Cowboy Love (11 page)

His lips blazed a trail from her ankle to her knee, nipping and licking until she was left squirming on the soft leather beneath her ass, groaning softly.

He nudged his nose closer to her clit as he whispered, "I want to taste you."

Whimpering softly, she opened her thighs and closed her eyes as his soft lips grazed the inside of her leg. His tongue touched her throbbing pussy lips, before sliding between them and licking from her vagina to her clit in one long stroke. She almost climbed out of her skin when he blew softly against her wet clit, sending shivers up her body before racing back down.

"You taste so good."

"God, Tanner, please. Fuck me now."

He chuckled tenderly as his tongue found her clit, toggling until she whimpered and begged, the words coming out in panting sighs. Her climax hit her like a wave, curling from her toes, up her legs and crashing over her as she moaned his name.

When she finally stopped trembling, she opened her eyes slightly to see him reached for his pants and pulled out a condom. The slippery piece of latex enclosed his jutting cock and he moved between her thighs. Taking her mouth with his, he slid inside her as their moans mingled. Pulling his mouth from hers, he clenched his jaw as he rocked slightly, pushing himself completely inside her.

"God, you feel incredible," he murmured against her lips.

He began to rock his hips, slowly at first, but gaining speed when she pleaded, "Harder".

Her orgasm built again as she wrapped her legs around his hips, urging him to move faster and deeper with her heels against his ass. When her climax rolled over her, she arched her back and screamed his name as she felt hot cream seep from inside her and roll down between them. Pounding his pelvis into hers, his own orgasm spiraled out of control as he groaned. "Oh God."

Several hours later, his soft snores brought a wistful smile to her lips as she slipped out the door of his apartment, shutting it softly behind her.

* * * *

Later that morning, she stood outside her car loading the suitcases in the hot sun. She hadn't seen Tanner again since she left his apartment the night before, after their wild sex, and she wasn't sure she wanted to. She'd given in to her attraction for him and the fantasy she created for herself in his arms, but now she had to get back to the real world. Her life waited in Dallas.

Sighing heavily, she headed back toward the house to get the last of her things. Grabbing her shopping bags, she walked out the door only to find the object of her fascination standing next to her car. Her steps slowed as her eyes met his across the expanse of the yard. He leaned against it with his arms crossed over his broad chest, just staring, like he couldn't get enough of looking at her. She stopped at the trunk of her car to put the bags in as he moved toward her.

"Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?" His question hung in the air between them.

"I really didn't think it necessary."

"There isn't anything to talk about."

Running his hand through his hair in frustration, he replied, "Well, I need to." He took her arm and led her around the side of the house, away from Chris' prying eyes.

Once out of earshot, she pulled her arm out of his grasp. "Whatever you had to say could have been said in front of Chris."

"I don't think so, Amy. Why did you leave without even wakin' me?"

She shrugged, dropping her gaze to the boots on her feet. She couldn't let him work his way into her heart. If she did, she'd never recover. He put his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I didn't think it was a big deal."

"You're kiddin', right?"

Her lips turned down at the corners in a frown. "No. Don't get any ideas, Tanner. It was just a weekend thing, you know. I have my life in Dallas and you have yours here. Once I drive away, I'll more than likely never cross your mind again."

"If you really believe that, I am definitely not doing somethin' right."

"It doesn't matter. We probably won't see each other again, anyway. I'll go back and you'll be here, working on your parents' farm and playing at the bar." She squared her shoulders, shoring up her pride. She wasn't going to let him hurt her. She had already let him get too close and it would be better if she stopped this before she lost her heart.

"But I want to see you. I don't want this to end. I haven't even had a chance to get to know you very well. Are you cuttin' this off before it even gets started?" He stepped closer as she stepped back.

