Flaming Hearts (Beyond Reality Book 2)

by Stoker, Susan

  “Do you think she’ll eat more now? That she’ll trust you guys?” Becky asked worriedly.

  Steve answered for the group. “I think so. We’ll let Dean try to feed her next. I think maybe if you go out to the pen with him one more time tonight and she sees you with him maybe she’ll learn to trust more than just you. And if your scent is on him, and vice versa, it’ll give her an extra incentive.”

  Becky looked at Steve and then back at Dean. “My scent?”

  Dean took her hand and explained. “Yeah, when I hold your hand, some of your skin cells get mixed in with mine.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth over the back of her hand as he spoke. “The natural scent of your skin will mix with mine. A coyote’s sense of smell is very strong and she’ll be able to smell both of us, even after we’re gone. It’s worth a shot.”

  Becky nodded. “Great, let’s go now!”

  Everyone laughed. “In a bit, sweetheart, finish your dinner first,” Dean told her, laughing at her enthusiasm while continuing to stroke her hand with his, not letting go, forcing her to finish her meal with her other hand.

  Dean knew it was getting late and Becky would have to get back to the production set soon. He hated to leave her. He felt anxious when he was separated from her. He wished he knew if she was feeling the same intense feelings he was, but Dean knew he’d have to take their relationship slow at first and rely on her instincts to recognize him as her soul mate.

  After eating, Dean excused himself and Becky so they could go back out to the pen to see if they could get the little coyote to come back and if she’d take food from Dean. He smiled at the knowing smile his parents gave him as he left the house. They knew he’d take advantage of the alone time with Becky to further his pursuit of her as his own.

  The two went out to the edge of the yard near the pen. Nobody followed them outside, knowing if they all went outside at the same time, they’d spook the little coyote. Dean grasped Becky’s hand in his and led them to the fence. Once they arrived, he turned Becky so her back was to him and he curled his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. They both sighed in contentment. They stood like that for a bit and finally Becky broke the silence.

  “How is she going to know we’re here?” Becky asked quietly.

  “She’ll know,” Dean responded, leaning down and whispering directly into her ear, “but you can call to her if you want.”

  Becky turned her head and looked back at him with her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion.

  “Just start out with a little howl, then make a little yipping noise…it doesn’t have to be loud, just choose a pitch that you’re comfortable with and see if it works. Yipping is how coyotes usually ‘talk’ to each other,” Dean explained, laughing at the look on her face.

  “I’m embarrassed,” Becky said, ducking her head quickly and looking straight ahead again. “It’s not the kind of thing a woman would normally do around a hot guy,” she finished quickly, blushing.

  Dean smiled and moved one hand away from her waist to grasp her chin lightly. He gently turned it back and up so he could look her in the eyes. “Sweetheart, don’t you know? Nothing you’d do around me would turn me off. I’m already yours.”

  Becky stared at Dean, watching as he bent down toward her slowly. Her heart hammered in her chest. This was it! He was really going to kiss her! She’d dreamed about this moment for so long and now that it was here it felt as natural as breathing. She met him halfway, coming up on her toes. Their lips met and Becky swore she could feel sparks arc between them. She felt Dean’s tongue swipe along the seam of her lips and she eagerly opened for him.

  Dean groaned low in his throat. He was finally kissing his One. For real kissing her. He’d kissed her before when he’d dropped her off at the house after bringing her home from Devil’s Canyon, but this was a kiss. She tasted amazing, like…Becky. He’d never kiss another woman as long as he lived. This was it for him. She was it for him.

  He turned her in his arms without breaking the kiss. He wound his arms tightly around her back and pulled her close to his chest. Becky gasped and went right on kissing Dean. He was amazing. She almost felt lightheaded. His tongue swept around her mouth like he owned it. She loved every second. She met his tongue with her own and they took turns exploring each other’s mouths.

