“You want me to pass up Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, and Mathieu Mirano? All to spend a week in the company of cows and chickens?!?” Ava exclaimed.
“And horses...” her best friend Christie interjected, as if that should adequately justify passing up a trip to the fashion houses of New York in exchange for a week-long “life on a ranch” experience.
It wasn't that Ava had anything against farm animals, she just made a rule of keeping them as far away from her Gucci stilettos and her Jimmy Choo pumps as possible. OK, up until now, there had been no rule on the subject, but given her friend's ludicrous request, it was about time the rule be made.
“You know I could never afford the trip on my own, and admit it, you can't possibly think your meager savings is going to get you through those houses' front doors, never mind walking out with bags of irresistible clothing.”
Christie may have a point, but Ava wasn't ready to back down just yet. Besides, she'd be perfectly happy sitting outside of Michael Kors, watching the wealthiest of society prance in and out. She'd be content to dream of the day women would prance in and out of her shop, adorning themselves in her fabulous creations—just not at the same ridiculous price tags. It was her driving force; Ava loved everything about the fashion industry, except for the astronomical cost that came with being fashionable. It was what had kept her dressed in thrift shop finds as a kid, instead of in the beautiful clothing that only the rich girls could afford. She wanted to learn every couture secret out there and use her knowledge to make the art of fashion accessible to the next generation of less-than-filthy-rich teens and young women.
“Then why don't we pool our money and you come with me to New York?” she posited, thinking it to be a far more reasonable request, even as Christie's eyes seemed to bulge out of her head at the suggestion.
“You can throw on a pair of overalls and look just fine on a ranch. What do you think it's going to take to get me prepped for a fashion house?” Christie asked dryly, surveying her generic brand leggings and oversized T-shirt.
“Besides, you're at the top of your class. We both know you're destined for a glamorous internship and a star-studded career in the fashion industry. What need is a ranch going to have for a mediocre paralegal when I'm finished school? So, it's only fair that you come with me before your career takes off and you no longer have time for us little people,” Christie cajoled, with puppy dog eyes and a devilish grin.
Ava had no doubt that Christie knew she was about to win. It was one of Ava's greatest gifts and her biggest flaw at the same time. She was too kind-hearted. Not in the way that made her a good person, but in the way that made her a perpetual doormat. Throughout her childhood and high school years, she was a habitual people-pleaser, and it had interfered with every facet of her life, from her social life to her academic performance.
However, from the day she was accepted into the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Apparel Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, her life changed. She had found something she was good at, something she could take pride in. Ava was happy, and her confidence soared. When it came to Christie, her spine seemed to turn to Jell-O. Christie was right; Sarah would likely be spending the last year of her degree in fashion hot spots like New York, Milan and Paris. Meanwhile, she knew Christie had dreamed of learning to work with horses since she was a little girl—and even less well-off than Ava—and who knew how long it would be before she had another opportunity like this one.
Ava exhaled heavily, rolling her eyes. Christie's grin transformed into an enormous smile, recognizing the resignation and knowing she'd accomplished her goal. She threw her arms around her friend, hugging her tightly for a moment before standing upright, a frantic look on her face.
“OK, so that means we have exactly two weeks until we leave. I'll take care of all the arrangements. You just make sure you pack something that the cows and chickens can't ruin,” Christie teased.
Ava nodded, trying to mentally envision the contents of her closet and cringing at the thought of manure-soaked crepe de chine pants or mud-splattered silk tunics. It wasn't that her clothing was the most expensive stuff out there—most of her wardrobe was actually comprised of her own designs—but she'd hate to ruin so many one-of-a-kind creations. Deciding not to think about the impending defilement of her attire, she glanced at her watch, realizing she'd been dallying at lunch for too long.
“I gotta go!” she announced, rising from the diner's booth. “I've got a heavy schedule all week, so give me a call this weekend and we'll finalize the details.” “...and see if I can't figure out how to weasel my way out of this rustic excuse for a vacation,” she mumbled under her breath.
Unfortunately, the week passed by too quickly, and by the time the weekend arrived, she hadn't even a pitiful excuse in sight. Worse, Christie had investigated the itinerary for the vacation, and as she recited it over the phone, Ava fought valiantly against the urge to back out. Early mornings, horse grooming, ranch maintenance—which she could only imagine meant cleaning out stalls and other ungodly tasks. But at the end of the long list of indescribable horrors sat the reason Ava stood strong against the innate desire to flee. Horseback riding, training sessions, sunset trail riding and other stuff that she knew meant the world to Christie. She committed the trip—and its wretched itinerary—to the back of her mind for her remaining week in civilization, and did her best to make every moment pass by as slowly as possible. Unfortunately, the fates were unkind to Ava, speeding her through the week at an exorbitant speed and before she knew it, their day of departure was upon her.
She awoke early to squeeze in a shower and prep time before their flight. Slipping on a pair of form-fitting, bootcut jeans and a simple viscose tank top that had a deceptively demure neckline in the front but plunged all the way to the waist of her jeans in the back. She checked her reflection in the mirror, sliding her hands along the outline of her curvy figure. At first, studying in the fashion industry, she'd been terribly self-conscious about her curves, but as time went by and she saw one skinny model after the next, she realized something. Those women, while beautiful, were cookie cutters, exact replicas of one another. Even worse, from studying behind the scenes she had come to see their many flaws; sunken faces, bony thinness, Botox and volume injections and a steady calendar of plastic surgery to keep up with the latest body trend.
In contrast, Ava saw herself as absolutely unique, with a curvy, one-of-a-kind frame, long, golden blonde hair and crystal blue eyes that captured the attention and admiration of men and women alike. Satisfied with the woman staring back at her in the mirror, Ava nodded, heading out into the small, common living room of her shared apartment. She grabbed her luggage from next to the front door and forced her feet to usher her downstairs to the lobby where Christie was, no doubt, already waiting anxiously. She did her best to plaster a smile on her face, seeing no point in making this a miserable experience for both of them, and made small talk all the way to the airport and throughout the plane ride from Rhode Island to Colorado. Ava loved to fly, though her tight budget didn't allow for air travel very often.
