Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(26)

“Carter—”


He fastened his mouth to hers and his hot tongue swept inside to thoroughly share her taste.


She clutched his shoulders, yanking his full body weight onto hers. Macie jammed her hands through his hair and arched her hips against his erection.


The kiss grew desperate. Hungry.


Carter rocked his pelvis from side to side, rebuilding her sharp ache of desire. She raked her nails down his naked back, gripping the firm butt cheeks to do a little grinding of her own.


He broke the kiss on a soft, frustrated moan. “Macie.” He whispered, “Touch me.


I’m dyin’ to feel your hand around me.”


Macie said, “Yes.” Just as she reached between them, three thunderous raps sounded on the camper door.


Carter went absolutely rigid above her.


“Macie?” was shouted outside the window.


“Shit. It’s my dad.” She tried to shove Carter aside, but he wouldn’t budge. “Okay, don’t panic. We’ll pretend we were sleeping.”


The lust cleared from his blue eyes. “Why? There was nothin’ wrong with what we were doin’, when we both wanted to do it. Besides, you are an adult and—”


“—and he’s still my father. Catching us sleeping is a lot better than catching us dry humping, don’t you think?”


“Good point.” Carter jerked the covers over both of them and spooned against her.


“Macie? It’s me. I’m comin’ in.” A gleaming ray of sun cut through the camper walls and disappeared into shadow as the door shut.


Bootsteps thumped as loud as her heart.


“Honey-girl? Sorry ’bout leavin’ you alone last night. I tried callin’ you…” Then,


“Christ Almighty, what in the hell are you doin’ in my daughter’s bed, McKay?”


Macie and Carter both sat up. “Carter came to check on me last night during the storm because the electricity was off. I asked him to stay.”


“Why?”


“I didn’t want to be alone.”


Cash frowned. “But—”


“That’s all you need to know, Dad.” She watched his braid swing as he automatically retreated a step. “Did you and Gemma run into any problems on your way back?”


“Yeah. Lots of trees are down. I think the electricity is still off, but I’ll fire up the generator for the camper.” He directed his glower to Carter. “Soon as you’re decent I need your help in the barn.” With that, he left.


Macie slumped back in bed as Carter used her toothbrush at the tiny bathroom sink.


He didn’t bother to glance in the mirror or comb his hair. She admitted the curls looked cute all mussed up from her fingers.


He faced her. “Duty calls.”


“I heard.”


“If I’m lucky he won’t line up all the shitty jobs for me, after findin’ me in your bed.”


“Don’t count on it.”


He smiled. “So, when I’m done with chores today, will you come to my place?”



“To do what? Finish what we started before my dad interrupted?”


Carter lifted his eyebrows. “Don’t pretend it was one-sided.”


“I’m not.”


“Good. But the main reason I want you to come over is because I need you to pose for me.”


Not the answer she’d expected. “Seriously?”


Carter pulled on his jeans and she couldn’t help but stare at his ripped abs. Damn.


She’d been so close to letting her fingers do the walking down that yummy muscled torso and beyond.


“Seriously. I never kid when it comes to art.”


Her gaze flew to his. He’d gone from playful to deadly serious. “I suppose. I’m not scheduled to work today anyway.”


“Work here on the Bar 9? That could be fun. You and me—”


“I’m not working here on the ranch.”


“Then where?”


Would a polite look of distaste cross his face when he discovered she was just a cook? “I took a job as a cook and a waitress at the Last Chance Diner.”


Carter’s eyebrows lifted again. “When did you do that?”


“The day we met at the rodeo. Dad and I stopped for supper and I saw the help wanted sign.”


“Ah. So are you any good?”


“At what?”


His hot gaze lingered on her mouth before a mischievous smiled curled his lips. “At cookin’ of course, what did you think I meant?”


“Can you blame me for being suspicious? Especially after all the innuendos dripping from your silver tongue?”


“Baby, those aren’t innuendos, but the gospel truth. And I can’t wait to show you all the tricks my silver tongue has in store for you.” The tight black T-shirt went over his head, covering up his abs of steel. Dressed, he grinned and leaned over her. “I’ll be back as quick as I can. Be ready.”