Following him into the barn, I consider the question. Tall, dark, handsome and sweet as sin, he should have a trail of broken hearts in his path. Yet, as he smiles at me, waiting for the answer, I see the warmth, the honesty, in his eyes that first stopped my heart when I saw his photo.

  “It does and it doesn’t. Handsome young man, a cowboy no less, not having much practice is curious.”

  Once again, I crash into his huge body. Jacob turns, staring down at me. His handsome face is flushed, his big chest heaving as he breathes. His eyes darken as they lock on me. Oh. Oh, that’s...that’s a little sexier than it ought to be. His rough hand brushes over my cheek, heat unfurling inside of me.

  “Handsome. Did you just call me...” he flushes again, dipping his head.

  “Yes, I did. You cannot be serious. Jacob you and half the other hands on this ranch belong on a steamy cowboy calendar.”

  Jacob laughs, his whole face changing as he does. Gosh, that’s a weapon of mass destruction if I ever saw one. That beautiful smile with that laugh. It destroys me, that is for sure. I am not sure I am safe with this man—I might make a hell of a lot more mistakes with him if he keeps smiling that way.

  “We ought to tell Cody that. He would whore us out for that for sure.”

  Those words stop me cold. Because he is not wrong. Cody, the boss who started these auctions, has essentially sold his men to the highest bidder. Last year, several of those sales led to romance, even though that is not implied. All they promise is a night on the ranch with a rugged ranch hand. Clearly, they know there may be more expectations from the buyers.

  “Can I get a moment to myself, Jacob?”

  Jacob’s light eyes darken before he nods. “Of course, Jillian. Take anytime you need. I will be waiting outside.”

  With him gone, I ask myself the same question I’ve repeated for days—what the hell was I thinking coming here?

  Chapter Five

  Jacob

  Talk about shoving a boot in my mouth.

  Snarking about being whored out by Cody again was the wrong thing to say to Jillian. Sure, some of the guys might be hoping to repeat last year and wind up with a woman on their arm, but this auction is on the up and up. We need to raise money for the ranch, and we want to give back to the charity Heather organized this for.

  Joking about this being some sort of stud operation was in bad taste. Jillian just came off a divorce. Her bio stated she wanted a night of fun for herself. That is all I ought to be thinking of giving her. Even if the sparks between us could power the whole damn town.

  From the moment I touched her—well, crashed into her—it has been there. We have not kept our hands to ourselves, and I don’t reckon I will be able to. I want to touch her. I want to kiss that pretty pink mouth and feel all her creamy skin pressed against mine. That doesn’t mean I will get to.

  “Watch your mouth with her,” I hiss at myself, kicking at the dirt.

  Jillian is flirting with me, touching me, tempting me, but she clearly is not looking for more. I have to accept that. Having no idea how brutal her divorce was or where her head is, giving her a good time while she heals is the best thing I can do. It is the least I can do for her while she is here.

  “I am ready to cowgirl it up, cowboy,” her sweet voice startles me as I pace in front of her little bungalow.

  Turning, I almost growl out a response once I see her. Gone is her pretty dress. Now she wears tattered jeans, dusty cowboy boots, a plaid shirt open to a form fitting tank top, and even a cowboy hat. Jesus, she’s a beautiful cowgirl. I can see her sitting on my front porch, waiting with a glass of sweet, iced tea, smiling at me as the sun goes down as I come home to her.

  “Yes, you are, honey,” I comment, rubbing my hand over my mouth so I don’t say the wrong thing again.

  “Been to a few rodeos before,” she says with a tip of her hat. “Not that I knew what the hell they were doing or why, but it was a fun time.”

  “A few of the men here were rodeo riders,” I tell her as we head towards the barn. “Tough life. Lonely life too. I never tried it because I never knew what the hell they were doing, either.”

  Beside me, she laughs, shoving me playfully with her hip. I want to reach out and draw her back to me, but I think better of it. Just give her a good time. Have some fun. Give her what she paid for, no more or less.

  “I am excited to get on a horse again. They say get back on the horse, don’t they? Thought this would be symbolic of me trying to ride again.”

  “After...I mean after your divorce?”

