matters. He is all primal desire and I am aching for his touch. When he releases me, we break apart only for the time it takes to shed our clothes. He pulls a blanket roll from behind his saddle, spreading it haphazardly, and we drop to our knees before we begin kissing. It’s so comforting and familiar, his touch tender but strong, and as he pushes me back I give myself up, willingly.
Our urgent kissing slows as he surveys my body. I cover my doughy stomach, but he gently pulls my arm away and begins to kiss me everywhere. Knees, thighs, belly, fingers, elbows, shoulders. He dawdles at my neck, nipping slowly, and I turn to a puddle. As I lay, overcome with how good it all feels, he turns to my breasts. Kneading one with his left hand, he takes the other in his mouth, sucking my nipple, softly then harder, and my back arches, trying to touch every inch of my body to his. He takes a finger and slides it inside.
“Diana, you’re so wet.”
“Chip, I need you inside.”
He leans back, and then slips his hard cock into me. I forget to breathe, shocked at how good the sensation feels. It’s been so long. He cradles my face, slowly sliding himself in and out, speeding up each pump. His thrusts grow longer, and he strikes a place inside me that feels good beyond all reason.
“I’m about to come,” I pant, “oh, don’t stop, it’s so good.”
My words spur him on, and with a few more thrusts I’m falling apart, my orgasm tingling through every part of my body. As he feels the trembling of me around him, he comes, spurting inside. His brow is furrowed with the intensity, and I can feel the pulses of his cock each time he comes. We are torn apart with pleasure, and lie next to each other for a while, letting the sun bring us back down to Earth.
Always prepared, Chip offers me a handkerchief and I clean up what I can before we get dressed again. I still have tiny aftershocks of our love, and the ride back only draws out the pleasure. He looks at me knowingly.
“You look beautiful,” he smiles. “You’re glowing.”
I blush, and look away. Only Chip can make me feel desirable when I’m covered in dirt and sweat, with wild hair.
After I take care of Penny and muck her stall, I head to the house for a much-needed shower. Miss Norris, the housekeeper, asks me if I like pancakes, and promises she’ll have them for me after my shower.
As the water runs over me, it turns brown in the bottom of the stall. A piece of hay falls from somewhere, and I laugh. I had forgotten the feeling of galloping over the land, how good another person’s touch could feel. Redbud Ranch is perhaps the hardest place for me to reconcile in my mind. Memories clash of fights with my father and the great times I had riding or being with Chip. It’s still confusing how so many opposing emotions are tied up in this place.
I determine that Miss Norris’ pancakes are definitely a plus for the ranch. She added chocolate chips for me, along with sliced strawberries on the side and some scrambled eggs. My compliments are accepted with shy smiles and then an explanation of her secrets for fluffy pancakes, which she makes me promise not to share. After some coaxing, I convince her to sit at the island with me, though she will only take a cup of coffee.
“What can you tell me about the people working the ranch these days?”
“How much time do you have?” she asks, her face turning serious.
The Show Must Go On
For nearly half an hour Miss Norris gives me the low-down on the staff. As I would expect, Chip is easily the most reliable cowboy we have, but there seems to be some struggles between whom, if anyone, leads the ranch workers. Chip and Jace got in a fight a few days back, when Jace demanded