15 comments/ 40402 views/ 48 favorites Anything for a Cowboy By: Boadicea It was undoubtedly the WORST place for a car to break down. There she was, trapped in the middle of the Arizona desert in the blistering heat, miles from civilization. She had no cell phone reception, and though she'd remained in the same spot for hours, no one had passed by. She was dizzy with dehydration and her water bottles had emptied over an hour ago. As she dreaded the thought of dying and having vultures pick at her corpse, Aeryn found herself bent over her car, trying to make head or tails of what was under the hood. That's it she thought, glaring at the contents with confusion, the second I'm back in society, I'm taking a course on auto repair...IF I get back to society she thought helplessly. Aeryn found the whole situation incredibly irritating. She may have been a writer, but she wasn't the pampered sheltered stereotype. She could build a fire, cook a meal from almost nothing, and beat the shit out of a man nearly twice her size. To be at the mercy of the Arizona desert was the greatest of insults. She was a modern woman after all. Aeryn knew what to do in a crisis and yet, here she was, stranded in the middle of butt fuck nowhere, where she was undoubtedly going to die... and all because she wanted to write a fucking cowboy novel. "Arizona is great!" her father had told her. "You'll love it there." Her Dad had gone to summer camp in Arizona, so of course he was filled with happy memories. She was en route to meet the friend of her editor, one Doctor Wyatt Destry, aka Doc Wyatt, who owned a ranch in the area. Given the distance she was expected to travel, the area in question was massive. The car broke down in the middle of the day, three quarters of the way there, and nearly ten miles from the nearest town. As the sun was setting, she admitted that while this place was likely to be the last thing she ever saw, it was beautiful. Pulling her head out from under the hood, she paused and admired the view. The sky had darkened to crimson, with the rich blue of night just along the edges. In the middle of her view, the sun in all its brilliance was sinking below the horizon, darkening red clay coloured hills that stood proudly against the fading light. She had her head under the hood when a solitary figure crept up on his horse. *** The first thing he saw was a pair of long, denim clad legs and a shapely behind sticking out of the hood of the car. "You need help, darlin'?" he asked. The woman's head popped up at the sound of his voice. He heard the unmistakable sound of metal striking bone and her rapid fire curses as she hit her head on the hood. Her hand snapped out and grabbed the hood of the car before it could fall on her. The arm that held it was long and lean, the skin smooth and tanned. The hand that grabbed the hood was narrow, with long fingers liberally stained with grease. The woman was muttering under her breath as she quickly emerged from beneath the hood and angrily slammed it down. The face that looked up at him was all strong bones and honeyed skin, topped by a head of short dark hair streaked by the sun and sticking out in all directions. Her lips were full, her eyes dark and piercing despite a near comedic smear of grease on her forehead, and there was a pair of wire rimmed glasses perched on her cute nose. She wasn't exactly beautiful. The short hair, combined with the slanted eyes and cheekbones made her look more like a Star Trek character. Nonetheless, Wyatt felt a tug in his gut as he let his eyes slide lower, down the length of her slender neck, over her collarbone, and generous breasts encased in a green T-shirt emblazoned with: "Stop Looking for a Pot of Gold... Get a Job!" Between the hem of the T-shirt and skin tight jeans was a tiny stretch of gold skin his fingers suddenly itched to touch. Then he got a good look at her face... she looked tired, worn out, and there were signs of sunburn. The eyes watching him were dizzy and faint. Dehydration, he decided, and possibly heatstroke. "You here to save me?" she asked dizzily, her eyes shining with an almost child like hope. Despite instincts honed in med school, Wyatt chuckled as he retrieved his canteen. "I guess I am." he said, unscrewing the cap. No sooner did have the cap in his hand when she snatched the canteen from him and took a long swig. Then she paused, her eyes narrowing. "Gatorade?" she asked in confusion. "Better for dehydration, Darlin'; car break down?" She swallowed another gulp of Gatorade and glared at him. "Nope, decided to drive out into the middle of the desert and stay in the blistering heat just to see if I could!" The writer, he decided, reading her sarcasm instantly. His old pal Arnold Green had conned him into taking her on for a few weeks so she could study "The Cowboy Way". He wasn't told much beyond the fact that she was tall-ish and lanky, and could put a man in his place with a word. Arnold hadn't mentioned that she had a killer body and that even in lousy circumstances she had a sense of humour. "That's mighty dumb of you, Aeryn." he said, delighting in the shock and temper that flashed in her eyes. "You'd better drink more of that, and while you're at it, give me your car keys." "Why?" "I'm going to lock up your car. You're coming with me." "My clothes, my laptop." she whined. "We'll get 'em tomorrow, honey." he promised her as he dismounted. He knew her type well enough to know it was the dehydration talking. "Who are you?" she demanded suddenly. "You're not going to kill me and leave my corpse for the vultures are you?" "Wouldn't be very hospitable of me if I did." he said. "I'm Doc Wyatt. You'll be livin' with me for the next few weeks." Without a word, she reached into her pocket and handed him the keys. *** So this, she thought hazily, is Doc Wyatt... all six three of him. He'd ridden up to her on his massive mahogany steed in a black Stetson, denim shirt, and jeans that fit a man the way they were meant to: not overly tight, just fitted enough to show off his butt. And this butt, she thought, watching him bend toward her car, was gorgeous! The kind meant to be cupped by a woman's hands during healthy sex. Aeryn had initially thought he was some incredible mirage. The man was a dead ringer for a young Paul Newman: blue eyes set in a tanned face with a straight, manly jaw, full lips, cleft chin, and a strong forehead. His body was all broad shoulders and lean muscles. His legs were long and strong enough to master the giant horse he was expecting her to ride. "You on any meds?" he asked in that heavy drawl. "Huh?" she'd been too busy ogling him. "You on any meds?" he repeated, tilting the rim of his hat to study her. "Just the pill." she said matter-of-factly, unsure why that would embarrass her. She was dehydrated, tired, and probably sunburned. She had no business fantasizing about the man she'd be living with for the next couple of weeks. The man in question nodded. "Where?" he asked. "My purse, front seat of the car." she replied, feeling increasingly light headed. She saw him get it before he efficiently locked up the car. He put her purse in his saddle bag and mounted his horse. "You coming, Aeryn?" "Yeah." she said, eyeing the horse a little uncertainly. She'd never ridden one