I laughed. “A fuddy-duddy? What the hell is that?” I focused on the road.

  “That’s you.” She pointed her drunk finger at me. “You’re a fuddy-duddy, but that’s okay. I don’t mind.”

  “You don’t mind? Why’s that?” I was grinning because she was cute and crazy.

  She leaned her head back and closed her eyes again before saying, “You can put up with a lot if a man is sexy, and you, Cole Briggs, are smoking.”

  I tried to watch the road and not gawk at her gorgeous ass as she told me how sexy I was. It was damn hard. I wanted to hear more.

  “Yeah?” I asked as I pulled into the drive for the farm.

  “Yep.” She took her hat off, placed it on the dashboard, and ran her fingers through her hair. “You’re so hot…” She stopped, pursing her lips in thought and tapping her pointer finger against her bottom lip. “You’re so hot that I wouldn’t kick you out of bed for eating crackers.” She undid her belt and moved across the bench to me as I pulled up in front of the big house. “And, Cowboy, I hate crumbs in my bed,” she said right next to me, her lips a mere breath from my ear.

  I sucked in a quick breath. Chuckling, I cut the truck off. “Noted,” I said, trying to lighten the mood because it was thick with sexual tension. “You hate crumbs in bed, but not my crumbs. My crumbs are all good.”

  She climbed across my lap to straddle me and stared me in the eyes. “I don’t hate anything about you, Cole.” She lowered her ass to my lap, and I fought a groan back. “And everything about you is all good.”

  With the windows opened the air drifted in around us and I could smell rain in the air. And Eve. I could smell her. The sweet, pungent smell of her wetness floated around me, and I knew that more than a simple storm was headed my way.

  Still, I just sat there, and it was like watching a tornado approach, only I didn’t try to flee. I wanted it.

  I stared at her legs on either side of mine, her white dress up around her hips. Her smooth, bare thighs were snuggled tight around my jean-clad ones. I leaned my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes. Eve could try the patience of a saint. And I wasn’t even close to being saintly.

  Fuck.

  She rocked against my cock, and my head snapped forward, our eyes meeting dead on.

  “Everly, this is not a good—”

  “Uh uhh. Not Everly, only Eve,” she purred close to my ear as she rocked her core against my throbbing cock again. “Yes,” she hissed when my cock rested in the cleft of her pussy.

  It was the kind of ecstasy I’d never experienced. The kind of deep connection and intimacy that only came with really knowing someone—best friends, family. Heat blazed across my skin.

  I placed my hands behind her on the steering wheel to keep from touching what wasn’t mine yet. She was drunk, but I was powerless to stop her. She felt too good, the only thing separating us, her thin panties and my jeans.

  I was too caught up. I couldn’t stop. I could only feel. I gripped the steering wheel and pressed myself up, meeting her every thrust. “Fuck,” I growled out.

  I could feel her wetness and her warmth through my jeans, and it wasn’t long before I was meeting her every thrust. I was crazy with lust and want. I kept my hands locked on the steering wheel, but I never took my gaze from hers.

  “Yes. You feel good. So good. Just like I thought you would,” she said, rocking rhythmically against me. Her skin was slick with sweat, and her cheeks were flushed with the most brilliant shade of pink I’d ever seen.

  Our faces were only an inch apart, her hot breath coming in pants and mingling with mine.

  I couldn’t help but encourage her. I was too gone. Too in the moment. Powerless against her wet heat and want.

  “That’s it, baby. Ride me.” I gazed into her eyes and whispered, “God, you’re beautiful and so wet for me. Come on my cock.”

  I barely recognized my own voice. The gravel and rasp in it only seemed to send her higher.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted, grinding on me. She placed her hands on my shoulders, gaining leverage to press into me harder. She rode me hard, her gorgeous breasts rubbing my chest, her pussy soaking the front of my jeans, our gazes locked in an intense, sexually charged stare down.

  I was going to come in my jeans any minute like a fucking teenager, but I didn’t care. I had Eve in my lap in the throes of ecstasy. I’d imagined this moment more than once, but it’d never been this good. I fiercely clenched the steering wheel between both hands, begging, “Come for me, baby. Come, Eve. I need you.”

