Grump’s City Girl (Boots and Heels #2)

9. Beau

Chapter 9

Beau

“ Y ou smell like leather and river water,” Cassie murmured under my chin.

With her resting her head on my chest, I wrapped my arm around her slender body. She wrapped her leg around my tree trunk of a thigh, and it felt perfect. She felt so good tucked into my side like a limpet on a ship.

She fitted against my body like we were made for each other. If I allowed myself to dream, she would feel at home—warm and cozy and healing to me. It was silly, but she was so tiny and petite that holding her made me feel like the protector my nature told me to be.

“I’m just glad it’s not one of the days I smell like cow farts and horse shit,” I answered, kissing her forehead.

Her full lips lifted toward me, her eyes soft, and my skin prickled with goosebumps. But it just felt so powerful and so heavy. I knew it should be play-acting, but this felt real. I was standing here, paralyzed with overthinking, regret, and indecision, when she smiled, tipped up, and kissed me.

“Stop overthinking so much…” she rested her head back on my shoulder. “I can hear the gears grinding.”

I grunted, running my palm over her back protectively. “They’re not as rusty as they used to be.”

“Can I ask you something?” She pressed her nose into my collarbone. At my nod, she added, “Do you think you’ll reconcile with your brother and mom?”

Sharp, hurtful memories of their scorn, disdain, and dismissive actions made my gut clench. My soul rebelled at the very notion of inviting those backstabbers into my life. I wouldn’t bring them in… not even if I had fallen into a pit of money and had renovated the ranch into a multimillion-dollar shindig.

I felt that tick in my jaw jump. “I don’t think so. I know it sounds petty, but they turned their backs on me. I’m not eager to invite that grief back into my life.”

“I understand,” she responded.

I didn’t hear any judgment or dismay in her voice, but I still felt my heart sink, and my insides ached, knowing I had disappointed her.

“I feel like a jackass saying that,” I grumbled.

“It’s all right,” Cassie nuzzled her face deeper. “Some wounds are hard to get over. I get it.”

“Why do you have to be so caring and sweet?” I grumble.

“Because despite you being a jackass, I do like you.”

“Oh,” I responded, kind of satisfied with that response. “Thanks… I guess?”

She laughed, then pulled away. “Shall we pack up? It’s getting late.”

Without thinking, my hand flung out and grabbed her arm, stalling her, and slowly, I pulled her in, and she straddled my lap. My hands stroked down her back, drifting lower until I settled on her bottom in a relaxed hold.

Resting my forehead on hers, I closed my eyes, feeling her near me. I didn’t care about the cameras nosing into our business, and once again, I slipped into that dream state where this was real and not because of some dumbass TV show.

After brushing my nose against hers, I dropped the softest of kisses on her lips and then pulled away, but a single taste was not enough. I kissed her heavily this time, letting my fingers slide into her loose hair. The kiss turned into a hungry kiss, and I could taste coffee on her.

“Mmm, you taste good,” I whispered. In her ear, I said, “Do you know why I smell like the river? I skinny dip at night. Want to join me tonight?”

I sensed that she was leaning into the idea, so I added, “Eleven thirty. Meet me at the back door."

I hoped those damn microphones had not picked up on those words—because, goddamnit, couldn’t a guy get a few private minutes for himself? Cassie looped her arms around my neck and canted her head so it looked like she was hugging me, but really, her cascading hair hid her words. “Yes.”

I tightened my arms around her to make it look like a warm hug, and then we separated and packed up. The crew took the picnic basket as we were heading out and took a few more shots before shutting down.

Jumping into my Jeep, I shot Cassie a grin. “Grab a towel for tonight; it’s going to be nippy.”

Getting to the ranch, we realized there was downtime because the filming crews and producers were busy splicing up the videos they had taped earlier—to make sure they showed the best and worst of us all, I was sure—so I went out to find the rest of the guys.

After checking the roster, I headed to the south pasture and found the guys having a hard time keeping the bulls in line. As I approached, Freddy greeted me with waggling brows and a wicked grin.

“And Lover Boy approaches,” he shouted to the guys, then turned to me, leaning on the pommel. “The grapevine says you went on a date with Lady Moneybags. I have to tell you, bossman, I didn’t think a picnic in the park was your style. The only thing you needed was a couple of dogs running around and two-point-five kids, and you would be the picture-perfect couple.”

