His hands curved around her aching breasts.
She never took her eyes off him as he slowly lowered his face to her right breast, extending his tongue and slowly licking around the pink, puckered skin. She closed her eyes and let her head lower back until it rested on the blanket. Her back arched to press her breasts up toward him. She almost came unglued when he sucked her nipple and whole areola into his mouth, suctioning it deeply while his tongue stroked around and around it, finally flicking back and forth across her hard nipple. Annabelle was in a state of heightened awareness. She didn’t know up from down, right from left, if it was light or dark. All she could ascertain was the feeling of pure seduction as Mason played her body like a fiddle. If she were wine, he drank her.
She heard him slurp as she felt her nipple slip from his mouth.
She whimpered as the cool air hit her breast, her nipple hardening even more, if that was possible. Her hips began rocking gently as he lingered over first one and then her other breast, stretching out the enjoyment for both of them. How much more she could take she didn’t know, but she was willing to find out.
Her desire for more soon overwhelmed her. Writhing beneath him, she whimpered, “Stop teasing me, Mason. I know you want me.”
“Oh, baby, that I do,” he said huskily, after he released her breasts and slowly kissed the deep valley between her soft globes. Each kiss, a soft lick with the tip of his tongue followed by a wet, soft kiss fueled her desire. Inch by inch he traveled her body, leaving her luscious tits behind and working down her hard belly. She tried to grab his short hair and force him lower, but when he chuckled, she knew he was nowhere near done tormenting her.
“You’re still teasing me!” she said loudly as he kissed her slowly over her mound, detouring around her curls and seeking her spread wet lips. She screamed out when the tip of his tongue gently touched her clit. Her whole body jerked at the sudden jolts of pleasure flowing through her.
“Oh God, yes,” she moaned as he lowered his face, pressing his tongue between legs, teasing it into the entrance of her core. Slowly, he drew his tongue up the length of her slit, spreading her lips and stroking her pussy, until his tongue slid across her hard, exposed clit.
“Mmm, that’s it, baby. Just like that,” she crooned as his tongue circled around and around her hard nub, teasing it and enticing it before sliding down to the bottom of her slit again. Spreading her legs wider, she gave him more access to her as he laved his tongue between her lips.
She felt the first stroke of his finger as it slid easily up and down her pussy. His tongue still teased and flicked across her hard clit. He started pressing his finger into her core, sliding it in and out in short little strokes as she started to feel her body tighten. He was the master of her body. He knew what she needed and wanted, and if he continued, she was going to get it.
“Oh, good God,” she squeaked as his finger curled to find her sweet spot. When he rubbed the tip of his finger around, she came undone.
“Mason!” she moaned, her whole body jerking in response to his magical finger finding her perfect location. He continued to lick her clit, sucking it hard into his mouth and gently biting it with his teeth. Her whole body shook wildly as his finger and mouth drove her crazy, stroking inside her and sucking her hard clit.
“Yes!” she cried loudly as she grabbed the blanket, lifting her hips toward his mouth.
Her body stiffened, and a long, low groan, almost a growl, erupted from deep within her, the tremble that started deep inside her pussy slowly expanded with it until her whole body was shaking like a leaf in the wind.
“Oh, Mason,” she panted, slowly pulling herself up to a sitting position on the blanket. She reached for his face and pulled it to hers, gently pressing her lips to his, tasting her own juices as her tongue teased his lips open and slipped into his mouth. She played a game of cat and mouse with his tongue, touching and begging it to follow hers into her mouth where she closed her lips around it and sucked it. She kissed him for all that she was worth. Coming up for air, her hands left his face, stroking his shoulders and chest until they caressed back and forth across his stomach. Looking up into his eyes once more, she smiled. “Now fuck me.”
“I thought you would never ask.” He grinned wickedly.
“Annabelle?”
Shaking off the memory, there was nothing she could do about it. Like Mason, it was what it was. Nothing would change the fact that he was still missing, as much as she wished for that warm, fun day they shared back at his fishing spot. She could pray, hope, and plead with God until she was blue in the face, but until he was found, the facts were still facts. “Yes, Mrs. Banks, I do love Mason, and like his family, I pray that he returns. I am not ready to give up on him just yet.”
