Coral Hearts

by Avery Gale

  He planned to ask her a very important question tomorrow night during the party, and she needed to know as much about his life as possible if she was going to make a decision about sharing it. What might have looked like a sudden decision to an outsider had actually come on the heels of months of getting to know the woman he’d found such comfort holding close last night. Wrapping her in his arms, knowing she felt safe enough to fall asleep in his embrace had touched his soul. Sage had heard the moment the nightmare started to pull her under. But his touch and soothing words had settled her quickly, and the whole thing was over almost as quickly as it started. Knowing she trusted him on a subconscious level was gift straight from the heavens—there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for this woman.

  Colt’s rasped, “You need to step up to the plate, big brother, because I can’t hold on forever.” Sage understood exactly what his brother was saying because he’d been on the receiving end of Coral’s oral focus this morning in the shower. The look of adoration in Coral’s eyes as she’d knelt in front of him, water streaming down the sides of her pretty face had snapped the last thread of his control. He didn’t want this to end too soon so it was time to change his direction.

  Sage pulled his fingers back, then carefully slid the small plug he’d gotten for her into place. It wasn’t much larger than the two fingers he’d used to stretch her sensitive tissues so he knew the burn would have been minimal despite the gasp he’d heard her make around Colt. “We’re going to start small and work up slowly, pet. I don’t want to damage these tender tissues.” As an experienced sexual Dominant, Sage had seen the aftermath of anal sex scenes gone bad, and it hadn’t been pretty. He couldn’t imagine subjecting Coral to anything so painful, and he would definitely be taking all the time needed to make sure she was ready before claiming the last bit of her sexuality.

  Colt gave him a look that shouted, “Stop yammering and start fucking.” Sage wanted to laugh out loud because his next youngest brother was renowned for his ability to hold off his own release. He’d seen submissives clamor for Colt’s attention when they’d visited their favorite kink clubs, and even though he hadn’t been to the club since he’d met Coral. Sage doubted anything had changed.

  Pressing the head of his cock against her entrance, the heat from her core wrapped him in pleasure, Sage fought the urge to push in balls deep in one long thrust. “You’re so hot, pet. And it’s an invitation I can’t resist. You’re going to feel impossibly tight with the little plug in your ass—are you ready to fly with me?” Sage didn’t wait for her to reply, he was taking her with him no matter what.

  “Please. Now. Need,” Coral’s gasped words sounded as desperate as Sage felt.

  “Let’s see who goes over first, you or Colt.” Sage had gotten a glimpse of Coral’s competitive spirit during last summer’s festival activities. There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned three-legged race to bring out someone’s inner Olympian. He was gaining ground in small thrusts, slowly stretching her to accommodate his girth, but damn if she wasn’t scorching him with her heat. There was a very real chance his control was going to snap in record time and he was determined not to be the only one tumbling end over end into bliss.

  “I don’t know what your plan is big brother, but I suggest you kick it up a notch or twelve. Because we’re about a half a shake from a championship ride here,” Colt’s thinly veiled reference to an eight-second finish line wasn’t lost on Sage. Now that he’d managed to fully seat himself inside Coral he was reluctant to move, but duty called.

  “As much as I love being so deep inside you I can feel your heart beating, I do love feeling your pussy rippling around me during those seconds before you lose yourself in release. And the feel of your muscles clamping down on me like a vice? The sweetest torture I’ve ever known.” Picking up his pace Sage wanted to shout for joy when Coral’s muscles immediately started rippling around him.

  “Sweetness you are about to get a taste of me, if you don’t want it, you need to let go—right fucking now.” Sage could see the Coral’s back muscles flex and knew she wasn’t going to let go. That’s my girl.

  Leaning over her, he changed the angle so the stiff ridge around the head of his cock hit her G-spot with each thrust. Sage wrapped one arm around Coral’s waist because one of the things he’d learned about his sweet sub was how quickly her muscles became liquid once her orgasm was over. With the other hand he circled the sweet little bundle of nerves he could feel poking out seeking his attention. And attention it was going to get. Using the juices of Coral’s arousal to coat his fingers, Sage circled the small bundle of nerves several times enjoying the way her hips bucked beneath him in response.

