Her Protective Cowboy (Fit Mountain Cowboys #1)

7. Wyatt

Chapter Seven

WYATT

Melody comes hard, and I follow right behind her. My heart’s pounding and my breath is ragged as I try to regain my composure. This woman makes me feel wild and reckless, like a goddamn teenager again. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

I take a moment to drink in the sight of her.

She’s wearing a simple cotton sundress, the pale blue fabric clinging perfectly to her curves. The neckline dips low, offering a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage. Her hair tumbles around her shoulders in soft waves, and her skin is flushed with desire.

Melody lets go of the wall and turns in my arms, her eyes sparkling. “I can’t believe I just let you fuck me in a barn.”

“I can’t believe I just fucked you in a barn,” I chuckle. “I’ve never done that before. You drive me crazy, you know that?”

Her pink lips curve into a seductive smile. “Mmm, good. That’s exactly how I want you—crazy with lust for me.”

Without warning, Melody sinks gracefully to her knees, trailing her fingertips down my sweat-slicked abs. She bites her plump bottom lip and gazes up at me from under her long lashes.

Fuck me.

“You don’t have to do this, baby,” I murmur, even as my body screams for her touch. “That’s not what this is about.”

“I know I don’t have to,” Melody looks up at me through her lashes. “I want to. You got to feel me come in your mouth yesterday. I want to feel you come in mine.”

“Fuck, baby. I want that too.” I thread my fingers through her silky hair. “You look so pretty on your knees for me.”

“Do I?” Melody replies in a teasing voice. When she reaches for my cock, I don’t stop her. Can’t stop her.

I’m powerless against the force of my desire for this woman.

When she takes me in her hand, I hiss through my teeth. “Yeah, baby. Real fucking pretty.”

Melody strokes me slowly, learning my shape and length.It’s almost too much, the feeling of her soft skin on me. I fight for control, desperate to make this last. Each slide of her hand winds the coil tighter in my core. When her tongue darts out to taste me, my hips jerk forward of their own accord.

“Easy, cowboy.” The gleam in her eyes tells me she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.

What she’s done to me from the very moment I saw her.

Surrendering to the bliss of Melody’s mouth on me, I fist my hands in her hair as she takes me deep. I look down at her, marveling at the sight of her lips wrapped around me.

She has her eyes closed, lost in the moment. One hand grips the base of my shaft while the other rests on my thigh. She hollows her cheeks as she pulls back, her tongue swirling around the tip.

“That’s it, sweetheart, just like that. Fuck, you’re taking me so deep.”

Melody moans around me, and I feel the vibrations all the way to my balls. She’s so good at this, working me with her tongue and lips until I’m fully erect again and throbbing against her throat.

I thrust into her mouth and watch my thick shaft disappear between her stretched lips over and over. It’s so damn hot I can barely stand it. “You like that, don’t you? Having my big cock in your mouth?”

She whimpers in response, the sound muffled by my shaft, and nods as best she can. Her free hand slides between her thighs to touch herself as she pleasures me.

My eyes nearly roll back in my head at the sight.

“Melody, baby, I’m close,” I groan, giving her a chance to pull away.

But she doesn’t. If anything, she redoubles her efforts.Pride surges through me, along with a fresh wave of pleasure.

A second later, my release barrels through me like an out-of-control freight train. Melody takes everything I give her, and I give her everything I have. By the time the last waves of pleasure recede, I’m weak in the knees.

Overcome with emotion for her, I haul Melody to her feet and crush my mouth against hers. The taste of myself on her lips only makes me want her more. Makes me desperate to return the favor and watch her come again.

When I pull back from the kiss, we’re both still breathless. I look deep into Melody’s eyes, drinking in the sight of her pretty eyes and freshly fucked lips. “You’re amazing, you know that?” I murmur, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “So damn amazing.”

Melody’s eyes soften. “You’re pretty amazing yourself, cowboy.”

I’ve never been a believer in love at first sight. I thought it was a lie Hollywood sold to hopeless romantics.

But the second I saw Melody in that wedding dress, something shifted inside me. Clicked into place.

Like I’d been waiting for her my whole life without realizing it.

I trail my fingers down the side of Melody’s face, marveling at the softness of her skin. She leans into my touch, and in this moment, nothing exists except her and me. The rest of the world fades away.

We stay like that for a long moment, just holding each other’s gaze. Then suddenly, Melody giggles. She wraps her arms around my neck and presses her body against mine. “I wish I could stay here with you forever.” She sighs wistfully. “Instead of going back to my stupid life.”

An idea takes hold in my mind. A crazy, impulsive, wonderful idea.

“So let’s do it,” I say, tightening my arms around her waist.

Melody blinks up at me. “What?”

“Stay here with me, city girl.” I rest my forehead against hers. “Don’t go back to your stupid life. Stay with me instead.”

Melody’s eyes widen. “But we just met,” she protests weakly. “This is crazy.”

