by Jillian Neal
A shiver quaked through her. She'd had two other boyfriends in college before she'd gotten caught up in Derrick's world. But never had anyone ever actually taken their time with her. Half of her was appreciative. The other half was frantic for him to move faster, to press his fingers where she was swollen and soaked, to ease the empty ache that seemed to have carved a path all the way through her soul.
With that same hesitancy, his thumbs circled the wet patch of lace between her thighs. She shook with a need she didn't recognize, the kind that gripped her with such force she wasn't certain she would ever recover.
"Baby, you're drenched," he pointed out the obvious. Her breaths stuttered as they attempted to escape her lungs. "Is that all for me?" Disbelief tore the ragged edges of his tone. She heard the echoes of her own question to him from the night before. Her hatred for Meritt increased tenfold.
"It's all you," she readily assured him. "Please, I need...I need to come with you inside of me."
Chapter Twenty-Three
With her desperate little plea, Ford swore the tether that held him together snapped so loudly it was audible. The man he'd been so certain he was met the boy he'd been and both sought to bring her the kind of tortured satisfaction he longed to give. "Is that what you need, baby?" rasped from his throat, strung tight with pure need.
"Please," she continued to whimper.
"I think what you need is to see what happens when you set out to make a man hurt with wanting you."
Her responding question came accompanied with a naughty smirk that set him on fire. "What happens, cowboy?"
As far as he was able to determine she'd been dating some big-city shitlicker who surely had more money than balls.
Cowboy. Fuck yeah. That's precisely who he was, and he'd show her what happened when she was sloppy-wet and begging for a real man.
The internal blaze deep in his groin seemed to ignite the one in her eyes as well. He dipped his fingers under the crotch of those deliciously innocent panties. Disbelief continued to taunt the desperate drive to own her. God, how was she real? How was he sitting in his truck with someone who wasn't Meritt? How had his life gone from supreme suckage with an extra helping of bullshit to this?
Maybe the shame had done him in. Maybe she was some kind of heavenly angel sent to bring him on to the other side. If she was there, he decided he wouldn't mind going on, as long as heaven had prairies and horses it'd be pretty good.
He slipped two fingers between her folds. She shook. All for him. His body bucked under hers in response, driving his fingers deep in a fluid demand. Her mouth fell open and a delicious gasp left those kiss-swollen lips. "Yes," hissed from her as she gripped his shoulders and began to ride.
"It drives me fucking crazy," he rasped, "that the last man's cock who was between these lips wasn't mine. Makes me want to fill this tight, wet, little pussy so full of me I fucking ruin you."
Her moans bled to breathy pleas of both his and her maker's name. "You call my name when I have you like this. This belongs to me. I'll make you beg for God later." She was so damn tight he swore he almost came in his jeans just thinking about spilling himself so deep inside of her she'd never be rid of his seed, of his claim. He drove his fingers in fast without reprieve. "Let me feel how wet you get for me. You have to learn to follow my rules if I'm gonna own that pussy."
"Oh god," she gasped.
She began to ride his hand in earnest. The fleshy mounds of her tits rubbed his jaw. Hungry pulses from her pussy assured him he had indeed died and gone to heaven. Fuck the prairies and horses. If heaven had her like this, he'd sell his saddle now. "No, baby." He wrapped his free arm around her and pinned her against his chest allowing her no movement at all. "Take it. You take what I give you. That’s the rule. You come because of me. You understand that? Only me." She felt like sin and redemption all tied up in a hot Oklahoma wind. He held her tighter, refusing to let her blow away.
Ragged hunger clawed under his skin. He was so desperate to own her that every ounce of restraint disintegrated in the thick air fogging the windows of his truck.
"Mine. Say it. You tell me who you belong to when I let you come."
With that, she collapsed against him. Her body spasmed around his fingers, drawing them deeper. Her heavy breaths feathered over the sweat gathered on his neck just before the sweetest word in the world made its way to his ears. "Yours."
