Dearest Cowboys Box Set

by Mia Brown

  “What the…?” I glanced down at the ring finger on my left hand to see the biggest diamond there in the world. It brought a giant gasp out of my mouth. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “Mrs. Fancy?”

  “We’re married now, aren’t we? This is our honeymoon, you crazy girl.”

  I tried desperately to scan my brain to try and find all the pieces of information that had to be in there. How could I have gone from a fake relationship with Alex to married to him and not remember it? That wasn’t normal.

  “Honeymoon?” My heart raced like crazy. A thick ball of emotion lodged in my throat and I couldn’t swallow it down however hard I tried. There were so many possibilities here. “So, that means that we can…”

  He span me around and crashed his lips to mine, exploding fireworks inside of me. I was on fire, every part of me lit up, if this man was my husband then it meant I had chosen him to be the man who I wanted to give myself to. The man who I trusted enough to take the part of me that I never gave to anyone else before.

  “So, you’re my husband then?” I asked him in between kisses, just needing to clarify.

  “I sure am. I’m the one for you. The man that you love.”

  As the butterflies flapped violently in my stomach, I realized that I actually was in love with this man. He was the one I’d chosen. I never really believed that I would fall in love like this before. Not so head over heels, crazy, needy like all I wanted was him. I assumed that was a lie… but now it was all of me. I couldn’t feel anything else.

  “Mmm, you are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen,” he murmured quietly. “So stunning. And I love everything about you. Your personality, your beauty, your kindness, the way that you stand out…”

  “I stand out to you?” I giggled girlishly. “The bad boy, play boy who has been with everyone and anyone?”

  “Oh, come off it, baby,” he laughed, not offended at all. “You know that I gave it all up for you. I would give up anything for you. Even the bull riding, which right now, you know is my passion.”

  I cocked my head to one side, wondering if I would give up everything for him as well. Not that he would ever ask me to, just like I wouldn’t to him. Modeling had been my life for such a long time, it was all that I ever wanted. But if I got to be with Alex, nothing else mattered. I suppose I would for us.

  “Well, I don’t want you to do that,” I whispered, my voce growing husky as the lust got the better of me. I knew what was coming next and it was safe to say that I had been waiting a long ass time for it. “I think you should take me to bed now. This has been a long time coming, don’t you think?”

  He hooked his hands underneath me and lifted me high, causing a small squeal to burst out of my mouth. I grabbed him, holding him tight and staring in to his eyes as he took me in to lay me across the cabana.

  “Wow, you really are an angel,” he whispered, mimicking something that he had said t me before. “Stunning. Putting a ring on your finger was the smartest thing that I have ever done.”

  I glanced at my ring once more and grinned. I did wish that I could recall our wedding, but I was sure that the memory would come back to me soon enough. It was the happiest day of my life, that wouldn’t be blocked from my mind forever, surely? No, it had to just be a blip. Nothing to really worry about.

  “Come here you,” I practically growled. “Let me get my hands on you already.”

  He hovered over me and crawled towards me like a hunter heading for his prey. He wanted to eat me, and I wanted to be devoured by him. The intense buzzing inside of me was screaming, needing more, wanting everything that he had to offer me, so by the time he started kissing me again, I was about ready to scream out.

  “Can I take your clothes off?” he asked with a desperate pant. “I want to see you at last.”

  “I haven’t ever let you see me?” I smirked, a little pleased with that knowledge. “That’s a bit cruel, isn’t it?”

  I pushed him off me and hooked my fingers under the hem line of my pure white dress up over my head. My breasts bounced, completely bra free, which made his eyes pop open with surprise. Instantly a lustful glaze rolled over his eyes, he appeared like a man who had been given everything that he wanted and more.

  He reached forward and brushes his hand over my shoulder, before sliding his fingers downwards and grazing over my nipples. As soon as he connected with that very sensitive area I shuddered violently. It sent shock waves of pleasure bolting all the way down to my core. The area between my thighs heated up intensely.

