“Is he part horse?” Rachel’s eyes sparkled as she watched the big dog.

Max patted the dog’s head. “You might think so. We think he’s part Great Dane and part Saint Bernard. He’s all pussy, though. I swear I’ve never seen a more docile dog. Q, go rest, buddy,” Max pointed to where he’d left his horse. The dog whined and drooled around his stick. Max prayed he wasn’t drooling as much as Quigley, but he didn’t hold out much hope.

There was an amused grin on her plump lips as he approached. “Why do they say you’re difficult, Max?”

“Because I’m a bastard,” he answered honestly. He was a picky, contrary, argumentative bastard, and he didn’t really apologize for it.

She laughed. The sound was magical to his ears. “You apparently love dogs and horses. I haven’t seen anything that tells me you’re a jerk. You’ve been nothing but sweet around me.”

He shrugged, his eyes devouring the sight of her breasts. They were round and soft. They bounced when she walked. The nipples were hard little raspberries. “I’ve been very careful around you. I don’t want to scare you away. I promise, Rachel, I’ll always be careful with you.”

She frowned, her pouty mouth turning down. “Max, I want you. I want to have sex with you. But I’m not a long-term girl. You have to understand that.”

But she was, and Max knew it. She was the type of girl you fell in love with and married. He put her age at roughly thirty. She should have fallen for some professional and had a few precious babies by now. It was the way things went for women like Rachel. Something had happened to throw her life off the rails. He needed to get it back on track because he intended to be the man she fell for.

“Sweetheart, why don’t you get dressed, and I’ll take you out to dinner?” Max suggested against his penis’s wishes. He needed to woo her before he took her. He wanted to romance her and give her the courtship she deserved. He needed her to trust him. “We can talk and get to know each other.”

Her face flushed. She was very pale, with delicate skin. She couldn’t hide her emotions, and Max realized he’d made a mistake. She nodded and purposefully walked back into the pond to cover her body up.

The smile on her face didn’t come anywhere close to her eyes. “I’m not really hungry, Max. I’ll just stay here for a while. See you around.”

She pointedly swam away from him, and Max knew he’d been dismissed. If he walked away, she might be friendly, but she’d never offer herself again. He’d tried to get it done his way. It looked like he was going to have to use hers.

Max kicked off his boots, then pulled his shirt over his head. Maverick was standing by the pond, calmly waiting for his master to finish with the female so they could continue the exercise. Maverick was a gelding and Quigley had been fixed years back. Life must be so much simpler for them. Max eased off his jeans carefully. His raging erection was eager to be set free. The crown of his cock was already weeping with pre-cum.

Rachel surfaced and was treading water. Her light green eyes were wary as she took him in. “What are you doing, Max?”

He put his hands on his hips. He had no real problem with nudity. He’d grown up in this weird little town, and while he had quirks of his own, he’d always accepted himself. It was the best gift Bliss had given him. “I’m about to take a swim in a really cold pond with a woman who just wants me for my body. I’m desperate, though, and I don’t have a whole lot of self-respect.”

She frowned, reminding him of a gorgeous water nymph. “This is my pond. Go find your own.”

Max felt his lips quirk up in a little half grin. “This is my land, darlin’. I’m afraid I own the pond you’re currently occupying.”

“Oh,” she said, her mouth forming a perfect O. His penis got even harder as he thought about that sultry mouth around his cock. The damn thing was standing up straight, lying almost flat against his belly. If he didn’t do something soon, it was going to come off his body and seek her out itself. Max strode into the water and dove under the instant he could.

The water was clear, so it was easy to swim toward his lovely target. Her legs were barely touching the bottom of the pond. He loved the curves of her hips and ass. He surfaced, letting his arms wind around her slender waist, forcing her a little deeper so she had to cling to him. It was easy to do. He had a good foot on her petite frame. Her arms instinctively went around his neck.

“Max!”

He smiled. “What? I can’t swim in my own pond?”

She pushed at his broad shoulders. “I don’t need your pity, Max. Let me go.”

Now it was his turn to frown. He brushed his rigid erection against her pussy. “Darlin’, this water is cold, but I’m harder than I’ve ever been in my life. I don’t pity you. I’ve been like this for two damn weeks. If anyone needs some pity, it’s me.”

