Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch) (14 page)

Allison never hesitated. “I don’t know what broke you up other than it wasn’t anything horrific, so—no. I don’t think it’s too soon.”

Melody settled back in her chair. “It’s not creepy, or slutty, or something?”

“Melody Langley.” Her friend glared at her. “Don’t you start shaming yourself for having a good time with Steve. So what if you’ve got other things to figure out. A little physical satisfaction is not something to be ashamed of.”

“I know, but it can’t be everything.”

“And it’s not. You said it yourself—you just started going out again, so this is like the honeymoon stage. And frankly?” Allison waggled her brows as she gestured toward the house. “You two already had carnal knowledge of each other. I think it would’ve been a little much to expect to keep your hands off each other while you figure out the rest of your relationship.”

A burst of laughter escaped Melody. “Carnal knowledge?”

Her friend reached beside her and pulled up a plastic bag full of marshmallows. “Are you really going to taunt me for my choice of words when I’m the keeper of the treats?”

Melody straightened quickly, pretending to be worried. “No, ma’am. Yes, ma’am. Right away, ma’am.”

They grinned at each other, and Allison handed over the bag without any further teasing.

“Good decision,” Melody praised her. “I was about to go Rambo on your butt to get these.”

“Steve, your woman is threatening mine,” Gabe complained as the guys rejoined them, adjusting chairs and settling in close.

Steve rested his arm over the back of her chair, taking control of the marshmallow stick with his other hand. “I’m sure Allison did something to deserve it.”

“Hey, how come I’m in the middle of this?” Allison protested.

Gabe rested his hand on her knee. “You’re an Angel Coleman, now, too. You know this. We
always
end up in the middle.”

Steve watched his cousin tease Allison for another couple minutes—watched closer than usual to be honest even as he enjoyed having Melody’s fingers linked through his.

Changes meant being more observant, and in this case, knowing that Allison and Melody were each other’s closest friends, he figured they could end up spending a fair amount of time with the other couple.

They hadn’t before, not during what Steve had taken to think of as his Asshole Years. Back then Steve had occasionally brought Melody out to family gatherings, but more often the times they’d been together had been few and far between. Convenience rather than companionship.

It was a time he didn’t want to dwell on, but he had to consider it if he was going to learn his lesson and not screw up again.

The sound of an engine interrupted their conversation, Gabe and Steve going to their feet to check who was buzzing over the nearest hill on a quad.

“It’s Rafe,” Allison commented without looking away from the fire.

Gabe disagreed. “He’s out of town tonight.”

“You want to bet? I get a foot-rub if I’m right.” She poked the fire with a stick as she flashed him a smile. “Insider knowledge here, Angel Boy, just warning you.”

“What about the truck coming in from the south?” Melody asked, raising a finger to point at the dust trail marking its approach.

“Matt.” Allison lifted her chin. “Your cousin called earlier to see if it was okay for him and Hope to stop by.”

“So much for our quiet evening,” Gabe grumbled.

Steve knew the complaining was a fake—his cousin always had the energy to help out, and he never turned away a person in need. Thank God, because Steve had received more than his own share of pep talks from the man.

Rafe was greeted enthusiastically by his older brother, and extra chairs were brought out for the others. Melody gestured for Allison to stay put, and she and Hope disappeared into the house, returning with drinks for everyone. Conversations grew noisier, and the laughter just got louder.

Steve found himself sitting next to Allison as she stared past the fire to where her husband was talking quietly with Rafe. He studied her expression, but she didn’t seem upset that her house had a revolving door on it. “Do you ever get any peace and quiet around here?”

She turned her gentle smile his direction, and warmth washed over him like the glow of the fire.

“It’s a part of who Gabe is. I don’t want that to change.”

On his right, Melody’s fingers around his arm remained a small reminder of the new promise they had made to move forward together, even as she laughed out loud at something Matt had said.

He wasn’t sure what he was trying to ask, but he said it anyway in the hopes Allison could figure it out. “And you never want to put up the
No Trespassing
sign and lock the door?”

Allison’s eyes flashed with amusement. “Good question. There are times, yes, I wish the world would go away. That the things we have to deal with would just stop, because frankly? Our troubles, Gabe’s and mine, aren’t usually as hard as the ones we get handed to deal with.”

“But you don’t hide.”

“Nope.” Allison tilted her head toward Melody for a moment before leaning closer. “Hiding doesn’t work to deal with most things. And with Melody—you can’t hide away or keep your entire relationship in the bedroom. No matter how fun that part is.”

His cheeks were heating up.
For fuck’s sake
—what had the girls talked about while they were setting up the dinner date?

“Ummm—”

She took pity on him, or maybe it was because the conversations behind them were getting too loud to ignore, but Allison hurried to finish. “She needs family. Always has, always will. And hey, that’s one thing you have in spades.” Allison knocked his arm with her fist. “Don’t try to lock that part away from her. It didn’t work last time, so don’t be selfish. Share what you got.”

“Yeah, share that bag of marshmallows,” Matt demanded, overhearing the last part of the discussion. “Greedy. Didn’t your mama teach you any manners?”

Melody caught the bag in mid-air, pulling it to herself and dragging out a fistful before passing it on to Matt. “There you go. Your share.”

Matt stared into the bag in mock disgust. He pulled out what was left, opening his palm to reveal…not much. “Three? You left me three?”

His wife snatched one from his hand and popped it in her mouth, licking her fingers innocently. “Two. You counted wrong.”

Matt growled and curled his arms around her, kissing her soundly as everyone laughed.

Being there felt good. It felt right, and the heat of Melody’s hand in his as they finally made their farewell and headed for the truck—that felt even better.

They were partway home, sitting in a companionable silence, when she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. “That was nice.”

