by Kim Loraine
I took Hazel’s hand and grinned, chest swelling with pride at Tracy’s endorsement. Hazel didn’t pull her fingers from mine. In fact, she held me tighter.
“Nice to meet you, Tracy,” Hazel said as we left the shop.
She was silent on the walk back to my truck, and that worried me. As I drove us through the gates of the ranch, I finally broke the tension between us.
“What’s wrong?”
“They think I’m a joke. Some girl you knocked up who trapped you.”
I laughed. “Well, technically…” My voice trailed off. That was the wrong thing to say, and I knew it before the words fully left my mouth. Shit.
“Take me to my cabin.”
“Darlin’, that’s not what I meant.”
“It’s the truth. You didn’t even have to say it. If we hadn’t ended up pregnant, we wouldn’t be here right now. I’d never have seen you again, and we could have moved on with our lives.”
I parked in front of the cabin and sat with the truck idling. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“I was silly to get attached to any of you.”
“Darlin’, stop it.”
She shook her head and opened the door. “Don’t call me that. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the envelope of the ultrasound photos and handed it to me. “Here. For Mama.”
Then she went inside without looking back at me. I sighed and stared down at the pictures of our baby. I had to prove to her she was more than some girl who trapped me. She was so much more.
15
Hazel
"So, you're really living with them now?" Erin asked me. Her face was scrunched in confusion as she stared at me through our video call. "I mean, I was surprised when he asked me to send your stuff, but I know you want to help Mrs. Ryker."
I sighed and sat down on the soft couch in the small cabin. "I don't know, I just think it's the best thing to do. Until the baby is born, anyway. Tristan and I are going to be co-parenting, so it makes sense that we would use this time to get to know each other. Since we did all this kind of backward."
"Are you falling for him?" Her perfectly applied brows rose in question.
Alarm shot through me, clutching my throat. “What? No. No, it's nothing like that."
She grinned and let out a soft chuckle. "Sure. From what I see, it's exactly like that. Has he slept over yet?"
“Erin, I said it's not like that. We're…friends."
I said it, but the word felt wrong on my lips. Tristan hadn't so much as kissed me, but we were definitely more than friends
She snorted. "So you're telling me that the man who gave you the best ride of your life is just your friend?" My sister had a thing for using air quotes when talking to me about Tristan. This time she made them at the word friends, and I rolled my eyes.
"Not everything is about sex."
"Maybe not, but this certainly is."
I shrugged and looked away. “You’re ridiculous.”
"Okay, then, look me in the eye and say, I do not want to have dirty hot sex with Tristan Ryker."
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes then opened them again. Then I stared straight at her. "Fine. I do not want to have dirty hot sex with Tristan Ryker."
The grin on her lips had my stomach sinking. Somehow, I just walked into a trap. I had no idea what it was, but I was sure I would find out. The low chuckle behind me proved I was correct.
"Well, darlin', I have to admit that's disappointing."
My screen went blank as Erin disappeared from the call, leaving me alone with the cowboy I just denied wanting to get down and dirty with. "Traitor,” I muttered at my phone. She set me up. She set me up, and she left me here to scramble and squirm.
I turned to face him, my cheeks burning, "I'm… I don't know how much of that you heard, but she just likes to wind me up."
"So, you do want to have…what was it? Dirty, hot, sex with me?" His smirk was deadly. Honestly, I didn't know how women could survive him with their panties intact. Then again, they probably didn’t.
"That's not what I…” I struggled to put together something coherent that wouldn't get me into trouble or offend him. "We've already done that once before. Look where it got us.”
His grin grew wider, and he came around the couch to sit next to me
“Three times."
"What?" God, was it hot in here?
“It was three times, and you're already knocked up. I think it's safe to say we can stay out of trouble this time. If you want."
My breath hitched at the smoldering behind his words, the tension in his posture, and the pure heat in his eyes.
"What are you suggesting?" I knew what he wanted, what we’d been dancing around as we grew closer. My heart was going a mile a minute. I wanted him to close the distance between us, but I also knew that would muddy the waters of our arrangement. It would make things harder when we had to separate…eventually.
“I am suggesting we stop avoiding what we both clearly need."
"What do you think I need, Tristan?"
He swallowed hard, and I couldn’t help looking in his blazing eyes again. "Well, darlin', I think you need a cowboy to lay you down and fuck you so well you see stars."
My mouth ran dry.
Dirty.
Hot.
Sex.
With Tristan.
"And where would I find myself one of these cowboys?" His jaw ticked and he reached out, grabbing me by the nape and tugging me toward him.
"Right… Fucking… Here."
His lips against mine were hard and hungry, the built-up tension between us finally reaching a boiling point. My heart pounded, hammering in my chest with an insistent need for more of him. I opened my mouth, letting him deepen the kiss as his hands explored my curves.
“God, Hazel, it’s been so hard not to touch you like this.” His harsh breaths and rough voice made me forget all the reasons I should have stopped him.
“We can’t. It’s a bad idea.”