"It was fun while it lasted, but we live too far apart and—"

He quickly backed her against the wall of the house and took her lips with his. His tongue swept between her parted lips, invading her mouth and she whimpered under his onslaught. She pushed against his chest for a moment before giving into the sensations he caused and wrapping her arms around him. She allowed her tongue to dance with his as she felt him soften the kiss.

Tanner pulled his mouth from hers as his rasping breath caressed her cheek. "Don't tell me you aren't as attracted to me as I am to you. The way you screamed my name as you came around me, the softness of your lips against mine with every kiss and each caress, I know you hunger for me as much as I crave you. Once won't be enough."

She opened her mouth to protest, but snapped it shut when his mouth hovered over hers, almost touching. She couldn't argue with what he said.

"This isn't finished. It will never be over between us. There is too much at stake," he growled and stepped back.

Without another word, he turned and walked away.

* * * *

The ride home was miserable. Chris tried to pry out of her what had happened, but she wasn't talking.

They reached Chris' apartment and Amy opened the trunk for Chris to get her things as she said, "Amy, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine, Chris. I just want to get home. I've got laundry to do and I need to clean my apartment. We have three days of work coming up so I won't have time."

"I meant about Tanner."

"What about Tanner?"

"You looked like you were getting along great when I peeked around the side of the house, but then he came back toward the car madder than a wet hen."

She shrugged, studying her nails as if they were the fascinating thing on this earth. "There is nothing to tell. I'll probably never see him again, and I told him as much."

"Don't you want to see him again?"

"I don't know. It just seemed like the whole thing would be a lot of work. He had old relationships getting in the way and so did I. I told you before. I don't want or need another man in my life right now."

"I think Tanner would be good for you."

She rolled her eyes and said, "I'm going home. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

She put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward her own apartment.
My life seems to have changed so much in less than a week. First, I find out Jack cheated on me and then I meet Tanner. Oh lord, it would be so easy to fall in love with him, but long distance relationships just don't work. He lives four hours away and our lives are so different. I'm just not going to hold out a lot of hope.

Finally reaching her apartment, she popped the trunk to retrieve her belongings as her cell phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, but when she answered it, she wasn't surprised to hear Tanner's voice on the other end.

"How did you get my number?"

"I called Chris' mom and got Chris' number who in turn gave me yours."

"Remind me to chew them out tomorrow," she grumbled.

"Why? You didn't want me to have it?"

"I guess I didn't think about it. I figured if you really wanted my phone number, you would have asked me." She had reached the door of her apartment and pushed it open, laying her suitcase and bags on the couch. The red light blinked on her answering machine.

"I didn't get a chance to."

"Only because you walked away."

"It doesn't matter I guess. I wanted to make sure you got home all right."

"I just walked in the door. I've got some cleaning to do and laundry before work tomorrow."

"I guess I'll let you go." Silence. "If I drive up one weekend, can I see you?"

She wanted to see him again, but then she didn't. She missed his kiss and it had only been five hours or so since she'd seen him. Things had gotten way too deep already, but she couldn't seem to stop herself.

"I suppose so. We can see a movie or something."

"When is your next weekend off?"

"Two weeks from now, but I have a rodeo I'm riding in, so I won't be home."

"Where is the rodeo?"

"In Forth Worth. Not far for me, but I will be gone on all weekend."

"Oh. Well, maybe next time. I'll let you go. I know you've got things to do. I'll talk to you soon."

"Bye, Tanner," she whispered.

Amy hung up her cell phone, wishing they hadn't left things unsaid between them. She laid the phone down next to the answering machine and hit the button, listening as the messages started to play.

She smiled as her mom's voice filled the silence in the room. "Hi, sweetheart. I just wanted to call and see how you are doing. I haven't talked to you in a while. Call me when get this if it's not too late. Bye." She would have to call her later, she decided as she erased the message.

Jason's deep baritone met her ears. "Hey, Am. I thought I'd call and find out if you wanted to do something this weekend, but I guess you're busy. Don't forget about rodeo in a couple of weeks. I'll see you at work. Bye."

