by Sher Dillard
Gently squeezing her shoulder he kissed the top of her head and said, “Thank you. I think you sliding into that ditch had to be one of the best things to ever happen to me.”
Her body tensed and he could tell she wanted to say something. Had he said the wrong thing?
“Brandon, there’s something I’ve got to tell you,” she said with a hitch in her throat.
His heart stopped for a moment. What, a husband waiting for her. Maybe a couple of kids. No, no way. It had to be something else.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to stare directly into his eyes and said, “I read what you wrote on the legal pad. I didn’t mean too, not at first. I was looking for a book to read and came across it. I’m sorry but I thought you should know.”
His head flopped back onto the pillow. He didn’t know how to react. She hadn't commented on his scars at all last night. Instead she had gently ran her fingers over them then kissed him to the depths of his soul.
The fact that she knew about some of his secrets and came to him anyway gave him a sense of relief.
She knew some of the worst and hadn’t run screaming. The fact that she’d snooped around while he was gone. Come on, give her a break. Who wouldn’t?
It surprised him to realize he didn’t care what she’d done. If he’d known, it wouldn’t have changed anything.
“That’s okay, I wasn’t hiding anything. It’s just something I had to put down on paper. Define it, put boundaries around it. You know?”
She nodded in understanding. “Do you want to talk about it? What happened while you were over there?”
“No,” he answered sharply. Relaxing after a brief moment. “Not now, not here. Maybe someday. Not right now.”
She nodded once again and then snuggled next to him. “If you do ever want to talk about it. I’m here.”
He stared at the ceiling and realized if he ever did talk about it, this would be the person he wanted to tell. His heart knew he could trust her.
That thought, that awareness. made him smile and he gave her a reassuring hug to let her know that everything was all right between them.
.o0o.
Meagan couldn’t stop giggling. Brandon had found her ticklish spot underneath her left shoulder blade and held her in place while he administered the devilish torture.
It was pay back for her waking him up by tickling him. The sleepy head had refused to budge until she started tickling his sides. Her expert fingers had elicited a sharp grunt of annoyance before he had swept her up with his good arm and tossed her onto the other side of the bed.
She’d squealed and kicked but he refused to let her go until he’d made his point. Laughing he rolled away.
“Next time you won’t get off so easy,” he said as he swung his feet over the side of the bed.
She watched the muscles of his back move like powerful works of art. The jagged pink and white scars added depth and meaning to the glorious male before her.
Reacting without thinking, she dove and started tickling him again.
The ensuing wrestling match led to another long and languorous bout of love making that made her cry with its intensity.
God Meagan, what are you going to do when the trail opens? How are you ever going to say goodbye to this man.
Chapter Four
Brandon lay on his side and watched Meagan at the sink on the other side of the room. She was peeling potatoes for the evening meal.
He smiled to himself. She had insisted that she be allowed to cook dinner. That for some reason she had a desperate desire to be all domestic.
Jake was curled up next to her feet. It seemed his dog liked her as much as he did.
He laughed to himself. The woman was a treasure. So sure of herself. So confident, yet tender and vulnerable at the same time. A miracle.
As he lay there, his eyes drifted over that perfect form. She was wearing her jeans and his flannel shirt. Her chocolate hair hung free down her back. Her hips stretched her jeans just enough to remind him how perfect they were.
His heart hitched, so perfect. He needed her, again. It seemed like he was in a permanent state of need with this woman.
But it wasn’t only her body. He loved talking with her. He like to make her laugh. It made him feel special to see her happy.
Sighing, he watched as she shifted her balance.
That was all he needed. Pushing the blanket aside, he rolled off the bed and walked to her, never taking his eyes off those hips.
Reaching and arm around her he pulled her close.
“I need you,” he whispered as he pushed her hair aside to nuzzle at her neck.
“Mmmmmm,” she moaned as she pushed her self back in into him.
“Yes, you do,” she said as she wiggled her bottom back and forth across his erection.
His world narrowed down to just her, to just this moment. He could no more of stopped himself than stopped the coming sunset.
Unbuttoning her jeans, he pushed them down and reached for her.
Leaning forward over the sink, she spread her legs to give him better access as she looked over her shoulder with a sexy smile that begged him to hurry.
Grabbing himself, he positioned his cock and pushed into her.
“Yes,” he grunted as he pulled back and then shoved forward filling her again.
As he sank into her, she wiggled and moved in an enticing dance that sent him to the stars.
The woman was perfect, he thought as he grabbed her hips and shoved himself into her over and over again.
He couldn’t get enough. He had to be buried inside of her.
Over and over he thrust until he exploded inside of her. Filling her with himself.
As the shudders washed away. He leaned over her, cradling her in his arms, unwilling to move, just soaking in the wonder of Meagan.
.o0o.
Meagan stood at the window and looked outside into the soft morning light.
Her heart sunk as she watched the icilces drip from the roof.
