My lips twitched. “I’m a man, Lina. I never said I didn’t do that first before I threw them into the wash.”
She shook her head, still huffing her throaty laugh while she pulled them on.
Her golden skin on full display again, her perky breasts begging for me to touch them. Fuck! Why did I have to go to work right now? I could spend all day worshipping that body. “Fuck, baby.” She pulled my shirt on, her nipples cutting through the fabric. My balls already felt too heavy. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself again.”
She gave me a little, seductive tip of her lips, and I couldn’t help it. Seeing her in my clothes did something to me. She was kneeling on the bed now, rolling up the waistband of the sweats so they stayed on, and I couldn’t resist. I planted my hands on either side of her, leaning into her, letting my nose drag along the side of her cheek, breathing in her sweet, vanilla scent, until I could capture her mouth with mine.
Lina tipped her chin up, letting me deepen the kiss. We didn’t touch each other, but the way our lips seemed to nestle right between the other was like fitting together two perfect puzzle pieces.
“I can’t get enough of you,” she whispered against my mouth.
“Same, baby, same.”
“Found the blueberries!” Penn declared proudly, skipping back into the room.
Lina started to pull back, but I stopped her by grabbing the back of her neck. Giving her one last solid kiss. I didn’t care if my kid saw it. I was ready to shout to the world that this woman was mine.
“A promise for later,” I whispered, before straightening and turning to my daughter. “Okay, princess, let’s get breakfast started.”
26
reed
The Big Buckin’ Showdown was one of the rowdiest rodeos on the circuit. I’d heard tales of cops having to swarm in to break up fights or dangerous bulls breaking loose into the stands. It didn’t help that it was hotter than the devil’s armpit. That meant more drinking and more fucking assholes. It also meant that I was on high alert, sizing up every guy who seemed to strut around like they were here to either fuck or fight. I wasn’t about to let anyone ruin this for my girl. She was well on the road to winning the finals.
It didn’t seem to faze Lina in the least. Mushu still inhaled those fucking barrels like he was made for it, and all Lina had to do was sit, look, and let him run.
I was there waiting for her when she ran him home, pulling up on the reins to slow him down, not even looking back to check her time. Her teeth sparkled in the high-noon sun that seemed to scorch everything but Lina. She looked windswept, hair coming loose from her braid, her tan perfect beneath her hat. Sweat poured down at her temples, and Mushu’s coat glistened with it.
“Woo-hoo!” Lina hollered, seeing her eighteen-second-flat time. “Beat that, Paige!” she bragged to the snooty barrel girl in the hole.
“Shut up, Lina,” she grumbled back, saying more under her breath.
“What was that, bitch?” Lina asked, getting ready to swing down from her saddle.
“Lina,”I warned. I didn’t catch what Paige said, but whatever it was, it was enough to piss her off. However, this was not the place to start shit.
She gave me a side-eye before glaring at her opponent. “You know what? Fine. Say what you want to say. Just say it to my fucking face next time. But if I were you, I wouldn’t wish bad things on others. The universe has a real good sense of humor when it comes to that shit.”
“Whatever,” Paige scoffed, returning her gaze to the arena.
“Come on,” I said, clipping Mushu’s lead rope to his bridle and pulling him away from there. “This heat is getting to both of you. I think you and Mushu could use a good rinse off.”
Lina sighed. Her grin didn’t return, but I was treated to a little tip of her lips. “I think I could use a cool shower and a drink tonight”—she faltered—“if that’s okay.”
I nodded. “Anything you need, baby.”
Her smile grew, reaching her eyes, as if I was giving her a gift. I seemed to be rewarded with a lot of those looks lately, and I loved how it made me feel. Like I was the only one who got this soft, sweet side of Lina. The Lina who had a big heart for the people in her life, and I desperately wanted to be one of them for as long as she was willing to have me.
“Your turn, cowboy,”Lina announced when I walked into the trailer after hosing down Mushu and giving him his dinner.
Lina was perched on the counter in cutoff shorts and a crop top, showing off more of her beautiful, golden skin. I had to resist the temptation to run my palms over every inch of her any chance I got.
She was sipping on a big glass of chilled white wine. Her wet hair was combed out and drying in natural waves. She never wore very much makeup, but a pretty, pink gloss painted her lips, and it looked like she might have put on some mascara. I wanted to see that gloss painted all over my dick by the end of the night. I wanted those lashes fluttering up at me while she gagged on me.
I moved to her, my arms outstretched and ready to encompass her waist with my hands, but she raised a bare foot to my chest, stopping me from reaching her.
“You need a shower, and then you can touch me.” I didn’t blame her. My shirt was sticking to me. Even my balls were sweating.
