Cowboys and Candy

by Avery Gale, Jess Buffett, Willow Brooke, Lynn Ray Lewis, Gracie Meadows

  “Sweetheart, it was just a mix-up that I’m thrilled to be able to straighten out. Don’t feel bad, I really should have taken the time to leave you a note this morning. But I’d overslept and knew I was probably already going to be late for an appointment in Austin.” What he didn’t mention was that he’d gone down to pick up the ring and matching collar he’d had made for her. He wasn’t planning to give her the collar until she’d learned more about the lifestyle so she could fully appreciate its significance, but he hoped the ring would be gracing her left hand shortly after dinner.

  Stepping into his living room, he heard her gasp and that alone made every damned one of the one hundred candles worth the effort. “Oh, my God in heaven, it is amazing. How many are there?”

  Gavin wasn’t sure she even realized she’d spoken out loud, but he answered her anyway. “There are one hundred. I’ll explain that after we’ve eaten. While I’m setting out the food, why don’t you go take a quick shower? You’ll find everything you need already laid out for you. But don’t take too long, because dinner will be waiting.”

  He’d just gotten everything set on the table when she walked back into the room and stole his breath. Her hair was lying in soft waves around her shoulders and the nearly-sheer gown he’d left out for her matched her eyes perfectly. He held out his hand and smiled when she immediately padded on bare feet into his arms. He could see the soft pink of her areolas as her nipples peaked quickly under his gaze. “You take my breath away, pet. Come on, everything is ready.”

  They talked about their respective days as they ate and even though she was obviously trying to relax, he sensed a tension in her that he wasn’t sure how to explain. When they finished and moved into the living room, he saw her eyes settle on the large bouquet of roses in the center of the coffee table. “Those are from your dad, sweetheart. When the florist couldn’t get in touch with you, they were delivered to the main house. Hannah sent me no less than three messages reminding me to pick them up.” He chuckled, thinking about how determined Hannah had been that the flowers be a part of tonight’s celebration.

  He was glad he’d started a fire in the fireplace. Looking down at Kylie standing in the flickering amber light of the fire and the candles made Gavin realize how incredibly lucky he was to have her in his life. He’d fantasized about this moment and had to suppress his grimace when he thought about how he’d blown his chance to make this day completely perfect for her. The firelight danced over the blonde curtain of her hair and the lighter highlights sparkled like diamonds, reminding him of twinkling stars that were bright enough they could even be seen in the light of day.

  He held her hands in his and just took in the moment for so long he could tell she was starting to become nervous. But he wanted to absorb the moment and didn’t plan to be rushed. Letting his eyes drift down her body, he deliberately let her see his appreciation. He’d never considered a long-term relationship that didn’t incorporate his kinks—had never thought any woman could tempt him to live a vanilla lifestyle. Kylie Stone was the only woman who could have been the exception, and he owed the keeper of the stars a huge debt, because it appeared their kinks were in total sync. They had begun to scratch the surface as far as discussing scenes, but they had spent weeks talking about their interests, so he knew they were incredibly compatible. He had insisted on those conversations so he could be sure she understood the lifestyle enough to make informed decisions about her limits, and every conversation they’d shared had further convinced him of how perfect they were for one another.

  “Is everything alright?” Gavin heard the uncertainty in her voice and finally realized how long he’d left her waiting.

  “No, love. Everything is perfect.” He saw relief in her expression and let his smile speak the rest for him before he pulled her into a kiss that was intended to convey what he wasn’t sure he could put into words. You own me…you may think I’m leading this, but the truth is I’d walk through hell barefoot to spend the rest of my life with you. When he finally pulled back from the kiss, Gavin placed his hands along the sides of her face. Looking deeply in her eyes, he knew he was seeing his future.