“Good, because without hope, what do we have?”
Smiling, Annabelle nodded. With the blessed peace and quiet about to end, Annabelle and Mrs. Banks finished their lunches in relative silence.
Over the next couple of hours, she put aside her daydreams and concentrated on the children before her. Looking up at the clock, the day passed quickly, and soon, the first day of school would be over. All her little kids were lined up, backpacks too big for their little bodies firmly attached to their backs. They all stood in two lines near the front door, eager to run out the door and find their parents. As the only kindergarten class, her students were allowed to leave first since their parents would need to physically be on site to pick up their children, unless they were bus riders.
Looking up at the clock, she smiled when the bell rang.
“All right, everyone. Are we ready?”
“Yes, Ms. Marcus!” her classroom shouted.
“Okay, let’s go find your parents,” she said, opening the door and leading the kids down the hall to the front of the building. The school nurse, secretary, and principal were on hand when her kids arrived, opening the doors for them. “All right, just remember what I said. You have to stay in line until your mom or dad comes to get you. Does everyone understand?”
“Yes, Ms. Marcus!” they replied.
Over the next twenty minutes, Annabelle handed over every child in her classroom, except one. Holding the little girl’s hand, she asked, “Abby, does your dad know when to pick you up?”
“Uh huh.” She nodded, looking around everywhere but at her.
“Did he tell you he would be late?”
“Nuh-uh,” she replied.
“Maybe we should call him or your mom,” Annabelle said mostly to herself as the school buses started to arrive, blocking the front of the school. Annabelle worried the longer Michael or Rachael didn’t show. She wondered what she was going to do with the little girl. Just then, the second bell rang, and the rest of the school was dismissed at once. Annabelle grabbed Abigail and moved quickly to the side as they watched the older kids run for their buses.
“Can I ride the bus, Annabelle?” Abigail asked.
“No, sweetie. We have to wait for your mom or dad.”
“Man…” Abby sulked.
Chuckling, Annabelle bent down and pushed her dark bangs away from her face. “Don’t worry, little girl. Someday real soon, it will be you running for those buses.”
“Have you ridden one?” Abby asked.
“Yes.”
“I bet they are fun.”
“They are.” Annabelle winked and Abigail smiled brightly.
Time drew on, and when three forty-five rolled around, Annabelle knew it was time to call her parents. Taking her hand, they walked back into the school. “What do you say we go pick up Andrew and give your mom and dad a few more minutes, okay?”
“Okay,” Abby replied, running ahead. Together they met Andrew at his class and then headed for the office, when Abby yelled, “I forgot my backpack!”
“Andrew, go with her and hurry up. Both of you come right back to the office. I’m gonna go call your mom, Abigail, and find out what’s keeping her, okay?”
“Okay!” Abby giggled, running
for the double doors that led into the parking lot, with Andrew right along with her.
She had just picked up the phone when the principal along with Judge Clark walked into the main office and just smiled at her. Nodding at them, she dialed Rachael’s number, but no one picked up. Thinking they were on their way, Annabelle hurriedly rushed to her classroom, grabbed her bags, and went to find what was keeping Andrew and Abby.
Annabelle burst through the doors and came to a screeching halt.
Chapter Fifteen
If ever there were a time in her life she would remember forever, it would be this exact moment. When she had gotten dressed this morning, she had picked out something comfortable she knew would last the rigors of the first day of school. She didn’t pick the nicest outfit in her closet. She didn’t bother with makeup, knowing that kids didn’t care if she looked pretty. Instead of taking the few extra minutes to do her hair, she had just pulled it back into a ponytail. No, today, she dressed like a typical teacher on her first day of school, and she regretted it.
She wished she had taken the time to add a little lip gloss, or brushed her hair until it shined. Hell, she would be happy with a pair of heels instead of the flats she currently wore, because if she had chosen any of those things, she wouldn’t feel so underdressed.
