RockHardHeat Read online

  Rock-Hard Heat

  Cristal Ryder

  Unable to stay away from her sexy cowboy, Jenna flies back to him and the Colorado Rockies. A part of her stayed in the wild and rugged west after she left and she wants to rekindle their passion. And uncover the potential riches hidden in this majestic landscape.

  Chet sets out to mine a special place in Jenna’s heart with love and their undeniable chemistry. Their steamy affair has Jenna searching for more than gold in the mountains—she wants Chet’s rock-hard love, anywhere she can get it.

  Rock-Hard Heat

  Cristal Ryder

  Acknowledgment

  Grace sparked my idea for this Naughty Nooner and I’m so thrilled she did. Thank you. Now we know how things work out for Chet and Jenna.

  Chapter One

  The blue mountain sky shone through the canopy of leaves, reflecting dapples of light in cool greens on the surface of the water. Jenna sighed and floated on her back in the creek. It had a current that kept her on a gentle spin in the pool formed by erosion over eons. She hadn’t felt this relaxed in forever. The last time might have been before her accident this past winter when she threw caution to the wind and accepted Chet’s invitation to ski.

  Jenna knew she would come back to her mountain cowboy and the summer seemed like the perfect time. Her leg had healed but she still needed to take care walking over rough ground. Floating in the water was heavenly, and she watched the sky through the trees. Contentment filled her. She loved being back here. Jenna was drawn west with a fiery passion she was just beginning to understand. It wasn’t just the man, although he was the biggest reason she was here, it was the land too. The wild, untamed beauty of it matched her soul so completely.

  After she arrived back in Colorado a few weeks ago, they were so enamored of each other, Chet sent the house staff home. They zealously guarded their private time. But Chet had a ranch to run and business to attend to, so they had to emerge back into reality. Chet knew she wanted to get to the cabin, so they’d ridden up the mountain that first weekend. He was hesitant about her riding because of her freshly healed broken leg, but she assured him if they took it easy, her leg would be fine. She wasn’t going to let a little bit of ache keep her from their cabin. He had stocked it with everything they could possibly need, including wine.

  It had been a glorious couple of days before Chet had to head down and get back to real life. She smiled and enjoyed the heat that bloomed in her belly, remembering their first lovemaking session after being apart for so many months. Desire for her cowboy never failed to heat her blood and she longed for him now. She wanted him with her in the soft mountain water, which caressed her skin so seductively.

  The grime and dust of her prospecting activities at Chet’s great-great-uncle Chester’s old claim sluiced off in the creek’s current and left her skin pink and tingly. She wasn’t ready to get out yet and closed her eyes, drifting lazily.

  Chet couldn’t confirm when he’d be back and Jenna had gotten used to staying here on her own when he wasn’t with her. At first, he’d been hesitant to leave her, but she insisted and he’d learned a while ago how stubborn she could be. So they compromised. He made sure she was checked on daily by a ranch hand, had taught her to shoot and left the rifle by the door. The radio was primed in case she needed immediate help and his dog Belle stayed with her. All was good with the world.

  Letting her legs drop, Jenna curled her toes into the creek bed and stood. The water was deep, just covering her breasts. They bobbed at the surface, buffeted by little eddies of current. She tipped back, ducked her head in the water and swept her long red tresses out of her face. When she stood, it hung to her shoulders and fanned out on the surface of the water like a halo.

  A sense of wellbeing filled her and her heart swelled with happiness. Never had such a strong sensation of belonging, being home, been so sharply etched within her. She knew she had been born on the wrong side of the continent. It was here she should have grown up and experienced life, not back east. Jenna inhaled the crisp mountain air and gazed at the bush around her. It was just as beautiful in the summer as in the winter. Her love for this land grew daily and it truly pained her to think of leaving it. And Chet.

