Stables (Black Gulch Ranch #2)

32. Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Char

I feel like I’m living in a dream world. Paisley is with people who care for her, I get to do what I love, and I have the sexiest man alive to keep me safe and warm.

If only the lurking menace of Matt wasn’t out there.

Once the last of the cows are sorted, I let a very sweaty Juniper move over to the shady section of fence where Lori and Libby are sitting in lawn chairs sipping lemonade while Paisley plays in the dirt with some toys between them.

Jack sits on Lori’s knee, his green eyes widen as he watches me.

“Paisley, do you want to come with me to the barn?” I don’t know how she’ll do once she can’t see me anymore.

Her grubby cheeks turn and she holds up a ball, then a small truck. “No, Mommy. I stay, please.” The “l” disappears

Libby grins up at me, then wraps her lips around the straw in her cup and takes a long swallow. “Girl, I need all the cold drinks just watching you two out there!” Her fingers wiggle me away. “Go. Let him curry comb you down.” She giggles, then winks at Lori, whose cheeks turn bright red.

They probably match mine.

Mason ambles up behind Lori, pinning his hat to his head, he lifts her chin as he bends over, making both of their faces disappear behind the broad rim.

Libby fans herself, then laughs when Paisley mimics her.

When Mason stands, he glances up at me, then towards Sophia and Dixon as they ride up. “Blue will be here in a bit, he said he had some news for all of us.”

I hope whatever he has to say is positive. It’s been hard not to think of how much Whiskey could have benefited from today’s work.

A billow of steam rises from the branding lot where Sawyer and Ford run a hose over the flames.

Maybe I should have them spray me off so I can spend some promised time with Lori and Libby before Blue gets here.

“Soph, I’ll send Sawyer over to help you with Misty.” Mason stares for a moment at Dixon, then turns towards the dying fire.

“Thanks, Dad,” she calls after him.

She turns her roan mare so she’s near me. “Char, I can’t tell you how nice it is that you’re here. This woulda taken ten times longer without you. Any chance you can watch me on barrels tomorrow for some pointers?” She rolls her blue eyes with a smirk. “These guys just don’t have the feel for barrel racing. I’d appreciate your expert opinion on where I can improve.”

The heat in my cheeks intensifies. “I’d love to see you in action. I’ve heard you’re destined for a buckle.”

“Screw that, I wanna go to Vegas, baby!” She digs in her heels making Misty leap into a gallop, leaving us in a cloying cloud of dust.

I’m already filthy, I doubt I’d notice another layer.

She aims for the open gate, then cuts to the right to head towards the front main barn.

I’m still in awe that there was a completely empty one that had plenty of room for all my horses.

Tugging the reins, I aim Juniper for her temporary home. “Libby, we shouldn’t be long. I’m glad you could make it out.”

“Take your time. It’s a beautiful day.” She winks at me.

Lori nods, and makes little Jack wave too.

Dixon lines his black gelding up to trot next to me. “So, I have to ask. Where in the hell did you learn to ride like that?” A grin pulls up the end of his mustache.

A warm feeling settles into my chest, but I shrug it off. “Just grew up with it.”

His dark brows lower over the caramel of his eyes. “Unlikely. Did you compete?” He beats me to the hitch in the barn and hops off his horse. Stepping around it, he loops my rein around the post and reaches up to me.

“A little,” I say shyly.

But when I flip my leg over and slide into his firm grip, he holds me in the air, his eyes on my waist. “Barrel racing champion, huh?” Dropping me gently, his fingers wrap around the gilded buckle on my belt, lifting me enough that my toes barely skiff the dirt.

“Why is it that I’m more proud of you, than you are?” He tightens his pull until my jeans snug into my crotch. “You had to work really fucking hard to earn this,” he growls. “Sophia hasn’t even gotten one yet.”

My palms rest on his wide chest. I can feel his heart racing beneath the muscles. “She will. I know she’s going to make it all the way.”

His dark eyes squeeze shut and his jaw ticks.

With flaring nostrils, he takes a deep breath before he looks at me again. “ She isn’t the point.” Both of his rough hands come up to cup my cheeks. “ You are. I wish you could see what I see.” His whiskers tickle as he presses his lips to mine.

I’m not that girl anymore.

It’s been years since I competed. I was still in high school. How do I tell Dixon it didn’t matter how good I was? No one wanted to sponsor me because of who my father was?

That after he died, my mom never had the money for me to compete, so I had to quit?

I thought I had a new purpose when I met Matt, using what little life insurance money I got from Mom’s death to buy my first horses to train.

Do I tell Dix that the thought of what could have been if I’d been able to keep racing sent me spiraling into a pit of self loathing.

Because I was stuck with Matt.

And no one but Libby cared to check on me.

What do I say? That until I met Dixon, I never thought that there could be a better way? That any hopes and dreams that I had of every doing anything but fucking struggle, I had abandoned? “Hey.” He scoops me up, cradling me against him as he carries me over to a bale of hay by the feeder. “Where the hell did you go there?” Sitting, he pulls me close, tilting the bill of my hat back to watch me.

I find myself shaking my head. “So much has changed since then. I’m a different person,” I say quietly, distracting myself by patting some of the dirt from my leg.

His grip snugs on my hip and he grinds me against him as his lips touch the bare skin on the back of my neck. “Well, I like this version very much. Don’t be so tough on yourself. I’m the only one allowed to be hard…in you.” He pulls the lobe of my ear between his teeth, sending a shiver through me.

His butterfly kisses down my throat make me giggle. “Well, I guess I’m lucky then,” I manage to pant as he stokes the fire that has smoldered in my belly all day.

He has no idea how many glances I stole of him on his horse and just how absolutely soaked it’s kept me seeing him ride.

