Her Dream Cowboy (3 page)

Letting loose another long breath, Sophie picked up her bowl, reluctantly resuming her meal. How could she possibly eat after that?

~* * *~

Bolt upright, Luke listened, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Yep, there it was, the rasp of a zipper. Heart thudding, he watched as the front of his tent parted and Sophie ducked her head in. He blew out a breath.

“Luke?”

“Sophie? Is everything ok?”

“Can’t sleep,” she mumbled.

He raked a hand through his hair and shifted over. Sharing a tent with a client was definitely not the done thing, but he didn’t have the willpower to send her away. He patted beside him in invitation.

“Come here.”

Stepping into the two-man tent, she turned briefly to zip the entrance back up, enclosing them in gloom once more. He just made out her outline as she crawled across to settle next to him. Luke tucked his sleeping bag around her and laid back, hands under his head.

No way was he going to get any sleep tonight.

Sophie nuzzled into his side, and he tensed. In fact, his entire body tensed. He groaned inwardly as he listened to her soft breaths while her hand snaked across his bare chest. Had he ever been this attracted to a woman before? Even though he’d met his last girlfriend when he’d taken her on a horse drive, he hadn’t slept with her until her holiday was over. Eve had hung around for a while but quickly discovered she couldn’t handle him going off for a week at a time or all the overtime he put in getting the books up to scratch.

How would he ever erase the memory of Sophie’s sweet little breasts in his hands?

Damn, now he was as hard as a rock.

“Luke?” Her voice tickled his ear, and he realized she’d moved even closer. And now her leg was snaking between his.

“Yeah?”

“You asleep?”

He chuckled. “No.”

“I don’t want to mess things up for you.”

“What do you mean?” He gulped as the hand on his chest traced lazy circles across his skin.

“I want you,” she whispered. “I know you said you can’t…and I’m glad you’re not the kind of guy who sleeps with anyone…but I want you. I’m not sure I can stand another four days without knowing.”

His heart stopped, then smashed against his ribs. “Knowing what?” he grated out.

“Knowing what it feels like to have you hard inside of me,” she spilled out.

“Damn, woman,” Luke groaned. “Do you realize what you’re doing to me?”

“What am I doing to you?”

He snatched her hand and flattened it against his throbbing cock.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Gentle fingers curled around the fabric of his briefs, tracing the shape of him. He hissed as blood roared in his ears. Oh God, he was in trouble.

Abruptly, he rolled over, pinning Sophie beneath him. She gasped but caught on quickly, hooking her legs around his hips and rubbing herself against him. Luke clasped her face and claimed a brutal kiss, plundering her mouth until she was breathless.

Adrenaline thundered through him as he fumbled down between them to work on the buttons of her pajamas. Some cotton type ones, he concluded. He longed to reach up and turn on the little battery-powered light so he could see but he couldn’t bring himself to break away from her.

Finally parting the cotton, he spread a hand across her breasts and traced the indent of her ribs to her stomach.
So soft, so fragile.
Sophie moaned as he slipped a hand beneath her pajama bottoms. A small voice in the back of his head warned him to take it slow but it was quickly drowned out by his craving for her. Swiftly pressing into her wet heat, they both groaned as she closed in over his fingers.

He worked in and out of her pussy quickly, the scent of arousal filling the small tent, and she trembled and pulsed in response. With his thumb rubbing at her clit, Luke felt the beginnings of her climax already stirring.

“You are so hot, sweetheart,” he told her as he nipped at her neck and shoulders. Though unable to see her properly, each little reaction, each small sound of pleasure filled him with pride. She was so damned responsive.

“Luke, I can’t wait. Please,” she begged.

With a growl, he thrust her bottoms down and off, and swiftly removed his briefs, flinging them God knows where. Her nails dug into his ass as she coaxed him forward.

“Shit!”

“What is it?” Sophie asked.

“I haven’t got any protection.”

“I have.” Luke heard the embarrassment in her voice. “In my pajamas.”

“Shit.” He felt around for her pajamas, shouting out in victory as he found them and rummaged in the pockets.

Quickly ripping open the condom packet, he sheathed himself and smoothed his hands down her thighs, enjoying the feel of her supple skin.

“What are you doing carrying around condoms?” he asked lightly as he eased her legs around him once more and teased her channel with his erection. She was hot and wet and
so
ready.

“Just. In. Case,” she forced out between deep gasps as he pushed into her entrance.

With one swift, smooth lunge, he was buried inside her. “Damn, Soph.”

Luke’s thoughts went a little hazy as he got used to the sensation and she rocked up against him. Her body welcomed his cock as if made just for him. She fit perfectly around him, her pert breasts prodding his chest.

Sophie gripped his ass again. “Don’t hold back. Please.”

As if he could. One hand under her neck, the other bracing himself, he plunged into her relentlessly. With each push, her body grew tight around him, and he was pretty sure she took a piece of his heart with each sound of satisfaction.

She leaned up into him and spread frantic kisses across his chest until he buried his head in her hair and she sucked at his ear, making him groan. He ravaged her body, taking everything until they were both slick with sweat.

Heavy breathing echoed in the confines of the tent and she moaned his name. His heart contracted with the sound while sharp pleasure threatened to consume him. Determined to make it as amazing for her as it was for him, he shifted to slip a hand between them and circled a thumb over her clit. She bucked in response and he continued, somehow keeping up his rhythm of hard, fast thrusts.

Her uninhibited cry drew emotions from him he didn’t think he’d ever experienced before. She spasmed around him, burying her head into his neck. Luke bundled her to him as his own orgasm built. The sharp pleasure was almost insignificant to the outpouring of feeling that threatened to spill. Instead he uttered her name and went over the edge, the intense release making him quake as it seared through him.

