by Dahlia West
Once revealed, Austin’s fingertips danced over her thighs making her shiver despite the heat of the summer night. He touched her everywhere, her thighs, hips, and lower belly, everywhere but that apex between her legs that was now tingling with anticipation. Austin seemed to be in no hurry to get to it, tracing one finger along the waistline of her underwear and causing Leah’s hips to jerk up off the blanket, in silent, uncontrollable encouragement.
“Getting skittish there, rabbit,” he drawled in her ear.
Leah didn’t respond—couldn’t—because she didn’t trust herself to make a single sound. What she would attempt as a whisper would come out as a loud demand, or a frustrated grunt, that no doubt would be heard over the continuous crackle and boom overhead.
“Take your panties off.”
It felt more like a dare than an order, like he was testing her. Or teasing her. She closed her eyes and her list flashed in her mind. Absolutely nothing like this was anywhere on it. Perhaps because it seemed so crazy, so unlike her.
“If you want me to touch your pussy, Leah, you’ve got to give me access. Take your panties off and spread your legs.”
Stars burst behind her eyes and she had trouble catching her breath. Her heart pounded away furiously in her chest and she realized she had two choices: end it or obey. Not wanting to lose that slow, gentle touch that prickled her skin and set fire to her nerve endings, she hooked her thumbs into to the waistband at her hips and lifted herself off the blanket. Silently she pushed them down. The hot, summer breeze tickled her bare skin and had her clit standing at attention.
Austin’s hand worked its magic while his mouth cast a spell all on its own. He licked her lips and the tip of his tongue dipped into her mouth. It felt pornographic, almost obscene, because it reminded her of his mouth on her pussy that night in the hay barn. No one had ever used their mouth on her and while a few boys had gotten a hand into her pants over the years, none of them worked her body like a finely tuned instrument, pressing, rubbing, pinching, and penetrating in a symphony of sensation urging her higher and higher.
Austin dipped in again, this time all the way, taking her deep. When he withdrew his finger she cried out from the loss of his touch. Thankfully the animal sound was lost in his own mouth as he pressed their lips together. He brought up his hand and coated her lips with his slicked finger before she could object, bent his head again, and sealed his mouth once more over hers. He sucked and licked at her until her lips felt swollen and bruised. She was panting hard when he finally tore himself away. “You knew I was going to taste you,” he growled. “One way or another.”
“Austin!” she whispered hoarsely while squeezing her thighs together furiously. The friction only increased the heat pooling between her legs. It did nothing to relieve her suffering.
“I’ve got you, baby,” he crooned, finding her mound again rubbing her swollen, neediest parts. “Open up, let me in. I’ll get you there.”
Leah spread her legs, desperate to have him—any part of him—inside her again. Austin stretched her wide with one finger, then two, thrusting forcefully. Her hips rose to meet him with every stroke and when finally pressed his thumb to her aching clit and she exploded, just like the burst of fireworks that filled the inky black sky above them.
“Happy Independence Day, Leah,” he whispered.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
‡
Austin waited for Leah at the bottom of the stairs on the day of Sawyer and Cassidy’s wedding. He’d expected her to look nice (she always did) but was pleasantly surprised to see her appear in a light pink dress and a pair of silver sandals. She had silver clips in her hair and the braided copper necklace he’d seen her making. “You finally finished it,” he said, taking her hand as she reached the last step.
Her hand fluttered to it and she nodded. “I feel weird, though,” she told him. “In this dress and these shoes.”
“You look great,” he assured her and patted her hand. “Don’t fidget. No one here knows you, Leah. You can be anyone you want to be. You can be the most beautiful guest at the wedding. Who’s to know you don’t dolly up like this to go to the grocery store every week?”
She laughed and he squeezed her hand as he led her out the door.
They’d rented a white tent to keep the baking sun off them and people were already gathered under it. Court was the best man, which made sense considering how much time they’d spent together traveling for the rodeo. Walker gave Cassidy away since her family was most definitely not invited and went to sit in the front row with the rest of the family, including Dakota and her date.
Dakota had brought along Daniel Washington, forever known as Wash since his high school days. Austin was certain some blood would be shed but he hoped it’d hold out until the ceremony was over.
Austin sat beside Leah and held her hand while his brother and Cassidy exchanged rings, and vows, and wet sloppy kisses that had Cassidy glaring at Sawyer for being the joker he was, but when she started to complain loudly, he swept her into his arms, dipped her in front of the guests, and landed a kiss that had every woman under the age of 65 squirming in their seats.
And hell, maybe a few of the blue haired ladies from church as well.
The band kicked up and the chairs were cleared to make way for a wooden platform large enough to hold two dozen people. The mood was light and the joy was contagious. At one point the lead singer lifted the mic and asked, “Anyone want to come up and give us a song?”
Several people laughed and hooted. No one had the nerve to do it. Austin looked at Leah and wagged his eyebrows at her.
She wrinkled her nose. “Trust me, no one wants to hear me sing.”
“Well, I do. And can’t the baby hear you?”
She shook her head. “Not yet.”
He shrugged. “Good practice, then.”
Leah looked up at the stage dubiously.
