“Hold that thought, baby.”
He’d cued up a generic instrumental station on satellite radio, having it set to play with the flick of the remote. Soon the strains of a western string arrangement spilled from the speakers. He lit several candles waiting on the bedside table.
“Someone was busy while I was waiting for him in the barn. This is really sweet.”
He didn’t always do the romantic thing, but, dammit, he’d missed her. “If I’d had time to go to town, I’d have bought you fresh flowers and fine chocolates, but I’m afraid the best I could do were these.” From the top of the dresser, he picked up a candy dish filled with dark chocolate chips.
She giggled. “We chocoholics aren’t particular about what shape our chocolate comes in.” She scooped up a handful and popped them into her mouth with a grin.
Shucking his boxers, he picked up his phone again and joined her in bed. “Even though I didn’t have time to go to town, I did bring you flowers.”
She glanced around the room, then cocked her head as she met his gaze. “You did?”
Ryder held up his smartphone and clicked on the photo app, scrolling back past the photos he’d just taken in the barn to the ones he wanted to share with her now. “I most certainly did. First, I wanted you to have these purple asters.”
He showed her the photo of the yellow-centered asters he’d spotted near one of the fence posts he and Luke were working by.
“They’re beautiful! Ryder!” When she met his gaze, he thought her eyes had become a little misty. “That’s the sweetest, most beautiful bouquet a girl could ever receive. Knowing that you were thinking about me while out there working those long days touches me even more.”
He leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips, delving inside her chocolaty mouth. He pulled away and smiled. “Baby, you’re about all I’ve been thinking about out there.” He lifted the phone again. “But wait, I found some others, too.”
He showed her clumps of fringed sage, sorrel, and paintbrush. “That last one was down by the creek where Luke and I had lunch today while the horses drank.”
Megan cleared her throat. “This is so much better than a store-bought bouquet, Ryder.”
Pleased that she didn’t find it too hokey, he smiled as she climbed on top of him, bent down and braced herself on her palms, and gave him a soulful kiss.
When she pulled away to sit upright, he reached up to latch onto her nipples. “Where do you think you’re going, Mrs. Wilson?”
Her gaze grew smoky. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere, Mr. Wilson. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life.”
He tugged her toward him by the nipples, and she adjusted herself to where his hard-on pressed against her opening. He gripped her by the hips and lifted his hips to enter her, feeling the warmth of her body envelop him.
“It’s good to be home, Red.”
Luke & Cassie:
Moonlight Dreams
Luke pulled his Silverado into his spot in the lean-to next to the alpaca shed and entered the house through the mudroom. The past few days he’d come home so late that his early-riser wife was already in bed. At least Ryder had helped speed up the job or it might have taken him a solid week.
“I’m home, Cassie!”
No answer. She must be in the studio. Exiting the cabin’s front entrance, he noticed the snow was falling more steadily now. He took the slippery path to the standalone studio—the only structure to survive the wildfire unscathed last summer—in double time. Thank God she hadn’t lost this building. She poured herself into every piece of artwork she created, but had been forced to leave behind a number of them when she and the girls fled the flames.
He looked forward to spending more time up here alone with her once the snow piled in—both in the cabin and in this studio. There were some projects he’d been thinking about, including one that would involve Cassie. His art had been on the back burner so long, he wasn’t sure he had the creativity anymore. But Cassie inspired him with her dedication to her body of work, and he wanted to share space with her in their studio during the winter months at least.
Inside the studio, he glanced over at her work area but didn’t see any activity. Surely she hadn’t taken a walk in the snow shower. Just when he was about to turn around and head back to the house, he heard the splash of water and walked over to the bank of windows that normally would show evergreens and distant mountain peaks. That was all blurred out as a backdrop to his beautiful bride. Sweet Pea sat half-submerged in her outdoor soaking tub, another survivor of the fire. He’d never forget the first time he’d caught her bathing in it, after the avalanche when they had been snowed in. She’d risen from the steamy water like a goddess or nymph.
She picked up the wooden bath bowl, filled it, and let its contents pour over her back. His little lady might need a bit of help tonight. Shedding his clothes before exiting the studio, he opened the sliding door. A blast of cold air assaulted him, but what pained him more was seeing her body go on alert instantly.
“Just me, darlin’.” He hated that she lived in fear all the time, but at least her nightmares were few and far between now that her rapists had been brought to justice in Peru.
She relaxed almost instantly, turning to smile at him as she gave his naked body the once-over. “You should get in before you freeze something off.” Her pointed look in the direction of his cock made him smile. There was a time when she’d have gladly watched his and every other man’s fall off. Progress.
Cassie scooted to the far end of the oval to make room for him, and he slipped into the cozy tub for two. His sweet wife wasted no time getting onto her knees to close the gap between them, though, straddling his thighs.
“I have missed you, Luke.” She kissed him, tentatively at first then more boldly. He usually let her set the pace, but enjoyed caressing her back in several long strokes before she opened her mouth to him. He reached up to hold the back of her neck tightly before deepening the kiss.
