Lipstick and Leather (Rough and Ready Book 7) Read online

  With a sound of deep satisfaction, he leaned over her. A couple drops of sweat dripped from his hair onto her chest and she realized that perspiration coated her own body. Their breathing came hard and rough.

  She looked at him and smiled.

  He gave her a grin and said, “Ready for another round?”

  She laughed. “Very funny. I don’t know if I can handle more than four orgasms in one night. It will take me at least a day to recover.”

  “Then tomorrow, same time, same place,” he said in his low, sexy drawl.

  With a smile of her own, she said, “It’s a date.”

  Chapter 4

  The rumble of the crowd followed Anna as she searched for her seat in the coliseum. She looked at her ticket to make sure she was in the right section and made her way to her seat. When she finally found her seat she saw that Mark had been right. They were terrific—if one loved bull riding. She couldn’t imagine getting into watching a bull bucking off a cowboy.

  Thoughts of Mark made her grin to herself. Last night had been amazing and this morning wasn’t half bad, either. He was a wild man in bed and she loved it.

  He had left fairly early in the morning while she took her time getting ready. He’d said he had some business to attend to but they arranged to meet back at his room tonight and he had made sure she had a key card for the room.

  Becky wasn’t at the coliseum yet, but then she was always late and Theresa hadn’t arrived yet, either. Anna rubbed her cold nose and held her jacket in her lap. At least it was an indoor coliseum. Being from Arizona she didn’t see a whole lot of snow and she wasn’t finding it easy getting acclimated to the Denver climate.

  She looked around her and felt out of place with all of the people in cowboy hats and western shirts. But there wasn’t a better place to see the rodeo from than hers and her friends’ seats. That was clear.

  “Hey there.” Becky plopped into the seat beside Anna, a couple of programs in her hand. Her blonde friend looked radiant and as beautiful as ever. “What’s up?”

  “What’s up?” Anna gave her friend a disbelieving stare. “Don’t you listen to phone messages? The hotel reservations you made are for next week and they didn’t have any rooms available last night.” Anna shook her finger at Becky. “It took me a while to find an alternative.”

  “Oops.” Becky put her hand over her mouth then lowered it. “You did find a place though?”

  “Yes.” Anna debated on telling Becky now or later about Mark.

  She didn’t get a chance to anyway because Becky started talking about the cowboy she’d gone home with last night.

  “Les is so hot.” She shifted in her seat so that she was facing Anna. “Talk about a rodeo ride. I don’t know if I told you, but Les is a bull rider. He’ll be out there today.”

  “That’s great.” Anna smiled. “It will make it a little more fun to watch.”

  “Hi girls,” Theresa said as she came up to them.

  “Theresa!” Becky bounced up out of her seat and gave Theresa a big hug. “What took you so long?”

  “Traffic sucked.” She smiled at Anna who got up to hug her, too. “How are you doing, girl?”

  “Good.” Anna smiled back. “So glad to have you here.”

  “About that.” Theresa sat in her seat. “I’m only here for today. I have to get back to New Jersey for a big audit that’s just been sprung on the company.”

  “That’s a bummer.” Becky dropped back into her seat.

  Theresa looked at her ticket then sat on the other side of Becky. Theresa glanced at the rodeo grounds then back at Becky and Anna. “So what’s the big deal over cowboys riding cows?”

  Becky snorted and started laughing and Anna couldn’t hold back giggles of her own. Theresa tilted her head, obviously perplexed, as she watched her friends laugh so hard that tears rolled down their cheeks.

  “What?” Theresa said.

  “Shhhh.” Becky put one finger to her lips as she tried to control her laughter. She lowered her voice, a giggle still riding her words. “Cowboys don’t ride cows.” Becky snorted again. “Cows give milk. They have calves. Bulls are the big studs that can weigh a whole ton and be meaner than hell.”

  “Oh.” Theresa glanced at some of the cowboys nearby and saw some of them watching her with amusement. “I thought cow encompassed everything.”