before. "He won't bite." he smiled, his blue eyes twinkling. He leaned down from the saddle and offered her his hand. Unwilling to embarrass herself any further, she put the canteen on her neck, grabbed his hand and awkwardly swung into the saddle in front of him. The gasp, she told herself, had everything to do with the height of the animal, and nothing to do with the knowledge that his crotch was snuggled against her. *** And damn if she didn't feel good there. As he steered Boxer back to the ranch, his cock rose to attention. It wasn't his fault, he told himself. This was a purely physical reaction to soft female flesh bouncing against him with Boxer's every move. Oh hell! Who was he kidding? He inhaled the scent of her hair, some kind of floral shampoo mixed with the heady scent of sweat. It was an odour that reminded him too much of sex, and at the moment, sex with Aeryn sounded like a pretty good idea. Down boy, he told himself, hoping his body would capitulate. Every press of her ass against his crotch had Wyatt inhaling a breath. He worried that pressed as intimately as they were, she'd notice. Then he heard the lightest of snores and the rhythmic sound of her breathing. He realized much to his relief that she was sound asleep. *** "C'mon honey, wake up and drink this, will you?" a voice asked. Aeryn felt the press of a plastic bottle against her lips and a strong arm lifting her shoulders. She was on a bed of some kind, and wiggling her toes, she realized he'd removed her boots. Her hand lifted to snatch the bottle from him and as her eyes opened, she realised much to her relief that he'd left her glasses on. The face that swam into view was just as gorgeous as she remembered, and feeling a little unsteady, she snatched the bottle from him and took a long drink. She nearly groaned with pleasure. It was water, ice cold and sweet. "I'm not a baby, Mr. Wyatt." she said, sitting up. A sudden wave of dizziness had her head reeling. The perfect gentleman, Doc Wyatt took the bottle and put his arm around her for support. Aeryn had to fight the urge to snuggle. "I'm sorry." she said wearily. "I've been a total bitch since we've met, and all you've done is help me. I'm Aeryn Salma." she said, offering her hand in absurd formality. "I know." he said, putting down the bottle to shake hers. The hand that held hers was large, with wide palms and long, narrow fingers, the skin textured by years of hard work. He'd removed his hat, the hair beneath was a dark reddish brown cropped short. "You're Doc Wyatt?" "Wyatt to you, drink more water, Aeryn. There's a bathroom off to your left. You should shower." "Why? Do I stink?" she asked, bending to sniff herself. She didn't, but Wyatt didn't say as much. He simply pressed the bottle of water to her hand and watched the long line of her throat as she drank. "Finish the bottle and then take a shower. I put some aloe vera in there if you need it." She stared down at herself for a moment and then winced. "I don't suppose you have anything I can change into, huh?" Though covered with dust and grease, her shirt and jeans were skin tight. As far as he was concerned, she couldn't look any better unless she were naked. "My room is down the hall." he heard himself saying. "Take whatever fits. I'll go and rustle you up some grub." "Thanks." she said. She chugged the remains of the bottle, and with a stubbornness he admired, Aeryn forced herself to her feet. "You need help, honey?" he asked, watching her stagger toward bathroom. "No, I think I can get my clothes off just fine thank you." "You sure? I'm damn good at it." he HAD to say it; it was that prissy tone of voice. She paused in the doorway and straightened, audibly sucking in a breath. He could swear he saw a hint of wariness as she stared back at him. "As tempting as that sounds, I've got sunstroke, and we're going to be stuck together for a while." then she smiled at him with the easy arrogance of a femme fatale. "It's a shame, though. You are one fine piece of ass." When his mouth dropped open, she slammed the door in his face. *** On either side of the door, both Aeryn and Wyatt let out long breaths. Was he just ribbing her, or had that been a come on. It had been so long since she'd played the so called game that Aeryn couldn't tell anymore. She'd been tempted, no, BEYOND tempted, to take him up on his offer, and even now resisted the urge to throw the door open and tell him she'd changed her mind. Then she gave herself a mental slap. She barely knew the man, she had heatstroke, AND she was stuck with him for the next two or three months. And for all she knew, he'd only been teasing. With that thought in mind, she turned the shower to lukewarm and tried to purge thoughts of those strong hands and sexy drawl. It was a lost cause. No sooner did she close her eyes then his face appeared with shocking clarity: those blue eyes staring hungrily into her own. As her soap slick hands slid over her breasts, it was his hands she felt, forcing a moan from her lips. Her nipples tightened, and as her hands slid between her legs and teased her clit, it was his fingers she wanted on her, teasing her to madness. She needed relief if she was going to face him across the dinner table, so for the next agonizing minutes Aeryn let her fantasies run wild. She imagined how his lips would feel on her neck and breasts, and pictured the flex of his strong muscles. She dreamed of the scrape of stubble, and the heady thrust of his cock inside her, making her scream. While she stood beneath the spray, her fingers worked her clit in rapid circles. Orgasm came in a violent rush, her muscles tensing, a scream tearing from her throat as her core convulsed over and over again. It took several moments for her to come down from sexual euphoria, feeling vaguely calm again, she shampooed her hair and rinsed the soap from her body. She slathered on some aloe vera, wrapped a towel around herself and made her way down the hall to his room. There wasn't much to Wyatt's room: a massive four poster bed, a single chest of drawers, and a night table. She opened the chest of drawers and found a T-shirt and pair of shorts. A pragmatist to the core, she refused to acknowledge the double entendre in wearing Wyatt's underwear as she dropped the towel and threw the shirt and shorts on. The shirt dwarfed her, hanging nearly to her knees, and the shorts barely hung on her hips, but it was enough to leave her completely covered. When she entered the kitchen a few minutes later, Wyatt had just put the finishing touches on a salad and roast beef sandwich. The food had her mouth watering, but before she could thank him, he turned to her and stared. She swore she could see a wash of colour beneath his tan. Those deep blue eyes zeroed in on her like a laser and he slowly licked his lips, as though picturing her naked. A woman would have to be deaf and blind not to see the intent in his expression. The calm from her orgasm vanished instantly. Images of her pinned to his bed flashed in her mind, and she bit her lip against the sudden rush of arousal. Wyatt smiled slowly, arrogantly, as though he knew exactly what she was thinking... as though he intended her to think it. "Thank you for supper." she said squeakily, seating herself at the island in the middle