  She brushed the disturbing thought aside. It was a while before she’d be packing her bags. Jenna’s gaze took in the brand new sluice box. Chet had replaced the broken-down one with a much more modern setup here at the creek and farther up-river where the tree came down. Chester’s old one was being restored and eventually would be donated to a local history museum. She was determined to find his secret claim and Chet had humored her all the way. Jenna smiled and excitement bubbled inside her at the news she had to tell him.

  The gurgle of water over the dam of rocks mixed delightfully with the birds singing in the trees. Jenna was at peace. She sighed and shivered with a slight chill from the cool mountain water. Goose bumps rose along her flesh and her nipples hardened, aching with the cold. She cupped her breasts in her palms, the hard nubs pressing against her flesh. This time the shiver that rippled through her wasn’t from being chilled.

  “Chet, when are you going to get here?” she whispered to the silence of the surrounding trees.

  “What’s the matter, darlin’? Miss me?”

  Jenna spun around, sending a splash of water in a sparkling arc. The wonderful, sexy drawl of Chet’s voice slipped around her like hot honey and she warmed under his gaze. He stood on the little rocky beach where they had made love on the bank of chilly snow last winter. She couldn’t help the smile that broke wide on her face when their eyes met.

  “Chet.” His name fell from her lips in a breathy sigh.

  He had one booted foot propped on a large rock, his elbow rested on his knee. The faded, worn jeans tightened over his muscular thighs and Jenna’s breath snagged in her chest. She let her gaze roam over the typical plaid cowboy shirt which also strained across his powerful chest and shoulders. He poked his cowboy hat back with a finger and winked at her. She knew what lay beneath those clothes and she hungered for him. He was a feast for her eyes and she needed feeding.

  “Now then, this sure is a sight to behold. It’s a damn good thing I decided to come myself and not send Blake to check on you.”

  “I’d say I have to agree with that, cowboy.”

  “Last time I checked we didn’t have mermaids in these parts. Just goes to show you can learn somethin’ new every day.” He straightened and started to unbutton his shirt. “Want some company?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” She glanced around, the smile still stuck to her lips. “What if we’re not alone?”

  “Only you, me and the nosy critters takin’ a gander from the trees.”

  Jenna took a step toward to the shallower water, dying to get her hands on him. Her breasts rose free from the surface, bare to his gaze. He looked down and she saw arousal in the familiar tension creeping in around his eyes. How well she knew this man now.

  “Stop.” Chet held his hand up and she halted. “You look far too fetching standin’ there with your hair about your shoulders and tits playing peek-a-boo.”

  His words sent a thrill of desire rushing through her blood and her knees wobbled in the water.

  “I thought you were joining me?” Jenna caught his gaze. The intensity of her desire liquefied with sexual heat deep in her belly and still he didn’t move. “If you don’t get in here now, I’ll have to come and drag you in. Clothes and all.” She was desperate to wrap herself around him and feel his hard length next to her. “It’s getting chilly and I need you to heat me up.”

  “You never were a patient one were you?”

  Jenna shook her head and watched every move he made as he peeled off his clothes. Does he know how much his seductiv
e striptease is turning me on? Then he was naked on the creek bank, and very ready for her.

  Slowly he strode into the water, still wearing his cowboy hat. Chet approached with a predatory assuredness she welcomed and a delighted shiver rippled through her in anticipation. Laughter bubbled up when he captured her in his arms and swung her around. It roused the sweet memory of their first meeting at the airport, when he had done the same thing.

  “Ah, woman. You’ve bewitched me.” His hungry lips nibbled along her shoulder.

  Jenna turned to face him as the searing path of his mouth followed her jawline. She wanted his kiss and met him with a fiery passion she knew would never die. Jenna wound her arms around his neck and opened her mouth, encouraging him to deepen the kiss. His tongue met hers and they moaned into each other. His palms slipped down her back and cradled her ass.