“You didn’t want me a minute ago.” Even as she made the accusation, she cuddled close to him.

She felt so perfect in his arms. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Max knew he was never going to want to let her go. “I want way more than you’re willing to give me, Rachel, and you know it. I want to be your man. I’m crazy about you.”

“You don’t even know me,” she replied, burrowing her nose into his neck.

Max kissed her ear gently. She was starving for affection, and he intended to drown her in it. “I don’t know anything about you?”

“You have no idea where I was born or who my parents are.” She practically purred against him.

“You could tell me.” She was silent on the subject, so he moved on. “I might not know all the facts and details, but I’ve learned a lot about you. I know you like chocolate and don’t put anything in your coffee. You’re a dog person, but you’ll put up with cats. You smile at everyone, and there’s a light inside you that always makes them smile back. You love music. You can’t stop your right foot from tapping when the jukebox comes on. When you know the words, you sing them, and you don’t even know you’re doing it. You take your work very seriously even though you know you’re too smart to be stuck as a waitress for the rest of your life. You’ll do that job with everything you have. You’re a good person, Rachel.”

She pulled back to look at him. There were tears swimming in her eyes. “How could you see so much?”

He used one hand to wipe the tears away. He was very solemn. He didn’t intend to play any games with her. “Because I knew I was crazy about you the moment I saw you.”

“Don’t,” she said, her voice catching on the word. “I can’t. I can’t do anything serious, Max. Please, I just want to lose myself for a little while. Can you give me that?”

He looked at her solemnly. She was practically begging him not to push her. “For now.”

Anticipation thrummed through his body as he pulled her close and, for the first time, pressed his lips to hers. She was soft and willing. Her mouth flowered open under his. Max pulled her tightly to him. He loved the way her breasts pressed against the hardness of his chest. He kept the kiss light, letting her set the pace. He needed her so badly, but he held his own desire firmly in check. She needed this even more than he did, and he knew it. After a moment’s sweet play, he groaned as he felt her tentatively lick along the seam of his lips.

Max growled as he lost a bit of his control, and he wound his hands in her hair. It was soft against his callused fingers. He held her gently, but with firm intent as he plundered her mouth. He let his tongue plunge in a naked imitation of what his cock wanted to do. He slanted over and over her mouth, their lips meshing together. She felt so right in his arms.

“Oh God, Max,” she moaned when he came up for air. “It’s been so long.”

“How long?” Max didn’t really care. She could have been with twelve guys yesterday. As long as he was the last man standing, he’d be satisfied.

“Years.” There was a little bit of wonder in her voice. Max was fascinated with the way she was looking at him. It made him feel like a much better man than he’d ever thought he could be. “Like this? Maybe never.”

“Good.” He lifted her up, bringing her breasts to his mouth. “God, you’re beautiful, baby.” He sucked a pink nipple into his mouth. Rachel groaned, and her back bowed as she offered herself to him. He curled his tongue around the peak of her soft breast and thought he would come then and there when she wrapped her legs around his waist. He felt her hot pussy against his skin. He moved between both breasts, not wanting either one to feel left out. She shivered when he bit down gently on her nipple.

Rachel moved restlessly against him, and he knew she was getting hot and bothered. He needed to get her off, because the minute he sank his cock into her, he feared he would explode. He didn’t want to leave her unsatisfied. Max turned her around in his arms, palming her breasts as her head fell back against his shoulder. Her ass rubbed against his torso.

“Please touch me,” Rachel moaned.

Max anchored her with one hand around her waist and let his other hand trail down to her wet, ripe pussy. He delved into the soft curls there. He wished he could see it, but promised himself that he would have her laid out on his bed soon. He would spread her wide and take his time learning every inch of her. He would cover her with his mouth and taste that hot cunt while she took Rye in her mouth.

Max shook his head, trying to banish the mental image. They were playing it straight this time. He wanted Rachel, and he would have to take her on her terms. As much as he’d loved sharing women with his other half, he had to move on. Max slid his fingers over her pulsing pussy, rubbing her little clit through the soft nest of curls he found. Rachel pushed her pelvis against his questing fingers.