Howdy, Ma'am

by Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

  “Yep. We can sit outside awhile if you’d like. I’ll get the wine. Dinner is soon though.”

  “Dinner? Where?”

  “Casual. We’ll dine at the bar tonight.”

  “Perfect.” She opened her luggage and hung clothes in the closet, and placed other items in drawers. She’d been traveling long enough now to know exactly what to do first. Living in and out of suitcases became the norm, like before, but then she only needed jeans and jackets, or shorts and tees, and sturdy boots. There was an iron near the bathroom so if necessary she’d press her black lacy blouse and steam her denim jacket. She turned to Caulder. “Do you need anything ironed or steamed”

  “I think I’m good.” He grabbed his small piece of luggage. “Taking a shower.”

  “Don’t you want to get your clothes out so the wrinkles release?”

  “Huh?”

  She held up the iron and steamer.

  “I’ll get it later.” He headed for the bathroom shaking his head.

  Velia glanced at his luggage. She knew there were shirts in there needing pressed. “Hmm, should I?” She decided against going through his things. Since she had never stayed in his room with him before, she assumed he hung his shirts immediately. It surprised her when he didn’t. “Must be a guy thing.”

  The more she stared at his suitcase, the more it bothered her. She unzipped the largest and removed his shirts. They were already on hangers and hanging on the inside, but the sleeves and body were wrinkled. She hung them beside hers. A smile brightened her face noticing their clothes hanging together side by side, like they were supposed to be together.

  When he came out of the bathroom, she grabbed her clothes and another piece of luggage and went for her shower. She wrapped a towel around her hair so she wouldn’t have to fool with styling. The shower was full marble with more knobs than she knew what to do with, and large glass doors in a semi-circle. She turned on the water and stepped inside.

  When she finished, she brushed her hair until it shone. She straightened it, but it really needed nothing. She was in the mood for smooth and soft. Flawless. Donning her clothes, she was happy she chose the black top. It fit nice, and was feminine and sexy, yet casual enough for her to wear to shows. Stepping out of the bathroom she glanced at Caulder sitting on the bed, holding a shirt in his hands and staring at the floor. She stopped without saying anything. He looked saddened, his head dropped nearly to his chest, his legs apart and he still had the towel wrapped around his waist. Going back into the bathroom, she sat on the cushioned stool and waited. Was he upset because she opened his suitcase?

  She waited.

  In a few minutes, she heard him moving around the other room so she came out. She went to him and circled her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry for getting your clothes out, but—”

  He pressed two fingers against her lips. “Shh.”

  He meant to move away, but she held him. “What is it?”

  “Nothing. We need to go to dinner.” He lifted her arms from around his neck. “Let me get ready.”

  She unwillingly moved away, and he disappeared into the bathroom. Soon, she heard the water running in the sink. Velia stood at the window, admiring the picturesque view in the purple twilight sky, wondering what got into his head.

  “Ready?”

  He startled her. “Yeah, let me get my jacket.”

  They dined on salad, burgers, and house martini’s as orange as the sunset, topping the meal off with a big glass of sangria on the patio. Mingled with the liquor and the day’s activities, jet lag sank in fast. Caulder took the last drink from his glass. “What do you say we head back to the room?”

  “Yes, I’m getting sleepy.” She yawned as if to prove her point. Caulder waved the server over and handed him his credit card.

  “You need to start letting me pay for some of these meals,” she said, resting her hand on his.

  “It’s my expense account from the sponsor.”

  “Well, how can I be on it?”

  “You are. They want me to win this year. They’ll give me about anything I want.” He took her hand when she stood.

  “And if you don’t win?”

  “Woman, bite your tongue.”

  “I’m sorry.” She leaned against him, safely cradled in the crook of his arm as they walked back to their room.

  Caulder unlocked the door and closed it upon stepping in, but instead of releasing her, he eased her against it, holding her hands above her head. Kissing seemed to never end. She fell into his arms. When he ended the kiss, he nibbled her ear, and whispered, “I want you,” and ended it with a lick against her lobe. Slowly, he kissed lower to her neck while unbuttoning the top two buttons and exposing her ample breasts. Velia moaned and her legs weakened. She laced her fingers through his hair and compressed a handful.

