Her Protective Cowboy (Fit Mountain Cowboys #1)

6. Melody

Chapter Six

MELODY

Sunlight streams through the large windows of the Clayton family kitchen the next morning when Wyatt and I sit down for breakfast with his brothers. His adorable niece, Maisey is playing in the next room.

“I still think this interview is a bad idea,” Wyatt grumbles as he reaches for the pitcher of orange juice. “Do we really want some nosy reporter poking around the ranch?”

“It’s not like they’ll be snooping in our underwear drawers. It’s just an article about my life,” Brody replies nonchalantly. “Plus, my agent says it will help improve my image.”

“What, the rodeo sponsors don’t like your wild buckle bunny lifestyle?” Wyatt’s brother Jace smirks.

“I can’t help it if the ladies love me.” Brody grins. “It’s the famous Clayton cowboy charm. No woman can resist.”

“No woman except Savannah,” Luke chimes in from the coffee maker.

Brody’s eyes snap over to Luke, and he shoots him a menacing glare. Suddenly, a tension that I don’t quite understand crackles in the air.

“Who’s Savannah?” I ask.

Brody looks like he wants to slug both of his brothers. “Nobody.” A muscle in his chiseled jaw ticks as he stands up to take his plate to the sink.

“Well, just try to keep it in your pants while the reporter is here,” Wyatt warns. “We don’t need any more scandals or rumors.”

Under the table, Wyatt slides his hand up my thigh, his calloused fingers leaving a trail of heat in their wake as they graze the edge of my panties. My breath catches, and I fight the urge to squirm in my seat.

After the mind-blowing pleasure Wyatt showed me last night, my body is hypersensitive to his touch.

“So what time will the reporter be here?” I ask, desperate for a distraction.

Wyatt slips his fingers under the lace, teasing me with featherlight caresses. I clench my thighs together to trap his hand.

“In a few minutes, actually,” Brody replies, oblivious to the erotic torture happening right across the table. Then he stands. “I’m gonna run upstairs and get changed real quick. I’ll be back in a few.”

He downs the last of his coffee and strides out of the kitchen.

Jace turns to me with a friendly smile. “How do you like Wyoming so far? Must be quite a change from New York.”

“It’s definitely different.” I try to keep my voice even as Wyatt’s fingers continue their delicious assault under my dress. “But I love it here. The wide-open spaces and fresh air. And, of course, the company isn’t too bad either.” I flash Wyatt a coy smile.

A sharp knock at the door interrupts our conversation.

Jace hops up from his seat and strides out of the kitchen and to the front door. A moment later, he returns with a gorgeous, curvy brunette in tow. She’s wearing tight jeans, a flowy blouse, and knee-high boots and has a professional camera slung around her neck.

Wyatt’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Savannah?” He exchanges a wary glance with Luke. “What are you doing here?”

The woman—Savannah apparently—smiles. “I’m here to interview Brody.”

Luke quirks a brow at her. “I thought you worked for a magazine in New York.”

She shifts her weight and tucks a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear. “I did, but I moved back to town a few weeks ago. My dad’s been sick, so I wanted to be closer to home.”

Luke’s face softens. “Sorry to hear that. I hope he’s doing better.”

“He is, thanks.” She smiles faintly before squaring her shoulders. “Anyway, I got a job with the Fit Mountain Monthly. This profile on Brody is my first big assignment.”

Wyatt chuckles in amusement. “Does Brody know you’re the one doing the interview?”

“I don’t think so. I just got the assignment late last night. It was a bit of a surprise for me too.” Savannah’s gaze darts to Luke and then back to Jace.

“Oh man, this is gonna be good,” Jace says with a knowing grin. “I’ll go get him.”

Wyatt clears his throat and stands up, his hand slipping away from my thigh.

“Savannah, this is Melody.” He gestures to me. “She’s from out of town. Been staying with us for a bit.”

Savannah turns her warm brown eyes on me and smiles. “Nice to meet you, Melody. How long will you be staying?”

Before I can reply, Wyatt interjects. “We’re still working that out.” Then he turns to me. “Melody, want to take a walk out to the barn with me? I could use your help with something.”

I nod and stand up, then smooth my dress. “Sure, I’d be happy to help.” Then I turn to Savannah and give her a friendly smile. “It was nice meeting you, Savannah. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Savannah returns my smile. “You too, Melody. And I hope you enjoy your time here. Fit Mountain has a way of getting under your skin.”

I glance over at Wyatt and giggle. “Yeah, the scenery is breathtaking. In more ways than one.”

Wyatt’s lips curve into a smug grin as he takes my hand and leads me out the back door. The screen door bangs shut behind us as we step out into the bright morning sunshine.

