“How are you feeling about not competing in it this year?” Colt asks Shooter.
Shooter is a three-time world champion at bareback bronc riding, but earlier this season, he left the circuit for mental health reasons. Because of that, he wasn’t able to qualify to make it to finals. A few of the guys were worried he’d snap before the event, but I don’t think so. He’s the happiest I’ve seen him in a long time, and he’s very much at peace with his decision to step back this year.
“I’m feeling great, man,” Shooter replies to Colt. “There’s always next year, and now, this way, I stepped aside so my man can win his first world title.” He grins.
Sterling groans, rolling his eyes beside him. “Riiight. Keep telling yourself that, baby.”
This is Sterling’s first year pro, and he kicked serious ass this season, qualifying himself for finals. It’s not often that happens during your rookie year, but Sterling earned it. Even before Shooter dropped out, he was neck and neck with him when it came to scoring. We all know—even Sterling—that Shooter is just shooting the shit, but we like to give him a hard time anyway. Nobody is as cocky and full of himself as Shooter is. Sterling’s the only person I’ve ever seen knock him down a notch or two. Honestly, I think it’s part of why Shooter is so crazy about him.
A few hours later, once we’ve all finished eating our body weights in pulled pork and fruit salad, we help Whit and his team clean up the food before we pile out into the parking lot. Shooter winks at me as he and Sterling pass by, heading towardhis truck. I rode with them this morning, but I have other plans for tonight… Hopefully, at least.
Bumping my arm against Xander’s, I lean in and ask, “Can I catch a ride home with you?”
He looks over at me, nodding. “Sure. You didn’t drive?”
“Nah, I rode here with Shooter and Sterling.”
Xander unlocks the Subaru, and we both climb in. “Such a clean car,” I tease. “Whoever washed it did a fabulous job.”
Shrugging, Xander replies, “Eh, he did okay, I guess.”
“Shiiit. I bet he did more than okay. He probably looked fucking sexy doing it, too.”
Xander snorts. “Now,thatI can confirm. While his car washing skills were a little mediocre, he did look hot doing it.”
We glance at each other, sharing a smile, before his eyes return to the road. It only takes about five minutes to get home, and before long, Xander is parking his aunt’s car in the driveway. He doesn’t turn the engine off, nor does he make any attempt to get out. Neither do I.
The heat is turned on, the inside of the car toasty warm, even though I’m still chilled, and he’s got his phone hooked up to the Bluetooth, playing some rock song I’ve never heard of on low volume. The air between us crackles, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the temperature.
“Glad you came today,” I tell him, turning my body in the seat to face him better.
Mimicking my position, his blue eyes lift to meet mine. Heat flares in them, and I feel it in my stomach. “Watching a bunch of hot cowboys get wet is hardly my idea of a bad afternoon.” He chuckles, the sound melodic and rich.
Goosebumps raise on the flesh of my arm, heart beating a little faster, and despite the damp clothes I’m still wearing, my body feels like it’s on fire. Our proximity, the way his face lights up when he smiles, the scent of whatever body wash or laundrysoap he uses…all of it goes to my head, making me dizzy. Making me want to launch myself at him. Making me want to try things I’ve never done, but somehow know I’ll enjoy because they’d be with him.
Instead of behaving like a horned-up neanderthal, I shrug, tossing him a cocky grin, and mutter, “What can I say? We’re here to please the masses.”
Xander hums, lids hooded as he watches me with his lip tucked between his teeth. He looks beautiful, face lit up on the faint glow coming from the dash. He makes my stomach twist and flip and squeeze in a way that’s so foreign to me. I feel like I’m fifteen all over again, experiencing my first crush, only this time it’s…more. It’s what a crushshouldfeel like.
Sitting in his presence, watching him, it reminds me of what they describe in movies. My fingers itch to reach out and touch him, my lips tingle with the need to taste him. It’s all-consuming and heavy. It’s a hazy mind and a steady vibration of need just below the skin. This feeling, while unsettling and different, is intoxicating.
Does he feel it, too?
Surely, he does. Or why else would he be looking at me the way he does? Like he can’t tear his eyes away. Like he can’t get his fill with a look alone.
Couldn’t tell you who moves first, but one minute we’re both relaxed in our seats, backs propped against the doors, and the next we’re meeting in the middle, faces so close, our breath mingles. My hand slides up, cupping the side of his face, similar to how I did that night at the ranch, only this time, when I lean in and brush my lips softly against his, he doesn’t pull away. He doesn’t stop me.
In fact, he wraps a smooth, warm palm around the back of my neck, whispering a breathless “finally” against my mouth before fusing our lips together. His tongue slips into my mouth,curling around mine, and I revel in the taste of him—the taste I’ve been dying to try. It’s minty and fresh from his gum, but also sweet. Addicting—and the feel of his lips against mine. This kiss feels like no other kiss I’ve experienced before. It feels like I’ve never truly been kissed before now. Like everything else was just practice, but this… This is the real deal. The sound that comes out of him is soft and heated, and it goes straight to my groin. Somehow, with all the grace in the world, Xander manages to unbuckle his seatbelt and climb into my lap, all while I seamlessly recline the seat, making room for him between the dash and myself.
Xander fits so effortlessly on top of me, his body the perfect size to curl up against me. Arms wrapping around his waist, I duck under his hoodie, trailing my fingers up his spine, loving the feel of his body reacting to mine. Between the shiver wracking through him, the goosebumps popping up under my touch, and the contented sigh he breathes into my mouth, I know he’s enjoying this as much as I am. His hands roam up, threading through the hair on the back of my head. He tugs gently, nails raking across my scalp in a way that sends a bolt of arousal down my spine. I feel him growing hard against my stomach, and it doesn’t freak me out at all, like I thought it might… It does the opposite. It turns me on.
We sit here like that for a while, making out and playfully touching and exploring each other, until the windows fog up and we can’t seem to catch our breath. I’ve somehow lost my hat; it’s probably laying in the empty driver’s seat, and Xander’s fingers are clutching onto the strands of my hair as his mouth moves against mine.
Eventually, and with all the willpower in the world, we pull away from one another, chests heaving, lips swollen and wet. Xander sits back on my lap, no doubt able to feel the hardness ofmy dick beneath him, and he swipes a thumb along my bottom lip.
“As much as I don’t want to put a stop to this,” he says breathlessly. “We probably should pump the brakes so we don’t hook up for the first time in my aunt’s driveway, in her car. Something tells me she wouldn’t appreciate that.”
I breathe out a laugh. “Yeah, you’re probably right, butgoddamn,do I not want to stop.”