  Finally, giving her bottom lip a nip, Dean pulled back to let her take a breath, but kissed his way down her neck toward her shoulder. The T-shirt she was wearing was big on her and Dean easily swept aside the collar to suck and nibble on her shoulder. Goose bumps rose on Becky’s flesh. Her head dropped back. She never wanted him to stop.

  Dean’s hands wandered on their own volition. He’d been so patient with her, and himself, and he couldn’t help it. He grazed his hands up Becky’s sides until they were just under her breasts. He stopped his movement, but squeezed lightly. He felt her shiver and fought with himself to back off.

  Dean didn’t want to stop, but he knew he had to. First, his parents weren’t more than a hundred yards away and secondly, he knew if he didn’t stop now, he’d probably go further than Becky would be comfortable with. That was what ultimately made him curb his own reactions to her. He never wanted Becky to regret anything they did, and he didn’t want to rush her.

  He was going to have to take a long run tonight to get himself back under control. Becky finally noticed Dean had stopped nibbling on her neck. She slowly opened her eyes, only to look right into Dean’s smiling face. One hand rubbed circles on her lower back while the other was still against her side and she could feel his thumb rubbing rhythmically on the soft fleshy underside of her breast.

  She blushed like a virgin. “That was…er…” Her voice faded off.

  Dean took up where she left off, “…amazing, wonderful, life changing,” he whispered. Becky could only nod and bury her face into Dean’s shoulder. She felt him rest his chin on the top of her head and was grateful he was giving her time to control herself.

  Finally, she took a deep breath and looked up at him with a shy smile. “Just make a few yipping sounds and the coyote will come, huh?” she said shakily, changing to a more neutral subject. Even though she wanted nothing more than for Dean to lay her down right there in the dirt and make love to her, she knew they couldn’t do it. She wanted him so badly, but felt like they needed to get to know each other better before taking their relationship to that level. She respected him even more for not even trying to go any further than they already had.

  Dean turned her in his arms so her back was once again nestled against his chest and wrapped his arms around her waist once more, but this time he lifted her shirt and rested his hands on her bare skin. He wanted and needed the connection with her.

  Becky could feel his hardness against the small of her back. Jesus. He felt amazing. She shook her head and tried to concentrate as he chuckled, seemingly knowing what she was thinking about.

  He leaned down and said right next to her ear, tickling the hair hanging there. “Yes, just a few little yips should do it. As I said before, she knows you’re here, it’ll be your call to her.”

  Becky felt utterly ridiculous, and a little off kilter after the amazing kiss she’d shared with Dean, not to mention still feeling his amazing body as he’d cradled her against his body, but she gave it a try anyway.

  She howled a bit, softly at first, trying to get the hang of it and to find the right pitch. When she did find a tone that was comfortable and didn’t sound too abrasive to her own ears, she increased the volume just a bit and yipped three times.

  Dean moved his hand from her waist to her stomach and felt the sounds move through her. He immediately got harder than he already was. Christ. There was no way he could hide it from Becky, seeing how her back was plastered to his front. Her howl broke a bit, but then picked back up again as she yipped some more. He felt her shift and actually push back against him. Holy mother of God…he wasn’t going to make it. Sweat broke out on his forehead and the iron control he had on hi
s body almost broke. She might be embarrassed about calling to the coyote, but it was sexy as hell to Dean.

  Becky let her voice fade off and waited. She would’ve waited there forever in Dean’s arms, but suddenly she saw a shape off in the distance. It was the little coyote! She was slowly making her way toward them.

  Becky gasped and kneeled down, clutching the fence. She was really coming toward them! It’d worked. She looked up at Dean, beaming.

  Dean didn’t think he’d ever seen anything as beautiful as Becky at that moment.

  “She’s coming!” Becky said reverently to Dean. He nodded and watched as the little coyote approached them cautiously.

  Just as she had earlier, Becky started talking in a low voice. Telling the little coyote that everything was okay, that she had to leave, but she’d hopefully be back. But in the meantime she should trust Dean.

