Tempted by Trouble

chapter THIRTEEN


Carolina studied the dam in the birthing area. “How long has she been licking her belly and wringing her tail? As you know, that is the first stage of labor.”

“The log detailed she was separated from the herd last evening. Began lying down this morning. Discomfort since sunrise at least.”

“Cement floors, they’re new. This is an improvement over the last place I calved.” She met Matt’s eyes. He was a constant surprise. So caring for his animals.

“Hot and cold water. All the devices required to ease the birth. We’ve had a few too many calls and I decided enough was enough.”

“May I?” she asked.

“Do you want help?”

“I was only going to take a closer look.” Carolina touched the side of the dam. She moved toward the rear of the cow. “She’ll probably take a while … six hours.”

“We’ll be back by then, if that’s what you’re saying.”

“I’d like to be here. She’s small for her size and you already said an oversized calf might be a problem. I hope her pelvis is larger than it looks. Anyone examine her yet?”

“Brock had her brought in this morning but he’s got his own birthing issues … his wife, Trish, is scheduled for a C-section today. They’re in Clarkesville. I don’t think he’ll be here for a couple of days.”

“Your cousin is married to the ranch manager?”

“Good memory. Yes. They’ve been married a little over a year. First child and all that.”

His gaze slipped to her mouth. F*ck, he’d spent the last hour pondering on the things she’d done with that luscious mouth of hers. Just thinking about what he wanted her to do got him hard. He lowered his mouth to hers, tempted to taste the juiciness. She lifted her chin …

“Hey man,” Brandon came into the pen area and knelt by the cow. “You all coming?”

“Who’s looking after the cow with you?”

“Rory. We’re taking turns. Rory’s got the most experience with calving. We expect this one will take all night.”

“She’s relatively small, isn’t she?” Carolina said. His brother shot her a look, then glanced back at Matt.

“Carolina’s a vet. You might as well know. I don’t want you telling that to anyone else. Not yet.”

Brandon held his brother’s gaze and then nodded. “Got it.”

Matt punched him on the shoulder. “We’ll see you outside.”

He’d take Carolina the long way, out the back door. Matt clasped her around the waist and swung her next to the building wall. She came willingly. He sought her undivided attention, which, of late, had splintered.

“Kiss me.”

She moaned and he couldn’t resist. He devoured her lips, savoring the taste of her mouth, the way her body fit perfectly against him. “You’re mine … all mine.” He captured her mouth again and worked the top button of jeans.

Surprise skittered across her face. He pulled her toward the office building. “Morning,” he said through clenched teeth to Miller.

“I need — ”

“Not now.” Matt stomped past him, glaring with Carolina in tow.

He brought her inside his office. The carpet still had remnants of their incomplete joining. Well, f*ck, not this time. He faced Carolina and pushed her against the wall and his fingers worked her zipper.

“Take your hat off.” His fingers crept down her flat abdomen, beneath her panties and over her mound. Wet, creamy satin, just as he imagined. “You can’t hide.”

His finger rubbed the length of her slit. Damn, she was so f*cking hot. He tossed his hat across the room. In one swift motion, Matt tugged her jeans down her legs. He clamped her foot between his boots and jerked her foot free. He unzipped his jeans and yanked both pants and boxers down his legs. Lifting her leg, he pressed her calf around his hip. He positioned his cock at the edge of her slick opening. A spasm overtook her p-ssy. Her opening pulsed against his tip.

“I’ve got to have you.”

“Do it. I want you so bad.”

Matt held her thigh and plunged deep inside her. He didn’t stop. His hips flexed back and forth, thrusting his cock in and out. “Hard and fast this time.”

His balls jacked up, his spine tightened, he concentrated on f*cking Carolina. F*cking her and pleasuring her. He pumped and ground his hips, moving faster. Her head pounded against the wall.

“Babe,” she groaned. “Matt, Jesus.”

His body was on meltdown, his muscles burned, and he thrust deep, impaling her. Her p-ssy convulsed around him, a slick furnace taking him deeper. This was her moment. She arched her beautiful neck, her scent was too much. He gave in and sucked that precious point that made her cave. They were one in this feral pleasure, and he nipped her flesh.

Carolina whimpered and clung to him. His turn. He was coming home. Matt dove into the bliss and f*cked her, riding out a wave of overlapping pleasure. He rammed into her, hurling his seed, fueled by an urge to take her, keep her. He was the only man who could claim her. He kissed her again, cupping her face. “You. Are. Mine.”

Seeing Carolina near so many men sparked the need to brand her. He didn’t understand this growing need but if he could find relief by possessing her body, he’d gladly give into this incessant urge. He couldn’t see how to get around this dark desire except by physical release. Only he didn’t feel the expected relief; only an increased caveman-like need to sequester her away from the other men on the ranch.

