Rogue Cowboy (8 page)

Holy shit, I just agreed to go out with him.
  I mean, I know I’ve been out with him before, but something in the way he said it this time, has me believing he means something much deeper.  Deeper, as in, me finally opening my eyes to see what’s standing right in front of me.

And, I said yes.

Oh shit.

My heart is thudding in my chest, but something is blooming in my stomach along with the nerves.  I think it’s
hope.
 

Oh god, it is hope.

My heart stutters and my tummy flutters, all the while I remain pressed against the delicious, warm, toned, hardness of Zeke.  I can feel the steady rhythm of his own heart thudding through his shirt and slowly mine begins to match his beat, syncing together in harmony.  A feeling of calm washes over me, beginning at the top of my head and spreading through my body, right down to the tips of my toes.  It’s warm and soothing and
safe.

“Okay,” I say again, this time with firmness behind the word.

His eyes twinkle with delight.  “That’s good, baby.  You just made me the happiest man alive.  Now, let’s get you fed.”

I smile up at him and watch his back as he walks away, the tight buns of his arse teasing me beneath his jeans.  I take a moment to gather myself and then follow him back to fix us some food.

***

I’m running late.

I dart out of the pub, across the grassed area and into my cabin, kicking off my clothes as soon as I clear the door.  I jump in the shower, loving the way the cold water instantly cools my skin, hot from humid weather that’s been building into a thunderstorm since lunch time.

I quickly wash my body, shave my legs and then jump out.  With a towel wrapped around me, I ransack my closet for something to wear, finally settling on a pair of denim shorts and a loose white top.  I sweep my hair up into a twist and pin it on top of my head.  Then, I quickly brush some bronzer onto my face and add a lick of mascara and some lip gloss. 

Ready.

I grab my handbag and pick up my phone from the bench.  On it, I see six missed calls and four messages.

Throughout the day, a number I didn’t recognise kept calling me.  I didn’t answer because I was so busy at the pub – Joanna had her first day today (which went amazing, by the way!), I made up a roster for the girls, and Sadee came in to pick hers up.  Genevieve showed up (early!) for her shift and I got her sorted.  It must be said, she’s amazing at what she does.  She’s very diligent and professional.  The pub is sparkling.

I also quickly visited Aunty Dory after lunch.  She’s doing slightly better, but she still looks so sick.  I filled her in on the goings on at The Cow and Calf, and she was really happy that I wouldn’t be working myself to the bone anymore.

I wasn’t going to tell her about Zeke, but she seemed so down in the dumps, I told her all about him – about how persistent he’s been and about how good a kisser he is. Let me tell you, that woman is a sucker for some juicy gossip! 

As soon as I mentioned Zeke’s name, she perked right up in her chair and leaned forward.  “Tell me everything,” she insisted. 

Because she looked so damn well all of a sudden, I couldn’t hold back. 

“He’s a keeper, Sienna.  He’ll make you happy.  He’ll take care of you,” she wheezed.

“I don’t know.” I shook my head.  “I
want
to let go and open myself up.  I’m just not sure I’m capable of being that person again.”

“What person?” she asked.

I swallowed, hard.  “The one who trusts enough to let someone love them, and to love someone in return.  Last time I tried that, it didn’t go so well.”

“So what, you fail once and you just give up?  That’s not a way to live, Sienna.  The only way to live is to never give up.  You only get one life, love.”

Since leaving her house, her words have played over and over in my mind.  Even though she doesn’t know the full story, she was right.  All this time, I’ve let Jake rule my life.  I’ve let one bad experience with one
bad
guy hold me back from experiencing something potentially beautiful with a great guy.  So, even though last night I had agreed to date Zeke, today I really committed to that decision.  I’m going to give it all I have, not hold back, and see where this goes.  I won’t know unless I try, and from what he’s shown me so far, I’m certain he’s worth the effort.

I pick up my phone, about to call my message bank and listen to the voicemails, when a knock on my door halts me.  Immediately, giddy excitement floods my system and the butterflies laying dormant in my stomach take flight.

He’s here.

“Hi.”  I smile shyly when I open the door to reveal Zeke standing there, holding a single pale pink lily between his fingers.

“Afternoon, darlin’.”  He gives me a panty-melting grin and I almost,
almost,
drag him inside and have my way with him.  He hands me the flower and I bring it to my nose, smelling the beautiful aroma.