She erased Jason's call and her heart sank when she heard Jack's voice next. "Amy. It's Jack, sweetheart. I need to talk to you, to explain things. I love you. Call me when you get this please."

Feeling completely overwhelmed with everything, she sank down on the couch, laying her head against the back and closed her eyes.

Her last encounter with Jack at her work left a bitter taste in her mouth. He had parked near her car and almost forced her to listen to his pleas of 'I love you.' She had come to realize in the last week or two that he only said those things and never meant any of them. He was a player and she didn't want anything more to do with him.

The phone rang, bringing her mind back to the present. She didn't want to talk to anyone. Her love life seemed to be on the rocks at the moment and she was desperately afraid she had lost control. Her attraction for Tanner felt like a tangible thing and her disdain for Jack's treatment sent her anger through the ceiling. Squaring her shoulders she decided, she would just play things by ear and not read too much into this thing with Tanner.

She flipped on the radio and started sorting her laundry.

Chapter 8

The next two weeks, went by at a snails pace. Tanner called once or twice, but the conversations felt strained and clipped. She missed him, more than she should, but at least she had the ability to admit it. Her dreams wrapped around him and his brown eyes, hot with desire, raking her from head to toe. The heat of his last kiss and how her body hummed with each caress of his fingers left her breathless and wound up tighter than a spring when she woke each morning.

She barked at her coworkers almost constantly, until one day Chris confronted her. "You need to knock it off, Amy. Are you PMS-ing or what?"

"No," she snapped. Dipping her head, she apologized. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm in such a bitchy mood lately."

"Well, you need some Xanax or to get laid. I'm not sure which, but it better happen soon. You're driving all of us nuts."

"I don't need comments from the peanut gallery."

"Your moods sure seem to have gotten worse every day. What's your problem anyway?"

"Nothing. I'm just short-tempered I guess."

"You could say that." Amy was afraid her friend knew more about her bad mood than she wanted her to. "Heard from Tanner lately?"

"No, and I don't care if I do or not," she grumbled.

"That explains it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't mean anything. It just seems like your temper has gotten shorter and shorter the more time we have been away from Brenham, that's all." Chris' knowing smile had her grinding her teeth.

"Tanner has nothing to do with my short temper, all right?"

"Well, you need to get over it, whatever
it
is. Aren't you riding this weekend with Jason?"

"Yeah. We're riding outside Fort Worth tomorrow. Since we are off the weekend and I'll be gone, you won't have to put up with me."

"Thank the Lord," Chris prayed, as the call button went off in one of her patients' rooms. Giving Amy a deliberate wink, she turned headed down the hall.

* * * *

Early the next morning found her at the stable waiting for Jason.

His white pickup pulled in beside her, stopping next to where she stood with her mare ready to load. "Hey, Jace."

"Are you ready to go? I'm glad this competition isn't far."

"Let's get Misty loaded and we'll get moving. What time is our ride?" Amy asked, unhooking the back of the trailer.

"We're due up at eleven."

"We better hurry, then. I hate to ride right after unloading them."

"No problem," Jason answered, hopping out of the truck.

When the animals were settled, they pulled out of the stable. The comfortable chatter eased her mood. Talk centered on things going on at the hospital, Jason's lack of a significant other and Amy's busy work schedule.

"Are you still seeing Jack?"

"No." She didn't elaborate.
It isn't any of his business, anyway.

"Good." Amy shot him a confused look at his terse words and he asked, "What?"

"Why do you say that?"

"He's an asshole, that's why. He's not good enough for you."

"Thanks, Jason. You're good for my ego."

No more time for talk as they reached the fair grounds and he parked near the other trailers. They unloaded the horses and gear, tying them to the trailer to allow them to graze on the tall grass while they registered. The scheduled ride time wasn't for an hour.

"I need food." Amy's stomached growled in protest.