I pause, considering her words. She’s right, it is crazy. We barely know each other. But something deep inside me knows this is right. Knows that Melody and I are meant to be together no matter how sudden or unexpected it is.

“Maybe it is crazy. But when you know, you know. And I know this is right. You and me, we’re right. I want you, Melody. I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep with you in my arms every night.”

I cup her face in my hands and brush my thumbs over her smooth cheeks.

Melody searches my face for a long moment. I hold my breath, hardly daring to hope.

Finally, the corner of her mouth quirks up in a smile. “I’ll think about it.”

Relief and joy surge through me.

That’s not a yes, but it’s not a no either. And right now, with Melody warm and willing in my arms, I’ll take it. I’ll do whatever it takes to convince this woman to take a chance on me—on us.

The rest of the day with Melody is pure bliss.The sun hangs low over the ranch as she and I ride side by side. Her hair glows golden in the fading light. I can’t take my eyes off her. Can’t believe she’s really here with me.

If only this perfect moment could last.

But as we ride back toward the house, a bad feeling prickles the back of my neck. Call it cowboy’s intuition. Something’s not right.

I see it as soon as we clear the trees.

A sleek black car parked in front of the house. The kind of fancy ride that doesn’t belong out here in the sticks.

And then the man leaning against it turns around. Tall, dark-haired, with a smarmy grin that sets my teeth on edge.

Bradley. Melody’s ex.

Rage simmers in my gut. What the hell is he doing here?

I tighten my hold on the reins, my other hand instinctively reaching for Melody. She’s gone still as a statue beside me, her face drained of color.

“It’s him,” she whispers, a tremble in her voice. “Oh God, Wyatt. It’s Bradley.”

I should have known this moment would come. Should have realized a snake like him would have the audacity to show up here. My jaw clenches as I take in the sight of him, all slick and polished in his fancy suit. City boy through and through.

He looks like he just stepped out of a damn catalog with his perfect hair and million-dollar smile. A smile that doesn’t reach his cold eyes as they land on Melody. There’s a darkness there, a sense of entitlement. Like she’s a possession he’s come to collect.

I swing down off my horse in one smooth motion and stride over to put myself between him and my girl. Melody dismounts shakily behind me. I can feel the nervous energy rolling off her.

"Well, well, well," Bradley drawls. "If it isn't the runaway bride. Thought you could just disappear on me, baby? Leave me at the altar in front of everyone we know?"

I step closer and block Melody from Bradley's view. My hands curl into fists at my sides. "You need to leave. Now," I growl.

Bradley's eyes flick to me and rake me over from head to toe. "And who the hell are you?" His lip curls in a sneer. "The local farmhand she's slutting around with?"

White-hot rage lances through me. I lunge forward and grab him by the collar, then slam him back against his fancy car. "Don't you dare talk about her like that."

Bradley struggles against my grip, his face reddening. "Get your fucking hands off me!"

I lean in close, our faces inches apart. "Listen, you piece of shit. Melody doesn't want anything to do with you. You're going to get in your car, drive away, and never bother her again. Or else you'll be dealing with me. Understand?"

"He's right, Bradley." Melody steps out from behind me, her chin lifted. "I'm not going anywhere with you. It's over."

Bradley laughs, ugly and mocking. "You think you have a choice? You're mine, Melody. You always have been. No one else is going to want you, especially not after this stunt you pulled."

Melody's eyes narrow. "How did you even find me you psycho stalker?"

A smug grin spreads across his face. "Your little friend Allie isn't as clever as she thinks. I saw her at the hotel bar this morning flirting with some guy. And her phone was just sitting there in her purse. It was too easy to slip it out, check your location, and put it back without her noticing. You two really thought you could outsmart me? Pathetic."

Red tinges the edges of my vision. I'm not a violent man by nature, but I'll be damned if I'm going to stand by and let him say that kind of shit to my woman.

Before Bradley can blink, my fist connects with his jaw. He staggers backward, cursing.

Hearing the commotion, Luke and Jace pour out of the house. Luke takes one look at the scene and steps up beside me, squaring off with Bradley. Jace flanks him, ready to jump in if needed.

"You just made the worst mistake of your life," Bradley hisses, cradling his face.

"No, you did," I growl. "When you showed up here trying to take what’s mine. Now get the hell out of here, before I show you just how bad of a mistake that was."

Bradley looks from me to my brothers, calculation in his eyes. I can see him weighing his odds.

Finally, he spits at my feet. "This isn't over. Melody's family won't let her throw her life away on some washed-up cowboy. I'll be back for what's mine."

"I'm not yours," Melody says, steel in her voice. "I never was. And I never will be. Goodbye, Bradley."

She takes my hand as Bradley gets in his car and guns the engine, spraying gravel as he peels out. When his tail lights disappear down the drive, I pull her into my arms. She’s shaking, but her eyes are dry. Determined.

“Are you alright?” I murmur into her hair.

She nods against my chest. “I am now. With you.”

I hold her tighter, emotion clogging my throat. “Come on, baby. Let’s go inside.”