“So, what’s the story with those two?” I ask, glancing back at the house.

Wyatt finds my hand as we walk and interlaces our fingers. “Savannah’s from the Sullivan ranch, our biggest rival. Her family and ours have been feuding forever. And she and Brody. Well, they’ve been butting heads since they were kids.”

I hum thoughtfully as the pieces click into place. “You think there’s something between them? Romantically, I mean?”

“Probably. They always say there’s a thin line between love and hate.”

We’ve reached the barn now, and Wyatt pulls me inside, out of sight of the house.

When he wraps his arms around me and pulls me close, I melt into his embrace and breathe in his familiar scent of soap and sun-warmed skin.

“But enough about them,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple. “Right now, all I want to think about is you.”

I smile and tilt my head back to look at him. “I think I can live with that.”

And then his mouth is on mine, and all thoughts of Brody and Savannah fade away.

Wyatt guides me deeper into the barn until the rough wood of a stall wall presses against my back. Then he pins me there, his body a solid warmth against mine. We’re completely hidden from view here, cocooned in our own private world.

His lips trail from my mouth to my jaw and I tilt my head back to give him better access.

“I can’t get enough of you.” His voice is rough with desire. “ Last night was incredible. I’ve never had sex that good.”

I flush at his words and slide my hands up his back, feeling the play of his muscles under his shirt. “I never knew it could be like that. That I could feel like that.”

Wyatt silences me with a kiss, his lips claiming mine in a way that steals my breath.

His hands are everywhere, sliding under my shirt, skimming over my ribs, cupping my breasts. I arch into his touch, craving more, needing to be closer.

Desperate to feel his skin against mine, I tug at his shirt. He breaks the kiss just long enough to yank it over his head, and then he’s back with his bare chest pressing against me as he reclaims my mouth.

“Tell me to stop, baby.” Wyatt’s voice is strained as he rests his forehead against mine. “Tell me this is too much, too fast.”

But I don’t want him to stop. I want this—I want him—more than I’ve ever wanted anything.

“No. Don’t stop,” I whisper, digging my nails into his shoulders. “Please, Wyatt. It feels so good.”

We’re both panting now, our breath mingling as we kiss with a hunger that borders on desperation. Wyatt hitches my leg up over his hip and presses himself against me in a way that makes us both groan.

“You want me to fuck you right here in the barn?” Wyatt grinds out. “Is that it?”

I know we should probably slow down, that we’re moving at a breakneck pace. But the rest of me—the part that’s drowning in sensation and emotion—doesn’t care.

I bite my lip and look up at him. “Yes. That’s it.”

In a flash, he spins me around to face the wall. He slides one hand up my dress and bunches the fabric at my waist while hooking the other into my panties and yanking them down. When his fingers graze over my slick folds, we both groan at the contact.

“Fuck, you’re so wet for me already,” he rasps, circling my clit with a calloused fingertip. I whimper and writhe against him, my head falling back onto his shoulder.

“I can’t help it,” I manage between panting breaths. “You turn me on so much.”

I hear the clink of his belt buckle and the rustle of fabric as he shoves his jeans down. Then I feel the thick head of his cock nudging at my entrance.

He pauses, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “Tell me again, Melody. Tell me how much you want me.”

“I want you so much.” My voice trembles with need. “Please, Wyatt. Fuck me.”

With a fierce grunt, he surges forward and fills me in one powerful thrust. I cry out at the sudden stretching fullness, my fingers scrabbling against the rough wood for purchase.

But Wyatt doesn’t give me a chance to adjust. Instead, he sets a relentless pace that has me seeing spots. Each deep stroke hits that perfect spot inside me and sends waves of pleasure crashing through my body.

“That’s it, take my cock,” Wyatt growls against my neck, his teeth grazing my skin. “Take it deep. You feel so fucking good, baby.”

His filthy words only heighten my arousal. I push back to meet his thrusts, our skin slapping together obscenely in the quiet of the barn.

“Harder,” I plead, too far gone to care how desperate I sound. “Fuck me harder, Wyatt. I can take it.”

He snarls and tangles his hand in my hair to yank my head back. “Goddamn, Melody. You drive me so fucking crazy. I can’t control myself around you.”

He snaps his hips against my ass with renewed force, driving into me so deep I swear I can feel him in my throat.

Wyatt slides his hand around my waist to seek out my clit. I nearly scream at the added stimulation.

“Wyatt, oh wow,” I whimper, my inner walls starting to flutter around him. “I’m close, I’m so close...”

“That’s it, baby.” His thrusts become erratic as he chases his own release. “Make this pretty pussy come for me.”

A second later, I shatter.