The four-hour flight flew by quickly, and Ava took a deep breath as she stepped off the plane. This was it; there was no turning back. She wasn't entirely certain what she had against ranch life so much—aside from the obvious muck and mud issues, of course. She supposed it must have something to do with the unfamiliarity of the situation. In truth, the only pet Ava had ever had was a goldfish, her parents both allergic to most domestic animals. She felt very out of her comfort zone when she thought about spending time on a ranch, surrounded by large, strange animals and burly farmworkers. So much land somehow seemed unnatural, too, having grown up in a two-bedroom apartment before moving into the apartment she shared with two other fashion students.
Perhaps it was about time she opened her mind and gave ranch life an honest try—at least for the week—she thought as she spotted a man holding up a sign with their names. Walking over to him, he greeted them both kindly, offering to take their bags and escort them to the vehicle waiting outside, which turned out to be a luxury sedan, pleasing Ava immensely. She had imagined having to ride in the back of a rusty old pickup truck all the way from the airport to the ranch, and was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected luxury ride. Traveling at least thirty minutes to the ranch, the car pulled into a long, winding driveway that lead to a well-kept, moderate-size ranch house.
Ava stepped out of the car, turning to take in the view around her. She had never seen so much open space, and it was...breathtaking. Beyond the open expanse was lush, green forest in every direction and the mountain range beyond drew the eye upward, making it seem like the land went on indefinitely. She had expected to be greeted by the noxious smell of animal and manure, but instead the air smelled...clean.
“I told you it wouldn't be so bad,” Christie whispered, obviously recognizing the awed expression on Ava's face.
“I'm willing to concede that the place doesn't smell like an outhouse,” Ava teased quietly.
A man came out of the house to greet them then. He must have been nearly seventy-maybe older-and as wrinkled as a prune, but he wore a kind expression that made him seem immediately likable.
“Hello ladies. My name's William Winchester—just call me Will, but not Bill. I managed to avoid the name all these years and I don't want to pick it up now. I'm the owner of the ranch,” he welcomed them, extending his hand in greeting. “I'll take you over to your cabin so you can get settled, and then what do you say you join me at the house for lunch? Don't worry, I'm not the one doing the cooking. We have an in-house chef for that, or else all our guests would be stuck with my specialty night after night.” “It's hot dog spaghetti, in case you were wondering,” he whispered conspiratorially, and Ava couldn't help but laugh.
“It sounds like your specialty might rival mine—macaroni and cheese whiz...a la Ava,” she teased back.
“That sounds wonderful,” Christie replied, beaming brightly. “Um, the cabin, not the spaghetti...or the macaroni,” she smiled apologetically.
The three laughed and the two women followed Will beyond the house to a grouping of cabins about twenty yards behind and to the right. The cabins were quaint, but immaculately maintained with a small, wooden front porch on each one. Inside the “grand” one-bedroom cabin—the largest unit the ranch had—was a cozy living room with a fireplace and a kitchenette off to one side. The bedroom was a decent size with two double beds and a large curtain that could be pulled to separate the space. The bathroom was painted and decorated in the same style as the rest of the cabin, but beyond the stand-up shower and small pedestal sink was a deep, luxurious-looking hot tub—a welcome sight but it looked a little out of place in the rustic cabin.
Their luggage was deposited by the front door by the man who had picked them up at the airport, who nodded goodbye and waited for Will on the grass beyond the front porch.
“If you need anything, just mention it to anyone you see working around here,” Will explained. “They all know that, outside of taking proper care of our animals, making sure the guests are comfortable is our number one priority. Now, lunch will be ready in about half an hour, so you just go ahead and take your time getting settled. I'll see you up at the house shortly.”
Will turned and left the cabin then, and Christie turned to look out the back window, overlooking the vast fields and forests.
“Tell you what, Christie,” Ava started, making her way in the opposite direction. “You go ahead and shovel manure and rub down cows...or whatever it is you do here, and I'll spend the week right here in the hot tub. Deal?”
“Ava,” her friend complained good-naturedly.
“OK, fine. You can join me in the hot tub, but keep to your side, and you're the one who has to tell Will that we've opted for a week of luxurious relaxation instead of rustic farm work,” Ava teased.
She turned into the bedroom instead, depositing her luggage there and then reemerged into the living room. Wandering out onto the front porch, she intended to take another look at the scenic forest and mountain range but was greeted by another sight instead. There, not thirty feet in front of her was an impressive, four-legged creature. It's long, chestnut mane and tail glittered in the sunlight, and its eyes met Ava's, surprising her with the alertness she saw there. Next to the horse stood a young man, he couldn't have been more than sixteen or seventeen years old, rubbing the animal while he spoke to it in quiet tones before taking hold of its reins and slowly stepping backward. The young man's movements were deliberate, as if he were reciting a set of instructions in his mind. Although Ava hadn't seen a horse or its trainer once in her life, she could easily tell he wasn't very experienced. It was interesting to watch; the horse more accustomed to the movements than the young man.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of another figure moving into view from the direction of the ranch house. He was tall, well over six feet, and broad chested. Wearing a simple, white T-shirt, she could decipher the outline of every sinewy muscle. His five-o-clock shadow did nothing to hide the rugged outline of his jaw, and he wore a cowboy hat, shielding his face from the sun, but drawing attention to his dark, vivid, sapphire blue eyes. He walked over to the boy who was stiltedly leading the horse around the pen. He spoke to him for a moment and then stood back, observing. Suddenly, the boy moved more confidently; his steps were more fluid and his eyes were focused on the task at hand.
Ava's head filled with naughty images of the delectable cowboy, wondering if he was as skilled in other areas as he appeared to be in training horses and aspiring, young horse trainers. Perhaps a week at the ranch wouldn't be such a horrible experience now. With eye candy like that, who cares about mucking out barns or chasing away chickens. She'd do it all happily if she could keep that talented cowboy in her sights. Maybe she should make the suggestion to the owner—he'd have a whole lot more guests on the ranch. Hell, women would flock in hordes to watch that man at work. Ava had always figured herself to be the kind of girl who would go crazy over a hot fireman or sexy policeman, but she couldn't imagine any one of them—or even a whole group of them—holding a candle to this guy.
He looked up then, glancing in her direction. His eyes found her, grazing over her body from head to toe. It was an incredibly bold move, given that he knew she could see him, and Ava couldn't help but wonder if the sexy cowboy was more cocky or confident. At the same time, she could feel heat begin to creep into her cheeks and she nearly laughed aloud; she was blushing like an inexperienced school girl!
“Great,” she thought wryly. “Next, he'll have me tongue-tied and giggling like a teenager, too.”
