Rough Ryder (8 page)

    
              He felt her abdomen tighten.  Quickly, he thrust a finger inside her, curling it in a ‘come hither’ fashion.  His thumb making vicious circles on her clit.  Her body tightened. She lost the fight to hold back from him.

    
              “Aahh…”  Her head fell back, her eyes closed.  Her orgasm tore its way through her body.  She felt his hand leave her nether lips as she continued to enjoy the after effects.  Her body went limp against his chest.  Her head resting in his shoulder.  Thankful that he had wrapped his arms around her, holding her up.

    
              “We’ve got some work to do.  You didn’t keep your eyes opened.”  She felt the vibrations from his voice and heard everything he had said.  She didn’t care.

      
              “Mmm.”  Was her only response.

     
              When she felt the feeling in her legs return, she raised her head meeting his dark, hypnotizing eyes.  He was right.  She wanted more.  Her body wanted more.  She wouldn’t deny herself of this.

    
              She leaned forward, mimicking his tongue action, up his throat.  A growl ripped from him seconds before both hands gripped her ass, pulling her up.  Her legs wrapped around him as he carried her to the blanket he had spread out. 

    
              He kept his grip as he fell to his knees, lowering her back. 

“You drive me absolutely c
razy, woman.” 

He made light work of taking her shoe
s off of her, his hands caressed her thighs as he slid her clothes down, taking his time as his lips followed his hands. Pulling her jeans and then panties from first one foot then the other, his tongue gently left a wet path from her foot to the back of her knee.  Making his way back up, he showered her face with light kisses. 

“I don’t think I can wait
much longer.” He murmured as he moved to raise to his knees.

     He stared down below. 
“You. Are. Gorgeous.”  He continued to stare as he reached in his back pocket, pulling a condom out, ripping it free. 

     
              “Hurry.  I need you.”  She surprised herself when her thoughts became words.

    
              “I know what you need.  Trust me.”  He smiled again before reaching for his clasp of his wranglers.  She watched as he lowered his jeans, and she wasn’t a bit surprised to find that he had gone commando.  She watched him roll the condom over his massively sized erection, as she thought she wasn’t the only one who needed something.

    
              “How long has it been?” 

She felt him brush against her.  The look on his face was serious. 
She didn’t want to tell him.  She wasn’t embarrassed but if she was honest, he would ask questions.  Questions like why.  Questions that would lead to more lies because she wasn’t ready to go into more details about her life with him.  She hardly knew anything about him.

     
              “I don’t know.  A while.”  She watched his facial expression change. 

     
              “Never lie to me.  If you don’t want me to know, say I don’t want to tell you or a simple I don’t want to talk about it.  Never lie.”  He thrust inside of her.

    
              She arched her back, feeling the stretching, the fullness, and the ache from not being touched this way since Sam.  Slowly, she opened her eyes realizing that he had remained still, allowing her body time to adjust.

     
              Her eyes roamed over his face.  His flawless face.  He was absolutely perfect.  “You’re beautiful.”  This time she didn’t care her thoughts were heard.  It was no lie.

    
              His mouth turned up in the corners.  “I do believe that would be the first compliment you have given me.”  Slowly, he pulled out before entering her again.  He began his rhythm, slow but deliberate.  Precise.  Hitting just the right places without causing her pain.

     
              Just as quick as before, her body tightened around his cock.  He could feel the tremors of her orgasm before the first cry came from her mouth.

    
              “Aaahhh.”  Her body tightened, as he continued his thrust, it trembled and convulsed around him.

    
              “You. Are. Tight.  So. Fucking. Tight.”  Her eyes opened to find his head thrown back, eyes squeezed shut, and then she felt him come even through the condom. 

    
              Rolling off her, he gathered her close to him.  Settling her head on his shoulder, she could feel her breathing returning to normal.  Even though she somehow felt this was okay with Sam, she still felt guilty.  Like she was betraying him somehow.  She struggled to keep her tears from breaking through, but one slipped through.  The lone tear was enough to attract Riders attention.

