In the Wild ( a Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT short story) Read online

  She tossed the charred fish over the edge of the ravine.

  When he’d finished, he gave her a hard glare because she’d sat on her ass most of the time he’d worked.

  “What?” she asked. “You didn’t ask for any help.”

  “You could have just pitched in a little more. It would’ve been the polite thing to do.”

  “Polite isn’t something I’ve ever been accused of.”

  Caleb grunted and shook his head. “Are you always this grumpy?”

  She frowned. “Seeing as I’ll have to start from square one tomorrow to find Marlon, I’m entitled to be grumpy.”

  He walked over to her and held out his hand.

  She stared at it for a second then placed hers inside his.

  He waited a second then raised his eyebrows. “The space blanket, sweetheart. You said you’d lend me one of yours.”

  She jerked back her hand then ducked her head as she dug into her pack, but not before he noted a deep flush the firelight revealed. He felt bad about embarrassing her, but she’d shocked him a little, giving him her hand. And he’d noted that her hand was slender, if a little callused. He’d liked the way her palm had felt against his.

  When she pulled out the blanket, he took it, not saying a word as he walked behind her and laid the blanket out on the ground.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice softer than before.

  “My job.”

  Her eyebrows lowered. “Um, okay. So, I’ll move.”

  “No, you won’t. I’ll sleep beside you, away from the fire. If a bear or a cougar comes nosing around, they’ll have to get past me first.”

  Her mouth opened but quickly closed again. She pulled out her blanket and placed her lumpy backpack on the ground to use as a pillow. After she unfolded her blanket, she removed her vest, web belt, and holster. Then she sat on the blanket and separated her thick braid until her hair fell around her shoulders in a thick, curly mass.

  Damn, she really was pretty, and he liked the fact she probably didn’t have a clue what she was doing to him.

  Next, she removed her boots and socks, setting them away. “God, I hope they’ll dry by morning. The leather’s soaked through.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Caleb said, sitting on his blanket and removing his boots and socks as well, while trying not to admire her figure, silhouetted against the firelight.

  When she lay looking up at the sky, he did the same, placing an arm beneath his head to look up at the moon which was blurred by clouds.

  “So, did you play football in school?”

  “Yup.”

  “Thought so,” she murmured.

  He smiled and pulled the edge of the blanket over him before closing his eyes.

  A loud howl woke Marti from the best dream she’d had in…well, ever. She’d been snuggled against a broad chest, cocooned in warmth. A hand swept up and down her back. She sighed and moved her hips, liking the solidity of the form she moved against. The howl sounded again, and her eyes popped open.

  “Just a wolf,” a deep voice said beside her ear.

  She pushed up and stared around her. The fire had burned to coals. And somehow, during the night, she’d managed to gravitate toward the park ranger. His hard chest was what she’d rested against. His warm hand had soothed her back. “Sorry,” she muttered. “Didn’t mean to crowd you.”

  “Got a little chilly,” he drawled. “Makes sense to share body heat.”

  His hand pressed against her back, nudging her to lie down again. She settled, but now, she was wide awake. Her right thigh was between his legs, and her hip was resting on something hard.

  She knew exactly what was hard and, for some reason, she felt a little disgruntled by the fact his cock was prominent and he didn’t seem to mind that she’d been grinding against it in her sleep.

  “It’s been that way for a while. Haven’t jumped you yet,” he said, his voice a rough rumble.

  “I wasn’t worried.”

  “Then why are you holding your breath?”

  “I’m n—”

  He tsked. “It’s only natural. Pretty girl sleeping on me.”

  “I’m sure any old girl would do.”

  “But you’re not old. And you look sweet when you aren’t scowling at me.”

  “Do not.”

  He chuckled, and his chest moved beneath her cheek. She couldn’t help smiling at the sound.

  They both went quiet for a while. In the distance, she could hear the soft grunts from the herd, the occasional howl of a distant wolf, and the ribbeting of frogs from the ravine. Without thinking, she nestled deeper against his body, her hips curving, naturally seeking anchor.

  “Stop,” he muttered.

  “Thought it was only natural,” she said slyly, feeling emboldened in the darkness.

  “It’s natural when he’s not being strangled by layers of clothing.”

  “Then why haven’t you gotten rid of those layers?” she asked, then wanted to bite her own tongue. Why did I say that? Do I really want him to get more “comfortable”?

  “I’m being a gentleman,” he said, his voice sounding pinched. When she moved her hips again, hoping to take off some pressure so he wasn’t so…strained, he placed his hand on her ass. “Don’t move.”

  She couldn’t help but notice how big it was. Her belly pressed hard against it from just above her belly button to the top of her thigh. “That can’t be healthy. You’re pretty…”

  “Hard?”

  “I was going to say…erect.”

  He groaned. “You think that’s a better word?”

  His fingers bit into her ass cheek, and she gave a very muffled moan.

  “Like that?” he whispered. “Or do I need to move away? I could head to the woods for a few minutes…take care of the problem.”

  She grinned against his chest. “But a bear might get you, being that far away from the fire and all…”

  His chest shook. “It might. Don’t think I’d notice.”