He kept her pushed up against the wall, still embedded in her. “I can’t get enough of you.”

“Glad to know I’m not alone in this insatiable appetite. Matt, I just want you to f*ck my brains out.”

“One day I intend to hold you captive in my bedroom until I’ve explored your body from head to foot. I want to know every part of you.”

He released her and patted her ass. She removed her other boot and jeans. He didn’t look away as she walked to the bathroom. Her body was a treasure and one he’d never get tired of exploring.

• • •

He kissed the side of her head and pulled open the door. Miller’s door was shut. Good. He didn’t intend on saying a word. Outside, the air was heating up and dust was beginning to swirl with each of their steps. The men had already left. Better than good.

“What are you thinking with that smirk?”

“I don’t have to endure another session of men ogling your ass.”

Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned pink. His chest squeezed. Not completely uncomfortable, more like unsettled. Carolina tossed the reins of Take Flight over the saddle horn and declined his assistance.

“Hard-headed from morning to night.”

She gloated, sitting high and waiting for him to mount. This ride wouldn’t require any special skills as long as she didn’t intend on roping cattle. He swung Cairo around and came up along her side. “Let’s go, baby.”

They trotted past the gates into the open pasture. Another cow hand opened and closed the gate and Matt kicked up their pace a notch.

The ground swelled and fell away into acres of sheared grass. Hay bales were lining up and in a month this task would end. Then the slow steady melding of summer weeks would gather and their primary objective would become irrigation.

They slowed to a walk. Matt was enjoying the look of her on top of a saddle, the rocking of her hips to and fro. “It’s no wonder people stop and stare at you.”

“What are you saying?”

“You’ve got hips that were made for riding. Woman, you’d tempt a saint.”

“Get your head out of the gutter and you won’t need to be saved.”

“Who says I want saving?” he asked.

She licked her lips saucily. “Are you saying you’re past redemption … ”

“I’m saying it’s too late.”

He could have handed over his soul at that moment while staring into her eyes. Blue and green, turquoise and gold; an explosive show of fireworks went off in his head. F*ck. He was about to go down for the count. “Over that ridge is the northern acreage. Race you to the top.”

He slapped her horse and then spurred Cairo to catch up with the mare. Both he and his horse were stallions on the chase of two supreme fillies. Cairo was as much interested as his rider. He let Take Flight keep ahead, enjoying the chase, and only when Matt nudged him onward did he overtake the young horse. Snorting and trying to pull against the reins, the horse most likely would take a bite of the filly to mark her. No different than he had been this morning.

“You’re a damn good rider, Carolina. And that’s not just for a city slicker. All around.”

Her smile made him want to take hold of her horse’s reins and steal her away from the men working on the fences. “There’s the fence maintenance crew. Not much to see really.”

Shit, why the hell had he promised to show her a bunch of shirtless men? And she wouldn’t agree and take the hint. She made him take her over to see his father and brothers. Every damned man had something he wanted her to see. F*ck, how many hammers did they think she’d find interesting?

His father’s gaze locked with his and the old man’s bushy brows and pursed lips sent a silent message that mule-kicked Matt into a stiff upper lip.

At the sound of the lunch bell being rung, he didn’t waste another sun-kissed moment. “Let’s go find a place to eat.”

“Matt, aren’t we staying here to eat with your father?”

He turned around so fast she collided with him. “No. I’ve had quite the time watching every Tom, Dick, and Rory try to show you how to hammer a goddamned nail. You’d think they’d invented fire, the way they explained their methods.”

She giggled. “Are you jealous?” she exhaled. “Judas Priest, you are.”

“Shush. Right now. Or I swear I’ll find a secluded place and f*ck you so thoroughly you’ll have to blame your saddle for walking crooked for a week.”

“I didn’t do anything but act cordial.”

“Girl, you better come with me,” he snapped. “Now.”

“Well, if it isn’t the green-eyed monster. How do, Sir?” She pulled back on her arm and arched her brow. Defiance seeped from her body.

He couldn’t control the widening of his eyes and he reached for her, a growl erupting from his throat. She shrieked and laughed before she finally tore away from him. Who would believe a girl could run that fast? Her laughter rained down upon him.

Matt took off after her, giving her credit for darting, employing a stop-and-go movement as she zigged and then zagged, but he saw her pattern and caught hold of her. He swung his arms around her waist. She giggled and squirmed. He grunted. “Oh no you don’t. I’ve got you.”

She squealed when he lifted her up, onto his chest and squeezed her tightly. He wanted to tell her to stay. After less than a week, he knew she was the one.

“Matt,” Brandon called across the field. “Matt!”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her breasts crushed into his chest. Their gazes were locked, their hearts beat hard, and he didn’t want to let her go.

“Babe,” she murmured as she brushed her lips against his. “Your brother’s yelling … he seems upset.”