“I think we all feel that way at times. What was your childhood like?” She didn’t want to keep him talking about the painful past too long.
He smiled. “Great. Loving mom and dad, married twenty-six years. My dad still leaves her a sweet note on his pillow every morning before he leaves for work. Imagine the dedication a man must have to a woman to make it a priority to make her feel special every single day for that many years. That’s my pops. My mom says that her heart still pitter-patters when he walks into the room. Man, I hope to find that one day myself.”
Her heart jolted. “Are you a romantic?”
He looked into her eyes and grinned. “If believing in soulmates and that a man and woman should cherish each other, yeah, then I guess I am. To some degree that might make me seem soft, or fed at the skirts of my momma, but I was raised to be strong, worked my ass off on the land and appreciated the things around me that I’ve been given. I look forward to finding someone to share my life with. Someone who’ll see fit to stay with me through the good and bad times.”
Laying her hand on his, she squeezed it in appreciation. “There aren’t many men like you, Dade. A woman would be lucky to have you in her life. Do you still have a crush on the co-worker? The one you took a fall for.”
“No, she’s no longer at the ranch.” He slipped his fingers between hers, and their palms pressed together.
She found the touch nice, even the callused parts of his skin that rubbed her sensitive flesh. She also found it much easier to want more while they were touching. Knowing she should pull away, minimize the risk of things happening, but she didn’t.
“What about you? Are you a romantic?”
“I haven’t really thought about love, relationships, and forever. I’ve pretty much had my head in a book for the last six years.”
“No fun?”
“Oh, I’ve had a few spurts of pleasure here and there, but nothing lasting.” She knew exactly what he was asking. It’d be hard to explain to a virgin how many sex partners she’d had. It wasn’t an astronomical number, but to him, it’d probably seem like she always had her legs open.
“You’ll have to find someone that Chase approves of. That might be a difficult task.” He winked.
Clearing her throat, she tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear. “He’ll have to accept who I choose.”
He grinned. “You’ve got to understand. Protecting the honor of a sister is what a cowboy does. That’s why he’s going to fire my ass in the morning.”
“Sorry, don’t get offended, but it seems it’s your honor that needs protecting.”
He flushed lightly. “Well, I still have my clothes on so it seems that I’m safe.”
“But, then again, you’re only half dressed.” She wagged her brows. “I might just be working very slowly.”
“You look pretty good in my shirt, by the way. You’ve given me an image I’ll never forget.”
“For a man who has never been intimate with a woman, you sure can flirt your way into her good graces.”
“Ahh…I’ve learned from the best. The hands at Nirvana certainly have the trick of the trade down.” He shifted and leaned against the pillow and she saw the long, lean muscles of his abs. She was instantly aware of the burning heat between her thighs.
She pushed her hands across the bed, sending the empty snack wrappers onto the floor. “I’m tired and I should probably go to sleep before I forget my manners and lick you from head to toe.”
He laughed. “Felicia, there’s something you need to keep in mind. I’m a virgin, but I’m still a red blooded male who finds a woman delectable. If you don’t stop teasing me, I might forget my allegiance to your brother and lick you from head to toe.”
CHAPTER SIX
DADE AWOKE WITH a heaviness on his chest. He opened his eyes and lifted his head, taking in the sweet image. Felicia was cuddled up close to him, her head nested on his shoulder, her bare leg over his hips. His shirt was pulled up high on her waist, showing off her beautiful soft curves.
His dick shot up against his zipper and it wasn’t a salute to the morning sun.
How the hell had he managed to sleep in the same bed with a drop-dead gorgeous woman without laying a finger on her? They were both dog tired last night. They’d both practically fell asleep the second their heads hit the pillow. But his resistance was weak this morning. Why wasn’t he following his desire? The reasons were fading…
A moan came from her and she shifted, her chin coming up to rest on the back of her hand. “Hi,” she said in a throaty voice that made his balls ache.
“Morning.” Why couldn’t she wake up, hair a mess, breath stinking, a mere image of what she was last night? Nope. If anything, she was lovelier than ever. Her hair was a silken cloud around her flushed cheeks and her eyes were an amazing, clear blue.
She shifted and her knee brushed his cock. He jerked as a sweltering need rushed through him. If he was home, he’d take matters into his own hands. She lowered her gaze to his big problem in his jeans and brought her eyes back up, a mischievous grin curving her gorgeous lips. “Looks like you’ve risen to the occasion. Do you have to run to the restroom?”
“Nope. Peeing wouldn’t take care of this problem,” he admitted. He liked how easy it was to talk to her.
“Technically, you’re not a virgin,” she said.
He blinked. “How’s that?”
“Well, last night you said you’ve done certain things, and oral sex is S-E-X.” Her eyes turned a shade darker. “We spent an entire English class debating this and it was voted that penetration isn’t the only form of sex.”
The tip of his cock throbbed. “Are you trying to convince me, or yourself, of something?” He lifted a brow. Her fingers were now circling his navel and he was growing harder and harder.
She lifted to her knees, her hair falling over one shoulder. “I want to fool around, but I also want to be respectful of your beliefs. I don’t think I’ve ever gone just so far and stopped…but suddenly that seems very exciting.”