  “Not.” Becky sighed as she stopped laughing. Anna managed to get her giggles under control. “That’s like saying females represent males,” Becky said.

  “Okay, okay.” Theresa tried not to look at anyone around them. “I get it now.”

  “Man.” Becky wiped her eyes with the pads of her fingers, trying not to smudge her makeup. “You might be from the East, but come on, how could you not know?”

  “Apparently I skipped class that day.” Theresa smiled. “Now explain to me how this works.”

  “I’m no expert—I just dig bull riders,” Becky said, “But I’ll tell you what I do know.” She gestured below where there was a lot of activity going on. “Those are the chutes.” She pointed toward yellow bars that made up the gates and chutes. “A cowboy will be on the back of a huge bull that will try to buck off the cowboy. The cowboys have to stay on for eight seconds, which is harder than you might believe. Wait ’til you see these things. It’s crazy.”

  “I’ve only seen it a little on the news,” Anna said. “But what I do know is that it’s really dangerous. A cowboy could get trampled and seriously injured.”

  “The bulls also have huge horns and they could hook the cowboys,” Becky said.

  “I can’t imagine dating a professional rider, Becky.” Anna shook her head. “He’d be on the road a great deal of the time and rarely home. I’d also worry that he’d get hurt.”

  “You missed it,” Becky told Theresa. “I dated a bull rider last night.”

  “Is that what they call it these days, dating?” Anna laughed. “Who rode whom?”

  Theresa raised her brows and Becky grinned and held up the program. It was open to a page with Les’s picture and his name with a short bio. “Isn’t he hot?”

  Theresa looked on with approval on her features. “Definitely.”

  “Look.” Becky pointed below. “They’re going to start.”

  Anna looked down and saw a bunch of cowboys around a chute. An announcer’s voice carried high above the cheering and clapping of the crowd as he gave the name of a bull rider and the name of the bull he was riding.

  A bull burst out of the chute with a cowboy on its back. Anna held both hands over her mouth, her eyes wide as she saw up close the two-thousand-pound beast spinning in circles as it bucked and tried to get its rider off. She’d known it would be intense but she hadn’t realized just how intense.

  The event was in full swing now. The horn would blare and every cowboy that rode got bucked off, jumped off, or fell off the bull he was riding. A couple of cowboys in red worked to draw the bull’s attention away from each rider as he jogged off to safety.

  Once the bull was out of the arena it started all over again. Another bull burst from the chute, another cowboy hanging on until the horn blew at eight seconds. The cowboy fell to the ground so close to the bucking animal’s hooves that Anna was sure he was going to get trampled.

  She found herself squeezing her fists tight and holding her breath until each ride was over. When it was announced that Les was the next bull rider, Becky leapt to her feet and started jumping up and down, calling out Les’s name.

  When the chute burst open and Les’s bull flung itself out into the arena, Becky screamed harder. The horn blasted and Les fell off the bull and the cowboys in the ring drew the bull’s attention away from Les. Anna relaxed when Les was off to safety. She didn’t know him but somehow Becky knowing him made it more personal.

  “Mark Cooper,” the announcer said, “Riding Devil’s Hellfire.” The cheering in the coliseum went nuts.

  Anna’s heart stopped. It isn’t, it can’t be.

  A bu
ll and rider burst from the chute and Anna held her hands to her chest as she recognized Mark’s powerful form. Somehow he had a presence that she hadn’t seen in the other riders.

  The eight seconds seemed to last forever. The horn blew and Mark leapt off, hit the ground, and rolled out of the way of the bull.

  Her heart pounded with relief as he jogged in their direction. He looked up at her and his eyes met hers. He grinned and winked before disappearing below them.

  Anna sat down hard in her seat. She hadn’t even realized she had been standing. She still had her hands to her chest and her breathing was rapid.

  Mark was a bull rider. He had avoided telling her last night, probably because it would have put her off. She didn’t want a relationship with someone who traveled all the time.

