by Stella Brie
Breathing rapidly, we stare at each other. My heart is pounding, and my body tingles with exhilaration and desire. His eyes drop to my mouth, as if his only thought is to devour it. The crowd applauds and breaks the moment. He pulls me up, letting my leg drop, and twirls me out to take my curtsy to the crowd. I tighten my hand in his, sweeping my other hand towards him in acknowledgement.
Smiling, we make our way over to the table. He leans over and drops a quick kiss on my bare shoulder before excusing himself to the restroom. As I take a long drink of water, I notice Vivienne is glaring at me from across the room. I toast her with my water, then ignore her. Lowell comes back, still flushed, and drinks some water. He asks if I would like to stay and dance some more or head home. Looking down at my beautiful dress and back up at this intriguing man, I want to dance all night. A corner of his mouth lifts, and he reaches for my hand.
Later that evening, as Lowell drives me home, my body hums with sexual tension. When leading, he demands complete control and focus. Although, I learned challenging his lead often resulted in the most exhilarating moments in the dance.
When we get to my apartment, he walks me up and comes inside. Without saying anything, he holds up his hands in the dance position. Wondering what he is up to, I step into them, and he leads me on a few moves before pulling the same final move he did in our first dance. As my leg wraps around his hips, he leans in and kisses me. His kiss mimics the dance. Deeply sensual and tightly controlled. His passion is icy and searing, burning me up while forcing me to submit to the boundaries of the kiss. I cannot move one inch of my body without falling, so I’m completely at his mercy in every way. By the time the kiss ends, the leg I’m using to stand on is quivering.
Dropping my first leg, I stand caged in his arms. “That is how I wanted to end the first dance,” he says huskily. “Thank you for the date.”
Still feeling the hard imprint of his mouth, my voice is light as I breathlessly thank him for the dinner and dancing. Bowing slightly, he says goodnight. After he walks out the door, I twirl around and around as I think about the night. That was the most sensual date ever. Grabbing a glass of water, I switch out the lights and head back to the bedroom, dancing along the way.
CHAPTER 14
KATE
Hmm...I look into my closet, trying to decide what to wear out to the ranch. Pulling out dark skinny jeans, a white tank top, and a soft heather grey cardigan, I throw them on and slip my feet into short black booties. Leaving my hair down, I spritz on some perfume and head to the living room.
Rubbing my hands down my jeans, I pace while I wait for Lev to arrive. I’m not sure why I’m so nervous. It’s as if I’m meeting their parents instead of Shaw. My main issue is, I don’t know if it will be uncomfortable to be around both Lev and Lowell after going out on dates with them both. And what does Shaw think of me dating two of his brothers? Is this going to be weird? Exhaling loudly, I run my hands through my hair. It would be rude to back out now.
Lev arrives about five minutes later. Opening the door, I take in a sharp breath. Even wearing worn faded jeans and a black Henley, the man is incredibly sexy. Smiling, he steps into the apartment and wraps his huge body around mine. He squeezes me tight as he holds me for a few minutes. Taking my face into his hands, he leans down to give me a lingering kiss.
“Hello, sweetheart. Ready to go?”
Reaching into the closet, I grab a coat and my purse and follow him out the door. About twenty minutes later, we pull into a driveway with a sign above it displaying “Eagle’s Nest”.
“Is that the name of the ranch?”
“Yes, it used to be ‘Walker’s Ranch,’ but Shaw changed it when we all moved here. Our unit’s call sign was ‘Eagle,’ and he wanted something that represented all of us, not just his original family. We all have a stake in the ranch, although Shaw runs and manages it.”
We’re probably two or three miles from the entrance before I see anything else. A barn comes into view, a fenced pasture with horses, a corral, and finally, a huge, gorgeous timber mansion. I’ve never seen a house this big.
“Wow, that’s beautiful! And huge! How big is this house, anyway?”
“Around fifteen thousand square feet. Shaw’s dad built most of it when he was younger, but we’ve updated and added to it since we took over. Most of the rooms are now suites with attached bathrooms. We expanded the patio area in the back to include a full outdoor entertaining area. Do you like it?” He is studying my face, as if he wants to know how I feel about his home.
