Ryder (Rope 'n Ride Series Book 2) (7 page)

Suddenly Joy took pity on him. He looked as stunned as she felt, and with the cameras buzzing around him, he was close to losing his shit.

“Daddy, I’ll meet you back at the stables, okay?” Not waiting for his reply, she rounded the table and pushed her way between the pregnant Ashley and the man she claimed as the father.

Joy grabbed each of their arms and marched them through the crowd with a terse, “Stop filming,” to the crew. She got Ryder and the woman into a quiet spot and turned to leave.

“Wait. Joy.” He stepped up to her, flooding her with his body heat. Bowing over her, he whispered, “Why’d you do that?”

She lifted her shoulders, as stumped as he was. “I know you don’t want it aired this way.”

With that, she made her escape, aching deep in her bones where hope had once lifted for a few short hours on her way to Cheyenne.

For a long time she wandered the grounds, avoiding people she knew. At times like this, a spot of her own privacy would be welcome. Right now, the only alone time she’d get was in a bathroom stall.

She went into the ladies’ room and was immediately met with the sound of weeping.

Crap, she wasn’t in the mood to hear somebody’s sob story. She couldn’t help anyway, but this happened far too often to her. She had a soft spot for human plight and people often confided in her. She started to spin back to the door to go, when a tall, beautiful auburn-haired woman came out of a stall.

They took one look at each other, and Wynonna’s tears started up again. Joy’s shoulders drooped as she realized she was stuck talking something out with the youngest member of the Calhoun family whether she wanted to or not. If she left now, she’d be an inconsiderate ass.

Seeing her cry left Joy feeling as though her dear friend had been hurt.

“Can I help you?” Joy asked softly.

Wynonna sniffled and tried to mop her tears and nose simultaneously with a soggy hunk of toilet paper.

Taking pity on her, Joy went to the paper towel dispenser and jerked free a handful. She placed the wad in Wynonna’s hands.

“Thank you,” she said through a stuffed nose.

Joy waited for her to dry her nose and eyes. “Why don’t you splash some cold water on your face? It might make you feel better.”

She shook her head even as she moved to the sink. “Nothing will make me feel better. And I can’t go out there. I’m going to have to forfeit today.”

Joy blinked. A Calhoun was letting life get in the way of winning? That wasn’t the person she knew from the reality show.

“You can’t do that. Let me get you a drink and we’ll wait until you feel better before going out into the public eye.”

Wynonna dragged in an unsteady breath. “I’m an idiot and now I’m paying the price. Buck warned me to stay away from him.”

“From whom?” Joy leaned against the sink.

“Ethan.” At the name, tears started steadily falling again.

Joy pushed away from the sink and pulled Wynonna into her arms. She couldn’t be much younger than Joy was but she seemed both stronger and yet more fragile. Physically, she was a powerhouse, as muscled as an athlete but with enough curves to attract some asshole named Ethan who’d hurt her.

Suddenly, she felt a strong camaraderie with Wynonna. She squeezed her new friend. “I don’t know who Ethan is or what happened between you, but you’re a gorgeous and amazing woman who will find love from some worthy man in time.”

“I don’t want…love. I’m turning lesbian.”

At that, Joy laughed. She couldn’t help it. The statement was so dramatic and exactly like the Wynonna she knew from the show.

Could that mean the real Ryder was the one she knew too—the one who wouldn’t have gotten a woman pregnant and left her hanging?

Wynonna squeezed her back. “I know you. You’re Joy Humphries.”

She nodded.

“You seem upset too. What happened to you?” Wynonna asked.

How did she say she had a blinding crush on Wynonna’s brother and he may or may not be accepting his role as a father right now?

She shook her head lightly. “I’m fine, thank you. How are you feeling?”

“Like an ass for getting sucked into starting a relationship with an older man. I think he’s in midlife crisis. Only thing he’s lacking is the earring and the gold chain.” Her spunky speech made Joy smile.