He turned away a moment later, the young horse trainer garnering his attention. Ava turned away, too, heading back into the cabin, still smiling over her silly, adolescent response to the sexy wrangler. Christie was there, all ready to head up to the house for lunch with Will, and by the time they walked back outside the cabin, the wrangler was gone; only the boy and the horse remained in the training pen and he was nowhere in sight.
“Am I imagining things?” she thought half-humorously, wondering if perhaps the country air was messing with her head and she'd imagined the too-hot-to-be-real cowboy.
Wandering up to the house, the door was open for them before they reached the top of the front porch, Will already standing there beyond the threshold.
“Come on in,” he welcomed them, leading them to the oversized dining room beyond the front foyer. “This is Noah. He's um...a wrangler here,” Will motioned to the man walking into the room from the opposite direction.
“Oh, thank God,” Ava thought silently. It wasn't only that she got to see the sexy wrangler again—sure, it was a nice perk—but his presence there confirmed that she wasn't losing her marbles.
“You joining us for lunch, Noah? I'm sure these fine ladies wouldn't object to your company,” Will offered, the light of an ever-ready matchmaker gleaming in his eyes.
Noah was silent for just a moment, his eyes grazing over Ava just as they had outside of the cabin. He spoke to Will without turning to look at him. “I really wish I could, Will. Unfortunately, I need to get a few hours in if I'm going to see what I can do with the new arrival later on.” His eyes stayed fixed on Ava as he spoke, and while she had no idea what he was talking about, it seemed to her there was a double innuendo in his words. And if she was the “new arrival,” she'd love to find out what he could do with her, too.
He left then and the remaining occupants of the room sat down at the table as a plump, middle-aged woman brought in a giant tray, laden with food that smelled a thousand times better than anything Ava or her roommates could whip up in between classes.
Will chattered on about life on the ranch as they ate, and Ava had to admit that it sounded a little more interesting than she had originally thought—at least it didn't seem that he spent all his time knee-deep in...less appealing aspects of the job. He offered to take them out to the training pen after lunch to see a wrangler in action, but as they strolled over to the fence, she experienced a small wave of disappointment, hoping it would have been the sexy wrangler from earlier working with the horse. Instead, Will introduced them to John, an experienced cowboy who'd been working on the ranch for decades. He held a long rope in his hand, attached to the horse's bridle, and he spoke loudly but calmly to the docile creature, leading it around the pen. Though he never used it, the man held a whip draped over one arm, and Ava covered her mouth aghast when she first saw it. Will was quick to explain that the whip was never used to harm or discipline the horse. The pressure exerted was only ever enough to express to the horse how it should move. Ava wasn't entirely convinced; she couldn't help but wonder if there wasn't a better way to train the horse.
The rest of the day passed by in a hurry, Christie pulling Ava along to one area of the ranch or another. As the two returned to the cabin long after night had fallen, Christie headed for bed while Ava opted to indulge her tired legs in a relaxing dip in the hot tub. Turning on the jets, she climbed in, and instantly she could feel the luxurious heat of the water soothing her muscles. Closing her eyes, she leaned back as images of the sexy wrangler sprang to her mind. “Oh, no you don't,” she chastised herself. This was intended to be a relaxing bath, not a stimulating one, and given that her vibrator was miles away back at home, sexy men and naughty sex needed to be the furthest things from her mind.
Stepping out of the tub, she wrapped a towel around her and tiptoed to her bedroom in search of clothing. It was too warm for a bathrobe, so she opted for a strapless, azure blue sundress instead with an A-line fit and a hem that fell to mid-thigh. Now too revved up for sleep, she walked out onto the front porch, the lights from the training pen catching her attention immediately.
“Damn,” she breathed, relinquishing all hope that her mind and body might settle down. “Out of the hot tub and into the fire,” she mocked herself dryly.
The sexy cowboy was there with a different horse than the one she'd seen him and the young trainer with earlier that day. He had ditched the cowboy hat, no longer needing it to shield his eyes from the sun, and she could see that his hair was dark, left just long enough that it added to his rugged appeal.
The horse was larger than the one from earlier and jet black without a single marking anywhere on its body. Its head was lowered slightly, waving back and forth from side to side, and its ears appeared pinned back, near his neck. It pawed the ground with his foreleg forcefully, and although Ava had no experience with horses, its body spoke volumes in a language that even she could understand. The horse was nervous, angry, untamed, and there was no one else there for it to vent its aggression on but the cowboy.
It wasn't wearing a bridle or saddle, and the cowboy had no whip like the man she'd seen earlier. Noah appeared to have absolutely no way to get the horse under control but he also wasn't moving out of its way. Ava's pulse sped up, her breath catching in her throat. Instead of retreating, the man moved in closer, meeting the horse's gaze directly and speaking to it in hushed tones. Slowly, the animal's head stilled, its ears turned forward and slowly, it ceased pawing at the ground. The cowboy continued to speak quietly, his hand coming up to touch the side of the horse's head. He held his hand still for a moment and then stroked the horse gently.
Ava hadn't realized she'd been moving forward until then, down the steps of the front porch and halfway across the distance that had been between them. She stopped, watching, mesmerized by the way the man calmed the wild animal. It was breathtaking. He moved along the length of the horse, talking all the while, and then steered the horse's direction with a single, firm push. It began to follow his rudimentary commands, obeying the cowboy, moving around the pen. He stopped each time the horse seemed to be getting riled up, calming him with only his hands and voice. Ava didn't know how long he continued; it could have been seconds or hours, she really wasn't sure. The cowboy stopped then, reaching for a bridle slung over the fence. Approaching the horse slowly, he fit it into place, though the horse began to paw at the ground lightly, increasing Ava's heart rate once again. But, as soon as the cowboy was finished, the pawing stopped.
Stroking the horse's head with one hand, he reached into a container behind him, retrieving a handful of apple slices and feeding them to the horse one at a time. Patting the horse for a job well done, he turned then, spotting Ava right away. He looked at her for a moment, his hand moving to calm the horse who had begun to paw nervously again, noticing Ava's presence. As the pawing ceased, the cowboy started over toward her, and although she hadn't the slightest idea what to say—a rare occurrence for Ava—she moved forward, slowly closing the distance between them.
“He's brand new here,” the cowboy spoke, saving Ava from having to delve deep for some witty remark. “I bought him from a man who was going to make him into a gelding, thinking he was too unruly to ever be manageable.”
“But, you were able to train him,” she replied, disturbed by the thought of such an atrocity over an animal's natural behavior.