  She threw her head back. “Fuck!” she yelled into the quiet cabin of the truck.

  Her hair cascaded over the top of my hands, and I longed to reach out and grab the strands so that I could pull her to my lips and taste her. But I wouldn’t taste her when she was drunk like this.

  I wanted her to remember our first kiss because she wouldn’t have any more firsts. Just me. But I took what I could, and I wanted her eyes. I wanted her to see me while she fell apart. I wanted her to know who made her feel this way.

  “Look at me, baby. Look at me when you come for me,” I ordered.

  Her head fell forward, her hooded eyes once again on mine, her pink lips parted in desire. Her breath came in small pants.

  “That’s my Eve. That’s a good girl. Keep those eyes on me,” I whispered.

  She groaned. “I’m coming,” she said, gripping my shoulders. “I’m coming, Cole.”

  Fuck yes. She needed to hurry. I was so close.

  “That’s it, Eve. Come on my cock,” I urged. I wanted to see her fall apart for me. Only me. Always me.

  Her breath stuttered. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she said over and over, her voice ricocheting around the cabin of my truck and hitting me square in the cock.

  She quivered against me on one final thrust and moan. I groaned low and long in my throat as I emptied myself into my jeans, pressing up against her, wishing that I were inside her—apart of her. Our bodies shook and jerked against each other, and I pulled her towards me, holding her tightly as we both came down.

  “Mmmm,” she moaned and collapsed against me, her face buried in my chest.

  “Eve?” I said quietly.

  Nothing.

  “Baby?” I asked again, only getting a snore in return.

  I cracked an eyelid open. Sun. Oh God, it hurt. I closed my eye and sighed. Much better. I’d just stay in bed all day. Mmmm. Bed.

  I shot up into a sitting position and groaned at the banging in my head. How had I ended up in bed? Fuck. I rubbed my fingers hard into my closed eye sockets, praying for some relief. I peeked my eyes open and peered down at my bra. I pulled the covers back and looked at my panties.

  Oh. My. God.

  Cole must have put me to bed. And undressed me. I groaned and threw myself back on my pillow and pulled the covers over my head. Ya know? He just put me to bed after I’d molested him on the bench seat in the front of his truck. Like a two-bit whore.

  Oh Lord. He hadn’t even touched me. He’d just let me ride him until I’d come all over the place. Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but still. And had I ever come. It had been so good. I felt my face heat.

  I slapped my forehead. Jesus. I must have passed out right after that. What in the hell was wrong with me? It was like I had no control when he was around. It was the damn alcohol. Even if it weren’t, I was still blaming it on the alcohol. I’d stupidly drunk too much, and clearly, drunk Everly had zero fucking inhibitions. Someone kill me now. But he’d smelled so good. He was being so sweet and taking care of me. And I’d wanted him for so long. Well, you had him Everly. Only he didn’t even touch you. He didn’t even kiss you. Stupid girl.

  What was I going to do now? I couldn’t hide from him. He lived here. I lived here. Joe would know. Fuck. Would Joe know? Had Joe seen him put me to bed? Damn you, fucking alcohol.

  Man. And I was already late. The sun was up and I wasn’t, which on the farm meant I was really late. Pulling the covers back, I opened my eyes wide, determined to torture myself with the sunlight. I deserved it. Open your eyes, Everly, and take a big hit of that sunlight because you are an asshole and you suck. I sat up, still feeling not very steady, and noticed a tall glass of water and two small pills on the bedside table.

  I threw the pills into my mouth and downed the entire glass of water, cursing Cole for being so nice and caring and giving. And oh, he was giving, all right. Because that orgasm—even drunk as hell, I wouldn’t forget it any time soon. He had to have put those pills here. Damn do-gooder Cole and all of his good deeds. Ya know, taking a drunk girl home. Putting said drunk girl to bed. Making sure dumb drunk girl had water and medicine to nurse her hangover. Giving drunk girl an orgasm she’d never forget.

