Dare to Love

by C. J. Welles

  Jolene laughs as she walks back into the kitchen. “How long are you here for?”

  “Until Casey comes back with me.”

  “She wants to. She just wants to find a job first.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll have her a job by the end of the week.”

  I stroll into the living room and collapse on the couch, intending to make a few calls to find Casey a job, but instead, I close my eyes and fall asleep.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Casey

  AS SOON AS I NEAR my house I spot his truck. Being an F250 and silver with black rims, it’s not easy to miss.

  Once I’ve parked my car, I jump out and run to the front door and slam it open. My eyes land on Bryson lying on the couch and I know he’s asleep, but I really don’t care. I jump on him with my legs straddling each side of his hips.

  His eyes fly open and his hands land on my chest to push me away, but when he sees it's me, he pulls me down for a kiss. I moan against his lips when his tongue demands entrance. I get lost in the kiss as his hand comes up and holds my head in place.

  I’ve only been away from Bryson for four days, but it was the longest days of my life.

  “Surely you need to come up for air soon,” Jolene says from somewhere behind me.

  “What are you doing here?” I mumble as I gaze down into Bryson’s eyes.

  “I missed you.

  This man…

  “I missed you too.” I lean down and capture his lips. Taking charge this time, I nip at his bottom lip causing him to groan as he parts his lips.

  “I’m just going to… go.” I don’t even stop to reply to Jolene.

  Sliding my hands down between us, I unfasten his belt and flick the button on his jeans undone. Without breaking the kiss, Bryson slides my skirt above my hips and rips my pantie hoes. I let out a squeal which he swallows.

  “Did you have to?” I mumble against his lips.

  “Yes. Taking them off will take too long,” he replies as I pull down the waistband of his boxer briefs. His long, thick shaft is heavy and rigid in my hand. The skin feels velvety as I run my hand up and down it. “Are you just going to play? Or are you going to put it too good use?”

  I give him a sexy smirk as I lift my hips and position myself so that his shaft is nudging the tip of my entrance. I moan as I slowly lower myself until just the head of his shaft is inside my slick sex. I hold myself there for a moment until I rise so that just the tip is inside me.

  “I think you’ve done enough teasing,” Bryson says as he clamps his hands on my waist and thrust up until he’s fully sheathed inside me.

  Moaning his name, I look down and smile at him. “You just don’t like giving me control.”

  “Maybe.” He leans up and fastens his lips over mine, halting anymore talk. I grasp his shoulders as I pivot my hips back and forth, grinding my clit against the base of his cock.

  With each deep thrust and the pressure against my sensitive clit, my orgasm builds.

  I’m close,

  So close.

  I just need…

  He breaks the kiss and nips at my neck as one hand moves from my hip to pull my blouse down, exposing my breasts.

  “Ohhh, hell,” I groan.

  “Bryson,” I scream when his teeth bite down onto my nipple.

  My orgasm explodes and pleasure thrums through my veins, taking over my body. As I come down from my high, I can feel Bryson kissing, licking and soothing my nipple.

  Bryson sits up so we’re face to face with my knees still positioned each side of him. The position change makes Bryson’s movements ease until we’re more grinding together instead of thrusting. I bury my face into his neck as I rotate my pelvis back and forth, grinding my clit against his pelvic bone.

  Back and forth.

  “I can’t wait any longer,” Bryson’s gravelly voice say as I feel him begin to shudder.

  “Don’t.” I wrap my arms around his neck, resting my hands on his upper back. “Come. Come deep inside me.” I dig my nails into his back as he pushes up and maneuvers us until I’m on my back.

  He holds onto one side of my hip and his other hand rests on the sofa arm, just above my head.

  “Fuck,” he grinds out. “Fuck, I love you.” I dig my heels into his lower back, pushing him down and kissing him.

  As I climax again, I clench my inner muscles around his shaft and I feel his seed shooting inside me.

  Shudder after shudder rack through his body.

  Soon he drops down on top of me.

  For the next hour, we lie in a tangled mess. Talking and having sex once more.

  ***

  Epilogue

  Casey

  I SMILE AS I LOOK DOWN at Bryson who is kneeling at Krystal’s grave. Krystal was a big part of his life and I’m thankful for that.

  Since I moved back four months ago, we’ve both come to visit Krystal’s grave every second Sunday.

  “I still think you two would have been good friends.”

  “I know, Callie has said the same thing.”

  Bryson stands up and wraps his arms around my waist as we walk towards Krystal’s bench.

  “What do you think is inside?” I ask Bryson who is holding a pink envelope in his hand.

  A letter from Krystal,” he answers without pausing.

  “Really? How do you know?”

  “Because it’s the same as the others she wrote me.”

  I swallow around the lump in my throat as I look at the pink envelope with Bry and Casey written on the front.

  Krystal really did have high hopes that we would find our way back to each other.

  “Are you going to open it?” I whisper, my voice sounding weak from the emotion I’m trying to hold in.

  I watch, holding my breath, as Bryson peels the envelope open and pulls the letter out.

  “Do you want to read?” he asks me.