“I’d offer you some liquid courage but there’s the baby to consider. You’re going to have to dig deep, Leah, and do this one all on your own. If it’s any consolation, most of them are drunk, so they’re not going to care.”
Truthfully, he thought she’d decline. He figured she’d slink back to her seat, and do her best Magician’s Rabbit impression, disappearing from anyone’s notice. But once more Leah surprised him by lifting her arm and getting the lead singer’s attention. A few people whooped and hollered as she took to the stage, taking the mic in her hand and nervously planting her feet in front of the stand.
The tune was fast, which hid a lot of her mistakes, he noticed, but he couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as he watched her. When she was finished, she practically flew off stage and into his arms. “Oh, my God!” she gasped. “I did it!”
“Yes, ma’am you did. That’s another one for the list. And I have to say I’m torn,” he told her, sweeping her around the dance floor.
Leah frowned. “Between what?”
“Between listening to you sing again and getting to dance with you.”
“It wasn’t that good,” she argued.
“It wasn’t half bad, either. Better than any of us could do. And be honest, you had fun doing it.”
She smiled and it wrinkled her nose.
He reached out and touched it.
“I did. It was great!”
“Leah!” cried Dakota and grabbed the girl for a hug. “That was awesome!”
“Thanks!”
Dakota looked up at Wash. “Want to sing a duet?”
He blinked at her like he’d been in the sun too long. “Sing what?”
“I don’t know, we’ll figure it out.” Dakota grabbed his sleeve and dragged him up on stage, making herself, Austin noticed, conspicuous to everyone gathered under the tent.
Even Leah sensed it might be a problem and glanced nervously at Walker, who didn’t appear the least bit interested.
“Thought that would go differently,” Austin muttered.
“Me, too!” she hissed.
“
I’ve taken a few punches myself from him that I’m fairly certain were really about Walker thinking I was too cozy with her.”
Leah’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”
He nodded. “And I was spending a lot of time with her, just not for the reasons he thought. It was all part of a nefarious plot,” he told her.
“What kind of plot?”
“To save Snake River.”
“You needed to plot to do that?”
Austin sighed and glanced at his hard-headed brother, sitting alone. “My brother is three minutes older than I am and about three times more stubborn. He’s got it in his head that it’s up to him to save the place, and only he can. Not because he thinks he’s special or anything like that, at least I don’t think so. I kind of think maybe he’s a glutton for punishment.”
Leah followed his gaze and the corners of her mouth turned down. “I think maybe you’re right.”
“Dakota and I have idea, big ideas, and some of them are—”
“Gambles?” she finished with a grin.
“Gambles. And Walker doesn’t like gambles. Walker likes a sure thing.”
Leah paused for a moment before whispering, “Dakota seems like a sure thing.”
“I have no idea what’s going on inside that thick skull of his. I really don’t. All I know is he’s more stubborn than a nasty-ass mule we had once and more dangerous than our bull, Sampson, if anyone gets too close to Dakota. Or at least he was. I don’t understand what’s going on right this moment.”
“That’s terrible for her,” said Leah. Austin nodded his agreement. “But it’s still been a mostly good day. Cassidy and Sawyer seem happy.” Leah smiled at the newlyweds who were doing a fair job cutting up the wooden platform that served as a dance floor.
It wasn’t long before Austin realized there was something other than mere happiness for the newlywed couple behind those eyes. It was a longing he’d seen when she looked out over the Buffalo Bill Dam or at the ultrasound photos of the baby.
It was longing.
He stopped, bringing her to a halt, as well. Couples swirled around them as the band played on. “Leah…do you want to get married?” He thought to take things slowly, one step at a time, but hell if she wanted to make it official, he couldn’t see any reason why they shouldn’t.
“What?”
“Do you want to get married? We can. I don’t mind.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Of course not. You live here and there’s the baby to think about.”
Leah blinked at him, like a deer in headlights.
Or a rabbit.
“I…I have to go to the bathroom,” she blurted out and sped off out of the tent.
Austin watched her go, puzzled.
Sawyer appeared beside him, “Is she all right?” he asked.
“Yeah. I mean, I guess. I don’t know. One minute we were having a good time, the next she’s running away. She said she had to go the bathroom.”
“But you don’t believe her.”
“I do, but…she could’ve given me an answer.”
“An answer to what?” asked Sawyer.
“I…I asked her if she wanted to get married.”
His brother frowned at him. “How’s that?”
“We were dancing and she was looking at Cassidy and I got the idea she might like to get married, too,” Austin explained.
“So…you’re just going to grab Father Joe and have him do a quickie? Right now?”
“No. I didn’t say now. I just meant, you know, in general.”
Sawyer peered at him. “So, you said, ‘Hey, want to get married and have a barbecue’?”
“No!” Austin huffed. “I did not! I didn’t say anything about barbecue! It wasn’t like that.”
“Then how’d you say it?”
“I…I said…I said hey, want to get married,” Austin grumbled.
His younger brother grinned. “And she didn’t swoon right there in your arms, Romeo?”
“Shut up!”
“Did you at least tell her you love her?” Sawyer asked pointedly.
Austin blinked at him.