    
              As he sat up, pulling her with him.  Holding her face in his hands, he stared into her watery eyes.  He saw the pain hidden there.  The emotions she was fighting to control.  He could see she needed to let someone in and he was determined it was going to be him.

    
              As he leaned in to kiss her, she jumped to her feet, grabbing her clothes, she went behind the tree and quickly put them on.  Leaning against the tree, she took a deep breath and came around to find him fully dressed and folding the blanket.

    
              “I’m sorry Ryder, I don’t know what got into me, but I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship.”

    
              Continuing to fold the blanket, he looked at her without saying anything.

    
              “I’m really… messed up, I guess.” 

He continued to just watch her as he put the blanket, wine and glasses away.  “I don’t know what else to s
ay.  I’m sorry I just can’t do… this.”

     Still not speaking
, he walked towards her looking into her eyes.  A smile on his face that just made him look all that more appealing to her. 

“Trinket,
this is not a relationship like any other.  I am here for you to talk to. To rely on.  I’m your confidant for lack of a better word.  You can tell me anything or not tell me anything.  Whatever you feel comfortable doing.  But this thing between me and you is nowhere near ending.  As far as sex, well there will be a lot more of it and trust me, it is only going to get better.”  Placing his hands on her, he drew her to him. 

    
              She pulled her hands from his. “How dare you think you can control me! Telling me what I am going to do!”  Placing her hands on his chest, she pushed at him, but he had reached around her and she stumbled forward.  Landing right in his arms.

    
              Taking advantage of their position, he lowered his head and claimed her lips as his own.  Proving he was in charge, at least with this.  Biting her lips till she gasped and her lips opened.  His tongue surged forward and began mimicking the movements his cock had been making not so long ago.

    
              With a mind of their own, her arms crept up and around his neck.  She gave back as good as she got.  Pressing herself against him, she felt her body betraying her. 

    
              Suddenly, he broke off the kiss.  Stepping away from her, he looked down at her flushed face and with a smirk, “I think we understand each other now.  You know and I know which one of us is in control here.  You will learn not to argue with me.” Grabbing her by the hand, he led her to the horse.

    
              Not knowing how to respond to him, she let him help her on the horse. Picking up the reigns he leapt into the saddle behind her, turned Marlin back towards the ranch and silently set off at a moderate pace.

    
              The ride back was long and painful for her. Not physically painful but emotional. With nothing to do but think, Trinket let her mind wonder. 

    
             
Sam and Mandy were my whole life for so long, how can I just turn my back on them?  It would be like filing them away in some cabinet in the back of my mind.  Like saying they no longer mean anything to me.  I can’t do that, they mean too much to me. They are the only reason I keep going on with my life.  I owe it to them.  How can I find happiness without them? It wouldn’t be fair.  I won’t let them go.

    
              Without even knowing it, the tears had flown freely as she fought with herself.  Her thoughts didn’t give her a chance to give Ryder a chance. 

Why would he want to be with someone as obviously screwed up as
I am?  Does he really want to be with me or is it just sex?  Can I even be okay with just sex?  Is that the same thing as betraying Sam and Mandy? 

     
              Suddenly, she realized they were no longer moving.  They were sitting astride the horse on the last hill overlooking the ranch.  Cowboys were running the day to day operation of the ranch, while visitors were either watching them or relaxing themselves.  It was easy to distinguish between the two. 

    
              When she felt like it was safe to talk without breaking down and sobbing she asked, “Why have we stopped?”

    
              “I thought you might need a moment to collect yourself.  If you don’t want me seeing you cry, I figured you probably wouldn’t want others seeing you.”

    
              Embarrassed that he had known she was crying, she wiped her face. “I’m sorry. Oh God! I seem to always be saying that to you.”

    
              “You don’t ever have to be sorry. That’s my job. To take care of you, Trinket. Whether you want me to or not.” Holding her tight he leaned in. “Are you ready?”