  Dean kneeled down next to Becky, reached forward and took her hand in his, holding it close to the fence with his.

  Becky understood what he was doing and said, “You can trust him, little star,” Becky told the coyote. “He’s with me.”

  Dean could feel Becky hold her breath as the coyote slowly inched her way toward them.

  “That’s it,” she crooned. “You have to trust him and the others, they won’t hurt you, they only want to help you.”

  They stayed like that for a few minutes. Dean and Becky kneeling, with the coyote on the other side, sniffing their interwoven fingers as they gripped the fence. Finally, the coyote rolled over on her back as if to say, ‘Rub my belly!’

  Becky laughed low.

  “I can’t rub you today, but I’ll be back,” she said, hoping she wasn’t lying to herself or the coyote. “Go on now, go and find the other coyotes and try to make friends. Be sure to come and get something to eat tomorrow, you’re too skinny!”

  As if the coyote could understand her, she stood up and ran for the trees. She stopped once, looked back at the two humans and took off again. Becky stood up awkwardly, feeling Dean brace her as she stood.

  “Star?” he asked with a smile in his voice.

  “She looks like a Star to me,” Becky told him sheepishly. “I thought she deserved a beautiful name. She might be small, but she’s a Star in my eyes.”

  Dean hugged Becky to him again, unable to help himself. His woman was so unassuming and unselfish. He was the luckiest man alive.

  * * *

  Steve insisted on driving Becky back to the production set. Becky sat between him and Dean on the front seat of the truck. She felt very protected between the two large men. She sighed, knowing her lovely night was about to end. She didn’t want to go back into the house and deal with the comments and jokes she was sure to get. She also didn’t want to continue with the show, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. She’d signed the stupid contract and she was obliged. Thank God it was almost over. It couldn’t end soon enough for her.

  Steve pulled up outside the gates of the house, much as Dean had the first time he’d dropped her off. Neither man moved. Becky looked from one to the other in confusion, waiting for someone to say something.

  Finally, Steve broke the silence.

  “Becky, we’re thrilled to have met you today and want you to know that we approve of your relationship with Dean. We hope you’ll come back soon. We want to get to know you better and we want you to get to know us better.”

  Becky wasn’t sure what to say, so she didn’t say anything, but nodded her head in agreement.

  Dean took her hand and she turned her attention to him.

  “I’ve told you before, Becky, but I’ll tell you again now…you’re mine. I’m sorry if that comes out too macho and controlling, I don’t mean it to, but when this silly show is over I want you to stay. I want you here with me and my friends and family. I know I’m asking a lot. Believe me, I know it. I get that you have a job and you’d have to move away from your home and friends, but I want to be with you. We can do the long distance thing for a while until you’ve worked things out back home, but eventually I want you here…with me.”

  Becky swallowed…hard…opened her mouth to respond, and nothing would come out. She was nervous about the whole situation, but it felt right, and that scared her more than anything else. She didn’t think Dean was being macho and overpowering. At this moment, she wanted to be with him as much as he apparently wanted to be with her. Goosebumps rose on her flesh at the thought of him wanting her as much as he did to brave saying all of these things in front of his dad.

  Dean squeezed her hand. “Don’t answer now. Think about it for a while, sweetheart, but know, from the bottom of my heart to yours, that I want to be with you. What we have between us is real.”

  Becky nodded and watched as Dean scooted out of the truck, she followed behind him, turning when Steve spoke.

  “Becky, if you ever need anything, please know I’m here for you and so is my wife…anything at all, even if it’s just to come out and see your coyote again…we’re just a phone call away. Dean will give you our number so you can get in touch with us. Okay?”