  “To keep on the safe side,” she said, lifting her hips and sliding a hand between their bodies, “I’ll let him out, just to let him stretch a bit.”

  “Fuck me,” he said under his breath.

  “Don’t go getting ahead of yourself. This is just a mission of mercy,” she said, then flicked open the button at his waistband and slowly dragged down his zipper.

  With his chest rising and falling, she lifted her head to keep from getting motion sickness and eased most of her weight to the side so he could slide down his pants.

  His cock bounded outward, a large enough shadow she gulped a little at the sight.

  “That’s better,” he said, giving an exaggerated sigh. “You can go back to sleep now.”

  “As if!” she said then scooted downward to have a better look. Unable to restrain her curiosity, she wrapped her fingers around his shaft, discovering there was a wide gap between her fingertips and her thumb. “I can see why you weren’t worried about the bears,” she muttered.

  “Uh, Marti…” he said, reaching down to move away her hand.

  She gripped him tighter. “Not so quick.” She moved her hand up then down, measuring his length. “That’s…unnatural.”

  Soft, chopped laughter sounded in the darkness. “Seriously, if you don’t stop, I can’t promise not to…”

  Realizing she was arousing him, she quickly ringed the base of his cock, thinking fast because she knew her brain was about to disengage the longer she held onto his steamy hot rod. All this could be hers…

  She glanced up at his face. “Seeing as neither of us can sleep…”

  He drew a sharp inward breath. They shared a long, intense stare. Then, “I have a condom or two in my wallet. That is, if…that was where this conversation was heading…”

  She gave a brief bobbing nod. “I’m holding onto this. Find that condom.”

  He reached down for his pants, cursing as he dug into a pocket for his wallet. When he found it, he nearly spilled the co
ntents on the ground until he held up a small square packet. Then he ripped it open and smoothed the sheath down his length.

  When he finished, it was his turn to hold his breath. “You sure about this? I didn’t think you liked me all that much,” he said, his tone dry.

  “I don’t…dislike you,” she said. “You spoiled my takedown.”

  “Then I owe you, don’t I?”

  She glanced upward, a half-smile stretching her mouth. “Clothes off,” she said, releasing his cock and rolling to the side.

  Then it was a free-for-all as they both stripped, tossing away their clothes.

  “Hope nothing’s in the fire,” he said. “Would hate to walk out of here in my birthday suit.”

  “I’m handy with a needle. I could sew you a skirt from his nasty tent.”

  He laughed and laid back, both hands cradling the back of his head, his cock pointing toward the dark, cloudy sky. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. No pressure,” he said. But his narrowed eyes held a hint of challenge she was incapable of ignoring.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Marti said, sliding a knee over his thighs then scooting upward, letting his cock ride the center of her folds until she felt the tip at her entrance. Her pussy clenched. Moisture flooded her channel.

  He reached down to hold his cock as she took her first, tentative downward glide. The pressure against her entrance was…substantial.

  “I’ll fit,” he reassured her.

  “Not worried. Not much,” she amended then pushed downward, taking more of him inside.

  He released his cock and placed his hands on her breasts, molding them and pinching the tips until they grew hard. Then he pushed up on his elbows and nosed at her breasts, flicking the tips with his tongue before sucking one inside his mouth.

  As he drew on her flesh, she tossed back her hair and began to move in earnest, up and down, long glides that forced his thick cock through her channel. More fluid eased his passage while friction built heat, and soon, she was pumping faster, pushing on his shoulders for leverage as she bounced.

  She’d never felt this full, this aroused. Already she was nearing the precipice, but she wanted more, wanted to savor this first ride. She halted her movements and cupped his cheeks, pulling him off her breast.

  He raised his face, his eyes gleaming in the flickering light through half-closed lids. “Need me to take over?”

  Breathing heavily, she could only nod.

  With a move so fast she let out a gasp, he had her under him and his cock slid back inside her, going so deep she felt him bump her cervix.

  “Sorry, don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, coming closer to kiss her.

  His lips claimed hers, his tongue thrusting straight inside her mouth as he began to move. Their faces aligned, hers to the left, then to the right, as they devoured each other’s mouths.

  Marti couldn’t hold back the sounds scraping at her throat. She moaned and whimpered as he stroked faster and faster. She raised her legs, opening them as wide as she could so that their groins slapped noisily with each hard jerk of his hips.

  When he circled his hips, she arched her back. His mouth glided along her neck. His teeth nipped her bottom lip. She dug her fingernails into his ass and forced him against her, holding him deep inside her as she ground against him. When she came, she felt as though she was shattering into a million little pieces. Streaks of gold light shimmered behind her closed eyelids. When he pulled out and thrust forward again, she shouted as he trembled and jerked against her.

  Together, they fell back against the earth. She hugged him with her arms and legs. He nuzzled into the corner of her neck. Gradually, their breathing slowed.

  The ranger raised his head and smoothed her hair from where it stuck to her cheeks. “That was incredible.”

  Still connected, she felt vulnerable, exposed. She licked her dry lips and offered him a soft smile. “I think I can sleep now,” she whispered.

