Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(37)

Macie smiled. “Mud and all?”


“Mud and all.”


“No regrets?”


“Just that I hurt your feelings.”


“You made up for it with hot sex.”


“Mmm, really?”


“But with you I’d even take lukewarm sex.”


“Yeah?”


“Shoot. I’d settle for cool sex. Yeah. Lots of cool, kinky sex.”


“You know that’s not what I meant, Macie.”


“So this isn’t just about sex?”


Not on your life, kitten. Carter flopped back on a pillow and strove to keep things light. “Fine. It ain’t all about sex. If you insist, I’ll let you cook and clean for me. All summer. Whenever the urge strikes you.”


“I’ll strike you, you jackass.” She pounced on him and held a pillow over his face.


He tore the pillow away and kissed her until she couldn’t breathe.


“No fair,” she panted. “Your kisses distract me.”


“All’s fair, since just lookin’ at you distracts me, my sweet darlin’.” He dragged his fingers up and down her spine and she practically purred. “Stay with me tonight, Macie.”


“I can’t.”


Or won’t? Disappointed, he said, “Okay.”


“I’m not cooking for you either. However, I will let you wash my back in the shower.” She yawned. “Later. When I’m not so tired.”


“Deal. Anything else?”


“No.”


After a minute he said, “Hey. The rain stopped.”


“Ssh. Stop yapping. I’m trying to sleep so I can get to those wickedly explicit dreams.”


“What kind of dreams? Am I in them?”


“Sort of.”


“Sort of? What the hell does that mean?”


“Well, you’re one of the sexy cowboys in my dreams.”


“One of? As in plural?”


“Yep.”


Block it out. Ah hell. He couldn’t. “I don’t suppose in your wicked dreams you and these sexy cowboys are just sittin’ around playin’ pinochle?”


“I don’t suppose we are.”


Carter paused and twirled a section of her hair around his index finger. “Sometime will you tell me what you are doin’ with these cowboys in your dreams?”


“I’d rather show you. But we’d need a third player in our game…of pinochle. I don’t suppose you’ve got a hot guy friend who’s up for a rodeo?”


Hell yeah, his buddy Jack would totally be up for that. “Lord, you’re killin’ me, woman, teasin’ me ’bout your fantasies. You are gonna share those details, right?”


“Yes. But I’m too tired to do the fantasy justice right now. Maybe we can act out some of the…more challenging parts later. I vaguely remember a scene with ropes.”


An image of a sexy, saucy Macie naked, at his mercy, blindfolded, tied up spread-eagled on his bed, every red-gold inch exposed and bound for his pleasure alone…yeah, his dick stirred with interest.


“I’ll remind you as a ranch kid I’m wicked good with ropes.” He squeezed her ass.


“You already know I’m good with my hands.”


“Thinking about your talented hands isn’t lulling me to sleep, Carter.”


“That’s what I’m countin’ on.”


Macie tried to scoot away from him.


He laughed and nestled her against his body again. “I’ll behave. For now. Sweet dreams, sweet darlin’.”


After a while she murmured, “I feel like I’m forgetting something important I’m supposed to be doing.”


You are doing it, Carter thought. Rather than answer her, he kissed the top of her head and drifted away.


Chapter Fifteen


Cash sipped his beer and stared out across the field beyond the barn. The rain had quit a few hours ago. The gloomy gray clouds cleared and the pink rays of the setting sun reflected on the tan grasses as a golden orange. It would’ve been a perfect evening for a horseback ride.


Except Macie hadn’t shown up.


Was it intentional on her part? He’d disappointed her so many times that she’d decided to give him a taste of his own medicine? It was no less than what he deserved.


Yet, it seemed out of character for her. Macie had always been forthright even when she was a little girl. If she’d changed her mind, she would’ve come right out and told him.


Would it feel worse if she’d just plain forgotten about their plans? No. The worst thing would be if Macie had blown him off because she’d gotten a better offer.


From that damn Carter McKay.


He’d felt so guilty last night after he and Gemma hit the road, when he realized not only had he left Macie alone in a strange place, he hadn’t even asked her if she’d wanted to ride along with them to Beulah. Then, when he’d heard about the nasty storms rolling across Wyoming, it’d made him stir-crazy not being able to reach her, especially after calling her for hours.