Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys 1)

Lainie was talking to a scrawny male kid who didn’t look old enough to shave, let alone to run a medical station.

“I thought I’d offer,” Lainie finished. She spun around and her fake smile slipped when her gaze landed on Kyle.

“Everything okay?” he asked outside the room.

“Fine. They have plenty of ‘qualified medical professionals,’ so I’m free to be a spectator tonight.”

He recognized her disappointment. “That’s not all bad. It’ll really feel like you’re on vacation. Did you guys get the camper set up?”

“Yeah. Let’s head that way. I could use food.”

They walked through the bustling campground to a fenced-in section outside the arena reserved for contestants and their families. Despite the steel horse trailers and campers, the area held the feel of an Old West town. Dust and tents and campfires. Whinnying horses, kids shouting, and barking dogs.

“This your first trip through a campground on the CRA tour?” Kyle asked.

“No. Sometimes Tanna and I hang out in her horse trailer. She usually takes off right after the event on the second night.” Lainie avoided a pile of beer cans. “Talk about a shock. I figured the inside of her horse trailer would be covered in hay. She’d have a couple of plastic buckets to sit on, a dorm-size fridge, and a cot.”

“Were you surprised?”

“Yes. My God. Her horse trailer is nicer than my apartment. Cleaner too.”

“At Tanna’s level of competition she can afford creature comforts.” He shot her a grin. “And I do mean creature comforts, because I’ll bet she pampers her horse way more than she pampers herself.”

“True.” She pointed. “We’re this way.”

“Where’s Hank?”

“Called in for some last-minute sponsor event at a Western clothing store. They picked him up at the front gate an hour ago. Then he has to meet with the head honcho afterward.”

At the campsite, Lainie hopped up on the metal stair and twisted a key in the lock. She tilted her body sideways and swung the door open.

Kyle followed her inside. The air conditioner worked well; the space was nice and cool.

She cracked open the fridge. “I didn’t check to see what there is for food.” She rummaged and muttered, “Meat for sandwiches, but I don’t see bread. If I’d known that before we set up I would’ve insisted on a trip to the grocery store.”

“Tell you what. I saw a store across the road. Make me a list of what’ll get us through tonight and tomorrow and I’ll head over there and pick it up.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up. “That’d be great. I planned on making the bed and taking care of general housekeeping stuff. I’ll do that while you’re gone and then I’ll fix us lunch when you get back.”

Kyle snagged her wrist. “Neither me or Hank expects you to cook and clean for us, Lainie.”

“I know. But it makes sense for me to keep track of it, since you guys will be busy. I’m sure we can work out some kind of beneficial trade.”

He bussed her cheek. “Count on it. And for the record? I’m better at fetching and carrying than I am at cooking.”

“Good to know.” Lainie jotted down a few items and passed him the paper with a breezy, “And anything else that strikes your fancy.”

At the store, after he’d loaded what he could comfortably carry across the busy road, Kyle saw a bunch of sunflowers. He immediately thought of Lainie’s sunshiny smile and added those to his basket before he checked out.

Holding the flowers behind his back, Kyle knocked on the camper door.

She peeked out the small window inset in the door before she opened it. “Why did you knock?”

He whipped the flowers out and said, “Surprise.”

“Kyle!” Lainie plucked them from his hands. “They’re beautiful. You are so sweet. Thank you.” She peppered his face with kisses. “I might have to send you to the store all the time.”

As they shelved the groceries, Kyle watched Lainie covertly, surprised at how much he enjoyed doing simple domestic things with her. Usually he had the overwhelming urge to run when women set up housekeeping. But she was fascinating. The sexy way she bit her lip when she was thinking. The continual—but completely pointless—way she smoothed back the loose tendrils of hair.

He wanted her with an all-consuming ache.

Lainie gulped the last of her water. As soon as the bottle cleared her lips, Kyle’s mouth was on hers, taking the kiss he’d craved. Then he slowed the passion. Stroking her velvety wet tongue against his. Each pull into the soft depth of her mouth tightened his balls. Lengthened his cock.

Lust and comfort were a potent combination.

Kyle ended the kiss in playful increments. “Damn. I’ve been dying to do that all day.”

“Don’t let me stop you.” She teased the hollow of his cheek with her lips. “You smell good. I could lick you up.”

“Don’t let me stop you,” he murmured.

She froze. “Wait. Are we supposed to stop? Can I just jump on you? Or are we supposed to ask Hank? Or do we tell him after?”

Kyle cupped her jaw and tilted her head back. “Can’t we just go with the jumping-on-me part and figure the rest out later?”

Lainie plastered her body to his and kissed him stupid.

He worked the buttons on her blouse until she shimmied out of it and ditched her bra. His c**k pressed painfully against his zipper when he bent to tug her jeans free from her legs. “Thank God you wore sandals and not boots.”