Her breath was snatched from her lungs. Ford seemed to have mastered her entire body. For most of her life Callie had been certain she was at the will of the wind. The few anchors she'd ever tried to cling to were always ripped from her grasp. But there was something about Ford—the firm set of his jaw, the primitive need in his steel-blue eyes, his substantial embrace as he held her tight. He'd never allow her to fly away again, and that felt like the answer to every prayer she'd never known how to speak.
The mix of hard-line authority over her body along with his tender care spoke directly to her wayward soul.
She buried her face in his neck and attempted to catch her breath as he cradled her gently now. Her tongue swept over the skin pressed to her lips, so hungry to absorb his flavors. Another one of those carnal grunts tensed from his chest. The eager promise of his swollen cock was still pressed to her other set of lips. She skated her hand between them needing to wrap her fingers around him to bring him the same relief he'd just given her.
But he caught her wrist and lifted her head so she was staring at him as he cradled her face. "No, honey." The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. It was desperate and greedy, and heaven help her she wanted more of that.
"Why?" she whimpered.
"The first time I come with you it ain't gonna be in your hand. It's gonna be down your throat, and then I'm gonna fuck you so hard you can't even stand up outta my bed. I'm gonna watch my seed drip down your thighs. But none of that's happening tonight in the cab of my truck. I had no business letting it get as far as it did but Christ Almighty, woman, you blow my restraint to hell."
Her swollen lips pulled into a coy grin. "Is it bad that I really like that I do that?"
He shook his head at her and matched her grin. "Guess we'll have to figure that out, won't we, sugar?"
Her brow furrowed but she didn't have the strength to ask him what that meant exactly. Good grief, the man had robbed her of the ability to ask questions. He'd given her so much peace she was okay with not knowing for a while. But he seemed able to read her mind anyway.
"The first time I take you to bed I've got no hope of being gentle with you. God, I'll try, but I make you no promises. We'll have to see if you really do like my rough nature."
If that's what he was worried about, she'd prove him otherwise. Cuddling against his chest, she reveled in the way he cradled her tenderly to him. "Do you really think you're going to scare me?" The question joined the caw of a hunting hawk and the low bass of a few nearby bullfrogs.
"Little bit," he admitted.
"Well don't be. I've spent most of my life afraid of things. Afraid of my father, of something happening to my grandparents, of leaving Derrick, of everything. I'm terrified of storms, but I am not afraid of you. I never will be. You're a sunrise, remember. Night time is for fears, don't you think? Sunrises are never scary."
"Life can be damn terrifying on occasion, but so help me Jesus I will not let you be scared as long as you're mine. I'll keep you safe from everything you just listed off and anything else that ever has intentions of doing you harm." Callie lifted her head again. She needed to see the fervency in his eyes of his spoken vows, but he shook his head again and guided her back into his arms. "Let me hold you, baby. Let me prove myself to you."
Chapter Twenty-Four
The only possible way this night could've been better was if Callie had managed to talk Ford into taking her home, taking her to his bed, and doing all of the things he'd described. But he'd proven his stubborn side, or perhaps his gentlemanly side, and had driven them back to her grandparents’ home instead.
It was probably all for the better. Nana would've been worried and then disappointed in her if she'd stayed over at his house. But as his tongue took another slow inventory of her mouth, she wished she'd quit worrying about what might upset her grandmother.
He pinned her between the clapboards of her grandparents’ front porch and the solid wall of his chest. She was caged in muscle and heat, and for the first time in her life she never wanted to escape. Whiskey lingered on his tongue, but nothing was as intoxicating as the flavors of his hunger.
Nothing about him was reserved or cautious. He was in full form, and she was careening headfirst into dangerous territory. A girl could become completely addicted to being the object of his adamant attention. How would she ever leave this? How would she ever leave him when this was all over?