The snow was melting. A warm front had moved in to ruin her world.
It had to end sometime, she thought as she turned to look at the man sleeping on their bed.
He was spread out like he’d collapsed after a week of hard work. She smiled to herself as she examined his glorious body. Those wide shoulders, that perfect butt.
Closing her eyes, she tried to lock in the memory that was Brandon.
Three wonderful days.
This was a memory she knew she would recall on her death bed. A sweet interlude that had changed her somehow. But it had to end.
Her life was below, in the town. His was up here in the mountains. And with the snow melting. It would be long.
She couldn’t ignore her gallery. She couldn’t ignore her life.
Besides, he hadn’t exactly asked her to stay. Deep inside, she hoped that he might. She would say no of course, her life was down there. But she still wanted him to ask.
Sighing, she pulled her eyes off the man in the bed and back to the world outside the window.
Maybe he could go to the Rangers today. If not, surely tomorrow.
Yes, tomorrow, she thought, there wasn’t that big a rush.
Smiling to herself she returned to the bed. There was something she wanted to do. Something that before now, she would never have had the courage to do. Not in the daylight. Not in the morning while he slept.
Kneeling down next to the bed, she wormed her hand under his leg to take him in her grip. Gently prodding, she got him to roll over and giver her full access.
He moaned in his sleep as he threw an arm over his eyes.
Yes, she thought, there he was, in all his glory. And he was hers to do with she wished.
Bending forward, she gently took him into her mouth. Slowly moving her lips up and down his shaft as he grew bigger and bigger.
The power she felt was exhilarating. A strong feminine power that lifted her soul.
Her mouth and hand continued to caress him. To st
roke and suck as he moaned again.
Getting into a rhythm, she bobbed up and down on him. Sucking, twirling her tongue around his tip, then returning to take all of him.
“Oh, Meagan,” he whispered as his hands came to her head, holding onto her, as she continued to move up and down.
“Yes, Yes,” He moaned as he thrashed side to side.
She felt him building. Clamping down with her hand she held him tight as he erupted into her mouth. Shooting himself down her throat as she took him all.
Over and over he shot it not her until there was nothing left.
“Oh Meagan,” he said again as he collapsed back onto the bed.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she said with a satisfied smile.
Seeing him like this, satiated, wiped out, in fact. Was one of the best feeling in the world. She had done that to him, and he had loved it.
.o0o.
One more day had turned into another three.
Meagan lay with her head on his chest as he slowly ran his hand up and down her back. It was a feeling that she feared she might never know again.
A feeling of contentment and security. As if nothing else in the world was as important as that moment together.
“I can’t stay much longer,” she said softly. Afraid of how he would react. Afraid of the pain the words would cause in her own soul.
“I know,” he said with a sad resignation that made her feel a little better. At least he hadn’t jumped at the opportunity to get rid of her.
“Maybe we could get together when you come down to town,” she said as she held her breath.
“I don’t come to town,” he replied with a finality that sunk any hope she might have had.
“But, you can always come visit me here,” he added, giving her some hope again. He wasn’t rejecting her, just town, just people.
The thought of visiting her secret lover up in the mountains sent a small thrill through her until she remembered this was only the beginning of the winter. Soon the snows would set in, the roads would be closed and there would be not getting to him.
What about in the spring, she wondered. As her mind raced with a thousand possibilities.
But what then, How could she ever live a life like that. Sneaking up into the mountains for a quick romp in bed, then back down to the city.
No, she wanted more, she needed more. But she couldn’t ask it. Not of him.
Brandon had been gallant, her hero, but he had never made promises. Not like that.
She couldn’t ask him to change his life if she was unwilling to changer hers. It wouldn’t be fair.
Sighing into his chest, she pulled him tight and held on as a sadness filled her. A sadness she was sure would never go away again.
Chapter Five
Brandon watched the tow truck and its special passenger turn the corner taking his heart with it. Shoving his hands into his pockets he hunched his shoulders against the wind and started for home. A home that would be dead without her.
“She has her own life Jake. Not much I could do about that,” he said to the dog.
Jake stared at his friend with a soul melting look of pity. As if to say, you poor bastard.
“Hey, don’t look at me that way,” Brandon snapped as he increased his pace. “What? Move to town. Jump back into that rat race. Work my butt off to achieve something? Life has to mean more?”
The dog didn’t answer him, didn’t point out the obvious lack of meaning in hiding on a mountain top.
What was he doing here hiding from the world? Meagan hadn’t asked him directly, but he knew she had wondered.
She’d been disappointed in him somehow and that hurt. It hurt because it was so true
By the time he’d returned to the small cabin, he’d convinced himself that is was for the best. They’d had six days of bliss. Enough laughs and pleasure to fill a lifetime.
Maybe if he told himself that enough times, he could put the pain behind him. Bury it like he did every bad memory. The only problem with that was that he’d have to bury the good memories too.
