Rules of the Ride: A Silver Star Ranch Novel (6 page)

M
y eyes flutter
to the back of my head, catching a glimpse of the orange bottle tipped over with the lid lying on the ground. As I sit up, I feel the world spin and then the threat of vomit. My legs are rubber as I dash into the bathroom, bouncing off the corner of the dresser and running into the wall. It’s only seconds before the contents of my stomach lurch across the hard tile bathroom floor.

After my stomach can handle no more heaving, I slide slowly down the wall facing the bathroom door and look to my left to the empty vodka bottle.

“I can’t be doing this. No matter the amount of pain I’m in.”

My words echo around in the empty room as my cell phone goes off. The ringtone is deafening, immediately making me nauseous again. I race to it, hoping there might be a familiar voice on the other end.

“Maverik.” My voice is panicked, and I try immediately to correct it. “What are you doing?”

“Ella?”

“Maverik?”

“Open your door. We need to talk.”

“Uh…” I twist the curly cream cord of the phone, not knowing how to reply.

“Just open your door.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I do.”

My heart races. “I was asleep and woke up sick. Sorry, I’m not all here right now.”

“Open the door, Ella.”

Without another word or thought, I hang up the phone. The click of the phone is harsh and I feel my heart shatter a bit more. It only takes a few paces to reach the orange shag curtain and I peek out through it. Maverik wasn’t lying. He’s leaning back against his truck with a huge bouquet of flowers.

It’s not the flowers my eyes linger on, but his black Stetson hat, starched jeans, and red button up shirt.

“God, Mav, why do you have to be even more gorgeous than when we were kids?”

I let out a puff of air and cringe when my puke scented breath hits me. Scrambling to the nightstand, I pop in a piece of mint gum and walk to the door. My fingers tremble around the brass knob and then my knees begin to knock a bit, but somehow in my dazed state, the door opens before me.

The sound of the door opening causes Maverik to look up from the little dust clouds he was making with his boots in the gravel.

“Ella,” he says without moving a muscle.

I try my best to hide behind the door, just peeking around the edge of it. My crazy hair falls in front of my face. I’m thankful and hopeful it’s hiding the hot mess my face has to be right now. Maverik stiffens a bit. I’m not sure if it’s the combination of the love of my life leaning against the same truck he drove in high school which holds so many memories or the fact I know it will completely crush me this time when I walk away from him, but suddenly my hands become clammy and my heart speeds up. Nervous tension fills me.

“I’m sorry for being an asshole, Ella.” His voice throttles me. “I want to spend the rest of the time you have here with you and…”

He becomes deflated at the second part of the message, and I feel my stomach turn again. There’s no way in hell I can stay here with him forever, but the selfish part of me wants these few days with him.

“Okay.”

My voice cracks in the night air.

“Okay?” He tilts his head, letting his eyes be seen from under his cowboy hat.

“Maverik, I’ve never stopped loving you. I need you.”

“Ella, I want all of you and need this just as bad as you.”

The gravel crunches below his black cowboy boots, and then I feel him wrap his arms around me, cocooning me in the safety of his arms. It’s my home and the place I belong but can never stay.

“I can’t stay here with you, Maverik, but I need you.”

“Shhhh.” Maverik rubs his cheek on the top of my messy hair. “Let’s just be us. The ones we know and go from there. I want answers and need answers from you, Ella, but also don’t want to waste any of the time with you that you’re willing to give up.”

“Thank you.”

“I know I’m not the city or fast paced life you love, but I will love you forever, Pinks.”

“It’s not like that, Maverik.”

Tears roll down my cheeks and my body goes into an automatic shudder that it seems to have been in the last week.

“Stop.” Maverik places both of his hands on my cheeks and forces me to look up at him. “This isn’t us. Let’s just be us.”

I nod my head and force the tears down as best as I can. His thumb begins rubbing small circles on my cheekbones, suddenly calming my nerves and instantly relaxing me.

“Us,” I repeat.

“Us. And when you leave, I want answers.”

The word
answers
and
leave
stir up a storm of anxiety and uneasiness in me again.

“But now, it’s us.”

Maverik sweeps me up in his arms, cradling me like a newborn baby. An eruption of laughter escapes me as he marches toward my room and enters through the open door.

“I need you,” he growls down into my ear.