Keeping my expression neutral, I rode close to him and, reaching over, slapped him over the head. “Keep that up, and you’ll be mucking out the stables with Bran for a year.”

Ron laughed. “He does have a point, Beau. You two looked oddly coupled up out there.”

“Not you too,” I groused. “It was all for show; you know that.”

“Was it?” Ron asked quietly as we rode to the herding line.

I didn’t know what else I could say or do to prove to these guys that it was all pretenses. “I cannot wait for these bloody six weeks to pass. After that damned show is aired, Cassie will go back to her world, and I will stay in mine.”

“You do know the telephone exists,” Ron gave me an eye. “A bus, a train, a helicopter, a four-wheeled wagon, a parasail?—”

“If you’re hell-bent on listing every mode of transportation, I am riding off,” I cut in. “There’s no future with me and Cassie. For the last time, we are only playing a part.”

The bulls were grazing peacefully, but I kept an eye on them; these testosterone factories could turn on each other on a dime. “Listen, she’s hot, I get it, and I ain’t going to lie, I am wickedly attracted to her, but she is not from here, Ron.

"I bet her family is some filthy rich sort, probably capitalizing on Wall Street or had a string of five-star hotels around the world. She’s a socialite, Ron, probably had a string of rich heirs or, I dunno, foreign princes lining up to marry her.”

“I would agree, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a shot,” Ron replied. “Don’t go making assumptions about what she would like or not like. I don’t know the girl, but I don’t get stuck up from her.”

“She’s not, but be real, Ron,” I told him. “If the impossible did happen, what life would I have in the city, and what life would the city girl have here?”

“You never know,” Ron added. “It might look impossible, but miracles do happen. You’ll never know if you don’t grab the bull by the horns.”

Speaking of horns, two massive bulls were pawing the ground, heads down and nostrils flared. We both knew what was going to happen.

I reached for my lasso. Goddamn it.

By evening, when we trailed back to the house, I was beyond exhausted. That first fight had started a domino effect, and reeling those stubborn bulls back in line tested all of our mettle.

“I’m gonna sleep for a week,” Bran groaned while rolling his neck.

If only we had that luxury.

“I think we can sleep a little longer than sunrise,” I said. “Eight should be fine, but let’s hope the bulls don’t kill each other.”

Dinner was filling, meatloaf and potato casserole, and I kicked back a beer before heading to my room to doze, the alarm set for eleven. When the chime went off, I sat up, rubbed the lingering sleep from my eyes, stretched, slipped my legs from the sheet, and jammed them into the waiting boots.

Grabbing a towel from the bathroom cupboard, I headed out to the back door, hoping Cassie had not reneged on our agreement. I turned a corner, hope thick in my chest, and found Cassie there, sitting on the railing, legs swinging like a pretty doll on a shelf.

She had on another oversized sweater; her legs were bare, but she was clad in boots with her hair pinned up. As I approached, she hopped off the ledge and hugged me before grabbing a bag at her feet. “Lead the way, cowboy.”

The moon was a sliver in the sky, but while it was a little of a hamper, I could walk this path to the stables while I was asleep. Enfolding her hand in mine, I led her down the steps and cut across the field to the stables.

Cassie kept time with me, and we got to the stable just as an owl’s haunting hoot echoed through the air.

Slipping inside the stable, the smell of horse and hay washed over me familiarly, but I wondered if Cassie found it repulsive. A quick look showed her nose wrinkling, but that was normal; even my guys did that on occasion.

Most of the horses were asleep, and I know it was a shocker to see some of them sleep standing up, but that was only for a short time; they’d lie down eventually.

I woke Sweetie and while she was not happy about it—her huffing nostrils and stomping hooves showed it—she allowed me to lead her out of her stall and get her saddled.

“I’ll have extra apples and sugar cubes for you tomorrow, girlie,” I promised while tightening a girth.

Turning to Cassie, I gently placed my hands under her ribs, ignoring the soft tremble under her skin. As quickly as I could, I lifted and placed her at the front of my saddle.