She never thought when she woke up this morning that her day would end like this. However, seeing him standing there before her in his military dress uniform, alive and smiling—nothing else mattered.
He was home.
The air was thick with sexual tension. Her eyes locked onto his. She ran as fast as she could, jumping into his arms and falling into his embrace, knowing damn well he would catch her. When his arms came around her and he squeezed her tightly, everything she worried about, thought about, or imagined disappeared. None of that mattered anymore. It was all gone, replaced with hope, love, and happiness for their future. Tears of joy raced down her cheeks as she held onto him for dear life, never wanting to let him go, because he was finally home and safe in her arms once again.
Hours, days, weeks of fantasies had led up to this one moment in time. She felt his warm lips on her neck as she lifted her face, looking into his beautiful blue eyes. Her lips met his, not in a tentative kiss, but in a passionate embrace that caused heat to flare through her body, warming her instantly. There was nothing between them but desire. The scents of the warm autumn day underscored the more potent scents of man and woman, skin and musk. Her tongue glided silkily against his, her teeth occasionally hitting his in a frenzy to taste as much of him as possible.
She vaguely heard someone speak as Mason lowered her to her feet, his lips still on hers.
“Think they’re gonna be like that for a while? ’Cause I’m getting hungry,” Mitchell asked.
“You’re just jealous because your wife took off and you have no one to kiss,” Mark replied.
“I’ll give you a kiss, Uncle Mitch,” Abby offered sweetly.
Mason chuckled, breaking the kiss. Looking up at him, she smiled. “I missed you.”
“I heard,” he replied, wrapping her in his strong arms. As far as she was concerned, she would be content for the rest of her life if she stayed right where she was at that very moment.
“Mom, can we go now? Mattie said Rachael and Mrs. Armstrong are cooking up a storm, and I am hungry, too,” her son said, then turned to Matthew. “How can Rachael and Mrs. Armstrong cook a storm? A storm is an atmospheric disturbance with strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation, followed by thunder and lightning. Since we live in South Texas, the chance of snow falling in this area is rare, and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Though the wind is blowing, it’s nowhere near the speed it needs to be to formulate a storm.”
Everyone laughed as they headed for the ranch, while Matthew tried to explain what he meant.
* * * *
The ranch was buzzing with news that Mason and his team had arrived. All around her, people were laughing and enjoying themselves. Yet when she took a quick peek at Mason, he didn’t act like the conquering hero. He looked lost and a little uncomfortable. Catching his gaze, she nodded to the back door, and he smiled. Quickly excusing herself from a conversation with a couple of ranch hands and one of Mason’s team members, she snuck away outside.
She had just rounded the corner of the house when Mason grabbed her. “Come on, buttercup, I know of a place where we can be alone.”
Wanting the same thing, she threaded her fingers between his and let him lead the way. Heading for the barn, she didn’t say a single word, even when he ushered her into one of the empty stalls. Before she could do anything, he took her lips, hard and possessive. His strong arms held her tightly to him as he tasted her. Taking everything, she marveled at his control as he moved across her lips, tasting every inch of her. He was not gentle with her, not like before. The man before her was now an unleashed animal.
She had had one hell of a day and so had he, but this just put the icing on the cake with a cherry on top.
She surrendered.
She didn’t care about anything anymore as she allowed herself to melt into him, relinquishing what control she had left in her life and forgetting about everything.
God, he tastes good.
Her hands slowly came up to his waist, and before she knew what she was doing she had wrapped her arms around her man and started kissing him back.
* * * *
Mason felt her giving up. Whatever will she had left was gone. Her body relaxed as he delved into her moist mouth. Her soft, plump lips were full and inviting. The tenderness of her touch was electrifying as he could feel her soft hands moving up toward his back. His hands started caressing her, pulling her body closer to his. She entranced him. She was warm and gentle, unlike his harshness and crassness. He liked that she stood up to him. Very few people did when he got mad, but she did and she didn’t back down.