  “Do you like that?” he asked me curiously. “You like when I do that?”

  I couldn’t find the words to answer, so I simply nodded. He tugged and tweaked both nipples a couple of times, trying to gauge my reaction. It was a mix of pleasure and pain and I kinda loved it.

  “Wow, you’re a goddess,” he moaned. “I am so in love with you.”

  He tugged me to him then and kissed me hard, his tongue invading my mouth. As we kissed, I traced my fingers down his body and yanked his trousers apart with a surprising confidence. I pulled his cock free and breathed harder and more ragged as I wrapped my fingers around his thick, throbbing erection.

  “Oh wow, you’re so big,” I breathed in to his ear while stroking my hand up and down him. “So hard for me.”

  “Of course I am. That’s all for you, Emily. That’s been waiting for you forever.”

  I loved that idea so much I couldn’t hold back any longer. I wanted to feel hm deep inside me, to finally know what it was like to have a man making love to me. I straddled over him and slid down on to his length, gasping and crying out as he filled me up completely. There was something dizzying about the sensation, I was exhilarating, a lot of fun. But instead of feeling like I had missed out on it my whole life, I just knew that waiting was the right thing to do because I was doing it for the very first time with a man that I loved, who made me feel so special.

  He gripped on to my hips and bucked against me, each thrust hitting all the right spots. I clung to his shoulders, my nails digging in because I needed something to hold on to, something to keep me connected to the earth. My head was in the clouds, my body sinking lower and lower in to the waters of pleasure and we sunk together.

  Bliss circled me, it was like a storm brewing in the pit of my stomach, driving me closer to the edge. My moans got louder, more excitable, more intense. I could feel them vibrating in my throat, adding to the pleasure, sending me over the edge. I was about to fall with Alex, to tumble in to the abyss of pleasure, and I was willing to go.

  “Shit, Alex,” I screamed as my body shattered, the pleasure racking all the way through me. I bucked and crumbled, shuddering hard under the weight of the orgasm. It was completely overwhelming. “Alex, oh my God.”

  His name felt like a prayer on my lips. I wanted to keep saying it over and over again. To remind myself that was the name of the man that I had chosen to marry to be with forever more, to share it all with…

  “What the…?” I bolted upright in bed, the intense post orgasmic bliss surrounding me… but it wasn’t really because as the light filled my vision and I realized with a thump that I was back in Chicago, that I hadn’t ever left it, because it was all a dream. “How the hell…? What the…? Oh my God.”

  I could almost feel Alex’s name still in my throat as if I had been crying it for real. I held my hand there, hoping that sensation was only in my imagination because he was here in Chicago with me, in the other room.

  “Fuck.” I needed to check. I had to make my way out in to the hallway to see if he was sleeping. The last thing I needed was for him to know that I’d been dreaming about him. After kissing all night long, things were complicated enough. The line between fake and real relationship had been crossed, and I didn’t want to make that worse.

  So, I crept across the room and pulled the door open, cringing as it squeaked. My heart hammered, it raced at the speed of light, but I pushed forward, and I crept in to the hallway. A
silence greeted me, thank goodness, and it continued to ring through my apartment as I pressed my ear against the spare room door to listen in.

  Nothing. There was nothing. I had to assume that he was still asleep.

  That was close. I breathed out with relief, feeling a bit like a teenager who had been caught creeping home drink after a party and was trying not to get caught out by my parents. Never again.

  It was time to admit, at least to myself, that I had an attraction to Alex. I thought that he was a very good looking man, obviously, hence all the kissing, and I did like him as well. The more that I got to know him, the better he became… but that didn’t mean we were going to get married. That certainly wasn’t love or anything. That dream didn’t mean anything more than I found him hot and if I wasn’t keeping my virginity for marriage, then I would have sex with him. I would become another notch on his bed post, just like all the women who came before me.