  “Uh, Anna?” Becky’s voice brought Anna’s attention to her. “Something you want to tell us?”

  “Yeah,” Theresa said. “I wouldn’t say you looked like you’ve seen a ghost, but pretty damned close.”

  Anna grimaced. “Sorry. Didn’t get a chance to tell you two.”

  “What?” Becky frowned. “Don’t tell me you went home with someone last night.”

  “Not exactly.” Anna grimaced. “Well, sort of. But it wasn’t intentional.”

  “Huh?” Becky said. “How was it unintentional?”

  “It all happened because I didn’t have a room and couldn’t find a place to stay in all of Denver.” She looked at Becky. “I had met Mark earlier at the party and he helped me find my keys when I dropped them in the snow and he also helped me when my suitcase spilled open in the hotel. He came to my rescue when I couldn’t find a hotel.”

  “There’s more to it than that.” Theresa said.

  Anna looked from Becky to Theresa. “We spent some time talking in his room. One thing led to another.”

  Becky started laughing. “You just got through saying you wouldn’t date a bull rider and then you find out the guy you just spent the night with is one.”

  “How ironic,” Theresa said.

  “Tell me about it.” Anna looked at the arena where the bull riding was coming to an end. “Thank goodness it’s over. I don’t think my heart could take much more.”

  “Mark Cooper.” Becky flipped through the program. “Here he is.” She stopped at a page with Mark’s picture. He looked so freaking hot that Anna’s stomach flipped.

  Anna nodded. “That’s him.”

  Theresa said, “Damn. I would have done anything to be in his room.”

  “Look at this bio.” Becky raised the program so that Anna and Theresa could see it. “He’s one of the best professional bull riders around according to this.” She flashed a grin at Anna. “Mark Cooper likely could have just about any female he wanted. Lucky you.”

  “Damn.” Theresa looked at Anna. “You sure know how to pick ’em.”

  Anna’s heart sank. Not only was this guy a bull rider, but he rode on a professional rodeo circuit. He might live fairly close to Tucson, but he wouldn’t be around much. That just wasn’t for her.

  Chapter 5

  After a day of rodeo and spending time with Becky and Theresa, Anna returned to Mark’s suite. Becky was staying at her cowboy’s place again and Theresa was already headed to the airport to return to New Jersey.

  The key card was in her purse so she dug it out and let herself into Mark’s room. When she opened the door, Mark was on the sofa, holding a can of Sprite and his feet up on the coffee table.

  He smiled. “Hey.”

  She unwound her scarf from around her neck offering a smile but holding a part of herself back. “Hi.” She ditched the rest of her cold weather apparel, putting it all into a pile by the door to take care of later.

  “Something wrong?” he asked as he studied her.

  She put her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re a bull rider? A champion at that. You said you were self-employed.”

  He lowered his feet from the coffee table and set his drink aside. “I am self-employed. And, I don’t go around saying I am a champion bull rider. You see all the buckle bunnies around who are infatuated with someone famous. That’s not what I’m looking for. I love that we met and talked and we got together because you were attracted to me, not for something I have attained. I wasn’t trying to deceive you. Would it have mattered if I told you?”

  “Yes, it does matter.” As she walked toward him she put her arms across her chest. “I don’t do relationships lightly. I thought that perhaps you and I would be able to get together because you don’t live that far from me. Now that’s changed.”

  “Nothing’s changed.” He got to his feet and walked to where she was standing. “We can still get together. I want to see you again.”

  “I loved a man who lived in New Mexico.” She searched Mark’s gaze. “He found someone in Albuquerque. So I don’t do long distance or even part-time relationships.”

  She continued, “You’re a pro, Mark.” She looked down at her feet for a moment before her eyes met his. “You travel on the rodeo circuit so you’re gone a good portion of the year.” She shook her head and continued. “And you’re a pro. That has to bear some responsibilities.”

  Mark reached out and rubbed her upper arms with his palms. “We can make it work.”