When they broke apart, both were breathing hard. “I guess you have. It sure is good to be home, Sweet Pea.”
Rather than retreat to the other end of the tub again, she turned around and pressed her body against his as they looked out over the snowy scene. The flurry of a few minutes ago seemed to have blown over, leaving behind a winter wonderland. No getting snowed in at this rate. Maybe he’d take most of tomorrow off anyway, though. Ryder probably wanted the same time with Megan, given how hard he’d been working. They’d take what time they could to spend with their wives and not fret about anything other than taking care of the horses and alpacas.
Luke nuzzled Cassie’s ear and her head lolled to the side to give him better access. Tucking her hair behind it, he let his finger trace the shell of her ear before he bent to nibble on the lobe. Her moan told him she liked that, as if he didn’t know just about everything that turned her on by now. He’d spent months becoming familiar with every inch of her body.
As he trailed kisses down the slim column of her neck, his fingertip blazed a trail to her breast, circling the areola until finally closing in on her hard nipple. She stroked his thigh but didn’t have access to his cock in this position. He’d remedy that in a bit.
He pushed her forward slightly to separate them so his lips could gain access to nibble the crook between her shoulder and neck. Another moan and her hand stilled, squeezing his thigh.
She was hotter than a firecracker. Maybe they ought to take a break from lovemaking for a few days every now and then to build up more tension.
Nah. He’d never succeed in that unless it was absolutely necessary they stay away from each other.
Luke squeezed her breast before his hand roamed over her belly toward her mound. An idea struck him, and he decided tonight would be the night he finally shaved her for the first time. He’d wanted to do so for the longest time.
“How’d you like to try something a little different tonight?”
“Hmm?”
Sounde
d like she was already in the zone, but he reined her in by stilling his hand. “Focus, darlin’.”
But that could wait. Two of his fingers slid along the curls on her outer lips before the middle one dipped inside her honey pot. Slick. She might be ready, but he wasn’t in any hurry. Pulling out, he slid along the cleft between her lips until he reached her swollen clit hood, lubricating her clit with her juices.
“Oh! ¡Si!”
He grinned. Not so fast, darlin’. The water dissipated the slickness and he stopped stroking her clit for fear of making her sore.
He’d slowly been introducing Cassie to subtle BDSM techniques ever since the night he’d bound her feet on his studio table, although he’d never broached the subject of whether she might consider herself to be submissive. The word held bad connotations for her. At least she enjoyed bondage in the context of art. That was enough for now. Eventually, he’d introduce her to discipline and help her to explore whether she might be interested in more.
She rocked her pubic area on his hand. “Oh! Lucas, please do not make me wait any longer!”
He grinned. She often reverted to his formal name in the throes of passion. At least she’d gotten past calling him that all the time as a way to distance herself from him.
“Sorry, but wait you will, Sweet Pea.”
She lay back and sank neck deep in the water, swirling her hands nonchalantly over the surface. “All right. I will try.” Sounded like she’d just lost her favorite puppy, but he enjoyed running hot and cold with her like this. Eventually, he’d allow her to come, but building up the sexual tension was half the fun for him. Patience had more than one virtue.
Suddenly, Cassie sat up and moved toward him. “While I wait, I will pleasure you.”
Without hesitation, she reached out to stroke his rock-hard cock before lowering her face toward the water’s surface. To keep her from drowning, he lifted his hips. The cold air blasted his cock an instant before she took him inside her warm mouth.
Jeezus. He’d never grow tired of having her go down on him, and loved that she initiated the contact more often than not. She seemed to enjoy giving head a lot.
Her lips and tongue teased and tormented him until he must have reached the same fever pitch he’d brought her to moments ago. Unable to wait another minute—he’d be the first to admit he had no discipline when it came to this woman—he took her by the shoulders and lifted her lips off him.
“On your knees facing away from me. Rest your arms on the opposite edge of the tub.”
Her pupils dilated as she smiled and placed herself in the position. The way the woman responded to his dominance, whether she called it submissive or not, told him all he needed to know. They could use their own labels. As long as they talked things over, came to agreement, and got what they needed from their relationship, who cared how they named things?
Getting on his knees behind her, ignoring the aches from his years of playing football, he stroked her back from shoulder to butt in long, slow movements before raking his fingertips over the globes of her butt. One day, he’d introduce the flogger, bringing her to a ruddy red. At the spur of the moment, he decided to place a light slap against one now.
“Oh!”
Her initial response emboldened him and he smacked her other butt cheek.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving in to temptation. Did you like that?”
“Yes. While it surprised me, perhaps the movement caused a tingle to course through me there.”
Oh, darlin’, you are so going to enjoy your first impact play tonight.
“If you enjoy that, we might try a little erotic spanking.”
“Perhaps.” The wariness in her voice told him to back off.
They both grew silent, and he decided to let it go for now. Running his finger down her butt crack, he delved inside her once more. Wetter than ever.
Ready to explode, he decided they’d played long enough out here. It was colder than a witch’s tit, and he wanted to move this inside—but not until they both had their first release.