     
              With just a nod of her head, they started again.

    
              She couldn’t help but feel like this was right.  It felt good to let someone else take care of her. 

But this ends when I leave the ranch.  My life will return to normal.  This is just a break and then I will be back to my old self again.

Snuggling back against him
confirmed it for her.  She was safe and secure.

    
              “Jake, can you put Marlin up for me?  Give him a good rubdown, he deserves it.”

    
              “Sure thing, boss.” Taking the reins, Jake walked the horse into the barn.  He had seen them coming and met them at the barn.

    
              Melissa waved from across the paddock.  Waving back, she knew she would be having company tonight.  There was no way Melissa would let the afternoons’ excursion slide by without trying to find out every last detail from her.

    
              Feeling pressure at the small of her back, she walked with Ryder to her room.  Turning at the door to face him, “Ryder, I think I need some time to myself. I need to think about what happened this afternoon.”  Looking up at him, she could see him shut down.  Gone was the tender man that had ridden her back to the ranch.  In his place was the Dom from the club.

    
              “I’ll give you some time to come to terms with your place as my sub.  Remember that when I return this evening.  This is the last time you will be calling the shots.” Turning on his heel he left.

    
              Opening her door, she slammed it behind her
. 

Just who does he think he is?  Come to terms with my place as his sub!
SUB! I am no man’s walking mat.  He might as well not even show up tonight. If anyone needs taught a lesson it is him!

Pulling off her boots
, she threw them across the room. Stripping her clothes on the way to the shower, she left them where they fell, kicking them out of her way.

Chapter Four

(The Mistake)

      
              Standing under the hot spray of the shower; she couldn’t help but admit to herself she really enjoyed this afternoon.  But there was no way she would ever admit that to Ryder. 

Really!
A sub?  He must have drank that bottle of wine when she wasn’t looking.

    
              “Knock ,knock.” Turning the water off, she stepped from the shower. “Trinket it’s me. Mel.  Is this a good time?  I can come back later if you want me too.”

    
              Grabbing the fluffy bathrobe from the back of the door. “No ,of coarse, this is ok, I’ll be right out.”  Wrapping her hair in a towel, she opened the door.  Looking around to make sure Melissa was alone, she padded out.

    
              “So what’s up?” Walking over to the bed, she sat on the edge of the bed and began towel drying her hair.

    
              “Do you really have to ask?”  Melissa bounced on the bed beside her, folding her tiny legs up under her.  “I have to know what went on this afternoon between you and my brother.”  A smile was plastered to her face.

    
              “You have to know?”

    
              Laughing, “Okay, I want to know what happened this afternoon. Please.”

    
              “Nothing happened.  Pretty boring really.  We rode for awhile then came back. Nothing happened.”

    
              “Hmmm really?  You always throw your boots around?  And leave your clothes lying in the floor scattered all over?  I really didn’t read you right.  I had you down as a really neat person.” Raising her eyebrows, she grinned. “Want to try that again?”

    
              “Okay, well then, when did your brother decide he could tell everyone what to do?  He acts like he is Gods’ gift to women, and I am supposed to just bow down and literally kiss his ass.”

    
              Rolling onto her stomach, Mel grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it.  Muffling noises could be heard.

    
              “Oh Mel, I’m so sorry.  I don’t mean to talk about your brother like that to you.” Throwing the towel on the dresser, she turned just as Mel rolled over. With her arms wrapped around her stomach, she was trying to not laugh. 

“
Don’t be sorry, Trink, I’m gonna love watching someone show Ryder he is not the almighty Master he thinks he is.”

    
              Realizing Mel wasn’t crying, she couldn’t help but laugh with her.  There was no way she could tell her what really happened this afternoon, but she was glad to have a friend here.

    
              Mel stayed while she dried her hair and applied her make-up.  Agreeing to meet up with Trinket for supper, she went on to get ready herself.

xxx

                   Looking in the mirror, she decided she was ready.  There was nothing else she could do.        After showering, she had decided to let her hair hang loose, showing off the natural wave of her dark brown hair.

