Page 60 of Rancher's Strength

“Yep.” I shrugged with my good shoulder and fought off laughing.

“Well, pal, I assure you I have no interest in kissing your wife ever again.” He shivered like the thought repulsed him, and I couldn’t blame him. The feeling was mutual. “No offense,” he added quickly.

“None taken. I feel the same way.” I grinned and smiled at Ryder. “Sorry, I ruined round up.” Kipp was organized, and I’m sure the mess put him days behind.

“Nah, nothing to be sorry for. We’re out of the shadow of that man, and life will be back to normal. God, it seems so long since that was even a possibility.”

“Not so normal. We’re going to have to deal with Linc and Kristin,” I said, the pain meds definitely kicking in now—my head felt heavy.

“Yeah, well, I think he just needs space. Who knows, maybe someone new will wander into the Fencepost and make him forget,” Kipp said, his words not at all convincing.

Something had shifted in the last few days, and it was like everything was right in the world again. The threat to the ranch was over. Our friends in the community were also safe from someone trying to take them over. My unexpected little family was together, and I hadn’t ever been happier, even with two bullet holes in me.

There was an ache in my heart that my dad wasn’t a part of any of this, but there was nothing I could do to change it. We’d just have to make sure we saw him no matter how hard it was.

Chapter Thirty

LEXIE

Weeks passed, and I was getting stronger every day, thanks to the excellent care I’d been receiving. Mom and Ryder had moved Ruby into my old room. They’d taken down the trophies and medals and made it their own. She was bound and determined to have bunk beds so she could have sleepovers, and I loved the idea.

We’d had the rest of the kids’ belongings sent out from Wyoming, but Sawyer decided he’d like to start with something new, so Mom took him to Bozeman, and they picked out everything he’d need for a new room. They’d also stopped at my house and took care of things there. Mom had organized movers to come and pack the house and a realtor to sell it. I wavered back and forth about selling it because it was convenient if we were in the city, but it also felt like I was keeping one foot there and one foot here when the only place I wanted to be was right here.

“I feel like it hasn’t just been the four of us in this house for months,” Ryder said as he climbed into bed beside me.

“I know, it’s strange not having Mom around,” I agreed.

“Yeah, but having her here so long wasn't great. I could hardly touch you, knowing she was sleeping above us.” He ran his hand up my thigh, and I swatted his chest playfully. Then he caught my fingers, interlacing them with his before brushing his lips along my knuckles.

“Seriously, Lexie, there is no one else I’d rather be doing this life with than you.” He sealed his words by leaning over and lightly kissing my lips, but we both knew just a small kiss wasn’t going to do. Especially when he turned, pressing the hard lines of his body against mine.

His tongue grazed the seam of my lips before I opened for him, letting out a sweet sigh as he deepened our kiss. “I love when you make those little noises for me, sweetheart,” he murmured, his hand going between us and flattening against my pussy, already wet even beneath my sleep shorts, the only fabric separating us besides his boxer briefs.

I gasped again as he palmed me over the fabric, and I bucked my hips forward to meet the friction of his fingers. “That’s my girl,” he said with a laugh, kissing me hard as he dipped his fingers below my waist. He pushed aside the fabric of my pants, his thumb pressing on my clit, while he slid two fingers inside of me.

Moaning, I pushed closer, my hands immediately going to his cock, already hard and popping out of his boxers as if he was ready for me. I loved that I could make him instantly hard. It had always been that way, though. Ryder’s desire for me had never waned when we were together. There were so many nights we didn’t even make it to bed. As long as I was with him, where we made love didn’t matter.

“Not yet,” he growled, moving his hand from my mound. I whimpered at the loss of his touch, my eyes widening as I looked up to meet his grin.

“I need to taste you first,” he murmured, flipping me onto my back before he nestled between my legs, pulling my pajama shorts off so I was bare to him.

He dipped his head low, just his nose grazing my most sensitive area. “So, fucking, perfect.” Slowly he traced my slit with his tongue before his lips wrapped around my clit, sucking hard as he moaned.

My hands fluttered forward, gripping his hair as I pushed my hips closer to his awaiting mouth. I really was a greedy girl for him, and when he thrust a finger inside of me, pleasure ripped through me, arousal dripping down his chin as he devoured every inch of me.

Just as I thought I was coming down from my orgasm, my legs shook, another one already building. Ryder moaned, his lips vibrating against me as he added another finger.

Our eyes met, his gaze was fiery as he lapped me up, and I couldn’t hold it back any longer. Gripping hard onto his hair, I pushed my hips forward, thrusting out my orgasm as I saw stars burst into my vision and felt them ricochet through every part of me.

I didn’t think it could get any better, but the way he claimed every drop of me before kissing up my stomach, had me trembling, my body tingling as he pressed against me. His cock was right at my wet center, but he didn’t enter me right away. Instead, he took my face in his hands and met my hooded gaze.

“Kiss me, Lexie. Taste yourself on my lips,” he murmured, not waiting for my reply as he pressed his mouth to mine, his tongue parting my lips.

I’d never thought I’d like the taste of my arousal, but on Ryder’s tongue, it was intoxicating and something I couldn’t get enough of. I swirled my tongue with his, sucking it hard and feeling his cock stiffen against me as he moaned into my mouth.

“Are you ready to take my cock, Lexie?” he murmured into my lips, his eyes locked on mine.

“Yes, please,” I breathed.

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