9781618857279MakeMineaCowboySullivanNC (22 page)

“Wow.”

“Yep.”

“Did
you meet Mr. Young there?”

“No.
He worked for the government agency and was sent to the area to do a report on
our needs after my father gave them his plea. He was a suit and a half when he
walked into our home to talk to my father. I’d never seen such a man before
except for those in Washington. The only people I’d seen were those of our
hometown in New Mexico.”

“You
two were so drawn to each other, he moved out here, bought the ranch, and moved
you to it to raise your family.”

Nina
laughed. “Oh, if only it were so romantic. No. I hated him on sight. He was
arrogant and self-riotous. But he kept coming back. We saw him several times
over a two-year period. I came to realize he wanted to do what was best for us
no matter what the government said we needed. He helped us in ways no one knew.
I turned eighteen the last summer he came. We got to talking one day out by my
parents barn. He reached over and kissed me. Shocked me somethin’ fierce. I
didn’t know what to make of it. You see, I’d never been kissed before. I held
onto my virginity like a sacred vow to the gods and I wasn’t going to give it
up to just anyone. James swept me off my feet, but then he didn’t come back. I
didn’t see him again for five years. He went back to Washington and left me in
New Mexico without a word. He never wrote, never called, nothing.”

“I’m
sorry.”

“It
was for the best. I wasn’t ready to be anything but a young girl when he was
there during that summer, but when he returned I knew what I wanted. I wanted
him and I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I knew he liked me or he
wouldn’t have kissed me.” She laughed. “I made him work for it though. No, I
wasn’t easy to catch when he returned the bit older man. You see, he’s ten years
my senior so at eighteen, I wasn’t old enough for him, but at twenty five, I
knew what I wanted.” Nina took Mesa’s hand in hers. “All I’m saying is if you
want Joel, don’t let him go. He might not be there when you’re ready for him.”
Nina patted her hand and climbed to her feet. “I have a feeling there is more
between you than either of you is willing to admit. Just don’t let it be too
late. I got lucky.”

Nina
moved off toward the house leaving Mesa to think things through on her own.
Thinking wasn’t part of the plan though. Thinking meant she had to feel and she
wasn’t sure she wanted to let her heart do the talking.

Chapter Eleven

The
roar of the trucks sent tingles down her arms as they sat on the edge of the
mud pit waiting for the signal. Joel sat in the driver’s seat with her buckled into
the passenger seat. Her heart raced in excitement. She had her hair pulled back
in a ponytail and wondered if she really would get as muddy as Joel suggested.
She kind of hoped so. This would be one hell of an experience to add to the
authenticity of her cowboy romances.

“Ready?”
he asked, flashing her a wide grin. His eyes sparkled like blue topaz in the
dim light of the truck cab.

She
could tell he was totally in his element here amongst his brothers and friends
with their beer, trucks, mud to their elbows, and country music turned up so
loud she could hardly understand the words.

“Yeah.”
She gripped
the
oh
shit
handle so tight, her knuckles
turned white.

The
girl holding the flags on the other side of the pit threw her arms ups and they
were off. Mud sprayed the sides of the trucks practically obliterating the view
out the windows. They slipped and slid around in circles. Mesa laughed as Joel
kept the truck upright. She never had so much fun in her life.

After
they had their turn at the pit, they drank beer, roasted hot dogs and
marshmallows over the open bonfire, told stories, and laughed until their stomachs
hurt. Some of the trucks from town even came out when they heard the Young
family was
havin
’ a
muddin
’
party.

Mesa
had mud in her pants from when Joel tossed her in before diving in after her. Not
to mention the muck in her hair, down her shirt and everywhere in between but
she hated to see it end.

The
mud had begun to dry on her skin, pulling it tight. She couldn’t wait to get
back to her room and into a nice, warm shower. Her eyes began to droop as she
snuggled up into the curve of Joel’s arms. He’d sat on the ground with his back
against a rock, drawing her into the cocoon of his embrace.

“Ready
for bed?”

“Hmm.
Yeah, if you’re in it.”

“I
hoped to be. I need a shower first though.”

“Me
too.”

“How
about we head back to my place, shower, make love, and sleep until noon
tomorrow?”

“Yeah,
right. You’ll be up with the chickens.”

“True,
but one can dream, right? I wanna hold you tonight.”

“I
need to stop by my room and get clean clothes then.”

“Okay.”
He stood up, drawing her up with him. “We’re
headin
’
back to the house. See y’all in the mornin’.”

The
good-natured ribbing brought a smile to her face. Not like anyone in the group
knew for sure, but they had an idea what would happen when they made it to a
bed.

“You
got condoms, brother? I think you’re gonna need a few.”

“Don’t
worry about me, Jeremiah. I’m prepared. Trust me.”

The
group laughed as she blushed to the roots of her hair. Good thing they couldn’t
see her face in the dark.

“We’re
going to get the interior of your truck dirty.”

“It
washes. I got leather interior for a reason. This is what we do around the Hill
Country.”

“Tonight
blew my mind, Joel. You guys were great. I can see why you love it here so
much.”

“I
do. It’s where I was born and raised. I can see bringing up my kids here.”

“You
want kids?”

“Someday,
yeah. A couple.
Nothing like my parents.
Wow. I
couldn’t handle nine boys, I don’t think. I don’t know how they did it.”

“I
can’t imagine it either. I mean I have a couple of siblings, but nine…”

They
pulled up in front of the house. “I’ll just be a minute if you want to wait
here.”