“It’s beautiful.  Thank you.  Would you like to come in?” I offer. 
Please say yes.  We don’t have to eat, we can get straight to the fun stuff.

“Don’t think that’s a good idea.”  His eyes skim my body, lingering on my breasts, making my entire body heat with just a glance.

Drat.
  “Right.  Let me just grab my purse.”  I think I hear him groan when I walk away, but I’m not sure.  It’s possible he did though, because even I know these shorts make my arse looking fucking unbelievable!

The awaiting messages are forgotten as I take Zeke’s hand and let him lead us to his ute.

What I should have done was check the voice messages.

She looks fucking unbelievable.    The way those little denim shorts cup her arse should be illegal.  I think she dresses like that just to drive me wild.

It works.  Every fucking time!

“Hope you’re hungry, darlin’,” I say, pulling my ute out onto the road.

“I am.  I haven’t eaten since dinner last night.”

“Why?” I snap, a little too harshly, but dammit, the woman needs to eat.

“I just haven’t had time today.  I did have a couple of cups of peppermint tea, so that helped some.”  She shrugs her shoulders.

Deciding not to push it, I change the subject.  “How’s Dory?  You seen her lately?”

She sighs sadly and without even thinking, I reach out with my left arm and wrap it around her shoulders, pulling her close into my side. 

“She’s not doing so well.  She got a little better there for a bit, when the doctors changed her medicine, but now she seems to be going downhill again.  I’m just really worried about her.”

“If you need anything, you just let know, righto?  I mean it.”

“Thank you.  I just want her better.”

“I know, baby.”

She leans forward to turn the music up a little, and Steve Forde singing ‘Summer’s Little Angel’, fills the cab.  Then she leans back and snuggles into my side again and begins softly singing along with the song.

“You know, I never liked country music before I moved here?” she says when the song ends.

“Yeah?” I’m shocked.  Country music is the shit! How anyone doesn’t like it is beyond me.

“I didn’t really know a lot of country singers – just the old stuff.  But, now I hear it all the time, and I love it.”

“Who’s your favourite?”

“Steve Forde,” she says with a giggle.

“Lucky for you, this entire CD is his songs,” I say, right before ‘Captain Good Times’ starts to play.

She shuffles in a little closer and keeps singing along softly.  Truth be told, she can’t really sing for shit, but it’s still the best sound I’ve ever heard.

***

An hour later, I pull into Bullswater Takeaway.  It doesn’t look like much from the outside, and that’s why this place is the Northern Territory’s best-kept secret.

Sienna sits up and gives me a sideways glance before looking back to the rundown building in front of us.

“Come on,” I say, holding out my hand to help her down from the cab.

“We’re eating here?” she asks in disbelief.

“Yep.”  I tug her toward the front doors.

“Are you sure?” She tries to stall.

I stop and turn to face her.  Leaning down, I touch my lips to hers. 
Fuck, she tastes so damn good. 
“Trust me,” I implore, my words weighted with heavy meaning.

“Okay,” she agrees softly.

I hear her gasp as we enter the restaurant.

The rundown exterior hides a gem behind it that most people fail to discover because they pass right on by.

“Holy
wow
!  This place is gorgeous!”

I watch her as she looks around in awe, taking in the distressed wooden beams and the heavy, rustic wooden tables and chairs that are placed strategically around the room so every diner can benefit from the view of the rainforest behind the shop.

“It’s nice, eh?”

“Nice? No way! It’s bloody amazing!”

“Come on, let’s get a table.  Where do you want to sit?”

“Over there,” she replies instantly, pointing to a table right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows that stretch along the entire back side of the building.

We take a seat and the waitress comes over to us.

“Can I get you guys a drink?”

“A beer for me, please,” I reply.  I glance over to see Sienna staring out the window into the rainforest, lost in her thoughts.

“Babe,” I prompt through a smile.  “Drink?” I add when her eyes jump to me.  Sheepishly, she looks to the waitress.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine.  It’s a gorgeous view, I get it.”

Sienna looks to me when she agrees with a soft, “Yeah.”  Quickly picking up the drinks menu she glances through and then chooses a wine.

“Am I going to have to compete with a forest for your attention tonight?” I tease.

