“She’s become a very good cook in a short time,” Gavin said.
Cora looked around the table at the threesome. Their happiness was evident on all their faces. Maybe such a marriage wasn’t a bad idea, although her folks would resist the notion. But she was getting ahead of herself. She had no clue as to how she’d feel when she saw Kohana again.
Gavin brought up the subject of Kohana staying at the ranch. “Beck told me you’d asked Kohana to visit with you while he recovers.”
“I did,” Garrick agreed.
“I’ve thought of a better plan. Let him stay with us or in the bunkhouse until Cora has a chance to see how she feels about him.” Gavin looked across the table at Cora. “I’m aware this won’t be easy for you.”
“I told Garrick I’d try a day or two with him there.”
“No, I like my plan better,” Gavin said. “What do you think, Garrick?”
“You’re right. I didn’t think of all the ramifications before I offered him the invite. I don’t think he’d want to put you all out, but I’m fairly certain he’d be willing to stay in the bunk house for a while.”
“Then call him tonight and tell him what we’ve decided,” Beck said.
“I will. Thanks for the dinner. We’ll go home, and I’ll call him before it gets too late.”
“I’m going to help Heather clean up the kitchen before we leave. You can go in the other room and call him.”
“Sure, we’ll go in the family room and have a whiskey while Garrick makes his call,” Gavin said and left with the other two following.
“How do you feel about all of this?” Heather asked.
“Frightened and excited. I’m scared I’ll still care for him too much, and he’ll leave after he’s healed. However, there is the excitement of seeing him and the hope he might be different after all these years.”
“Different in that he might choose to stay in Triple Creeks Township?”
“Yes, and then I’d have to make a decision about him and Garrick.”
“You like Garrick. I can see the effect he has on you. Your face looks softer, and there’s a certain expression in your eyes when you look at him. You are definitely more relaxed when he’s nearby.”
“You’re right. I don’t know why after all this time I met a man who really interests me and Kohana turns out to be his best friend. How likely is that?”
“I’d bet Kohana talked about Triple Dare County and Garrick came for a visit and settled here. Beck says he’s the best foreman he’s ever worked with. He has total confidence in him.”
“It’s good to know Beck trusts him.”
“Yes, because you have to earn Beck’s trust.”
“You love them both very much.”
“I do,” Heather said. “I love them both as much, even though they are different. It works well for us.”
“Well Garrick is certainly not like the Kohana I knew.”
“It should be an interesting time for you and for us to watch.” Heather smiled as she scrubbed the casserole dish.
* * * *
Garrick took the glass of bourbon and coke that Beck handed him. Beck and Gavin went to sit by the fire. The early autumn nights were getting chilly. Garrick stood on the other side of the room by the windows and called Kohana.
“Hi, Garrick, what’s up?”
“How are you doing?”
“The docs say I can leave in three days. I’m looking forward to seeing you and Cora. Jarvis has arranged to sneak me onto the ranch under the cover of night.”
“There’s been a slight change in plans. Gavin would prefer you stay with him and his family or at the bunk house until after Cora sees you. It might be upsetting to her. We think she needs time to adjust before you move into my house.” Garrick took a breath and then a swallow of the bourbon. It was difficult to tell his friend he couldn’t stay with him just yet. There was silence on the other end.
“Do you think I shouldn’t come at all?” Kohana asked in a low, flat tone.
“No. She needs for you to visit. Both of you need to see each other. Then we’ll go from there.”
Another silence. Garrick could almost see Kohana’s head nod when he answered. “Good. I’d like to come home and help keep her safe. I brought this problem on her. Thank Gavin, but I’d prefer to stay at the bunkhouse.”
“I told him I thought that would be your answer. He’s okay with whichever choice you made.”
“Then hopefully I’ll be sneaking into the bunkhouse Thursday or Friday night. Let them know so I don’t get shot.”
“Will do. See you then.”
Garrick ended the call and walked over to join Beck and Gavin. “He’s coming Thursday or Friday night. He’ll stay in the bunkhouse.”
“Did he mind about the change?” Gavin asked.
“No. He understood.” Garrick finished his drink. “I’ll go get Cora and head home.”
“Tell Heather to join us.”
“Sure will.” Garrick strode across the dining room and into the kitchen. The women had finished except for Cora wiping off the table and counters. Heather sat and watched her.
“She made me sit down. I love being spoiled,” Heather said.
“When you finish, we’ll go home.”
Cora glanced at him. “I’m almost done. Heather’s sending cake with us for our dessert.”
“I see it on the counter,” Garrick said. “Chocolate’s my favorite.”
“Isn’t it everyone’s,” Heather replied. “Cora, that’s enough cleaning. The kitchen is sparkling. Go on home with Garrick and rest.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Beck and Gavin want you to join them,” Garrick said to Heather on the way out.
She grinned. “They want their chocolate cake.”
When they walked out to his truck, Cora asked, “What did Kohana say?”
“He offered to not come, but I told him I thought you two needed to see each other.” He glanced down at her. “Was I wrong?”
“No, I agree. If I see him and don’t feel the same, then perhaps I can finally get him out of my mind.”