  It was probably a good thing that I wasn’t going to sleep with him because it would only end up getting a million times more complicated if I did. The lines between real and fake would become even messier making our separation in six months time even harder to organize. It was already going to be a little weird and we were only a few days in.

  We needed to do some things for the press for real this time, to remind ourselves that this was all just an act. I had a feeling the stark reminder was needed for the pair of us. I guess a party was in order after all.

  Seventeen

  Alex (a week later, Fourth of July)

  “This is surprisingly nice,” Emily commented while leaning against me. I had a feeling that the glass of champagne in her fingers had something to do with her more relaxed mood now. When we first arrived at this swanky roof top Fourth of July viewing parry, she was much stiffer like she didn’t belong. I could tell she didn’t do it much…

  Then again, this was well and truly out of my comfort zone as well. This was a slick city do filled with minor celebrities, other models, and lots of press. It was a smart affair that was all for show. But despite my discomfort, I had only sunk one beer to calm my nerves because I needed to be on my best behavior, for Emily. I couldn’t help wanting to impress her all the time, it was strange. I hadn’t ever been that way for anyone before. It didn’t usually worry me what anyone thought of me, but with Emily, I cared. I kept up the good boy tricks for the press and for her.

  “You’re doing well.” She turned to give me a serene smile. “I know this isn’t really your scene, you’re much more used to the wilder rodeo parties with other cowboys, but you’re fitting in well.”

  I noticed a photographer pointing a camera our way, so for the photographers benefit (and for mine if I was totally honest about it), I pulled Emily towards her and gave her a little kiss. Soft at first, but she leaned in to it and deepened it herself. Her lips parted ever so slight, and it was honestly so hard not to lose control of myself.

  As she pulled back and gave me a little loving look, I knew that I needed to shake my head and get back in the moment. “Er, yes, I am doing alright, aren’t I?” I suddenly blurted out, bringing us back to our conversation.

  “Right, yes. I think the models are lapping up the Southern, cowboy charm.”

  “Well, I’ll admit, I do sometimes feel uncomfortable around this sort of person,” I admitted honestly. “It isn’t easy. I’m very aware that they know I’m different, but I seem to have this ability to make people like me.”

  “It’s your super power,” she laughed. “You’re a hero, but all that you can do is make people like you.”

  I screwed up my face. “Well, that sucks. I want to be able to fly or something.”

  “Nope, sorry. That’s all you get. I can fly and get super strength, and you get nothing. Sucks to be you.”

  As we giggled together, all I could really think about was how right she felt with my arm around her. She tucked under nicely, like she was always meant to be there. I really didn’t want to let her go. The rest of the party could just melt away for all I cared. The press could piss off as well. All I cared about was me and her.

  “Well, I am a bull rider,” I continued. “So, I guess that has to count for something, right?”

  “I suppose that means you’re pretty fearless, doesn’t it? If you face those beasts every day.”

  “Exactly.” I smiled and leaned my forehead against hers. “I don’t have anything to be scared of.”

  “Especially if you end up as Alex Fancy: World Champion Bull Rider…”

  One hand went on my shoulder and another on Emily’s as she said those words, and we turned to see a stranger’s face smiling at the pair of us as if he knew us well. “Did you say Alex Fancy?”

  “Er, yes?” Emily replied while darting me a confused look. I shrugged back.

  “Right, the bull rider. You have been causing quite a stir this year.” He shook my hand hard. “I like it. I like it so much that I think I might want to do something with you, Alex Fancy.”

  “I see… erm…” Did I ask it? I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do… “What are you talking about?”

  Instead of being offended by my very obvious faux pas, he laughed loudly. “I’m Anderson Peters, Hollywood director, ‘m sure you have heard of me?” Me and Emily remained silent. I didn’t have a fucking clue. I wasn’t sure if Emily was in the same boat as me or if she was just in awe of this man. “Well, I want your details, Alex Fancy.”