of the kitchen. "Welcome." he drawled. He moved to the fridge because he couldn't look at her. He'd heard every sound she made, and knew that she'd done more than showered. All he could think of was her body arched, wet, and naked, and her heavy breathing while she teased herself to orgasm. Did she penetrate herself? Or did she just tease her clit with those tiny fingers? Wyatt looked over his shoulder. She was absurdly focused on her food, as though he made her nervous. He decided to test it, not because it was wise, but because he couldn't resist. God knows she was already driving him crazy! It was time for a little payback. With that thought in mind, he approached her, a glass of water in hand. "Aeryn?" She jumped and nearly choked on a mouthful of food. "You shouldn't sneak up someone like that!" she snapped. "Sorry Darlin'." he lied, resisting the urge to skim a second look at her legs. They were long and shapely, with just enough muscle definition. "But you need to drink. I'm guessing you lost a lot of fluid." He held out the glass, and she took it with muttered thanks. He guessed it was the devil that waited until she had a mouthful of water before saying: "I heard what you did in the shower." Like a scene in some bad movie, Aeryn choked and spat water halfway across the room. It took everything he had not to bust out laughing. "You must be some kind of pervert to press your ear to the door while someone is in the shower!" "I didn't press my ear to the door. Fact is, I didn't need to." he said, charmed by the outrage tinting her golden skin. "You have nothing to be ashamed of... we all do it." "Thank you for your understanding." she said sarcastically. She hoped he would consider the matter closed, but he didn't. "What I wonder is why you would do it now, when you're wiped out and sufferin' from sunstroke." "None of your damn business!" "Were you thinking about me?" Oh would he shut up! "Don't flatter yourself!" she said, praying he'd finally shut his pie hole and let her eat in peace. "I don't think I am, Aeryn." he said, moving toward her. He paused just behind her chair. She could feel his heat against her back. Though she only knew him for a couple of hours, his scent was fixing itself in her memory: fresh air, horses, man, and smoke. It was addicting, tightening her nipples and weakening the muscles of her inner thighs. Against her better judgement, she inhaled, slowly taking him in. "Turn around." he said softly. "I don't think that's a good idea." she said, her voice sounding unusually high. "Chicken." When a gauntlet was thrown down, Aeryn was honour bound to pick it up. With a deep breath, she let her feet drop to the floor and turned around, tilting her head up with cocky bravado. It took all she had to stay poker faced as Wyatt stared down at her, his eyes heavy lidded and glittering with arousal. His gaze dropped to her breasts, taking in her hardened nipples. A strong, callused hand slid behind her, cupping the back of her neck. The other slid to the small of her back, pulling her against him. Aeryn gasped; the move brought her hard against his chest, her breasts pressing into him. His hips nudged her abdomen, and she felt the unmistakeable press of an erection. She had no idea what to do with her hands. As Wyatt's hand slid to her ass and lifted her so they were perfectly aligned, her arms slid around him, gripping the denim of his shirt. "I need to taste you." he said, his voice whisper-soft against her lips. "One taste." he murmured. "To satisfy my curiosity and get me through the night." Aeryn had no clue what to say to that. It was strangely romantic coming from someone she'd just met. Most men used cheesy lines she could dismiss in a heartbeat. Whether it was it the rumble in Wyatt's voice or the beat of his heart, for some reason, Aeryn believed him, and was utterly disarmed. She moved to wet her lips, but no sooner did she move her tongue then Wyatt's lips were on hers, sucking the blood clean out of her head and sending it in a mad rush down South. His belt buckle was pressing into her and she didn't care. Aeryn couldn't identify his taste, all she knew was that she never got this horny this fast. She heard a moan as her tongue tangled with his and her fingers slid into his hair, all but violent in her demand. Operating on instinct, she tilted her head, offering herself. "What did you say about this being a bad idea?" he gasped, finally letting her up for air. "At this point, I can't remember." she said honestly. In response, Wyatt chuckled and bit back a curse. "I could let you go now, Darlin'. God knows it'd hurt, but it's probably the adult thing to do." And there was that drawl. That alone was enough to make her crazy. "Yeah, spare us the awkwardness of having to be around each other for the next few months." "Or..." he began huskily, "we could take care of it now. One night to ease the tension, and then we can go back to doin' the responsible adult thing." Anything for a Cowboy Aeryn bit back a groan, fighting temptation. "Maybe you should let me go." she said shakily. "I would, but I know I'd just be delaying the inevitable. There's chemistry here, Darlin'. I don't think I'll be able to live in the same house without having you." Oh boy. She was on the brink of accepting when a wave of dizziness hit. Wyatt noticed it immediately and reluctantly put her down. He thrust the water at her and watched as she chugged it. "You can't tonight." he said, refilling her glass. "You're wiped out, I'm sorry." "So am I." she muttered. Aeryn hadn't felt this awkward since she'd caught her brother en flagrant delicto with her best friend. In order to escape the uncomfortable situation, she grabbed the water from him, mumbled a good night and made a beeline for her room. "It's going to happen, Aeryn." he said from her doorway. Aeryn didn't expect him to follow her, and she jumped at the sound of his voice. "I don't believe in inevitability, Wyatt." she said, some of her bravado returning. "But I am tempted; I'll give you that." "You're more than tempted, honey." he drawled. "And you're arrogant." "I ain't denying it." he smiled. Her words were all brass, but she was shaking, and not in fear. He walked into her room, and as her eyes widened, he simply grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Good night, Aeryn, and good luck gettin' to sleep." With those words, he turned and walked out, knowing that he was going to spend a very uncomfortable night, alone. *** Wyatt awoke to the scent of something heavenly. With a frown, he threw on a pair of jeans and made his way to the kitchen. "Good morning, sunshine!" Aeryn said brightly. "I found some stuff in your fridge and decided to make you breakfast." Her eyes moved to his naked chest and widened. She swallowed slowly but her hand never wavered from the pan she was tending. Despite his irritation at her chipper mood, he admired her for it, and felt more than a little vain from the way she was ogling him. "I normally take my breakfast in the cookhouse with other hands, and you should be resting." he said irritably. "I'll go back to bed." she said with a shrug, filling a plate with a generous helping of eggs, hash browns, and bacon. "What's this for?" "You saved my life, and I always repay my debts. Eat!" she