’ll eat when I get back to the house.” I might just snack on Lori again, if I can catch her alone.

Damn. Just thinking about it makes me hard.

No, I have to call Wade and let him know. At least he can add to the report.

Something must be changing in me, to give less of a shit about the hundred plus head missing and only be thinking of Lori.

Her curves.

Her taste.

Fuck, my cock hurts pressing against my zipper.

“Did you get a chance to talk to Sean?” Ford drags me back to the present.

“Not yet. He’ll come crawling back when he runs out of booze.” As I work the curry comb over my horse, he stands and drops his head.

I’m pretty sure this is his favorite part. Clover will need a good brush when I get back, too. Poor girl wore her saddle all night.

My head’s all messed up.

“Want me to talk to him?” Ford asks with a hint of ice in his tone.

There’s been bad blood between them for a decade. I’m sure Ford would jump at the chance to give Sean a lesson or two.

Bet he wouldn’t pull his rings off this time either.

“Nah, I got it. I appreciate it, but I’m probably gonna have to let him go. He doesn’t need to get fired and his ass handed to him on the same day.” I sling the saddle over the blanket on Hank’s broad back and start fastening the straps.

He swells his chest with a deep breath.

Come on, big boy. Not today.

I poke him in the belly with the flat of the stirrup until he exhales, then cinch him up.

“You should take the stolen ones out of his pay, Mason,” Ford growls as he pulls out a sandwich.

It looks tasty. “Hey. Is there a biscuit in there?” I’m hungrier than I thought, and those are special.

The plastic crinkles as he roots around. “Yep.” He turns and underhand tosses it to me.

One bite and I might be falling in love. I don’t remember these ever tasting so good.

Or maybe it’s just so delicious because this little morsel was the excuse I needed to get close to her.

Huh. That makes me pause. Those are Carolyn’s recipe.

My throat tightens. I haven’t thought about her in…days.

Is that wrong?

“Y’all right?” Ford grunts between bites.

“I’m just, well. Am I cheating on my wife?” Is that what this is?

With a cough, Ford chokes and beats himself in the chest until he regains his composure. “Are you a dumbass? Is that what you asked me?” He shakes his head, wiping his mouth. “If you want to live in the past, let me have Lori then. She makes perfect bacon.”

She is a damn good cook.

I fight the pang of anger that races through me at the thought of him touching her.

I brought that on myself.

“Can’t have her.” She’s mine.

“Look, Mason. I don’t know what kind of blowjob you gave to karma to land yourself two of the most amazing women in the world. But, if you let Lori go because of some sort of need to sabotage yourself, you better do it before she gets anymore feels.” He waves the last bit of his sandwich and whistles, making his dog dart out of the grass to sit at his feet.

“See this? That look of absolute obsession that Roscoe has?” He waves the crust in front of the obedient pointed nose. “Your girl has it worse.” Tossing the treat to the waiting heeler, he wipes his hands on the front of his jeans.

When he turns, his gray eyes narrow. “Don’t fuck it up because you have something worth keeping and you feel ashamed about it. I could write a book on survivor’s guilt.”

Sometimes I forget how much he’s lost through the years because I get so wrapped up in my own pain.

“Thanks. I think I needed that.” Pulling myself into the saddle, I start down the trail, but yell back over my shoulder. “Don’t get into trouble out here.”

“Believe me,” he shouts. “I would if I could!”

It’s hard to resist the urge to spur Hank into a full gallop. I want to get back to the house, drag Lori into my bed, and lock the door.

At the halfway mark, my phone picks up a signal again and begins pinging notifications, one after another.

Four missed calls from Blue.

Well, shit.

“Mason. It’s about time. I got a hit on your brand.” He didn’t even say “hello” when he answered.

“Hey. Yea, I was out on range last night.” And I am a happier man for it.

“Well, I hope you got some sleep. There’s a pen full of your steers in Wyoming that are slated for auction tomorrow afternoon.” He shuffles some papers in the background. “I can fly down and meet you there. Those assholes are old school and won’t take the information by email.”

Fuck. I’d have to leave today to make it in time.

“Alright. I’ll see if I can get Dix to go with me. Thanks, Blue.” I should be thankful he found some of my animals.

