Page 40 of Wild Hearts (Ruby Ridge #1)

carter

. . .

“ W ell, well, well,” Maverick drawls, swaggering in like he owns the place, a shit-eating grin plastered across his face. “If it isn’t the broody bastard himself. What’s got your thong in a twist today?”

I don’t even slow down. “Not now, Mav.”

He just laughs, tossing a bale of hay down. “Jesus, what’s crawled up your ass and died? Did one of your cows not cuddle you today?

I shoot him a glare.

He holds his hands up, backing away dramatically. “Easy there, baby. You look like you’re about two seconds away from either killing someone or jerking off. Maybe both.”

I scrub a hand down my face, trying to cool the red-hot fuse simmering under my skin. Fucking Catalina and Vartan.

“You ever wanna beat the shit outta someone for being a useless fuck?” I mutter.

Maverick snorts. “Buddy, I wanna beat half the population for being useless. He tilts his head, reading my face, the grin slipping a little.“This about her?”

I don’t answer.

Maverick sighs, pushing his ball cap backward on his messy blonde hair. “You’re so fucked, dude. You’re already halfway in love with that girl.”

I grunt, crossing my arms, and shift my weight against the stall door.

He grins wider. “And it’s fucking hilarious watching Mr. ‘Emotions are for Pussies’ turn into a desperate little loverboy.”

“Go fuck yourself,” I grumble.

“Already did. Twice this morning, thank you very much.” Maverick fires back, smirking. “Now, c’mon. Spill it. Is it her?

I huff out a breath. “Yeah.”

Maverick whistles low. “Well, fuck.” He grins like an idiot, petting Toffee in her stall. “I fucking knew it. I mean, who can resist that pretty little thing?”

I shoot him a glare. “Don’t talk about her like that, you fuck.”

Maverick walks over to me, clapping a hand on my shoulder, squeezing hard. “Relax, man, don’t get your thong in a bunch.” His voice drops into mock sympathy. “She’s got you so whipped it’s kinda beautiful, honestly.”

I shake my head, hiding my grin.

Maverick leans closer, dropping his voice into a terrible, fake whisper. “It’s okay, buddy. I won’t tell anyone you’re some lovesick idiot over your best friend’s daughter.”

“Eat shit, Maverick.”

“Love you too, big guy.” He flashes me his famous shit-eating grin before striding back out toward the pasture, leaving me alone with the thick, humid air and the lingering scent of hay and horses.

The bar’s thumping, packed to the brim with drunk assholes and flashing red neon. PLEASE by Omido and Ex Habit pulses beneath the noise, but none of it registers.

Not really. Not when I’ve got my sights on her.

I’m sitting at the far end of the bar, whiskey glass sweating in my hand, pretending like I’m just another guy nursing a drink—but my eyes haven’t left Catalina once.

She’s a fucking vision.

Her dark brown hair flows in loose waves, that signature lavender bow clipped at the back of her head like a crown. Loose strands fall across her cheeks, and I swear to God, I want to wrap them around my fist and pull her mouth to mine right here in front of everyone.

She’s wearing that black tank top I hate—because it barely holds her tits. Every dipshit in this place keeps looking at her like she’s something they can touch. I swirl my whiskey, jaw ticking.

Let one of them try. I’ll bury a bottle in someone’s fucking teeth.

She floats through the bar like she’s been doing this for years. Telling off a guy with a smirk, flashing that sharp little tongue when she wants to score a tip, and laughs too hard at something some idiot says and fuck, I nearly break the glass in my hand.

Her chestnut eyes catch mine across the bar. That smug, knowing look on her face. Like she feels the way my blood’s boiling, like she’s daring me to do something about it.

Oh, I fucking will.

Reed’s not working tonight. His office in the back? Wide open.

I lift my chin and crook a finger, motioning her over. She doesn’t hesitate, sauntering toward me like a goddamn temptress.

“I guess you finally saw the mark on your truck,” she says, that sweet mouth twitching like she’s amused. “Are you giving me my punishment?”

I blink. “The mark? What the–,” I shake my head, doesn’t fucking matter. “Never mind. Follow me.”

“Where are we going?”

I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. “Somewhere I can shove my cock down your throat, just like you begged for. Ring a bell, princess?”