  Becky nodded her head and finished sliding out of the truck. Dean leaned down and captured her lips with his in a swift, but intense kiss. He then kissed her forehead and held her for a long moment before letting go and stepping back. Becky knew he watched as she let herself through the gate and onto the grounds of the house. The truck didn’t pull away until she was safely inside the house. That small act of respect and protection made her smile.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next night, after another day of the same old crap, Becky lay in bed, waiting for Dean to call. It seemed as if her late night talks with Dean were the only thing keeping her going. There were now only five men left on the show and the pressure was getting to all of them. James, John, Jose, Derek and David were the last contestants. Marissa was unbearable, expecting all five of them to be showering her with attention all the time. She’d even begun playing one against the other, enjoying the jealously they displayed and the lengths they’d go to keep her attention. Marissa hardly talked to Becky anymore, but that was perfectly fine with Becky. Marisa was a raving bitch and Becky didn’t want anything to do with her.

  The only bright spot in the last week was a visit from Sam and Alex, who were on Eddie’s previous reality show in Australia. Eddie had called them and asked if they’d visit the set.

  They’d arrived hand in hand and Becky could see the love they had for each other. It was unexpected, but truly awesome to witness. She didn’t think anyone could find love on TV, but they seemed to have done it.

  Sam and Alex met with the group that was left and they laughed about Alex’s experiences while he was in Australia. Becky noticed that Sam didn’t say much, but she seemed to try to be friendly for Alex’s sake.

  At one point Sam asked if she could talk to Becky alone. Becky jumped at the chance. She really wanted to get Sam’s perspective of the whole reality show thing, especially after remembering what Kina had said about how Eddie edited the show. Sam had been where she was. Sam knew what she was feeling. At least Becky thought she might.

  After settling on a couch on the other side of the room Sam didn’t beat around the bush and jumped right into the conversation. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m okay. I’m ready for this whole thing to be over,” she answered honestly.

  “I bet you are,” Sam told her. “Is having two women competing over all the men as bad as it sounds like it’d be?”

  “You have no idea!” Becky said with a laugh. “If I had my way, I’d tell Marissa she could have them all and walk off the set today!”

  Becky expected Sam to laugh, but was surprised when she not only didn’t laugh, but asked, “Why don’t you?”

  “Uh, because I signed a contract?” Beck said with some surprise. Surely Sam had to sign the same sort of contract when she joined the Australian reality show.

  Sam sighed and looked around as if to see if anyone was within earshot.
Upon seeing no one, she leaned toward Becky and said softly, “In case you didn’t know this, Eddie will do whatever he can to twist the show and make it good for ratings. Even if you did walk off at this point, Eddie wouldn’t care. He’d probably think it’d be a ratings boon. And in a sick way, he’d be right.” Sam laughed with Becky and then continued, “Seriously, Becky, I was on the show for weeks, and he edited me right out of the show just because I didn’t fit the mold of what he wanted the women on his show to be. I’m sure he has some twist up his sleeve for this show too. Just be careful.”

  Becky nodded. Because the conversation had gotten pretty intense, she changed the subject. “So, did you really save Kina’s life while you were in Australia?”

  Sam laughed and told her the entire story of how Kina was filming her walking around in the Outback and had almost stepped on a deadly snake. She couldn’t move or the snake would’ve bitten her. Sam explained how she’d distracted the snake so Kina could get out of the way.

  “Kina wasn’t allowed to talk to me on set, for obvious reasons, but after the show was over she contacted me and we’ve been friends ever since.” Sam turned serious again. “She’s told me about some of the things that have been happening on this show, Becky.” At Becky’s blush Sam continued quickly. “Please, don’t be embarrassed. I’ve been in your shoes, literally, and I know what you’re going through. Keep your chin up. Don’t let them get you down. The only reason I agreed to come with Alex to this damn set was to see you. If I had my way I’d never talk to Eddie again. He hurt me. I wasn’t pretty enough or good enough to be on his show and he didn’t care if I knew it. I don’t think I, or Alex, will ever forgive him for that. He certainly knows how to make money, but he doesn’t know how to treat people decently.”

  Sam took Becky’s hand in hers and finished, “You’re beautiful, Becky. I know you probably can’t see it now, but hang in there, finish up the damn show and go on with your life. Things can work out, look at me and Alex!”