Hugging her once more, I headed back upstairs, where Rhett did indeed have four more books lined up for Emeline to read.

  Emeline leaned against her car and smiled at me. “I had fun tonight.”

  “I hope my parents talking you into playing dominoes wasn’t too much. I told them you were most likely tired after the long day and week.”

  She waved off my concern. “I loved it. It reminded me of playing with my grandparents when I was younger.”

  “Shit, don’t tell them that. They’ll think they’re acting old and give up their favorite game.”

  Emeline giggled, then looked around and exhaled. “I should probably get home.”

  I took a step toward her and cupped her cheeks. “The last twenty-four hours have been…” My voice trailed off.

  Reaching up, Emeline brushed her lips against mine. “I feel the same way.”

  Running my thumb over her bottom lip, I asked, “When can I see you again?”

  She grinned. “Well, after the last week and our adventures last night, I have a feeling I’m going to be sleeping for the next few days.”

  I laughed. “I’m sorry about that.”

  Her hands came up to my forearms. “No, don’t be sorry. I wouldn’t trade the last few days for anything.” Looking away briefly, she focused back on me. “What are you and Rhett doing this Sunday for dinner?”

  “Nothing that I know of, why?”

  “Sunday dinner with the Wildes?” she asked with a shy smile.

  I tossed my head back and laughed. “Man, I sure loved Sunday dinners at your place. Rhett and I would love to join you all, if you don’t think your mom and dad would mind?”

  “Are you kidding me? My mother thinks of you as her other son, and I know she and my father would love to get to know Rhett more.”

  I brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. “We’d love to join you guys for dinner. What are you doing tomorrow, besides sleeping?”

  “Chores in the morning, then doing a tour of the cabins and common areas. I know Charlotte will have everything cleaned up and ready for the next session, but I like to do a once-over. After that, I have a meeting with someone about breeding one of his mares.”

  “Really? Someone local?”

  She shook her head. “No. He’s from Montana. He heard about Apollo, one of our stallions. He’s from some pretty good lineage, and this breeder is interested. He wanted to buy, and I’ve told him numerous times he’s not for sale. So now he’s saying he wants to breed one of his top mares with him.”

  “You don’t sound convinced.”

  Emeline shook her head. “I’m not. It’s been pretty clear he doesn’t like dealing with me, even though I’ve told him more than once that I run the equine side of the ranch. He’s asked to talk to my father numerous times, and even reached out to Caden—who told him that I was the one to talk to.”

  “Will your father or brother be there when you meet with this guy?”

  “No. They’re clearing out the south pastures and moving the last of the cattle up into the mountains this weekend. Gatlin offered to stay behind, but I know they need all the guys they can get. I’ve got it, though. It’s not the first man I’ve had to deal with who doesn’t think women should be in charge.”

  “I’m free tomorrow. Rhett is going over to his new friend’s house for a birthday party. I’m sure my mom or dad can pick him up for me, if need be.”

  Emeline placed her hand on my chest. “I appreciate that, but I can handle him.”

  “I don’t have a doubt in my mind that you can handle him, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some backup.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip before letting it go. “Only if you’re free. And you’re sure you don’t mind.”

  My hands went to her hips and drew her body up against mine. “If it means getting to see you again, then I’m all over it.”

  Even in the moonlight, I could see her cheeks turn red.

  “He’s getting to the ranch at two.”

  “I’ll come over after I drop Rhett off at the party.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Leaning down, I kissed her softly. “I’m sure. You’d better leave before I decide to go home with you.”

  Emeline turned and opened her car door. I held it open as she slid inside. Once she started the car, I shut the door and she rolled the window down.

  “You don’t have to come, you know.”

  Leaning in, I tapped her nose with my finger. “I know. I want to. I have a feeling once my father pulls me into the vet clinic full time, I’m not going to have a whole lot of extra hours, so if we can spend any together now, I’d like to do that.”

  She smiled, then let out a sigh. “I guess this is goodnight, then.”

  “Goodnight, Em.”

  She looked at her steering wheel, then back at me, and laughed. “I feel like a schoolgirl who doesn’t want to leave her new boyfriend.”

  I let out a groan. “Monday I’m going to start looking for a place to move into.”

  “Even still, I’m not sure how comfortable I’d feel staying at your place with Rhett there.”

  I frowned. I hadn’t even thought about that. “That’s true. I don’t want to confuse him.”

  “Is he okay with this?” she asked.

  Laughing, I said, “Trust me, he’s okay. He asked me when we’re going to get married. I had to explain to him that wasn’t how it worked.”

  Emeline covered her mouth with a hand as she laughed. “Poor guy. He’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to add any stress to his life.”

  I took her hand and brought it up to my mouth and kissed it. “Thank you for that, Em. You’ve been something good and positive in his life.”

  “Okay, I’m really leaving this time.”

  Leaning into the window, I kissed her once more. “Drive safe, sweetheart.”

  “I will.”

  I stepped back and watched her back down the long drive…and tried like hell to ignore the sudden emptiness I felt.

