Rough, Raw, and Ready (Rough Riders #5)(67)

Poor Edgard. Still grasping at straws, even when he knew them to be hollow. God. It wasn’t fair. Why did everything have to be so damn hard? Chassie placed her hands over her face and sobbed.

Strong arms wrapped around her. It took a while for the warmth and heat to offer any solace and she felt guilty for taking from Edgard when she should’ve been giving to him.

“It’s not fair. It’s so not fair. Why does bad shit always seem to happen to good people?”


Breathy kisses dotted the crown of her head. “I’m sorry about Cam, sweetheart.”


She lifted her face from his wet shirtfront and blinked at him. “You think that’s why I’m cryin’?”


Leeriness entered his eyes. “Yes.”


“I’m not cryin’ about Cam, you big dummy. I’m cryin’ about you.”


“Me?” he repeated.

“My heart is busted clean apart after hearin’ what you’ve been through. Alone.

You’re hurtin’ so bad and I just wanna fix it. Goddammit, I’d hoped we’d gotten past these secrets and you’ve been keepin’ a big one from me and I’ll bet Trevor too, huh?

He nodded warily.

“I wanna punch you and I wanna hug you, you big stupid jerk.” Chassie mashed her face into Edgard’s chest as more tears poured out in hiccupping stutters.

She tried to squirm away after she’d calmed down. “Sorry about blubbering all over you and swearin’ at you.”


Edgard tipped her chin up. His eyes were wet and shone pure gold. “Do you realize you’re the first person who’s cried for me? It is very humbling. Very sweet, and so very…you, Chassie. You’ve a soft heart and an iron will. It is a potent combination.”


A funny tickle started low in her belly. “Ah. Thanks.”


Edgard’s eyes zeroed in on her mouth. Their bodies were still locked together. “Can you smile for me? So I can taste the happiness on your lips when I kiss you?”


“You’re finally gonna kiss me?”


He frowned. “What do you mean?”


“With all the sexual gymnastics we’ve tried, the one thing you haven’t done is give me a real kiss.”


“Why do you think that is, querida?”


“Maybe because you prefer a mustache on the upper lip of the person you’re smooching?”


Edgard laughed softly. “Trevor doesn’t have a mustache.”


“Maybe you just prefer Trevor?”


“Could be. But how will I know I don’t prefer your kisses if I don’t give you a fair shot, hmm?”


“Sounds logical.” Chassie moistened her lips in expectation.

He bent his head, his gaze solely focused on her lips. Then a soft press of his mouth to hers. He retreated a fraction of an inch, letting his breath fan over hers, letting her anticipation build.

And build.

Her nervous habit of biting her lower lip had him growling. He nibbled the fleshy inside rim. His tongue dipped in, delicately tracing the seam, back and forth. Each wet stroke delved a little deeper. But never all the way.

A whimper escaped.

Then Edgard’s hands were on her head and he kissed her voraciously. Thrusting his tongue past her teeth, tasting every inch of her mouth as thoroughly as he pleased.

The change from exploratory to conquering made her wet and weak-kneed. She clung to him, lost, craving every single sensation this complex man could offer her.

He backed off to whisper across her lips, “No need to grow a mustache, darlin’. You kiss just fine. Much better than fine.”


She smiled against his mouth.

“Would you like to—”


“Yes.”


He chuckled. “You don’t know what I was gonna ask.”


“You were gonna ask if you can pin me against the wall and f*ck me, ’cause you’re feelin’ all close to me and stuff now that you’ve spilled your guts, and stopped bein’ the strong silent type of tough guy.”


“Smartass.” Edgard dropped another kiss on her jaw. “But yes, that was it. I want you, Chassie.” He dragged his mouth down her throat. “I wanna bury myself in your sweet heat. Lose myself in the softness that is you inside and out.”


Chassie rolled her hips into his, getting a heady sense of satisfaction that Edgard was already hard. For her.

“Pants off,” he growled.

“Race you.” She stepped out of her jeans and panties.

He ditched his jeans, snagged a condom from his pocket and rolled it on. Before Chassie doffed her remaining clothes, Edgard picked her up and pinned her upper body to the wall with his muscular torso. He spread her knees wide and slipped inside her.

“Oh. Wow. That’s…” Chassie braced herself for a hard, fast f*ck, knowing his preference for rough, dominant sex.

But Edgard stilled. He caressed the tops of her thighs and rotated his hands to cup her ass. Then he rocked his pelvis, pulling out of her wet cunt completely, pausing, and easing back inside on a slow glide until he couldn’t go any deeper. “You like that?”


“Uh-huh.”


“Me too.” Edgard’s kisses were as unhurried as his thrusts and she was totally undone at his gentleness.