by J. J. Ranger
Quietly, so as not to wake Dane, she slipped from the bed. She threw on the first outfit she found in her suitcase—jeans and a black T-shirt—and drew a brush through her tangled hair. On tip toe, she passed through the room toward the door. Just beyond the bed, she spotted a pair of handcuffs lying on the floor.
Her gaze darted to Dane, who lay with one arm above his head, then back to the cuffs. He’d promised her she could have a turn putting him in restraints. How mad would he be to wake up and find himself cuffed to the wrought iron headboard?
Guilt swirled around in her head for a brief moment. Turnabout’s fair play.
She picked up the cuffs, careful not to let them jingle, and slipped one around his wrist. Another click and the other side was fastened to the headboard.
****
Someone had decorated the dining hall with pink and white condom-shaped balloons. Sara bobbed and weaved between the decorations until she reached the table. Guilt ate at her when she thought of Dane tied to her bed, completely unaware of his predicament.
“There she is!” Bridgette danced to her side and gave her a squeeze. “How’s my little cousin doing? Are you okay? You’re walking a little bowlegged.” She planted a sloppy kiss on Sara’s cheek.
Sara wiped at the slobber and stared suspiciously at the bride. “Bridge, honey, how much have you had to drink?” She was going to ignore the bowlegged remark. Her body was a little sore, in a good way, from the very thorough loving Dane had given. Her clit twitched at the memory. Damn. Down, girl!
“Just getting started.” Bridgette grabbed Sara’s hand. “Come party with us! Look, I have a present for you.”
Sara followed her to the gift table and barely caught the metallic blue gift bag as it was thrust into her hands. As Bridgette skipped away to accost another partygoer, Sara peeked into the bag. Nestled in gold tissue paper were a sugar candy bra and thong set and a purple vibrator with silver flecks. Hmm. Did Dane have a sweet tooth?
While they dined on steak and lobster, courtesy of Bridgette’s demands on the poor chef, Sara tried not to worry. But, a time or two, a bite got caught by the lump in her throat. It didn’t help that Shannon and Bridgette shot barbs back and forth.
“Please,” Shannon retaliated when Bridgette commented on her lust for Dustin Dumen. “You’re so hard up for sex right now you had to buy your own blow up doll and superglue Adam’s face to it.”
Sara choked on her diet soda. “Oh, my God, not only is it wrong, it’s so true!”
“No, seriously. My cousin decided she wanted to be a ‘virgin’ on her honeymoon, so she told Adam they couldn’t sleep together until then.”
Bridgette blushed but laughed with her friends. “It’s true. Gotta say though, I hope Adam can live up to Plastic Adam’s talents. That doll is an awesome fuck.”
Sara groaned. “That is a visual I really don’t need right now.” The camaraderie between her cousins was familiar and made her feel less homesick. She loved her parents and her brother, but she was more like Shannon, and when moving to a new place, it helped to have a loved one nearby.
Dane’s face flashed before her eyes and her heart fluttered. She’d never felt this connected with Ben. But how could she have any kind of feelings for Dane other than lust? She knew nothing about him, except he was great in bed.
A staff member came out of the kitchen pushing a bakery cart, breaking her train of thought. On the cart was the biggest penis Sara had ever seen. Leave it to Bridgette to plan a party with a penis-shaped cake complete with flesh colored frosting. Hopefully her wedding cake was in better taste or her parents would have Texas-sized fits.
“Anyone want to bet she had them add cream filing?” Sara teased and laughed when Shannon spit her drink across the table.
“Now that’s what I call satisfying.” Bridgette clapped her hands together. “Let’s dig in!”
Sara took her cake and settled at a table in the corner. She took a bite of dessert, allowing the sweet icing to roll around her tongue. She didn’t regret the decision to move to Texas—she looked forward to starting work at the elementary school.
And then there was Dane. No, she didn’t regret hooking up with him. Against her desire for a weekend fling, she’d allowed her heart to get involved. But could it work? Would he want it to work?
