Chapter 6

Chapter Six

This isn't real. It's a dream. None of this is happening. Those three sentences were on a loop in Autumn's head as she tried to maintain her composure. There was no way Roth Stephens was flirting with her. Him holding her hand the majority of the ride already had her senses on high alert. The feelings multiplied exponentially when he uttered his question in that deep, gruff voice of his.

Since she'd moved to the Las Vegas area, she didn't often encounter anyone with his distinctive Texas drawl. Even when she did meet someone with hints of Texas in their voice, it didn't have nearly the same effect as hearing him call her Sugar and asking her whatever the hell it was he said afterwards.

"What's the matter, Sugar? Cat got your tongue?"

Digging deep, Autumn finally gathered herself enough to reply. "Are you saying you do expect compensation for your generous donation to the Ladies' Auxiliary?"

The sudden swerve made Autumn grasp the "Oh Shit" handle to keep herself steady. Just in front of them, the headlights shined across the gravel road leading to the gate with the Lazy Creek sign above it. If he hadn't stopped the truck, they would've arrived at his ranch house in less than ten minutes.

His hold on her hand tightened, and his voice dropped an octave. The heat in his honey-colored eyes made her gulp in an attempt to swallow her ill-advised accusation.

"Autumn. I don't give a shit how this all started. I didn't buy you. Nor your time. Look me in my eyes and tell me you think I'm expecting you to put out because I gave money to a charity on your behalf?"

Autumn winced when he said her name. In less than two hours she'd gone from Tummy to Sugar to Autumn. And as much as she didn't like him calling her Tummy, she liked him using Autumn even less. Sugar was now her favorite, and she wanted nothing else coming from his lips when referring to her. Autumn figured her lipstick was likely a mess after the hell she was giving her bottom lip.

"No, Roth. I don't think you expect sex from me because you donated money."

His nod was curt. Autumn was unable to move when the distance between them shrank to inches.

"Do you also understand that what does or does not happen between us, whatever it is, will be a mutual act?"

Autumn's pulse thundered in her ears. Was he asking what it sounded like he was asking? No. That's not possible . Never. Not once in the more than twenty-five years she'd known him had Roth hinted at seeing her as anyone other than Nick's little sister. Not even when her feminine attributes announced themselves loudly in her teens and many of the male gender began giving her attention did he indicate any interest. He was protective of her, but it was simply a byproduct of him and Nick being best friends and Roth not having a younger sister of his own.

"Sugar."

Roth's molasses dipped voice pulled her from her internal thoughts. Relocating her gaze from his lips to his eyes, she waited for him to continue.

"If you're uncomfortable with any of this, you just say the word. I'm gonna take you wherever you want to go regardless. I just wanted to clear the air."

The intensity of his gaze combined with his nearness was enough to addle Autumn's thoughts completely. Yet, somehow she managed to make complete sentences.

"I'm... Um... I'm staying with Grandma Daley at the Sunset."

Roth's stare had dropped to her mouth with her first word. But he looked back into her eyes when she mentioned her grandparent's ranch, which was adjacent to his. A creek served as a natural barrier between the two properties.

"Okay. That's where I'll take you."

When his grip on her fingers loosened, and he shifted to move away, Autumn surprised both of them by grabbing his lapel with her free hand.

"I didn't say I was ready to go there. I was just letting you know."

The space between them shrank down to millimeters. With his nose almost touching hers, Autumn could make out the variations in his eye color in the dim lighting of the truck's interior.

"What are you trying to say, Sugar?"

What was she trying to say? Instead of answering either of them, Autumn tossed caution into the wind and closed the remaining distance separating him. The wiry hairs of his mustache and beard lightly abraded her skin, but his lips were inviting.

She may have initiated their kiss, but Roth quickly took over. Delving into her mouth, his tongue danced with hers, setting off a fluttering in her belly which quickly traveled to the apex of her thighs. Her hair, carefully arranged to waterfall over one shoulder, was going to be well and truly mussed from his fingers invading her curls, tugging with the perfect amount of force.

Autumn couldn't care less. He could loosen every pin she used to achieve the style and scatter them to the wind so long as he didn't stop kissing and touching her. The sound of the seat belt releasing was almost as loud as her breathing when he let go of her fingers to unsnap the buckle.

A hitching moan issued from Autumn when his dexterous digits skimmed the outline of her breast before covering the globe. The barrier of her dress and bra were inconsequential as he zeroed in on her puckered nipple, giving it a pinch.

"Mmm! Roth!" Her gasp was met with a growl as he kissed his way down to the crook of her neck where he latched on to the sensitive skin.