“I’ll
walk with you. I’ve been walking this ground my whole life. I know every pot
hole, rock, and nook in this yard, but there are still dangers of walking out
here at night and I have a flashlight on my key ring for just this purpose.”

“Always
prepared, huh?”

“I
try to be, but you’ve thrown me for a loop more times than I can count.”

“Me?”

“Yes,
ma’am. I wish I knew what to do with you.”

“Just
love me.”

He
tripped over a rock and she laughed.

“So
much for
knowin
’ every rock.”

He
grinned as he swatted her butt.

She
took off at a run up the steps of the house and through the doorway. They
laughed as he chased her up the stairs to her door. With a hand on either side
of her head, he trapped her against the door.

“Now
you’re mine.”

Her
lips parted on a sigh. “I’ve been yours from the moment I rode behind you on
your horse.”

“Are
you, because I need to
know.
”

“Yes.”

He
bent his head to take her lips in a soul-searing kiss meant to curl her toes,
which it did. She tangled her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck. His
tongue tangled with hers, spreading warmth from her mouth to every part of her
body. Her belly clenched in need. She needed this man with every breath in her
body.

When
he lifted his head, his eyes were darker blue and burning with lust. “We can
shower here.”

“Let
me get the door.”

“I
want you, Mesa,” he whispered against her ear when she turned around to unlock
the door. Shivers rolled down her back as goose bumps flittered across her
arms.

They
stumbled through the doorway.

“What
the hell?” they said in unison.

Every
drawer on all the future was open although nothing seemed disturbed in the
drawers. She looked around the room, but nothing was missing.

“It
had to be the ghosts.”

“Ghosts?”

“Yeah,
they’ve been bugging me since I got here. Knocking on my door when there is no
one there, voices, arguing, the cowboy who disappeared.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,
oh. You know about them, right?”

“Yes.
They don’t usually bug people or do this kind of stuff though. They get a
little noisy sometimes, but I’ve never had them open drawers like this.”

“Well,
it doesn’t matter. You’re here. He won’t bug me tonight.”

“He?”

“Yeah,
the cowboy or the guy who argues with the women next door. I think it’s her
knocking on my door sometimes, but I’m not sure. There isn’t anyone there when
I answer.”

“You’re
okay with all this?”

She
shrugged as she removed his cowboy hat and threw it on the bed. “I have to be,
Joel. They are part of this house. If they leave me alone, I’m fine with
sharing their space.”

“You’re
an amazing woman, Mesa.”

“Thank
you, now get naked.”

“Yes,
ma’am.” He grinned, unzipping and stepping out of his jeans after he pushed
them to the floor.

His
full length made her mouth water to taste, but she burst out laughing.

* * * *

“What
the hell is so funny?” he asked indignation rushing through him while he
watched Mesa double over in a fit of giggles.

“You…mud…on…your…”

He
smiled when he looked down and saw mud caked on his cock. Well, it wasn’t a
good
muddin
’ trip if there wasn’t mud everywhere.
“Shower now, woman.”

She
continued to laugh as she removed her clothes and left them in a pile on the
wood floor so they wouldn’t get the carpet dirty with the mud.
Too late.
It seemed to be everywhere.

He
followed her into the bathroom and began rubbing his hard cock between her butt
cheeks while she adjusted the temperature on the shower until the water seemed
warm enough. “Easy, big boy.”

“Hell
no. I’m fuckin’ you in the shower against the tile wall.”

“Oh
yeah?”

“Yep.”

“Let’s
get the mud and crud out of my hair before we do the nasty.”

“The
nasty, huh?”

“Of
course. Haven’t you heard the term before?”

He
laughed. “Not put like that, I haven’t.” Her butt looked delectable when she
turned around to wash her face. He squeezed a cheek as a moan escaped his
mouth. What he wouldn’t give to bury his cock in between those hot little
cheeks.
Would she let him eventually? Interesting
thought.

After
she spun around to wash her hair, he grabbed the soap to lather up her breasts.
Man, she has pretty tits, too.
“I
love your tits.”

“Breasts,
Joel,” she said rising her hair while he enjoyed himself with the soap. “Women
don’t like them called tits. It’s vulgar.”

“What
about this?” he asked, sliding his hand down between her legs.

“Pussy
is fine by me, but I don’t like cunt.”

“Fine.
I want your pussy squeezing me.”

“I
want that too.”

“Are
you wet for me?”

“Fuck
yes.” She moaned, tossing her head back as he worked her pussy with his
fingers.

Her
hard little clit poked out for his touch. He wanted to eat her until she
creamed all over his face, but for now, he was going to fuck her against the
wall.

He
twirled her around so he could wash himself real quick. He wanted to get down
to the good stuff in short order. She laughed when he washed his hair and body
in record time.

“Anxious
are we?”

“Horny
would be a better word for it,” he said, rinsing the last of the soap from his
chest. He leaned down and kissed her as he wrapped her in his arms.
God, I love kissing her, touching her…loving
her.
Where the hell did that thought
come from? I don’t love her. I can’t. She’s leaving in a couple of days.

“What’s
wrong?” she asked when he cut the kiss short.

Joel
shook his head and leaned back down to kiss her again as he whispered,
“Nothin’.” He slid his tongue past her lips to tangle with hers. With his
fingers, he pinched her nipples into hard little points like he knew she
enjoyed. His little city girl liked a little pain with her sex. A soft moan
escaped her mouth around their kiss. He lifted her with both hands on her butt
cheeks until she wrapped her legs around his hips and pushed her against the
wall of the shower. “Give me everythin’, darlin’.”