  Chapter Ten

  Most of that afternoon, Kylie had felt like she was lost in a haze and oddly disconnected from her surroundings when she hadn’t heard from Gavin or her dad. There was a part of her that knew she was being childish and needy, but she didn’t seem to be able to pull it back, either. She’d always been one of those people who wanted everyone to like her. She was a peacekeeper at heart, and had mediated squabbles between her friends all through their childhood. When she had started reading erotic novels on her Kindle, she had recognized herself immediately in the descriptions of the submissives. Taking a shower in Gavin’s massive master bath had gone a long way to relax her, but when she’d stepped back into the bedroom and noted what he’d laid out for her to wear, her body had responded with an entirely new tingling tension.

  The gown draped over the foot of the bed was an interesting cross between an evening gown and lingerie. No way to hide anything in that thing. He’ll be able to see every breath and every heartbeat. Getting dressed, she’d remembered the moment she’d walked in and had seen all the candles. Her heart had stuttered, and even though she’d loved him from afar for years, it had been that moment everything seemed to align perfectly for her and she had fallen hopelessly in love with him. Her dad had always told her to find a man who made her feel cherished. He’d shown her as well, he’d always gone above and beyond to show Kylie and her mother how much they meant to him, and those words had gone through her mind the minute she stepped into Gavin’s home.

  Standing in front of the fireplace looking up at Gavin, Kylie was mesmerized by the way he seemed to be reading her soul, as if were written in her eyes. When he’d let his gaze drift over her body, she’d felt it as if he’d actually touched every inch of her, and the look had left tingles of awareness in its wake. She had wanted to take the initiative and pull him against her, but she’d sensed his need to keep the distance as he watched her with an intensity she wasn’t sure how to interpret. When he had finally kissed her, it had been filled with a depth of promise that had stolen her breath. They’d kissed hundreds of times over the past few weeks, but nothing had compared to the connection she’d felt when he’d pulled her slowly into the kiss that had literally felt like a prayer.

  “You are the answer to a thousand prayers, love. You belong to me, just as my heart has belonged to you for longer than I care to admit.” Kylie was surprised by Gavin’s admission because she hadn’t realized he’d returned her attention. “I see the questions in your beautiful green eyes, and I promise to answer them all, even if it takes me a lifetime.” She felt her breath catch. A lifetime? For the first time in her life, Kylie was actually able to remain quiet when she needed to, and a small part of her wanted to do a little happy dance at her uncharacteristic show of maturity.

  Gavin watched as each thought and emotion played itself out in high-definition color in Kylie’s eyes and facial expressions. He planned to spend the rest of his life learning what each one of those looks meant. The kiss they’d shared had touched the depths of his soul, and for the first time he understood what Kyle and Kent West had meant when they’d said everything changes when the submissive you were dealing with was well and truly yours. Gavin had actually called Kyle a few days ago to ask for his advice about questions he had about his comments. Even though the West brothers had grown up watching their two fathers share a wife/submissive, Kyle assured Gavin that they still struggled from time to time. Kent had joined the conversation and pointed out that with a sub you just meet at the club and negotiate with before sharing a scene, you can both just walk away if the session doesn’t work out. But in a committed relationship, the stakes are exponentially higher, and “problems” are not just forgotten despite what the Dom or the sub might claim.

  Gavin had spent the better part of an hour listening as the owners of The Prairie Winds Club coached
him and openly shared their mistakes as well as their suggestions for avoiding them. And as he looked into Kylie’s lust-filled eyes, he was grateful for their time, because before he would have pressed this advantage and kept a sub on the edge for as long as possible. But tonight wasn’t about power and control, it was about love and commitment, so he moved right past the point where usually he would have slowed things way down.

  Moving Kylie so she was seated on a low ottoman, Gavin knelt in front of her and pushed his fingers through her soft hair, pushing it over her shoulders on first one side and then the other. He heard the clock behind him chime and knew he needed to get a move on if he was going to keep everything on Valentine’s Day. Pulling the small jeweler’s box from his pocket, he watched Kylie’s eyes go wide. “Love, I have a very important question to ask you.” He watched her breathing hitch and then her eyes went glassy with unshed tears. He opened the small box to reveal the asscher cut diamond ring nestled in the deep blue velvet. Her eyes had been riveted to the ring for just a few seconds, and when they returned to his face, he smiled when the first tears trailed down her softly blushing cheeks.