  Chet lifted her with ease and she wrapped her legs around his hips, hooking her ankles behind his butt. Jenna wasn’t chilled any longer. Their closeness, the skin-to-skin contact chased the coolness of the mountain creek away. Passion warmed the water between them and they slid against each other. His chest hair tickled her breasts and the sweet friction against her nipples had them tightening into aching buds. Jenna pulsed her hips and his cock glided deliciously between her pussy lips, driving her to distraction.

  Chet thrust against her and she couldn’t bear another moment of not having him fill her. Jenna tipped her hips until his cock head pushed at her opening.

  “Oh baby,” she murmured against his lips as they both thrust and he slid into her, filling and stretching her wide. He shuddered in her embrace and Jenna held him tight with her arms and legs as he began a rhythm that allowed them a slow, comfortable fuck in the water. The buoyancy posed a slight problem but the sweetness of their loving and the heat of their passion brought them fulfillment in the pool of Gold Creek.

  * * * * *

  “I have something to show you.” Jenna wound her still-wet hair into a knot on the top of her head.

  “What d’ya have darlin’?” He led her along a path on the creek bank, enjoying the sway of her hips in the shorty shorts she had on. Her neck rose gracefully from her shoulders and he longed to run his fingers along the gentle curve. He had a hard time keeping his hands off her, even if it was just for a simple caress, to simply feel her energy and heat.

  After a twenty-minute hike, she stopped by the sluice box up-creek. She had been busy and the work table was laden with pans, containers, scoops, hammers. All sorts of paraphernalia.

  “Look.” Jenna held up a pan and pushed her fingers through the concentrates of waste rock and gravel revealing bit of shiny material and one larger stone.

  Chet looked at what she was showing him and excitement built in his chest. “Is that what I think it is?”

  She nodded, a big smile on her face. “I think it is. I’m almost positive it’s not pyrite but would want it checked out for sure.

  “Where’d you find it? Here?” He pointed at the creek. They were about a quarter mile upstream from where they’d just made love.

  “Yep. I got bored downstream and started checking it out up here. I love this looking-for-gold thing and when I saw this today, I couldn’t believe it.”

  “Well, I’ll be. Maybe we did find old Chester’s gold after all.” Chet pushed his hat back and picked up a stone streaked with a shiny gold luster. Lots of pyrite, or fool’s gold, in these parts too. They had to be sure. “I know who we can take this to who will keep things quiet.”

  “Can you believe it? Alluvial gold. Never in a million years did I think I’d ever prospect for gold, let alone find some. I could be rich!” She bounced on her toes and clapped her hands before pausing to stare at him. “Sorry, we could be rich.”

  Chet loved watching her enthusiasm. She had such a zest for life it was refreshing. His city girl sure had countrified in a hurry and he was lovin’ every minute of her transformation.

  “Well, we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves. It could be nothing and you know full well, if it is gold, it’s probably runoff from the main vein, which might be a bit more challenging to find.”

  Jenna waved her hand. “I know, I know, but this is so exciting. How many people dream of finding gold?” She pointed to the stone in his fingers. “If that is gold and all I—we—ever find, then I’m thrilled with that.”

  Chet snaked his arm around her shoulder and handed back her find. “Here, you hang on to it. It’s yours to do with whatever your little heart desires.”

  “Thanks.”

  Jenna leaned to him for a kiss and he met her hungry lips. He never failed to respond to her touch and even after their chilly session in the creek, his cock sprang to life again. She was too excited about her gold right now to take that away and tumble her again on the creek bank. So Chet bit his tongue and tried to ignore the tightness in his groin.

  “You’re very welcome, darlin’.” He smiled at her and took her hand. “Had you planned on coming back down to the house today or did you want to hang out a while longer here?”

  “Does that mean you’re not going to stay?” She sounded disappointed and he hated disappointing her.

  “I suppose I could fit you in for the night,” Chet teased.

  Jenna gave him a playful punch on the arm and followed Chet down the trail. “Is that all you got for me, to squeeze me in? Wow, I really have slid into the back seat haven’t I?”