She only applied mascara to her already long dark
lashes, that seemed to curl on their own, framing her brilliantly, blue eyes.  Her face had a natural glow after all the time she had spent in the sun.  Her lips shined from the clear lip gloss she decided on.

    
              She wore an ocean blue dress that hugged her curves in all the right places.  The backless dress showed off her voluptuous breasts and tiny waist, ending mid-thigh, her tanned legs looking even longer as her feet were showcased in four inch heels.

    
              Making her way to the dining room, Trinket turned more than her share of heads.  The women jealous and the men wishing they were going home with her tonight.

    
              “Trinket.” Hearing her name, she looked around and saw Mel waving at her. 

     Smiling at her
, she made her way across the room.  Trying not to be obvious as she scanned the room for a sign of, Ryder.

    
              Recognizing the two men standing as she arrived at the table, she smiled at them. “Hello Jake, Joey.  I didn’t know you would be joining us tonight.  It’s a nice surprise.”

     
              Catching Mel’s eye as Jake pulled out her chair, she wondered what she was up to.  Mel smiled and there was a definite twinkle in her eyes. 

    
              “Well, I’m sure Jake would agree with me when I say it is our pleasure to be dining with the two most beautiful women here tonight.”

    
              Nodding his head in agreement, Jake returned to his chair beside, Mel.

    
              The fact that they were seated at the table as couples did not escape, Trinket.  As the evening wore on, she noticed Mel seemed to have a crush on Jake and if she wasn’t wrong the feelings were returned. Interesting that Mel hadn’t mentioned it to her.

    
              Trying to keep her mind on her dinner date was hard as her eyes kept scanning the room for a glimpse of Ryder.  Wondering where he was, or who he was with was driving her crazy, even though she was determined to not be any part of his BDSM lifestyle.

     
              “Hey Trinket?  Where did you go just now?  You seem to be off in your own little world?”

    
              “I’m sorry, Joey.  I was just thinking about what a wonderful evening this has turned out to be.  I’m so glad Mel talked me into getting out of my room.”

    
              “Well then, you’re in for a surprise.  If you’re up for it, there is a club in town. Not far from here.  They usually have a good band.”

    
              “Please say yes, Trink.  It has been a long time since I have been off the ranch for anything more than supplies.”  Mel practically beamed.

    
              “I would love to go.  It would be a welcome change.”

    
              Agreeing to meet outside in fifteen minutes, the girls made their way to the ladies room to freshen up.

    
              “Wow, you really look HOT in that dress!” 

     
              “Oh, this old thing?”  Smiling at the old cliché.

    
              “It’s too bad Ryder wasn’t here tonight.  Or maybe I should say it’s a good thing he wasn’t here.”

    
              “I didn’t even notice.  Did he have somewhere to go tonight?”  They both knew that was a lie, as every time the door opened, Trinket had turned to see who was coming in.

    
              “He had something he had to do in town.  Said he would probably stay overnight.”

    
              “Well, I hope he is having a nice time whatever he is doing, I know I am.”

     
              Freshening their makeup, they went out to join the guys.

     
              The drive to town was short.  Trinket sat up front with Joey while Mel and Jake cuddled in the back almost like they forgot they were not alone in the car.

    
              Pulling up outside the club, Trinket felt like she was just a bit overdressed.  With the parking lot full of pick-up trucks, it appeared their idea of a club and her idea of a club, were two very different things.  This seemed more of a honky-tonk kind of place.

    
              Joey was quickly at her door.  Stepping out, she felt the first set of nerves hit her.  If this was a honky tonk bar, would they expect her to line dance?  She didn’t know the first thing about it.

    
              She was so lost in the moment the next thing she knew, Joey was pulling out a seat for her to sit.  She smoothed the dress down and took her seat.

    
              “What can I get for you?”  Joey smiled.

    
              “Crown and coke, please.”

     
              “What can I get for you?”  Trinket watched as Jake smiled handsomely at Mel. 