He smiled then, “Not exactly. He'll let me near him, sure, and he'll even follow a command or two, but it will be a while before he's letting me ride him without bucking me off every chance he gets.”
“How did you do it? I mean, Will was explaining how it works earlier, and there were ropes and whips...”
“I just do things a little differently. The trick is to start off fully knowing the horse will respond, instead of trying to convince him to. He recognizes that. He trusts that you know what you're doing,” he said simply, opening the pen's gate and stepping out, closing it firmly behind him. “It's like walking into a room full of toddlers; you have to know you've got everything under control or they'll walk, run, skip, hop and jump all over you.”
“Come on,” he motioned for Ava to follow. “I'll show you.”
“Sure thing,” she replied aloud. “But I bet you've got other tricks I'd love for you to show me,” she added silently. Though, she was genuinely interested in how the cowboy managed to control a horse so easily.
“You haven't spent much time around horses,” he surmised accurately.
“No, not once before today actually. I thought I was a city girl through-and-through, but I'm enjoying it here much more than I thought I would.” “Of course, the sexy scenery doesn't hurt,” she mused wordlessly.
He led her beyond the barn to another corral, stopping briefly to ask a young man in the barn to bring out a particular horse. He opened the pen gate, motioning for Ava to step inside, and she did so nervously, not certain she wanted to come face to face with a wild animal like the one in the other pen. A moment later though, she breathed a small sigh of relief, the young man leading a much smaller, more docile-looking horse into the pen.
Noah removed the horse's reins, patting its head and speaking quietly once again. He started moving then, signaling for the horse to follow—and it did. He stopped and the horse came to a halt.
“Come here,” he told her, and she complied, feeling a bit like the obedient horse for a second.
Taking her hand, he guided her fingers to the horse as a tremor of desire surged up her arm in response to his touch. He continued to guide her, stroking along the horse's head, and Ava did her best to focus on the task at hand instead of the cowboy's body, so close to her own. He released her hand then and she nearly sighed in disappointment, reining in her response at the last second. She continued to stroke the horse, surprised by the sleek, soft feel.
“Now, tell her what you want her to do,” he told Ava, moving directly behind her.
“I'd love to tell you what I want you do to,” Ava spoke, realizing too late that she'd spoken aloud, heat creeping into her cheeks once again.
“I'd love to hear what it is you want me to do,” he responded easily, his voice huskier, just a hair's breadth from her ear. “But first, we should finish with Maggie, or she might feel jilted, coming out here for nothing,” he continued, but he was suddenly even closer than before, his lips lingering close to her ear while she could feel the heat radiating from his body, now less than an inch away from hers.
She nodded, grateful the cowboy couldn't see her face at the moment, giving her a chance to regain her composure. “I want her to follow me,” Ava told him, turning her head as she spoke, finding his eyes bright with desire.
Taking her hand, Noah showed her the command she'd need and then stood back just a step to let Ava take the helm. Feeling a little silly, she stood tall, summoning all the confidence she had, and motioned to the horse. Maggie started toward her instantly and Ava smiled, taking a step back to start moving around the pen.
“Um, how do I tell her to stop,” Ava asked the second time around the pen, realizing that they might continue around in circles all night otherwise, Maggie appearing perfectly content to follow Ava's movements.
Noah showed her from where he stood, leaning against the fence, watching her from the other side of the pen. She motioned for Maggie to stop and the horse complied instantly. Ava reached out her hand automatically, stroking the animal's smooth head, pleased with their mutual accomplishment.
“That was amazing!” she beamed, having had no idea that working with a horse could be so enthralling. Though, it didn't hurt that the trainer could have been GQ’s sexiest man of the year.
“Yes, you were,” Noah commented huskily, the combination of Ava's enthusiasm and her feminine curves driving him crazy.
Since he'd started helping Will out, he'd made it a policy to keep his distance from the newcomers vacationing on the ranch. They'd show up usually more interested in bashing country living than learning about it, sticking up their noses at any task or ranch hand they felt was beneath them. Unfortunately, it usually didn't take them long to figure out who he was though, and then he was stuck fending off every uppity young gold-digger throughout the entire duration of their stay. But, there was something different about Ava, and he just couldn't help himself.
Ava was quiet as Noah walked over to where she stood, still gently stroking the horse.
“What do you say we let Maggie have a rest?” he asked, stopping just inches away from her.
Ava nodded, wondering what he had in mind once Maggie was resting.
“Then, tell her,” he told her, walking over to the gate and opening it up without attaching the rope the horse had worn when she was brought in.
Ava panicked a little; it was one thing to guide the horse around an enclosed pen, but it was something else to be responsible for her out in the open.
“Remember, all you have to do is know what you want, and you can have it,” Noah's voice was soothing but she was beginning to think he might also be an expert in double innuendos.
Using the motions Noah had taught her, she focused her attention on the task at hand and lead Maggie out of the pen, through the open field and into the stable. Once there, Noah secured the horse in her stall and then turned to drape the rope over one of the hooks on the stable wall. Turning to follow his movements, Ava caught sight of the wall and her eyes grew large, noticing a multitude of strange and cruel-looking implements there, including a row of whips like the one John had been holding earlier. Noah recognized her response before she could cover it and he smiled devilishly.
“They're not meant to harm the horse. At least, they shouldn't be,” he told her, lifting one of the whips off of its hook. “See,” he told her, letting the end of the whip dangle, sliding it slowly up Ava's arm, across her bare shoulders and down the length of her other arm.
“That doesn't hurt, does it?” he asked, leaning close to whisper in her ear as he moved in slow circles around her wrist with the whip's end.
“No,” she admitted, her whole body tingling with arousal. “But, I don't think that's how it's supposed to be used.”
“Maybe not. But when something can feel good, why use it for anything else?” he asked, his eyes meeting Ava's gaze.
She didn't think what Noah was saying had anything to do with horses anymore, and that was fine with her. “Two can play at this game,” she thought, a smile curving up the edges of her full lips.
With her free hand, she moved to Noah's wrist, trailing her fingers up his arm slowly, across his broad, muscular chest and down his arm to the hand holding the whip. “But why use anything else? Wouldn't you rather touch me...wouldn't you rather feel me beneath your fingers?”