“I’m sure it’s perfect for you all. Plenty of room. Honestly, it’s tough for me to imagine living here. I’m so used to living out of a suitcase now, I don’t know if I could settle down again.” Biting my lip, I’m not sure how I feel. Seeing this house makes me feel as if my nomadic life is far from settled.
A slight frown crosses Lev’s face as he listens. Opening the door, he comes around the SUV and helps me out. Threading my hand through his, we walk towards the house. Massive pillars frame tall double doors in black wrought iron. When we walk in, Lev takes my coat and purse and hangs them on a hook just inside the door. We walk down the hall into a massive living room with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out into the Montana country and framing the mountains standing tall in the background. The living room includes a large sectional and several leather club chairs. A massive fireplace takes center stage and holds a variety of frames on the mantel.
Walking up to the fireplace, I look at the pictures. They had traveled the world together while stationed in the Army, and several photos depict them in exotic places, from Dubai to Singapore to Iceland. Earlier pictures show baby faces staring at the camera with devil-may-care grins. Older pictures display harder faces and more reserved smiles. All of them display a tight brotherhood.
I turn around to ask Lev about their travels when I notice a beautiful, tall man standing off to the side. Wide shoulders, lean waist, and about 6’4”, I’m guessing. Smiling, I walk up to him and hold out my hand.
“Hi, I’m Kate Michaels.”
His large hand reaches out and engulfs mine. He is tall like Lowell and almost as muscular as Lev. His face, though, is beautiful, with strong, chiseled features. Dark brown tousled hair and dark brown eyes complete the picture.
“I’m Shaw, Shaw Walker. It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Michaels.” He deliberately inserts my doctor title into the return greeting. I’m not sure if this is just a sign of formal manners or he is trying to say something. I address it head on and leave it up to him to find a way forward.
“Kate, please.” I wave my tingling hand towards the mantel. Yes, my hand is tingling, but I’m ignoring it. “Your travel photos are incredible. You guys have been to a lot of places. I’d love to hear more about them as travel is a passion of mine. I usually take a few weeks off and travel to a fresh place each year. My next trip will be to Southeast Asia, so if you have any tips for visiting there, I’d love to hear them.”
Looking thoughtful, he asks, “Who do you usually travel with each year?”
I’m not sure why it’s his business but I don’t have anything to hide, so I answer anyway. “Solo traveler, mostly. My mom will sometimes join me on my trips to Europe or to the countries where getting around is easier for her. Why?”
Frowning, he and Lev exchange looks. “It’s dangerous out there for a single woman traveler. You should really find a travel companion or group.”
Shaking my head, I disagree. “I take every precaution when I travel. Life is short, and I refuse to let fear dictate my choices.” I will never again live in fear for any reason. My hand creeps up, subtly touching the place on my shoulder where the first bullet hit me. My past and my determination to live beyond it shining clearly on my face.
Looking over at Lev, who has been quiet through this exchange, I ask him for a glass of water. Sliding a glance to my right, I watch Shaw study me. I’m not sure what to think of him yet. I have a feeling still waters run deep with this man. Maybe we jus
t need to get to know each other better.
“Please have a seat.” Shaw gestures to the living room and waits until I’m seated on the couch before choosing a chair opposite me.
“Lev told me this is a working ranch. What does that mean, exactly?”
Shaw taps his thigh as he quietly tells me, “We run multiple operations here, including beef and pig, dairy, some farming, and even horse-breeding. I’d be happy to give you a tour.”
“I’d like a tour, thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a farm, much less a big ranching operation like this one.”
We talk more about the ranch, with only clipped answers coming from Shaw. Thankfully, Lev comes back with my water and takes a seat beside me on the couch. He picks up my hand and threads his fingers through mine. I reach over and give him a soft kiss to thank him for the water. Turning back to Shaw, I notice he stares at my lips before turning towards the fireplace. Lev looks back and forth between us. He stands, pulling me up with him, and tells Shaw he’s going to give me a tour of the rest of the house. Shaw dips his chin in acknowledgement, without turning back around. Grasping my arm, Lev pulls me towards a sliding door on the right.
