As he leaves the arena, the song changes toCowboyby Kid Rock as the announcer comes over the loudspeaker. “Next up, visiting us from just down the mountain, Copper Lake, Wyoming, a fresh face who’s having a hell of a season. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up forSterling Addams!”
Standing here, next to the bleachers, hooting and hollering for Sterling as he busts out of the bucking chute on top of a black and white beast, I feel like a proud mama watching her baby ride for the first time…but you know, less incestual. The smile on my face hurts my cheeks, it’s so wide, my pulse races as the seconds tick on by, and my stomach clenches and flutters as I watch him ride through it all.
The bronc is wild, set on tossing him off, but Sterling knows what he’s doing. With every single buck, he rolls the spurs up the horse’s side, straightening his legs out against her shoulders when she descends. Up, down…up, down. Over and over. He’s focused, intent to win, and there ain’t nothing going on inside his head right now except following that bronc’s lead.
That eight-second buzzer sounds, and I already know he performed impeccably well. That’s proven when a score of ninety-seven is announced. There’s no way someone’s beating that tonight.Fuck yes!My feet are moving, body weaving around all the people in here as I make my way toward the back.My heart is pounding, head light and fuzzy, but I know it’s from excitement.
There’re tons of people in here, the place buzzing with the feel good energy that comes from rodeo. It’s so different being on the opposite side of things this time, but I can’t deny how much I loved watching Sterling kick some ass without the dreaded fear of what my father’s going to say once I’m done.
I step outside, around the back of the arena where I know Sterling will come out of, and I wait. Reaching into the pocket of my jeans and pulling out my pack of cigarettes, I pluck one out and place it between my teeth, lighting it. The smoke fills my lungs, calming the buzzing going on underneath the surface, as my eyes stay trained on the door he’ll probably exit through. Pulling out my phone, I consider texting him, but the odds of him having his phone on him, and not in the camper, are slim to none. So, instead, I scroll through my notifications, gut sinking when I see one from my mom.
Mom: Hi, honey. Miss you. Call me later if you get a chance. Xoxo.
Guilt unfurrows inside of me, reading her message. The past few weeks haven’t been the most civil with my family. Specifically, my father. And in turn, that has affected my mom. I know it shouldn’t, but I just need some time. To say he was less than supportive about taking the rest of the season off would an understatement. I’ve never seen him look as disappointed as he did when I sat them both down and told them.
It blew up pretty quickly into a heated argument, and I left before it could get too explosive, and I haven’t talked to my dad since. I’ve talked to my mom, but it’s been sparingly. She’s asked me to come over for dinner a few times, to which I’ve declined. She knows why, but I know she wishes I’d put it past us. And eventually, I will have to stop avoiding him, and I’ll have to sitdown with him and hash it all out. But today isn’t that day, and frankly, I’m not ready to do it yet.
Me: Miss you too, Mom. I’m in Buckey this weekend visiting the rodeo crew, but I’ll give you a call once I get home. Love you.
Mom: Well, that sounds like fun. Be safe.
“Shooter?” My head snaps up at the sound of Sterling’s rich voice, a smile splitting his face that matches my own. “What are you doing here?” he practically squeaks as he closes the distance between us, throwing his arms around my neck.
“Surprise!” The way my heart’s hammering in my chest, it’s like it’s trying to break free and latch onto the man in my arms. “I missed you, and didn’t want to wait another almost four weeks until you’re home.”
Sterling pulls back, his hands resting on my shoulders as his gaze travels over my face. Sweat has his hair slicked to his forehead from where he took off his hat, and his eyes are wide and full of what I can only describe as happiness. Looking around us for a moment, he smirks as he asks, “Am I allowed to kiss you?”
Sniggering, I say, “I’d be a little disappointed if I drove all this way and you didn’t.”
Stepping forward, his mouth crashes down on mine messily, teeth clanking into mine, tongue surging into my mouth. His longing and his want are potent, and I want to taste it all. Walking us forward until Sterling’s back hits the side of the arena, I press my hips into his, letting him see just how much I missed him. Just how much I need him. With him, it’s easy to get carried away, and when we finally manage to break apart, we’re both breathless, lips swollen and red, slick with our combined spit, and I already want more. So much more.
A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth as I nod my head to the side. “C’mon. We gotta go.”
His brows pinch adorably. “Where are we going?”
Glancing over my shoulder, I click my tongue at him. “Patience, grasshopper.”
36
Sterling Addams
“Ahotel room,” I say appreciatively as we enter into the space we’ll be occupying tonight. Wagging my brows, I joke, “You wining and dining me?”
Reaching behind his head, he drags his shirt over and off before stepping up to me, fingers coming to the buttons on my shirt, undoing them one by one, gaze never faltering from mine. “There is absolutelynoway I was going to sleep in that camper with you and Cope tonight,” he mutters, brows furrowed as he works open my shirt. “After how long I went without seeing you, a shared space just won’t do. Not for what I have planned.”
The last sentence sends a bolt of arousal down my spine.
When he reaches the last button, his palms slide up my bare abdomen until they reach my shoulders. Shoving the material down my arms until the shirt hits the floor, he leans in, lips pressing against my clavicle.
A shiver works through me at the contact, my body immediately wanting more, and more, andmore.
Him showing up tonight took me by complete surprise. I had no clue he was coming, but I’m so happy he’s here.
Peppering my neck and shoulders with kisses and sharp little nips, his fingers find my belt buckle, popping it open before working my jeans open next. The sound of my zipper sliding down echoes in the otherwise quiet room, the promise it leaves burrowing in my balls. Arousal blossoms and spreads through my bloodstream. Shooter shoves them down to my ankles, and I step out of them as he works his own pants down his legs. Only once we’re both standing there naked does he speak… and it’s not at all what I was expecting.
“You fucking stink, Addams.”
I can’t help it; I throw my head back and laugh. A deep, belly laugh, and so does he. “Well, sorry, jackass. Maybe ifsomebodydidn’t whisk me away immediately after getting off a bronc, or at the very least, given me a heads up, I would’ve had time to shower and change.”