  “Kylie, will you spend your life with me? There are a hundred candles, each representing a year I hope we spend together. Will you be my partner, my best friend, my submissive, and my wife?” He knew his voice was close to breaking even though he’d never considered himself to be an overly emotional person. The magic of the moment…the setting…and most of all the woman who held his future in her hands were taking a heavy toll.

  Kylie hadn’t hesitated, she’d just leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him and whispered, “Yes.” Gavin could feel her trembling in his arms, and just held her until the storm of her emotions had settled. When he felt her pull back he took her left hand in his and slid the ring into place. “Gavin, it’s beautiful. It’s absolutely perfect.”

  His heart was inflating faster than his words would have possibly shown, so he simply pulled her up and said, “Come with me, love. I have one more surprise for you.” Wrapping her in a soft throw he’d placed near the back sliding doors before scooping her up in his arms, he opened the sliding glass doors and carried her out to the deck to protect her bare feet from the cold redwood planking of the deck. Sitting on one of the loungers, he settled her on his lap before hitting the send button on the pre-typed text on his phone. Almost immediately, the entire backyard lit up like the Fourth of July. There were fireworks in every shade of red and pink streaking toward the heavens, and at the end of the short show, the ground lit up in a flourish of racing lights that formed intertwined hearts with their names.

  Gavin knew Kylie loved fireworks, hell, everybody for several counties around knew how much she loved them. He was sure she had never missed a fireworks show in her entire life, and watching her face light up with pure joy had made each and every sparkle worth the effort. She had gasped and giggled as she’d bounced up and down with childlike enthusiasm Gavin found completely captivating. He’d heard the muted sounds of her parents setting up the champagne and strawberries inside and he was relieved Kylie hadn’t noticed because he really hadn’t wanted to share this night with anyone else. There would be plenty of time for their congratulations tomorrow. Tonight was for the two of them to enjoy.

  When everything but the hearts had faded, she turned to him with love lighting up her entire face. “That was the second most amazing thing anyone has ever given me.” He was grateful she’d only paused a split second before placing her hands softly on the sides of his face and spoke the sweetest words he’d ever heard, “Your love will always be my most treasured gift.”

  The End

  (Page left blank)

  Her Outback Valentine

  By Jess Buffett

  Chapter One

  Ethan Taylor threw back another beer, savoring the cool beverage in the summer heat. His charcoal akubra sat on the small table in front of him. The pub he sat in with his brother was filled to the brim, everyone clamoring to enjoy the free air-conditioning and drinks. Or maybe just looking to score, given tomorrow was Valentine’s Day…could go either way with this crowd.

  "Damn, I’m ready for this summer to end already," he muttered and finished off the last of his drink.

  "Neither can I, big brother," Kade chuckled, rocking back in his seat and kicking his legs up onto the table. "I figured since the warmer weather hit earlier in November, that we would be over the worst of it by now. Hell, February is almost halfway through, shouldn’t it be cooling down now?"

  The heat had been kicking their arses of late. The cattle and even some of the crops they had branched out into had been struggling, and with no rain in sight, Ethan feared what this could mean for his family’s cattle station. Positioned in South Australia, the Taylor Station had been a part of his family for over one hundred and fifty years. The thought of losing it almost paralyzed Ethan sometimes.

  With his parents gone, having passed away a few years earlier, it had been left up to Ethan and his brother, Kade, to keep the place going. Having not known much else, Ethan had taken to his new position with ease, though he knew the same couldn’t be said for Kade. Still, his little brother had his back and they ran the station together.

  "We’ll get through it. We always do."