barked, thumping the plate down in front of him. Wyatt wasn't used to being ordered around, especially at 4:30 in the morning, but he yanked the fork from her proffered hand and dug in. Wyatt dropped the fork and stared at her. "What?!" she demanded, looking up from her food. "You can cook." he said. "And?" "I thought city girls didn't cook." "My mother would smack you upside the head if she heard you right now." In spite of himself, Wyatt chuckled. "Sounds like my Momma." Aeryn waved her fork around, frowning. "You know, for someone that has to be up at this God forsaken hour every morning, you're no morning person." "And apparently you are." he grumbled. Aeryn smiled at that, her full lips curving. Wyatt smiled back. Their eyes met across the table, and an adorable blush bloomed across her face. "I'd better get back to bed." she said, tossing back her orange juice and dumping her dishes in the sink. "Enjoy your breakfast!" Wyatt was grinning now. "I'll get one of my boys to get your stuff and have the garage tow your car." "Thanks!" she yelled. He heard the unmistakeable thump of her running feet as she ran to her room and slammed the door. *** It had been a hard day at the Ranch. They'd nearly lost five head of cattle on a regular feeding run, and a fight had broken out between a couple of men over a girl. Right now, all he could think about was a hot meal, a hot shower, and a couple of hours of good, sweaty sex to ease his aching muscles. He was guessing, given Aeryn's show of spunk that morning that she was already wandering around, getting herself into trouble, which meant that she was all better. He was just entering the cookhouse when he heard the unmistakeable sound of female laughter. "You mean he's the reason you bumped your head?" That was Irene, his cook. She was five foot four, two hundred pounds of Native American beauty, and she could make a chilli that burned the whiskers off your face. "Yeah, not exactly a high point in my life." And that was Aeryn; that sassy, sarcastic voice was beginning to imprint itself on his memory. She entered the room wearing skin tight torn jeans and a baggy t-shirt liberally splattered with food. "Woo-ee, who's the new filly?" his men were asking. "The writer." she said, hauling a pot of chilli wider than she was. Tiny as she was, she got it on the table without spilling a drop. "You don't look like a writer." said Allen, his second in a command. "Why? What do writers look like?" she frowned, a challenge in her sparkling eyes. "Old!" one of his hands said. "And male." said another. "And ugly!" said a third. "You're none of those things." Allen finished, his white teeth flashing against his ebony skin. "Yeah." said Robby, one of his younger hands. "You look more like a ten year old boy with tits." Wyatt and Aeryn glared at him, and he sunk lower down in his seat. "A ranch ain't no place for a woman." one of his older hands grumbled. Her smile faded. "Especially a city woman." said another, glaring at her beneath the rim of his hat. "I won't be in anyone's way." she said defensively. "That's what they all say, but the next you know it we'll all be drinkin' fancy coffee and lettin' her drive the truck." Aeryn didn't flinch at that. Wyatt shot them a warning look. Before he could open his mouth, Irene ran out of the kitchen and cuffed both men firmly on the back of the head. "Leave the girl alone!" she bellowed. "She's good in the kitchen and Wyatt won't hire more help!" Laughter broke out all around the table and Aeryn surprised them by grinning smugly in return. Just like that, a potentially problematic situation was resolved. She helped Irene bring the food to table and they all sat down to eat with easy camaraderie. As far as his men were concerned, if Irene liked her, how bad could she be? After supper, his men broke out the cards, and with a smile, Aeryn broke out her money. "Who wants to clean out the city girl?" she asked innocently, laying fifty bucks on the table. The guys normally played for fivers, but she pouted those sin inspired lips, and batted her eyes in a way that screamed feminine naiveté. With a laugh, the men dealt her a hand. "I wouldn't do that." Allen said quietly. "She has the look of a ringer." Wyatt didn't doubt it for a second, for he knew false innocence when he saw it. He indulged his men by playing out a few hands, and then respectfully sat out the rest, wanting to watch his new roommate. For an hour, he sat at the table watching her deliberately lose hand after hand until she had only five bucks left. She was the consummate actress, pouting at the cards, and letting her face fall when she lost, accepting sympathetic pats on the back and the condescending comments about her abilities. Then she got down to business. Without dropping her I don't know anything about poker routine, Aeryn began winning... And winning, and winning... By the time Wyatt put a stop to the game, she'd managed win back all her money, and cleaned out a couple players. It was one of the most impressive acts he'd ever seen, and it had taken a lot of self control not to grin as he watched her. After the game, some of the men opted to turn in; others headed home, and still more wanted to make the forty five minute drive to the nearest bar. "You wanna join us, Aeryn?" asked Robby. Wyatt sent him an angry look, all but grunting at the younger man. In response, Robby blushed beneath his tan and tugged nervously at his collar. He knew that look, and didn't feel like facing his boss in a fist fight. Wyatt in turn, knew he was being a jealous baboon, but as far he was concerned, until he had Aeryn under him, no one would, especially not a twenty year old kid. "She's had enough for tonight." he said. "When I found her she was half dead, and she needs to rest." "I'm fine, really—" she began. "No you're not. I'm the doctor and I say you need to get to bed, now!" Aeryn didn't like being ordered around, and his possessive tone instantly put her back up. "And I say you're being an asshole!" A muffled hush filled the room. "I'm in charge here, Darlin'." he said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "You wanna do this the easy way, or the hard way?" Aeryn tensed, her eyes flashing with temper. Her hand formed a fist at her side. "Try it and you will rue the day you were born male." she said slowly. She moved to strike him, but he was fast and she was over his shoulder in a flash. "Have fun!" he said to his men, heading towards his house while Aeryn cursed and vowed vengeance. "You son of bitch! I will kill you! I'll tear the meat from your bones and eat it like a fucking steak!" "Keep talking, darlin'. It's turning me on." Aeryn screeched with outrage and slapped his ass. Wyatt slapped hers right back, and then smoothed his hand over her, easing away the sting. "You watch your hands, Cowboy." she hissed, trying to ignore that same hand now working its way down her thigh as he hauled her into the house and dragged her down the hall to the bathroom. She kicked and cursed, trying to wriggle out of his grasp as he turned on the shower and adjusted the spray. "What the hell are you doing?" she demanded. "I've been working my ass off all day, Aeryn. I'm exhausted and I need a shower." Aeryn stilled in his arms. "Fine." she said. "I'll go to bed