“But does he have the convertible?”

“Yes, it’s red.”

They stared at each other for a long moment and then buckled in half, laughing and snorting.

For five solid minutes they laughed until they cried. Other women came in and out of the bathroom, looking at them as if they’d lost their minds. But when Joy straightened, she felt better for it. And it appeared Wynonna did too. The normal color had come back into her high cheekbones and her eyes were mostly free of pain.

On impulse, Wynonna hugged her. “Thank you for that. I needed a friend right now. You can’t know how difficult it is having five brothers sticking their boots in my business.”

“I don’t. But being an only child has its drawbacks too. Like nobody to stand up for me or confide in.”

“You never did tell me what’s bothering you. Does he have a convertible too?”

“Worse—a hat and boots.”

Wynonna made a sympathetic noise. “Why don’t you join us for dinner after the events end? We all meet up and pig out on pizza and wings.”

Half an hour ago, Joy would have jumped at the opportunity. But now…

She shook her head. “Thanks, but my father has a celebratory dinner for his riders. He’ll want me there.”

“Another time then. I think you’d fit in real well with my family.” Wynonna’s smile was genuine.

Joy’s heart turned over. She’d believed she’d fit in too.

“Another time,” she said without much commitment. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Yes, thanks to you.” She hugged Joy again and then went to the mirror to fluff her hair. “All right, I look okay, don’t I?”

“You’re beautiful.”

Wynonna made a face that was like a little sister would give, her nose screwed up and her eyes crossed. She swept out the door and Joy took a moment before she followed. When she stepped into the sunlight, she saw Wynonna surrounded by cameras and one of her brothers at her side.

Moral support. That’s what the family was all about. What would they do for Ryder once they learned about his secret baby?

A hard grip on her elbow made her squeak. “Walk with me.” The dark rumble of Ryder’s voice slammed her at the same instant his musky, leathery scent did.

She stumbled, and he kept her upright, his arm around her middle now. “I don’t want to walk with you.”

“Too bad. You’re going to talk with me.” He maneuvered her through the crowd like a vacuum cleaner through a room stuffed with furniture. When they reached a trailer, he opened the door and practically threw her inside.

She caught herself on a short countertop, realizing this was one of the Calhouns’ personal travel trailers. Maybe even Ryder’s. She glared at him just as he launched through the door and firmly closed it behind him.

She was faced with a big, angry, determined cowboy. “I don’t like it when you try to get away from me,” he said.

A sassy retort bubbled up, but he grabbed her, silencing her with his hard lips. He kissed her deeply, drawing her onto tiptoes and against his muscled body. Unable to stop herself, she made a hungry noise. He deepened the kiss, and she wrapped her arms around him just to keep herself upright. No, she was lying to herself. She wanted to hold onto him.

“Fuck, I want you, Joy. I’ll be anything you want. Just let me in before I die from this need.”

She pushed away from him. “I don’t want you to be anything—especially not a father to that woman’s baby.”

He released her and she almost fell over. Bracing her legs, she tried to remain standing in the face of his anger, which didn’t seem to be directed at her. “It’s not my kid. I guarantee it.”

“But you slept with her. You knew her name.”

“Yeah, I did sleep with her,” he said without a moment’s pause. “Months ago. More months than she’s been pregnant. And after I reminded her of that, she backed down and said she’d forgotten the time frame.”

Joy’s stomach bottomed out. She dipped her gaze to his broad chest, avoiding his gaze. He was having none of it.

Lifting her chin with his callused knuckle, he met her stare. “You like kissing me, and I’m a free man.”

His words sank in. Her promise to herself during the drive to Cheyenne burst in her brain like fireworks at the end of a show.
Now or never.

They hurled themselves at each other.

* * * * *

The minute his lips met hers, he was fully hard. Aching and panting for her. He grabbed her ass and hitched her against his erection even as she ground against it.

