She reddened and shook her head hard to dismiss the erotic images. God, she’d come across attractive men before. Granted they weren’t within her immediate vicinity but close enough to warrant some response. This raw hunger, however, baffled her, unlike any she experienced, ever.
Samantha’s deliberations met an untimely death as Reece snuck up behind her, scooped her up in his arms, and sent her crashing into the pool. She broke the water with a laugh while the others joined her in the pool.
****
Cody observed them from the living room window that overlooked the pool. Steadily, the urge to join them grew. It meant being in Samantha’s proximity. It would be hard to keep his hands off her body. His absence at lunch was a deliberate tactic. Almost kissing her out at the corral earlier then catching her in the kitchen had careened his senses into turmoil. Cody tried just about anything to keep his hands busy and his mind clear off Samantha. He rode until his hard-on made sitting on a saddle distinctly difficult. He’d brushed Daredevil’s coat until it shone and even polished his saddle in the tack room. His efforts, however, proved to be in vain.
He swore never to involve himself with any of Deborah’s friends again. Only, Samantha’s fiery presence made it difficult to keep his vow. So young; yet he never met anyone with her fighting spirit. It made absolute sense to stay away. His sanity couldn’t handle any more. Hell, if this morning blew him, it obviously didn’t prepare him for the assault on his emotions when he caught site of her bikini-clad figure within Chance’s embrace.
What the hell is happenin’? His body heated like a stud stallion after a mare, lost in a mindless haze of blatant sexuality. There was a moment out at the corral this morning when he noticed something flare up in her reflecting his own hunger. An unexplained electricity arced between them, unusual—unwanted—but a yearning nevertheless. A damn irresistible temptation if he had to be honest.
Now, his gaze landed on the beautiful arch of her throat as she threw back her head and laughed when Reece whispered in her ear. Her perfect white teeth framed by lustrous pink lips widened in a smile.
On a rigid swallow, his gaze peeled away. Aroused, he tried hard not to follow the rivulets of water trickling down her neck and disappear beneath that sexy bikini top. He attempted to glance away as her hands combed wet hair away from her face. The pull, however, was strong and Cody stared motionless. His body responded in defiance. Barely two days passed and he couldn’t understand this restlessness, desire. His cock rock hard watching her play in the water with Reece and Chance.
He dragged in a harsh breath. God, it hurt. The rush of blood through his veins drowned out all sense of rationality as he stood rooted to the spot. Fuck, he wanted her, needed to touch, replicate the caressing sway of the water over her delicious curves. His mouth watered to taste the delectable corners of her lips which curved in a smile…a soft smile for Chance.
Get a grip, Cody.
She seemed taken with Chance or Reece. He uttered a wry laugh. Reece was definitely a better catch. His brother owned equal shares in the ranch. What did Chance have to offer her as a mere ranch hand? Hah. Women.
“Hey, Cody.”
Observing the group one more time, Cody shifted his attention. “Rusty?” He caught the younger man’s extended hand in a firm shake. “When did you get back? How’s Nicky doing?” Rusty, a good friend and a damn fine ranch hand had taken a couple of days to go check on his wife. They lived about two hundred miles over in the next town.
“She’s the happiest damn pregnant woman I’ve ever seen.” His wife was heavily pregnant at seven months with twins.
Cody couldn’t believe he’d employed him six years ago. Better yet, Rusty was happy with his wage and chose to continue working at the ranch instead of finding a job closer to home.
“Nothin’ seems to bring her down. Between her Ma and my ma, I’d go nuts with all the bickerin’ and fussin’, but Nicky’s all smiles.”
“One tough woman you’ve got there, bro.” His gaze skimmed the outside once more watching Samantha laugh as she spiked a ball in the pool.
Rusty neared him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “And it’s ’bout time you got yourself a good woman too.”
Cody snorted. “Thanks, but I’m fine on my own.” Cupping the back of his neck, he stretched then dropped his large frame into a sofa.
His friend remained at the window, crossed his arms, and eyed his boss. “Man, you’ve seriously gotta get a life.”
“Wife or life? I ain’t a sucker for punishment. And I like my life just fine.”
Rusty laughed. “Heck, bro, whichever. A wife’s gonna make your life much better.”
Cody uttered a guttural laugh. He liked Rusty. A spirited and reliable man but cocky. He took on the boss when something was worth arguing. “Hate to break it to you, man. I ain’t as lucky in love as you are. Even though Nicky gave you the run around, she still married you.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t easy. Hell, the woman brought tears to my fucking eyes every time she turned me down.” His brow crinkled in memory.