and give you some privacy." In response, Wyatt set her down in the shower fully clothed. While she cursed and sputtered, he unbuttoned his shirt and then sat on the toilet to pull off his boots. "What are you doing?!" she asked in a panic, now oblivious to the water. "I'm taking a shower, and unless you can admit right now that you don't want me, you're taking it with me." Aeryn swallowed slowly as Wyatt reached for his belt buckle. She was soaked to the skin, and still vaguely pissed at him for hauling her out of the cookhouse caveman style. She'd known her answer last night when she'd seen him ride in looking like some fabulous mirage. Without a word, she toed off her shoes and tossed them, with her T-shirt, on the bathroom floor. Wyatt licked his lips, shucking his jeans and boxers in one fell swoop. Aeryn blew out a breath; he was already hard... and huge, frighteningly huge. Her mouth went dry and her hands were shaking as she undid her jeans and slowly peeled them off. "Everything." Wyatt murmured. "What?" "Take everything off. I've been dreaming about that sweet ass of yours since I first saw it sticking out the front end of your car." Aeryn closed her eyes, breathing heavily as she peeled off her glasses and she reached behind to undo the clasp of her bra. As she pulled down her panties, she felt Wyatt enter the shower behind her and shut it around them. Steam wafted around her, and as she tried to turn towards him, he stilled her by placing those broad hands at her shoulders. "Put your hands on the wall." he said, trailing his tongue up the side of her neck before taking a bite of her earlobe. Though the water was hot, goose bumps pebbled her skin as she moved to obey him. He slid a strong thigh between hers, spreading her legs. His lips were at her ear, his voice a torture in and of itself. "Since I heard you in the shower last night, it's all I can think about. Tell me, Aeryn, when you make yourself come, do you touch yourself here?" his calloused fingers slid between her thighs, easing between the lips to tease her clit with slow maddening circles. "Or do you reach deep, like this?" Two fingers slid deep inside her, massaging her g-spot with merciless pressure. Her sanity was holding on by a thread, so all she could do was arch her back and whimper. "What was that, Aeryn? I can't hear you." he said calmly, moving his fingers slowly in and out of her clasping body. "Tell me." he commanded, rubbing her harder, "tell me how you make yourself come." Aeryn tried to hold it back. She wasn't talkative in bed, and always felt a little embarrassed by guys who did... but this was different. As her teeth sank into her lower lip, he rubbed slowly, until her eyes rolled back in her head, and the words were forced from her. "Fingers." she moaned helplessly, moving her hips to match his rhythm. "Fingers on my clit." Against her ass, she felt his cock harden even further. "Do you touch your breasts?" "Yes." she breathed, feeling his free hand slide up her stomach, towards the mounds now tight and aching for his touch. "How?" "What?" he was rubbing her stomach up and down, moving inexorably closer to her breasts, scattering her thoughts in a million directions. "How do you touch your breasts? Tell me." he drawled. "I--." Aeryn swallowed slowly. "I rub my hands over them, palms teasing the tips." "Like this?" his free hand slid upward, calloused palm gently rubbing her nipple. As he moved, his other hand maintained the relentless assault on her g-spot, until her legs were shaking and only his thigh between hers kept her from collapsing. "Yes." she breathed. Aeryn was moaning, whimpering; for the first time in her life, she was ready to beg. "Do you want to come now?" "Yes, please dear god yes!" Behind her, she heard Wyatt's pained chuckle. "Too bad..." he said, withdrawing his fingers. Aeryn was ready to panic. "You can't do this to me! You can't tease me crazy and just stop—!" "Yes I can." "Why?" "Because I only met you last night and I've been painfully hard ever since." Aeryn shuddered, her head rolling back against his shoulder. "This is payback, Aeryn." he said huskily, his lips against her cheek. "What do you want from me?" she said at last. "All of you, tonight." he whispered back, and then his hands were on her hips and he was sliding inside her. Wyatt gritted his teeth. She was very wet, he'd made damn certain of that, but she was also tight, like she hadn't been with a man in ages. As he slid all the way in, his eyes nearly crossed with pleasure. She was, he thought hazily, a perfect fit: tight and slick, and grabbing him with muscles shaking with the need for release. "Oh Christ." she hissed, her fists clenching against the wall. Her back arched, and over her shoulder he saw the expression of tortured ecstasy. "You need release, don't you?" he breathed moving his hands over her breasts, her belly. She had the softest skin. "Yes." "Then come." To his surprise, Aeryn's body stiffened and shot forward. A tiny scream escaped her lips as her control snapped, and she moved her hips violently against him as she came, her pussy contracting around his cock. It was all his self control could take. With a growl he placed his hands over hers and thrust violently, until he heard her scream, her orgasm tearing through her with every gasping breath. But it wasn't enough, Wyatt had to have more. With that thought, he brought one hand to her breast, pinching her nipples. With the other, his fingers found her clit, rubbing in time with his thrusts. She came again, screaming even louder, shaking against him, her body milking him with every violent spasm. It was too much. With a groan he grabbed her hips and thrust harder and deeper until his world disappeared and he came. *** What the hell do you say someone who just gave you the best sex of your life? Thanks? This was fun? Aeryn had no idea. She was still in the shower with Wyatt, and the water had gone cold. Her throat was sore from screaming, and she probably wouldn't sit right for days, but she felt incredible. Every muscle was relaxed, and she had to resist giggling like an idiot. Then she realised she hated cold showers, and despite the sex glow, she was starting to shiver. Wyatt noticed immediately and carefully withdrew. "Hang on, honey. You need to rinse off, and I need to finish my shower." That was as clear a dismissal as she was going to get, so she rinsed off quickly and got out of the shower. "I'll let you finish." she said awkwardly, and grabbing a towel off the rack, she made a beeline for her room. Behind her, she heard Wyatt curse. Aeryn made it as far as her room and was smoothing lotion into her skin when her door burst open. There Wyatt stood, in all his muscled glory, wearing nothing but a towel. Aeryn immediately grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself. "Why did you run?" he asked softly. "I thought we were done." she said uneasily. He looked delicious. Despite her better judgement, her mouth watered and her nipples tightened beneath the towel. "What made you think that?" he drawled. His voice had a dangerous edge to it, and the very sound put her system on high alert. Aeryn swallowed tightly. "You said 'one time to ease the tension'. I didn't want to complicate things by clinging." Wyatt smiled slowly