by Em Petrova
Lane and West blocked him with the wall of their bodies. “He’s an asshole, they all are, Ridge. Calm down,” Lane said.
“At least Kashley’s not around to hear. Fuck!” Ridge made a fist and spun to punch the nearest wall. The sound was like a shot, and cameramen crawled out of the woodwork.
“Cool it, bro. You’re making it a bigger deal and they’re like dogs sniffing blood.”
“Fuck. You’re right. I overreacted and now they’ll be all over me with more questions. I’ll have to warn Kash.”
“We’ll keep her away from it. You guys don’t need the pressure. C’mon. Calhoun circle time.”
“Shit, I’m bleeding. Kashley’s gonna know I punched something.”
Lane shook his head. “Busted knuckles are part of rodeoin’. Let’s go.”
The three of them made their way to the place where their family waited. Dammit, Lane couldn’t hate this business more right now. He wanted to leave it all behind, run away and buy Nick’s ranch and join the property with Delaney’s.
Then get down on bended knee and ask her to marry him.
First, he had a lot to take care of. Like her son making cryptic public comments about his mother and Lane. If he wanted to win the woman, he had to find a way create a decent relationship with her son. If not friendship, then mutual respect. Lane had a bit of work to do himself—he didn’t think highly of Brant and needed to adjust his attitude.
The group closed, and he glanced up to see Delaney across from him. His heart gave a wild flop, and he broke circle to go to her. He wrapped his arm around her and waited for everyone in his family to make the connections.
He looked from Buck to Channing to Ryder and Joy with a so-what attitude. They shook their heads in a way that told him they’d be on him about toying with Kashley’s aunt. Pissing too close to the electric fence and all that. Lane didn’t plan to let her go, though. They’d better get used to her standing in this circle.
“Dear Lord, we thank you for a good run here today. That there were no injuries.”
“Besides Ryder’s bruised elbow,” West spoke up.
“Aww, poor wittle Wyder’s got a bwuised elbow?” Wynonna drawled, and they all laughed, probably more relieved to hear her back to her old self than her elbow comment.
“Workin’ fine, little sis. I’ll show you how sharp it is later,” Ryder said.
More laughter. At his side, Delaney was grinning. She seemed to genuinely enjoy being around his crazy family. He tightened his hold on her, closing the gap between their bodies.
She didn’t pull away, and his heart soared. If she was showing his family that she was with Lane, then that must mean she really was with him. He wanted her there all the time.
But he wasn’t sure he wanted to be part of this anymore. He loved his family, even in their worst moments. But this whole spotlight thing was too much. He just wanted a quiet life, hard work and the love of a good woman.
Guess my family’ll have to deal with it.
He was going to talk to them about breaking the contract as soon as they got home.
* * * * *
The knock on the hotel room door sent excitement skittering along Delaney’s veins. She bit back a squeak that was far too immature for her and forced herself to calmly walk to the door.
Once she opened it, she sucked in a gasp. Her cowboy stood there looking good enough to eat. Actually, that was her intention. She grabbed his shirt front and yanked him inside.
Their lips crashed together before the door had even clicked shut. She pressed her body to his and parted her lips for the invasion of his tongue. He took immediate advantage, and they shared a dark moan. “I can’t believe you came.”
“Surprised?” she asked between his tongue thrusts.
“I was so fucking happy when I looked up and saw you. How’d you find me?”
“Accidentally. You were just standing there.”
“Then it was fate.” He picked her up. God, she loved being in his arms. He whirled toward the bed and cradled her as they fell together. She wrapped her legs around him and ground her pussy against the bulge in the front of his jeans.
She gripped his hard ass. “Wait. You haven’t even taken off your chaps.”
His eyes burned as he stared down at her. “I was in a hurry.”
She tore at his shirt. He ripped off her top and slid his callused fingers under her bra. The sensation of rough on her sensitive skin brought sharp pants from her, which he kissed away as fast as they came. When he clamped his fingers over her nipple, she arched and cried out.
“You missed me.” His words weren’t a question.
She reached between them and yanked open the buckle holding up his chaps. The heavy leather loosened and he reached back and tossed them the garment to the floor. He wiggled, and she realized he was kicking off his boots. He grazed her throat with his teeth while he worked her nipple with one hand and attacked her bra clasp with the other. As the cooler air hit her flesh, her nipples pebbled more.
“I need you, Calhoun.”
At her use of his last name, his teeth flashed in his tan face. She wrapped her arms around him and steamrollered him onto his back. He gave a huff of surprise. She straddled him and worked off his leather vest. She threw it to the floor with his chaps then attacked the rest of his clothes. In seconds he was naked and stretched on the bed in all his glory.
Carved chest and ridged abs. A dark trail of hair leading to his stiff cock. She gave him a small smile before leaning in and kissing every inch of his muscled torso. Delivering small licks down the love trail leading to his cock. Then she clasped him at the base and parted her lips over the swollen tip.
“Fucking hell.” He growled and knotted her hair in his fist. The tug on her scalp intensified the wetness between her legs. She still wore her jeans and wished she’d thought to take them off in order to rub her pussy while she sucked his cock.