“Yep, I’m pretty sure you will be.  It’s your fault though, you brought me here.”

“Oh, baby, I can assure you I’m up for the challenge.”

“I bet you are
up
for the challenge,” she retorts.  My cock goes from a semi to a hard-on in an instant. 

Fuck, the things this woman does to me!

The waitress brings our drinks back and asks if we’d like to order.

“The flame grilled steak is really nice here, babe.  It’s their specialty,” I tell her, hoping she’ll order it.  After all, it’s the main reason I brought her here tonight.  The steak is by far the best I’ve ever eaten…melt-in-your-mouth, put a horn on a jellyfish kind of steak.

“Mmm, it sounds delicious.  I’ll have the Reef ‘n’ Beef, please.  Can I get vegetables and chips, too.  And, an herb bread.”  She peeks at me through her eyelashes and a light pink blush flushes over her cheeks.  “I’m hungry.”

“I’m glad.  Eat as much as you want, Sienna.”  The waitress turns her attention to me, and I order the same as Sienna, but add on the hickory sauce.

“I can’t wait to try the food.  It smells amazing in here.”

She sits across from me, her eyes sparkling with delight as we chatter back and forth.  The rainforest is long forgotten as I hold her rapt attention and we share the silly, small details about ourselves – favourite colour, favourite movies, kids shows we watched growing up.

“Oh my God, Zeke! I can’t
believe
you’ve never watched The Notebook!  Are you serious right now?  You’re joking, right? You’re pulling my leg?” She laughs, her voice full of shock and disbelief.

“Serious as shit, babe.  Never watched it.  Sounds like a sappy chick flick.”  I shrug.

“Right, well, we’re rectifying that. 
Tonight.
  We leave here, you and me have got a date with Ryan Gosling.”

“Ryan Gosling?” I question with disgust.  Sounds like the name of a pussy.

“Oh, um, and Rachel McAdams,” she adds with a grin and a wink.

“Is there action? Do they blow shit up?”

“No.  But, there are some pretty
hot
scenes.”  She raises her eyebrows suggestively.

“We’ll watch The Notebook, then,” I agree straight away, making her laugh out loud.  The sound fills the room and I can’t help but smile back.

Zeke pulls up out the front of my cabin and I quickly run inside to grab my DVD of The Notebook.  I race back out and jump in the cab and we head over to his place to watch it.

I was surprised when he agreed to watch it.  He clearly has no idea.  I’m always a sobbing mess at the end of it, but it will be nice to have someone hold me while I bawl for once.

“Ready?” he asks, as I curl up on his lounge.

“Yep,” I answer, grabbing the bowl of munchies and placing it in my lap.

“You want a drink first?”

“Already got them.”  I hold up two bottles of beer – one for each of us – and I’m rewarded with one of his indulgent grins.

“Well, I guess it’s time for me to grow a vagina,” he mumbles, before hitting play.

I burst out laughing.  “I don’t think watching The Notebook
one
time constitutes growing a vagina… A pair of breasts, maybe,” I trail off.

He laughs and grabs my ribs.  I jump and squeal.  “No! Don’t tickle me,” I splutter through my giggling.

He tickles me more. 
Bastard!

“Mercy.  Mercy!”  I cry out, breathless from laughter.

“Apologise,” he demands, a smile on his face.

“I’m sorry, Zeke.  You could never,
ever,
grow a pair of breasts.  You’re much too manly for that.”  I do my best to look contrite.

“That’s better,” he says, appeased.

“Still, you’d look great in a pink lacy bra,” I mumble under my breath.

“What did you say?” He pounces on me and begins torturing me again with his fingers.

“Stop! Stop, please,” I beg, breathless again from laughter.

With one final grab under my ribs, he releases me, but stays hovered over me.  I suddenly become aware of the position we’ve gotten ourselves tangled in.  I’m hanging off the lounge and he’s between my legs, kneeling on the floor.  I shift a little and gasp when his hard cock rubs against me, brushing over my clit through my shorts.

My stomach clenches and my nipples pucker.  His eyes shift from my face to glance down at my chest, and then he looks back up while his head lowers.  I keep my eyes glued to his as he takes one of my breasts into his mouth.  

Finally, I tear my eyes from his to look down my body to where the fabric of my shirt has dampened from his mouth, turning the white cotton see-through and displaying my white lace bra. 

