The Cattle Drive [The Armstrong Brothers of Cedar Creek] (Siren Publishing Classic) (10 page)

* * * *

Riding back toward the house, Rachael saw Henry riding Daisy. She was amazed at how fast he took to this life, and he was now riding the young filly like he was born to ride. He looked so comfortable upon the horse, like the filly belonged to him and him only. She slowed Mystic and watched him. She smiled and quickly kicked Mystic into a fast run.

Henry saw Rachael coming. He waved and rode out to meet her.

“Afternoon, Rachael.”

“Henry. How’s Daisy doing?”

“She’s good. I think she likes it better out of her stall. She gets excited when she sees me,” Henry replied.

“You’re right. She knows when it’s time for you to show up. Henry, I need your help with something. Feel like going for a ride with me?” she asked.

“Sure. Daisy is ready for a run,” Henry said excitedly.

“Let’s go then,” she said, kicking Mystic into a run with Henry right on her heels.

* * * *

The sun had not yet come up when Rachael left her house. She breathed in the smell of the cool clean morning as she made her way to the barn. Once saddled, she jumped on Mystic and headed off. With her mind set, she knew this had to work. She thought of everything from reasoning to blackmail, but after what happened the other day, she figured her options were going to be limited as she got closer to her destination.

Tying the reins to the front porch rail, she reached in her pocket and took out the little silver key that Henry had given her yesterday and quietly entered the house.

Michael was sleeping peacefully when a warm, soft arm wrapped itself around him. Dreaming, he unconsciously rolled over, pulling the soft body closer to him. Smelling the morning air all around him, he felt a soft brush against his lips. He moaned as the touch sent his pulse racing.

Oh, he loved these dreams, the tenderness and the excitement of the unknown. He felt his way around the illusion in his mind. The warmth of her was intoxicating. Finding her lips, he devoured her. His body responded immediately. Full arousal and rock hard, his throbbing cock wanted release. He felt her hands move down his back, cupping his warm ass. Michael longed for her next move as he explored her delicious mouth. He reached out to touch her chest but realized she was clothed.

He grumbled.

Damn it, what kind of dream is this? She should be naked. Oh well, I can fix that.
He slowly began to unbutton her blouse. He wanted her. He wanted her now!

She chuckled. “Michael.”

The sound was familiar, but he tried to ignore it. He continued to unbutton her shirt. By god, this was his dream, and what he said goes, and boy was this was a damn good dream!

“Michael,” she whispered again.

He grumbled. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted sex. He wanted to once again sink into her hot little pussy and devour her. He could already smell her sex, and by god, he wanted sex.

“Michael,” she said a little louder.

Damn it! No talking...crap! Why do they feel the need to talk when action speaks louder than words? What kind of perverse dream was this? Whatever happened to the good old let’s get down and dirty dreams? Oh no! You have to dream about a woman who would rather talk.
Shaking off the request of his love interest at the moment, he proceeded to take her mouth, effectively shutting up this obsessive taking machine. She could talk all she wanted…later. Her mouth was warm and willing. She tasted like heaven. He couldn’t handle it anymore. He had to know what she looked like. He slowly opened his eyes and saw her. She looked so familiar, but he couldn’t place her. Oh well. Closing his eyes once again, he continued on, trying to devour her.

“Michael, wake up,” she murmured.

“Later,” he responded.

“Now!” she said a little louder. Something in her tone made him freeze. He knew that voice.

It couldn’t be. Opening one eye, he saw her. Shocked, he quickly sat up in bed.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Rachael said, lying on the pillow next to him.

“What the hell?” Michael said, staring at her.

“Having a nice dream, were you?” She smiled.

“What the hell are you doing in my bed?”

“Time to get your ass up. The day is a-wasting,” she said, smiling up at him.

“Rachael what in the hell are you doing here?” Michael said quickly, looking over at his alarm clock and realizing it was four in the morning.

“The cattle need their exercise, and they need to be fed,” she replied.

“How did you get in here?” Michael said, climbing out of bed and walking over to the chair in the corner to grab his robe to cover his naked body.

Rachael smiled when she saw him. The sight of his firm, lean body sent her blood boiling. She immediately thought of some of the things she would like to do to that body, and she was really impressed that he did not shy away from modesty. As Michael turned to face her, he saw that she slowly licked her lips.

“Well are you going to answer me, or are you just going to lay there drooling?” he asked coolly.

“Take that robe off and let me drool a little longer, would ya?” she said, leaning up on her elbows, teasing him.

“Rachael, how did you get in my house?” Michael asked once again, but this time his tone was less abusive. He tried to ignore the way she was lying out across his bed, and desperately tried to forget how good she felt in his arms. But when she smiled at him, his resolve fell, and he smiled.

“There ya go, sunshine. I knew you couldn’t be angry with a pretty gal climbing in the bed next to ya. So why don’t you get that fine ass of yours dressed, and let’s get to work, ’cause you cost me a ranch hand, and you said you would replace him,” she said, sitting back on the pillow, stretching out and keeping her eyes on him.

“I never said that.” He smiled.

“Sure you did.”

“I thought you fired me.”

“I just rehired you.”

Michael just stood there dumbfounded. He tried to explain to himself that she was not trying to entice him, that she was only here for a ranch hand, and he had to protect her, but when she sighed and smiled at him, his reason for being here was quickly fading.

All his defenses failed him. There lying before him was this infuriating woman who, when she smiled, made him feel invigorated. He relished the thought of taking her, holding her, and loving her. How could a woman he barely knew draw him into her, wanting and needing her like a tall cool glass of cool water, but as he watched her, all he could think of was undressing her and taking her into his arms and fucking her…and damn, she smelled good!