She licks her lips, her hands sliding up to cup my jaw like she’s trying to play innocent. “You gonna talk about it all night, cowboy? Or are you finally gonna shut me up?”

Fuck.

Everything about her lights a fuse in me. I grab her hand and drag her through the crowd like a man possessed. We weave through bodies, her bedazzled boots clicking fast behind me as I haul her into the dark hallway.

The music fades to a dull thud behind the door as we slip into Reed’s office. The amber desk lamp glows, casting a muted yellow glow in the office.

“You’re gonna get me fired,” she says, arms crossing beneath her tits like she doesn’t know she’s teasing me.

“If Reed fires you, I’ll knock his fucking teeth in.”

She walks up slowly, those soft hands finding my chest. Her fingers trace down my shirt, right over my abs, slow enough to make my pulse spike. Then she’s on her knees like she fucking belongs there.

“Take it off,” she whispers, her fingers already tugging at my belt.

I groan, tearing it off like it’s strangling me, and throw it across his office. “So damn needy for me.”

She shoots me a look. “Shut up and give me something to suck.”

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

I shove my jeans down, my hard cock springs free, already leaking for her. She wraps her hand around the base, stroking slowly, knowing exactly how to make me sweat. I grip her hair, groaning as she licks up my length.

“Spit on it, Cat.”

She does as she’s told, and spits on my cock.

She licks up my shaft until she meets the head of my cock with a popping sound.

She pauses, looking up at me with her pretty eyes before she takes me in so deep I see fucking stars.

Her mouth is hot, wet, perfect—every moan she lets out vibrates down to my fucking spine.

“Shit, just like that.” I groan, my hand threading into her hair.

Her eyes flick up to mine, her thicks lashes fluttering as she takes me, and fuck, she knows exactly what she’s doing.

“You’re doing so fucking good, baby,” I rasp, “taking me like a good girl.”

I watch her, swallowing around me, looking so damn pretty with her lips stretched wide, and cheeks hollowed out like she’s starving for me. My grip tightens, and I fight every urge not to lose it right there.

“Get up. I need to be inside you.”

She stands, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, eyes gleaming with wicked heat. “You want me so bad? Crawl to me, cowboy.”

I blink. “The fuck did you just say?”

She backs up with a grin. “You heard me. On your knees.”

Oh, she’s serious.

I strip down the rest of the way, getting on my hands and knees, growling under my breath as I crawl across the room like a goddamn lunatic.

She wants to play games? Fine.

When I reach her, I stand, yanking her into my arms, kissing her like I’m starved. “Your pussy is mine.”

“Prove it.”

She doesn’t have to ask twice. I bend her over Reed’s desk, ripping her jeans down, shoving her panties aside, and see exactly what I already knew—she’s soaked. Dripping for me.

I line myself up, teasing her slit, then bury myself inside her with a groan that tears from my chest.

“Goddamn, baby. You’re fuckin’ heaven.”

I start slow, moving my hips, driving into her deeper until her breath’s coming out in high, needy gasps. Her knuckles grip the edge of the desk as her back arches like she’s trying to take every inch of me.

“I’m gonna—Carter—fuck—I’m gonna come.”

“Good. Let everyone out there hear who you belong to.”

I pound into her harder, faster, her tight walls clenching down on me like she’s trying to pull me deeper. And fuck, it works. I reach around and press two fingers to her clit, rubbing fast, filthy circles.

“Come for me, baby. Now.”

She cries out, trembling under me as she falls apart, and that’s all it takes. I curse, hips slamming into her one last time as I spill inside her with a growl that scrapes my throat raw. We stay tangled together for a moment, the sound of our breathing the only thing cutting through the quiet.

She turns, flushed and breathless, kissing my nose like I didn’t just wreck her. “I gotta get back.”

I smack her ass lightly. “Go work, baby. I’ll be out there watchin’. Try not to give me a reason to drag you back in here.”

She winks. “No promises.”

After she disappears out the door, I start pulling my clothes back on, shaking my head and grinning like a fool. My phone buzzes on the floor. I answer without looking.

“You know, there are cameras in my office, right?” Reed’s voice is dry as a desert.

“I know, I’m part owner, fuck stick. Remember, I installed them. Delete that footage or I’ll rip out your eyeballs and make Catalina bartend your funeral.”

“Fair enough,” he mutters.

I hang up, laughing to myself. Yeah, I’m fucking gone for her.