But, all I can think about is that it’s another night I won’t be here.

After Ford’s reminder, life seems awfully short all of the sudden. I want to spend as much time with her as I can.

Tomorrow is never promised.

Clover is patiently waiting, one rear hoof cocked as she dozes next to the hay feeder.

Damn. I almost forgot I need to take care of her, too.

Her back is sweaty from the night with the saddle on. “Sorry, girl. You’re a champ.”

She doesn’t seem to mind the extra brush down and grain I give her as an apology. Both the kids learned to ride on her.

Makes me wonder if she’ll be around for any more.

Jesus.

That makes my cock twitch.

I shouldn’t be thinking about putting a baby in Lori, but now that it’s there, I can’t get it out of my head.

We didn’t use a condom.

I should feel bad about that, but I don’t.

Chances are low it would happen anyway. It took Carolyn years to get pregnant.

That’s a worry for another day.

After getting the horses squared away, I find my feet leading me back towards the house.

There’s a long list of shit I should be checking up on after being out all night, but those priorities are sinking down the list, with only one thing remaining on top: Lori.

I have never been disappointed to see my kids until I step through the door and see them sitting with Lori around the kitchen table, laughing and talking.

It does make my heart beat faster seeing them having a good time. Selfishly, I was hoping they had other things to occupy themselves with today.

“I’m glad to see you’re up and moving.” I plant a kiss on Sophia’s head, but my eyes linger on Lori.

God, I want to pull her to me.

Throw her over my shoulder.

Tie her to my bed.

And eat her until she begs me to stop.

I promised her that Sophia wouldn’t find out yet, but I’m not a miracle worker. This may be an oath I fail miserably at.

“I’m starting to feel better. I’m sick of being stuck in my room.” Sophia gives me a big smile.

Sawyer rubs the dark circles on his face before stretching into a long yawn.

“I forgot about your tournament, son. How’d it go?” Grabbing an apple is not an ample substitute for the hunger that gnaws at my loins, but does help lessen my growling stomach though.

His face splits into a broad grin. “We won the first round! The next one is in two weeks.” He holds his fists over his head in sleepy triumph. “I just hate that the whole thing is based in Japan. The time zone thing killed me.”

“So, you were up all night?” I dart a glance at Lori. Her brows knot as she watches him worriedly.

Sawyer nods. “I can’t wait to take a nap. We just finished a few minutes ago.”

“Well, why don’t you come help me get the stock trailer hooked up, and then you can crash.” I find myself pausing behind Lori’s chair, fighting the temptation to bend over and nuzzle my lips against her exposed neck.

“Sure, Dad. I gotta go out to the barn anyways.” He drags himself up from his chair and carries his plate to the kitchen.

Sophia reaches for her crutches and drops her casted leg from where it was propped. “Where are you heading today?”

A knot twists in my gut. “Blue called just a few minutes ago. There’re a bunch of our steers at an auction down in Cheyenne that I have to go fetch.”

Lori’s shoulders stiffen. “Isn’t that in Wyoming? That’s a long way.”

I can hear the little crack in her voice when she asks.

“Yea. I’ll be pushing it to make it in time.” I let out a sigh. “It’s fourteen hours with the trailer.”

When she turns around, her face is level with my waist as she looks up at me.

Damn, I can think of so many other things I’d rather be doing than leaving.

Her pouty lower lip is still puffy from my fervent kiss goodbye earlier. “Are you going to drive straight through?” Worry is etched in her wide eyes and knitted brows.

It’s been a while since I’ve had someone concerned about me.

“I’m bringing Dixon. We’ll switch off if I get tired.” I toss her a sly wink. “I did manage to get some sleep last night.”

Sophia pushes herself up, balancing herself on her good leg while she settles onto her crutches. “Sawyer said that they’ve been hitting the herd. I hope you can get ‘em all back, Dad.” Her face has paled since she stood up. “I gotta go lay back down. It’s fun to get up, but it kicks my butt.” Turning, she hobbles towards her room.

“I’ll see you in a couple of days, sweety,” I call after her.

Is it wrong that I’m itching for a minute alone with Lori before I go?