“Let's find out,” he said easily, returning the whip to its hook on the wall. He started at her neck this time, allowing his fingers to slide down over her collarbones. He slowed as he reached the upper swells of her breasts, hovering there for a moment, and he watched as Ava's body moved, her chest jutting forward just slightly of its own volition, trying to spur on his descent. Instead, he traced the outline of her breasts, gliding down her sides to her hips.
“I think you may be right, but I'd like to explore more to be sure,” he whispered against her ear before his hands started sliding upward. This time as he reached her breasts, he didn't detour, his palms grazing over her nipples, amplifying the arousal coursing through her and making her throb with desire. Noah leaned forward, his lips hovering just a hair's breadth from her own, so close her lips began to quiver in anticipation
Voices sounded several yards from the barn, barely audible at first but growing louder as a group of four or five men approached. Ava closed her eyes fighting against a wave of frustration as Noah gritted his teeth, his hands leaving her body.
“Noah? You in there?” one of the voices asked, the group now not more than three or four yards from the barn. “One of your guys came looking for you. Says there's a problem on one of your ranches.”
“Damn!” Noah cursed silently. Not only had they interrupted at the most inopportune time, but they were hollering out information he didn't want Ava to have. Sure, his gut told him there was something different about her, but he wasn't banking two weeks of gold-digging on it.
“Sorry, Ava. But I guarantee you they're going to come barging in here in about a minute and a half,” he smiled ruefully all the while his hands itched to touch her again, to explore all the areas he'd yet to discover.
She nodded, looking around for another exit. Finding none, she looked up at Noah quizzically.
“I don't suppose there's a secret door hiding in one of these stalls?” she mused aloud.
“Sorry. Only one way out of here, but it'll be fine,” he assured her, having no doubt that every ranch hand knew of his no-fraternizing-with-the-vacationers policy.
Nearly one and a half minutes later on the dot, the big stable door opened as four men of various ages walked in. They came to an abrupt halt, most of them eyeing her appreciatively while the eldest of the group turned a quizzical eye toward Noah. It was obvious that none of them had been expecting to find anyone inside with Noah, but he was already leading her toward the now-open exit. He stopped when he reached the group, casually telling Ava how to get back to the cabins before turning his attention to the group, talking quietly as she continued on outside.
Ava padded back to the cabin, tiptoeing up the steps of the front porch. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain herself to Christie. She entered the cabin, opting for a night on the living room sofa rather than disturbing her friend in the shared bedroom. Every inch of her body was revved up, still sensitive even to the brush of the sofa's canvas-like fabric. The rub, so different from the feel of the fingers that had grazed over her skin just moments before, reminded her of the whip Noah had wielded. God, that was naughty. She'd never been much of a whips and chains kind of gal, but the way he had teased her with it—that was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.
Breathing deep, she tried to cool down, knowing she wasn't getting a moment's sleep in her current state. She contemplated taking matters into her own hands, letting her fingers graze along her thighs, but it wasn't her own hands she wanted to feel touching her body, and so it only served to intensify her frustration. She debated sneaking back out to the barn to pick up where they had left off, but she figured she'd just come off as the desperate, sex-starved city girl. Besides, the guy probably had a whole flock of women at his beck and call; Ava had just been within convenient proximity at the time. By now, he was probably long gone, crawling into bed with one of his eager followers.
“Arghhh!” she fumed, shifting to try to find a more comfortable position on the sofa.
It wasn't that Ava was a glutton for sex; she had resignedly accepted that her studies didn't provide her with a whole lot of time for a romantic life outside of the occasional weekend fling. It was the damn, sexy cowboy that was throwing her hormones out of whack. Burying her head beneath one of the sofa's throw cushions, she squeezed her eyes shut, forcing pictures of the latest runway designs to fill her mind and drown out the images of the too-hot wrangler. Finally, sometime before the sun began to lighten the sky, Ava's body succumbed to sleep. In slumber, though, she lost command over her thoughts as wild and wanton fantasies filled her dreams, making the night about as restful as a marathon.
She awoke before Christie the next morning; she'd forgotten that her friend could sleep eight hours through an earthquake and still squeeze in a nap during the aftershocks.
“That girl sure loves her sleep,” Ava mused silently as she rubbed her shoulders trying to ease the tension that had built over night from her heated dreams and the makeshift bed.
She tiptoed to the bathroom, not wanting to risk even the slightest chance of facing Christie just yet, she started the shower and hopped in, letting the cold water cascade down her body and cool her overheated flesh. Wrapped in a towel ten minutes later and hoping her luck would hold, she grabbed her suitcase from the bedroom quietly, bringing it out to the living room. Pulling out one of her favorite dresses, she slipped it on the near-replica of the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress. It was a white, halter-style with a tight-fitting bodice that plunged low, revealing ample cleavage. The ruffled skirt fell to her knees and made her feel like a movie star every time it blew in the wind. Sure, it wasn't the most practical choice for a day on the ranch, but it was just Ava's style, whether she was sketching her newest idea or walking around training pens with the sexy as hell Noah.
She'd just finished brushing out her long locks when Christie sauntered out into the living room. She had to hand it to her friend; she hadn't seen her wearing a smile before noon since Michael Duncan waved at her in the gym at a senior year pep rally in high school. She really did love it here on the ranch.
“Good morning, Sunshine,” Ava chirped, trying to join in on Christie's good mood.
“Morning Marilyn,” Christie teased, looking over Ava's outfit. “I didn't think you'd be up already. I figured you'd be sleeping through every minute you could,” she smiled.
“Nonsense. I've come to find a thing or two here that makes getting out of bed worthwhile.”
“Oh? And does that thing happen to be the hot guy who was checking you out yesterday?” Christie asked with a grin.
“What would make you say that? Couldn't I just be happy to be here with you?” Ava feigned exasperation.
“Sure, you could. But if he had been checking me out, I'd be a hell of a lot happier getting his attention than yours,” she smiled in jest.
“Ha!” Ava dismissed the subject. “How about you get dressed so we can go get some breakfast?”
Five minutes later, the two headed out the cabin's front door, Ava stealing a surreptitious glance around in search of a certain cowboy. Seeing no sign of him, she turned her attention back toward the house, watching as Will opened the door, already anticipating their arrival.
“Good morning ladies. Sleep well?” he asked them cheerfully.
Ava just nodded, smiling as Christie filled him in on her opinion that the country air served to provide a better night's sleep.
“Funny,” Ava thought. “I guess the two of us weren't breathing the same air last night,” she mused silently, remembering all the time she spent tossing and turning.