  Biting down gently on the tender spot where her shoulder and neck joined, Sage recognized the significance of his action. There was something purely primitive about the act, and rather than being embarrassed, Sage found an unreasonable amount of pride in the small act. It wasn’t about the mark he could barely see, it was how she’d reacted. Sage knew she was in the deep end of her orgasm, but she was still gulping down Colt’s release as her entire body convulsed beneath him. And the clamp of her inner muscles around his cock stole the last shred of his control. Shouting her name, he emptied himself in her, and hoped like hell he’d be able to hold her up when he was barely staying on his feet.

  Rolling her on to the lower chaise, Sage cuddled her on his lap leaving his brother gasping on the higher lounger. “Christ, I think she stole a piece of my soul, brother.” Sage watched a small smile paint her expression, as a pink flush moved over her cheeks.

  “You are truly amazing, pet. And I can’t tell you how proud I am of how well you handled that scene.” And calling it a scene was a huge understatement considering Coral had just sealed her fate—she was his, and he didn’t care what it took to convince her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Coral couldn’t hold back her tears of relief when Sage’s sweet mama showed up early the next afternoon, her arms laden with packages. How Patsy Morgan had managed to find the perfect dress and matching shoes in her size on such short notice was a mystery to Coral. But, she was humbled and grateful beyond measure by the Morgan matriarch’s gesture. The only bump in the road had come when Coral had promised to repay her. Patsy had pulled back as if she’d been slapped and Coral could have sworn she heard all six men in the room gasp collectively.

  Blinking at everyone’s shocked expressions, Coral tried to explain. “But it would be wrong for me to expect you to just buy me an outfit.” Coral had been equally shocked the other woman thought she would be so presumptuous.

  Patsy wasn’t much taller than Coral and God knew she didn’t look old enough to have raised five grown sons, but Coral found out very quickly Patsy Morgan was pure steel forged by fire on the inside. “Now you listen to me young lady. It is my right and privilege to spend Dean’s money any way I see fit.” She waved her hand in a semi-circle around them. “You see all these boys? Boys! It’s all the man would ever give me, so he owes me a lot more than just getting to buy a pretty dress and a pair of shoes for my son’s girl. Now, you get yourself upstairs and get ready because I’m just dying to see how it looks on you.”

  Patsy might have sounded indignant, but there was nothing but warmth in her eyes as she’d regarded Coral. This was a woman who didn’t hesitate to stand up for those she loved. Coral was sure the mama bear analogy had started because of women like the one standing in front of her.

  It had been so long since anyone other than Charlotte had shown her anything vaguely resembling motherly concern. Coral thought her heart might burst she was so moved by the gesture. There were times when she missed her own mother so much the pain felt like it hadn’t faded at all. Coral didn’t even try to hold back the tears as she gave Patsy a bruising hug before hurrying up the stairs. If she’d stayed downstairs, she knew she was going to end up blubbering like an idiot in front of the whole clan.

  Two hours later, standing in front of the pedestal mirror in
the master suite, Coral marveled at how perfectly everything fit her. She’d never had a dress with any kind of embellishment, always assuming they would draw unwanted attention. Coral was grateful Patsy had forced her to be brave. What would it have been like to grow up with a mother who encouraged her to try new things? To have siblings who backed you whether they agreed with your decision or not? How could she even consider walking away from Pine Creek and the Morgans?

  Coral was almost giddy watching the gold threads woven into random patterns of the black fabric shimmer as they reflected even the smallest bits of light. The effect wasn’t glaring—it didn’t shout look at me, look at me. The soft glimmers would subtly catch the eye but wouldn’t make her the center of attention—and that was perfect. The shoes had moderate heels—nothing sky high, thank God, because Coral had never mastered the art of walking gracefully in heels. Pivoting first one foot and then the other, she couldn’t help feeling like Cinderella before the ball. The big difference was…this outfit had been assembled by a woman whose capacity for love seemed capable of expanding at will rather than a fairy Godmother whose magic would evaporate at the stroke of midnight.