  He pressed a kiss against her forehead then slowly withdrew, taking care to hold his condom in place. He turned away and disposed of it, then rolled back toward her to gather her inside his embrace.

  She reached for the edge of one of the blankets and drew it over both of their cooling bodies then turned and let him spoon against her back. Lying surrounded by his warmth, she couldn’t remember ever feeling this at peace with herself and the world.

  “Sleep,” he said and kissed her ear.

  She liked that he held her, that he was openly affectionate when she really didn’t expect it. It gave her hope that, after they left the woods, there might be a chance they’d see each other again. She was surprised at that thought and the fact she hoped it was true, because she really wasn’t into relationships—been there, had the scars.

  But just in case this was their one and only night together, she pretended to yawn and wiggled her hips, pushing against his cock.

  “I’m guessing you’re not all that tired,” he said in a soft growl.

  “The fire’s almost out. Don’t we need to make some noise to keep the critters away?”

  His chest shook against her back. His hands cupped her breasts. “If I’d known bounty hunters were this horny…” His cock poked against her backside.

  “Don’t you know? Be warned, I always get my man…”

  Cage

  MONTANA BOUNTY HUNTERS: DEAD HORSE, MT

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

  Delilah Devlin

  Chapter 1

  As he approached the front door to the Dead Easy Saloon, Cage Morgan flexed his hands, wincing as he did so due to the deep bruising on his knuckles. Still, sore knuckles felt like a small price to pay considering the size of the purse he’d won the previous night at the MMA bout in Bozeman.

  Thinking about the $36,000 deposit he’d made at the bank that morning, he wondered why the hell he’d agreed to this meeting in the first place. Cage’s needs were simple, and the purse would pay his bills for the next four to six months until he accepted the next match.

  However, he owed Fetch Winter the courtesy of meeting with his representative to talk about the possibility of a job. He didn’t owe him a “yes,” but he had agreed to listen. Fetch had led the unit that had pulled his ass out of a firefight which had killed several of his SEAL teammates back in Afghanistan a lifetime ago.

  From the outside, the meeting place was like any other roadhouse bar. Wood plank siding, a tin roof, and a red neon “Open” sign. He climbed the three steps to the porch then opened the door. Music played on a jukebox, customers lined a well-polished counter, and in the rear, the crack of striking balls and groans sounded from the pool tables.

  As he passed the bar, the bartender’s gaze narrowed on him, and then a broad smile spread. He lifted his chin to Cage. “Great fight last night.”

  Cage lifted his eyebrows and gave him a little salute but didn’t stop. He made his way to a small round table tucked into a corner of the main room and took a seat.

  A waitress with dirty blonde hair so straight it had to have been ironed paused beside his table. “What can I get ya, hon?”

  Her smile was flirtatious, and while she was kind of cute for a middle-aged woman in a skin-tight tank with the bar’s logo on the front and short blue-jean shorts, he wasn’t interested in encouraging her to linger. “Whatever beer’s on tap will do,” he said and pulled a twenty from his wallet.

  She smiled and moved away, her skinny hips wagging.

  She was back inside a minute with a foamy beer and handed back his twenty. “Kip, the bartender, says it’s on the house. He won a pile of money last night on your fight.”

  He pushed back the twenty. “You keep it then, and thank Kip.”

  Just then, a commotion sounded at the entrance of the bar. “Damn, are you Reaper, that dude on TV?” asked a man who was holding onto the arm of a large man wearing a ballcap who was trying to get through the doorway.

  Cage watched as the man who looked l
ike he belonged on a Viking longboat shook the man off his arm.

  Cage couldn’t make out what he said to the smaller man, but the guy held up his hands and backed away, grinning. As soon as the big man’s attention left him, he scurried to the bar, leaning over the counter to talk to Kip, whose gaze shot to the big man.

  He watched the man in the ballcap grimace then step deeper inside the bar, his eyes narrowing as he searched the counter and then the tables. Cage knew the second when his gaze came to rest on Cage, because the other man tipped his chin before striding his way.

  As the man approached, Cage assessed him like he always did, sizing him up as a possible opponent in the ring. They were of a similar height and weight. His arms and chest looked powerful. However, Cage could tell by the way the man moved that he wouldn’t have his same speed. Not that he was planning to fight this guy, but old habits died hard.

  The big man stopped in front of his table. “You Cage Morgan?”

  Cage nodded.

  The man sat and whipped off his cap. “Thought the hat would work.”

  Cage’s mouth twitched. “That was supposed to be some kind of disguise?”

  The other man made a sound a bear might make just before it took a bite. “Fetch sent me.”

  “I figured.”

  “Said I was to try to schmooze you into taking a job.”

  “I’ve been wondering why he isn’t here to do it himself.”

  The other man raked a hand through his long blond hair. “I’m here to set up the satellite office. He’d have come, but he said we didn’t need the big guns. That you’d want this job once you heard what it was all about.”

  Cage grunted and sat back in his chair. “You’re the guy in that reality TV show.”

  Reaper gave him a dead-eyed look. “If I wasn’t makin’ bank, I’d take exception to your tone, dude.”