  I shake my head. It’s only fair that he does. I wait, trying to keep my breathing regular, as Bryson reads the letter.

  After five minutes he hands it to me with a smile on his face.

  I take it with shaking hands and begin to read.

  Dear Bry and Casey,

  If you’re reading this, then it happened. I don’t want to get cocky or anything, but Bry, I didn’t write a letter for you for if you fell in love with anyone else.

  I’m not taking the credit for you too being together, but I do hope that my words helped Bry to pull his head in.

  Casey, this letter is more for you. Bryson’s already received letters from me (Which I’m sure he shared with you).

  I’m happy you two found your way back to each other.

  I wish I had got a chance to meet you. For Bryson to fall for you in the first place, you must be special to him. Bryson doesn’t love easy, but when he does, he loves hard.

  I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.

  Love always,

  Krystal

  I blink back my tears as I read the letter again.

  “Why are you crying?” Bryson asks as he pulls me onto his lap.

  I wipe away my tears as I nuzzle into his neck. “I just… I hate that her life was taken so soon,” I whisper. “She never met me but she had faith in me. Faith in us.”

  Bryson’s arms tighten around me. “I know,” he croaks out. “She was someone who always saw the best in people. She’d have to be, to get past my bullshit.” He lets out a small laugh.

  We spend the next hour talking about Krystal. Bryson tells me some of the stories of their time together.

  Six months ago, I was jealous of their friendship and it made me feel bad. Now though, there is no jealousy. Not because I don’t have to fight for Bry’s attention, but because I know Krystal was there for Bryson when he felt he had no one else.

  “Are you ready to go?” Bryson asks me as he stands up. I nod my head and he holds out his hand to me.

  “What are we going to call her?” Bryson asks.

  As we ca
n’t have children, we’re getting a puppy instead. Jolene, as well as Callie, have both offered to be surrogate mothers for us if we want to have children, but we want to wait and decide what we want to do.

  “I don’t know, but I do know I’m not letting you choose,” I reply as we reach his truck.

  “Why?” he asks with a frown.

  “You called your horse Cyril.”

  “What’s wrong with that? It’s an awesome name.” Opening the passenger door, Bryson waits for me to climb in.

  I raise my eyebrows and shake my head. “No. You’d probably call our puppy Winfred or Pax.”

  Bryson’s eyes widen. “Fuck no.” He closes my door before he walks around and jumps into the truck. He looks at me with a smirk. “We could call him Chyna.”

  My mouth drops open. “You… No… See, you have a bad taste with names.”

  “There is nothing wrong with Cyril. But seriously, what about Laddie?”

  I think about it for a moment. “Okay.”

  “Really? You agree that easily.”

  I nod my head as I lean over and steal a quick kiss. “Yes, I like the name. Now take me to get our new baby.”

  I smile as Bryson gives me a smile that warms my body and heart. “Anything for you.”

  I look in my side mirror as we drive away from the cemetery. Krystal was only in Bryson’s life for a small amount of time but she has left her imprint on both of our lives. It proves that it’s not the amount of time someone is in our lives, it’s the quality of that time that counts.

  The End

  Keep reading for a sneak peek into Dare to Want, the next book in the series

  Dare to Want

  Texas Boys #2.5

  ___________

  Preface

  Jolene

  THE PAST

  “I HATE YOU,” I scream when I walk in on the two people in the kitchen. Running over to Nathan on shaky legs, I punch his back as he turns and does his jeans up “You, asshole.” I hit him again.

  “Wait, Jo-” he slurs as I turn and rush out of the house. I’m too hurt to stop and rearrange the girl's face who he had bent over the bench.

  As I quickly climb into Bryson’s truck, Nathan stumbles out of the house and calls out my name. I slump down into the seat as I ignore him.

  I can’t talk to him.

  I can’t.

  I love him, and I just found him having sex with another girl.

  It hurts.

  It hurts so fucking much.

  “Jolene,” he shouts out. “Come back.” I shudder when I hear him kick the trash can sitting by the side of the house. “Fuck,” he roars, and tears drop faster down my cheeks. “Fucking hell, Jolene. You were the one who told me to forget about it all. To forget about us. You were the one who has ignored me for the past three days.” I hear him kick the trash can again before the front door slams.

  Tears are streaming down my cheeks by the time he gives up and goes inside the house. I pull my legs closer to my chest and curl up into a ball. Sitting in the back of Bryson’s truck, I make a vow to never let Nathan hurt me again.

  *

  Chapter 1

  Jolene

  PRESENT DAY

  I SLIDE MY voice recorder back into my purse as Trevor Allan walks away from me, with a blonde-haired bimbo on each arm. I love my job, and I love interviewing the cowboys, but I hate being glared at by buckle bunnies who only find me as an obstacle that gets between them and the cock that they want to ride for the night.

  What the hell will one man do with two girls, anyway? Like how does that work? Two guys and a girl, I could understand, even though that’s not my thing. But the other way around? I don’t see how I could share a guy like that.

  Why am I even thinking about this? I’m what you would call a prude when it comes to sex. God, I blush just thinking of the word sex. I can feel the heat rising onto my cheeks as I stand in the middle of the arena where Trevor finished second to Bryson Miller.