The chair across the table scraped over the wooden planked floor as Shannon took a seat. “You look very deep in thought.”
The shit eating grin on her cousin’s face only served to deepen her guilt of going back on her word. “Just enjoying my cake.”
Shannon’s eyebrow rose. “Uh-huh.” She leaned her forearms on the table, smirking. “You fell, didn’t you.”
This spoken from a woman who had her own Dumen to fight. Sara lifted a shoulder. “It’s a little early to fall in love, doncha think?”
“I told you, these guys were dangerous. You don’t need time. All it takes is one smile, one touch, and boom!” She smacked her palm on the scarred wood table. “You’re toast.” Shannon laid her hand over Sara’s. “You came to Bandera to start over. Maybe that new start includes Dane.”
Sara frowned thoughtfully. Her cousin had a point. She wanted to start over. If Dane was interested in seeing where this relationship could go, she was willing.
“Thanks for the advice, Shay. I’d better get back.”
“Back where?”
She gave a wicked grin. “I left Dane handcuffed to my bed. I have to go free him.”
She walked out of the dining area, her cousin’s whooping laughter echoing behind.
****
Dane yanked against the handcuff restraint and growled in frustration. How the hell had she managed to cuff one hand to the headboard without him knowing? And where the hell was she?
He looked at the clock. After ten, which meant she was probably still at the bachelorette party. Who the hell knew how long she’d be there. And dammit, he had to piss.
Finally, the door opened and Sara walked into the room. Dressed in thigh-hugging jeans and a fitted T-shirt she was mouthwatering.
“Good, you’re finally awake.” She sauntered over and dropped a kiss on his open mouth. There was something different about this kiss, more emotion, hunger.
His dick lurched in response. “Are you going to keep me chained up all night?” His gaze travelled down her sexy body. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve got under those jeans.”
With a wicked smile, she straddled him and smoothed her hands up his chest, then threaded her fingers through his above his head. She leaned forward, the tips of her breasts bumped his chin.
Sara grinned. “I think I’m going to keep you right where you are. I always wanted my own love slave.”
She slid off him and shucked her jeans, revealing her toned, naked ass to him. She bent over to yank the denim from her ankles, giving him better view of her pussy.
Fuck me.
“Come on, baby. Let me loose.”
Sara peered over her shoulder, and her mouth curved in a smile. “Why would I want to do that?”
He wanted to be all sexy and spout poetic verses that would make her all soft, but his bladder screamed for attention. “It’s either release me or I pee all over your bed.”
Her hazel eyes grew wide. “Oh.” She hesitated and, for a second, he thought she’d let him stew in his own misery, then she leaned over him and fit the key into the lock, releasing his hand.
He jumped off the bed and strode to the bathroom, making short work of draining his bladder. When he walked back into the bedroom, he found Sara seated on the edge of the bed. She rose to face him in all her naked glory, and his gaze devoured her breasts—large and beautiful.
Taking her in his arms, he kissed her, feasting on her plump lips, drinking her in. Tongues tangled, teasing, promising.
She leaned back and cocked her head toward the bed. “So you going to get back in those cuffs or what?”
“I’m not.” He hugged her close, enjoying the feel of her soft curves.
>
Sara pouted and ran a finger down his chest. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to play with me?”
Dane growled low in his throat and gripped the seeking finger. “No. I don’t want to play.”
She scowled and stepped away. “Fine. I can take a hint.”
He caught her wrist and tugged her back to him. “I’m tired of playing.”
He cupped her pussy, allowing his middle finger to tease her wet slit. She gasped and spread her feet apart.
As excited as she was, vulnerability and uncertainty lightened her eyes and tugged at his heart. Through her bravado, he saw the innocence and exuberance for life. God, he was falling hard and fast for this woman.
“No more games. No more experiments.” His thumb traced the hard bud of her clit, making slow teasing circles. “I want you, Sara, without the props. Let me have the real you.”