  Jillian stops, turning to me outside the barn. We can hear the horses, smell the hay, but for a moment, it’s just us. Nodding, she steps closer, bowing her head. As if she has something to be ashamed of. I won’t have it. Reaching out, I tip it back up, grasping her chin gently in my fingers.

  “I had it all figured out. Had my partner, a dream wedding, dream career, everything you could want. Except...it wasn’t everything I could ever want. It was not that we needed more. We both just needed different.”

  “Do not look at it as a failure or a mistake. You had a good relationship, it gave you good things, good memories, a good life for a while. That is not a failure, Jilly Bean. That is a success if you ask me.”

  Jillian’s eyes light up, a smile tilting her lips. “I like it. Jilly Bean? It’s cute. Very cowboy, from my own cowboy.”

  Smirking, I nod. I couldn’t help it. “That’s right. Come on, cowgirl. Let’s go ride.”

  Beaming up at me, she nods, taking my hand and letting me lead her to the horses. I explain about the rescues from the abandoned farm. Jillian takes time with each of those horses, cooing at them, telling them how pretty and perfect they are. And as I watch her, I decide the same about her. She is so pretty and so perfect, I am lucky she won the bid for me.

  We’re going to have a good time—I am getting her back on the horse again.

  “Oh, she is beautiful, Jacob,” Jillian breathes when she meets Snickerdoodle. “I can tell she is yours. Look how happy she is to see you. You take good care of her.”

  Flushing, I nod as I brush out the onery horse as she stamps her feet. Usually, I would be in here with carrots and apples, brushing her down for the night. Being sidetracked with my Jilly Bean, I am here late. I apologized and let her nuzzle me, smiling when she tentatively nuzzles Jillian too.

  “We cannot ride her though, honey,” I tell her gently. “I am still breaking her in. Whatever they did to her, I am trying to undo it.”

  Jillian moves in front of me, taking the brush from me. Her soft body brushes against my hard one. Gosh, she smells so good. Soft, floral, her long golden hair silky against me as she presses closer. Suddenly, my words feel double edged. Can I undo whatever hurt was done to her? I want to try.

  Standing there, I take a shaking breath as I drop my hands to her hips. Jillian sighs, letting me pull her back against me. She fits so good against my chest, her plump ass delicious against my cock. Bending my head, I press my face against her throat, breathing her sweetness in. Her sigh is more a moan now and I am encouraged by it.

  Reaching one hand around to her front, I slide a hand beneath her little tank top. The second my hand is on her skin, we both moan. My mouth presses to her skin and she nods, urging me on. I kiss her throat, beneath her ear, her jaw. While I kiss her, my hand slides up her front, up, until I fill my hand with her softness.

  “Jacob,” she cries as I pinch her budded nipple roughly. “Yes, yes.”

  “Whatever you need to feel good again, Jilly Bean. I want it to be me who does it. Will you let me do that for you? You will, won’t you?”

  “Yes, yes, God, I want to feel good, Jacob. Please.”

  “Shh, I got you honey. Let me get you on a horse, I need to take you somewhere. Will you ride with me?”

  “Yes. I don’t want you to let me go,” she admits, turning to stare up at me.

  “I won’t, Jilly Bean. I promise, I won’t. Not while you’re here. Not even for a moment, if you don’t want me to.”

  “No, I don’t want you to.”

  Nodding, I bend to brush my lips over her forehead. We’re both out of breath, my hands still up her shirt, her ass teasing my cock. I will not touch her or even kiss her here. Not where we can be caught. I want to take her somewhere we won’t be bothered. Where no one will catch me doing all the things I want to do to her.

  Leading her to another horse, she helps me saddle it with a big smile on her face. Hoisting her up, I give a playful swat to her backside. When her eyes flare with heat, I chuckle. I will remember that. Climbing up after her, I draw her close, practically setting her in my lap instead of on the horse.

  Jillian giggles and I flush because, hell, I would give anything for that sound. We set off from the ranch, heading towards my favorite place. I want to share it with her. I might get just one night with her, so I want to make it one both of us won’t ever forget. Settling back against my chest, she sighs as I hold her close, one hand possessively on her belly.