She was courageous and could give just as well as she could take. He loved everything about her, even the way she mothered her son.
Mason was lost in the moment as her hands trailed fire down his body. For weeks, he thought he would never see her again. He promised himself if he got the chance, he would be better, do better, become a better man, learning to deserve her. He promised he would open up more, talk about his feelings, and never, ever leave her again.
His body grew hungry, craved more, and as if he couldn’t help himself, he started to unbutton her shirt. He had to touch her, needed to touch her. A driving need fueled his ardor.
Though it had only been hours since he had held her in his arms, it felt like an eternity. Moreover, within the last few seconds, she had lit a fire within him that he could no longer control. What was just going to be a simple kiss had now turned into pure animal lust. Just when he thought about actually going through with his crazy plan, reason interrupted. Mason slowly broke the kiss and backed away. “We can’t, they’ll know what we’re doing.”
The look in her eyes was wild.
“Yes we can,” she replied, firmly grabbing his shirt and pulling him back into her. She took his lips once again, thrusting her tongue into his mouth. Mason had met some strong, independent women in his life, but his buttercup took the cake. She wasn’t listening to reason any more than he was. She knew what she wanted, and she wanted him. The moment he heard her softly moan, everything vanished within him, all reason flew out the window, and all that was left was just her.
“Are you sure?” He just had to ask before he totally gave in.
“You talk too much,” she said, kissing his neck as her hands slowly moved down to cup the bulge in his pants. His want for doing the right thing was lost for his need for this woman. He had to have her, to feel her, to have her once again beneath him. Grabbing her waist, he lifted her and spread her legs, wrapping them around him, and proceeded to move further into the hay-covered stall.
He stopped for just a second, helping her to remove his shirt.
Fuck it, he thought,
and lifted her skirt, bracing her against the stall wall. His hands ripped open her shirt, and he quickly found her soft, pert nipple, covered in white lace, just aching for him. He made quick haste and took her breast into his mouth. Her moan of pleasure only fueled his desire more.
Annabelle couldn’t stop herself. She was driven to the brink of despair. He wasn’t moving quickly enough. She wanted him now. Fumbling with his belt, she finally had it removed and made a quick pass at the zipper to his pants before sliding her hand down to grab a hold of him.
He was huge and pulsing hard. He knew he wouldn’t last long. Mason took her mouth again, shedding her panties in one swift tear. Using his other hand, he removed his pants and then lifted her as he thrust hard into her core, to find himself deep within her warmth.
Annabelle screamed out as he entered her. He tried to stifle her screams with his mouth as he continued to plunge forward, but he couldn’t. He, too, roared out as her muscles tightened around him and she quickly came. The force of her orgasm sent his body into shock as he watched her shake from the explosion. Mason kicked away his pants and thrust forward once more, grabbing a hold of her ass for leverage. She was so damn hot and wet. He had never had a woman respond to him so quickly. She was driving him wild.
Thrusting in and out, he drove her over the edge once more, before he, too, lost control, filling himself within her. He was spent, panting hard against her chest, but he did not soften. Ready for round two immediately, Mason turned her and laid her down on the bale of hay in the corner of the stall. He slowly removed the rest of her clothes, and within seconds, he was moving in her once again.
This time he took his time, remembering her, sending her to ecstasy just by suckling her breast. When he felt her muscles contracting once again around him, he slowed the pace, denying her her next orgasm.
“God, you are so responsive,” he said, taking her mouth again and slowly moving forward within her, taking his time. He wanted to devour this woman, for she had brought out a side of him he thought never existed. Her soft pleas of “More” sent him over the edge. With one last hard thrust, he began to buck on top of her, sending her over the edge once again as she yelled out his name. The orgasm overtook her, and he, too, fell within its trap and exploded within her. His arms were shaking as he lowered himself next to her. He felt a drop of wetness fall onto his chest. Holding her closer, he kissed her tear away, and whispered, “Don’t cry, Annabelle. Please don’t cry.”
A Soldier's Promise [The Armstrong Brothers of Cedar Creek 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 21