She struggled against his hold, but he refused to let her withdraw. Not this time.
With his free hand, he stroked her cheek. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
She sighed. “That’s what Ben said.”
Damn, he didn’t want to be compared to the bastard who cheated on her.
Dane inserted a finger into her hot pussy and stroked her into a panting, quivering mess. He withdrew his finger and gently traced her clit. Sara whimpered and rocked against his hand.
“Dane…” Her whispered breath teased his face, and his cock jumped in response.
“Feel this,” he murmured against her earlobe. “Trust that I’m going to make you come. And when you fall, I will be here to catch you.”
Dane guided her to the bed and eased her onto her back, then he donned a condom and spread her thighs. Slowly, like a jungle cat stalking his prey he crawled over her, fitting himself between her legs. Sara’s heart quickened with excitement, and her gaze feasted on his very hard cock. She licked her lips in anticipation.
Sara hooked her ankles around his waist and urged him closer. Dane pulsed his hips, sheathing his cock with her pussy.
With exaggerated slowness, he made love to her. Each time he entered, he ground his pelvis into hers, hitting her G-spot. He cupped her breasts, pinching and rolling her nipples into little pebbles.
To show her appreciation, she dug her fingernails into his ass, holding him as he pounded into her. Spirals of desire started in her belly, travelling to her clit. Her juices flowed in excess coating his rock hard cock. Heat flared in her pussy with the building orgasm. She matched him thrust for thrust, until finally, she came with a scream. Stars flashed before her eyes and she collapsed against the pillows. His own cry shortly followed.
Dane shifted to the side so he wasn’t crushing her with his weight and rested his head on her breast. She toyed with his sweat-clicked hair and stared at the ceiling.
It pained her a little to think that after tonight she wouldn’t see him again, at least not in this capacity. Sure, they’d most likely run into each other in town, maybe they’d even hang out at Shannon’s on the weekend—if her cousin got back with his brother. It just wouldn’t be the same.
“Things don’t have to change,” he murmured against her bare skin.
Her fingers stilled. “What?”
“This. Us. It doesn’t have to change just because you are leaving the ranch tomorrow. We could date; get to know each other better.” He propped up on his elbow and peered into her eyes.
Sara shivered from the intensity of his stare. What was he saying? What happened to agreeing on the weekend fling and nothing more?
“No. No, we can’t.”
“Why? There’s nothing stopping us from going a step further. You’re the one who set the limitations of the weekend.”
She sat up and clutched the sheet over her breasts. They were not having this argument. “You agreed. It wasn’t like I set the rules by myself.”
“And we aren’t allowed to change our minds?”
“Sure, but…” Sara covered her face with her hands. “Dane, you’re a great guy, and I have enjoyed every minute with you. But it doesn’t change anything.”
The bed shifted and she peeked through her fingers to see him pulling on his jeans.
“I get it. I’m good enough to fuck, but not good enough to see socially.”
“That’s not it at all,” she protested.
He pinned her with an angry glare but then his shoulders drooped and the bluster seemed to melt out of him. “I’m sorry, you’re right. We both agreed as adults to enjoy each other’s company for just this weekend.” He yanked his T-shirt over his head and then put on his boots. “It was fun while it lasted.”
With one last weak smile, he left the cabin.
Her stomach twisted in knots. She’d thought they’d gone into the arrangement with eyes wide open, and she’d fought all weekend to not get emotionally involved. So why did she feel like she’d betrayed him and ripped her own heart out?
Shit!
Chapter Seven
A knock roused Sara from restless slumber. The clock read just after eight a.m. She dragged out of bed and wrapped herself in a terrycloth bathrobe. She flung open the door, blinking against the brilliant sunlight.
She glared at Ben. Her ex had actually flown from Las Vegas to Texas to convince her to come home? To what? Him? Hardly. She was happy here, happy with Dane. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Ben ran a hand over slicked-back blonde hair and gave her a grin. “I told you I would come for you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. “You’ve wasted your time and money. Go away.”