When he moved his kisses to her neck to allow her breath, he cautioned, "If you keep grinding against me like that, you're gonna come again. I know now, don't I, sugar? I know how sweet and easy you come for me."
Lost in a lusty haze, she hadn't been fully aware that she was indeed thrusting against him constantly. A shallow gasp of breath was her only answer. She made no effort to stop her needy movements against his cock.
She could just make out the glint of warning that flared in his eyes from the moonlight. One of his capable hands gripped the curve of her ass and pulled her tight against him. He slowed her grind, intensifying every move. "If you're gonna do it, doll baby, do it right."
He drew her right leg up his thigh and centered his denim-trapped cock right where she needed him. A harsh shiver coursed through her, and he caught her gasped groan with his lips, taking it all for himself. He met her thrust for desperate thrust, until her head fell back against the rough wood. Her eyes closed, and she let him take over. "Let's have it. You're so damn needy for it. Take it."
Callie's breaths dissolved into wispy threads that failed to fill her lungs. All of her thoughts centered on the building pressure between her legs.
Her body shook against his. "Ford," whimpered from her as she fought the riptide threatening to pull her under. She couldn't do this on her nana's front porch. Surely. And yet, that same pressure she'd felt in his truck was moving up her spine. She wanted nothing between them, wanted to run her hands over every rough plane of his body. Wanted him so deep inside of her she had no hope of knowing where he stopped and she began. She tensed and clawed against his shirt wishing she could tear it from his body.
"There it is," he growled. "You can’t stop it now can you, baby? Let it go for me. I've got you."
Lost in his voice, in the firm grip he had on her ass, in the heat surrounding her, her body spasmed as a choked sob flew from her mouth. She trembled and collapsed against him once again. True to his word, he wrapped his arms around her now and cradled her tenderly. "Feel better now, sugar bee?"
If she wasn't mistaken, there was a hefty dose of pride in his question. Pleased at that, she nuzzled her head deeper into his neck and gave an awkward nod.
"I will never get tired of watching you come apart for me. Does a helluva lot of good for my ego. I'm going to need to see it a lot more often." He brushed kisses on her cheek and in her hair.
"You mean more than twice in like two hours?" She cringed but then laughed at herself.
Suddenly, the harsh glow of the porch light split their moment in half. Panic burst from her chest as she tried to wiggle out of Ford's arms, but he held tight. "Going somewhere?" he teased.
"You know Nana's probably about to come out here."
"Been a long damn time since I got caught by a porch light. Did you have some kind of curfew you failed to tell me about?"
Another round of laughter shook her form against his. "I'm sorry. I think they keep forgetting that I'm not sixteen."
"What if I just start kissing all of those unnecessary apologies away? Would that work?"
Her kiss-swollen lips turned into a smirk. "Maybe."
"Worth a try." He sank his lips to hers again, and she was whisked away in the rough glide of his whiskers against her chin. Ford strengthened his hold of her and they lost themselves in each other as their tongues danced in her mouth.
The obnoxious beam of yellow light that had so rudely interrupted disappeared. Callie groaned out her approval as Ford's right hand tracked to her breast. But almost as quickly as it had left them in the darkness they longed for, the light returned. Off. On. Off. On.
"Oh, for fucksake," Callie fumed. "What the hell is she doing?"
Ford shook his head and then let it fall back with laughter. Callie was momentarily taken with how much she loved hearing him laugh, almost as much as she loved hearing him moan. "Careful now. Your country girl is coming out," he teased. "I figured it was in there somewhere." He brushed another quick kiss on her forehead as her grandmother continued on with the strobe light effect. "I better go. I'll pick you up right at five. Sleep well, baby."
Callie stared unabashedly at his gorgeous ass in those well-worn Wranglers until he climbed in his truck, blew her another kiss, and drove down the long gravel drive. When he was gone, she spun into the house. "Nana, that was completely unnecessary." She tried to quell a little of her irritation but was sure she sounded disrespectful.