“Good. I had fun too. And congrats on your promotion.”

“Oh, God, you had to remind me.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about.” Steve slowed for the corner before heading down a narrow gravel road. “You’re going to do an amazing job. You’re good at what you do.”

She tilted her head back, and their eyes met for a second before he focused on the road.

That’s when she clued in he’d turned off the highway. “Umm, Steve?”

“Yeah?”

She scooted upright, edging forward to stare out the front window as they topped the crest of the hill and he turned toward the bluffs. “Where are we going?”

He took a quick glance over the open room at the top of the lookout, planning carefully for maximum distance between them and the next vehicle. “Parking.”

She laughed lightly. “You’re kidding me.”

Steve turned off the truck and locked the brakes before reaching for her seat belt. The instant she was free he scooped her up and arranged her over his lap, knees on either side of his hips. “I told you we were going to do this up right, and we’re gonna. Now—shut up and kiss me.”

Melody draped her arms around his neck, adjusting her position until she nestled tighter to his rapidly expanding cock. “You’re bossy tonight.”

“Every night.” He put his fingers to her shirt buttons and undid the top three. Just far enough that her bra showed, and the faint light from the dash made her bared skin glow. “There. Perfect.”

“Not going to strip me down and have your way with me?” she teased.

“Nope.” She may have pushed his buttons with the vanilla comment, but he refused to give in to the urge to keep upping the ante. “First base only.”

“Really.” The total disbelief in her tone went well with the flirty expression in her eyes.

He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and moved her toward him, close enough that their lips brushed as he spoke. “Really.”

Her eyes sparkled. “Then why is my shirt open?”

“Because I like the view.” He traced her lips with his tongue, exploring as he held her in place, the back of her head cradled in the palm of his hand. “Melody—the next time we have sex, do we need condoms?”

Her voice trembled as she answered with a question of her own. “You been with anyone since last fall?”

“Nope. You? During your time at school?”

It took a while for her to admit it. “…no.”

He knew it. Inside his ego gave a fist pump that her little
I experimented while at school
had been for effect. “Good.”

She opened her mouth and he snuck inside. Tasting her delicately but without hesitation. Her breath fluttered past his cheek, a warm rush that along with the kiss sent heat racing over his nerve endings.

Melody wasn’t protesting anymore, threading her fingers through his hair as she got into what they were doing. Even as he kept the kisses soft, it was clear she was getting just as turned on as him, moving in slow undulations against him as their breathing picked up.

It took some doing, but he pulled them apart, kissing her jaw and cheek. Nuzzling against her neck with his lips. “I’m headed to Red Deer tomorrow. You want to come?”

She purred as if he’d petted her. Stumbling for words as if she was surprised at the question. “Oh. Oh, I can’t. I’m booked to supervise at the 4-H rodeo.”

“Damn. Okay—next time then.” He drew her earlobe into his mouth and bit down, and a shiver rocked her. “Next time we go parking you can bring the new truck.”

The noise escaping her was somewhere between a sigh and a gasp as he focused attention on the tender spot at the base of her neck. “Sure. New truck.” She shuddered. “
Dammit
, Steve. Only first base? I want your mouth on my breasts.”

“I want that too. And my mouth on your pussy. And my cock buried deep inside you while you come around me, squeezing me tight and getting me wet.” The whimper that escaped her didn’t help. He wanted it so much he was ready to burst out of his jeans and stab her onto his length right this instant.
Control
. “But that wouldn’t be following the rules for tonight.”

She swayed above him, lips curled into a pout as her blue eyes caught his. “Who the hell set up rules saying you should drive me crazy with lust?”

“Just prolonging the anticipation,” he murmured, sneaking in for another quick kiss. “And I’d totally leave you hot and bothered, but I’ve seen your toy collection. I bet if I dropped you at home right now you’d have the batteries roaring on high within three minutes.”

“Thirty seconds,” she gasped, clutching his shoulders. Her breath escaped in short puffs, chest moving rapidly. “Ten, maybe. You don’t want that, do you?”

He caught her by the hips and slid her higher, rubbing the seam of her jeans over his impossibly hard length. “Hell, no. So, let’s do this instead.”

It took a couple tugs to get her lined up right. He was going to lose his mind, along with his load, but the escalating moans escaping her lips told him they were paying enough attention to her clit to make her come.

Steve tightened his grip for a second and locked her in place. Melody used his name like a rather nasty curse, and he laughed, catching hold of her chin. “No, sweetheart. First base is all I’m giving you.”

“Bastard—”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t take your pleasure,” he interrupted. “Do it. Get yourself off on me while I watch.”

Those perfect lips of hers formed an O of surprise for a second before her tongue darted out, and she licked them.

“That was…
dirty
,” she moaned.

“Do it,” he ordered, his voice just above a growl. “Now.”

The slight hesitation that followed was her adjusting position, rising on her knees and leaning over him. Her lush breasts swayed as she rocked, her hair swinging around her shoulders as she held on tight and rubbed her clit over his cock. Slowly at first, her teeth sinking into her lower lip as she found the right alignment. Lashes fluttering as she stared into his eyes and the pleasure built.

His cock swelled harder and hotter, and not being inside her was fucking killing him. But watching arousal streak over her face, a flush rise to her chest—the way she could barely keep her head vertical as she sped up, grinding harder now—amazing to witness.

“That’s it, sweetheart. Get yourself all heated up. Feel how hard you got me? My cock is like a fucking rock, and that’s because of you.” His mouth was going dry, he was breathing so hard, but the passion in her eyes urged him on. “I bet you’re tingling everywhere—like there are a million sparks about to explode into a flash fire racing through your veins. Your pussy’s jealous because your clit is pounding so hard.”