I’ve always wanted someone who enjoys the same things as me. Why I ended up with Matt, I have no idea. Whoever said opposites attract is an idiot.

Dixon coils my braid around his hand and tugs my head back, exposing me further to his hungry mouth.

“I don’t know about lucky,” he murmurs against my hot skin. “But you are going to be fucked.”

My arms wrap around him as he lifts me, then he kicks open the door to the tack room.

“But what about your friend? He’s going to be here soon.” I don’t want Dixon to stop, but I also don’t want his family to hate me.

“He can get his own woman. You’re mine.” He closes us in the dim room and sets me down. “Take off that belt.” His eyes flash while he holds firmly to my braid.

Slowly, I undo the buckle and slide it from the loops of my jeans. My hand shakes when I lift it for him, not in fear, but in anticipation.

He winds the leather around his fist. “Unzip my jeans. You need to see what you do to me.” He pulls my cap off and hangs it on a hook behind him.

The brim of his hat shadows his face when he looks down. “Go on, my rodeo queen, get a taste of how impressed I am.” He leans over, brushing the shell of my ear with his breath. “Then you’re going to climb on top and show me how well you can ride.”

A flutter of heat races through me.

What this man does to me, I can’t even describe. He makes me want to beg him to fold me in half. To scream his name and have all his babies.

I want to make him feel as good as he makes me feel.

Finding his zipper, the stiff bulge behind it practically opens his fly for me. Only a thin layer of silk holds back his behemoth cock.

Tentatively, I tug the fabric down, letting him spring free in all his throbbing glory.

Jesus.

“Grab hold, lead me to that stool.” His words are a low rumble as his hand twists in my hair to guide me.

My small fingers can’t even wrap all the way around his thick shaft, but I tug where he points.

“Good girl. Now, get on your knees.”

Why does his voice make me rub my thighs together?

Doing as he says puts my face level with the engorged head of his dick.

I never liked doing this for Matt, and avoided it whenever possible.

But something inside me wants to do this for Dixon. Knowing I can offer him even a fraction of the pleasure he gives me, it makes me eager to do anything for him.

Both of my palms encircle him as I lick my lips in anticipation.

Just as my tongue extends and I lower my head, he pauses me with a tug on my scalp, barely brushing the bead of precum against my tastebuds.

“Unbutton your pants,” he growls. “You come first.” The pad of his thumb rubs my cheek.

Without hesitation, I open my fly and push my fingers under the hem of my panties.

“I bet you’re soaked for me. Show me.” With the belt still around his palm, he brushes a strand of hair from my face.

When I press my hand deeper, I’m surprised to find that he’s right.

I’m so fucking wet and pull my arm out to prove it.

He clutches my wrist, pulls my damp fingers into his scalding mouth, then wraps them around his rigid length.

“I knew you’d be ready. Find your clit, and I’ll give you a sample.” He smears the tip of his engorged cock against my mouth.

I touch myself, and open for him, stretching so wide I worry I can’t keep my teeth off his skin.

Why did he stop? I thought he’d thrust into me.

“Circle with your tongue at the same speed that you’re doing to your tight little pussy.” His breath comes in short clips as he uses my slick hand to stroke himself.

It takes me a moment to find my rhythm. Starting off slowly, I get my fingers moving in time with languid licks, it doesn’t take long before pressure begins to build in my belly.

When I hear his breath hitch, it makes me want more.

Faster. A moan escapes past my lips to ripple over his leaking seam. Suckling down the enticing drop, I know it means he’s enjoying himself.

I am too.

“Push in two fingers.” His voice is barely over a whisper as his fingers tighten in my hair.

Flicking over my hard clit, I swallow him as deep as I can go when my hand curls inside me.

Holy fuck.

That groan he makes almost sends me over the edge.

“That’s it, Char. Come for me like the champion you are.” He pulls his thick cock back to barely touch my lips. “Show me how you win .” He holds my buckle where he knows I can see it.

The burning bubble within me bursts, and I find myself suctioning him to muffle the scream. Waves of wild quakes erupt through my limbs as my pussy clenches around my knuckles, and a gush soaks my palm and my jeans.

I’ve never done that before by myself.

Oh my god, it’s going to look like I peed myself.

With wide eyes I look up to him looming over me with the mushroomed purple head of his dick nearly blocking my view.

“Dixon! Blue’s here. Hurry your ass up!” Mason’s voice echoes from the entrance of the barn.

Dixon takes his engorged member and taps my chin with a grin. “Coming!” he bellows.

Then he bends, pressing his mouth to mine in a heated kiss before unthreading his fingers from my hair.

“Aren’t you?” I keep my words low, I have no idea if Mason is getting closer.

But I feel guilty that I had such an incredible orgasm and he’s still hard as an oak tree.

“Later.” He winks at me before tucking himself into his jeans. “I’d rather watch you get off over and over. You look so fucking good, I almost lost control.”

“I’d be okay with that.” I bite my lip while I thread my belt back into my pants. I feel a little short changed.

“Char,” he growls, pinning me to the wall with his knee between my thighs and his palm around my wrists. “You tell me something like that, I can’t promise next time I’ll be able to hold back.”

My jaw sets as I tilt my face up to him. “Maybe I don’t want you to.” I want him to need me as badly as I need him.

He spoils me, makes me feel special, like I’m the only person in the room.

I’ve never felt that way with anyone before.

There’s been a void in my soul for so long that I didn’t know existed. He’s teaching me how to patch it, to heal.

To love in new ways.

His tender caress, his nurturing words. He builds me up and is mending the shattered pieces that have embedded in my heart.

He can break me in any way he wants, because I know he won’t hurt me.

The gold flecks in the dark sea of his eyes fade as his pupils swell.

I know I’ve said the words before, but now I know the real meaning of them.

“I trust you.”