Page 74 of Stockman's Stowaway

Clearly, Cap liked what he felt, sliding a hungry hand over her round stomach and breast, as he positioned himself between her legs.

He leaned down.

She reached up.

And they paused.

They both sucked in air, then held their breaths as his tip brushed into her.

She forgot to breathe. Forgot how to speak. How to think. Not when her entire world fell into this one perfect moment as he moved so slowly, one glorious inch at a time.

From the back of his throat, he made a noise of triumph. An earthy, grunt.Dayum, it had to be the sexiest sound as he pushed all the way into her.

He grabbed the side of her face, pulling her into him, his breath heavy as his lips crashed down onto hers in an all-consuming kiss that wasn’t gentle, but it was a kiss that told her how much he wanted her.

A moan escaped her as they moved, slowly at first, her hips lifted to meet his deep rhythmic thrusts as his muscles rippled while he hovered over her, making her entire body vibrate with the weight of him.

He claimed her and he owned her with a fierce intensity that was so gentle it took little for her body to combust into millions of bright lights, as she came apart and clamped down on him.

He growled in her ear.

‘Fates…’ His face dropped into the crook of her neck, his grip tightened around her body as his muscles contracted into steel and he unleashed a warmth that flowed through her, soothing every jagged edge of life’s hardships into something amazing.

As the night air nipped refreshingly against their slick skin, his forehead pressed to hers. Still in a tangle of limbs, hisbody limp on hers, they stared long and silently at each other, communicating to each other in a way that didn’t need words.

The moon rose over the escarpment to bathe them with beams of soft creamy moonlight, and he shared a soft smile as his fingertips stroked her face. ‘My beautiful Mia.’

And she’d never felt more beautiful.

Twenty-seven

It was two weeks later, when Cap parked his Tojo at the drafting yards, with Ash in the passenger seat. The sun hung low on the distant horizon, highlighting the haze of red dust that floated in the air.

‘Why are we here?’ Ash asked.

‘Ryder said he wanted a meeting.’

‘We have one twice a day at the farmhouse at the outdoor table. We should just call it the boardroom.’

‘The table covered in empty beer cans and coffee cups.’ They chuckled as they climbed out of the ute. Cap let Atlas and Fern out of the Tojo’s back cage. The rest of the muster dogs were already chilling in their kennels after another big day.

Ash bounded up the staircase to the high boards that overlooked the drafting yards that they were now using as a fancy feedlot to fatten their cattle for market.

Up top, they found Dex leaning over the rails with a beer in hand. ‘There’s beer in the esky, boys.’

‘Cheers.’ Ash plucked a can from the ice and passed one to Cap.

Cap eagerly guzzled on his beer that was like heaven on the tastebuds to chase away the day’s dust. ‘Where’s Ryder?’

‘Down there.’ Dex nodded, his dark eyes shaded by the brim of his hat. ‘Checking the gummy gate again.’

‘Didn’t we fix that already?’ asked Ash.

‘I did, today. As well as the gate that jammed up during the drafting.’

Ryder’s heavy boot tread was felt on the boards as he climbed the stairs. ‘Save me any beer?’

‘Here.’ Ash rummaged through the esky and handed a beer to Ryder. ‘So, why are we out here?’

---