  Sage knew Coral hadn’t heard him enter the master suite, and he took advantage of the opportunity to observe her unobtrusively for a few moments. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind these stolen seconds would burn themselves into his memory for all eternity. God, she glows from the inside out. According to his brothers he’d wasted far too much time making his move on the sweet woman standing in front of him. Maybe he had moved at a snail’s pace, but he damned well wasn’t going to waste another day. He wasn’t going to let anything stand in his way tonight—he was going to seal the sweetest deal of his life at the stroke of midnight.

  He loved the way Coral’s emotions played out in her eyes, the gratitude in their soft green depths made him smile. She skimmed her hands lovingly over the dress his mother had bought her, and it was easy to see how much she loved the simple dress. It amazed him how the color of her eyes shifted with her mood—it was damned handy if a man was smart enough to pay attention. And Sage Morgan was damned smart. His years of training as a Master meant there had been very little about Coral he hadn’t been cataloging for months. Sage knew her eyes flashed a brilliant spring green when she was angry, they turned almost the color of moss when she came, and they were the soft green of the southern Caribbean Sea when she was lost in the emotion of a moment.

  Sage thought back to last summer’s Founder’s Day festival—he’d watched her from the sidelines and seen the joy in her expression. Each time a child waved his or her small hand in greeting, Coral’s eyes had turned this same shade of soft green. For a woman who’d kept most of the adult population in their small mountain town at arm’s length, she had sure as hell connected with the kids. Christ, he couldn’t wait to watch her flat belly bloom with his child. His mother had already made several less than subtle remarks about becoming a grandmother, and the odds of that ending anytime soon were somewhere between slim and none.

  Laughing to himself at the detour his thoughts had taken, Sage brought himself back to the moment. Hell, he had to admit the dress was fucking perfect. Sage owed his mom a huge thank you for picking something so well suited for the lovely young woman standing in front of the suite’s pedestal mirror. The dress was sexy, but also classy—it wasn’t something she’d feel self-conscious wearing—but damned if it didn’t make him hard just looking at the way it hugged her form.

  She’d pinned up her long hair, leaving curled tendrils along the sides framing her face perfectly. The back of her slender neck was one of her most sensitive spots. He’d made that particular discovery late last night while exploring every sweet inch of her. She was too slender—something he planned to rectify soon enough, but it didn’t do anything to detract from the sweet curves making the dress look like it had been tailor made for her.

  Seeing Coral framed in the ornate mirror he’d inherited from his sweet granny made his heart swell. But the depth of emotion—the connection, was one he hadn’t expected to experience for years. Knowing there was a piece of his heritage playing a part in tonight’s plan made it even more special. When she raised her eyes, her gaze locked with his, the softness in her eyes drew him in like a magnet to steel. The oak mirror was one of the few things he’d claimed after his beloved granny passed, but he’d never dreamed it would become such a treasure until this moment.

  He knew he made an imposing figure, framed by the doorway with the hallway behind him, Sage was relieved when he saw her sweet smile. Coral’s eyes went wide before her cheeks flushed a deep rose, and he knew she was embarrassed he’d caught her admiring herself in the mirror. He had plans to help her “unlearn” all those feelings of insecurity and self-consciousness, but that wasn’t what tonight was about. Tonight was about new beginnings and promises for the future.

  Giving her what he hoped was an appreciative smile, he spoke softly, “You are stunning, love.” He walked up behind her and looked over shoulder, taking in her entire appearance in the mirror. “It’s perfect. As usual, my mom’s taste is impeccable.” Placing his hands along the sides of her neck, Sage let his palms skim over shoulders before trailing down her arms. Once he reached the tips of her fingers he moved his palms to cup her hips. Giving her a quick squeeze he reversed his path. Sliding his hands up over her hourglass figure made him itch to pull the pretty dress right back off of her so he could spend the next several hours indulging himself in her sweet body. He hadn’t seen what was in the plastic bag Mama Morgan handed her as she’d run up the curved split log stairway, but he would have bet it was something very special designed to take his breath away—and he’d been right.