     
              “Bud light, bottle please.”  Mel smiled.

      
              Trinket waited for Jake and Joey to walk away before turning to Mel.  “Are you even old enough to drink?”

     
              “I’m twenty two, Mom.”

     
              “Just making sure.  You don’t look it.”

     
              “I know.  I don’t get treated like it.”

     
              “What’s the story with that anyways?  Why do you work on a ranch?  Don’t you wanna go to college, be something.”

She watched Mel squint her eyebrows together. 

“Trinket, I don’t work at the ranch.  Well, I guess I kinda do.  Ryder owns the controlling share.  I own 49%, he has the other 51%.”

     “Oh.  I’m
sorry; I thought you guys just worked there.” 

     “No.
  When Daddy died, I was only fourteen.  Ryder was working in the city, he had just gotten his law degree and was opening his own practice.  He gave it all up.  Came back to the ranch to take care of me.”

     
              Trinket felt as if she had just been sucker punched in the gut.  She hadn’t guessed anything right about Ryder. 

     
              “It’s okay.  For a while, I kept apologizing to him, you know for ruining his life.  But then he told me his life was at the Ranch.  With me.  He wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.  So here we are.”

    
              “That’s nice.”  Trinket wished she had someone like that.  Someone like she once had.

    
              “Yeah.  Ryder gets kind of protective though.  He would kill me if he knew I was out with Jake.  He has this rule, no dating the cowboys.  But then what he don’t know, won’t hurt him right?”

    
              “I think you might be wrong there.  What about you’re, mom?”

    
              Trinket watched the happiness drain slowly from Mel’s eyes. 

    
              “She died when I was 10.  She had cancer.  We took care of her the best we could.  I used to pray every night that God would make it go away.  But as you can see.”

    
              “What got so serious over here?”  Joey nudged Trinket’s shoulder, as he set the drinks down. 

     
              Trinket didn’t say anything.  She just reached out, testing her drink.

xxx

    
              Several dances later, both women were more than a little tipsy.  Trinket was almost relieved when Joey decided it was time to head back to the ranch.

    
              The drive back was quiet.  No one said much of anything.  Trinket’s mind couldn’t stay off of Ryder.  She had fixated her mind to what he had said about seeing her tonight.  But then, Mel said he probably would stay in town.  Then she realized, he wasn’t different at all.  He had said one thing and done a completely different thing.

    
              Trinket opened her door and got out before Joey could reach it.  She turned, watching as Jake got out next, coming around to her side.  He leaned in and tenderly picked up Mel who was now passed smooth out.

    
              “She rarely gets away from the ranch.  Poor kid wore herself out on that dance floor.  We’ll be lucky to see her before lunch.”  Joey whispered softly.  He moved to stand close to Trinket.

    
              “She really did cut loose.  I think she needed the night out as much as I did.” Trinket smiled. “I think maybe their feelings for each other are not going to remain hidden for much longer.

    
              “No, and I hate to be around when Ryder finds out.  He’s really protective of that girl.” Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and tugged her close to him.  “Are you ready to call it a night too, or are you up for some more fun?”

xxx

    
              Ryder was pacing the floors when he saw the headlights coming up the drive.  He stood at the window, waiting, wanting to run out and strangle them.  His sister for knowing better than to run off and stay gone late without letting him know where she was going.  Trinket for not being here when he had drove back just to be with her.

    
              He quickly noticed the truck belonging to Joey.  He felt a strange pull of jealousy immediately.  He fought the urge to run out there and kick Joey’s ass.  As much as he wanted to, he stood there watching.  He needed to see if she was going to be like all the other women he knew.

    
              His brow cocked as Jake rounded the corner.  “What the hell!” he whispered.  Jake was leaning in the truck.  When Jake stood and turned around, Ryder could see his sister’s small framed body curled up next to Jake.  He smiled.  It’s about time, he thought.  He had noticed the two dancing around each other for a long time.  He wouldn’t pick another man for her.