  After a quick shower, in which I didn’t sing a single bar because of my pounding head, some fast dressing, and I was downstairs in a flash. I was hoping everyone would be gone already, but it was just my luck that it was Saturday. I’d forgotten. At that moment, I hated Saturdays almost as much as I hated whiskey. Saturdays were slower on the farm. Most everyone slept in a bit, so when I walked in and saw everyone at the table, I mumbled, “Good morning,” and headed to the stove to scoop some eggs and grits onto my plate. I ignored that Cole was sitting in his usual spot. I ignored the inquisitive look on his face. And I damn sure ignored the way my girly parts clenched at seeing him. Shit. If I thought for one minute that being around Cole had been hard before, it was going to be awful now.

  Now that I knew what it felt like to ride him. Now that I knew the filth that came out of his mouth when he was underneath me. And, God, it was good. That mouth of his had sent my already sprinting libido racing towards an epic orgasm.

  Yep, that was Cole Briggs. The giver of epic orgasms.

  Although, I didn’t know if he’d really given it, per se. I mean, I’d kind of taken it. I rolled my eyes at myself as I walked over to the table.

  I sat next to Joe and kept my eyes on my food, not on the sexy cowboy across from me.

  “Sleep well?” Cole asked, and I looked up at him.

  That was a mistake, because fire and heat blazed in his eyes, and all of a sudden, I was back in the front seat of Cole’s truck, my ass grinding against him. And I was way too sober to be there. Eep!

  I dropped my fork onto my plate. “I gotta go.” I bolted from my chair and out the front door. I left my plate there and everything. Apparently, alcohol didn’t just make me horny as fuck. Evidently, I could add rude to that list as well.

  “Everly!” Joe called, but I just kept right on trucking.

  I thought about going to the stables, but that would be the first place Joe and Cole would try to find me, and I wasn’t ready to talk about last night. I was embarrassed and some would say that was karma for having given Cody a hard time about being embarrassed last night, but I said it was all just bullshit.

  I jogged over to the bed and breakfast to help Ms. Jane. She was always in need of someone to cook or clean or do paperwork. I spent the next hour organizing paperwork and cleaning the kitchen.

  I also used the time away to think hard about last night. And me and Cole in general. I needed to get a grip on my feelings for him. Clearly, he didn’t feel the same way. He hadn’t touched or kissed me. I’d used him, and that wasn’t right. I needed to get myself in check, and when I saw Cole, I’d just apologize. He was a good man and, above all else, understanding. I knew that. I was just going to explain to him that I had been drunk and out of my ever-loving mind.

  I was on all fours, scrubbing the kitchen floor, when a pair of scuffed-up cowboy boots appeared in front of me and effectively blocked me in. He’d found me.

  “Hey, Cole,” I said, crawling around him, continuing to clean the floor, and pretending like hell I hadn’t run out on breakfast like a crazy person.

  “Get up, Everly,” Cole ordered. He sounded mad.

  Knowing he meant business, I got up, let out a sigh, and walked over to the sink to wash my hands.

  I guessed that it was time to suck it up and get this uncomfortable conversation over with.

  “I—” I started.

  “Sit down. Now.”

  I looked up at him, surprised at how angry he was.

  Geez. He really was pissed. I sat at the small kitchenette table and huffed.

  Handing me a paper towel with something rolled up on the inside, he ordered, “Eat.”

  I opened the paper towel and found two biscuits already filled with butter and grape jelly—just how I liked them.

  “We talked about you not eating and drinking enough on the farm, Everly. You promised,” he reprimanded.

  My heart beat double time. I didn’t deserve this man’s friendship, but I couldn’t help but take it. Even if I hadn’t planned it all, I was still a damn thief.

  “Thank you.” I smiled up at him and took a bite of biscuit, avoiding his eyes. Jeez. This was awkward to say the least.

  He crouched in front of me and rubbed a bit of grape jelly from the side of my mouth. “I’ll never let you go hungry.” He looked at me intensely. “You know that though. Right?” He smiled a sad smile.

  “I do,” I whispered. I was so overcome with emotion that I could barely speak.

  This man had me so twisted up that I didn’t know up from down—left from right. Bringing me breakfast was his way of letting me know that everything was okay between us, but I still owed him an apology.