My arms wrap around his neck and pull him down closer to me. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this and you, Maverik Slatter.”

I don’t wait for him to make a move or say another word before I attack his lips. I capture him and waste no time delving into his taste. My whole being freezes for an instant when his sweetened divine scent and taste hit me like a wrecking ball.

My back is pressed back on the mattress, and when I open my eyes, I see Maverik laying me down still connected to my lips, and that’s when his delightful tongue takes a lingering sweep across the front of my mouth. I moan out loud at the sensation.

Then the race is on as our hands frantically grab and grip onto everything possible. An unmistakable explosion of passion and longing fill the tiny hotel room. A breathy moan escapes me as I feel Maverik’s fingertips delicately trail under the elastic top of my shorts.

I pull harder on his shoulders, trying my best to seal us together. I want nothing between us, and also for this sensation to live on forever in my memory—the moment Maverik Slatter reigned over my body, mind, and soul again.

He settles deeper between my legs as he captures my bottom lip and slightly tugs on it. I giggle and peer up into his deep brown eyes and then grab onto his hat and toss it to the side.

My hands roam over his tightly shaven head while my tongue licks and tangles with his. The beat of his heart thunders against my chest as a low whimper escapes him and I can’t help but smile. His lips match my upward motion.

“Enough of this shit.” Maverik sits up on his knees.

“Always the romantic.” I grin up at him and twirl a single strand of hair.

I study each of his movements as he grasps the hem of my tank top and slowly begins inching it up my midsection. With one hand, he begins tracing his name on my side, and I don’t miss the mist covering his eyes as he does.

“I love you, Maverik.”

He pauses for a moment and then pulls my tank top up and over my head in one fell swoop and then removes my bra even quicker and with more determination. I whimper when his lips touch my flesh. My brain goes into overdrive while the entire room spins, throwing everything I ever knew to be true straight out the window.

His lips graze the tip of my perked nipple, causing me to whimper and buck up into him. Reaching down and concentrating, I fumble to undo the buttons of his shirt. He moves to the next nipple as I slip his shirt from his shoulders, my nails sinking into the flesh there as he ravages me. The pain is blinding and soon turns into a blossoming pleasure. I buck up into him and begin to scream out his name as I feel a blissful peak begin to bloom.

“Not yet, Ella,” Maverik says between gritted teeth.

“I can’t stop it.” Each word comes out as a moan as the pleasure becomes stronger than any other sensation.

When Maverik slides his hand down the front of my shorts, I lose all sense of time and space as I let go with the safety of him covering every single inch of me.

My chest heaves up and down as my long hair covers my face. I try my best to regain control, move, or at least talk. Maverik uses the back of his hand to wipe my hair to the side and then plants a light kiss on my forehead.

I don’t feel pain or guilt this time when I look up to him and study his eyes. All I feel is complete and loved by him. Immediately I feel like his queen and nearly fearless with him by my side. I slowly begin to feel like the old Ella.

Sitting up on my elbows, I manage to snake my hands down to the button of his jeans and then slide down his zipper. Wiggling down his Wranglers from his hips, I reach up and kiss him. When my lips leave his, the sound of the bed squeaking fills the air. Maverik stands and discards his pants, then covers me once again.

With most of his weight on one knee, I feel his hands slide down my shorts and thong until I’m stripped and bared underneath him. I fumble with the last button on his shirt and pull it from him. We both lie still as we reconnect in the most intimate of ways. The feeling is overpowering and nothing like I’ve ever experienced. Time freezes and all of the treasures of the world flash before my eyes, and not even all of King Midas’ gold would be enough for me to give this up.

Maverik’s hips move forward as pressure begins to build when he pushes into me. I throw my head back and scream as he enters me.

“Jesus.” Maverik drops his head to my collarbone as his sweat droplets fall onto my skin. “This is going to be fast.”

“Make love to me,” I groan out each word. My fists clench the sheets and my legs tighten around his ass, trying to gain more friction. Maverik slowly starts moving and I moan and yelp with each one. It takes me no time before I’m built right back up and ready to tumble over.

Mav drops his elbows down on each side of my head and then he clutches the back of my head, gripping my hair tightly and bringing my face to his. His lips are on mine, and I quickly match the pace of his grueling hips. My moans and screams are lost in him as he punishes me with his lips.

