Page 103 of Sheriff's City Girl

“Really?” His eyes found mine, the hazel irises lighting up. “I knew my dad was a bad guy—I’ve always known that. I just didn’t know all the bad stuff he did. It makes sense why my mom just… disappeared.”

“Your mom disappeared?”

He nodded. “I think she ran off because my dad was into all the bad… I just never understood why she didn’t take me with her.”

“Well, I guess you and Jess have that in common. Her mom took off without letting anyone know anything. It was really hard on her—on all of us.”

“Yeah, but she has a dad who actually cares about her,” Cody reasoned, his voice thickening in a way that pulled at my heartstrings. “And now she’s got Emma, who I know she basically looks at like a mom.”

The excitement he was giving my daughter was touching. Maybe he did care about her more than I realized.

“And I don’t wanna go back to that house, especially not if Brittany’s there. She’s mean and will just hound me for money. I don’t even have any money. I only have what I work for at the ranch with Lucas. Dad didn’t give me access to anything when he was arrested. It’s all going to pay for his high-powered lawyers.”

I nodded, knowing better than to dive off into that topic right now. “Is this your horse?”

Cody glanced to the black gelding. “Yeah, that’s Buzz. Dad bought him for me—but not because he wanted to be nice. I think he just wanted me to go find something to do.”

“Where do you keep him?”

“Now I keep him at the Lowe Ranch, and I don’t know what I’ll do if Lucas loses his place. I guess I’ll have to find somewhere else to work. Maybe quit school and just go cowboy or something.”

“Don’t do that,” I said carefully. “We’ll make sure that you’re taken care of, and Lucas hasn’t lost his ranch yet. Speaking of, why don’t you go stay there for the night? He’s got all that nice ranch hand housing, and I’m certain there’s a place for you.”

He took a deep breath. “And then maybe I can get emancipated from my dad and stepmom?”

I studied his face, seeing a glimmer of hope. “Yeah, maybe. But let’s just take this one step at a time.”

Chapter Forty-Five

Emma

Akiss on my lips woke me up, and my eyes fluttered open to a soft, pale light just slipping through the blinds. Mason was hovering just above me, his hair still damp from the shower I assumed he’d taken while I slept.

“Are you just now getting in?” I asked in a groggy voice as he brushed hair out of my face.

“I am, but we found him,” he said in a low voice. “He was just trying to be absent while Brittany came back to the house. He’s fine. I found him at the rodeo practice arena and took him and his horse to Lucas. I think Lucas was more relieved to see him than I expected.”

“That’s good,” I said with a groan as I stretched my arms over my head. “And good you’re back, too.”

“I’m glad to be home,” he murmured, planting a kiss on my jaw. I clenched my thighs as he rolled me onto my side, his lips sweeping across the skin of my neck. His hands moved along my hips, pausing at the hem of my underwear.

Arousal flooded between my legs, and I pressed back against him, my ass grinding against his erection. Mason growled in response, his fingers slipping beneath the silky material. My breath caught as they slid between my slick folds, his lips continuing to caress my skin.

“I missed you,” Mason whispered as his fingers gyrated against my clit. “I can’t even express just how much…”

“Mmm…” I moaned, leaning my head back against him as my hips began to rock in rhythm with his movements. “I missed you, too.”

He groaned out in pleasure as I continued to grind against him, my body filled with urges. I used my free hands to tug my underwear down, sliding it off my legs and giving him access. I could just make out the clock, and I knew we didn’t have long before Jess was up for school.

“You’re so wet,” he said in a husky tone, just before slipping his fingers inside me. I squeezed my eyes shut as I neared the edge, the pleasure building faster than anticipated. Mason’s teeth nipped at my skin, and I continued to work with his hand, taking myself all the way. My climax rushed over my body, and my pussy clenched down around his fingers.

“Oh fuck,” he moaned as a soft cry left my lips. My hands reached around my body, and I tugged at the waistband of his boxer briefs, ready for him to take me. He didn’t budge until I had come down, and then he followed my wishes, sliding them off…

The tip of his cock pressed into my slick entrance, and I let out another cry as he slid into me. New pleasure began to build as he wrapped his arms around me, his hips thrusting into me.

“Ooh…” My moan was quiet but potent as his kisses landed all along my neck and shoulder. I braced against him as one of his hands slid back in between my legs, his two fingers finding my clit again.

He began to stroke me as he upped his intensity, and more moans escaped my lips. Our body remained intertwined as we both reached our climaxes. My pussy clenched around his cock as he growled gutturally, his own body stilling as he came.

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