“I remember.” Cody shook his head. Nicky gave Rusty a hard time before she finally agreed to a date. “Serves you right though ’cause if I recall what you told me, you made her that way when you didn’t give her the time of day in school, right?”
“Yeah.” Rusty blanched. “The important thing is I got her to agree.” He grinned. “Speaking of which, Samantha seems like a helluva lady from what the guys tell me. Not interested?”
Cody shot up out of his seat, his brow furrowed. He didn’t want his ranch hands talking about Samantha. “She’s a guest, and I aim to keep it that way. Pass the message, will you?”
As if sensing Cody’s annoyance, Rusty held up his hands in apology. “Got it, boss. I’ll see you later.” He left the room.
Suddenly, Cody wasn’t sure if his response was appropriate. Mixed emotions followed him all the way to the stables.
****
The shrill whinny of a horse shattered the Monday morning stillness. Exhausted from the previous day which ended late into the night following the steak incident, Samantha ran down the stairs. Mercifully, Cody didn’t appear for the rest of the day. She crossed the hallway to the living room window and eased it open. The cool, fresh air wafted over her, a welcome relief to the morning heat. The loud whinny of a horse distracted her once again.
Silence greeted her as she entered the large kitchen. Then she remembered. Deborah did say she’d take Freda to replenish supplies. A cup of coffee in her hand, Samantha ventured out onto the porch. Her gaze traveled the vast openness of the ranch and settled on the ranch hands she met over the last two days. They worked at feeding the pregnant cows, exercised the horses, and transported home grown hay between the fields, stables, and the barn. It amazed her how everyone labored tirelessly every day without a complaint and still remained friendly.
Samantha shook her head in awe as her gaze shifted and landed on a lone corral on the opposite side of the house. Dear God. Her heart fluttered.
Cody stood in the corral, a rope in one hand and the other end tied to the neck of a ferocious horse. It pranced about, sides heaving and nostrils flared. The animal looked as big as Cody’s black stallion yet appeared nastier with a thick brown mane and deadly flailing hooves.
The scene gripped her and sent her pulse rate spiking double time. Her breath momentarily caught in her throat. Steadily, the flutter became a drumbeat. A truly magnificent sight she hadn’t witnessed this close. Afraid yet fascinated, she set her cup on the porch rail and ran down the steps. Samantha wanted to see more. With each step closer to the corral, the drumbeat grew louder and filled her ears. Her stare firmly entranced on animal and man.
The horse fought the rope more so the man on the other end. It reared up on its hind legs repeatedly and snorted loudly. Every muscle bulged with effort to trample his human tormentor into the ground. Cody sidestepped a brutal fate with remarkable ease.
Enthralled, Samantha climbed on the lower rail filled with anticipation and nervousness. Never seeing anything quite so virile, a powerful stallion with the strength of almost ten horses and a man of equal vigor, fighting a battle for supremacy caught and held her attention. Both alike, yet confident in his own power and resolute in his quest. Nonetheless, it was the man who’d win, for unlike the horse, Cody appeared to relish his battle of authority. Her stomach muscles tightened.
The stallion screamed its animosity, but Cody looked at him with steadfast respect, and the more the animal unleashed his wrath the more Cody admired his courage, praised him for it. “Almost got me, boy,” he said softly as a flying hoof missed his face by inches.
Samantha gawked and stifled a shocked gasp. She didn’t want to disturb Cody in case he lost his concentration.
“C’mon, boy, you could do better,” Cody urged the horse. More furious than ever, it reared up again and plunged its hooves to the ground in frustration.
Her gaze switched from the horse to Cody. She gaped. Her heart somersaulted crazily. His tanned shirtless body vibrated with energy at each tug of the rope. An awesome strength bulged in his thighs against his faded denims. She ogled the taut muscles of his arms, his naked chest beautifully enhanced by sunlight and sweat. Her toes curled. She gulped.
Her gaze trailed a path of the fine brown hair matting his chest lightly, down until it disappeared inside his tight denims. With each effort the cords in his neck stood out as his jaws tightened with restraint. She yearned to run her hands over the lithe ridges of his toned body. To lick his sweat glistened flesh and nip at his hardened nipples. Shamelessly, an unsophisticated yearn curbed every rational thought. Were these really her feelings? Denying it seemed inevitably useless, she wanted the man.
God, he’s beautiful.