  Christ, he sometimes hated having to be the optimistic one, especially when he was the one who poured over the books every night finding new ways to stay afloat.

  "Yeah, I know. You always pull something out of your arse, don’t ya?" Kade snickered.

  "Arsehole."

  "Damn. I think I need another beer," Kade said, finishing off the one in his hand.

  His brother's eyes were already scanning the room, taking in the throng of moving bodies on the dance floor, and the few women who sat at the tables nearby. Something told him the last thing Kade was interested in was a beer.

  "See anything you like?" Ethan chuckled.

  "Actually, there might be?" his brother’s eyes lit up as he spotted something across the other side of the room.

  Ethan followed Kade’s gaze, and his entire being froze when he caught sight of who more than what had Kade’s attention.

  Shit. Not her.

  “Isn’t that…” Kade trailed off as the woman waved.

  Damn, Ethan never thought he would see her again. “Isn’t she that Andrews girl you always used to follow around?”

  Kade nodded, a peculiar look on his face. “Not that she noticed.”

  “Huh, really?” he said absently, his eyes fixing on the woman.

  “Yeah. Always figured she had her eye on someone else, never knew who though. Always sweet to me, don’t think she even noticed how I felt.” When Kade stopped speaking, Ethan snuck a glance at his brother, worried when he could see the other man contemplating something. “I should ask her to join us for a drink.”

  “No,” Ethan said too quickly.

  Kade eyed him suspiciously before frowning. “She’s just arrived back, no need to be rude. I know you can’t help your anti-social behavior, but at least try to curb it, huh?”

  “Just haven’t seen her in a few years, might be awkward,” he mumbled, unsure what else to say.

  “Yeah, she got in to Melbourne University after we graduated.” Ethan watched as his brother’s eyes roamed over Harper like a starving man at a banquet. “She’s been gone four years. I’ll be back.”

  Ethan sighed hopelessly as Kade got up and made his way over to her.

  His brother had no idea of the can of worms he was opening up. He didn’t know that while Kade used to follow Harper around like a little lost puppy, Ethan had practically stalked her with his eyes every time he had seen her. She was the same age as Kade, so four years younger than himself, and back then that four years had felt so much larger. Her age, barely eighteen, still hadn’t stopped him from kissing her the way he had the night of her and Kade’s senior formal. It hadn’t stopped him from making love to her in the barn on the back of his parent’s property.

&nbs
p; Ethan felt hot under his collar, the white shirt he had thrown on suddenly feeling a little too tight as memories came flooding back in.

  Like two hormonal teenagers, they had lost themselves in lust and alcohol, but the moment it was over, his common sense had finally kicked back in like a cold bucket of water. Ethan had apologized for taking her the way he did, told her it couldn’t happen again. Then like a coward, he had done everything in his power to hide from her until she left after that Christmas to go to Uni.

  She had had her whole future ahead of her. Ethan had known she had been accepted into Melbourne University, Harper had said so that night while they had been talking. That school was in the top thirty universities in the world. The fucking world. No way could he have stood in her way. And he knew he could have, had seen it in her eyes. She would have stayed for him.

  “What are you doing back here, Harper Andrews?” he whispered to himself.

  Even as he said her name, Harper began to make her way over to their table with Kade. Chestnut brown hair, falling down to the hips of an hourglass frame encased in a slim fitting emerald green knee-length dress, bright green eyes that danced with amusement, Ethan suddenly felt trapped.

  “Ethan, long time no see.” Harper smiled as she took a seat opposite him.

  Ethan frowned in confusion. That was more pleasant than he had been expecting. “Harper. Yeah, it has.”

  “Move over,” another woman shouted as she planted herself next to Ethan. Hell, the damn woman was practically on top of him. “Hi, I’m Piper.”

  “Ethan.” He shook her hand quickly before facing forward again.

  “Ooooh, you’re Ethan?” Piper sent a questioning look toward Harper.