  “Tell me about what you do here, cowboy.”

  “Everything and nothing. I’ve been here a little over a year. Cody still has not figured out where to put me. Besides this auction, which I am damn thankful for,” I whisper this to her ear, kissing it softly. “I work with the rescued horses. Do whatever grunt work he asks of me. Earn my keep.”

  “Then that is where he ought to put you. Hmm, you smell so good, have I said that yet? Leather and oil, from the saddles. It is delicious,” she hums.

  “You keep talking to me that way, I might think you fancy me.”

  “Oh, good. Because I think I do. What does one do ‘round here if they fancy someone?”

  “Guess I would not know. Never fancied someone before, Jilly Bean.”

  “There must have been someone before.”

  “Not before you walked onto this ranch, there wasn’t. It was no lie that I have no idea how to flirt, honey. I never gave it a shot before. I am doing my best to flirt with you. Hope it is working,” I murmur, kissing her throat again, smiling when her ass starts to rock back against me, confirming it sure is.

  “Don’t flirt with someone else this way, cowboy. Because it is working.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it, honey. This is just for you.”

  Growing brave, I slide my fingers down on her tummy. We’re almost a mile from the ranch now, far off the trails. No one should find us out here. Taking a shaking breath, I undo the button on her jeans. Jillian lets out a little sound, her hips lifting. That’s a go-ahead if I ever saw one. Yanking at the zipper, I slip a trembling hand inside. Her lace panties feel silky against my rough fingers, and I grunt as I push past them.

  “Jacob,” she whimpers, hips lifting as my fingers dip lower. “Can you make me feel good again? Please? I need to feel something.”

  “Damn sure going to try, honey. Sit back for me. Let me touch you.”

  Nodding her head, she falls back, her thighs spreading just enough to let my big hand fit. We both moan as my fingers find her wet, silky pussy. I have never touched a woman before, but I am a quick learner. I push between her slit and she moans, fingers gripping at my thighs as we ride. I find the swollen bud at the top of her pussy and rub it, my cock jerking against her ass when she cries my name and lifts her hips more.

  “It’s so soft,” I rasp against her throat, pulling the horse to a stop. “Wet. Did you get this pretty little thing wet for me, honey?”

  “You did, cowboy,” she responds with a little laugh before she moans as I rub at her clit. “Guess you do know how to flirt, honey.”

  “Good thing. I love how this feels,” I growl, rubbing at her, spreading her wetness all over her folds. I am obsessed with it. How silky, how hot, how wet. I push my fingers inside of her and she cries out, hips bucking. “Did I hurt you, honey? Tell me what to do, Jilly Bean. I’ve never...”

  “Never touched a woman before? Don’t lie to make me feel...oh, yes, Jacob. Just like that. It does hurt but I want it to. I want it to hurt.”

  “No lies, Jillian. I won’t ever lie to you. I never wanted to touch a woman before. Now I want to touch all of you. I want you to come for me. I want to feel it on my fingers. Want to hear you call my name as you come.”

  Still sitting on the horse, she falls back against my chest, her thighs shaking. My thick fingers start to pump inside of her, my thumb rubbing slow, hard circles at her swollen clit. This makes her start to tremble, her breath panting out, her hips rocking against my touch.

  “That’s it,” she cries, her nails clawing at my thighs. “That’s it, honey, don’t stop. I’m going to come. It feels so good. You’re touching me so good, Jacob. Make me come. I want to come for you, cowboy.”

  Growling because I want that more than anything, I sink my teeth into her shoulder and work my fingers faster, harder, curling them inside of her. Growing brazen, I slip my other hand beneath her shirt, playing with her breasts, plucking and pulling at the stiff nipples. That does it because her pussy clamps tight on my fingers as she comes, shouting to the skies.

  “Jacob! Oh, yes, I’m coming!”

  My teeth bite down harder, as she comes for me, marking her creamy skin. Seeing the mark there turns me on until it hurts. I almost come as she shakes in my arms, chanting my name over and over. It is the hottest thing I have ever seen, watching her come. Now I want to do it again. I want to be inside of her when she comes this way. And maybe I won’t get that chance because she might not be ready for it, but this is something I won’t forget.

