Rejected by the Cowboy

Chapter 1Dolores was sitting on the hood of her car, legs crossed, staring at the blue sky under the scorching sun. The hot wind lifted dust along the road and swayed her hair. She had been waiting for hours—three, to be exact—and was beginning to think she had been forgotten in the middle of nowhere.“Damn it. They’re never going to find me…” she muttered, discouraged, wiping the sweat off her forehead.The sun felt even hotter when a loud, distant sound cut through the vast vegetation. A deep, powerful engine noise, steady and approaching, made her heart beat faster.Dolores straightened instantly. Her phone vibrated—miraculously, considering the terrible reception in the area.“Hello?” she answered, breathless.“Miss Dolores!” It was André, her assistant, sounding relieved. “Have they found you yet? I managed to track your phone and asked for help at the Carter ranch.”She looked toward the road and saw a pickup truck approaching, raising a cloud of dust behind it.“Yes, someone’s

Chapter 3Maurício said goodbye with a tap on his hat and left, leaving Dolores alone in the kitchen.She let out a sigh, grabbed the aluminum mug again, and filled it at the faucet. The fresh water flowed freely, unlike anything she was used to drinking.“At least the water is good,” she muttered, taking another sip.Suddenly, she heard a low sound behind her. Light steps. It didn’t sound like a person. Dolores froze. She turned slowly, and her eyes widened.There, standing in the doorway, was a tall creature with golden fur and black spots, pointed ears, and an alert gaze.Dolores’s heart almost stopped.“M-my God… a leopard!” she exclaimed, stepping back and spilling water on the floor.Nyra tilted her head, curious, as if amused by the visitor’s fear. She walked up to Dolores and sniffed the hem of her pants. Dolores held her breath, completely still.“Zacky…” she whispered, her voice coming out thinner than she intended.A low chuckle came from the door.“Oh, you’ve already met N

Chapter 5Dolores stayed quiet, observing. Zacky took the chair beside her.Maurício appeared first, a friendly smile spreading across his face the moment he saw her.“Good evening, Mrs. Dolores.”She returned the smile.“Good evening.”Right behind him came three other workers. Each one, upon seeing her seated at the Carter family dining table, did the exact same thing: straightened their posture, removed their hats, and greeted her.“Welcome,” Pedro said.“It’s a pleasure to have you with us, ma’am,” Tião added.Billy didn’t even try to hide his admiration.“Wow… I mean… good evening, ma’am,” he corrected himself, turning red.Dolores let out a soft laugh, finding the whole thing adorable.Zacky, on the other hand, only grunted.“Maurício, tell Pedro to let us know when dinner’s ready. They keep talking and it delays everything.”“I already told him, boss,” Maurício replied, sitting at the corner of the table. “It’s just that someone new here has everyone excited.”Zacky lifted a br

Chapter 7 She was so lost in the kiss that her ears no longer seemed to hear the storm outside. Suddenly, everything felt distant, irrelevant. Being in the arms of that giant, rough cowboy felt, in her mind, like the best thing she had done in years. She parted her lips even more, wanting to taste him completely, wanting the heat of his tongue invading her without hesitation. “Ah…” she moaned again, feeling her core throb with need, her entire body burning from the inside out. Her body melted when his hands—big, strong, entirely dominant—slid down her waist, traveled up her back, and slowly descended to her ass. He squeezed firmly, drawing a trembling sigh from her and making the heat between her legs grow almost painfully intense. Her knees were about to give out. For a brief moment, she wondered why he had given in if moments earlier he had said she didn’t interest him. Was it just his testosterone running high? A moment of impulse that any man in his place wouldn’t waste? No…

Chapter 9Zacky closed his eyes and fell asleep. Dolores also drifted into slumber, nestled in his enormous arms, finally feeling protected. The lightning and thunder had ceased, leaving only the sound of heavy rain.In the middle of the night, he awoke with a cold shiver running through his body. Her warmth was no longer enough. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he got up and went to the bedroom to fetch a blanket. He returned in silence, lay down beside her again, and covered them both with the soft fabric.When he embraced her, she stirred, instinctively adjusting herself against his chest, sighing as if she had found the exact place where she belonged.He stared at her for a second, examining the calmness on her face, and felt something strange sprouting inside him. Something that wasn't just desire.He closed his eyes, pulled her a little closer, and, with his breathing returning to a slow rhythm, fell asleep again.Before dawn, Dolores opened her eyes. The rain had stopped, leav