Moments pass before he rises up ever so slightly from my lips. With each word he speaks, I feel the flesh of his lips brush on mine. He doesn’t stop moving in and out of me either, making the words rolling off his tongue a sweet song to my ears.

“I love you, Ella. I made a promise to myself today that I’ll never stop doing just that. The past is the past and I need you in my life. We can make this work.”

Before I can moan or try to respond, he moves his grip to the sides of my head, clutching onto my hair and pulling my forehead up to his as he picks up the pace. I feel him grow even bigger inside me and begin to pulse. Between his words, reaction, and the growing friction between my legs, I tighten around him and begin to fall over with him.

As we both take the tumble into our mindless orgasm, I know things will never be the same from here on out.

M
y body collapses
on hers and I know I outweigh her and have to be crushing her, but in this moment I can’t muster up any energy. Ella lies still underneath me with her pounding heart beating against my chest. My fists still clutch onto her gorgeous blonde locks.

My eager cock still pulses inside of her. I’m surprised I made it as long as I did with her. I laid all my cards out on the table and she didn’t run or kick my ass out. I know after tonight, my life will undoubtedly be marred forever either for the good or bad, but I do know one thing—I wouldn’t trade a damn thing for what just went down.

Visions of her flushed cheeks and wild blonde hair flying messily about as I took her stirs my dick back to life and I’m instantly hard inside her again. Placing my palms down on the rough comforter on the bed, I manage to push myself up and stare down at the vision of my dreams.

Ella becomes bashful with a shy grin covering her face and golden hair trailing along the front of her neck. I cork an eyebrow up at her and push back in her and smile when her eyes flutter shut and she throws back her head.

Gently, I roll over onto my back and adjust her on top of me. Her petite palms collide into my chest as she struggles to balance herself. Her hair sweeps across my face and chest as she sits up on me. Ella gathers all of her hair and tucks it to one side, framing her perfectly etched face. I grip onto her hips, no longer able to fight my desires and begin to guide her up and down on me. My fingers sink deep into her flesh as she moans and squirms on top of me until she finds a steady rhythm.

The sight of her perfect and very ample breasts bouncing up and down as she finds her pleasure nearly sets me off. Rising to my elbows, I focus on her features and study every part of her, branding it all to my memory.

“Ella…I’m not going to last.”

“Wait for me, Maverik, just wait for me.”

Her words distract me for a moment as I analyze them for a hidden meaning. The tone and determination of her voice convince me there was so much more to her words.

Flopping back on the bed, I hold off, trying to push back my need to explode inside her again. I wait for her cue and it seems like a fucking century as I watch her ride me and moan. Her palms come down every once in a while, gripping onto my chest as she screams out in pleasure. I grit my teeth together and curl my toes, knowing I’m ready to blow any second.

“Go, Maverik, go.”

It only took those three words before I raise my hips and match her every move from underneath, driving deeper and harder into her. I bite hard into her flesh with my hands on her hips and feel her squeeze around me. I hear her scream out my name, and that’s when I finally let go of everything and collapse in satisfaction with her.

Ella tumbles down onto me, pressing her breasts into my chest, letting her hair flow all around me. I brush it back and begin rubbing her back in a circular motion. I make sure to stay seated inside of her, never wanting to leave that damn spot.

I feel her kisses on my shoulder. Our bodies are stuck together with neither of us doing a damn thing to separate them. Silence can be considered awkward, but in this moment, it’s our love song that I’d do anything to hear on repeat the rest of my life.

Ella’s kisses stop, and her breathing becomes more rhythmic. I crane my head to look over at her but have to brush back her hair and find her sound asleep. I can’t help the smile that overtakes me and the joy that filters back into my body. I never knew it had been such a missing factor in my life until I felt it again.

I wait nearly an hour before I move so I don’t wake her and then creep up the bed with her balanced on top of me. I’d give anything to shower with her and even fool around more but don’t want to wake her. When my head reaches the pillow, I slowly roll down to her side and cuddle right up next to her, tucking her head into my arm and adjusting it so she won’t wake with a kinked neck.