Once seated, the same woman wheeled in a cart laden with breakfast foods, everything from biscuits and fruit to bacon and fried eggs, and arranged them on the table. The small group conversed amicably while they ate, but not five minutes before the meal was through, Noah walked in through the far entrance, a devilish smile briefly crossing his features as he met Ava's gaze.
“Morning, Noah,” Will greeted him easily. “You know, I was hoping to show Christie the new extension we've been working on behind the stable. Why don't you give Ava an inside tour of the property?” Will suggested casually, though she could easily spy the twinkle in the matchmaker's eye.
Noah nodded, but there was something less than pleased in his disposition; not angry or disappointed, but rather like he felt uncomfortable with the arrangement somehow. Ava tried to think of an excuse quickly to let him off the hook, but Will was already getting to his feet and Noah was there, offering his hand.
“Ready for a behind-the-scenes look at running a ranch?” he queried with a boyish grin, mock enthusiasm in his tone.
“As long as 'behind-the-scenes' doesn't mean mucking out stalls or chasing chickens,” she remarked in good humor.
Noah smiled, waving to Will and Christie as he lead Ava out of the house, down the front steps and toward the training pen he'd had Maggie in last night. It wasn't that he didn't relish the idea of a few hours with Ava—he could think of a thing or two, or a dozen, he'd love to do with her—but he really did have work to do and that meant there wasn't opportunity for anything but conversation with her right now, and the chance to run into at least a dozen other workers who could give his secret away.
“So, Noah...if you have things you have to do, you don't have to keep me in tow all morning,” Ava interjected into his silent worry.
Good. He was off the hook. He could send her on her way to go catch up with Will and her friend right then.
“It's about time you see what ranch life is all about, don't you think?” “What the hell was that?” he wondered silently. So much for off the hook. She'd given him an easy out and he'd been poised to take it, so why the hell didn't he? Because she was enthusiastic, feisty and brave...and God how he wanted to touch her...to loosen the knot of fabric securing her dress behind her neck and watch it fall away from her breasts...to slide his hand up her thigh, pulling the skirt's fabric up as he went, revealing inch after inch of her soft flesh...
“So, you've really never spent any time in the country?” he inquired, trying to steer his thoughts elsewhere.
“Nope. I went from an apartment in Dayton, Ohio to an apartment in Providence, Rhode Island, and nowhere else in between. That's it,” she replied simply.
“Not much for travel, are you?”
“Actually, I love it. I'd spend half my life in an airplane if I could. It was just never in the cards, that's all. When I'm finished with school, it'll be different. At least, that's the plan,” she smiled easily. “What about you? Ever spend any time in the city?”
“Some. My parents retired in Florida, and my brother's in New York. I get down to see them when I can.”
“I guess Will keeps you pretty busy?”
“I guess you could say that,” Noah replied, but that same discomfort she'd sensed back at the house crept into his tone once again.
Ava didn't know why, but she searched her mind for a different topic, hoping to keep up the casual conversation. It was comfortable. As much as her body was revved up, arousal coursing through her veins over the close proximity, dying to yank every stitch of clothing off Noah's muscular body, at the same time, she was actually enjoying talking to him. “It must be something in the country air,” she thought wryly.
“So, how long have you been working with horses? It seems you have quite the talent.” Ava's tone changed as she remembered back to the exchange the night prior, making the double innuendo in her statement clear.
“As far back as I can remember. And what about you? What are you going to school for?”
“Fashion design,” she replied, knowing she sounded far more like the typical city girl in that moment than she would have liked. She wanted to explain further. “I love fashion, it's true, but, I loved it just as much when I was younger, too. But, when your parents spend more time shopping at the second-hand thrift shop than at Bloomingdale's, it's hard for a young girl to keep up. I want to change that; I want anyone with a flair for fashion to be able to delve right in. It's a kind of artistic expression, in my opinion,” she finished, the passion that fueled her for so long flaring in her eyes as she spoke.
Noah's eyes were locked on hers, his gaze intense, and she felt a light blush creep into her cheeks. He didn't speak and her expression turned quizzical, wondering what he was thinking.
“You're captivating,” he whispered harshly just seconds before his lips descended on hers.
Not expecting it, she was thrown off guard and without thinking her lips parted for him. Suddenly, his hands were on her waist, pulling her hard against him, and the arousal that she'd sought to keep at bay flooded through Ava, her hands twining in the hair at the back of his neck.
The stable door opened behind them and Ava jumped back, smoothing her hair as one of the men she'd seen in the stable last night came walking out.
“Hey Noah. You get that thing sorted out last night?” the man asked.
“Yeah. Everything was fine, thanks.” He looked uncomfortable again, but he quickly moved on, putting an end to whatever they had started just a moment before.
“OK, Ava. Are you ready to learn a thing or two about what we do here?” He asked, a devilish gleam lighting his eyes once again.
She nodded nervously, not certain she liked the sounds of that. “How about we go find ourselves a private spot to pick up where we left off,” she wanted to say aloud. Instead, Noah led her into the stable, returning to Maggie and the wall of naughty torture tools. He launched into an explanation of the care their animals receive and what a typical day was like depending on the season. By the time Noah was finished, she couldn't believe it, but she was fascinated. It all had seemed so simple before—riding around on horses and such–but there was more to running a ranch than she ever could have imagined. And a great deal of it intrigued her far more than she felt comfortable admitting.
The day went by in a flash as Ava learned to help out with one task after another, though her favorite was certainly the time they'd spent with the horses. “Great, I'm turning into Christie,” she'd mused silently at one point. It was hard not to feel that enthusiasm, watching Noah work; it looked effortless, natural. With bated breath, she'd watched as he worked with the black beast she'd seen him with last night, breathing a sigh only when it had calmed and let Noah approach him. She was still awed by the way he seemed able to communicate with the animal.
Evening approached and he didn't seem in any hurry to run screaming from the inexperienced city girl, joining them for dinner at Will's, and conversing easily with the group. Though, all the while the conversation carried on, she could feel Noah's eyes on her, and what tedious hold she had left nearly gave out right there at the table. She wanted him naked, panting above her now, and the look in his eyes told her he'd be more than happy to oblige. She'd kept her hormones on a tight leash all day, but now that there wasn't work to keep her distracted, she was losing her grip fast.
