Eight Seconds to Ride (Copper Lake, #1)

by Ashley James

To the girlies, gays, and theys who go weak for a man in a tight pair of Wranglers, cowboy boots, and chaps. This one’s for y’all.

He hesitates only for a moment before he flips his baseball cap backward and crashes his mouth into mine.

“Well, what are you waiting for, baby?” His gaze jumps, meeting mine as I smirk. “It’s not gonna suck itself.”

Chewing tobacco is a disgusting habit—worse than smoking—but there’s something so inherently sexy about it. It makes no sense. Like, if you think too hard about it, it’ll gross you out, but seeing a rugged cowboy with dip in his lip and the outline of the can in his back pocket just does something for me.

“You didn’t seem to find me so ugly when you were on your knees for me, begging for my cock, now did you, Addams?”

“Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t think about the night we met constantly. Look me in the eye and tell me that night doesn’t affect you. Because if you’re going to lie to me, you’re sure as hell going to look me in the eye when you do it.”

“I think you’re a good boy who probably has good southern manners, and while that’s great, I want to see you get a little dirty. Hear you be a little vulgar. Just for me, though. Our little secret.”

“So, let me hear it, baby. Let me hear you be bad for me, like I know you can.”

With his dumb curly brown hair that never seems to sit right that I definitely don’t ever fantasize about threading my fingers through. His annoyingly gorgeous honey-colored eyes. His dimples that definitely don’t make my stomach flutter when he smiles with how deep they are. The idiotic way he always has a handkerchief in his pocket, like he’s a seventy-year-old man. It’s not endearing or cute or sweet. It’s obnoxious.

“Can’t wait to turn you around, spread you open for me, and slide my big, thick cock into that tight ass of yours. Hear those sweet little moans you make as I stretch you.”

“I’m going to fuck you so hard and so good, you’ll never be able to forget me.”

“Shut the fuck up, Addams, and take this dick like a good boy.”

want all of your sweat, your flavor, your everything. I want my senses drowning in you. The more seasoned, the better.”

“Because you deserve more than a dingy shower stall for your first fucking time, Sterling. That’s why it fucking matters.”

“I don’t know why I’m here. I just…” My bottom lip quivers as I drag in a lungful of air, everything feeling too much right now. “I just, fuck. I didn’t know where else to go. I didn’t want to go home. Didn’t want to be alone. This is dumb… You’re probably busy. Fuck, I’m sorry. I’ll go.”

“I need you, Sterling.” He nods. “I know. I’m right here. Come on.”

Somehow, I know I can trust him. And somehow I know he isn’t just my opponent anymore. Somewhere along the way, without me even fully realizing it, Sterling has become more than that.

“Fuck, dirty boy, you’re killing me here. Do you have any idea how fucking hot that is? To know my hands are the only hands to ever roam this tight fucking body of yours? To know my dick is the only one to ever drag across your tongue? To come down your throat? To be inside of you in every single fucking way?”

“Keep an eye on my boyfriend, and keep those fucking buckle bunnies away from him.”

Me: Miss me yet? Sterling: It’s been three days. Me: It’s okay to admit you miss me. I’d miss me too. Sterling: I see the arrogance is back with a vengeance. Me: Dirty boy, it’s cute you think it ever left.

Me: YOU KICKED SOME FUCKING ASS TODAY, BABY! Me: I know you won’t see these texts until later, but holy fuck! I’m watching the live stream of the rodeo, and the way you smashed all the other riders out of the fucking park. Me: I’m so fucking proud of you! The way I wish I could give you a celebratory blow job for that win.

“Could use you telling me you miss me again,” he retorts, a smirk tilting his lips. I roll my eyes, sighing loudly. “Not gonna happen.” “Come on,” he pouts. “It’s been a solid three days since you sent me that late-night text, spilling your feelings to me.” “Yeah, then reread it if you need it so bad.”

“Missed this beautiful fucking cock, and the way it weeps for me, the way it stands tall and proud for me.” A rough, calloused hand wraps around my length, giving me a few lazy strokes before he lets go, a whimper falling from my lips that I don’t even try to stop.

“I’m going to worship your body tonight, baby. Show you what you do to me. Show you just how much I missed you.”

Don’t worry, Addams… I’m going to fuck you so good, you’ll never be able to forget me.”

“The way you squeeze the life out of my cock every time I plunge inside of you.” Thrust. Thrust. “The way you stretch to take all of me like such a good.” Thrust. “Fucking.” Thrust. “Boy.” Thrust.

“That’s right, dirty boy. Let me hear you swear. Let me hear it all. Let me hear how much I fucking turn you on. How much this cock turns you out. Tell me how much you’re dying to come.”

“You’re my lucky cowboy hat, my early morning sunrise, my even thinking, and my deep breaths when my mind can’t settle down. You’ve become such a huge part of my everyday life in such a short time, and I honestly cannot picture being here, making it to where I am, without you.”

“I love you, Sterling. And to be honest, I didn’t know if I’d ever say that to someone in my lifetime. I never saw this for me, never thought I was capable of it, but with you, everything is different. And I mean it; I am in love with you.”

Being here with him, with the weight of today’s conversation off my shoulders, I feel truly okay…maybe more than okay, for the first time in I don’t even know how long. Like maybe the light at the end of the tunnel is finally in sight.

Sterling settles something inside of me. He balances me out. He tests me, and pushes me, and fights for me in ways I never knew I needed. He believes in me, like I believe in him. He’s a royal pain in my fucking ass sometimes, but honestly, I love it.

“Well, what are you waiting for, baby? It’s not gonna suck itself.”

“It wasn’t hard at all because watching you get to shine is worth a thousand titles. Honestly, I’m not even sad. I’m so, so happy for you. And so proud.”

We started this season as rivals, and we’re ending it as so much more.