I’m left facing the nightstand where a couple of empty orange medicine bottles lay on their side, but it’s a picture of a nine-year-old Ella and her mother staring back at me that catches my attention. Ella is perched on a brand new bike with her mom standing proudly behind her. Their smiles and love for one another is contagious in the photograph. I know Ella’s mother was always hard on her, but the rage Ella holds for her is unreal.

I guess the saying ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink’ is true. Ella’s mom gave her everything to live a good small town life, but the girl was destined for the city and big-time fashion. A spark of resentment begins to simmer, but then I focus back on the now and Ella lying in my arms and know beyond a shadow of a doubt it’s her that I need.
Maybe letting go of the past is worth it to keep her.

The growling of my stomach is deafening and I wait for it to wake her, but she sleeps soundly wrapped up in my arms. I lie for hours watching her sleep in peace and think about everything we could have together…a gorgeous house on the ranch, little babies, and a love that can stand the test of time. My eyelids grow heavy as I envision every part of what our future could hold, and soon they win the battle as my thoughts turn into my dreams.

T
he sun shines
into the room, and peeking an eye open I can tell it’s probably well into the morning. I look down to a very wide awake Ella staring up at me.

“Hey.” I smooth back her hair.

“Morning.”

“What’s with the smile?” I ask her.

“I’m happy.”

“I’m happy too, Pinks.”

I wrap her up in a bear hug and listen as her giggles fill the room, and I roll her on top of me until we are belly to belly.

“You’re a restless sleeper, missy.” I reach up and peck her on the lips and she only shrugs her shoulders.

“What in the hell did you dream about?”

She only shrugs her shoulders again.

“Playing hard to get?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Maybe.”

The grin covering her face is electric and she’s definitely the old carefree Ella from high school.

“What should I do about that?” I slap her ass, making her squeal.

Ella reaches over for something, and when she rises back up, she has my black Stetson cowboy hat on the top of her head, and every single part of me is wide awake with the vision of her naked and on top of me in my hat.

“I don’t know, cowboy, think you can handle me?”

Pushing up into her, I roll over, staying inside of her, and then cover her body. Ella lies below me spread out and giggling until I find my pace pushing in and out of her. It doesn’t take long before she’s moaning and fighting to push up into me. I dip down and take one of her puckered nipples between my teeth and sink down into it.

Her screams and cries only make me devour her more. I slow down my pace and pay plenty of attention to both of her nipples and then mark her neck with light kisses trailing up her jawbone until I finally reach her lips.

“Fuck me, Maverik,” Ella mumbles before I cover her mouth.

I obey her command and begin to drive into her hard and punishing. The sensation is overwhelming and addicting at the same time. I feel my release build rapidly and don’t wait for her signal before I spill into her. Her fingernails pierce the flesh on my back. The pain is followed up by her screams of pleasure.

I drop my forehead to hers. “I love you.”

“I want pancakes. Feed me.” A smile spreads across her face and I can’t help but smile back.

“You got it, baby.”

Sliding off the bed, I wrap her up in my arms and carry her to the bathroom. It’s so tiny we both barely fit in it. I throw down a blue towel on the counter and then sit her on it while I adjust the water of the shower.

“Son of a bitch.” I grab the back of my head after it just collided with the top of the shower curtain.

Giggles escape from Ella, and when I turn to scold her, my toe jams into the base of the toilet.

“Fuck me,” I holler, still rubbing the back of my head. “We are staying at my place from now on.”

Ella has both of her hands covering her mouth while the rest of her body shakes violently.

“You think this is funny?” I ask, holding my hands up and nailing the back of one hand into a small window.

“Maverik, stop.” She clutches her stomach. “You look ridiculous in this tiny bathroom. I mean, you’re like a giant in here.”

“I’m glad you think it’s funny that your king is getting the shit beat out of him by a rundown bathroom.”

“It’s the funniest thing ever, Maverik.” She takes a moment to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I mean, you cut the nuts off of cows and ride wild horses, but can’t handle this.”

“That’s it. Get your ass in the shower.” I grab her around the waist and whirl around, placing her in the hot stream of water and then follow her in, knocking my head on the shower curtain rod again.

“Mother fucker,” I growl.

“Here, let me wash your back,” Ella manages to get out between her fits of laughter.

We take our time washing each other down and kissing every single body part we can get to. I’m ready to take her, and it’s impossible to hide in the shower with her but know I’d probably end up in a fucking coma with how tiny this shower is.