Shaking his head, he cupped my face and pressed our foreheads together. “How can it be a bad idea when it feels so good to finally be doing this?”
I didn’t have an answer. Well, that wasn’t true. I did. He scared me because of how much I wanted him. The last man I wanted tossed me aside after I gave him everything.
Leaning back, I finally said, “Because you’re a player.”
“I’m not playing you.”
God, I didn’t have the strength to resist him when he was right here, looking so good, smelling so good, feeling so good.
“You haven’t talked to me in three damn days. I’m tired of waiting for you to realize we should be together. And not just because of the baby, Hazel. You and me, we got something special between us. Hell, I didn’t know you were pregnant until you showed up here, but I still thought about driving to Battlement and looking for you. I still had dreams about you every night. Tell me that’s obligation talking.”
“Tristan,” I sighed.
“Let me in, darlin’. I promise I’ll take care of you.”
With those bright blue eyes telling me to trust him, I couldn’t resist anymore. I closed the distance gave in to the need I’d been denying since I arrived here. The first time he kissed me, he’d been claiming me, but now it was my turn. I took his lips with mine and leaned into the connection between us. The groan he let out against my mouth sent a wave of desire crashing into me so strong I would have fallen if I’d been standing.
I let go of my fear and gave myself what I wanted.
Him.
Strong, rough hands slid under my knit sweater, tenderly skimming the swell of my belly before running across my ribs. “I love how soft your skin is. Sweet and smooth.”
My breath hitched at the whispered words. He could be so sweet when he wanted to. But he could be naughty too.
“I need more.” I reached down and grabbed the hem of my top before lifting it over my head. Dropping the fabric to the floor, I locked eyes wit
h him and said, “Your turn.”
That smirk was back, making my nipples pebble with arousal. He was so hot. That wasn’t everything there was to him either. Tristan Ryker wasn’t just a pretty face. He was loyal, strong, capable, and determined. Basically, he was everything I always said I wanted, and he was sexy as sin.
That blue gaze of his dropped to my full breasts encased in a black bra that did nothing for me, aside from keeping the girls stable. But the look on his face said he was staring at something he wanted more than anything in the world. Impatience curled in my chest, making my fingers itch to touch him again. I wanted skin to skin, to feel the heat of his body against mine. Reaching for him, I slowly unsnapped each pearl button of his blue and green plaid shirt, loving the satisfying pop each one made as the fabric parted.
“I thought you needed more. You’re taking your sweet time, darlin’.”
Biting my lower lip, I nodded. “I need all of you, but I like to savor the unwrapping before getting to my present.”
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. Then he reached back and unhooked my bra without warning. The silky fabric slid off my shoulders, my breasts falling free from the cups as Tristan helped the garment off of me.
“Goddamn, you’re more beautiful than you were in my memories. And believe me, I spent a hell of a lot of time remembering.”
My cheeks burned at the husky desire in his words. “You cheated. I was still helping you out of your shirt.”
“I don’t give a damn, darlin’. I don’t want to savor anything but the feel of sliding deep inside you for the first time in too fucking long.”
God, but he had a dirty mouth.
His palms slid up my waist until they cupped both aching breasts. When his thumbs brushed my nipples, I let out a little moan and thrust my chest closer, begging for him.
Shirt open to his belt, that tempting display of his broad torso had me clenching my thighs together in anticipation of seeing him hover over me as he drove home.
Finally, I grabbed his shirt and pulled it open completely. He had to release my breasts to take it off, but I needed him as naked as I was. The firelight flickered over us both, making the planes of his muscles stand out in sharp relief mixed with the shadows. Awestruck, I stared at him, wondering how in the world I ended up here with him.
“Stand up, darlin’, I want to see all of you.”
He held my hand as I got off the couch and stood before him. Light touches trailed across my breasts and then down over the evidence of our first time together. He pressed soft kisses to my belly as his fingers slid my leggings down my hips and finally to the floor.
“Step out,” he ordered.
I did as he instructed, not even considering arguing. “You’re bossy.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” A dark look crossed his face. “Take off your panties and go sit on the bed, legs spread, eyes closed.”
A thrill ran through me as I followed his commands. My whole body hummed in anticipation of whatever it was he planned to do, and when warm skin touched my thighs, I jumped.
“Shh, darlin’, I’ve got you.” His voice was low and comforting, so soothing and loving. “Don’t open your eyes until I say so.”
I nodded and murmured something that sounded like a yes. Then, with one palm cupping my belly and the other snaking up my inner thigh, he closed his lips over my nipple and sucked. I cried out, whimpering as tingles built in my core. He hadn’t even touched my pussy yet.
“Go right ahead and tell me how good it feels. No one can hear you.”
“Jesus, Tristan.”
“I fucking love the way you say my name.”
I jerked as the feel of his fingers sliding over my soaked folds took me by surprise. Then he sank one inside, slowly, teasingly, and, oh, God, it wasn’t enough.
“More,” I groaned, and the man added a second finger before pressing against my needy clit with his thumb.
“You’re so wet.”
“Yes.”
“Is this all for me?”
