Spurs 'n Surrender (Operation Cowboy Book 2)(35)

“We do. But I want you to know I’m on the pill and I’m clean.”

With a growl, he dived for her neck, sucking a spot on the other side to match yesterday’s. “So am I. Checked out when I was discharged and haven’t had a woman until you. But you’re gonna wish you hadn’t told me this bit of information.”

She gave up resisting the pull of his mouth on her sensitive skin and angled her head to give him total access. “Why?”

“Because by the time I’m finished with you, you won’t be able to walk, sweetheart.”

“Then you can teach me to low crawl.”

They shared a laugh and didn’t go inside her trailer for a long time.





Chapter Six


“So how exactly does a roughneck Devil Dog like you get a woman like Anya?” Garrett hooked a crowbar into the twisted mass of wood and metal he was trying to separate and pried.

“No idea what you’re talking about.” Wydell didn’t generally lie to his buddies, but the less they knew, the less they’d rag on him. Besides, he had no clue how to answer a single question about his relationship—or non-relationship—with Anya.

Garrett snorted. “Bro, I saw her trailer rocking when I went through town today. I’m surprised it didn’t tip over.”

At the memory of squeezing himself into Anya’s miniature bathroom and drilling her over her sink, his balls tightened. And he almost laughed too. His shoulders had nearly touched each wall and every time he’d withdrawn from her, his ass had bumped the shower door behind.

But Anya’s screams of pleasure were worth all the bruises and abrasions he’d sustained in the act.

He shook off the heat curling through his groin and focused on his task. He couldn’t wait to finish this lot so they could get paid. The insurance money wasn’t much, but it kept him and Garrett afloat. And Wydell was squirreling some of his cash to build one of the bigger vacation homes he’d dreamed of.

A place to take Anya where they could roll and tumble freely without crashing into everything.

But Garrett’s question had burrowed into his brain. He was right—a woman like Anya needed someone who could take her out and show her the finer things in life. All Wydell had to offer was some twisted skin and a banged-up soul. He looked pretty good to her now, but there wasn’t much to look at out here, was there?

Pushing air through his nose, he dug into his work. The higher the sun rose in the sky, the more agitated he became. Garrett whistled a catchy boot camp cadence, and the rhythm made Wydell think of the long runs they’d been forced to take every day. He couldn’t say he missed the military, but at least he’d always known what was expected of him.

Out here, if he wasn’t working, he felt lost and detached. Except when he was in Anya’s bed.

He glanced at her trailer. The silver glinted in the brilliant sun, but she was probably passed out asleep in the cool interior. He had kept her up all night, after all.

A smile crept over his face, and damn if Garrett didn’t catch him at it.

“Deny it all ya want, Wydell. You’re fucking that woman.”

He opened his mouth to say it was more than fucking. But if it wasn’t fucking, what was it? Making love? The term set his teeth on edge. There was a reason he was called Hard Ass—a man like him didn’t “make love.” And what he and Anya shared wasn’t love. It was more like lust with strings attached.

“I bet she’s prissy in bed. Making sure her hair isn’t mussed and you don’t screw up her lipstick.”

Wydell shot his friend a look. “She’s not that way.”

“Yeah? She looks as if she just stepped off the stage. Beauty queen. Isn’t that what you said once?”

“I was wrong, and you know it. Why are you changing your mind now?”

Garrett shrugged. “Maybe because she just came out of her trailer wearing enough bling to blind a man.”

Wydell wheeled around, nearly losing his footing and falling into the junk he was trying to clear. He blinked into the sun—blinded by the glare off the Airstream as well as the sparkles coming off Anya.

From this distance, she seemed to be electrified. From head to toe, she glittered.

“I can’t tell, is she wearing a tiara?” joked Garrett.

“Dammit,” he said under his breath. He had a feeling there was a reason for her sudden wardrobe change, and it probably had to do with their night together.

And what he’d said to her before leaving the trailer this morning: Sleep in, Beauty Queen. You aren’t used to working that hard. He’d leaned over and kissed her forehead, but before he’d turned away, he’d seen her brows draw together.

“Here she comes.”

Garrett was right—the glitter was moving toward them, growing brighter with each step she took.

“Be right back.” Wydell jumped out of the foundation and strode toward Anya. By the time he could make out her features, his heart jolted. She was beautiful, all dolled up as she was, but it wasn’t her. She’d donned some layers. As armor, or to prove a point?

“Oooh, look at you, all covered in dirt.” She stepped away from him.

“Anya.” His tone was a warning, but he had no idea what he was warning her about. If she thought he was going to keep his hands off her, she was crazy.