  Caulder dropped to his knees and unbuttoned her jeans, pulling the zipper down in one motion. He rolled the waistband of her panties down, lowering them with one tug. She leaned against the door and held his shoulders, consumed by his sexual energy. Her heels went flying and she stepped out of her jeans without taking her eyes off his face, hungry for what he offered.

  Caulder’s gaze locked with hers and he smiled. “Mm, sparks in your eyes, sweetie. What do you want, love?” He took a deep breath. “Tell me. Tell me what you want,” he said, as he pulled her thighs apart. “Or you’re going to get what I want.” He smiled when she sucked in her breath. Caulder spread her apart, and she sensed what he was about to do down there. The wanton look on his face excited her. He smiled as if getting ready to take a bite of a sweet treat, and entered her soft, honey slick folds with his anxious tongue.

  Velia’s breaths quickened, her legs brittle, experiencing weakness with each new lick. Her emotions grew strong, her body hot. Caulder took her in a way so gentle she squealed without realizing. Her whole insides exploded when the orgasm came unexpectedly, quickly, as if she had been waiting for it most of her life. Maybe she had been. She fisted his hair, pulling, not knowing her strength when hot in ecstasy.

  Once she stopped trembling, Caulder picked her up and carried her to the bed. “I’m not finished with you.” He began again, using his fingers to probe, tickle, and stroke until she purred like a rebuilt, classic car motor. “Is that what you wanted? You didn’t tell me…I had to guess.”

  Her whispers were low, erratic. “You guessed...right.”

  “I’m going to do it again, but this time you’re free to let go. Let loose your screams, free your wild side.” With that, he bent low, kissing from her naval all the way down to her eager drenched lips, until he kissed and sucked, nibbled and nipped, played and tormented her again until she thrashed about the bed, unable to stay still, and unable to hold anything inside. Her screams ripped through her innermost being, and he did everything to please her.

  As much as she wanted to stop trembling, she couldn’t because he held her tight. It excited her even more when he licked his fingers to make them wet and continued caressing her, keeping her stimulated beyond her control.

  When her breathing eased, he rolled to his side and pulled her atop him. She straddled his thighs and eased onto him, slowly moving her hips in excited seduction.

  Caulder’s eyes closed and he drove in perfect rhythm inside of her. She held his hands when he grasped her breasts, cupping and cradling as they bounced against his palms.

  He banged hard, meeting her arched hips until she knew what it was like to be completely full of him. Her muscles twitched beneath the tight clench of his fingers as he held her around her waist. Breathless, she moved atop him, bringing their joyous climax closer and closer with each moan.

  Watching the look on his face drove her to move faster to bring him to his end. Velia leaned forward and kissed his lips. She kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue against his until her lips burned. Caulder pulled her hair with tight fists and moved faster, his thigh muscles tightening against her. She sank back from the kiss and watched his face until he re
ached climax—when he went to the sparkly place he had taken her earlier. Moans started low in his throat. Groans grew louder as he moved faster—his opened mouth screams rang out as he slowed and pulled her close, stopping only to take in each unfailing tremble.

  Collapsing against him when it was over, she stretched out and rolled to her side, never leaving his embrace. Glancing out the window, she eyed the moonlight and loved how it seemed to envelope the room and their bodies with its light. Taking a deep sigh, she relaxed in his arms while he settled against her, and fell into peaceful bliss.

  * * *

  Caulder lay awake finding it difficult to fall asleep. Loving Velia was out of this world, like an explosion into the unknown. Her hunger excited him. Her passion drove him farther into ecstasy each time. Closing his eyes, he played this last session over, watching in his mind’s eye as Velia faded into oblivion. Picturing her face, her shudders all made him want her again, but he cuddled close and would wait until the next time.