  I studied my lap, avoiding his eyes. “I’m sorry about last night, Cole. I had way too much to drink. I don’t usually drink, ya know…” I cleared my throat and put the biscuit on the table. “Anyhow, it was a mistake and I had no business straddling you and riding you like a prize bull.” I twisted the paper towel between my fingers and then reached to my back pocket, making sure my picture was still there. My anxiety eased when I felt the frayed edges graze my fingertips.

  Cole laughed. “And here I thought you were going to apologize for the passing-out part.”

  I rolled my eyes. Of course he’d bring that up. As if I hadn’t already been mortified. “Well, I’m sorry for that part, too. And, of course, using you to get off.” I blushed and giggled awkwardly. Jesus. Somebody find some tape and slap that shit over my mouth pronto. I couldn’t stop.

  He averted his eyes to the side. “No worries there, Eve, because I got off, too.” Cole’s cheeks were red. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him blush.

  “For real?” I breathed. Curse you, whiskey. Curse you. I hadn’t been paying attention, and I’d missed all the good stuff.

  He nodded. “Like a Goddamn thirteen-year-old.” He shook his head, grinning, that blush still staining his cheeks.

  We both laughed uncomfortably.

  Still, I couldn’t believe he’d come too. Did he want me the way I wanted him? Or had it been just the product of some chick grinding on his cock?

  I swallowed hard. I stuck my hand out between us. “So…friends?” I asked, making sure we were good.

  His eyes were soft when he said, “The best.” He laid his hand over mine and squeezed. “Always.”

  I turned my hand over and squeezed his back, my heart flip-flopping in my chest like the pancakes Missy tossed around every Thursday morning.

  He looked at me seriously and pursed his lips. “So, a prize bull, huh?” His mouth broke into a smile, and his eyes did that twinkling thing they did when he demanded, “Tell me more.”

  “Marla called,” Joe said, zooming after me.

  Christ. She’d been trying to call me, and I’d been avoiding her calls like the fucking plague. I didn’t want to hear about how she needed money or whatever stunt my brother had pulled lately. Their lives were like a fucking soap opera, and I didn’t want any part of it.

  I couldn’t believe this woman’s audacity. I couldn’t even fathom what the hell she was thinking, calling Joe.

  I walked towards the stables, determined to take Beast for a ride today. I needed some fresh air, and I’d been so busy lately with the peaches that I’d been lax in taking him out. In fact, I’d been so busy that I’d hardly even seen Eve since our talk at the bed and breakfast a little over a week ago except at meals at the big house, and I missed her like hell. The summer was a little over halfway done and I was starting to panic a little at the possibility of Eve leaving.

  “What’d she want?” I asked, walking into the barn and straight to Beast. I didn’t really give a fuck what Marla wanted, but I felt like I had to ask out of respect for Joe. He wanted to talk, so I’d listen.

  I rubbed Beast down and started saddling him up, while Joe parked his wheelchair in the stall’s doorway.

  “She just wants to talk to you about seeing Grey, Cole. She seemed really upset.” He cleared his throat. “She’s sorry. Maybe you should call her?”

  I wanted to tell Joe to mind his own damn business, to leave me the fuck alone and stop talking to fucking Marla, but I could see the reluctance to have this conversation written all over his face. This was Marla’s fault for putting him in the middle. My fault for falling for her bullshit. Joe wasn’t responsible for the shitstorm that was currently my life. No, Marla and I had cornered the market on that.

  A thumping sound from Beauty’s stall made me stop in my tracks. I looked over at Joe, who was staring towards the sound. Fuck. I was willing to bet my left nut Eve was in Beauty’s stall, listening to this whole conversation.

  Shaking my head, I said, “I’ll talk to her,” with a finality that let Joe know this conversation was over. I wasn’t talking about this anymore in front of Eve. She’d try to fix it because that’s what her goodhearted-self did.

  “Sounds good,” Joe said, nodding. He spun around and sprinted out of the barn at warp speed. He was probably as thankful as I was that the conversation was over.

  I finished saddling up Beast like I hadn’t heard Eve in the stall next to me. I’d been dying to take a ride with her, but now, I just wanted to be alone. I wasn’t in the mood for one of her pep talks. I didn’t want her assurance that everything would be okay. Not today. Today, I wanted to ride and think about what I needed to do to get Marla off my back. I wanted time to decide what I should do about Grey.

 

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