Backroads Read online

  All my fantasies of becoming a rodeo queen have been extinguished. There is so much bouncing going on I’ve had a hell of a time keeping my breasts in the cups of my bra. No one told me I would need a sports bra, or two, to tie them down. Every time I adjust them back, Chase’s eyes zero in and watch. The damn smirk on his face is going to be rubbed off whenever we get back to the lodge.

  He’s been guiding us along the river high up on the bluffs with a fifty-foot drop to the water. The trees along the edge somehow hang on, even though he pointed out how many of their roots jut out on the side of the bluff, and several have fallen half over when the cliff had eroded away.

  I’ve been trying to enjoy the scenery. The rocks are pink and orange, changing colors as we descend and climb hills. It’s beautiful, the little I can take in while I’m not clinging to the neck of my horse anyway.

  Watching the three women ahead of me, I’m stung with jealousy seeing them at home on their animals. More than once they seem to be riding too close to Chase, accidentally brushing his leg or grabbing on to his biceps, acting as though they lost their balance.

  Please. Can’t one of their horses buck them off already?

  With every touch from one of them, he maneuvers out of their reach. I’ve noticed he’s attempted to wait for me to catch up; we never seem to get close to one another though. The look on his face lets me know he’s concerned about my first ride. It also says he’s getting really irritated with the three stooges and their groping act. He could at least tell them to stop.

  Earlier when I was still excited about this adventure, he had been playful. Now he doesn’t show any of that humor. But then I don’t either.

  I was fine until I got up in the saddle. The height of the animal hadn’t scared me when I was standing on the ground, but the moment I was five feet or more in the air looking down, fear set in.

  He had led me over to a dark-chocolate-colored horse. “I’m going to put you on Traveler. He’s our gentle giant.” He nuzzled his neck slightly with a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

  “Chase! He’s huge!” I whisper screamed at him, trying not to startle the horse.

  “That’s what they all say.” He laughed at me.

  Irritated he wasn’t taking me seriously, I ignored his comment. “Seriously, how am I supposed to get on him? He’s almost as tall as you are.”

  Patiently, he walked me through the steps of getting on using the stirrup and the horn of the saddle to pull myself up. It was the pickup truck all over again. This country thing of needing a stepladder to get in or up on things was wearing on me.

  Blowing my hair out of my eyes, I told myself I was doing this. I was going to ride that damn horse no matter what.

  Attempting to get my foot in the stirrup was a challenge, and before I knew it, I felt his hands on my waist. I gasped at the unexpected touch.

  “Here, let me help you.”

  My breath had escaped from my lips in surprise as he hoisted me up like I didn’t weigh a thing. His hands wandered down my thigh to my calf while helping my foot into the stirrup before he walked around the other side and did the same to my other foot.

  The slightest touch from him was electric and shot to one area in particular.

  Momentarily being caught up in his touch, I didn’t take in how high I was right away. Once I did, the panic set in. “Chase!”

  “Is my Princess Buttercup scared?” Chase had teased, though the movie reference was not lost on me.

  The horse took that moment to shake his head, causing me to get a taste of needing to hold the fuck on. “Yes! What if I fall off? Or if when I fall the horse tramples me?” I reached out for his shoulders in an attempt to get down.

  Chase chuckled. “Trust me, you won’t. I’ll be with you, and I won’t let you fall. Besides, I need you with me. I’m scared of those women. If anyone is going to be trampled, it’s going to be me by the three of them. I’m going to need you to save me.” The way he bristled when talking about them, it was clear he was nervous to be alone with them.

  No matter how he shimmied out of their touch, they tried again. If I was having a miserable time, I was glad he was too. Except I didn’t want them touching him or flirting with him. If I could ride, I would ride up in between them and make sure they kept their distance.

  “We better head back, ladies. I see rain clouds heading in,” he says while flawlessly turning his horse on a dime and trotting back to me in seconds.