This saddle was not meant for two, but it would hold us if we went slow—not to mention she was as light as a feather—and I was in no hurry. After joining her, I steered us outside and into the trails beyond.

The horse walked leisurely across the road, starting up gently, and the horse’s hooves crunched over the rocks and bits of wood and branches. The trail was decently wide, but we were weaving through the sagebrush and up an incline underneath.

“If we were here in the morning, you would see their red-barks and how the morning sun makes the dark green needles so bright,” I whispered in her ear. “With the early morning fog creeping through the trees, it's magical.”

Cassie relaxed her grip on the horn, leaning into me while I held onto the reins. Her whole body started to undulate with the slight swaying and repetition of the horse’s stride as we climbed the hill. The angle had her sliding down the leather of the saddle and onto my lap, and fucking hell, it was torture.

“I’m sorry,” she said, placing one hand on my thigh; she pushed herself up only to bounce back down.

In her urge to get seated properly, she nearly tipped off the horse, and, in a flash, I circled my other arm around her waist, securing her to me while holding the reins with the other. Her bottom was now solidly between my thighs, and with every dip and roll of the horse’s gait, she was rubbing against my cock.

We had reached the top of the hill, where it flattened out to meander through a grove of pine trees, and Cassie let out a long breath. “It’s so peaceful up here, almost nice.”

“Speak for yourself,” I muttered as my cock was hardening to sledgehammer stiff, and while I expected shock or outrage at what she must feel hardening beneath her seat—Cassie didn’t react.

Cutting through the forest, we took the short path to the creek bank; the Rogue River proper was wide and deep, carving a path throughout southern Wyoming.

It was known for its rapids and whitewater, but this little offshoot was shallower and calmer, curving around an inlet of land lined with scrubby trees and bushes on both sides.

I’d been vaguely aware of us leaving the main road, bouncing down a gravel path to this small clearing. The river we were heading to was an unnamed offshoot of the Cheyenne River that the guys and I called Baby River, but there was nothing baby about it.

The river was wide and deep, carving a path throughout the foothills. There were spots far up the riverway with rapids and whitewater, but this little offshoot was shallower and calmer, curving around an inlet of land lined with scrubby trees and bushes on both sides.

There were rocks near boulders at the side of the river, but the catch was—it was at a deep point, and my feet could touch the sandy floor. Fortunately, the way we had ridden, that spot was right where we were heading.

It was nearly midnight when we got there, and I descended and helped Cassie down. We had the crescent moonlight and the stars shining down on us while we stared at the flowing river. Cassie shivered a little, but I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into my chest. “We can go back if you don’t want to do this.”

“…No,” she replied, craning her head to me. “I want to do this.”

I stepped away as she undid her boots, began to tug her sweater over her head, and dropped it at her feet. She then lifted the tank she had on and inch by inch, she revealed her skin, my eyes roamed over her body, taking in every inch of her.

She wore a soft yellow bikini top that pushed up her incredible breasts, so they were on full display for me. Stifling a groan, I watched as she slid the shorts down, and I found a matching yellow set of lacy boy shorts.

The suit was so small I was half afraid and hoping that she would sneeze or move wrong and the whole thing would fall right off her—but we hadn’t come here to swim, had we?

With one hand over her breasts, she let me look at her as if she could sense my blatant staring. I should have known she had an idea in mind when she cocked her head and waved her hands in front of me. “Your turn. Let’s see the goods.”

My head tilted to the left, and wordlessly, I tugged the shirt off. When my shirt was off, I bunched it and dropped it over her sweater. Had she seen me shirtless before? I was sure I’d gone topless on the ranch a few times while this damned show was on.

She smiled at me, and then her eyes dropped to my jeans. “Keep going.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, then popped the jeans button. While I was tugging the zip down, I realized I was giving her a little striptease.

I got the boots off, removed the jeans, and spread my arms wide. “Tag, you’re it.”

Cassie untied the top and dropped it, making me internally salivate over her high, plump breasts with pink, dusky nipples stiffening in the cold air. When she slipped the shorts, and she was fully bare, an atomic bomb could have dropped inches from me, and I would not have noticed.

Holding her eyes, I removed the last stitch of clothing, and my erection popped out strong and big right in front of her. I walked towards her.