  “I can give you my cell phone number, but I’m a bull rider, not an actor.”

  “Right, right.” He nodded and handed me a napkin to scribble my number down on. I did so, even though I had no idea what the hell was going on. “You see, no one is an actor until Hollywood lures them in.”

  “I’m a Wyoming boy.” I smiled through gritted teeth, needing this man to get the message already. “I don’t think I will ever be setting foot in California unless I need to ride a bull there.”

  Again, he took no offence, like his skin was so thick he couldn’t understand hints even when they were flung his way. “Okay then, buddy. Let me just remind you that Hollywood has its ways, and everyone has a price. I think that if you do win this championship, which I’m certain that you will, then we can make a movie of your life.”

  My instinctive reaction was to tell him that not a single person would be interested in seeing a movie of my life, but Emily silenced me by squeezing my arm. I wasn’t sure what she was trying to communicate with me, but it shut me up. I simply nodded at the guy as if this was something that I would actually follow through with.

  A movie of my life. Honestly, I was just a normal guy. Sure, I was doing something extraordinary, but not enough for Hollywood. What the hell was that all about? This party was crazy. I probably wasn’t the only person that he had promised the world to, and it was unlikely that any of his promises would come to anything.

  “That was weird!” Emily squealed as he walked off. “I have never had that happen before. That’s so exciting.”

  “Oh yeah?” I rolled my eyes dramatically, brushing it off. “What will they make a movie of? Me and you?”

  “Oh my God.” This time when she grabbed me, it hurt. “Oh my God, Alex, can you imagine if they did? Who would play me in the movie? That would be so incredible. I would want it to be someone I like…”

  “And what story would they tell?” I cocked an eyebrow. “The one that we’re presenting to the world, where we are two very different people falling in love, or the real one where it’s all a sham?”

  “The fake one, obviously,” she snapped back as if it was obvious. “No one wants to hear about a fake relationship. Everyone wants the real deal. The sunset walks along the beach, the staring in to one another’s eyes, the happy ever after. The fairy tale. That’s what they go to the movies for, to escape reality where that doesn’t happen.”

  “You don’t believe in the happy ever after then?” I asked her curiously. “You don’t have romantic fantasy.”

  She leaned i
n and cocked a knowing eyebrow at me. “What guy do you know in reality who acts that way? What love story have you seen that ends in a happy ever after? It doesn’t. Love is complicated and messy.”

  “Is that… is that why you decided to save yourself for marriage?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  “I just… think it’s for the best, yes. I suppose so.” She shrugged, acting blasé.

  “But what if it never happens? What if you don’t have that fairy tale and fall in love?”

  I regretted saying those words the moment they came out of my mouth because of the way that they deflated Emily. She slumped forwards, all the air sliding out of her. I should never have mentioned that possibility. That was wrong of me to do so. How fucking naïve and insensitive can I be?

  “Well, like I just said I don’t really believe in the fantasy, the fairy tale. I just want something…”

  She trailed off, making me wonder if she even knew what she wanted really. She was so sure of herself and her decisions in the beginning when we first met, she knew exactly what she was after. Had I changed that? My complicated feelings were obviously reciprocated in some way, whatever way that might be, but there wasn’t much point in delving deeper and trying to figure out what that meant when it could go anywhere.

  I ran my eyes over her beautiful facing, wishing that everything was different, that we could just explore this a little. I so wanted to kiss her again, but for us. I needed another fucking beer before I something stupid and crazy.

  “The fireworks will be going off soon,” I announced suddenly. “Let me get a drink for us.”

  She held up her almost full glass, giving me the signal that she was okay, but I needed something to drown all of the feelings circling through me, so I headed towards the bar area and grabbed two bottles of mystery beer. I remained where I was for a couple of moments while I sunk them both, one after the other, needing the buzz.

  “Cheer up, mate!” a guy called out to me. “It might never happen.”