  While drifting off to sleep, another woman’s face came to him and he squeezed back tears. How can I hold one woman and still mourn another?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The next morning, Velia and Caulder waited at the airport for Edward and Alice and Brian and his fiancée. “I hope Brian and his fiancée aren’t offended we got them separate rooms.”

  “We’ll cancel one if they want to be together. Better to have an extra just in case.” Caulder tapped her nose. “But you, on the other hand, will have to deal with Edward over sharing a room with me.”

  “Oh, Caulder, they aren’t my parents. I’m a grown woman.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “If you say so. I’m afraid your Edward might want to slap me in the face for plundering.”

  “Don’t be silly. There they are!” Velia jumped up and down then ran to Alice. She wrapped her arms around both her and Edward. “I’m so happy you’re here. You look terrific. Did you have a good flight?” Before they could answer, she hugged Brian. “I’m so glad to see you.”

  “Thanks for getting us the tickets.” Brian nodded to Caulder then released Velia and took hold of his fiancée’s hand. “I want you to meet Shannon.” Caulder shook her hand, and Velia hugged her. She admired Shannon’s sparkling brown eyes. Shannon stood almost as tall as Brian, and her body looked toned as well as slender.

  “So nice to meet you, Velia,” said Shannon. “Brian constantly talks about you.”

  “I hope not too much. Must get pretty boring, there’s not a lot to tell about me.”

  “Your work, he loves your work, and I think he’ll always be indebted to you.”

  “No need.” Velia winked at Brian.

  Edward put one arm around Velia and the other around Alice on the way to the parking lot. “You look mighty fine there, young lady. Something you’re doing is right for you.” He winked at Caulder. “And I think I know what.”

  It had been awhile since Velia blushed, but now she knew her cheeks were rosy. They all got in the van and headed for the hotel. “Wait till you see the place Caulder got for you.” She squeezed his hand.

  Caulder rested his arm across the back of the seat and tapped Velia on the shoulder. “We might as well find out now,” he whispered. “Ask them?”

  “Me?”

  He nodded.

  Velia shrugged. “Brian, I hate putting you on the spot, but we did get two rooms for you and Shannon. We didn’t know the arrangements you would want, so—”

  “Is perfect,” Shannon chimed in. “We would prefer separate rooms. You’ve taken the pressure off by getting us both a room.”

  Velia glanced at Caulder and caught his wink. “Okay, we’re all settled. We’ll have an early dinner tonight, and then you’ll be at the show with us tonight and tomorrow.”

  “Velia, dear, I can’t wait to sit and talk over a nice cup of tea.”

  Velia reached back and took her hand. “Alice, we have a beautiful terrace outside the rooms. We can talk all night.”

  When they pulled up to the resort, Alice admitted she had never stayed at a fancy place such as this. Caulder showed them to the main office where a baggage handler would see them to their rooms. He collected Velia. “We’ll see you all at noon for lunch right here on the premises. Meet us in the lobby.”

  “Talk to you all later.” Velia clung to Caulder’s hand as they went to their own room.

  * * *

  The last night of the show proved to be wild and crazy. Caulder tied in points with Robbie, the current champion, earlier in the night. Velia’s nerves kept her from looking through the camera lens at such an important ride. She wanted to watch with her naked eye this time, and she had a hard time standing still. Her main camera sat on the tripod, and she prepared herself to push the shutter button when he roared out of the chute. At least she’d have a video of it, and she’d have her digital ready when the ride ended. If only I had four hands sometimes.

  The crowd hushed and everyone stood. Caulder took extra time in the chute, and if he didn’t hurry, he would end up with a different bull. Velia knew he wanted Burly Bob because it would mean extra points if he stayed on his back. She took a second to look over to the front row at their special guests. She even snapped a picture of them to capture their excitement and admiration for Caulder.