  The way his hair is sucked back, waving in the air, and the way he rides, so sure of his movements, has my mouth watering. The ladies take his cue of speed to mean they really need to get going back quickly. Taking off with a “haw!” their horses break out in a run.

  They are barely past me when Traveler follows their lead, taking off in pursuit. I am not prepared for the sudden jolt and turn of direction and am taken by surprise. By a miracle I stay on, though not completely upright. Hanging slightly to one side, I struggle to right myself while clinging on for dear life. My muscles are so weak after being in constant use for so long, they can’t respond the way I want them to.

  If it’s possible, I find myself having an out-of-body experience. This is how I’m going to die. I am going to fall off, hit my head, and be trampled. Watching the whole thing play out below me instead of firsthand, I see myself slowly lean more off to the side.

  “I got you. I got you.” Chase’s voice carries over the sound of hooves hitting the ground. His hands circle around my arm, pulling me up into a sitting position while also grabbing the reins of my horse and slowing us to a stop. I can’t stop the trembling through my body as the fear and reality of what just occurred catches up to my mind.

  A sob escapes my lips as I try to calm myself down.

  “Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me.” His voice breaks through my meltdown, bringing my focus to him.

  One of his hands still holds one of my own. The wild look in his eyes is full of one thing: concern. I focus on his touch and the soothing sound of his voice, and my tremors stop. I wipe at the tears that have fallen, taking a risk and sitting up to breathe in large gulps of air. “I’m okay. I’m... Thank you.” I need to pull myself together.

  “This was a mistake. Having you come along today was a mistake.” The anger in his voice is apparent, and I can see him struggling to talk while he continues to look me over and hold my hand.

  I’m about to lay into him about how it was my mistake, not his, when I realize he’s trying to take the blame for what just happened. It scared him as much as it scared me.

  “This wasn’t a mistake. It’s a learning curve for both of us. Maybe some shorter riding lessons for someone inexperienced like me. Thank god Linda isn’t with us—she wouldn’t let me live it down.”

  Watching him has a calming effect on me. “Maybe we should walk back on foot,” he finally suggests when he opens his eyes.

  “My legs feel like Jell-O right now, and you want me to walk back how many miles? No, not happening. As long as the horses walk, I can stay on.” Even after that scare, I feel confident enough to ride. Whether to prove it to him or myself I’m not sure, but my stubborn side won’t let me quit just yet.

  He gets off his horse and walks around to mine, making sure there are no adjustments to make to my saddle. My lack of riding skills has my pride cowering in a corner somewhere. But the quiet, brooding glances he keeps sending my way speak more than words. They are telling me “I’m sorry. I should have done more. What if I wasn’t here. What if you got hurt,” and so much more. I’m not used to having anyone be so thoughtful. Not like this.

  That’s sad to think about, but my mother... she wasn’t the type to coddle, making sure you were okay. She was the type to barely acknowledge you may have been hurt before continuing on her way. My ex showed he didn’t care at all with that he did.

  It makes me miss Grandma Kelly even more, and grateful I have Linda and Alexis.

  I shake the thoughts that could drown me if I think about them too mu
ch.

  “Satisfied I’ll make it back?” I ask in a playful tone, trying to act braver than I am. He keeps finding ways to touch me, which distract me from my nerves, making other thoughts spring into my mind instead. One minute I almost died, the next I want him to take me now, right here. I need to get my head checked the way my feelings jump all over.

  He gracefully gets up on his own horse but makes sure to keep an eye on me. “Let’s keep it at a walk, then.” I can tell he’s still unsettled but willing to concede and get going, which is good ‘cause my legs might be numb, but my ass is starting to beg to get off this saddle.

  I’m not sure if the ride back goes faster due to the constant conversation between us or if my body has actually relaxed now due to being too tired, but it’s much more enjoyable. I’m still no rodeo queen, but my dreams are starting to plant seeds once again.