He stared for a long two seconds, then chuckled. He sat up, wrapped an arm around her waist and pushed her back onto the bed. She laughed, but made no effort in resisting him. Her hair spread over the pillow and her hands came up around his neck. “The amazing thing is, I don’t feel like a virgin and I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it. Like, “Damn, I really want to get laid” or “How the hell haven’t I made the leap yet?’”
“How should one feel as a virgin anyway?”
“Like they should be cautious about sharing themselves. Right now I want to rip my shirt right off your luscious curves. I’m not thinking, “I can’t because I’m a virgin.” He reached for the top button and dragged it loose. Then the second, and third, until he saw the pale mounds of her firm breasts. Another tug brought the shirt completely open and her body was exposed to his hungry view. He sucked in a breath and forced air into his lungs. “You’re so damn beautiful.”
“And so are you.” She swept the back of her knuckles along his cheek that was peppered with a beard.
He started at her neck and slowly slipped the tips of his fingers down her chest, then over one breast, flicking the hardened nipple with the pad of his thumb. She arched slightly and moaned. “Are your breasts and nipples sensitive?”
“Yes,” she said in a breathless tone.
“They’re the prettiest pink.” He circled his finger around the swollen pink bud, loving how it turned harder. He plucked the pearl until her breaths were ragged and her chest rose and fell. He wanted to take his time, explore every inch of her, relish this moment that couldn’t… wouldn’t…last.
He lowered his head and took the delicate bead into his mouth, suckling and licking, tasting and enjoying the flesh. Her fingers threaded into his hair, tugging and pulling him as he made love to her breasts. “I could lick these all day.” He kneaded the pale mounds.
“Yes,” she whimpered.
He slipped lower, kissing her stomach, swir
ling his tongue inside of her navel. She giggled and bucked, but he steadied her with his hands on her hips. She was a ripe piece of fruit, bursting with flavor and he couldn’t wait to experience every sweet essence.
He came back up her body. “I might be a virgin, but I promise you, angel, I’ll make you forget which of us has never had sex before.”
****
Felicia couldn’t think, just respond. His lips were on hers and he tasted like heaven. The same desire that she’d felt last night was stronger. Never in her life would she believe a man could turn her inside out like this. Especially a man with little experience!
As his tongue swept along her lips, gently sucking the bottom, her desire doubled. She opened her mouth, inviting him in, and he didn’t deny her. His tongue slid deep as a moan released from inside of her throat. Their tongues met, tangled and savored, each sipping and exploring one another.
She slipped her fingers into his hair at his nape, loving how the thick strands felt like threads of silk. He shifted and his smooth chest rubbed against her body and everything was forgotten in the heat of passion.
Tilting her head, she allowed him deeper access into her mouth and she suckled his tongue, loving his throaty moan that vibrated her body. She parted her thighs and he tucked his hips in the wide V, the bulge at his zipper brushing across her swollen core. Her clit throbbed, matching the heavy, rhythmic beating of her heart. The rushing of her blood pouring through her veins was loud in her ears and she could barely contain herself from hurrying him along to put out her raging fire. Going quick wouldn’t work, though. She wanted him to freely explore her body, learn her movements. Realizing the enormity of being with him, if things went all of the way, came down on her heavily—a connection of bodies. She had to show him how beautiful making love could be. She also wanted to give him pleasure—help him realize how beautiful he was.
His warm lips made a path from her mouth along her cheek until he found the spot just below her ear lobe. As if he knew what it would do to her, he licked the area and a scorching, tingling sensation swept from her neck, through her body and out her stretched toes. Another stroke of his tongue, this time on her ear lobe sent goosebumps scattering her flesh. She shivered and a soft moan escaped her mouth. His palm was on her breast again, cupping the mound to his callused palm. Her nipples were beads of bittersweet pain, aching to have more of his touch.
“Dade,” she whimpered.
He lifted his head, his gaze so intense that it scorched her insides with wonderful heat. His pupils were large and the color of his eyes turned a magnificent shade of torment. “You okay?”
She slipped her tongue along his lips. “Do you want this?” She had to know there wouldn’t be any regrets between them. If he was holding out for marriage, or the perfect woman, she didn’t want to ruin his expectations for himself.
“Lord, yes! I haven’t ever wanted anything more.”
Suddenly she had a guilty conscious. “Will it be special?”
He chuckled and his chest vibrated. “Felicia, as you already know, I don’t make it a habit of picking women up and having one night stands. Do you really need to ask that question?”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled. “Do men think about things like this too—taking a woman’s virginity and the affects?”
He swept the pad of his thumb along her chin. “Sweetheart, I wouldn’t know. How did you feel when you shared yourself with a man for the first time?”
She shrugged. “Honestly, it was awful. All I remember from that awkward moment was a painful, stretching feeling between my legs, a fast three or four pumps, and this God awful moaning sound before he fell on top of me.” She shuddered. “Trust me when I say the dreams we have about our first time far outweigh reality.”
He moaned. “So expecting this to be beautiful between us is wrong?”
