Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys 1)

Why wasn’t she looking forward to any of it?

Because it means leaving Hank.

After a late-afternoon cattle check with Abe, Lainie peeped in Hank’s bedroom, expecting he’d still be asleep.

But he was showered, dressed in ragged sweats, and unpacking his equipment bag.

“What are you doing up? Get back in bed.”

“Nope.” He piled his dirty clothes into a laundry basket. “Two days of sleep cured me.”

“But—”

“Lainie. I’m fine.” He finally looked at her.

She had to admit he did look better. Color in his cheeks. Clear-eyed. Belligerent posture.

“See? So tell me what you’ve been doin’.”

“I drove yesterday. Hung out with Abe today. Watched over you. That’s about it.”

“Bored out of your skull, were you?” he said dryly.

“Not even close. I did ranch stuff, which was fun. But I did miss you. Although you do argue less when you’re unconscious.”

“Ha, ha.”

“You hungry?”

“Starved.”

“Sit. I’ll bring you a tray.” She started for the door.

“Like hell.” Hank grabbed her hand and tugged her against his body. “Next time I’m in that bed you’ll be in it with me. And we won’t be sleeping.”

“I wouldn’t want you to strain yourself.”

Hank gave her the naughty grin that turned her insides into pudding. “If I ain’t straining myself to please you between the sheets, then I’m doin’ something wrong.”

When she didn’t smile, he tipped her chin up. “Darlin’, I’m okay. I promise.”

“I’m glad.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

Lainie sighed and pressed the side of her face into his chest. “I hate to tell you, but Doc called me a couple hours ago. I have to leave tomorrow. A bunch of last-minute EBS events.” She braced herself for his demand that she stay as he played the sympathy card about his injury. But Hank didn’t.

He kissed the top of her head. “Well, we’d better make the most of tonight, hadn’t we?”

Abe vanished after supper.

Lainie supervised Hank while he stretched the kinks out, making sure he didn’t push himself too soon. He appreciated her concern and he took it easy with the exercises. But as soon as she was gone he’d have to figure out a way to work through the pain. His audition in Tulsa was in five short days. No way was he missing it.

Later they sat side by side, swinging in the old porch swing. As much as he loved just being with her, he needed to touch her. To reconnect with her in the most elemental way so she truly understood he was all right physically. Emotionally the thought of her leaving was almost more painful than getting kicked around by a bull. But neither of them was ready to deal with that tonight.

“Lainie.”

“Mmm?”

“I want you.”

She brushed her moist lips across his ear. “Then take me.”

Hank twined his fingers through hers and led her to his bedroom. “Get nekkid, woman.”

She stripped and then bounced on the middle of the bed, causing her tits to jiggle nicely. “Hank, you’re not convincing me you’re recovered.”

“Why’s that?”

“You’re a little slow getting them britches off.”

“Darlin’, you ain’t seen slow yet. Not by half.”

Lainie groaned.

“Kick those covers aside so I’ve got room to work.” Hank lowered himself beside her. Looking into those shining eyes, he saw something more than lust. It knocked him for a loop, same as it had the first time he’d seen it: the night they’d been alone together at the cabin.

She whispered, “Why are you staring at me?”

Because I love you. I think you love me. And why can’t we just be adults about this and admit the truth?

“Hank?”

“Because I’m trying to decide where I wanna start kissing you first.”

“I can make a suggestion,” she said huskily.

“Mmm. I’ll bet you can.” With barely-there kisses, he teased the plump, wet softness of her mouth until her breath hitched. Until she latched onto his neck to bring his mouth down on hers.

After letting her think she had control, he eased back to gaze into her eyes again. “Is that really where you want me to spend my time kissing you?”

Lainie scratched the beard bristle on his jawline. “No. I want to feel this rough beard between my thighs. On my ni**les. My belly. My neck.”

He growled. “Arms above your head.”

She arched sexily, a long curve from her wrists to the wanton cant of her hips.

Hank placed his mouth on the hollow of her throat and licked straight down the valley of her cle**age, not stopping to suckle the hard tips of her ni**les or the rounded underside of her br**sts. His tongue followed the shallow indent of her smooth belly. He circled the tip of his tongue around her navel and across the quivering skin of her lower belly, stringing kisses along the line of tight curls.

“I love that.”

His answer was a long, slow, flat-tongued lick from the entrance to her pu**y up the slit. He didn’t intend to drag out her climax forever, but he wouldn’t be denied the time to enjoy her thoroughly.

He nibbled into the soft recesses of her intimate flesh. Lapping at the pink folds, swallowing her sweet cream. Holding her hips down with a warning squeeze when her pelvis shot up.