Soon after the meal was done, Christie and Will were still deep in conversation, Noah stood, offering to walk Ava back to her cabin on his way home. Doing her best to conceal her enthusiasm—and failing miserably at it—she was on her feet in seconds. The two barely made it out the front door when Noah turned, pressing her back against the brick wall. His mouth swooped down on hers and she met him eagerly. Ava had no idea if anyone could see them, and when she felt Noah's hands on her waist, pulling her hard against him, her soft curves molding to his hard body, she wouldn't have cared if every worker on the ranch was there watching the spectacle—kind of kinky if she thought about it. Her fingers reached for the open collar of his shirt, fumbling with the buttons to expose more of the hard, sinewy muscle she'd been desperate to touch all day. She'd barely revealed more than an inch or two when the older man who had walked into the barn last night came around the corner from the front of the house.
Noah released her begrudgingly, but it was too late. The man sauntered over to them, a big grin on his face.
“So, Noah. It looks like you're breaking your own rule, huh?” the man said in a teasing tone.
Ava didn't know what the man was talking about, but she was busy trying to regain her composure, not paying much attention.
“What can I do for you, Robert?” Noah asked the old man, obviously trying to hide his frustration.
“That same horse of yours is giving your guys a problem tonight. Broke one of the fences,” Robert answered, an apologetic look on his face now.
Breathing a rugged sigh of resignation and frustration, Noah nodded, “I'll be there in a few minutes.”
As Robert left them alone, Noah turned back to Ava, gritting his teeth against the arousal he still felt coursing through his veins. “Responsibility always seems to call at the worst time, doesn't it,” he mused wryly, but he couldn't resist leaning down, his lips covering hers one more time.
Three minutes and an apologetic goodbye later Ava was walking back to her cabin. “Damn, damn, damn!” she cursed under her breath, foreseeing another restless night. And she was right, tossing and turning until the early morning hours, she finally abandoned her hope for more than an hour's sleep at a time.
The day passed uneventfully; Christie headed off early to some activity or another while Ava opted to hang out in the cabin for a while, figuring a soothing soak in the hot tub had to beat early morning chores. An hour later, the water in the tub cooling to an uncomfortable temperature, she hopped out, wrapping a towel around her and stepping out into the living room to retrieve her suitcase. A knock sounded at the door before she could open her luggage. She walked over, opening the door a moment later to find Noah on the other side.
“Good morning,” he greeted her as his eyes took in her scantily clad form.
OK, Ava wasn't generally the overtly forward type, but given the number of times circumstance had thwarted her in the past days, she didn't mind stepping out of character for a while. Without saying a word, she grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into the cabin. Reaching up on tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around him and covered his mouth with hers, her tongue plying against his lips instantly. She could feel his warmth radiating from his body and her skin tingled everywhere he came in contact with her. Her hands gripping his shirt, she was the one to pull him in hard against her this time as his hands roamed down her back, over her hips. He groaned as she ran her fingers down his abdomen, coming to a halt where the waist of his jeans hindered her descent. Reaching down, he lifted her up in one, smooth motion, and then he started through the living room toward the bedroom beyond. Noah had taken two steps when they heard footsteps on the porch's front steps, and he stopped, lowering Ava's feet to the floor.
He didn't know if it was Christie returning to the room, Will or one of the ranch hands in search of him...All he knew was so long as he was on the ranch, there'd be one interruption after another, but he happened to know of a place they could go where no one would disturb them...
Noah contemplated the thought for a moment, wondering if it was wise to so thoroughly break his rule, but he knew his gut hadn't been wrong. And hell, he wanted Ava enough he really didn't care if he was wrong; he'd deal with the repercussions later.
“Go get dressed,” he whispered to her, smiling conspiratorially, before the unwelcome visitor opened the front door.
Ava didn't know what Noah had in mind, but if there was some chance it would put an end to the incessant interruptions, she didn't care where he was taking her...as long as he intended to take her. The double innuendo made Ava smile as she slipped into another one of her favorite dresses, this time a strapless, fiery orange creation with see-through flames licking up the entire length of her torso. Somehow, the dress seemed fitting. Trying to appear as calm as she could, she walked back out into the living room to find Noah and Will conversing quietly, a bright smile on Will's face.
“Are you going to be back later today?” Will asked Noah, and he shrugged noncommittally in response.
The exchange struck Ava as odd; generally, the employer dictated an employee's hours, whereas Will acted more like Noah was doing him a favor showing up to work. But, what did she know about the ranch industry?
“Ready?” Noah asked, turning to take in Ava's new attire. It didn't provide quite the same easy access as the towel, but it was one hell of a sexy dress. His appreciative gaze told Ava he was OK with the trade-off for now. She followed Noah out of the cabin, walking up to the house and around to the long front drive. Stopping at the passenger side of a ridiculously expensive-looking vehicle, he opened the door for her, motioning for Ava to slide in. She had no idea wranglers made such a good living.
“So, where are we going?” she asked as he slid behind the wheel.
“You'll see,” he told her, the same smile on his face.
He didn't keep her wondering for long. Less than five minutes later, he pulled up the iron front gates of a property down the road, buzzing at the gate before it opened for him seconds later. Cruising up the long front drive, Ava's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw the massive house sitting at the top. It had to be at least three or four times the size of Will's ranch house. Stopping, he came around to the passenger side, opening the door and waiting for Ava as she slowly exited the vehicle. Stunned, she couldn't figure out why he'd taken her here. Did he work for another rancher? Is that why he brought her here? Strange given that she'd been led to believe he was planning on picking up where they'd left off. A morning sex session at work?
He led her up the grand front staircase which stopped at an enormous set of double doors. The door opened before they had reached the top step, an old man greeting them there.
“Good morning, sir. Back already?” he asked good-naturedly.
“Yes I am. Ava, this is Michael,” he motioned toward the old man. “Michael, this is Miss Ava Mitchell.”
Ava nodded politely, but then turned a quizzical gaze to Noah. He just smiled devilishly.
“I'll be home for lunch today, with a guest. If you could let Margaret know, I'd appreciate it,” he spoke to Michael. The man nodded and then he was off, through the grand, open living area to a hallway at the far left end of the house.
Noah started forward, ascending the tall, spiral staircase that lead to the second floor. Still perplexed, looking around in awe, Ava followed. He turned to the right as they reached the top and continued down the hall to the last door on the right. Opening the door to reveal a grand bedroom inside, Ava stopped mid-step.