“Oh my,” she said, and even in the glow of the moonlight, I could see her blushing.

I slipped my hands under her knees, banded one arm across the back of her thighs, and when she squealed, I landed a firm smack on her ass just before I jumped into the water, clearing the rocks for four feet at least.

We sank to the bottom, and for a second, time felt suspended. Cassie’s eyes were clenched tight, her hair flailing around us. When we broke the surface again, her eyes peeled open, and this close, I saw her lashes clumping together.

She didn’t wear mascara to lengthen them; they’re naturally long.

I held her under her perfectly round ass; her bare wet breasts were pressed on my chest, and water was dripping down her warm, smooth skin. I imagined licking droplets from the stiff peaks of her warm pink nipples.

While we tread water, Cassie smoothed her hair from her face and tilted her head to the sky, baring her neck to me. A droplet of water slid down the side of it, and I licked it off. A sound, sort of like a cat-like purr, left her lips, and I cupped her face to kiss her.

I kissed her with all the passion, all the desire, all the need that I had kept bottled up. I kissed her hungrily, exploring her mouth, coaxing her tongue with mine until I felt her shudder.

She kissed me back with as much emotion. I could feel her need for me and how much she wanted me. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have her in my arms.

My hands moved from her face down to her front and cupped her breasts. They were bigger than I thought and felt perfect in my hands. Cassie let out a soft cry and leaned into my hands as I massaged her breasts.

Her hips moved next to me, and I could feel and sense how much she wanted me. I had half expected her to push me away at any moment, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen, and I couldn’t have been happier.

I ran a finger down her cheek, and although there was only dim moonlight, I saw how her cheeks were flushed. “I wasn’t joking earlier,” I brushed my lips over her ear. “I do want to eat your pussy.”

Kissing her in time to stifle a moan, my fingers tugged at her pert nipples. Her breasts were a work of art, filling my hands perfectly, and a possessive growl rumbled from my gut. My cock was hard as iron, leaking precum, threatening to spill, but I wanted to pleasure her first.

Cassie was whimpering while I flickered my thumbs over her nipples, and her body bucked against mine. She grabbed my shoulders and sunk her nails into my skin; the feel of her slick wet body against mine and the arousing whimpers of her heavy sighs made my cock leak.

Turning, I lifted her to a rock and spread her legs. “I want to tease you and taunt you before I bury my tongue into your tight pussy and eat you out. I don’t want an audience or the nightlife joining in, sweetheart, so stay quiet for me.”

Bracing her hands on the wet rock, Cassie spread her thighs for me, and I trailed my hand over her creamy thighs before dipping in between and sliding a finger up her wet slit. Her hips bucked when I ran my thumbs over her inner thighs. She was dripping, and I cursed under my breath at the dim lighting.

My eyes were on hers as I leaned in and lay a soft kiss on the underside of her knee, then kept kissing up her shivering skin until I was a breath from her succulent sex. I slid my thumb over her parted slit, then slid a long stripe of my tongue over her pussy, like a big cat would do to a kitten.

She grabbed my head, scrambled for my hair, and gripped it, tilting her hips up for more. I circled my thumb over her slit before replacing it with my mouth, and she tasted amazing.

Gripping her thighs, I grabbed her closer to the edge before swiping my tongue over her again and again and again, lapping greedily at her wetness before flicking her clit.

Nothing could have prepared me for the flood of her wetness in my mouth, and her whimpers only urged me forward. My tongue plundered her, licking and lashing her drenched pussy; my night beard was abrading her trembling thighs, but I don’t think she noticed.

Her breaths were hitching, her chest heaving, while my hungry grunts told her how I was enjoying what I was doing, my fingers working her clit to a feverish pitch.

Her thighs started to tremble, and she choked back a sob when I suctioned my lips over her sensitive bud and paddled it until she was whining in my arms, tiny broken sounds breaking through the hand she had on her mouth.

A tremor ran through her body, and her taste almost sent me to the edge. My cock pulsed when she grabbed my hair and tugged me closer to her juicy pussy, riding my tongue like it was her toy, and it was.

Cassie screamed; her body went rigid, and I lapped at her slick flood as she orgasmed over my tongue.