Those small squeaking noises were back, burrowing deep into his psyche. He didn’t think he’d ever get them out—didn’t want to. Angling his head, he delved his tongue into her mouth, gathering all her cute little sounds and feeding his growls back to her.

She clamped her arms around him, holding him right where she wanted to as she rubbed her breasts over his chest.

“Hell,” he ground out, releasing her ass to cup her breasts. They were firm and high, smaller than most women he’d been with but sexier. Running his thumbs over the mounds, he felt for her distended nipples. As soon as he got his reward, they tore away from the kiss and stared at each other.

Her chest heaved, her lips swollen and her eyes burning. “I want you. Don’t stop.”

His heart picked up its pace as he dead-bolted the trailer door and walked her two steps backward to the futon. It was draped with a quilt, which he spread out as he eased her down.

She ran her tongue over her lower lip, and he nearly burst out of his jeans. He hit his knees before her, picking up her juicy scent of arousal and nearly swallowing his tongue.

“I have to taste you. I’m dying for it.” His voice was grittier than ever, as if he’d been drinking all night. He felt drunk, for sure.

She tossed off his hat and sank her fingers into his hair, drawing him right down against her. Groaning, he used his jaw to push up her T-shirt and get at her silky belly. Lightly tanned and taut, her bellybutton gleamed with a stud shaped like a horseshoe.

“Guess I got lucky.” He nuzzled her piercing. She arched upward. Kissing a path over her flesh, he plucked at her distended nipples through her bra. Then he slid his hands up her torso, removing her top and flipping up her bra at the same time.

In a flurry, she reached behind her back and released her bra clasp. As soon as her round breasts bounced free, he was on her. Sucking, biting, nibbling and working the tips with his tongue. She cried out, writhing in his hold. Thank God he hadn’t left his hotel room without his wallet. He was known for doing that and always bumming money off his brothers. But a single condom was wedged between the folds of leather.

Releasing her nipple, he gazed up at her beautiful face.

“You look so undone for me.”

She didn’t speak, just clutched his head and drew him up for a lingering kiss. She tasted of need and something sugary. A soda? Cotton candy? He tasted her for another long minute before pulling free and kissing back down her bared body.

When he reached her jeans, the button and zipper were no match for him. He nimbly worked them open only to see a pair of polka-dotted red panties. Retro panties that matched her bra, now he thought about it. The lingerie added another layer to what he already knew about Joy.

She was a different kind of woman. One he needed to get closer to.

“Ryder, hurry.” She lifted her tight butt off the futon, allowing him to pull off her jeans. But he left her panties in place, more turned on than he’d been in his life just from the sight of them.

He easily removed her boots and jeans. Using his hands on her knees, he pushed her legs up and back, spreading her to him.

“I’m not…” her breath hitched, “naked.”

“This is how I want you.” Holding her gaze, he lowered his lips to her pussy. Covering the fabric, open-mouthed and throbbing for her. Her warmth met his mouth, and they shared a wild moan.

Through the fabric, he made slow love to her swollen outer lips and located her hard bud beneath the silky cloth. Desire pulsed through him, a rush in his ears.

He kissed her sex up and down, drawing long cries from her. Then using his tongue, he pressed beneath the elastic edge. The instant his tongue met sleek, smooth, shaved skin it was all over for him.

* * * * *

Joy had never experienced such a moment in her life, but she hoped to again and again. Somehow having Ryder’s mouth on her,
through
her clothes was the most erotic thing she’d ever known. Her insides trembled and she’d never been so wet.

But the instant he removed her panties altogether, she lost all sense of herself. She lived, breathed and thought for Ryder.

He nudged her thighs up and apart and dived between them. Piercing her with his tongue. She contracted around him, juices spilling from her. He gathered them on his tongue with slow, maddening strokes. Up and down, then in and out. Up, down, in, out. The knot in her core pulled so tight she thought she might snap in two.