Page 19 of Ghosted Cowboy
She came with a scream, her whole body convulsing again, her inner walls clamping down on me so hard I saw stars. The sensation pushed me right over the edge. I followed her into oblivion, my own orgasm tearing through me with an intensity that bordered on pain. I came hard, pulsing inside her, my vision going white at the edges as pleasure rolled through me in waves.
I caught us before we collapsed, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her upright against my chest, both of us still joined and kneeling, trembling with aftershocks. I held her tight, my face buried in her neck, breathing in the scent of her skin mixed with sweat and sex.
"I love you," I whispered against her skin. "I love you so much."
"I love you too." Her voice was wrecked, barely audible. "So much."
We stayed like that for a long moment, catching our breath, hearts gradually slowing. When I finally pulled out, she made a small sound of loss. I lowered her gently onto the settee, foundthat dusty blanket draped over one of the chairs, and pulled it over us both.
She curled into my side immediately, head on my chest, one leg thrown over mine. I could feel her heart still racing against my ribs, her breath warm on my skin. I held her close, running my fingers through her tangled hair, tracing patterns on her bare shoulder.
"That was—" she started.
"Yeah."
"Worth the wait?"
I tilted her face up, kissed her softly. "Worth everything."
Rain still hammered the roof, but the thunder was moving away. The worst of the storm passing. We lay tangled together under that blanket, whispering promises, stealing kisses, touching each other with gentle reverence as our bodies slowly recovered.
"Think we can do that again?" she asked after a while.
I laughed, low and rough. "Give me ten minutes and I'll show you exactly what we can do again."
She smiled against my chest. "I'll hold you to that."
We stayed like that—touching, kissing, reconnecting—until the storm finally passed and the main lights flickered back on.
Rainey blinked in the sudden brightness. Then froze.
"Ransom." Her voice had gone strange. "Look."
I followed her gaze.
There, sitting on the saloon bar across the stage, was a wrapped package. Black paper, blood-red ribbon tied in an elaborate bow. Definitely hadn't been there before.
My gut clenched.
Reality came crashing back. We weren't alone in this. Someone had threatened her. Someone was still threatening her.
"Stay here," I said, untangling myself from her.
"Ransom—"
"Please." I grabbed my jeans, yanked them on. "Just let me check it out first."
I approached the package carefully. No name, no tag. Just that black paper and red ribbon, sitting in plain view where anyone could see it.
Where we would definitely see it.
My hands were steady as I unwrapped it, but my stomach churned.
Inside was a locket on a tarnished silver chain. I opened it with my thumbnail.
One side held a photo of Rainey—recent, candid, taken without her knowledge. Maybe from rehearsal, based on the lighting. The other side held an image of the grim reaper, skeletal face grinning beneath a black hood.
"What is it?" Rainey had gotten dressed, was moving closer despite my earlier order.