“This is your house,” she stated quietly. That's why Noah had a ridiculously expensive-looking car. That's why the old man had opened the door for them, greeting Noah. She had no idea how a wrangler—even one as good as Noah—could afford a house so large it looked as if it had swallowed several others. But it was definitely his house. She was certain.
“Yes, this is my house, Ava,” Noah confirmed, his eyes intent on hers as if he were looking for something there.
She felt a bit uncomfortable, and more than a little out of place. She'd never believe that money made a person worth anything more than someone without—particularly having been the one without for her entire life—but still she somehow felt a little out of her league here, enough so that she took a step back, hovering at the room's entrance.
Noah's gaze changed right then, as if he'd found the answer to whatever he'd been looking for, and suddenly there was nothing but molten, hot fire blazing in his eyes. Grabbing her hand, he pulled Ava into the room, closing the door behind them. All thoughts of money and mansions fled as he backed her up against the door, his mouth covering hers as it had before. After days of thwarted arousal, this time, she realized there would be no interruptions, and a wild abandonment surged through her.
Ava's hands returned to where they had been not long ago, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, her eyes fixed on his chest as the fabric parted to reveal inch after inch of the muscular breadth of him. Unable to resist the temptation, she leaned forward, the tip of her tongue tasting his tanned skin as she kissed her way from his neck, down solid pecs and his, immaculately chiseled, washboard abs. She paused briefly when she reached the waist of his jeans, then her lips continued, from one hip to the other, just above the denim fabric that hindered her descent. Noah's hands twined in her silken, blonde hair, and he groaned as she returned to his center, unzipping his fly, hooking her fingers in the waist of his jeans and continuing to kiss every inch of skin she exposed. It was Ava's turn to moan as his cock sprang free, her mouth and lips growing moist instantly at the long, hard length of him. As she worked her way from his neck to where she was now, kneeling in front of him, she'd intended to tease him; to drive him wild with anticipation, but she couldn't resist. Opening her mouth wide, she sheathed him between her lips, taking in every inch of him she could. She moved slowly, savoring his scent, the taste of him on her tongue, the way he felt against her lips. After a long while, her pace increased, but not more than a few seconds later, Noah had pulled her to her feet, his fingers moving to the zipper at the side of her dress.
“My turn,” he whispered, and Ava moaned, the blazing heat in his eyes and his devilish grin nearly sending her over the edge.
As he lowered her zipper, Ava's dress fell to the floor. She hadn't bothered putting anything on under her dress and so in an instant, she was completely naked, her soft curves, her ample breasts and smooth pussy bare before him. Gritting his teeth in an attempt to keep his arousal in check, he had her on the bed in one swift movement, laying her back as he spread her legs. He leaned forward from the edge of the bed, his lips making contact with the inside of one of her thighs, kissing his way up slowly until he reached the apex.
Ava held her breath, waiting for him to continue upward, her body writhing to spur him on. But instead, Noah's lips started back down the inside of her other thigh, and she moaned in frustration. He smiled evilly, knowing he was driving her wild and continued his descent before working his way back up again. Hovering no more than an inch away from her pussy, Noah's fingers touched her instead, sliding along her wet slit before parting her lips, spreading her wide open. It was the most erotic thing she'd ever felt; to be so completely exposed to someone she barely knew. He leaned in further then, his tongue darting out to lick along her parted lips. Ava was so aroused that her hips nearly bucked off the bed in response to his sensual touch, and she fought against the urge to scream as he moved to her clit, licking gently at first before sucking her into his mouth. The strange pressure was exquisite, and already she could feel her orgasm building quickly. He sucked harder and she moaned loud, her hands clawing at the downy soft blankets on the bed, and as she felt his finger slip into her open pussy, her back arched off the bed as her orgasm shuddered through her body.
He released her then, his finger leaving her pussy and she watched as he sucked it into his mouth before going straight to the source, plunging his tongue deep inside her, darting in and out. Although the aftershocks of her last orgasm had yet to subside, she could already feel her body stirring again. She moaned softly as his pace increased but whimpered a moment later as his tongue left her warmth. Ava wouldn't feel bereft long, as two fingers replaced his tongue, plunging in and out fast. And then something changed. Noah bent his fingers as he continued to thrust, stimulating the tiny, most sensitive pleasure zone in her body. Instantly, an exquisite pressure began to build deep inside her, and before long she was thrashing wildly beneath him, her erotic screams of ecstasy filling the room as she started to cum, an orgasm unlike any other soaking her pussy and thighs.
Noah was on top of her then; he leaned down to kiss her as she felt his cock pressed against her wet entrance. But rather than plunge inside, he rolled then, pulling her with him to sit astride him. All of a sudden, she felt wickedly powerful, hovering above his massive cock, his expression consumed with desire as his gaze took in every inch of her. Her hands moved to cup her breasts, leaning forward so that she was only inches from his face as he watched intently. Sitting up straight, she lowered herself down then, ever so slowly, the tip of his cock sliding into her wet slit. Inch by inch, she continued until she'd taken every inch of him inside her, stilling for a moment to adjust to his enormous girth. Finally, she started to move, slowly at first, desperately trying to maintain the tenuous hold on her arousal, pacing herself to draw out the incredible experience as long as she could. But as Noah leaned up, flexing his flawless abs as he squeezed her tits, sucking a nipple in his mouth, her restraint snapped. Ava's pace increased, riding him faster; her fingers digging into his shoulders as he released her nipple, leaning up further to reach her lips. She kissed him back with a wild fervor as she rode him harder, their moans twining together as Noah's tongue delved into her mouth. Ava started to cum, the tremors of her orgasm coursing through her body, and as her pussy spasmed around his cock, Noah toppled over the edge, too, cumming hard as he thrust deep inside her one last time.
His arms wrapped around her, Ava's head resting on his shoulder, they remained in that position, breathless as the aftershocks of their orgasms slowly subsided. Finally, Noah fell back against the bed, bringing Ava with him as he slipped from her warmth. She sighed, immediately feeling empty. As exhausted as her body was, she wasn't ready for this to be over.
“What would you say to lunch in bed?” Noah whispered against her ear a moment later. “A little sustenance to keep our energy up?”
“Apparently, Noah isn't in any hurry for this to be over either,” she thought to herself with a smile, her body already humming with anticipation. She'd have to return to the ranch at some point; Christie would begin to worry eventually otherwise, but Ava was quite certain that the rest of her vacation was going to be a whole lot more interesting than she could ever have imagined.
THE END