“Yes…I mean, no. You should expect this to be beautiful. It’s different. We’re far from being two kids in the backseat of a car.”
“I love how you feel under me.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “The silkiness of your body. Your breasts. You’re so lovely that I fear I’ll break you.”
“You won’t break me. Please don’t hold back. I want all of your desire.”
“Touch me. I want to feel your fingers on me.”
Without hesitation, she found the crotch of his jeans and made haste in loosening them until his large erection was free. “Let’s take these off.” She pushed at the denim with her shaky fingers.
“Your wish is my command.” He slipped off her and stood at the side of the bed. His length was pressed against his stomach, a pearl of pre-cum glistened at the head. She watched in admiration as he pushed his jeans down his hips and thighs, then at his ankles and he gave them a slight kick. He stood before her, naked and beautiful. She couldn’t remember ever seeing a man so gorgeous. Even the scars didn’t take away from the magnitude of his powerful body. He’d definitely grown into a man since she saw him last, although she’d never seen this much of his body before. His impressive erection bobbed and she swallowed, understanding that soon he would be inside of her.
“You’re truly well-built. Oh my, my, my…” Her mouth salivated. She reached out and grazed the tip of her fingernail along his cock. He jerked and a moan rumbled his chest.
“Is it acceptable?” he asked.
“Acceptable? More like amazing. If more women knew what you were hiding they would have been determined to sample the goods.”
He blushed. “Aww, come on.”
“I’m only stating a fact.”
“I’m ready to find out if the real thing is anything like what I’ve fantasized.” He slipped his gaze down her body and rested a mere second at the apex of her thighs.
She hinged at the waist, wrapping her fingers around his wide girth and bending over him. She couldn’t wait to get her mouth on him and, just as she was about to suckle him between her lips, a knock came at the door.
Dade stiffened and she narrowed her eyes. “Go away,” she muttered.
Another heavy pounding came and the vase sitting on the table shook.
Felicia sat up, trepidation racing down her spine. She looked at Dade in curiosity, mouthing, “Who is it?”
He shrugged. “I’ll look.”
With disappointment, she unclutched his cock and watched him cross to the window. He looked as good going as he did coming. His ass was tight and squeezable.
“Oh fuck!” he whispered.
Her breath caught. “What?”
A pale, pasty color took the place of Dade’s normal olive complexion. “Chase is out there.”
“Oh shit!” She bounced off the bed and pulled the shirt around to cover her nudity. “What do we do?”
“We don’t answer the door like this.” He started for his jeans on the floor. She’d never seen a man slip into pants so quickly before. “You go to the bathroom and get dressed. I’ll take care of Chase.”
“Are you sure?” This could be World War Three getting ready to erupt.
He nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Open up. I know you’re in there!” Chase yelled through the door.
“You’ll need this.” She slipped his shirt from her shoulders and handed it over. She moved toward the bathroom carrying her clothes when Dade caught her by the elbow and pulled her back. She looked up at him, confused. “Yes?”
“One more.” He kissed her on the lips. It was brief, but it told her they were on each other’s side when it came to Chase.
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE AIR WAS on in Chase’s truck, but Felicia needed fresh air. She rolled down the window and secured her hair with her hand from the wind. She looked through the side mirror and saw Dade behind them driving the company truck. She’d wanted to drive her rental back to the ranch, but Chase had insisted she ride with him, promising they’d take care of the car later.
She wasn’t sure what had happened between Chase and Dade. She’d come from the bat
hroom finding them standing outside on the sidewalk, talking in hushed voices. When she’d stepped out, their discussion had quickly ended. Dade was still alive so it must have gone pretty well. Chase had firmly told her to get into his truck and, although she’d wanted to rebel against his demand, she’d caught Dade’s eye, his encouraging smile, and she’d done as requested.
“When do you grow up, Felicia?”
She snapped her chin around, eyeing her brother in disdain. “Excuse me?”
“When do I have to stop bailing you out?” He kept his gaze ahead on the road.
“For your information, I didn’t need you bailing me out. As you saw, Dade and I were just fine.”
“I’ll take care of Dade later.” Chase scrubbed his hardened jaw.
“Don’t be angry with him. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh, you don’t think dragging my sister to a bar in the middle of a flood and getting you both stranded isn’t something? And the icing on the cake is that you two spent the night in a room together. That’s doing nothing wrong? Not to mention he borrowed the ranch truck without permission. I can’t believe he convinced you to leave Nirvana.”
“Uhm…what?”
“Dade admitted to everything. That this was his entire doing. That he needed to let loose and he convinced you to come along. I have to say, I’m surprised at Dade. He’s been through a lot, but there’s no excuse for putting your wellbeing at risk. He knows how bad the roads get out here when it rains.”
Felicia glanced through the mirror again at the truck following closely. Her heart picked up in speed as she wrapped her brain around what Dade had done for her. He’d taken all of the blame, made it seem as if he was the one at fault. She’d never had anyone, especially a practical stranger, do something so self-sacrificing for her. “You can’t fire him, Chase.”
The Discreet Cowboy (Cowboys of Nirvana Book 6) Page 8
