The minute his hands caress my skin I groan. Loud. His thumbs push against the pressure points, my eyes close and my head lolls back in complete satisfaction. I’m torn between being completely mortified that a stranger is touching my feet, and absolutely loving the way it feels. His motives are so transparent, but I’m going to ignore all the wrong things with this moment and focus on the understated benefits of a foot massage.

“So, do I know what I’m doing or what?”

My body is turning into mush with every damn touch, but my mind is switched on enough to fight it. “Less talking and more massaging.”

“You’re a demanding little thing aren’t you?”

“Just you wait and see.”

“I think I could take you,” he challenges,

“Let’s revisit this conversation after tomorrow.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” His hands still, and I open my eyes to find him staring at me.

“What?”

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

“Nothing. How about we go back inside and call it a night, huh?”

“Wait. I thought we could get to know each other more.” His fingertips skim up my leg, past my calf. My skin tingles with anticipation, as he passes the hem of my dress, and I know I need to stop him. I catch his hand. “Most people talk when they want to get to know each other.”

“Bodies talk.”

“They do, but not ours.” Removing my legs off his thighs, I sit upright, and fix my dress. “I’ve got to get going. My days start early.”

He stands, offering his hand to me. “I think I got this,” I say, ignoring the gesture. “But don’t worry, your occasional bouts of chivalry have not gone unnoticed.”

We walk back to the house in silence, my thoughts too focused on how nice it would be to get lost in a guy like Chase for a while. To let the constant chatter in my brain stop, remind myself how good sex can be when your heart’s not breaking on the inside, worrying about everything crumbling around you.

“You going to walk me to my room, and kiss me goodnight?” he jokes.

“Do you ever shut up?”

“There’s plenty of times I don’t talk, but making you squirm seems to have become my new favorite pastime.”

“I do not squirm.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“I don’t.” Uncomfortable by his astute observations, I try and argue the truth. “I’m not bothered by a thing you say or do.”

“It’s okay, I’ve got four weeks to change that.”

“I’ll be counting down the days.”

The alarm blares, an hour earlier than I usually wake up, but after some deliberation and a little bit of scheming, I figured today was the day I called the shots. The day I make this city boy squirm.

I fumble in the dark, putting on my washed out jeans, and tank. I roll the thick socks I need for my riding boots over my feet, before making my way to Chase’s room. My knuckles stop an inch away from the wood, and I swing the unlocked door open instead.

I flick on every light switch within my reach. “Rise and shine, City Boy.”

“What the fuck?” He reaches for a pillow and throws it over his face. The sheets hang low enough to see his chest isn’t the only naked body part in the bed. “What time is it?

“It’s time for you to get up. Chop, chop,” I shout. “We’ve got shit to do.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

He groans into the pillow, before lifting it up enough to see me. “You have got to be shitting me.” He hurls the pillow at me, narrowly missing. He swiftly rises off the bed, leaving the sheets behind, his perfectly sculpted ass on display for me, my hungry eyes and drooling mouth.

He turns, and all my attention is focused on his hard, long, and thick cock. Hello, morning glory.

“You done staring?”

Spinning around, I give him my back as my face burns in embarrassment. “I’m not staring.”

“I told you last night, my cock is happy to talk to your pussy.”

“I’ve seen better. Probably terrible in bed,” I murmur the last part of the statement.

His footsteps sound too close to be heading into the bathroom, and my body tenses, knowing he’s coming for me. His hand reaches around my torso pushing me back against his naked body. “You’re so lucky my job is riding on first impressions, otherwise I would throw you on the bed and show you just how bad I can be.” One hand slides under my tank, cupping my breast. The other traces the edge of my waistband. He presses his lips behind my ear, whispering against my skin. “Remember this for later, yeah?”

He releases me, leaving me to catch my breath. I hear the bathroom door close, and my body sinks, landing on the edge of the mattress. It’s always the same; I come in thinking I have the upper hand and he always manages to pull the rug out from under me. Leaving me confused, curious, and really fucking horny.

“You’re still here.”

I tilt my head to the side, there he stands with the white, thick, monogrammed bath towel wrapped around his waist. He runs his fingers through his wet hair, drops of water cover his skin. “You’re still not dressed.”

“I thought I’d give you one last peek.”

Shaking my head, I get up and head to the door. Looking back I point to the little token I left him on the bed. “I expect you to wear that.”

“Are you kidding? A cowboy hat. It seems a little unnecessary, doesn’t it?”

“My dad insists.” He rolls his eyes, and I continue to talk as if I didn’t just use my dad to coerce him into wearing something ridiculous. “I’ll meet you down where the horses are.”

“Where’s that?”

I shrug. “I’m sure you can figure it out.”

“Blaire.” My father’s voice booms through the barn. “I found Chase wandering around like a stray dog. Why didn't you wait for him?”

I sneak a peek at a smug looking Chase. “He takes a longer shower than me, I needed to start on the morning horse routine.”

His face contorts into an awkward mixture of disbelief and frustration, and I return it with the biggest smile.

“Well, he’s here now, so put him to work. I’ll be back at lunchtime to check in.”

Leaving us alone in the barn, the tension returns. “Catch,” I shout at Chase, throwing a rubber curry comb in his direction.

“I assume you want me to brush their hair?”

“You assumed correctly.”

“Are you going to talk to me today?” He queries with trepidation.

“When we’re on the ranch, I call the shots. Can we just leave it at that, please?”

“I guess calling the shots in the bedroom isn’t all that bad.”

“Do you talk about anything else, but sex?”

“Near you? No. The blush on your cheeks, and the unmistakable heat in your eyes is too good not to acknowledge. You want me, it’s written all over your face. And for you I could mix business with pleasure.”

“I’m off limits.”

“Says who?”

“My dad.”

“Try again, Blaire, you’re a terrible liar.”

“Fine. Me.” I point to myself. “I don’t care how many times you try and show off your naked ass, it’s all business for me. That’s why I’m here helping out, and as soon as it’s up to my father’s standards, I’m out.”

“I don’t want to marry you, Blaire,” he states, bluntly.

The unfiltered comment slices deeper than it should. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” I look at my watch. “We’ve got another two hours in here before we need to get moving. I usually time everything in fifteen minute intervals. The horses need to be brushed. They need to be fed, and troughs need to be filled. Once King Ranch opens, our aim is to have them ready after breakfast, so guests can have access to them as soon as their day begins.”

“And then they ride them?”

“Pretty much. On the back of the horse is one of the best ways to check out the lay of the land and everything King Ranch has to offer.”

“Do you ride?”

“Yes.” The side of his mouth rises as my response lures me effortlessly into his web of sex and seduction.

“Will you show me, sometime?”

Wordlessly I respond. Squeezing my thighs together to dull the ache, I press my teeth into my bottom lip, suppressing the moan eager to leave my mouth.

He tips his chin up at me, and winks. “I can’t wait.”

In this moment his eyes take in everything about us.

The truth of my body, the lies out of my mouth. The heat, the need, and the animalistic want that won’t dissipate, no matter how much I want it to. He sees it all, and there’s nothing I can do about it.