“Yes, you know it is.” He was teasing me. I was going to die right here if he didn’t keep going. “Tristan, please.”
“Don’t worry, Hazel, I’ll give you everything you want. I promise.” He moved his fingers, slowly in and out, thumb going in smooth circles and only adding to the build of sensation at my core. I was close. So very close.
Then his mouth was on my clit instead of his thumb, the brush of his stubble on my inner thighs making me cry his name. He continued thrusting his fingers into me while his tongue lapped at my clit. Thighs clenching, I had to grab his hair to keep from bucking off the bed. He groaned against me, and that was it. I fell off the edge and came so hard I had tears in my eyes.
“Tristan. God, I…wow.” I was a jumble of unintelligible words as I tried to recover from the aftermath of the pleasure he gave me.
He grinned, his lips still shining with my arousal. When he wiped them with the back of his hand and smirked even deeper, a fresh wave of want hit me.
“I need you to fuck me now,” I said.
Eyes darkening with lust, he stood, his erection jutting forward and begging for attention. The clear bead of liquid at the tip made things low in my body tighten. “Yes, ma’am.”
He crawled toward me as I backed up on the mattress. But before I could lie down, he reached behind me and grabbed a pillow, tucking it under the small of my back. “For support,” he said when I cocked a brow in question. “So it doesn’t hurt your back.”
Was it possible to fall in love because of a pillow? I think I might have. “You’ve been doing your research. Planning to get lucky?”
“No. That doesn’t mean I’m not gonna be prepared.”
With my question distracting him, I circled his thick length in my palm and stroked. His breath caught, and he let out a shuddering moan, dropping his head down.
“Fuck, that feels good.”
“When was the last time you came?”
“Last night,” he admitted.
“Really?”
“I fucked my fist in the shower to thoughts of you doing exactly this.”
“Did you?”
He nodded. “It’s only you, Hazel. I only think about you.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you either.”
“Good,” he whispered, then he crushed his lips to mine, and that heavy cock of his notched itself right where it needed to be, against my pussy.
But he retreated, expression filled with disappointment.
“I don’t have a condom,” he murmured as he sat back and raked a hand through the hair that had tumbled into his eyes.
“Unless you have an STI, we don’t have much to worry about.”
He shook his head. “No. I haven’t slept with anyone since we were together, and I had a physical two months ago. Healthy as a horse.”
“Then what are you waiting for, Tristan? You say you want me so badly, prove it. Fuck me like you’re never going to get to do it again.”
“That better be a joke.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to see you every minute of every damn day. I want to wake up with your warm body next to mine and fall asleep with you in my arms.”
“That’s sounding a lot like forever talk.”
“Is that so bad?”
I bit back the response my heart wanted to give. The one that screamed it was perfect and everything we dreamed of. Because my head was in charge here. We couldn’t be talking about forevers when we had barely known each other a few weeks. “One step at a time, okay? We start with tonight.”
His lips pressed to mine, and as his tongue parted my mouth and pressed inside, he filled me completely, sheathing himself to the hilt. We moved together slowly, like we were made to be one, and that scared me. It never felt like this with Quinn. Like a dance we knew by heart.
Tristan and I moved together until another orgasm shook me, making my body quake and my heart race. He stiffened and stared at me as he found his own
peak, the pulses of his cock inside me making aftershocks of my orgasm rock through me again.
“Move in with me,” he said, pulling out of me and collapsing on the bed next to me. “I can’t leave you out here alone like this, especially if I get to have you in bed with me every night.”
“Tristan—“
“No, Hazel, I’m serious. I need you. If you won’t come to me, then I’ll move in here.”
I sighed. “Well, I don’t want to give up that big tub, so… I guess you’d better pack.”
The grin he gave me had my heart aching with happiness. “Tomorrow. Tonight I plan to keep you awake until the sun rises. We’ve got a lot to make up for.”
16
Tristan
“You gonna tell her you love her?” Buck asked me as he brushed Teddy before throwing the pad over his back to prepare the saddle.
“What?” Alarm shot through me. Love was…well, it was something I hadn’t ever admitted before, probably because I hadn’t ever felt that way about a woman.
Buck let out a soft laugh and shook his head. “Oh, you got it bad, boy. Even if she wasn’t your baby mama, she’d have you on your knees begging.”
“It wasn’t too long ago I remember you begging Penny to give you a chance.”
Sitting the saddle on Teddy’s back, he adjusted it until he was sure the placement was right, then went to work on securing the girth and making sure everything was just right. The bitter cold snap wasn’t even close to over, and we had water sources to check for our cattle before we could call it a day and head home for family supper.
“Best thing I ever did was let go of my pride and admit exactly how I felt. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if I could.”
I frowned at the distance in his voice. “What’s goin’ on?”
He shook his head and mounted his horse, taking him out of the stables before I could get an answer.
“Penny isn’t coming for supper today,” Sera said, approaching with Ranger following on his lead rope.
“What? Why not?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Buck won’t talk about it, but something is going on.”
“Shit. I’ve been so preoccupied with my own stuff, I haven’t even noticed.”
