Page 42 of Firefly Embers

Wade stood across the alleyway, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His Wranglers cupped his muscular thighs in all the right places, and his boots stomped with heavy thuds as he prowled closer.

With the brim of his Stetson pulled low, I could only make out the lazy grin that spread across his face at his notice of my blatant perusal.

I turned back to Oakley, pretending to be unaffected, but he was sex, sin, and a Southern girl’s wet dream all wrapped up and tied with a cowboy-shaped bow.

WADE

I knew that ignoring Ray for the last week made me a coward, but I needed the space and time to think about my next moves.

If I was going to get help, I needed to do it right, and I couldn’t just up and leave the ranch in the middle of training season.

Riders relied on me to help get them ready for some of the biggest events of their careers, and I couldn’t be dicking off into a treatment center, no matter how badly I needed to.

Ray refused to meet my eyes as she continued stroking Oakley’s forehead. It was clear that I’d hurt her in my sudden absence, but given the circumstances, I knew she’d forgive me.

“Looks like you’re mad at me, Sunshine,” I crooned, taking a step closer, my body only a couple of inches from pressing against hers.

I didn’t need to press my fingers to her pulse to know it was racing; I could see the thrumming of her heartbeat in the tender slope of her neck.

“What makes you think that?” she huffed.

I took a chance of catching her wrath and laid my hand on the dip of her waist. As if struck with a live wire, all the nerve endings of my body sang when I grazed my fingers over the little sliver of skin that peeked out between her crop top and jean shorts.

There was no doubt that this woman was made for me as she softened her resolve and melted into my touch. She responded so well to every little brush of my skin on hers, and after seeing how her body reacted to mine under the cover of darkness, I wanted to claim her in the afternoon light.

“Well, let’s see,” I whispered, inching my body closer to hers so that the lush roundness of her ass fit against my front. She didn’t hesitate to shift on her feet, brushing herself against my quickly hardening cock.

Stifling a groan, I splayed my hand on her belly, inching my index finger toward the hem of her tee and teasing it under the fabric, caressing the edge of her bra.

“You won’t look at me, but I don’t need your eyes to tell me how much you want me. Do I, Sunshine?” Coasting my lips across the shell of her ear, she let out a little whimper as she leaned more of her weight back, our bodies now flush.

“You might think you’re mad, but I bet if I stuck my hand down these sweet little shorts and ran my fingers through that pretty pussy, she’d be dripping for me.”

Her sharp intake of breath was all the confirmation I needed. She may have wanted to be mad at me for not being available, but she wouldn’t ever stay mad at me for long.

At the end of the day, even if we’d crossed the line into whatever weird territory this was, she was my best friend, and I knew every single facet of her like the back of my hand.

I brushed one of my hands up the front of her chest, using the other to hold her against me by her hip. I settled my fingers across her throat as I tipped her head back onto my shoulder.

I hoped to God that all the ranch hands kept themselves busy for another couple of minutes because if one of them walked in and saw the sight I was looking at right now, I’d carve out their eyes and feed them to the horses for looking at what was mine.

I ran my nose down the column of her throat, halting my lips right over her fluttering pulse. I placed a soft kiss on the sensitive spot, and she rewarded me with a soft moan.

My cock was aching behind my zipper, but it was broad daylight, and I wasn’t risking someone walking in while I was balls deep inside of her, no matter how hard I wanted to be.

“Sorry, Sunshine. You’ll just have to wait until later,” I said, releasing her quickly and taking a step back. With a sharp gasp, she turned around and pushed my chest with both of her hands.

“You—”

With a hearty chuckle, I stepped forward, pulling her body flush to mine. Her mouth was still primed to speak as I lowered my lips to hers, teasing her bottom lip for entrance.

She softened in my arms and matched me stroke for stroke as she wound her arms around my neck.

I backed her up against one of the pillars and nestled myself between her thighs. She moaned into my mouth as she ground against me, seeking friction to quell the ache I’d built, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction.

She’d have to wait until later, and how sweet it would be when I finally got my hands on her.

Breaking the kiss, I trailed soft kisses down her throat as she panted and writhed beneath me. I was so close to giving in and bending her over in one of the empty horse stalls, but I had work that needed to get done by the end of the week, and I couldn’t let myself get distracted by the beautiful Latina currently grinding herself on my thigh.