  “I can’t wait to unwrap this package. Unless I’m missing my bet, my mother also picked up something very sexy you’re hiding under this lovely dress. It didn’t escape my attention that she handed you two bags, and she knows exactly how Morgan men think.” And isn’t that an understatement of mammoth proportions? The truth was he recognized the logo of the high-end lingerie store in Bozeman. Hell, you might know his mom would find a way to get the merchandise flown in overnight.

  “But, your outfit needs just a little something extra, I think.” She didn’t take her eyes off his as he pulled the gold chain from his pocket. “Keep your eyes on mine, pet.” Her gaze never wandered as he pulled the first of his gifts from his jacket pocket. Reaching around her, Sage settled the beautiful piece around her neck before securing the small catch and trailing kisses along the back of her exposed neck.

  The three different colors of gold links forming the fine chain gave the piece a rich look and he couldn’t wait to tell her the significance of the gold his jeweler had used. Sage had shown Zach Pell candid shots he’d taken of Coral hoping to inspire a unique creation, and his friend had risen to the challenge in a big way. Zach had gone on and on, raving about how the depth of colors he planned to use would bring out the warm colors of her skin tone and highlights of her hair and truthfully, Zach’s words hadn’t meant much to him. But, now? Oh, yes indeed—his old college pal was an absolute fucking genius. No wonder his store in New York City’s jewelry district attracted clientele from all over the world.

  Trailing the tips of his fingers along the gentle slope of her shoulder, Sage thought back over the long weeks he’d spent each summer as a teenager working in the mines found on several of his parents’ ranches. God he’d hated being stuck underground when his friends and brothers had been enjoying the beautiful Montana summers. But his dad had insisted he learn about the mines from the ground—or underground—up, and damned if the old man hadn’t been right. Sage had been able to successfully navigate delicate contract negotiations and resolve conflicts with the rank and file on more than one occasion because he actually understood the workers’ concerns.

  Before leaving home that first summer his mom pulled him aside and suggested he stash a few nuggets of gold from the various mines each year. She’d promised the two of them
would design something together sometime in the future. He’d done exactly as she’d suggested, but he hadn’t used a single piece of his stash until he’d decided to make Coral Williams his.

  A few months after meeting her, Sage had flown to New York City to meet with his friend from college. The man he’d known for years jumped at the chance to use the box of raw gold Sage had collected. Zachary Pell was the only man Sage would have ever have trusted with, what at today’s prices, was an exorbitant amount of pure gold. Over the next couple of months his friend had sent him design options and updates, but the finished products was even more stunning than Sage could have ever imagined.

  The chain was supposed to hold a pendant molded in a perfect replica of the Morgan Ranch brand. Their brand was a fusion of a Rocky Mountain skyline and the letter M, and Zach had done a spectacular job of recreating the symbol in gold. But that beautiful bauble was still sitting in the velvet box tucked safely in the vault hidden in his downstairs office. Instead of the pendant—tonight the slender woven chain held a ring. The engagement ring Sage planned to slip on her finger as the old year faded to new was another one-of-a-kind creation showcasing an enormous princess cut diamond.

  Sage knew his parents were planning to host a huge engagement party in a couple of weeks, but he wanted to begin the New Year secure in the knowledge she’d agreed to be his. When she saw what he’d placed around her neck, he heard her gasp in surprise. Sage turned her in his arms and pressed his finger against her lips. “Shhhh. Don’t say anything yet. Just be patient. This evening is going to be full of surprises.”

  Coral’s head was still swimming as she and Sage made their way down the winding stairs into the Morgan’s cavernous front hall. The gift he’d given her upstairs had stolen her breath but her attention was quickly diverted as they were surrounded by family and friends. The festivities were already in full swing and before long she’d forgotten about the beautiful promise dangling from an exquisite gold chain around her neck.