“Negative.”
“There.” He gestures to what appears to be a rocking horse but with a plastic cow head.
“Sure, that’s obvious.”
His chest bumps into my back with a rumble of laughter. “Having fun?”
“Yes, actually. I’m interested to see what comes next.”
“If you do well, you might get a prize.” His arousal presses into me when he shifts forward.
“Are you giving me a hint?”
“More like an incentive.” He thrusts forward again.
“That’s one helluva trophy.”
“And it can be all yours.”
Reeve reaches around and fiddles with the rope in my hand, putting a big loop on the end. He puts my hand on the slip knot, sliding it a bit to prove it moves. He rests the remaining slack in my other palm.
He taps the knob under my fingers. “Holding here, spin the rope above you, aim at the target, and release.”
“Are you going to show me how?”
“Nope. I wanna see you try.”
“All right.” I twirl the lasso and promptly smack the hat off Reeve’s head. With a gasp, I spin to check for damage. “Shit, are you okay?”
“Just dandy. Why do you think I’m wearing this?” With a wink, he fetches it from the sand.
I bob a shoulder. “Decoration? Protection from the sun? To get me hot and bothered?”
“All of the above.” He kisses my neck before shoving his hat on. “Try again.”
Ever the supporter of following directions, I do as he says. I toss the loop while holding my breath. It lands flat a foot in front of me with a puff of dirt. “Uh, whoops.”
“Not bad.” He helps me reel in the rope.
“You’re being far too generous.”
“And you’re too stiff. Relax your seat.” He grips my waist and rolls his pelvis into me. “It’s all in the hips.”
I try to ignore the proximity of our bodies. The attempt falls with a resounding splat. “Uh-huh.”
“You’re not moving.”
“Oh,” I mumble. “I thought you were just demonstrating the motions.”
Reeve chuckles against my ear. “Are you distracted, babe?”
“Can you blame me?” This is better than foreplay. He’s hard against me, grinding that bulge into my ass with every forward lunge.
“Keep going,” he urges. His hand covers mine on the rope as he widens the loop again.
I grip the knot, spin the lasso, and release. Reeve rocks into my movements, guiding me with dizzying pressure from behind. The circle falls several feet short.
“Crud.”
Does he realize how erotic this seemingly innocent lesson is? We’re rocking back and forth on this barrel in a very sexualized manner. If we were naked, his dick would’ve been buried nine inches deep ten minutes ago. I’m seconds away from spontaneously combusting. Like I need further proof that this guy is fantastic in bed. I would be a very stupid woman to surrender to him now.
“There are far easier ways to turn me on, farmer.” I might as well be putty in his very-capable mitts.
“Believe it or not, I’m not trying to initiate sex.” Yet he clutches me closer as we speak.
I tremble in his embrace. “You could’ve fooled me.”
He nods ahead of us. “Go again.”
And I do. I attempt to hit that damn cow no less than twenty times without success. Frustration slowly pulses at my temples. After yet another failure, I groan and glare at the stunning scenery.
“Is this even possible?” I loosen my hold on the tricky contraption, more than ready to throw it on the ground permanently.
Reeve takes the rope from my grasp, quickly spinning a wide loop and tossing it at the target. The lasso lands gracefully over the plastic horns before Reeve yanks to pull the cord taut.
“Show-off,” I mutter. Underneath the snark is a telltale flutter in my lower belly. Is there anything he can’t do well? This man could make folding laundry look appealing.
“You asked.”
“And now I’m even more embarrassed.”
He trails a finger up my arm. “Why?”
I toss a hand up into the air. “Because I suck.”
“Are you offering me oral again? Damn, babe. You’re such a nympho.” Among his many talents is his ability to lighten the mood.
A giggle shimmies in my chest, trying to break free, but I trap the sneaky sound. “I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of a response.”
Reeve combs through a lock of my hair. “You just did.”
I hang my head. “Dammit. I’m all flustered and off my game.”
He squeezes my shoulders. “Try once more, and we’ll be done. You can practice more later.”
I snort. “That’s not going to happen.”
“What if it involves tying me up?”
“I’m listening.”
He laughs, hot air ghosting across my nape. “That’s my girl.”
I do my best to ignore that claim, readying the rope. It comes as no surprise when the lasso misses. I laugh in spite of the defeat. “Thanks for setting this up for me. Regardless of my terrible aim, I enjoy it.”
“You’re a great sport.”
“Well, you make participating fun. Thanks, coach.”
He drifts his nose along my cheek. “I have something rather spontaneous planned for you.”
“Today?”
“Yep, and we don’t even have to switch locations.” Reeve’s tone makes me freeze.
“That sounds… suspicious.” I peer at him from the corner of my eye. I can picture a whole lot of options across this ranching paradise.
His smirk elicits more than a little concern. “You gave me an idea earlier with that whole lacking-skill spiel. Everyone should do this at least once.”
So much of that random jargon has my mind a tad jumbled. “Should I be scared?”
Too bad I don’t get a dollar for asking that. I’d be filthy rich from these past months alone.
But Reeve—as always in these situations—responds without hesitation. “Not at all. Trust me, babe.”
Less than an hour later, we stand in front of a hitching post with Audria’s next conquest all set to go. Trigger is practically raring at the opportunity. I snort at the vision that creates. It’s difficult to imagine this old fella doing anything more than swish his tail to convey emotion. I’m about to share the joke, but one glance at the woman beside me sobers
