Page 16 of Ash on the Range
My brother.
Welp, in times of need, one must do what one must.
“Sorry. Got a hot date.” I winked and slipped around the taller man, scooped up a bowl and placed it in Austin’s hands. “Save me,” I muttered. “I hate being touched.”
Austin, predictably, launched an arm around my shoulders. Not what I wanted but his bulky embrace provided a barrier between me and the rest of the crowd. “Come on, Cass. Lemme tell you what I’ve been up to while you’ve been away.”
I wanted to punch the ego that inflated around him on sight, but since I needed his intervention, I held that impulse back. “Sure, big guy. Let’s do that,” I said, letting out a sigh.
Austin talked all the way back to the table, all the way through his dessert and halfway through the rest of the boys leaving. I didn’t listen to a word, putting in a nod when I thought I was supposed to, and made a few positive noises of support. They were the same stories I'd heard before, after all, just different versions.
Ausitn rode the bull, wowed the crowd, and got laid.
Austin won the trophy, downed the yard glass and danced all night and … yup, he got laid. (I didn't need the details that followed, so I vagued out, though from the cheer that went up around the table, he told the story quite well).
Austin saved a cow from danger after interpreting its frantic mood and saved the day. He probably got laid then too.
Okay, so I made that last one up. Actually, I’d never seen himgetlaid—thankfully—because he never brought any of thewomen he claimed to discover back to the trailer we had shared for several rounds of the rodeo circuit, and for that I was eternally grateful. I didn’t know how many of my brother’s stories were true or not, but the more he ate, drank and got rowdy with the ranch hands, entertaining them with endless stories as the night wore on until they frittered away for the next day’s work, the darker and more closed Jude and Trav’s faces became.
Eventually, I pulled away from him, intent on heading upstairs and turning in myself.
So much forI’ll find you later.
I closed my eyes and drew in a fortifying breath, certain I’d have a fight on my hands with Austin when I opened them. He was never one to hit the hay early, especially when he thought there was at least one member of the audience left to regale, whether they wanted to hear more fakeAustin saved the cowstories or not. A wave of leather and soap scent washed over me. I opened my eyes to find Will striding across the room, headed in our direction. His eyes were dark, and the curls I loved to wind around my fingers fell across his darkened eyes. He made no effort to push them back as he usually did when he reached our table, nor did he stop walking until he reached my side and held out his hand.
“Come on,” was all he said, without a glance at my brother.
Austin stopped mid-story, looking disjointedly at Will like he only just realized the man I left him with at the last rodeo was here. “What are you doing,” he started.
I didn’t give my brother a chance to finish.
“Goodnight, Austin,” I murmured, scooting forward off the bench seat as I placed my hand into Will’s.
Roughened fingers closed around mine in a firm grip as he drew me forward, away from Austin. Warmth traveled along my arm as he strode away from the table, heading toward the frontdoor of the big house. I kept pace, my legs working quickly as I shifted out of my semi-dozy state of the night. Will seemed to have a singular focus. Warmth spread between us where his skin contacted mine. I felt eyes on us as we crossed the living area, but no one said goodnight or stopped us. My heart pounded in my chest as he pushed open the door and paused long enough for me to push my boots on, but when I grabbed for my coat, he caught my wrist and shook his head.
“You won't need it,” Will said in a low voice. His eyes were so dark in the shadows I couldn't read his intent.
“It’s cold out,” I said nervously, tugging at the lace sleeves of my top where his hand closed around my wrist.
“I’ll keep you warm,” he promised, sliding his hand down around mine, and pulled me off the veranda.
I tripped down the steps after him, my objection half stuck in my throat, lodged halfway between my heart and my curiosity. Will rounded the corner of the big house, stepping into the shadows. Darkness engulfed us a moment later, as we moved from the noise and the warmth and laughter inside the house. It wasn't the only thing—a shiver worked its way across my shoulders as the night's cold tendrils reached out in an intimate caress. I pulled my hand free of Will’s wrapping my arms around myself as he stopped, staring up at the mountain behind the house.
“Will, it’s freezing,” I whispered. The contrast of the warmth from inside the house and the chill air, heralding winter’s brisk call was all too evident as gooseflesh followed my shiver in a full body ripple.
“Come here.” Warmth engulfed me again as Will’s arms slid around me. His jacket wrapped around my back as he tucked me into his chest and angled my chin up. “It took me too long to get back. I wanted a chance to make that up to you.”
I started to say that it didn’t matter, but that would have been a lie. Beside Austin I’d been uncomfortable since the start of the night and wanted to hide in Will’s arms the entire time. Call me needy or whatever, but tonight was the night that I really had needed him.
And now he was here, smelling like all over leather and soap with freshly washed hair that fell over his eyes in soft curls. I reached up to brush his curls back, but he trapped my hands between us, lowering his mouth to mine.
“Don’t move, just for a minute,” he murmured. His voice was low and lazy, like he savored the moment.
I nodded, and then his mouth was on mine, his lips moving in a slow pressure that left me inhaling sharply. Glad he pressed me tight to him, I knotted my hands in his shirt, holding his closer.
“Don’tletmego,” I mumbled against his mouth.
Will made an amused huff and swept his tongue across my bottom lip. Tingles raced through me as I gasped softly. The hands around me tightened, pulling me closer as he drove his tongue inside my mouth, and shifted us backwards. The cold surface of the house hit my back through my lace top as his kiss grew intense, the tips of our tongues touching, then so much more. Rougher. All I could think about was trying to match his fervor, but I could barely concentrate enough to kiss him back. A knee slid between my legs as he pressed his body to mine, pinning me against the wall. Sensation flared through me with every tiny shift, leaving me beyond flustered, kneading his chest lightly with my nails. I couldn't move, and I didn’t want to. Will hadn’t seemed that dominant before but now…