  The barn is empty, but the ladies’ horses have been put back in their stalls unsaddled. Wonder how long they’ve been back?

  “You scared me for a minute, Princess. Try not to do that again. I made you a promise and almost broke it,” he says, chuckling, but I can tell he is serious.

  My ass is numb, yet I can still feel it hurts. My legs are so weak I can barely wiggle my toes, and I still need to get down from this beast.

  Leaning forward, I try to hide from Chase the fact I’m reaching down to actually pull my leg up and over the back end of my horse by hand because it hurts too much to use my thigh muscles. The bastard horse just looks back over his shoulder, judging me, I just know it.

  “Shut up,” I mutter to him.

  The moment I finally wiggle my foot over his backside, I’m relieved. I don’t even care if I fall on my ass at this point—I just want off the horse. I let gravity do its thing and slide down the side, hoping my foot makes contact with the ground soon and I can hold myself up.

  My downward movement is suddenly halted. It takes me a second to register why I’m no longer sliding off the side of the horse. In my weakened state, I leaned forward over the horn of my saddle to help my foot out. Somehow as I started my downward descent, I had hooked my bra.

  Now I am hanging off the side of my horse like a coat on a hanger! Both feet are out of the stirrups and are hanging freely while I attempt to pull myself up. I have no strength left in my arms, and it’s a losing battle.

  “Oh shit” is all I hear from Chase before his laughter fills the air. “I can’t even... how did you... why don’t I have a phone for this...” He is sputtering half sentences out in between gulping for air as his laughter builds.

  “Help me out!” I scream, scaring my horse who’s stepping sideways trying to get away from me, but we’re stuck like glue.

  I hear the sound of Chase’s feet hitting the ground as he rushes over to help me. He coughs through his laughter. “Princess, this is a new one. I’m not sure anyone has ever done this before.” He tries to still the horse. “Whoa, boy, it’s okay. She just doesn’t want to let you go today,” he coos to the damn horse that’s stomping impatiently. “Hold on.”

  His hands are on my waist as he picks me up and attempts to free me as I struggle to release my bra. The underwire is now mangled and bent just enough, making it impossible for me to free it. “Just unhook the bra,” I whine at him while it starts digging into my flesh.

  The deep growl I hear before I feel the pressure of my bra being released vibrates through my core. Falling back, I hear a ripping of fabric before I feel his firm chest against my back while strong arms circle my chest. The tattered remains of my tank top and mangled bra are still hanging from the saddle. Naked from the waist up, a glance down confirms what I am imagining. One masculine arm is draped over my breasts just enough to cover my nipples while the other is around my stomach firmly holding me tightly again him.

  “Sweet Jesus,” he whispers to no one while I feel his chest rise and fall with a sharp intake of breath. “I swear I didn’t mean for that to happen.” The hand across my belly lightly explores the skin there. The touch causes goose bumps to pepper across my body.

  There is no hiding Chase’s arousal beginning to grow with my body pressed up to his. I squirm slightly as my body responds, and his arms tighten their hold on me.

  “Chase?” His name comes out more as a moan.

  “I’m gonna need a minute here, Princess.” His fingers ghost the waistband of my shorts. “The thoughts in my head right now are making it difficult to let you go. Your bare skin, the feel of your tits on my arm... you don’t know the restraint it’s taking not to spin you around right now.”

  The raggedness in his breathing tells me. Pressing my head to the side, I look up and our eyes meet. His are an inferno of lust, warming my body up in all the right places.

  My body is humming with as much need as his. I press back into his erection again, and we both moan. “Don’t hold back,” I whisper, shocked at my own words, but the foreplay we’ve been teasing each other with has gone on long enough. I want him to touch me. I need him to touch me.

  “Shit” is all I hear. Not knowing if he turned me or if I spun around to him, we are chest to chest. My fingers travel up his damp shirt and curl in his beard before tugging his lips down to mine.