Although I’m dying to ask what’s going on, I rein in my curiosity and take my cue from Lev. Walking out, I see a large outdoor seating area, with couches, another fireplace, and a TV. Plus, a table for eating. The full-sized kitchen also includes a barbeque area. An organically shaped pool is framed with giant boulders and a waterfall at the end. A jacuzzi and sauna sit off to the right.
Smiling, I twirl. “Now, I could live out here. This is fantastic.”
Lev wraps his arms around me from behind, and I lift my face up to him for a kiss. I’ve gotten addicted to his kisses. Leaning down, he takes my lips in a slow kiss that goes on forever. Turning in his arms, I pull him closer and deepen the kiss. His hands roam down my back, cupping my ass and pulling me in tight. We haven’t seen each other in a few days, and I’ve missed him. A lot. Exhaling, I lean back, breaking our kiss. Leaning my forehead on his chest, I give us a few minutes just to breathe.
“Sweetheart, as much as I’d like to stand here and kiss you, I think we should continue with the tour. Lowell will be down soon, and I know he will want to spend some time with you, too.” Taking my hand, he leads me back inside and to the right, where I find a state-of-the-art kitchen with an enormous island.
“This must be your dream kitchen.” I run my hands over the sleek countertops. Looking at the euphoria on Lev’s face, I laugh. He points out all his gadgets and little luxuries, like the pot filler on the stove. The stove itself is a luxury appliance, with six burners and a grilling area. He scowls when I just laugh at his excitement over the kitchen.
Taking my hand, he quickly drags me through the rest of the house. I see a gym, indoor lap pool, bowling alley, and theater. And a ton of bedrooms. This place is insane. We are in the west area of the house when Lev pulls me into a bedroom and shuts the door. Right away, I can tell this is his room. It smells like him and exudes a masculine feel, with its black furniture and grey accents. He has a king bed with a soft grey down comforter. Several pictures are displayed on his dresser. I start to snoop around when he picks me up and carries me over to the couch. He sits down with me on his lap.
“So, where were we a second ago?” he asks as he nibbles on my lips.
“I thought you were concerned about Lowell?” I tease him as I move my head to the side.
His lips trail down to the spot on my neck, and I arch in response. Shifting me to the couch, he repositions us to lay next to each other. My hands automatically move towards his shoulders, smoothing his muscles. He continues his assault on me as he uses his tongue to flick that hot spot. Moaning, I arch up. His knee comes in-between my legs and pushes them apart so he can settle between them. As his weight comes down on me, his cock nestles against me, and I wrap my legs around him.
When this man wraps his big body around me, it’s delicious. He’s all hard muscles and warm like the sun. He makes me feel tiny and feminine and protected. I pull his mouth back to mine and kiss him hard. My kisses are deep, with a razor-sharp edge of desire, as I take the assault to him.
I strip off his shirt, needing to see and touch him. My hands trail down his warm body, stopping to flick his nipple and lightly score my nails across his lower abdomen. Groaning, he pulls me up and whips off my sweater, T-shirt, and bra in two seconds flat. When he goes to push me back down on the couch, I refuse, telling him I want to sit up. He repositions himself on the couch, and I straddle him.
“This is one of my favorite positions.”
Grinning, he reaches out and flicks my nipple with his tongue. “Mmm, I can see the appeal.”
His large hands move up to cup my breasts, lightly stroking over my nipples with his thumbs. While he is busy playing with my breasts, I lean forward to taste him, starting with his neck. My hands and mouth move all over him, nibbling on his neck as my hands flick over his nipples. His hips grind up as I hit sensitive spots, and he moans. Seeing his response to me is exhilarating. The last time Collin and I were intimate, he ridiculed my attempts to please him, and I hadn’t realized until this moment how much I needed this reassurance from Lev.
“I want to touch you,” I murmur, stroking my hand over his cock through his jeans.