and pushed off of the door frame. "You misquoted me, sweetheart." he began, moving towards her in a slow, predatory tread. "I-I did?" she asked uneasily. For every step he took toward her, she took one back, until her knees hit the foot of the bed. He stopped right in front of her, so she could feel his erection against her belly. "I said 'one night to ease the tension.' The night isn't over." Wyatt watched her eyes widen, and heard the sudden hitch in her breath. Before she could stop him, he grabbed her towel and jerked it free. Her nipples were already hard, and no doubt begging for a taste. A soft flush spread over her golden skin, and she was trembling lightly. Wyatt smiled wider, and with one sweep of his leg had her tumbling back onto the bed. He'd taken her hard that first time, and with the edge taken off his hunger he wanted to savour her. Wyatt wasn't used to women running from his bed. He was usually the one who put an end to things. Was it ego that had him wanting more, or was it something else? "Look, I was just trying to make it easy for you." she said uneasily, licking her lips as he jerked the towel from his hips and crawled on top of her. "We'll be living together for a while, and I don't want sex to—" Aeryn never finished her sentence. Grabbing both her wrists in one hand, he pulled them above her head, forcing her back to arch and her breasts to press into his chest. He shut her mouth with a kiss, taking advantage of parted lips to thrust his tongue between them, all but daring her to taste him back. He heard her groan before the resistance drained from her body and she submitted to the kiss, meeting his tongue with her own and gasping when he changed the angle, taking her even deeper. She was so sweet he could have kissed her for hours, but his body had other demands. Smiling against her lips, Wyatt wrapped his legs around hers and spread them, pulling hers apart. He heard her gasp, felt her arch her hips against him, seeking penetration. Despite an erection bordering on painful, he didn't indulge her just yet. Wyatt kept right on kissing her, rubbing his chest hair against her breasts while his hold on her legs kept them spread and ready. "You can't do this me again!" she gasped, jerking her mouth from his. Wyatt simply changed tactics and teased the soft skin of her neck with gentle love bites. "Do what?" he asked innocently. "Make me crazy! You can't! Don't tease me anymore!" Anything for a Cowboy Wyatt arched a brow. "Tease you? You mean like this?" he sucked her nipple into his mouth and heard her bite back a curse. "Or like this?" his hand slid between them, one finger thrusting into her pussy, now soaking wet and clutching at him, before ruthlessly withdrawing. "Fact is, I'm enjoying myself." his cock throbbed, but he ignored it. "This can't be easy for you." she moaned. "It's not." he said tightly, and then he kissed her again. He waited until she was writhing in his arms, rubbing her breasts against him and fighting for freedom, her hips undulating against his before thrusting deep, in one violent stroke. She came violently, screaming into his mouth, her hips shaking against him. Unlike in the shower, his thrusts were slow and hard, moving his hips so he'd hit her g-spot on every stroke. He felt her hands claw at his, and her squeezing his cock in another violent orgasm before he suddenly found himself on his back. "My turn." she said through gritted teeth. Her hands were shoving his wrists into the mattress as she slowly sank down on him. Pleasure contorted her face as she began to rock back and forth on his cock, gradually picking up speed. She rode him like a woman possessed, her hips thrusting frantically, her back arched, all but offering herself to him. The sight, the feel of it made him all the harder. Since when, he wondered hazily, did the woman seemingly timid about all things sexual turn into a hellcat? He couldn't think any further than that, for her inner muscles were squeezing his cock beyond rational thought, and her screams were more potent than any aphrodisiac. "Touch my breasts." she commanded, yanking his hands up to caress her. It took only one pinch of her tight nipples before he heard a third orgasm tear through her. His control shattered, and with a snarl he forced her to her back again, pumping into her until he felt her coming again. It was too much, and with gritted teeth, he buried his face in her neck and shattered. *** Several hours later, when Wyatt had pulled her against him and fallen asleep, Aeryn quietly snuck out of bed and took a shower. She never slept beside a lover. Sleeping beside them was a sign of trust, snuggling a sign that a few hours of passion was something more. Aeryn was never a one to make assumptions, so she worked until dawn, refusing the temptation to crawl back into bed and feel his heartbeat beneath her cheek. She was dressed and in the cookhouse long before Wyatt, ready to help with the morning meal. At breakfast, his face was unreadable, but she thought she sensed hurt beneath the manly veneer. She wasn't used to that. Of the four men she'd slept with, nearly all of them had hoped for a swift exit, and after her first couple of mistakes, she'd gladly provided it. Aeryn had long since accepted that men didn't fall for women like her. They liked women who were softer, prettier, more vulnerable, and an overload of rejection had taught her to be above the need for emotional intimacy and cut her losses early. She wasn't sure how to deal with Wyatt, so she avoided him like the plague for the next few days, refusing to sit next to him at meals, and keeping the conversations brief and impersonal. It wasn't easy. She felt him watching her every move, and the memory of their night together had her fighting the urge to jump him. He'd ordered Allen to teach her to ride. His second in command saddled Molly, a gentle, caramel coloured mare and gradually helped her overcome her fear of horses. In the afternoons and early mornings, she worked with Irene in the kitchen, learning the nuances of South Western cuisine. Despite the new distraction, she couldn't shake the feel of him inside her, his taste on her tongue or the rumble of his voice. She wanted him again, and again, and again, but she wasn't the clingy type. Aeryn had learned a long time ago that amazing sex was just that, and to expect more was naive and stupid. She didn't need the baggage. A romance would just be a needless and unnecessary distraction. "What have you done to Wyatt?" Allen asked during day five of their lessons. Aeryn stiffened. "Nothing, why?" "He's been irritable and snappy for days. In my experience, a man only gets that way for two reasons: women and money trouble. The ranch is secure, so the only logical conclusion is that you're behind his mood, and it's affecting everyone." "That's bullshit." she said defensively. "I made it easy for him." Allen arched his brows. "How?" Aeryn shifted uncomfortably in the saddle causing Molly to fret beneath her. Allen saw it instantly and moved to calm the horse. "I don't see why it's any business of yours." "I'm second in charge here, Aeryn." Allen said. "If something's affecting the boss, it IS my business. If you want to screw around that's your business, but find another victim!" "That's not