And as if she could read my mind…

“Let me take care of you. It’s my way of saying thanks for saving me last night, Maverik.”

Ella slides down onto her knees and wraps her lips around my dick. The gentleman in me should stop her, but I can’t as she begins to work me in her mouth using her teeth and lips. I wrap my hands in her wet hair and help her motion while the hot water sprays down on my chest. I begin moving my hips back and forth into her perfect mouth. I growl as I let go in her, not even warning her, straining my hips forward, pushing as deep as possible into her mouth. As the last flow of cum falls from me, I hear her gag and pull out immediately.

“I’m sorry…”

Ella cuts me off when she rises to her feet and plants a long and hot kiss on my lips.

“Thank you, Maverik. Now feed me.”

She escapes the shower before I can capture and pleasure her, that’s how I know she’s starving. Ella has always loved her food. Climbing out of the tub, I hit my head on the damn shower bar again and sneak past her petite frame leaning up against the counter. It takes everything inside of me not to grab her arms, bend her over the counter and take her again.

I mumble cuss words to my dick as I exit the beyond tiny room, knowing I can’t have her twenty times a day.

“What’s that, Mav?”

“Just cussing out that damn shower rod.” I lie. “Hurry and get dressed and we’ll go get your favorite pancakes.”

“Mmmm. Thank you, baby.”

The joyful sound of her voice mixed with the words she uses make me feel more alive than I have ever been, but I know too soon she’ll be gone. Plopping down on the side of the bed, I stare down at the shaggy carpet and make a final decision. I’ll love Ella James as hard and as long as she lets me with no more regrets.

My vision narrows in on the empty pill bottles and I read each label. They’re empty, tipped over, and range from painkillers to different anxiety medication.

“Ella.”

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

I look up to her leaning against the door frame in a tight, tight black leather mini-skirt with a lacy top that showcases her very flat abdomen. Her appearance nearly knocks me for a loop, causing me to lose all train of thought. I clutch the bottles in my hands, taking a second to regain my composure.

“What are these?”

Her eyes narrow and then she just waves me off. “Oh, took my last pills and need refills.”

“All of these, Ella?”

She closes the distance between us and I don’t miss the six-inch heels she’s wearing.

“I had to get some extra medication to come home to help curb my anxious feelings, and, well, just to get me through this.”

“Ella…”

I know worry and concern covers my face, but I can’t help mask any of it.

“Stop, Maverik, I had one bad night. I won’t do it again.”

She crawls into my lap, lacing her arms around the back of my neck while placing tender kisses on my cheeks and speaks between each one.

“If you stay with me, Maverik, I’ll be fine. I can’t handle all of these old memories on my own.”

“No more medicine, period, Ella.”

“I have to stay on my anxiety ones.”

“Fine, but you don’t need painkillers. Do you?”

She sits up in my lap with a sly grin on her face. “Depends on how well you can take care of me at night.”

“Oh, baby, I’ll take care of you night and day. Your body will ache from the delicious hell I’m about to put you through.”

I hand over the empty bottles for her anxiety medication but keep the painkiller one.

“Maverik, you’re getting another freakin’ boner.”

Peering down, her dainty little hand covers the bulge underneath my towel and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Get your ass outside so I can get dressed without the thought of ripping that barely there mini-skirt off your amazing ass and having my way with you again.”

“But what if I want more?” she taunts as she slides off my lap and spreads her legs wide open on the bed.

“Out,” I roar. “We’ll be famished before long.”

Her loud laughter trails after her as she saunters to the door and finally shuts it, leaving me alone in the room. I drop the towel and begin searching for my pile of clothes.

“Down, boy, you’ll have to wait a few more hours before we get her again.”

With all my clothes on, I step back over to the nightstand and grab my cowboy hat and notice Ella left her phone behind. Several notifications fill up the screen from a contact named “The Love of My Life.” My gut sinks because I know I haven’t texted or called her in the last few hours.

The devil on my right shoulder taunts me, encouraging me to open the message. My thumb circles the unlock arrow on the screen for several seconds before I decide against it. I’ve made the commitment to love her for however long she lets me. I’ll just have to make her forget about the other man.

The sun assaults my eyes as I open the door. I tuck my hat a bit lower to shade them and also to mask the emotion covering my face.