"You smell fucking delicious."

Using the hand in her hair, he tilted her head back to gain better access. The bodice of her dress was shifted to the side. His new quest was obvious. Raining kisses along her collarbone, he'd just reached the top of her breast when bright lights nearly blinded Autumn. Her eyes closed tighter against the intrusion that was like a dousing of cold water.

Although the vehicle passed them by, the invasion had snapped them both out of their lust filled fog enough to realize they were parked on the side of the road making out like horny teenagers instead of full-grown adults.

"Fuck, Sugar. I'm sorry. I got a little carried away."

Roth's forehead rested against hers. Gently moving it side to side, he placed one lingering kiss on her lips before releasing her. Stroking his beard, Autumn couldn't resist running her thumb along his lips before dropping her hands into her lap.

"Don't be sorry. I'm not."

One large hand covered both of hers, squeezing before he released them. Reaching across her again, he re-buckled her seat belt. When he was done, he drummed his fingers along the top of the gearshift.

"You deserve better than to be felt up on the side of the road."

Autumn watched him for a moment. Laying her hand on his, she halted the tapping.

"You're acting like you jumped me without my permission. I kissed you , Roth."

"Yeah, but you weren't about to strip me naked before that car drove by."

"Who says?" She was wearing a flirty smirk when he whipped his head around to look at her.

"Oh. I see you want that juicy ass spanked."

Autumn wasn't sure how she flipped Roth's switch. But, she had no regrets. Not with the way her core clenched when he promised to spank her ass. Her lady bits' only response to his threat was, ‘yes please.'

Without another word, he put the truck into gear and completed the turn onto Lazy Creek Road. The drive, which should've taken ten minutes, was greatly reduced. Sooner than she expected, they rolled to a stop in the attached garage and Roth was rounding the truck flinging open her door.

She barely had her safety belt unbuckled before he turned her in the seat bracing his hands on her knees. Her gasp was swallowed by his mouth while he pressed her knees open wide enough to accommodate his hips. This kiss was different from the first. The intensity ratcheted up astronomically when she felt his hard body pressed against her softness.

Autumn couldn't be bothered by the slight ripping sound as her legs widened beyond the limits of the split in her dress. She was too caught up in the feel of Roth's big hands roaming her body. Heat bloomed from her center making her wind her hips, seeking relief.

One second, there was buttery soft leather beneath her bottom, the next Roth's calloused hands were cradling her ass, pressing her panty clad pussy against his belt buckle. The completely decorative accessory hit her folds at precisely the right angle when he lifted her from the seat.

The trip through the lower floor of the house was accomplished amid kisses, touches and the removal of garments. By the time they reached his bedroom, Autumn was clad only in her bra and bottoms. There was no room for embarrassment over the short tights designed to keep her inner thighs from being rubbed raw when she wore dresses. The way Roth devoured her with his gaze, she may as well have been wearing skimpy lingerie.

He'd tossed the duvet back and placed her on the bed. She lay semi reclined as he shucked off the rest his clothing. The way his shaft tented his boxer briefs clearly indicated his arousal. Her fingers traveled the waist band of her underwear only to be grasped by his.

"Uh-uh. That's my job. You just stay right there and wait for me to take care of you."

Standing back upright, he stuck his thumbs into the waist band of his underwear sliding them off along with his pants. When he straightened up, Autumn nearly swallowed her tongue. Ho-ly shit .

It was one thing to believe a man was generously endowed. It was totally different to see that, not only did he receive more than his fair share of penis, he had the double blessing of length and girth. She didn't even realize she'd closed her legs until his hands appeared on her knees pressing them apart again. Hovering above her, Roth wore a cocky smirk.

"You wouldn't be havin' second thoughts would you, Sugar?"

Autumn's vocal cords weren't responding to commands, but she managed to shake her head. Even if she had to soak in Epsom salts for hours, she wasn't backing out. Snaking her hand between them, she wrapped her fingers as far as they could reach around his thickness, stroking his length. Damn! She was definitely gonna be sore tomorrow.

"Fuck..." Dragging the word out in a groan, Roth tugged his hips away her questing digits while dropping lower to capture her lips. "Not yet, Sugar. We don't want this over before it starts."

Keeping her occupied with drugging kisses, he rid her of her undergarments. Autumn was nearly out of her mind with need by the time he lay on his belly, with her legs thrown over his shoulders and his head between her thighs. His first swipe at her folds had her back bowing.

"Damn, Sugar. You taste even better than you smell, and you smell fucking delicious."

That was the last thing Roth said before he coaxed her pearl from its hood and proceeded to suck her soul from her body via her sensitive clit.