Page 29 of Branded Mine

So I sucked him in. He tasted like sweet and sour candy. Different flavors exploded on my taste buds. I licked him like a lollipop, dragging my tongue up and down his length, lapping and stroking, spitting and twirling around his tip. Ryder let out a sound purely primal, he eyes flaring with desire, one hand pulling my hair, the other gently pulling and tweaking my nipple.

Doubling down, I swallowed his cock, gagging, saliva stringing from my mouth on every backward stroke. My pussy clenched, drops dripping down my thigh. I couldn’t get enough of him. And Ryder couldn’t get enough, either. He guided my head, pumping into my mouth over and over again. I reached down a rolled his balls in my hand. That did it.

Ryder pushed my head all the way down his cock and came, his body shaking and stiff. Barely able to breath, I let his cum shoot down my throat until every spasm waned. I pulled back ever so slowly, letting my tongue run a soft path along his length, teasing that glorious vein, cleaning every single drop of fluid off him.

I raised from my knees and sat back on his lap, kissing him lightly on his lips. Ryder just stared at me, unable to speak. Lust and wonder flashed across his eyes.

Outside, morning light started pushing against the windows, but neither of us moved. The truth of everything still sat heavy between us. Hell, it might always be there as a silent passenger. But I knew it wouldn't crush me.

It was just something we were going to carry together.

I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. His arms stayed locked around me, solid and unyielding, like he’d already decided the conversation was over and the decision was made.

“I’m not selling the ranch,” I whispered. Ryder’s hold tightened just enough that I felt it in my bones.

“Damn right you’re not.”

For the first time in my life, this house and the land under my feet didn’t feel like a prison I was trying to break out of.

It felt like the only place I had ever truly been kept safe.

16

The sun hung low over the pasture, washing the fields in gold. I leaned against the fence post and watched Ryder work.

He had one boot propped against the bottom rail as he pulled a length of wire taut, his sleeves rolled to his forearms and his hat pushed low over his eyes. Kash lay stretched out beneath the shade of a nearby tree, completely unconcerned with anything happening around him.

“You know," I said loud enough that he could hear me, “most people would hire somebody to do this.” I was trying to get a rise out of him, which wasn't exactly difficult.

Ryder glanced up and gave me a mock scowl. “Most people don't trust other folks to do things right.”

I smiled. “That sounds exactly like something you'd say.”

“Because it's true, darlin’.”

I stepped around the post and reached for the pliers lying beside him, straightened, and went over to the post, intending to get my hands dirty.

He looked at me with a harder scowl on his face. “What're you doin'?”

“Helping you,” I teased with a wink.

“You don't know what you're doing.”

“Neither did you the first time.”

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “Fair enough.”

For the next hour, we worked side by side beneath the fading light, with Ryder teaching me how to properly rewire a fence. We barely spoke, but the silence didn't feel strange. It felt comfortable. Familiar.

I paused, wiped my hand over my sweaty forehead, and looked out across the land stretching toward the mountains.

Fourteen years ago, I'd spent every waking moment dreaming about leaving this place behind.

Now, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

As if he sensed my thoughts, Ryder came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against him, loving the scent of leather, clean sweat, and the man himself that surrounded him.

“You alright?”