  I’ve known Bryson for as long as I can remember. He’s a family friend who my sister also dated. Dated isn’t a strong enough word for what they had. They were engaged and were expecting a baby until Casey had a miscarriage.

  I would love to interview Bryson, he’s everyone’s favorite on the circuit, but Daryl has been assigned to him. I only freelance for Bull Riders Star, so I am limited to what I can and can’t do, unlike Daryl who is their main reporter.

  Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I turn and head outside via the back entrance. Just as I make it out into the fresh air, I hear that voice which makes me halt. It’s the voice that makes my body come alive at the same time it makes my tummy churn. I didn’t think it was possible to feel two conflicting emotions for the same person, but I do.

  I back up against the wall, hoping I will blend in and he won’t notice me when I hear his voice getting louder as he gets closer.

  “I know, but the more you push him, the more stubborn he gets,” he says before he lets out a loud sigh.

  “Push him? That wasn’t a push. It was a tiny nudge. Bry needs to be tossed off a fucking cliff before any sense gets knocked into him.” It’s been a while since I’ve seen Ryan, but that’s his voice. He’s also the only one who would talk about Bryson like that.

  I hold my breath when their footsteps get closer. I should have turned around and walked back inside, instead of standing here like an idiot trying to hide.

  “You just don’t understand…” Nathan’s words trail off, and I continue to hold my breath.

  “Understand what?” Ryan asks.

  I look up from where I’ve had my gaze on the ground, and my eyes lock with Nathans dark brown eyes. In the dim light, they appear as dark as the night sky around us.

  Nathan Miller.

  The one and only Nathan, who I gave my heart and virginity to. Who then went and slept with someone else only days later.

  “Jolene?” Ryan asks. “Hot damn, haven’t you changed since I saw you last.”

  I slowly nod my head in agreement, but I don’t part my eyes from Nathan's. As much as I want to rip my gaze away from him and stomp on his foot, I can’t break the connection we have.

  “What are you doing here? You’re the last person I expected to see anywhere near a bull, let alone anything country.”

  “I, ah… well, I just… working. I’m working,” I reply to Ryan.

  “Working?” Nathan questions and a shiver sweeps from my head down to my toes when his deep, gravelly voice reaches my ears.

  “I have to go,” I blurt out, as I turn and run away from him. I can’t be near him.

  “Jolene,” he calls out, but I don’t stop. I keep running until I make it to my car at the other end of the parking lot.

  I have been dreading the day I come face to face with Nathan because I knew it would hurt.

  I had planned on visiting Casey while I was in town, but now I need to get out of here. I can’t stay here, knowing he’s here. Instead of driving towards Casey’s house, I head to the freeway.

  I knew Bryson was on the circuit. Who didn’t? Everyone knows Bryson. But I didn’t know the twins would be here as well. I’d been following the bull riding championship on the East coast for the past two months and had not run into them once.

  But now… Now I don’t think I can do it anymore.

  I keep driving until I hit Pittsburgh, just before midnight. I was going to continue until I got home, but I’m too emotionally tired, and I don’t want to end up a statistic for why you should rest during long trips.

  After finding a small B&B, I grab my overnight bag and head inside. I need sleep, but first I need a shower to remove the smell of sweat and dust, from being in the small arena.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to my readers who have stuck with me and read another one of my books. It means so much to me.

  Thank you to Jolene and Casey for letting me use your names.

  Thank you to my husband for putting up with my long hours at the computer
.

  Jon and Charlie, thank you for being you. You make me want to be better in life.

  Mum, once again thank you for all of the behind the scenes work you have done.

  Boo, as per usual, you are my go-to girl for anything and everything book related.

  Jolene, again. Thanks for all that you do. When I had a moment and I wanted to give it all up, you were there telling me to keep going. I love the friendship we have developed.

  Thanks to all the lovely ladies who share and promote my books. I appreciate it all.

  I’ve left this one to last, but this lady deserves a big thank you. Her posts make my day. I could be having a shit day and all I need to do is bring up Facebook and I know I will come across a Jordan Marie post. You make me laugh lovely lady.

  Reviews

  Dear Reader,

  If you loved Claiming Luca or any of my books, please would you consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

  It may seem trivial to you, but reviews are so important for Indie Authors like myself. A few short lines is more than enough and any review is greatly appreciated.

  Thank you!

  C.J. Welles xx

  Author Notes

  Thank you for reading Dare to Love. I know that people who read Dare to Dream when it first released have been waiting a long time for Bryson’s story. I apologise for it taking such a long time.

  For the first three months, when I attempted to write anything towards it, I just sat and looked at the blank screen.

  I know now, that I was trying to force the story in the direction that I wanted. Once I let it flow out as my characters were talking to me, the words poured out.

  Bryson and Casey’s story is sad but I have enjoyed writing it and seeing them both develop and grow into the people they are at the end.

  I know that Bryson has grown on a lot of people. When my readers first met him, not a lot of them liked him because of how he treated Callie. I knew back then that Bryson’s history was deep and sad. But I didn’t know exactly what until I started writing.