She held his eyes and took him into the back of her throat. He bucked upward, his control slipping. She smiled around his girth and sucked with strong pulls that raised his buttocks off the bed.
“Oh fuck. You’re freaking amazing at that. You’ve been holding out on me.”
“Mmm.” She licked up and down, swirling her tongue around the tip and gathering the pre-come there. He pressed her hair back to watch, and she loved that she was giving him a show that he might carry with him whenever they were apart.
She didn’t want to think of being apart, and that scared the hell out of her. Even if she decided to throw convention away and take on a much younger lover as more, she still had a job and . They’d have to work out ways to be together, and she was pretty sure she never wanted to be part of the reality show. It just didn’t fit into her world.
She ran her hand down to his balls. Cupped and kneaded them until he was straining and the cords in his neck standing out.
“Enough. I can’t finish in your mouth.”
“Why not?” She sucked the tip again.
His primal groan vibrated her. “Because I’m going to finish in your ass.”
She went still. A shiver of pleasure ran through her. She’d always known Lane would take her ass. Somehow the timing felt right.
She rocked back on her heels and pinched her nipples for him. Yeah, she was testing his control. By the time he took her, he wouldn’t be gentle, and that was exactly what she needed. She wanted him to own her in a way nobody ever had.
He didn’t last five seconds watching her—he threw her back on the bed and tore away her jeans. But he left her panties in place and lowered his mouth. Delivering a long, slow lick to the silky cloth.
“Lane!”
“You teased me. My turn.” He ran his tongue over the swells of her pussy for a long minute before he pulled off the cloth with his teeth.
The moment his tongue buried deep in her wet folds, she knew she was a goner. How had it happened? She’d fallen for him almost at first sight. The attraction between them was without boundaries, a
nd he filled a hole in her heart that she’d ignored forever. When she thought of the fantasies she’d used to get herself off, the man there shared all of Lane’s traits. In bed he was thorough and playful, demanding and dominating in all the right ways. Outside of bed, he was hardworking and level-headed and attentive to her needs.
He licked up her pussy to her neediest spot. When he sucked her nubbin into his mouth, she cried out, peaking on his tongue as sharp cries left her. He didn’t let her come down from her high—he thrust two fingers into her pussy and brought her to another quaking orgasm within seconds.
There was nothing she could do—she grasped his shoulders and held on for the ride.
* * * * *
He couldn’t stop staring at Delaney’s beautiful face as she came apart for him. Her lips parted in bliss, her eyes squeezed shut and a pink flush high on her cheeks. He wanted her ready for him. When he took her ass, she would experience only pleasure.
Sure, she’d used a dildo in her ass before, but he was a man with his own way of moving. Depth and speed would make a difference once he filled her.
He leaned in and kissed her slowly and deeply. Letting her build again. Perspiration stood out on his neck from the exertion it had taken not to take her while she was still coming.
She yanked him down. “I need to feel your weight on me.” Her rasping words made his chest full and warm. She belonged here with him, and as soon as he figured out how to ditch the show and let his family down.
“Cowboy?”
He grinned. “Yeah?”
“I thought you were mounting up.” She gave him a slow wink.
“I’m in the driver’s seat, doll. Maybe I feel like teasing you a little longer.”
She faked a pout and he couldn’t resist kissing her again. Things heated up quickly, and then he had her on her hands and knees with a condom in place.
He swished his fingers through her silky hair. “I’m making you mine.”
She stilled and then nodded. He pulled her cheeks apart to reveal her little pucker and ran his thumb over it. She moaned and pushed back for more.
“I don’t wanna hurt you.”
“You won’t.”
“You fuck your ass good with that vibe, don’t you, doll?”
“Yes.” She hiccupped on the word as he sank a finger into her.
“My condom’s an ultra-lubed.”
“I can take you. But I brought lube—it’s in my suitcase.”
He grunted and watched two of his fingers disappear into her backside again. “We both planned for this?”
Her shoulders shook on a laugh. “Seems like it. Are you gonna keep talkin’ or fuck me?”
“Before I do, I’ve got a confession to make.”
She twisted her head to look at him. “What is it?”
“Even though I have a magazine article about my favorite sex positions, I’ve never been inside a woman’s ass before.”
She smiled, and rays of light seemed to fill the room. Damn, he didn’t think he could love her more, but in that moment he did. “We’re both virgins then. Take me, Lane.”
She didn’t need to ask twice.
He gripped his cock and pressed the tip against her opening. Pressing lightly, he began to penetrate her. As the extreme heat and pressure built around his cock, he gritted his teeth. He sank two more inches and they shared a lusty moan.
Then she grabbed his hip and yanked him in at the same moment she pushed back. He filled her in one deep shove. They went still, their pants filling the silence.
“Holy fuck,” he ground out.
“Move!”
“Sure as fuck can’t stay still.” Thank God she’d loved ass play before he came along, because he couldn’t find an ounce of control in his whole body. He fucked her with long, sure strokes. But soon she clamped around him and he knew she was about to scream in ecstasy.
His hip thrusts grew jerkier as need climbed up from his balls. He shot off hard and fast, and while he was still pumping, she came too. The extreme tightness and rhythmic pulsations around his dick drew several more spurts from him.
