Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(89)

“Very happy.”


Then, like a complete chicken, Rielle undressed in the bathroom and didn’t come out until she knew Gavin was gone. Since she’d forgotten a cover up, and had no intention of prancing around in a bikini all damn day—no matter what Gavin wanted—she snagged one of his button-up business shirts from the closet and slipped it on before she headed to the kitchen.


His drink stopped halfway to his mouth when he caught sight of her. “Are you f*cking serious?”


“What?”


“I’m supposed to keep my hands to myself when you’re looking that goddamn sexy in a bikini and wearing my shirt?” He groaned. “You’re evil, Ree. Pure evil.”


This man knew exactly what to say to her. She kissed him, using the distraction to swipe his drink and take a sip before she handed it back. “Mmm. Whiskey. So this place comes equipped with booze?”


“I sent my assistant a list. She brought everything over when she checked the house yesterday.”


“How many minions do you have to do your bidding?”


“Employees,” he corrected. “No minions. It’s not like I demanded she prepare a gourmet feast for us. She just picked up a few things at the store for me. That’s it.”


“This is my first glimpse into your world, isn’t it? A reminder that we live in two different worlds.”


He hauled her against his chest. “We’re in the same world, in the same place right now and that’s all that matters to me.”


Rielle let him kiss her, wanting the familiarity of his touch to shut down the doubts that’d begun to plague her.


“Would you like a whiskey Coke? Or a beer? Or a whiskey Coke minus the whiskey?”


“Whiskey on the rocks would be great.”


“Are you hungry? There’s chips and salsa or I could make you a salad.”


Rielle put her hand on his arm. “Gavin. I don’t expect you to wait on me.”


“Tough. I plan to wait on you, cater to your every need, fulfill your every desire, so by the time we leave here, you’re used to it.”


She started to laugh until she realized the man was dead serious.


What the hell?


They carried their drinks by the pool and settled into the chaise lounges. With the sun warming her body and whiskey buzz, she drifted into that happy place of marginal awareness. She heard Gavin chuckle beside her and she let herself go completely under.


A rough fingertip stroking her arm brought her out of her relaxation. She stretched and sighed. “How long was I out?”


“An hour, I guess. I dozed off myself. Would you like another drink?”


Rielle peered at him over the tops of her sunglasses. “You trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me, tycoon?”


“Yep.”


“Okay. But add Coke to mine this time.”


After Gavin returned to the kitchen, Rielle decided to take a dip in the pool. She floated on her back; the water muffled all noise except for the sound of her deep breathing. She stared up at the pale gray sky. Odd to think a sky that color in Wyoming meant snow. She dropped to her feet and noticed Gavin watching her avidly.


“I set your drink on the table. There’s a towel there for you too.”


Rielle smiled at him. “Don’t want your shirt to get wet?”


His phone rang and he frowned at the number. “Sorry, I have to take this call.” He abruptly disappeared into the house.


Was Sierra already having issues with her mother?


She snagged a chair by the picnic table. The air temp had cooled, and she let her head fall back, closing her eyes. This drinking and napping in the afternoon stuff was pretty cool.



A warm kiss landed on the center of her chest. Another one on the top of each breast. Gavin placed kisses along the triangles of her swimsuit top. Then nuzzling and sweet kisses weren’t enough. He yanked the material aside. His hot, wet mouth encircled her cold nipple and he began to suck.


“Oh, God,” she moaned and arched back. Then she remembered they were outside. Surrounded by neighbors. “Gavin. Stop. People might see us. Or hear us.”


“So? Forget about everything but this.” He flicked his tongue across her nipple.


She bit her lip to keep from crying out.


“Untie your top.”


Not a request. She tugged the strings free and he flung the scrap of material away.


Gavin’s mouth was everywhere. On her nipples, on her neck, on her belly. His fingers stroked her skin when his mouth was busy elsewhere.


She squirmed. If she tried to touch his head or his face, he made a growling noise that put her hands right back on the arms of her chair.


When his mouth opened over her mound and he sucked, her hips bucked. His hot breath teased the sensitive area between her hipbones. “Rielle. Look at me.”


Opening her eyes, she noticed he’d slipped into the alpha male role. Gavin wasn’t always like that, which made it so much more potent when he was. She watched as his fingers loosened the knots on her string bikini bottoms and they fell away.