  She turned back to the chute in time. Out he came, positioned in the worst place possible, practically on the rear of the bull, trying to shift his weight closer to the middle. The bull went crazy, turning this way and that, jumping high and then twisting around so much he could ram himself in the butt with his horns. Once Burly Bob dropped to his front knees and Caulder was nearly thrown over his massive head. His strong legs clamped tight as he struggled to get repositioned in the center of his back. Velia worried he would be slammed down, or the bull would fall over on top of him. She held her breath as the clock ticked down.

  “Come on, Caulder, come on, baby!” By now she jumped up and down like the kids in the stands. Five, four, three... She grabbed her other camera. The buzzer rang and Caulder’s body lingered against the side of the bull. He was hung up and he tried to get his hand free. The bull still bucked and twisted, jumped and dropped. Velia grabbed her video camera. If she missed a shot like this, she’d probably be fired by the man himself.

  A horseman came alongside trying to slow down Burly Bob, but he still had more strength to use. Finally, Caulder got his hand released and dropped off the bull, landing right on his ass in the sand. The horseman and bullfighters did their best to get the bull out of there, but Bob was hell bent on taking revenge on his rider. Caulder got off his rear-end and ran to the rail, but the bull charged right at him.

  He made it over the fence in time for the bull to slam sideways into it. And once wasn’t enough because he crashed into it again as soon as Caulder stood in the stands. No doubt this ole bull had a vengeance for him. Burly Bob finally strutted as neat and pretty as you please to the opened gate leading to the pens.

  Caulder jumped back over the fence into the sandy arena and tossed his helmet into the air. The horseman brought his cowboy hat and rope to him, and he tossed his cowboy hat into the air as well. He took a big bow, and then he walked toward the fence on the side where Velia watched.

  When she saw him come toward her, she ran down the bleacher steps to meet him at the rail. He jumped up on the first rung of the fence and took her into his arms. “Scare you a little, did I?” He gave a quick kiss, and before she could comment, he jumped back down and went to the gate to wait for his score.

  Confetti sprayed out from the ceiling and balloons, hundreds of them, dropped not only in the ring but all over the crowd in one section of the stands. Caulder had beaten Robbie Parker tonight. Velia tried focusing in on his happy moment, but teardrops streamed down her cheeks, and she could hardly see with eyes full of joyous tears. She tried wiping them away, and she trusted her camera was set to get what she hoped to be right. Finally, she stopped videotaping and went back to the rail.

  * *
*

  When Caulder looked for her, all he saw were her beautiful, white teeth sparkling, and wet trails running along her cheeks. Her eyes smiled with pride, her whole face shone with happiness. He swallowed a gulp of air, not sure he would be able to get it down. Caulder realized at the very moment he was in love with Velia Armano. Flashbulbs went off by the dozens, people in the stands yelled and screamed his name, bullfighters patted him on the back, and Robbie made his way out to where he stood. But all Caulder could see was the bright smile and sparkling eyes of the most beautiful woman in the world. “Ah, che bella, Velia.” He put his fingers to his lips and blew her a kiss. “La vita ѐ bella. Oh, hell yes, life is beautiful!”

  Early the next morning, Caulder and Velia saw their guests to the airport. “I’ll be home soon, Alice. We can talk longer.” She hugged her friend. “I’m so happy you came here.”

  “Me, too, dear. Edward and I just drove ourselves crazy waiting to see you, and to see your handsome young man.” She whispered. “Whatever you’re doing, keep on doing it. You’re happy and it shows.” Another big hug and Edward wanted his turn. He said almost the exact same thing to Velia about looking happy. Edward, sporting his first bull riding T-shirt, took his wife’s hand and headed for security, waving with his hand above his head as they walked away.

  “Brian, I’m so happy to see you again.” She also hugged Shannon who was a head taller than Velia. “You and Brian make a great couple. I’m excited for you.” Brian shook Caulder’s hand and thanked him for everything then walked toward security, holding Shannon’s hand.

  “See you soon!” yelled Velia.

  When she turned to Caulder, he smiled and took her into his arms. “What’s this about?” she asked, wiping away a tear.

  “I don’t know. I like seeing you happy is all.”

  “I am.” She hugged him. “It’s because of you.”