He shouldered past her and entered the cabin. He took in the sex toys and such scattered around. Damn, she should have cleaned up, but after Dane left, she hadn’t felt much like doing anything but crawling in her bed and pulling the covers over her head.
Anger flared in his eyes. “What the hell is going on with you, Sara?”
She drew her shoulders back and lifted her chin. “I don’t have to explain anything to you.” She sighed. “Look, can’t you just accept that we were not happy together? We have nothing in common, the sex sucked—”
“Sex only sucked because you wouldn’t experiment.”
“No,” she corrected, holding a finger in the air. “I didn’t want to share my man with a group of women. I want a monogamous relationship. I want to know that I am enough to make my man happy.”
He tsked. “You really are a spoiled brat, aren’t you?” His eyes glinted with annoyance. “You think the world should revolve around you and your wants. What about me?”
His words held no sting for her. His hold over her happiness—or lack thereof—was broken. “Go home, Ben.”
He picked up a condom wrapper. “Are you willing to give up everything and everyone you love?”
The beauty of it was, she wasn’t giving up anyone. Her parents and brother would always be in her life, and they knew she loved them. What was there to give up?
“I brought your ring back.” Ben retrieved the solitaire from his pocket and slipped it on her finger.
She gaped at him. The man just couldn’t accept no for an answer. She yanked off the ring and put it back in his hand. “I’m not yours anymore. You need to move on.”
His handsome face contorted into an expression of disgust and disbelief. “Do you really think this guy,” his hand swept around the room indicating the toys, “can make you happy?”
Ben stumbled as she pushed him out of the cabin and onto the small porch.
“Yes, I do.” This admission brought her up short. She and Dane were compatible sexually, that was a given, but it was more than sex. He’d made her feel, really feel, for the first time. She was comfortable with him, could open up about anything and he didn’t judge.
Sara wasn’t ready for marriage, but she couldn’t see her future without Dane in her life. God, she’d screwed up royally. She had to fix this and fast. But first, she needed to get rid of her asshole ex.
****
Dane fough
t all morning to avoid Sara’s cabin. He didn’t want to run into her and suffer another ego bruising. And yet, he found himself walking down the gravel path toward her door. Last night, for the first time in a long time, his heart was light and he was in love. Not the I-only-want-sex love, but the I-can’t-stand-to-be-out-of-your-sight love.
He wasn’t quite ready to pop the question but he wanted more. He was tired of bouncing from woman to woman, tired of one night stands. With Sara he saw a future—as girly as that may sound. He didn’t care. Not that he’d told her as much last night. All he could do then was tuck tail and run when she’d stuck to her guns. He’d thought for sure if he offered an opportunity to see each other again that she’s jump at it. Who was he fooling?
As he rounded the corner of the building, he heard an unfamiliar male voice. His pace slowed to a crawl, and he peeked around the side. A man stood, holding Sara’s hand, but Dane couldn’t see the expression on her face.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he murmured to himself. “Who the hell is this joker?”
“You don’t deserve me and you’re going to look back and regret walking away. No one wants a cold fish.”
The anger in the other man’s voice stopped Dane in his tracks. Spots danced in front of his eyes. All he could think was he needed to step in and protect Sara. Forgetting the need to be quiet, he stomped across the porch and wrapped a protective arm around Sara’s waist.
“Is there a problem here?”
“Dane!”
The softening in Sara’s beautiful expression made his heart lurch. How could he have walked out on her? He should have stayed and fought. Well, he’d fight now. No one talked to his woman like that.
“Is this him?” Ben glared, his hands clenched into fists.
Bring it on, bastard.
Sara waved a hand between the two men. “Ben, this is Dane. Dane, Ben.”
He assessed the man wearing dress pants and a pressed long-sleeved shirt. This Ben guy looked like a shifty-eyed weasel. What the hell had Sara seen in him? “I have to admit I didn’t expect to see your ex on my ranch.” His tone indicated he’d be more than happy to escort the asshole off the property.