They collapsed on the mattress with his body covering her from head to foot and his lips on her neck. “I love you,” he said simply.
“I love you too.”
Chapter Eight
“Brant,” Delaney said into the phone. She hadn’t gotten through to her son in weeks since he’d walked in on her and Lane in the kitchen. She knew him well enough to know he wasn’t giving her the silent treatment as much as just working things through in his head. But it was time to man up and talk it out.
“Hi, Ma.”
She sighed in relief and clutched the phone tighter to her ear. The hospital garden was a peaceful place, where people came to pray or meditate or just enjoy nature rather than all the machines and beeping inside. Right now, she was happy for a bench warmed by the sun and a talk with her boy.
“So, I heard about the social media posts.”
“He told ya.”
“Yes, he did. But it was actually Kashley who saw them and alerted Lane.”
“I probably shouldn’t have voiced my frustrations that way.”
“No, you shouldn’t. But you’re old enough to have figured that out on your own. My question is what do you really want to say to me?”
“It’s not you I was mad at.”
“You’re not still mad?”
A beat of silence, then he said, “No.”
“That’s good to hear. Let’s hash this out. If you were home, I’d make you cocoa and give you a bowl full of pretzels and you could tell me all about your worries.”
“I’m not eight anymore, Ma.”
“No, but cocoa goes down right at all ages. Now let’s talk.” He didn’t speak for a while, and she started things off. “I’m sorry about the way you saw us that day.”
“I know. But you’re right—it’s your house and you weren’t expecting me. But still, the kitchen counter? I don’t know if I can ever eat there again.”
She chuckled at his tone, much like the bratty teen he’d been but with an adult ring to it. She tried to remember what a different life he was leading too, and part of his shock had probably been a change in his home life.
“The counters have been bleached. Now what do you think of Lane?”
“I don’t rightly know. He’s different than on the show.”
“I’ve never seen the show. I can’t say if you’re right or not.”
“Well, they don’t show him a lot. They have a lot of his older brothers and the kids. But he seems a little cocky.”
“Or it could be the way they edit him to make it seem he is.”
She could practically hear his mind working. “Maybe you’re right.”
“He’s a good guy, Brant.”
“You like him?”
“I do.”
“He’s not much older than me.”
“Sometimes age doesn’t make a difference. It’s the souls coming together.”
“You want more with him than just kitchen counter time?”
She laughed and focused on some birds hopping along the paths around her. “I do. Is that okay with you? You’ll be coming home for break soon, and I don’t want weirdness.”
“I’m assuming he’ll be there then.”
They hadn’t really discussed what would go on for Thanksgiving. She hoped he’d come for a big meal and spend the night. She had to admit she was getting rundown taking care of the animals too, and they needed Lane’s attention. But a few horses and chickens wouldn’t keep a man like Lane happy forever, and no way would she leave her practice in the city. Ugh, how would all of this play out?
“If he is, I’d like you to make an effort to get along with him,” she said.
“I’ll try, Ma. Is it okay to bring Cody home with me for break? His parents are away, and I told him he could probably have Thanksgiving with us.”
“Absolutely. Can’t have him on his own. I’ll buy a bigger turkey.”
>
“Don’t forget those stuffing balls you make. A double batch.” And just like that, things seemed to be healed between them.
“You got it.” Tears prickled her eyes. Maybe she could bring Lane into her life, after all. Maybe there was a real promise of something more.
She said her goodbyes to her son and ended the call. Then she tipped her face up to the sun and basked in its warmth.
* * * * *
Lane pulled out his chair at the big table and dropped into it. It had felt good to work hard this morning, and he hadn’t been ready to come in for lunch. Though the biscuits and gravy were making his stomach growl something fierce. While at Delaney’s he made a lot of steaks. He should have paid more attention to the cooking lessons with Wynonna.
“Where were you?” Buck asked.
“Top field.”
“Took you long enough to get here.”
“Was doin’ somethin’. You gonna say grace? I’m about to dive into that basket of biscuits. They smell great, Mom.”
She beamed at him from the head of the table. Next to him, Buck Jr. bounced in his chair. “Biscuits biscuits biscuits!”
He reached out and nabbed one for the boy.
“Hey, he knows he can’t eat until grace is said.” Channing reached across her son and grabbed the biscuit. She set it on her plate and they all bowed their heads.
He noticed halfway through the prayer that Buck Jr. had pinched a crumb on the edge of the table. He slipped it into his mouth then gave Lane a look. Lane hid his smile. He was pretty sure the cameras had captured that one, though, and when the next season hit, Buck and Channing would see for themselves.
As soon as they said their amens, plates were passed, and the pitcher of iced tea made the rounds. Sunday meals had been something he missed, but not as much as he was missing Delaney.
Thinking of her brought his attention up to Kashley. She sat next to Ridge, smiling. Was it his imagination or was she looking happier? Maybe she’d decided to relax and let life dole out what it would. He hoped so.
“I’m so happy to have all my family here with me.” Their mother looked at each.
Lane glanced down at his plate. A pinching feeling in his chest had his appetite walking out the door.