  Emeline

  There was nothing better in this entire world than the smell of hay and horse manure. That was a hill I would die on. I whistled as I mucked out Apollo’s stall. Nothing made me happier than being around the horses. As much as I loved the camps, this was my one true passion.

  “Need some help?”

  I smiled and glanced over my shoulder to see Levi leaning against the door of the stall. He looked so handsome it took my breath away. He was dressed in black cowboy boots, jeans, a light blue T-shirt, and his ever-present black cowboy hat.

  “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” I said with a wink. “Did you come ready for hard labor?”

  He held up his hands. “Put me to work.”

  A deep pull of desire in my lower stomach nearly caused me to drag him into the stall and have my way with him. Instead, I dropped the rake and walked over to him. Lifting his hat some, I stretched onto my toes and kissed him.

  The kiss quickly turned passionate; it was all I could do not to crawl up his body. When we broke apart, Levi closed his eyes.

  “Fuck, Em. I want you.”

  I smiled. “The feeling is mutual.”

  “Has the guy come to look at Apollo yet?”

  “He came first thing this morning. And by first thing, I mean by the ass-crack of dawn, he was buzzing the front gate. My father called me and told me I’d better hustle to the barn. When I informed my father he wasn’t supposed to be there until 2, he asked who was going to be the one to tell him to come back.”

  Levi frowned. “You didn’t meet him alone, did you?”

  “No,” I said, running my finger down the side of his handsome face. “Marshall was already here, starting his workday. He met him at the gate and drove him down to the barn.”

  “How did it go?” Levi asked, moving toward the fork and picking it up. He headed to the wheelbarrow and got a fresh bunch of hay and tossed it into Apollo’s stall.

  “I think it went well. He was impressed with the horse and his lineage, and also our setup. He’s going to ship his mare down here to stay for a few months.”

  “Here?”

  “It was part of my deal. My horses don’t leave the ranch. Ever.”

  Levi laughed. “Guess he wanted the old guy’s sperm pretty badly.”

  “Oh yeah, he did. I told him I would handle it myself, as I always do. He wants the foal as close to the first of the year as possible.”

  “You don’t have many thoroughbreds on the ranch. Why not?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not interested in breeding racehorses. My heart belongs with all horses, but it favors the quarter horses.”

  After getting enough hay in the stall, we both walked out and shut the door.

  “When can you take a break?” Levi asked in a lowered voice. His eyes were smoldering, and even if I had a million more things to do, I was immediately free.

  “I can take a break now. All my stalls are done, and I just have some paperwork to catch up on.”

  Levi took hold of my hand and tugged me in the direction of my office. “Is your mom in her office today?”

  I couldn’t help the giggle that slipped free. “She isn’t right now. She and my father ran into town to do some stuff at the store.”

  Turning the last corner, Levi headed straight to my office. Once we were inside, he shut and locked the door, then pushed me against it and kissed me like it was the last time he would ever get to do so.

  “The dreams I had about you last night, Em. I woke up jacking off. I came so fucking hard, I nearly blacked out.”

  The pulse between my legs grew stronger. “Is that so?” Lifting his hat off his head, I tossed it onto the small loveseat I had in my office, while Levi placed hot kisses up and down my neck. “I had dreams about you, too.”

  He drew back and looked at me, a twinkle in his brown eyes. “What did you dream about?” My cheeks instantly heated, and Levi grinned. “Something naughty?”

  I nodded as he reached down and pulled my shirt over my head. He tossed it to the floor, then cupped my breast with his hand and started sucking the nipple through the fabric.

  “Levi,” I gasped, dropping my head against the door.

  “Tell me what your dream was, Em.”

  He pulled the cups of my bra down, causing my breasts to lift, fully on display for him. Cupping them both, he sucked on one while fingering the other. My mind was spinning, and I was starting to lose the ability to even think straight.

  “What?” I asked in a dreamy voice.

  He stopped and looked at me. “What was your dream about? I want exact details.”

  I stared at him, unable to get my thoughts together in my head as I felt him grinding against my body. Then he started to unbutton my jeans. I did the same to him and slipped my hand into his pants, feeling his warm, hard erection.

  “The dream…” I whispered as I licked my lips. “I want to taste you, Levi.”

  “Was that your dream?” he asked, crouching to pull off my boots, setting them aside so he could take my jeans off.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  He lifted my leg and placed a soft kiss against the inside of my thigh, and I moaned.

  “You’ve got to tell me, sweetheart, so I can make it a reality.”

  I swallowed and closed my eyes. I couldn’t believe what I was about to say.

  “Your face was between my legs, making me come.”

  He let out a low growl. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”

  Before I could even process his words, Levi put both my legs over his shoulders, then stood, lifting me against the door.

  “Levi!” I cried out as I grabbed onto his head to steady myself.

  “You’re going to have to be quiet, Em.”

  He moved my panties to the side and licked up my core, causing me to moan. I slapped a hand over my mouth and let my head drop back against the door.

  Then he started to work his magic, and it took everything I had not to scream in pure pleasure. I reached for the door trim to help steady myself and pushed my hips to get closer to Levi’s mouth.