His tongue licks around the area some more until my bra goes see-through as well, exposing my hard pink nub.

He growls, and the sound reverberates through my body, turning my panties wet with arousal.  My hips lift of their own accord and I shamelessly rub myself against him.

He bites down gently on my nipple and a shock of pure pleasure travels straight to my clit.  My head falls back, my mouth opens and I cry out softly.

“Ahh.”

“You want me,” he states.  “I can fucking smell it.”

“Yes,” I hiss.

He shoves my shirt up, rips down the cup of my bra and his mouth latches on and he sucks hard.

“Oh god, yes!”  He switches to the other breast, paying it attention while I continue to rub myself against his denim-covered hardness.

“Trust me?” he asks.

“Yes,” I whisper, not really focusing on his words, but more on how turned on I am.

“Good,” he whispers back.  He starts trailing kisses in between my breasts and down to my belly button.  He stops to swirl his tongue around the area, shocking me with how good it feels.

He props himself up and his hands go to the button on my shorts, all the while, his eyes stay trained on my face.

My chest rises and falls rapidly with my breathing.  My body tingles with awareness and anticipation.  And slowly,
slowly
, he releases my button and drags down my zipper. 

His head dips down and he breathes me in.

Holy shit, that’s so fucking hot.

“God, baby, I bet you taste fucking amazing.”

He slowly slides my shorts and my panties down my legs, leaning back to pull them completely from my body.  He tosses them to the side and then manoeuvres himself back between my legs.

“Spread,” he commands.

A moment of uncertainty washes over me and I freeze.

His warm, calloused, meaty hands knead tenderly up my tanned legs, slowly parting them as he goes.  By the time he’s reached my cleft, my nervousness has gone and I’m panting.  My legs are spread and he’s looking at my pussy in wonderment.

“So fucking beautiful.”

“Zeke.”

“You’re glistenin’ for me, baby.  You want me that bad.”

“Yes.”

“What do you want, Sienna?”  His tone is gruff, heady. Thick with arousal.

“You,” I mewl.

“What do you what me to do?”

Oh shit, don’t make me say it.
  Heat fills my cheeks and I clamp my eyes shut.

I feel his lips brush over me a little and I gasp, opening my eyes to look down.

“Tell me what you want me to do.”  His hot breath skates across me and I bet if I tilted my hips up a little, then I’d come in contact with his mouth.

So tempting.

Instead, I thread my fingers through his hair and look him dead in the eyes.

“Eat me,” I whisper, before pulling his willing face down so he can feast.

And feast he does.

My back arches off the lounge as my feet find purchase on the edge.  His hands go under my arse to support me as he licks and sucks my pussy.  His tongue weaves an intricate pattern through my flesh, driving me insane, teasing me beyond belief.  Bringing me the greatest pleasure I’ve ever known.

“Zeke.  Babe, I’m gonna come,” I say urgently as the feeling of euphoria comes hurtling towards me.

He slides two fingers inside me and curls them upwards, hitting that delicious bundle of nerves.  Then, he clamps his mouth down over my swollen clit and sucks.  My body, coiled tight with arousal, springs free as I fall over the edge of the cliff, coming almost silently as convulsions wrack my body.  He releases my clit and then softly licks me until every last shudder has left my body.

“That was…”  I can’t find the words to articulate how fucking super-duper-amazing-with-double-fudge-brownies-and-caramel-sauce that was, so I just trail off.

He stands and I instantly notice the huge bulge in his pants.  And, when I say huge, what I mean is
fucking massive!

“Um,” I glance down to his crotch.  “I should do something about that,” I say awkwardly.

“It’s all good, babe.”  He sits down beside me, pulls me across the lounge so I’m tucked under his arm.  Leaning down, he touches his lips to mine and kisses me deeply.  I taste myself on him, but it doesn’t bother me.  Instead, it makes the kiss even hotter, knowing that my scent is on him.  Weird, I know!

He pulls back and snags the remote off the armrest.  He lies back, props his feet up on the coffee table, crossing his ankles, and then presses play on the DVD.

“You paused it?” I ask, realising the movie is only just starting from the beginning.

“Yep,” he confirms.

So sweet.

So thoughtful.

So right for me.

I had no idea everything was about to change…