He’d have to forget about the way she laughed when he tickled her. The way her fingers nervously tucked her hair behind her ear whenever she got serious. The curve of her hip and the taste of her skin. All of it.
He’d have to forget it all if he was to bury the pain.
.o0o.
Glancing at the phone for the thousandth time in the last two weeks Meagan shook her head. Why are you looking at the phone she asked herself? He doesn’t have one remember.
It wasn’t fair, wasn’t right. She didn’t even have a way to stalk him if she wanted to.
Stuck up there all alone, she couldn’t haunt his Facebook, couldn’t call, then hang-up when he answered.
None of the silly teenage stunts that she knew were ridiculous but that she felt an overwhelming urge to do.
What made it worse was the fact that there wasn’t anyone she could talk to about it. They wouldn’t understand.
Her friends would have giggled at the idea of her hooking up with some sexy mountain man and then teased her relentlessly for days.
Her mom would have admonished her for getting involved with someone so obviously un-realistic.
She’d have been nice about it. Couched in thoughtful caring terms. Meagan however would have known what she was thinking the whole time. That Meagan had made another mistake, much like throwing a college degree away so she could open an art gallery.
Focusing on the invoice, she tried to put Brandon out of her mind.
This was the slow time of the year for the Gallery. The tourists were few and far between. Normally she’d be hitting the road, looking for new artists, discovering those hidden gems.
Instead, she sat here each day praying. Sitting by the phone like some middle aged spinster waiting for her last chance at happiness.
Sighing to herself, she signed the invoice and pulled another for review. Her mind continued to wander.
You know, she thought, there is nothing so quiet as an art gallery on a rainy afternoon.
The soft tinkle of the bell over the front door brought her back to reality. She looked up and her heart dropped.
Brandon Erikson, in all his wonderfulness had stepped into her gallery.
He looked normal in a dark blue blazer, light blue dress shirt open at the collar and new jeans. Boy, the man cleaned up nice. Her heart fluttered and her mouth lost all moisture.
He wore his boots, she saw, and smiled to herself. The man was still clean shaven and eye popping great. A small part of her missed the grizzled outdoorsy look though.
Smiling shyly he glanced around the Gallery and nodded.
“I like it.”
“Thank you,” she said, her heart thumping like it wanted to climb out of her chest. What was he doing here? What did this mean? Why was he dressed that way?
These and a hundred other questions poured through her mind while she watched him walk towards her.
Her hands began to sweat and she prayed he wouldn’t want to shake hands.
“What are you doing here?” leaked out of her mouth before she could stop it.
Smiling once again he said, “I had to meet with the family lawyers and thought I’d stop by and take you up on that offer of dinner. If you’re free that is. I probably should have called ahead of time.”
Damn right, she thought to herself. If you’d called I would have worn something different, better, sexier. I would have been ready with something witty to say when you walked through the door.
“No, that’s okay. Uh … Yes dinner sounds great. I know just the place,” she said trying to remember if she had enough food in the house for a home cooked meal.
“Where’s Jake?” she asked as she desperately tried to calm her racing heart.
“In the truck.”
“You have a truck?” she said with surprise.
He paused for a moment as a smirk broke across his lips.
“I do now, It came with the hous
e.”
“Hhhhouse?” she asked as she held her breath.
“Yea, I just bought this beat up little farm house just outside of town. It needs work, but it will keep me busy. And Jake like it.”
“But … but, I thought you didn’t like town.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “When a man loves a woman the way I love you, his priorities change.”
Meagan felt her world come to a screeching halt. Brandon Erickson had just said that he loved her.
“Come on,” he said. “If you want, we can stop by and I can show it to you.”
She shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing.
“No,” she said, “if we go there, we’ll never get away. This time, we are spending the next six days in my bed.”
He laughed and held out his arms for her to run into.
“I don’t care whose bed it is, as long as your in it. And just, so you know. I plan on a life time of having you in my bed.”
Meagan’s heart filled with joy as she wrapped her arms around her man. Yes, this was where she belonged.
.o0o.
It is during those quiet moments that we see the world as we wish it to be. For only then can we truly grasp the greatness surrounding us.
The End
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading my story. I would enjoy hearing from you. What did you think, would you like to see more of these type of stories. I can be contacted at [email protected] or check out my Facebook page at facebook.com/sher.dillard
Please continue to read on and explore the first three chapters of Dragon Fire.
Other books by Sher Dillard
Dragon Fire
Dragon Heat
Dragon Blaze
Dragon Fire
Chapter One
She entered the place like she owned it. As if she was simply stepping into a palace ballroom. Pure poise, grace, and beauty. Girls like that shouldn’t come into taverns like this. It wasn’t good for their health.
Drake looked down at the rough hands holding his ale. It wasn’t any of his business. He had enough problems of his own. The last thing he needed was to get mixed up with some high born beauty slumming through the worst part of town.
