Page 17 of Barn Burner
He nods, humming, then takes my plate as well as his own and carries them to the table. I follow him like a little fucking lamb, feeling a tiny bit embarrassed about how much I enjoy his praise.
Do I have a praise kink? Maybe. I think if he told me I’m a good boy in that gruff, gravelly voice of his, I’d probably nut on the spot.
“Hey, Brayden, we’re heading to the bar tomorrow night for some drinks,” Rhett announces, pointing his fork at me when I glance over. “You should come.”
“Yes!” Cooper agrees. “You ever ridden a mechanical bull before, Brayden?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “No, I can’t say I have.”
“It’s all in the legs. You gotta have strong legs and a strong core.” Cooper jabs his thumb toward Jesse. “Jesse currently holds the top spot on the scoreboard.”
My gaze darts to the man in question, eyes widening slightly as images of how good he’d look riding a bull flash through my mind. The fluidity of his body. I bet his biceps would bulge under his hold on the strap. The sensual roll of his hips in time with the mechanical bull…
My cock appreciates the vision, thickening inside my shorts. I adjust in my seat, quickly hiding my grin with my hand as I raise a brow in curiosity. “Does he now?”
“Yeah,” Rhett scoffs, not picking up on my teasing tone. “The asshole has been unbeaten for over nine months.”
“Well, shit, I’ll bet those hips have some magical rhythm.” I lower my hand, pressing my palm flat to the table, and catch Jesse’s eye. Smirking, I drop my voice and say, “I’d love to see it in action sometime.”
Jesse’s nostrils flare as he stares me down from the opposite end of the table. Those icy eyes are full of heat. Full of need. And I can’t help but swipe my tongue to wet my lip.
“And I guess I’ll just have to try and beat his score,” I challenge.
And hopefully, my prize will be a ride on him.
The bar is exactly how I imagined a country bar to look. The interior has exposed brick and wood-cladded walls adorned with vintage metal signs and a huge Canadian flag hanging from one of the thick timber roof beams.
There’s a lot of wood. Like a fancy barn but with lights and speakers, and TVs mounted to the walls showing a Professional Bull Riders event. There’s a nice mix of high-top tables and leather sofas, leaving plenty of space for a shiny dance floor. There are also pool tables and a darts board, and on the far side is the mechanical bull.
It’s bustling for a small town on a Saturday night, and while I’m excited to come out, have some fun, and tease Jesse some more, I’m also strangely… nervous.
I don’t know what I’ll do if people recognize me. It’s dark enough in here that they won’t be able to spot me from a distance, but it’s light enough that you can see your surroundings clearly. And the thought of someone knowing who I am has me a little on edge. Would they make a scene and tear me apart for missing out on bringing the cup to Calgary, or would they commiserate and show their support for the next season?
Either way, I don’t want to find out.
Tugging the brim of my ball cap lower down, I sidle up at the end of the bar, somewhat shielding myself between Rhett and Jesse. I’m tall at six foot one, but these two guys have a few inches on me.
“What will you be having?” Rhett asks, slapping his palm against the bar top. Cooper orders a beer, so I opt for the same.
“Whiskey?” Rhett asks, angling his chin over his shoulder to Jesse.
“Mhm, just the one as I’m driving,” Jesse murmurs. His eyes assess the crowd from beneath the shadow of his hat, one elbow propped against the countertop. He’s wearing light-wash jeans that hug his thighs in a way that makes me want to kneel down and ask him to squeeze my head between them, and a dark gray plaid buttoned shirt. The top few buttons are left open, giving glimpses of tanned skin and dark hair. I want to run my tongue over his skin. He’s so impossibly handsome and downright sexy.
If I don’t get to ride this cowboy before I have to head back to the city, then I might just cry.
Okay, maybe that’s a little over-the-top, but I’ll still be gutted.
Rhett hands over a cold bottle of beer, and they tell me about the time Cooper got drunk and ended up getting lost on his way home from the bar, only to fall asleep in one of the fields and wake up to being stared down at by some of the cattle. All the while, I’m aware of how close Jesse has gotten toward me as the place fills up. His thigh bumps the back of mine as he rests a boot on the foot rail of the bar, and the touch is almost scorching.
Bringing my beer to my lips, I take a swig, feeling my body heat from his proximity. Just as I’m swallowing another sip, Jesse runs his fingers down the center of my spine to the waistband of my jeans. His touch is deliberate. Intentional. And as I cover my choke with a cough, he drops his hand, but not before grazing the underside of my ass cheek.
I snap my eyes to him. He’s watching me with a knowing look, one thick brow arched in challenge, and the corner of his mouth kicks up in a smirk as he brings his glass tumbler to his lips.
Is he giving me a signal that he’s up for some fun?
Fucking hell. I don’t know how I’m going to survive the night without dragging this man into the bathroom and climbing him like a tree.
Cooper orders another round, this time ordering a soda for Jesse, but rather than accepting the bottle of beer right away, I let my eyes drift to where the mechanical bull is. The wild part of me wants to go up there and put on a show for Jesse, but the anxious part of me is worried that it will put me in the spotlight, increasing the risk of me being noticed.