Having sworn off contraception, he didn’t have to worry about a condom. Lucky man. He loved the feel of himself inside her silky passage as he wrapped his hands around her thighs, lifted her out of the water, and pressed his cock against her opening.
Cassie pushed back against him, eager as all get out. Slowly, playfully, he entered and pulled away, then entered her again. Each time he went another inch or so deeper. Her panting told him she was going to fly over the moon any second. With one last retreat, he plunged inside her. The grunt of pleasure he heard spurred him on. Reaching around, he fingered her clit and watched her hands white-knuckle on the rim of the tub.
“Come with me, Sweet Pea.” He pumped his seed inside her as her high-pitched screams echoed down the hillside. When finished, he slumped over her. “Jeezus, that was incredible.”
A few moments later, she said, “For me as well. I have missed this, Luke.”
No sweeter words had ever been spoken by her to him.
* * *
Cassie slipped back into the silky, scented water, and Luke pulled her against his chest. Her nipples peaked in anticipation of having his hands on her shoulders, back, legs. All right, her breasts and everywhere else, too. She had never thought she could miss a man’s touch, but when it came to Luke’s, she did.
They cuddled, watching new snowflakes drift to the ground as night fell. He idly played with her nipple. Or were his movements all that insignificant? He had promised more tonight. Something different.
Despite just having had an amazing orgasm, she still wanted more.
“Shall we go have dinner before we turn to prunes?”
“You made me forget all about food, woman.”
He helped her stand, and she reached for a towel from the nearby warming rack Luke had installed, wrapping it around his dripping waist before retrieving one for herself. Luke worked hard physically, and she found she enjoyed pampering him when he came home, whether with food, sex, or cuddles—or all three like tonight.
Dinner was a hearty Peruvian soup he’d requested many times since her mother had made it for them for breakfast on their wedding day.
Over dinner, as Suyana played with a stuffed chew toy under the table, he shared with her the plans he and Ryder had made for finishing the bunkhouses over the winter and opening up the ranch to their first guests in late spring.
He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I have a good feeling about the plans for this ranch becoming a sanctuary for others who are lost and need to learn to dream again.”
“You and Ryder are the perfect people to make it happen. I have never seen two men more driven.”
“Well, don’t forget you’ve promised to lend your hand to some art classes, too. And Megan’s agreed to teach photography techniques. Between the four of us—not to mention the horses, dogs, and alpacas—I don’t think we’re going to give our visitors much time to sit and wallow in the circumstances that brought them to us.”
“Oh, I am already gathering supplies. I think fiber arts will be the best medium, especially if they use the hair we shear from the alpacas. I have a lot to spin this winter in order to be able to supply several classes, though.”
When they finished dinner, put away the leftovers, and loaded the dishwasher, Cassie remembered some news she’d forgotten to tell him. “Savannah Orlando called this morning. She heard about what you are planning to do and offered to help after the baby comes.” The baby was due in late January and Savannah should be able to come out to the ranch again by late spring or early summer. “Damián said to count him in, too, if you can think of something he would be good at.”
“I’d think just being there to talk with other veterans or amputees would help immensely. I’ll get in touch with them when we know a little more about the structure we plan to set up. I don’t expect to have many people at first, and we may even have to offer scholarships to the first ones until we know what we’re
doing.”
“It might be best to wait before talking with them. Savannah and Damián have to go to California for her father’s trial in early December. She sounded worried, and I am sure it is going to take a toll on her, even without being seven months pregnant at the time.”
Cassie hoped her new friend would be able to find justice as Cassie had in Peru against the men who had raped her all those years ago. To have the rapist be one’s own father… She couldn’t fathom that pain, or the strength Savannah must have to go on with her life when she escaped that hell.
“Sweet Pea, it’s okay.” Luke wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him. “Damián is going to make sure she’s protected and grounded during her testimony.”
“I know. And you would do the same for me. You even went after my rapists on our wedding night. I just hate seeing her have to face this.”
“But think how good she’s going to feel when she puts it behind her and he’s locked up for life. Let’s hope that’s the outcome, at least.”
Cassie nodded. She did not know how justice was done here, but would wish for the best.
“Let’s get ready for bed, Sweet Pea. Worrying about this isn’t going to do any good, and I do believe we have some unfinished business.”
Her worrisome thoughts evaporated with each step they took hand in hand toward the bathroom. They enjoyed a shower together, but then Luke surprised her by picking up her razor.
“How’d you feel about me shaving you?”
“I just shaved this morning.” Had she not done an adequate job?
With his other hand, he cupped her mound. “No, I want to shave you here.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks. She’d never thought about shaving there, although Kitty had told her she did so, and Adam loved it. Cassie supposed if she didn’t like it, the hair would grow back.
She smiled. “Sounds a little kinky, but I will give it a try.” With his talk of spankings and the feelings she had when he tied her feet in intricate designs, she was becoming more like Kitty than she realized.
Western Dreams (Rescue Me Saga Extras #1) Page 7