fair!" Aeryn said, dismounting. "HE came on to ME, not the other way around. Forgive me for assuming he wanted a quick romp in the sheets, but I wasn't going to stay up crying because he didn't want more!" Allen took a step back studied her face. "You never gave him a chance." he said softly. "That's enough." came a voice from behind the fence. Aeryn's spine stiffened and she turned and saw him leaning on the fence, watching her. She felt a tug in her gut, and carefully swallowed it down. "Feel like going for a ride before supper?" Wyatt asked. Allen's expression told her it would be bad idea to turn him down, but Aeryn refused to be pressured. "No thank you." she said, and turned to walk away from him. She didn't know whether to laugh or scream when the loop of rope fell over her and tightened securely around her waist. Laughter won out. "You idiot!" she laughed as he pulled her to him. Though he was smiling, his eyes were locked on hers. When she was close enough, he cupped the back of her neck. Aeryn stopped laughing. "Put Molly in the stables, will you Allen?" he said against her lips. "Sure thing, boss." Then he kissed her, and the kiss drained every thought she had. The next thing she knew, they were on his horse, which was picking his way through the ranch lands. "Why have you been avoiding me?" Wyatt asked. Aeryn stiffened in front of him. "I thought I was making it easy on you. We agreed on one night so I didn't bother you after that. I didn't think you wanted more." Wyatt nodded, for normally one night was enough. He didn't fully understand why he wasn't sated, but he wanted more, he needed more. In case she had any doubts, he pulled her closer, forcing her ass against the hard-on he'd had since she'd gotten on the horse in front of him. Aeryn gasped. "I want more." he said softly against her ear, and felt her shiver in response. "A whole lot more." let her chew on that for a while, he thought. "I never asked you what you write." "Some articles here and there, some short stories, but that's not where most of my money comes from." "Oh?" Aeryn shifted uncomfortably. "Romance novels." she muttered. Wyatt burst out laughing and hugged her closer. He didn't even mind the painful elbow to the ribs. "I'm guessing you're not going to take me seriously anymore." she said bitterly. "It's not my place to judge how a person makes a living, Aeryn. I gave up a career in medicine to become a cowboy." "Then why the hell are you laughing?" "You seem so cynical." he replied. "I never would have pegged you as the type to make your living writing fantasies." "Maybe I'm just exploiting a weakness." she said defensively. "I don't think so." he said softly. She had a romantic streak, whether she liked it or not, and it was such an adorable contrast to the cynicism that it made her all the more endearing. He was pissed about her running away from him, but was too charmed to press the issue. She wasn't going to run from him anymore. He needed her in his bed tonight, and for however long he could have her. He stopped near a tree in the corner of a meadow and pulled her off the horse. They stood in the grass, staring at one another, and then her control seemed to snap. Her lips were on his in a heartbeat, as though she'd was letting loose a week's worth of need. Aeryn was aggressive this time, all but attacking him with lips and tongue over his neck, his chest, his cock, causing his eyes to cross as curses tumbled from his lips. She didn't give him a chance to assert his dominance. The woman he had this time was pure hellcat, riding him until she was trembling, screaming, coming around him; riding him until he was thrusting upward, coming deep inside her. It was as he dropped her off at the cookhouse and went to put Boxer in the stable that Wyatt finally figured out why he couldn't get enough of her. As she went to help Irene put the finishing touches on supper, she turned and gave him a cocky smile, and then shook her head as though questioning her own sanity. The truth of it hit him like a ton of bricks. Wyatt, the tough as nails rancher, had fallen hard and fast for the nerdy writer he was supposed to be taking care of. It was stupid and foolhardy, but he'd long ago accepted that people didn't choose who they loved. It just happened. Then he thought about how much he liked her, and how easily she'd fit into his life and with his men. She was tough, gambled like an accomplished hustler, and could cook, too. He also knew that writers could work from anywhere. He just had to convince her. *** There was something different about Wyatt. At supper he was always touching her: her hand, her arm, her knee under the table. When he entered the cookhouse with the other hands, he grabbed her and planted a kiss on her lips, hugging her briefly to him with easy affection. At supper he sat directly across from her, and the whole time watching her with a knowing smile, like he knew something she didn't. It wasn't the behaviour of someone in it for the sex, and it made her stomach clench with nerves, arousal, and something else she refused to acknowledge. So she sat at her laptop and buried herself in her work while Wyatt took his shower. She had the outline for her latest book typed up along with a few character sketches before she heard the shower turn off. She felt his hands descend on her shoulders and rearing up for a fight, she put her laptop aside. "What the hell was that all about?" she demanded, jerking from his hold. Wyatt looked innocently at her, and she didn't buy it for a second. "What are you talking about?" "I mean the touches, the smiles, and the hugs." it took everything she had to ignore the tiny towel about his hips. "You didn't like it?" "That's beside the point! I thought this was just sex! " "Don't you like me?" "Don't be an ass. Of course I do, but--!" Aeryn never finished her sentence, for Wyatt simply grabbed her by the front of her jeans and yanked her to him, throwing her off balance. His mouth was on hers, seducing the anger right out of her. Trying to remember why she was angry, she jerked her lips from his, only to find his teeth rasping her neck, and then easing the sting with his tongue. "Oh sweet Jesus!" she cursed, her eyes closing, gritting her teeth against the assault. "Wait a minute! We need to talk!" "Later." Wyatt rumbled. Aeryn opened to her mouth to protest, but Wyatt pulled back and laid a finger on her lips. "I missed you this week." he said softly. "Let me show you how much." She looked in his eyes, her chest clenching, and knew instantly she was a goner. Wyatt must have seen it, for he scooped her up and carried her down the hall to his bedroom and set her on her feet. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" he asked, pulling off her glasses. He stripped her of her T-shirt and bra and unsnapped her jeans. Aeryn shook her head. "Soft skin, the colour of warm honey." as he spoke he slid her jeans and panties down. "And here." he said, cupping her breasts in his palms, "so soft, and sensitive. They fit in my hands like they were made for me." He ran calloused thumbs over her nipples and she sucked in a breath. "You can't say that to me." she moaned as he eased her back onto his bed. Wyatt laid a deep, soft kiss on her lips and entwined his fingers with hers. "Why not?" he asked, raising her arms above her head. "You'll make me care." she groaned, arching against him as the hair on his chest teased her breasts. "And what if I want you to care?" Aeryn couldn't answer that. She felt the cuff snap onto her wrist a moment too late, for by the time she realised his intent, he'd already buckled her other wrist to the post of his bed. "What are you doing?!" she demanded, struggling against the restraints. Wyatt smiled slowly. "I'm making sure you don't run." Wyatt moved to kiss her, but she turned her head away from him, too outraged to kiss him back. He didn't seem overly offended, for he moved down to nibble on her neck and lick his way over her collarbone. His mouth moved down her chest to breast, licking the sensitive aureole before drawing the tip into his mouth for a long slow suck. Her breasts were extremely sensitive, and she arched her back, the breath hissing from between her lips as she tried to force more of her nipple into his mouth. The pleasure was addictive, and she needed more. "I want you." he said roughly, his voice a torture in and of itself. "I want you here." his finger slid deep inside her, forcing her hips upward with the need for greater penetration. "And here." his lips moved over her chest, stopping to plant a kiss directly over her heart. "Especially here." "You can't!" she said, her voice panicked despite her arousal. "I do." he returned, placing his hand over her heart while kissing his way down her stomach. Aeryn tried to buck him off, but Wyatt wouldn't have it, and the chains held firm. He bit her belly in retribution, and the edge of pain only added to her arousal. His head slid between her thighs, those strong hands spread her wide, and the vulnerability of her position made her all the wetter. She felt his breath over her sensitive flesh seconds before his tongue touched her clit. Aeryn's stomach muscles tensed as his tongue worked her to madness. She tried once again to buck him off, but his hands held firm. "You try that one more time," he drawled, "and I'm going to tie your legs, too." Aeryn could only whimper in response, her thighs shaking as worked her clit with skill that had her screaming, begging for release that was just a heartbeat away. Her hands pulled at her restraints, every muscle tensed, as he thrust two fingers deep inside her. Her control snapped, her hips rocking violently back and forth, loving the pleasure of being stretched and filled as she came, her whole body shuddering under him, squeezing his fingers. But it wasn't enough. "Take me..." she breathed her voice dry and raw from screaming. Wyatt had already moved into position, wrapping her leg about his hip. She thrust her hips forward, trying to take him in, but he simply moved back out of her reach, even as her heel dug into his spine. "Not until you tell me this is more than sex." he said. Aeryn's eyes snapped open, and the emotion she saw in his had her shutting her eyes and turning her head, refusing to acknowledge it. "I can't!" she moaned. Wyatt thrust the head of his cock inside her, and then withdrew, leaving her desperate and aching. "You can." he said, his voice thick and pained. "You more than like me, Aeryn, it's written all over your face." his fingers caught one of her nipples, pinching until the pressure made her gasp and open her eyes. "Tell me." he commanded. He thrust inside her one more time, going a little deeper this time, and while the pleasure was blinding, it wasn't enough. "Please." she gasped, thrusting her hips at him, and hearing his pained laugh. "I'm tempted, sweetheart, but I won't give you what you want until you give me what I want." "You asshole!" she hissed, now beyond desperation. "It's more than sex, alright! It always was!" the words were forced from her even as she saw the triumph in Wyatt's eyes. Aeryn moaned gratefully as he slid deep inside her, the strokes, slow and powerful. Blood rushed to her cheeks and her hips thrust up at him, meeting him beat for beat. The pleasure was so intense she didn't care if she came as long as he kept on thrusting, but her body had other demands, and suddenly she was coming, screaming even as he slid his lips over hers, capturing the sound. She came until she thought she couldn't take it anymore, and just when she thought she die from it, she felt him get bigger inside her, on the brink of his release. Her body tightened around him, her thighs grasping his hips even as he slid a finger between them and teased her clit. Aeryn tore her lips from his, screaming. She felt his teeth sinking into her neck as he groaned, his arms tightening around her as he came. *** Aeryn awoke with a start, only to hear Wyatt grumble sleepily and pull her back on top of him. Sometime in the night, he'd released her cuffs, and she'd lain beside him, free to leave as she pleased, but she hadn't. Aeryn Salma, the woman who never slept beside a man, had fallen asleep in Wyatt's arms, lulled by the slow and steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her cheek. The damage was done. She knew she'd liked him from the start; he was honourable, adorable, had a light, teasing sense of humour that matched her sarcasm, and in bed he was everything she ever wanted: dominant, uninhibited, and a born tease. Despite all this, she'd done everything in her power to protect her heart from him, and in one night, Wyatt Destry had managed to make it all crashing down. Aeryn had to get out of there, but when she tried to wriggle out of his arms again, he simply rolled on top of her and started nibbling her neck. "If you wanted another round, Darlin', all you had to do was ask." he drawled, sleepily. She was going to protest, but his mouth slid down to her breasts and he spread her legs, and she forgot all about it. It was much later, when he kissed her and announced that he needed a shave and shower, that Aeryn saw her opportunity. She worked like a maniac, throwing her belongings in a bag, yanking on jeans and shirt and making a run for the door. Aeryn made it as far as her car when the loop of rope fell over her, tightening around her waist and pinning her arms to her sides. Her bag hit the ground, as she was yanked back. "This is getting SO old!" she said, trying to dig her heels into the ground. It was a wasted effort, as Wyatt strong arms jerked her back against him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded, wrapping his arms around her back even as she cursed and fought. "What the hell does it look like I'm doing? I'm getting the hell outta Dodge!" "Why?" Aeryn tried to step on his foot, but he moved it aside without breaking his hold on her. She felt tears well up and hated herself for it. "Because I'm falling for you!" She felt Wyatt go very still behind her. Aeryn tried once again to break free, but his hold remained unrelenting. "Will you let me go already?" She felt his lips against her cheek, and his arms tighten around her. "Not a chance." he said. "You have to!" she cried, hating herself all the more. "If you make me stay here, I'll hang all over you and eventually you'll get tired of me!" "Not possible." Aeryn struggled even further, the tears now falling unheeded down her cheeks. "Why the hell not? They all do." "Because I'm in love with you, you crazy woman!"