Sophie’s legs sagged to her sides and he slumped against her, rubbing his lips over the softness of her cheek.

“Damn, Soph.”

He felt her grin. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

Luke brushed a hand up her arm and over one tight nipple, noting her instant response. “Think you can sleep now?”

“Sleep? No, I don’t think so. I might need tiring out some more.”

Laughing, he nipped playfully at her neck. Hell, he’d already broken his own rule about not getting involved with a client. He might as well go all in. Sophie was definitely worth breaking the rules for.

~* * *~

It relieved Sophie when Luke offered to let her share his tent again the next night. Not that she couldn’t sleep on her own but she desperately wanted a repeat of the night before. Luke had been attentive throughout the day, but definitely professional. They’d seen beautiful fields of wildflowers, stunning mountain ranges, and even some antelope. But what she wanted more than anything was Luke. She hoped he’d just been waiting until they stopped to kiss her again.

And when he took her in his arms, he did indeed kiss her. A budding mixture of relief and sexual tension built inside of her when he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue. When he drew back to begin removing her pajamas, she reached up and turned on the battery-powered light, giving him a saucy grin.

“I thought you’d never kiss me!” she exclaimed as he set to work on her buttons.

“You paid for a trek through the wilderness, darlin’, so a trek you’re going to get. I couldn’t have you distracting me. Every time I kiss you it makes me rock hard.”

Sophie felt her grin expand. “Good.”

Glad he didn’t seem to regret their night together, she lay back and let him set to work. He’d taken the lead last night after her initial seduction, and she’d turn the tables on him soon enough, but for now she just wanted to enjoy the rolling of his muscles and the flash of desire in his eyes.

Thank God he hadn’t turned her away last night. She didn’t know how she would have survived. Lust making her body ache, and she knew she had to have Luke. She wanted to claim back the spontaneous Sophie she’d been before she married. The one that didn’t care what happened next and seized every opportunity.

Well maybe she did care a little what happened next. Hopefully Luke wanted her to share his tent for the next two nights too. Her body ached from the riding and the exertions of their lovemaking, and she was exhausted from all the new experiences—slowly she was falling in love with Nevada—but nothing would stop her from wanting Luke again.

As she skimmed her hands across his back and wriggled out of her bottoms, she rolled over and forced him to lie down so she could straddle him. The thought that had been plaguing her all day resurfaced as she looked down at the beautiful cowboy between her legs. Was she also slowly falling in love with Luke too?

~* * *~

Their final days’ journey didn’t last long enough for Sophie. She looked forward to a long bath and a proper bed, but the sight of the small mining town signaled the end of their trip. No more sharing tents with a cowboy. Tonight it would be a cozy hotel room and no sexy cowboy to keep her company.

What an experience it had been though. Travelling through the wilderness seemed to have lifted all the baggage from her shoulders. The sights, the sounds of the beautiful countryside, and the basic living had chipped away at the rigid person she’d become when she married David, and she finally felt herself again.

Of course, making love to a cowboy every night certainly helped remind her of who she once was.

Luke motioned to the settlement in front of him. “Fairbridge. A great stagecoach robbery took place here as the locals like to tell everyone. It’s like a time capsule. There’s a bar for dancing and the hotel is a converted barn.”

“Wow.” Sophie looked down at the town, nestled in amongst the mountains. With its wooden buildings and dusty roads, it was exactly like she’d imagined.

“What do you think? Shall I take you dancin’?” He winked at her, setting her heart fluttering.

“The only kind of dancing I know is the cheesy disco-type stuff.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you.”

God, she was going to miss him. Every night, they’d made love, each moment better than the last. As they took the time to get to know each other’s bodies, their connection grew deeper. Luke was funny, intelligent, and actually cared about her pleasure. Her ex seemed so…so
pale
in comparison to the exciting Luke.

Still at least she would have some amazing memories to take back with her when she returned to England and started job-hunting once more. And with the divorce settlement, she could afford to be a little picky.

Luke led the way to the converted barn, and they dropped off the horses at the stables. Sophie gave Rocky an affectionate pat. One of the ranch hands would be along to collect them, and Luke and Sophie would be driving back to the ranch.

Simple but comfortable, the hotel’s cute little rooms were thankfully equipped with a decent shower. Sophie sighed with relief as she spotted it while Luke put her bag to one side.

Hat clutched in one hand, he scraped his other hand through his hair and eyed her. “My room is just next door. If you want to get cleaned up, I’ll take you to dinner at six.”

Sophie gave him a half smile, uncertainty churning in her gut. “Sure.”

Really she wanted to jump on him and kiss him into submission, but it was different now. They weren’t out in the wilderness on their own, sharing a sleeping bag. Life had suddenly caught up with them.

He shifted uncomfortably. “So I’ll just…”

Longing shone through his gaze, and Sophie gulped. Had she learned nothing these past five days? She was no longer the control freak too scared to take a chance. She’d taken a chance once before with Luke—could she do it again?

Running a finger along the waistband of her jeans, she reached for the button. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said slowly, staring at the floor. “It looks pretty big. Might be room enough for two.” She brought her gaze back up to his, heart thumping erratically.

A smile broke across his face. He chucked his hat on the side and kicked the door shut with his foot. “I thought you’d never ask.”

As he scooped her into both arms, he pressed a forceful kiss to her lips, making her gasp. Luke shoved her back through the door of the bathroom and lifted her onto the countertop, his mouth never leaving hers.