“Love you, Dad.” Sophia disappears and the tapping of her steps fades.

Sawyer steps out of the kitchen. “I’m ready. Let’s get this done, I’m running on fumes.” He smiles, sits on the bench by the door, and pulls on his boots.

“Go ahead and get the diesel started and topped off. I’m gonna grab a change of clothes and be out.” My head is buzzing with how close Lori is and how I’m not able to hold her.

The side of his cheek scrunches as he squints at me with one eye, but nods before heading out.

There’s barely a click marking his departure before I’m tugging Lori up and wrapping my arms around her.

Cupping her jaw between my palms, I pull her lips up to meet mine.

I’ve been drowning in the need to taste her, and when our mouths meet, I can finally breathe again.

“I don’t know how long I can do this,” I whisper when I pull away. “Having touched you, and now not being able to, it’s all I can think about.”

Her emerald eyes close as she tilts her chin up, an invitation for more that I don’t ignore.

Blood surges into my cock and I tug her tightly enough against me so she can feel how hard she makes me.

I want to say, “Fuck Wyoming” and stay here.

“You know,” I murmur against the soft skin of her jaw. “If it was two weeks from now, you could go with me.”

She freezes and pulls her head away. “In three, I go back to school.”

My hand works down to the small of her back and I press her closer. “Then I know how long I have to try and convince you to stay.”

It’s also the time I have to behave and not leave a trail of evidence over her pale skin. I’m tempted to suction the hollow of her throat hard enough that the space station could see the marks.

But, I don’t.

Her rapid panting in my ear and her hot palms working around my ribs are making it impossible to pull away from her.

“Are you sore?” Picking her up, I wrap her legs over my hips and stride down the hall to my room.

She bites that teasing lip before giving me a small nod. “A little.”

My door closes louder than I planned, but I don’t give a shit.

Laying her on the bed, my fingers find the button of her jeans. “Then let me kiss it and make it better.”

“Mason, I—”

I cut off her her words with my mouth. “Shh. Do you think you can stay quiet while I give you something to remember me by?”

Her smile lights up her eyes. “Yes, sir. I can try.” She falls back onto her elbows and watches me. “But, no promises.”

I toss my cowboy hat on the comforter next to her, and tug her pants down far enough I can loop them behind me.

It’s only when I’m kneeling between her milky thighs that my movements slow.

Savoring her is half the fun.

“Then, I’m determined to lick you until you reveal your secret lover to the world.” Flattening my tongue, I bury my nose in the sweet pussy I’ve been craving.

Her gasp rockets her forward to clench my hair.

When she rakes her nails across my scalp, it sends a tingle through my body that makes my dick throb against my zipper.

Circling her clit, I have to hold her hips against the mattress to keep her from bucking away from me.

“Oh…my god,” she pants, throwing her elbow across her eyes.

The heels of her sneakers dig into my shoulders, pulling me deeper into my new favorite meal.

Her.

Breaking up the rapid flicking with long slow licks the length of her seam, I’m enjoying watching the cords of her throat tighten and stretch as she silently screams with every touch of my mouth.

Her knuckles whiten as she clutches the blanket and her thighs begin to quiver against my neck.

That’s it, baby.

I got you.

When her forearm finds its way between her teeth to muffle her moans, I know she’s getting close.

I know she’s tender. I’m tempted to push her limits and fuck her until she can’t sit for days.

But, as her chest pushes towards the ceiling and her stifled cry squeaks past the cloth of her sleeve, I decide I’d rather bask in the view of her writhing on my face.

She arches nearly off the mattress as the shudders work through her taut body.

My cock aches in jealousy.

It can wait.

Limply, she collapses off of my mouth and her breasts heave as she tries to catch her breath.

I can’t wipe the grin off of my face. “Enough to keep me fresh in your mind for a few days?”

Her green eyes are slow to open and she gives me a contented smile. “I think it’s going to take me that long to be able to move.”

A low growl pulls from my chest as I crawl up her body. “If I come home and find you in my bed, there’s every promise that you’ll be sore for a week by the time I’m done with you.”

Her palm slips behind my neck and she pulls her lips up to my ear. “Deal.”