Garrick opened the truck door for her. “He’s going to stay in the bunkhouse for the first few days.”
“When will he be here?” she asked.
“Thursday or Friday night.” Garrick went around and got in the driver’s seat. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “Are you still as anxious about seeing him?”
“No. But I’ll feel better after the first reintroduction.”
Garrick kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go home.”
He’d left an outside light on, and it did seem different coming home with Cora, a good difference. When they walked in the kitchen, Garrick put on the light. “Do you want coffee?”
“No, I’d rather have milk with my cake.”
“Me, too. You cut the cake, and I’ll pour the milk,” Garrick said.
“Tell me how you and Kohana became such good friends,” Cora asked once they’d started eating.
“We met when we joined the group. You might call us fortune hunters, but we took on jobs where the person couldn’t pay if it involved a kidnapping. We did secret government jobs for our country and others, but none that would hurt our country. The other countries were ones that were friends of the U.S.” He stopped and ate a bite of the cake and drank some milk.
“Anyway, we started about the same time. I liked him because he didn’t talk much, but when he did it made sense. He’s smart in lots of ways. On our off time we’d play chess, go bowling, or go out drinking. We never got drunk as some of the others did. I’m surprised those guys caught Kohana. He’s always alert and on the lookout.”
“He doesn’t sound like he’s changed too much. The way you described him is pretty much what I recall.”
Cora looked across the table at Garrick. “He was my first and only boyfriend in high school. We met when I was in tenth grade. After graduation I went to college and so did he. But he went
closer to home, and he was a year ahead of me. We kept in touch.”
“What happened?” Garrick asked.
“I’m not sure. We spent summers together when we weren’t working to raise money for our next year at college. He graduated when he was twenty-two and came home. When he called me at college that last year, I thought he sounded unhappy.”
Cora got up and walked to the window. Garrick followed her. Outside the moon shone over the peaceful countryside.
“When I got home, I had looked forward to spending time with him.” She spoke in a soft, monotone voice. “He told me right away that he was leaving. He wanted to see the world. He wanted more than the town or South Dakota had to offer. And I guess that included me. I never heard from him again.”
Garrick put his arms around her waist. He kissed the side of her sweet neck. “That was harsh. Still, knowing Kohana he probably had to make the break quick. He never forgot you. He told me about you over the years we worked with each other. He didn’t tell the others, just me.”
Garrick took a deep breath, taking in the scent of her hair and skin. “You smell delectable.” He turned her to face him and pulled her hips tight against his lower body. “Feel how hungry he is to be in your pussy.” His hard cock pulsed against her abdomen.
* * * *
Cora moved her hips from side to side, sending spirals of delight rushing through her veins. A languid heat formed in her core.
He put his hands on the sides of her face and stared boldly at her. Her whole body was conscious of his virile appeal, and she found she couldn’t resist him. She put her arms around his waist and looked back at him. Her heart was in her throat.
“What if we make love and when I see Kohana I find I still care for him?”
“In that case I’m hoping you’ll reconsider a threesome.” He held her gently in his arms and ran his fingers through her hair. She felt the steady beat of his heart against her chest and the strength of his muscles and character in the way he held her.
“I’ll think about a threesome later. Please make love to me.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Garrick picked her up and strode to his bedroom. He stood her by the bed, and as he began to undress her, he kissed her skin along the way.
Her pulse raced from a mixture of excitement and a little fear. She’d only had two relationships since Kohana left and neither worked out. She’d been alone the last five years, devoting herself to her career. Until Garrick touched her, she hadn’t realized how hungry she’d been to be caressed and kissed.
Garrick slipped her jeans and panties down. “Sit. I’ll remove your boots.” She did and once they were off he finished undressing her. “There, let me look at you.” He took her hand and had her stand.
His hot gaze sent shivers up her spine. The very air around them sizzled. She watched as he unsnapped his cowboy shirt and threw it off. Then she stepped forward and put her hands on his belt. He waited, almost not breathing as she removed the belt and unsnapped his jeans. Down went the zipper and his pants and undershorts. His cock arched out long and hard.
Unable to stop herself, Cora held his dick in her hand. She began to caress it with a back and forth movement.
“Stop. Let me get these damn boots out of the way.” He sat and yanked them off. “Now I’m at your mercy, beautiful Cora.”
She knelt between his legs and kissed the crown of his cock. Then she took him in her mouth deep. His teeth clenched, and he groaned as her tongue stroked along the sides and under his cock.
Cora grasped his sac in her hands and gently rolled his balls. His fingers gripped her hair. She quickened her movements and she sensed the tension increase in his body. He put his hand on her shoulder. She slowed and looked at him. “Don’t you like it?”
“Very much, but I want my dick deep inside you before I come, and, honey, you’re getting me close to the edge.” He lifted her up and onto the bed, and then he rolled onto her.
He bit the edge of her earlobe and trailed kisses along her neck. When he got to her shoulder, he grazed his teeth across her soft skin. Then he moved further down and stroked the sides of her breast tantalizing her until she wanted to scream for him to kiss her tight pebbles.