Rachael knew she had him.

She watched him try to think his way out of this, but all he could do was stare at her with hungry eyes. She thought about putting the poor guy out of his misery, but she was having a little too much fun. Fun that she hadn’t had since Robert was alive. She loved the feeling it was giving her and decided maybe just a little more… “So,” she drawled, laying her head back on his pillows, extending her arms above her head. “Are you just going to stand there looking at me?”

Oh damn, she’s good!
Michael thought to himself. Taking in the whole situation, Michael came to two logical explanations. One, she was only here for a ranch hand and nothing else, or two, she wanted to play, seeing how far she could push him. Looking at her teasing him sprawled out on his bed, he quickly decided on the second.

Michael, taking a step forward to test his theory, softly said, “What do you have in mind?”

Rachael’s heart began to beat wildly as he walked closer to her. She could feel the blood running fast as the heat began to engulf her. Damn, he likes to play
,
she said to herself.
Well, let’s just see how playful he really is.

With a devilish grin, she sighed, rolling over to her side and moving her leg up so he could fully see her backside.

“Oh, I can think of one thing in particular.” She smiled as she patted the bed.

That did it.

Michael threw off his robe and was on the bed holding her in his arms before she could even voice a complaint. As his mouth took hers, she giggled as she wrapped her arms around him and met his kiss. His tongue invaded her mouth with a fiery fury of a caged animal, lusting for her.

Losing all sense of reality, she delved into his warmth, taking all she could. His soft lips were like silk against hers. She was drunk on his intense heat, craving more.

As he lay there on top of her, she felt her body ignite beneath him.

As Rachael began to move her leg, he slowly backed away from her lips and looked into her dazed eyes. “Why are you really here, Rachael?” he whispered.

“I am here for you,” she replied, raising her long leg up around his hip. His hands slowly trailed down her chest to her hip and down her leg, grabbing it under her knee and pulling it up high around him. He kissed her mouth, softly this time, taking the breath out of her. Rachael moaned, and she tasted him.

She couldn’t believe this was happening again. And for the life of her, she wanted it. She needed all of him, every last invigorating inch of him. She wanted him under her, on top of her, in her, and taking from her all that she had to give.

Michael made quick use of her delirium and removed her shirt. Dressed in a simple white lace bra, Michael’s breath hitched as her pink areola played hide-and-seek beneath the white lace. Undoing the clasp, the bra fell to the sides, exposing her plump breast. The delicious mounds beckoned him, inviting him to come enjoy the first lick.

Lying totally naked, Michael was not ashamed of what he had to offer. If anything, he was confident enough that he could pleasure her for days. Rachael was a remarkable woman, and it still amazed him that she was once again here with him. Reaching out for her, he pulled her closer to him, taking her mouth with his in a slow, sensual glide. She opened for him, and he took full advantage, thrusting his tongue into her mouth.

The moment his moist mouth touched her nipples, Rachael lost all reason. Arching into him, she allowed him the pleasure of her body, forgetting that she was inferior. With him she was whole, a beautiful, wanted woman that had captured her prey. Reaching between them, she began to unbutton her jeans and soon had help as she shimmied out of them, boots and all. Dressed only in her panties, she looked at Michael. “Do not rip these.”

“Then don’t wear them.”

Rachael laughed.

Never breaking the kiss, Rachael rolled on top of him, straddling his hips. Grinding her pelvis into his, she could feel the stiffness of his cock as she moved up and down. He was a strong man, and powerful and dominant, and she loved that about him. He allowed her to play, but yet was strong enough to take control, and right now, she wanted to cede all control.

“Ride me,” he simply ordered, but it was enough to send her senses out of control.

Rising up, she took a hold of his hard cock, placed it at her entrance, and screamed out when Michael thrust up in one sharp move.

He was now in control.

“Fuck! I love your pussy, Rachael,” Michael said, groaning as he grabbed her hips and began to move her, grinding on him. His rough hands seared her skin as his powerful grip was relentless. The constant grip and motion was quickly pushing her close to the edge, and when he felt the first quiver of her pussy muscles, Michael sat up, taking her legs and wrapping them around him. Sitting in the middle of the bed, Michael held her within his arms as he was grinding her hot little pussy on his cock. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she kissed him into oblivion.

Rachael had only ever been with one man, her husband, and she was reserved to the fact that she would never find another man who could satisfy her needs as Robert had done, but being here in Michael’s arms at this very moment, she began to realize that just maybe there were more.

Slowing the kiss, she gently touched his face, cupping it between her hands, effectively stopping his hard grinding motion. She leaned back just an inch and smiled when he opened his eyes to look at her. As if reading what she needed, Michael wrapped his arms around her and rolled her to the bed, covering her body with his. The harsh driving motion was replaced with a slow, sensual glide as he began to kiss her gently.

There were many facets to Michael Armstrong, and Rachael was willing to learn every one of them. He was more than he let on as he read her body correctly, and she liked that. He just knew.

Michael sensed the change in Rachael’s demeanor and softened his harsh approach. He could do sensual. Hell, he liked it on occasion, and if she wanted soft, he could give her soft.

The slow glide of his cock moved in tandem with their slowing heartbeats, allowing for pleasure to overcome, instead of need. He allowed the feel of her soft body beneath his take over his senses, and her aroma to sink into his soul.

Her soft body glowed with the early morning light as the rising sun set her hair shimmering under his hands as it came streaking through window. Her brilliant green eyes looked up at him with warmth and longing, almost begging him to take her to that place of euphoria. Her soft petal-like fingers skimmed and played along his back, tantalizing him as he pushed harder into her. Michael realized that she was more sensual than she let on, and he was good with that.