  I open instantly to him, our tongues meeting at the same time, and he picks me up and carries me over to a workbench. After setting me down, his hands waste no time exploring every inch of my exposed skin, moving around to the front where my breasts are aching for his touch. The moment he palms my left breast and a callused finger brushes my sensitive nipple, I arch into his touch.

  “Princess, you’re driving me insane,” he pants as he grinds his very large erection right where I need him to make contact with me.

  Finding strength I didn’t know I still had, I wrap my legs around him, meeting him thrust for thrust.

  Growling as he pulls back to look at me, his eyes find my breasts, the hard nipples begging for him to suck on them. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous, Holly.” Dipping his head, he sucks hard on one nipple, and I grab on to his shoulders to hold myself up as I cry out in pleasure. His hand finds my other nipple and pinches it slightly. The intensity shoots to my core like a button being pressed.

  My orgasm is right there. I don’t care that my pants are still on and that I am dry humping the shit out of his jean-clad erection. My body needs this release like I need my next breath of air.

  “Chase.” His name is a plea to continue.

  His eyes find mine, and the fire burning in his just ignites me more.

  “I’m so goddanm hard for you. Do you feel it? That’s all because of you,” he says, grinding into me again and again. “How wet are you for me? Should I find out?”

  “God yes!” I beg.

  His fingers unbutton my shorts and pull my underwear to the side. “Do you want this?”

  “Chase!” I scoot forward, trying to make contact with his fingers.

  “Baby, tell me what you want.” He kisses me hard before pulling back. “I want it all. My fingers, my tongue, my cock buried in you. Do you want that?”

  God yes, all of that, yes. I pull his lips to mine again. “Yes,” I moan right before they connect, and two fingers slide into me while his palm rubs my clit.

  Seconds. Seconds are all it takes to bring me over the edge. I cry out into his mouth, and he holds me tightly as my whole body shudders, riding my orgasm out on his fingers that are slowly moving in and out of my wet core.

  I just came on Chase’s hand.

  Watching Holly as she comes almost tips me into my own orgasm.

  Having her in my arms as her breathing starts to slow has me claiming her lips again, slower now than before. I drink in her moans as she continues to thread her fingers into my hair, tugging me closer to her. I can’t get enough of her. Her taste is like a drug I need to continue to breathe.

  My cock is still throbbing between us, but all I care about right now is that she’s in my arms. I brush my thumb on her clit in small circles, and her whole body rocks towar
d me. Taking her cue of pleasure, I do it again.

  “Oh god,” she moans into my neck as I continue to fuck her with my fingers.

  “Chase... I don’t think... I can...” Her whole body quakes in my arms.

  The walls of her pussy are already squeezing my fingers, telling me she can. “Princess, I want to watch you come again. You feel that?” When I curl my fingers inside her while rubbing her clit with my thumb, she pulls on my hair tighter the closer she gets. “Open your eyes, baby. I want you to watch me watching you.”

  Her eyes open slightly just as she cries out and her walls clamp down on my fingers. “Fucking beautiful,” I whisper as she falls toward me.

  “Stop... for a second. I’m so sensitive—stop,” she murmurs into my chest.

  Sweat is dripping down my forehead from my efforts to control myself. The chuckle that comes from deep within me is quiet, but she looks up at me with a lazy, satisfied smile.

  I pull my fingers from her, and she watches as I bring them to my lips and suck her cum from them. She tastes just as good as I knew she would. It sends pleasure straight to my throbbing cock, and I hum my approval.

  So engrossed in making sure I capture every morsel of her on my fingers, I curse when she runs her hand over the length of my rigid cock through my jeans. I’ve been so pent up, so hard for her, the moment she touches me, squeezing my cock, stroking me, I can barely see straight.

  “Fuck, I... Baby, you need to stop... I can’t...”

  “I want to make you feel good too,” she says, unbuttoning my pants to wrap her hand around my cock. She grabs me firmly and strokes me from base to tip.