"The Holder boys are known for one thing and one thing only, Callie."
"Actually, they're known for several things. The first being that they are the best and the biggest cattle ranchers in all of Oklahoma. Second, that they do a lot for this community and the surrounding towns. You've said that my whole life. You're the one who used to tell me stories about how the Holders would pay off other people's land, who were down on their luck, and let them pay the money back without any interest no matter how long it took. Now, why are you so worried about me and Ford dating while I'm back here?"
"Ford Holder is barely divorced and not the kind of man you need to associate with."
"Oh, so that's it. I should've known. You know, sometimes marriages just don't work out. His ex-wife is a horrible person. She cheated on him, and you should've seen her the other night at the bar. She's awful."
"I will not have you ending up just like Willow."
Everyone's favorite words to throw in Callie's face hit her square in the jaw. But this time she shook her head. Something about Ford's fledgling confidence mixed with the bravado that came so naturally when he forgot all about Meritt gave her a little of her own. "I am not my mother, and I will see Ford whenever I want to. I would like it if you were okay with that." With that, she flew to her bedroom still feeling distinctly like a scolded child.
Surreal disbelief rose around Ford like the gravel dust swamping his truck as he drove back to the main drag through town. What the hell was he doing? He had no business wanting to spend every waking moment with a woman who was more than a decade younger than him. Fuck, she even still talked like a kid half the time, going on about sunrises and being frightened of storms.
But he swore every compelling word that left those lips ensnared him. It took every ounce of stubborn he had to keep from turning the truck around, driving back to the Simpkins’, and asking her to run away with him. He half thought she would in a heartbeat. That seemed to be her style. And for a man who'd been the stable foundation for his family, his animals, and the wife who'd never wanted anything he had to offer, the magic Callie Monroe held in those big doe eyes wasn't something he could turn down. Jesus, it just felt too good to be with her.
He lifted his phone to his ear and touched her number. He wanted to talk to her again before she fell asleep.
"Hey." Thrill lit through her single-word greeting. "I miss you."
"Yeah, well, same goes, sugar." How was he supposed to keep from falling in love with a woman like her? She was everything Meritt had never been and a million things Ford never even realized he wanted. He made the two turns around the square and headed down County Road 5290, the road that would lead him home. A smirk formed on his features as he drove past the old water tower. All of the places he'
d always associated with Meritt seemed to be getting a facelift in his mind. "Are you getting ready for bed or is my city girl gonna stay up late tonight even though I'm going to be right back in her driveway early tomorrow?"
"I'm not a city girl, remember. I spent every summer right here. But I kind of like being your girl."
"This taking things slowly thing isn't working, is it?"
"Not really."
"Want me to try harder?"
"Not even a little bit."
"Good."
"I wish you'd come back right now." There was a distinct edge of defiance in her tone now. Ford wondered if Mrs. Simpkin had commented on their front porch session.
"Let's not make your grandparents hate me just yet. I'm still hoping I'm going to be able to help them get rid of Abe."
"Oh my gosh! Ford, I forgot those papers again."
He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed this many times in one night. It had to have been years, but another chuckle filled the cab of the truck. "I'm not going to lie to you, knowing I keep you that distracted pleases me more than it should."
Another one of those sweet giggles reached his ear, and he swore if he could bottle that sound and keep it in a flask, he'd never go sober. "I do like pleasing you, so maybe it's okay that you make me forget everything."
His suffering cock perked right back up at that declaration. He'd been hard up for hours now, but he didn't mind. The reassurance that it was all of the shit he'd endured that had quelled that reaction made it more than worth it. "I had a really good time tonight," he vowed.
"Me too. I haven't had that much fun in years. I love talking to you...and all of the other stuff."
"Same goes," he repeated his signature phrase. "I'm gonna want more of all of the other stuff as soon as you get your sunrise pictures taken tomorrow."