When he finally put his warm mouth on her nipple, she yelled out loud and bucked her hips upward. Then he suckled her breast and a taut line of arousal ran from there to her womb. Her pussy clenched tight and her juices flowed out wetting her lower lips.
“You are so beautifully sensitive,” Garrick whispered in her ear.
“Take me, now, please. My body is trembling to feel you deep inside.”
“What man could pass up such a sweet invitation, but first I want to taste your sweet juices.” He slid down and spread her folds exposing her clit. His tongue raked across sending a jolt of electricity up her spine. She yelled out again with the intense pleasure.
He took his time caressing her nub with his tongue and then licked her juices on the way to her pussy opening. Her body shook with passion. His mouth teased and tempted her until she thought she’d explode.
“You taste like sweet ambrosia,” Garrick said as he reached out to the bedside table and grabbed a condom package from the drawer. He rolled the condom on, and then he continued to kiss her sweet lower lips.
The ripples started at her feet, her body tensed as her desire flared into a blazing fire that spread to every cell in her body. At the peak of her orgasm, Garrick thrust his cock inside her wet pussy.
She screamed his name and her body moved with his. He plunged deep and moved in and out at a fast pace. Her pussy walls rippled around his cock and ecstasy transported Cora out of herself into a wonderful feeling of floating free.
Garrick thrust hard one more time and held her tight as he groaned with his release. His cock pulsated against her pussy walls until they both were gasping for breath. Garrick rolled off of her, but brought her with him so she lay across him.
His heart pounded in his chest under her ear. They were both wet with perspiration. Their breathing and heart rate gradually slowed.
“Sweetheart, you are special.” Garrick tipped her face and brushed his lips across hers. His light-green eyes smoldered and were dark as the sea at night. His hand rubbed along her arm as though he didn’t want to lose touch of her.
“Sleep with me tonight,” he said. “We can shower and snuggle.”
Cora hesitated. Her mind said no, but her body yelled yes. “All right, this once.”
He got up and pulled her out of bed. “You’ll like my shower. It’s plenty big.”
The whole bathroom was huge. There were two sinks, a large, jetted tub in the middle of the room, and behind it a shower with four jets positioned to cover all your body.
Garrick checked the water temperature and led her in. The pelting, warm water massaged her tired muscles.
“Hmmm, this feels delightful and refreshing.”
“Next time we’ll make love in here. But we both need some sleep before I have to wake you to go with me to Heather’s.”
Cora moved her wet body against his. “Why not take me to work with you. I can see what you do every day.”
“I seldom do the same thing each day. Different problems or plans come up and change the routine. Still, I’d love to have you join me, but the men would see you, and the fewer people who know where you are, the better.”
She sighed. “I suppose you’re right, but as soon as this is cleared up, I want to do that.”
“It’s a deal if I can come and see you work once.”
“I’d have to get the patient’s permission, but I know one or two that wouldn’t mind.”
He took the soap and made suds in his hands. Then he washed her back and down her legs.
“It feels really good. You’d better be careful or we won’t make it to bed for a while yet.”
Garrick turned her toward him. “The hell with worrying about sleep. Hold on.” He halfway dried off before he sprinted to the bedside table for another condom. H
e’d rolled it on by the time he was back to the shower.
Cora plastered her body tight against his. “You have to be better prepared and keep condoms in the bathroom,” she teased.
“Next time they’ll be right on hand,” he assured her. Garrick kissed her hard and pulled her legs up around his waist. Stepping forward, he placed her back against the tile wall. Then he plunged his cock into her pussy. “Damn, you feel so tight and hot.”
“You make me tingle all over.”
He grinned. “Good to know.” Then he moved slow and easy while he kissed her nearest nipple. A delicious thread of ravenous lust flowed from her breast to her core and stoked the embers of the fire he’d first aroused.
She pressed down on his cock, taking him in further. He went to the other breast and caressed the creamy expanse of skin with his tongue. When he finished, he grazed his teeth across her pebbled nipple.
A rush of euphoria moved up Cora’s body as Garrick’s cock’s spasmodic contractions stroked her pussy walls. Garrick kissed her as their orgasms rolled over them.
Afterward, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m so weak you may have to help me to bed,” he teased.
She laughed. “We’ll sit on the floor until we can move.”
Garrick let her legs down and waited to be sure she didn’t fall. Then he turned off the water and grabbed a towel. “I’m impatient to get to bed and cuddle with you.”
He briskly dried her and then himself. Cora ran and jumped into the bed. When Garrick got there, he pulled her into his arms. It didn’t take long for her to know he’d fallen asleep. She lay awake and savored the feeling of being safe and cared about. Gradually her eyes drooped.
It only seemed minutes before Garrick leaned over her and kissed her awake. “Sleepyhead, I waited as long as I could. Get up. Breakfast is ready. I’ve called Heather and Gavin. He’s the one staying home today. They know we’ll be a bit late.”
Cora flushed. “They’ll know why.”
“It doesn’t matter. They’re our friends, and they’re in love. If anyone understands, they will.” He pulled her out of the bed and swatted her butt. “Get moving.”
Bold Bodyguards [Triple Dare County, South Dakota 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance) Page 5