  He licked, sucked, and bit gently as I fought to keep my senses. This was the most erotic and crazy thing I had ever done. I was in the barn, for fuck’s sake! Someone could walk by and hear us—or worse, knock on the door looking for me.

  The buildup was starting, and I sent up a prayer that I could keep quiet.

  When I dropped my head to look at Levi, the sight of him between my legs catapulted me over the edge. I came so hard, I had to place both hands over my mouth to keep from screaming out his name.

  With my eyes squeezed shut, wave after wave of pleasure swept over my body. Sparks of light behind my closed eyelids seemed to burst in rhythm with my orgasm. When I couldn’t take any more, I pressed my hand to Levi’s forehead and pushed.

  “Stop! Oh my God. Please stop!”

  He withdrew his mouth from my clit and looked up at me. “Did I live up to the dream?”

  My breathing was labored as I stared at him. “That was a thousand times better.”

  He laughed, then reached for me and lifted me off his shoulders like I weighed nothing. He set me down, then placed his mouth against my ear.

  “Want to hear my dream?”

  I nodded, then reached for his arms when my legs felt weak.

  “I was fucking you from behind while you were draped over your desk.”

  My eyes instantly went to my desk. “It’s a good thing we’re in my office, then, isn’t it?”

  He grinned and took my hand, leading me to said desk.

  “Lie over it and hold on to the other side.”

  My stomach dropped with anticipation as I did what Levi asked—no, told me to do. I loved this side of him and wanted more of it. A hell of a lot more.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I watched as he took his dick out of his jeans and slapped it against my ass a few times, which was still covered by my panties. I turned my head and closed my eyes, waiting to feel his hardness entering my body.

  “Remember, Em. Quiet.”

  “Yes!” I gasped out. “I remember.” I’d never been so turned on in my entire life. No guy I’d ever been with had suggested anything like this. It was always just get on the bed, crawl on top of me, pump a few times, then roll off. It was definitely about their pleasure, not mine.

  This was the hottest thing I’d ever done. Well, aside from the whole oral-sex-against-the-door thing moments ago.

  Levi pulled my panties down, then he was there, at my entrance. And before I could take my next breath, he thrust inside.

  I let out a yelp—and Levi slapped my ass. “Quiet, Em!”

  My head fell forward. “Oh, dear God! I’m going to come.”

  Levi leaned over and kissed my back. “You like that?” His voice was raw and husky.

  “Yes,” I whimpered as I pushed my ass against him. When he slapped it again, I looked back at him. “More. I need more.”

  He put his finger to his lips before dropping his hands and gripping my hips. Then he gave me what I asked for. He wasn’t making love to me. He was fucking me. Hardcore, deep, and fast fucking.

  I moaned, and he slapped my ass again.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I was going to come, and it was an even more intense buildup than the last.

  “Come on, Em. Come for me, sweetheart.”

  I pushed back against him as he thrust forward, and he went so deep, I swore my eyes rolled into the back of my head. Clamping my mouth shut, I held on to the desk and dropped my forehead to the surface as my orgasm throbbed around his dick.

  “Fuck yes. Oh God,” he whispered. “I’m coming!”

  A few more hard thrusts, and then Levi bent over me, placing soft kisses on my back. I was holding the desk so tightly that my knuckles were white and my fingers felt cramped. After a long moment, he gently pulled out, and my knees almost buckled.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, wiping between my legs with a handful of tissues from the box on my desk.

  “Never. Better.”

  I slowly pushed myself up, straightened my bra and panties, then turned to look at him. My legs finally gave out, and I slid down to the floor. Levi quickly followed.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, pushing my hair from my face and looking at me with the sweetest, concerned expression. “I’m sorry I lost control. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me when it comes to you.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t normally act that way, I’m so sorry.”

  I cupped his face in my hands. He opened his eyes, and our gazes met. “Do not say you’re sorry for that. It was the hottest, most erotic moment of my life, and I want more of it. Lots more.”

  He smiled. “That, I can most certainly do.”

  A part of me wanted to ask if he’d ever done things like that with Caroline, but I held my tongue. The last thing I wanted to do was bring her into this moment with us, so I pushed all thoughts of her away.

  But it was almost like Levi read my mind, because he said, “You know, it was for me, too. My sex life with my ex was very…vanilla.”

  I leaned closer and kissed him. The taste of my own arousal had my body coming back to life. “Well, I can tell you, I’m already thinking of other places where we can have sex.”

  Levi laughed.

  “But we should probably get off the floor, and I should get dressed.”

  Levi stood, then helped me to my feet. He picked up the rest of my clothes and helped me get dressed. I grabbed each boot and slipped it on. Right after I finished fixing my ponytail, we heard voices outside my office.

  I tiptoed to the door and quietly unlocked it. When I turned around, Levi was sitting in my chair, his feet up on the desk, and my bag of Swedish Fish in his hands.

  There was a light knock, then the door opened. I turned to see Caden, and I had to look away so he didn’t see my blush. Thank God he hadn’t come any earlier.

  Caden made his way to my desk and held out his hand to Levi. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

  Removing his boots from my desk, he shook my brother’s hand. “Came to see if Emeline wanted to go to lunch.”