  “Only if you mean the back seat for havin’ a little bit of hanky panky.”

  “That’s much better. I’d hate to think you were getting tired of me and trying to find reasons to stay away.”

  Chet stopped abruptly and turned to look at her. She halted and tipped her face up. He cupped her cheeks in his palms, leaning over her, shadowing them under the brim of his hat.

  “Don’t you ever think that. You hear me?” He covered her lips with his and desire bolted through him when her tongue touched his. Chet couldn’t pull away and deepened the kiss until they were both panting. He lifted his head and curled his arms around her, holding her tight. “We’ve gone through an awful lot in a short space of time. I almost lost you once and I’m not about to let it happen again.”

  Jenna’s arms slipped around his waist and she clung to him. “That was so awful. I’m so grateful you found me. That we found each other.” Her sigh was music to his ears. “Chet, let’s stay here tonight and I’ll come down with you in the morning. Maybe you can take me to your guy and we can get this little shiny stone looked at.”

  “That, darlin’, is an invitation I cannot refuse.”

  Chapter Two

  Jenna had been fairly sure her rock sample was placer gold and once it had been confirmed, she was overjoyed. It wasn’t even a half ounce, but it proved to them that there was gold in them there hills. Now they had to decide what to do about it.

  Chet knew she wouldn’t be left behind so she had joined him when he took a few geologists up to the creek. Their private cabin had become a hub of activity for a week while they roamed about the area doing exploration and sampling. They had picked some sites that seemed likely for the origination of the deposit and were still waiting for the results from the processing plant. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of excitement.

  Both of them were well aware the impact of mining and depending on the deposit type, how it could affect the land. Once they had the sampling results they could make a decision to see if extracting the gold was viable or if they should just leave it all alone. Since it was his family heritage, it was totally up to him how he wanted to proceed, but it didn’t stop Jenna from bubbling with excitement. He was pretty thrilled himself.

  He’d already decided on a name if he established a gold mining company, Chester Gold. A very fitting way to honor his great-great-uncle.

  But for now, they would enjoy the glow of knowing, after all these years, Chester had been proven right. Now all Chet had to do was try to dissuade her from heading home at the end of the month. Chet’s heart ac
hed at the thought of her leaving him again. He wouldn’t try to change her mind. It was up to her, but he did have something up his sleeve.

  Tonight the kids were coming for a barbeque. He was thrilled they got along so well with Jenna after meeting when she first arrived. The three of them seemed to genuinely like each other. That was the toughest part when kids, no matter what their ages, were involved. They were also bringing his parents along as well. Chet was looking forward to a full-fledged family reunion. Especially now with the surprising news he wanted to share.

  He glanced at Jenna beside him and smiled. She was inspecting the rocks in her hand. The sun shone in the back window of the truck, setting her hair afire with sparks of copper. It had lightened the past few weeks from being in the sun. She had tanned too, a lovely golden tone. Surprising for a redhead.

  “Hope you’re not nervous about tonight, darlin’.”

  She glanced at him and smiled. Chet couldn’t help the surge in his heart rate. She was so goddamn gorgeous and to think, she wanted to be with him. He still couldn’t get over that.

  “Not at all. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting your parents. Finally.”

  He nodded and turned his attention back to the road leading to his house. Or mansion as she called it. He had a few plans of his own before tonight’s festivities began and was still sorting it out in his mind how he’d accomplish it.

  “We have to make a stop on the way home.”

  * * * * *

  “Wow, I didn’t know you had a greenhouse.”

  “It belongs to the ranch. We try to be organic and grow vegetables for the ranch hands and livestock. Anything left over we give to local shelters.” He took her hand and led her to the back into a smaller, newer-looking building. “I had this built just after you left earlier this year.”

  Jenna was stunned by the view before her. A greenhouse of roses in various states of bloom and rainbows of color. “Oh Chet, I can’t believe this. It’s amazing.”