  “Come here, honey. Let me hold you.”

  Jillian cuddles back against me as I take the reins, easing the horse onwards. My hand stays in her jeans, cupping her possessively. I kind of want to keep my fingers inside her, but I don’t. We ride in a peaceful quiet until we hit my favorite spot. There, we sit on the hill, watching the sun slowly set, my arms around her, her soft body nestled against mine.

  My Jilly Bean might not be staying, but this moment, every single moment I get with her, will stay with me forever.

  Chapter Six

  Jillian

  Making out with a hot cowboy in the dark is the best.

  Lying against Jacob’s hard body, his big, rough hands everywhere at once, I am delirious with pleasure. I shake with it. I rub against him as if I am a cat in heat. Hell, maybe I am. I have been on the prowl since I first laid eyes on the big, beautiful cowboy.

  “Hmm, I love your mouth,” he hums against my lips. “It’s so sweet.”

  Shivers course through me as his hands slip beneath my tank top, pulling it up beneath my breasts. His hands are magic on my skin. He touched me on our horse ride earlier and it was magical. I’ve never come so fast, so hard, so good, in my entire life. He claims it was the first time he touched a woman and if it was, I wonder how good he will get with practice.

  “Kissing you is pretty sweet, cowboy,” I murmur back before I lick my tongue into his mouth, pulling at his dark hair.

  We lie in the grass on a thick woolen blanket he spread out. Our hats are gone, our boots off, and I’ve been working on his belt. I came here to have a good time, to feel something again, and I was right to choose him as my cowboy. Because I have felt something big building inside me since he tumbled into me today.

  It might just be an awful attempt to get over my loneliness. Get over a lifetime lost after the divorce. It could be more. Could be nothing at all. All I know for certain is, the moment he put his hands on me, I was all in. We joked about him being sold off to me earlier. It might be why this is coming at us so fast: we do not have to make up promises or lies. I am here for one night and whatever happens between us...happens between us.

  Sitting up, I slide my knee between his, giggling at his groan. His zipper cannot hide how turned on he is. Not that he has tried to hide it. Jacob has been very vocal about wanting to touch me, to taste me, to please me. It is the first time in so long that I have felt wanted. I am admittedly a bit addicted.

  “Sit up, honey,” I urge on a whisper. “Take this off. I want to see you,” I command, knowing he will obey me.

  With a filthy smirk, he bends his arm behind him, yanking his shirt up and off. Oh my. He is...yes, he is a piece of perfection. Kneeling, I reach out, sliding my hands over his golden skin. Mountains and valleys of muscle, tight and coiled. My fingertips trace the sharp V at his hips and his breath catches. When they move to his zipper, his breath punches out.

  Watching him, I unsnap the button, my nails scraping over his abdomen. He hisses a curse and his hands come to grab my hips, tugging me closer. I laugh and pull the zipper down, falling against his chest. It feels good to have a laugh, to feel this joy bubbling up inside of me, to let myself forget all I have been through lately. I just want to enjoy this, enjoy him, and let loose.

  “Jilly Bean,” he rasps, his throat working as I push him back on the blanket. Holy buckets, that cute name, the way he says it just...it just sets my heart on fire. It feels as if it is burning inside my chest. I am burning. “I said I want to make you feel good again. Whatever it means for you. I will do it.”

  Nodding, I shrug at my flannel before his hands are there, pushing it off. I make a little sound and he pulls at my tank top next. In the darkness, I have no doubts. I don’t know what this means or where it will lead. It might not lead anywhere or mean a thing to either of us after tonight. For now, it is everything I want, and I don’t want to stop.

  It doesn’t matter that we just met this morning. Doesn’t matter if we know nothing about one another. I am in need, and he wants to cater to that need. I came here to feel good, and he wants me to feel good with him. I can’t imagine having this with anyone else but Jacob.

  “You do, Jacob. Can I tell you a secret,” I whisper as I slip my hand inside his jeans, both of us making sounds as I close my fingers around him. He is thick and so hard, pulsing in my hand as I squeeze him.

  “Yes. Tell me any secrets you want to,” he groans as I slowly work my hand up his length, fingertips brushing over his sac.

 

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