  He put his forehead against hers. “Cowboys get old fast riding bulls. I can’t do this forever. Give me a chance.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment before she said, “It won’t work.”

  When she raised her head, he brought her into his arms and kissed her.

  His kiss was amazing, making her feel passion that she had never felt with another man. Despite her protests against having a relationship with him, she wanted him more than ever. Maybe she couldn’t have a permanent relationship, but she could have him tonight.

  When he drew away, he placed a kiss on her forehead. “For this moment, let’s just take a little at a time. And right now, I would like to enjoy the night with you. Why don’t we order in some pizza and watch a movie?”

  Even though she was facing the end of a relationship before it even really started, she smiled. “All right.”

  He called a pizza delivery service while she changed into more comfortable clothing and hung up her winter garments. They talked as they waited for the pizza to arrive while she drank rum and Coke and he went with Jack Daniels again. She asked him questions about the rodeo and he explained in more detail some of the nuances of bull riding as well as other categories like barrel racing and steer wrestling.

  While they talked, she felt a little sadness that this couldn’t continue. She pushed those feelings aside and concentrated on enjoying their time tonight.

  The pizza arrived and they sat on the floor again in front of the fireplace, their backs to the sofa as they ate. She learned that he had three brothers, one of which was also a rodeo cowboy while the other two were ranchers. She shared that she had a sister who lived in Texas and her mother and father were in Tucson.

  “It’s getting late.” She’d had enough to drink that she found herself with her head against his shoulder.

  She was too tipsy to let common sense prevail, that little voice that knocked at the back of her consciousness and said, “Don’t get so close. You’ll only get hurt.”

  Too late for that.

  He stood and helped her to her feet. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I have to be back in time for classes on Monday. I have a long drive ahead of me.”

  He hooked his finger under her chin and tilted her head. “I can’t seem to take no for an answer when it comes to seeing you again.”

  “You’re going to have to,” she said. “It won’t work.”

  He lowered his head and kissed her.

  It was so easy to get lost in his kisses, to forget everything—why it wouldn’t work, why she had to protect her heart.

  Both of them increased the depth of the kiss as if holding on as tightly as they could t
o what they had now, before she went off on her own again.

  His touch grew rough, demanding, as if mastering her like he mastered riding a bull. She loved it and matched him with her own hunger and demands.

  He jerked her T-shirt over her head and arms and threw it aside. She had taken her bra off when she had put on more comfortable clothing and he made a sound of appreciation. He grasped her breasts tightly, pushing them together so that he could easily lick one nipple then the other and back again.

  She put her hands on his shoulders, tilted her head back, and closed her eyes as the sensations took her away, making her wriggle in his grasp. He raised his head and moved his hands to the button of her worn jeans and pushed them down over her red panties. Then he pulled her panties off and she was completely naked while he was still clothed.

  He kissed her again, his clothing and his belt buckle rough against her skin. His cock was hard as he pressed himself against her. He picked her up and she caught her breath in surprise as he turned her and pushed her down on the floor so that she was on her knees, her cheek pressed to the carpet.

  Her heart pounded as she heard him unzip his jeans and then he knelt and rubbed his erection against her ass. He leaned over her back and she felt his clothing. Somehow that leant to the eroticism of the moment—her naked while he was dressed.

  “Ready for me, Anna?” He murmured the words even as he pressed his palms on the inside of her thighs, forcing her legs farther apart. “Are you ready for me to be inside you?”

  She nodded, the carpet soft against her cheek as she moved her head. “Yes.”

  His erection nudged her folds and she held her breath as she waited for him to penetrate her.

  He drove into her hard and she cried out in surprise at his roughness as he took her. He pounded in and out with a fierceness that struck something wild within her. She rocked back into him, loving the intensity of this wild side of him.

  She grew lightheaded as she felt an orgasm coming on. Her body grew hot and tingly as she neared her climax.

  He reached around and started fingering her clit as he took her. It added to the wild sensations charging through her. He stroked her more and she felt as if her eyes were going to cross because it felt so damn good.