Looking at me for a second, he suddenly stands with me in his arms, reaches under us, unbuttons his jeans and pulls his cock out of his briefs. Sitting back down, he positions me further back on his knees, so his cock is between us. The strength he just showed blows my mind, but as I look down at his cock, the thought quickly fades.
His cock is beautiful and thick and standing at attention. My hand reaches out and lightly skims down the side, grasping him, I come back up and roll my hand at the top. Looking up, I watch his face as I continue to stroke his cock up and down. His eyes are dark, and his cheeks flush with desire. Biting his lip, he holds in his moans. Reaching out with my other hand, I pull his lip from his teeth.
“Please don’t. I need to hear what you want, what you like, how it feels.”
Grasping him tighter, I stroke him again. He groans loudly, “Fuck, that feels good, sweetheart. I’ve wanted your fucking hands on my cock since I met you. The only thing better than your hands would be those sweet lips of yours.” As he talks, his hips start to thrust upwards as I go back down. Picking up the pace, I alternate between watching his face and watching his cock. Cum drips out of the top. Using my finger, I swipe it up and taste him. “Fuck me,” explodes out of his mouth as he watches me lick my finger. “Taste my fucking cum, sweetheart. It’s all for you. Nobody else.”
Rolling up my hand, I catch another drop, but this time I use it to lube his cock so I can go faster. He groans, and his hips thrust up in time with my downward strokes. Faster and faster.
“Fuck, sweetheart, that’s it. Grip my cock tight. Just a little faster. Almost there.”
He pants, his body straining as he works to reach his orgasm. His hand grabs on to mine, holding it tight to his cock as he gives three hard thrusts before suddenly clamping down, shouting, and coming hard. His cum squirts on my breasts, his chest, and our hands. With his eyes closed, he sits there a minute, trying to recover his breath.
Finally, he opens his eyes, looks at me and says, “I’m a lucky bastard. Thank you.” Smiling, he reaches in to give me a kiss.
He opens his mouth to say something else when his phone buzzes. He looks at the clock on the wall. Scooping me up, he ignores it and carries me to the bathroom. Setting me on the counter, he grabs a washcloth, turns on the warm water, and cleans us both. The cloth is tortuous, as I’m still turned on and aching to come. As it swipes across my breasts, I moan. Lev leans down to kiss me just as a knock sounds on the door.
“Damn it. That will be Lowell,” he explains as he throws the cloth on the sink. “If you don’t mind, why don’t you go with him so I can start dinner?”
Groaning, I hop down from the counter and walk over t
o pick up my clothes from the floor. Bending over, I hear a groan from behind me and turn to catch Lev staring at my ass. Shaking with laughter, I turn towards him as I get dressed, making sure to cup my breasts fully to put them in my bra. He groans. A knock sounds again.
Lev rolls his eyes and angles his head to the door. I motion for him to open it. Raising his eyebrow, he grins.
Lowell strides in and stops abruptly as he sees me in my bra. Pulling my tank top from the floor, I pull it on, taking an inordinate amount of time to smooth out the wrinkles. Grabbing my cardigan, I fold it over my arm, as I’m too hot to put it on right now.
“Hello, Lowell. Lev says you are going to finish my tour?” Emphasizing the word “finish,” I silently laugh at his expression.
He seems to realize I’m teasing him again, and a glint comes into his eye. “You didn’t help her finish?” He turns to Lev, with a frown.
Shit. That isn’t what I meant. I mean, I did, but not to embarrass Lev...good grief.
Lev glares at Lowell. “A persistent bastard interrupted us.”
“Hmm...well, let’s see if I can take care of that for you, huh?” Lowell reaches out and pulls me towards him. With a hand on my back, he guides me out of Lev’s room. “How long until dinner?”
“About an hour,” Lev tells him. “Don’t be late.”
Laughing, Lowell waves him off. “It might be worth it.”
I look back and blow Lev a kiss as I walk away, hoping he’s not mad. He gives me a big wink. I guess not.
“So, where are we going?” Glancing up at Lowell, I see a smirk on his face.