“I’m pretty sure you do,” said Sawyer. “And what I can’t figure out is why you haven’t just told her.”
“I didn’t think about it,” Austin answered honestly. “Everything’s so backwards, so crazy and mixed up. It just didn’t occur to me.”
“Well, figure out how to tell her and the rest of it will fall into place.”
After Sawyer walked away, Austin watched Leah from across the tent. She was laughing with the other girls, paying him no mind. It was nice to see her happy. Sawyer was right, as much as Austin hated to admit it. Leah deserved more than to just skip to the end of a Happily Ever After.
And like it was when he first laid eyes on her, now that he knew what he wanted, it was just a matter of going about getting it.
Chapter Thirty
‡
Leah could hardly breathe so she excused herself and ducked out of the tent. “Bathroom!” she called out to Dakota and Rowan who were looking concerned. Rowan nodded, probably thinking she could relate. Around the side of the house, Leah bolted into the cool, dark space of the kitchen and shrieked when she nearly ran into Sofia. “Oh, my God! I’m sorry! I thought everyone was in the tent!”
“We need plates,” said Sofia. “For the cake. Are all right, mija? Perhaps you should sit.”
Leah nodded and lowered herself into a chair to catch her breath.
“Do you need tea?” the woman asked. “Something to eat? Is it your stomach.”
Leah shook her head, unable to answer for a moment then…“He asked me to marry him, Sofia. Well, kind of.”
The older woman peered at her. “Kind of?”
“He just sort of…said it. Like out of the blue.”
Sofia frowned at her. “Just like that?”
Leah nodded. “Just like that. Well, actually, he said he wouldn’t mind.”
The woman snorted. “Dios, just like my Manny. He never asked. He just said we should do it before the spring calving because he’d be busy then. In his mind, he’d already asked and I’d already said yes.” She shrugged. “Disappointing, yes, but he was a good husband and I forgave him.” She grinned. “As long as he brought me flowers often enough.”
Leah couldn’t imagine getting flowers or even being proposed to. “I mean, I don’t need a romantic gesture or a man on one knee.”
Sofia snorted. “They only get on their knees once, honey, you should get it while you can.”
Leah stifled a laugh. “It’s just…he doesn’t mind? Doesn’t mind? Well, then he doesn’t really want me, does he? I’m just…here…and he’s got nothing better to do. I don’t want to be an afterthought or an obligation.”
Sofia abandoned the stack of plates and pulled out a chair beside Leah. “He is a good man, honey, he just…he’s been up on that mountain too long maybe. He forgets he’s not a grizzly or a cougar or a wolf. He won’t raise a hand to you or ever be unfaithful but romance? Eh. You might have to nudge him now and again.”
Leah nodded, thinking she could live with that.
*
The next day, Austin had left his keys on the hook in his bedroom and Leah swiped them, stuffing them into her purse. She doubted he’d mind if she borrowed the truck, since he was the one who’d taught her to drive it in the first place.
She headed into town and parked in front of the bank. Stepping into its air-conditioned confines was a nice break from the July heat. She let her eyes adjust, still seeing spots in her vision from the blazing sun outside, and noticed a girl about her own age waving at her.
Leah headed over to the counter. The girl’s name tag read ‘Honor James-Teller’.
“Hey!” said the girl. “You’re Austin Barlow’s girlfriend, right?”
Leah must’ve looked startled because the girl offered her a shy smile.
“Small town,” she said. “Everyone knows everyone’s business.
How’d you meet him though? Where are you from? Have you been dating a long time or—?”
Behind her and older man cleared his throat and gave Honor a sharp look.
“Sorry!” she whispered. Turning back to Leah she offered her a bright smile. “How can I help you today?”
Leah smiled back. “I need to set up a business account, but I don’t know the first thing about it. Do you have a…pamphlet or something?”
“No problem,” said Honor, opening a drawer. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the man, who must’ve been her supervisor, and moved away, out of earshot. “So what’s he like?” she whispered.
Leah blinked at her. “Austin?”
Honor nodded. “I don’t really know him. He’s so much older. He’d already graduated by the time I was a freshman. I know he was the quarterback. I know he was really popular with the girls. Oh! Oops! You probably don’t want to know about that. Sorry!”
Leah snorted. Austin had too many moves in bed for her to think she’d stumbled upon him as a monk. “I’m not surprised.”
“Well, you know, certain reputations have people wagging their tongues in this town.” Suddenly the girl gasped and grabbed Leah’s hand. “Not yours!” she corrected quickly. “I didn’t mean you. I meant the Barlow boys.” She leaned forward, glancing furtively about.
Leah moved in, too, caught up in the moment.
“Is it true?” she asked. “About the cabin in the woods? People say Sawyer took Cassidy out there because for a while no one saw her in town after they had themselves a game of pool at The Silver Spur. Kidnapped her! Like his great-great-granddaddy.” The girl’s eyes were wide and Leah couldn’t tell if it was from excitement or fear.
She suspected it might be a bit of both.
“Is she pregnant?” Honor hissed. “They got married. And boy, I heard her daddy’s pissed about that! He comes in here a lot. And he’s never friendly.”
