A Distant Heart: A Contemporary Western

by Steedly, Arabella

  ***

  After the ceremony, they attended the reception at the O Club where cake and punch were served. James sat at a corner table visiting with General Connors. He watched while Sarah, her mother, and Aunt Martha circulated the room, meeting the parents and friends of those in her class. James saw Sarah hug Denise, Williams’ fiancé before they wished each other well. Some were going on leave for a few weeks before being shipped off to their first assignment. Others, as was Sarah, were taking leave but were remaining at Coronado. As soon as he could, James steered Sarah outside and pulled up his jeep. He had been planning a surprise for her and was anxious to execute his plan.

  “Where are we going, James?” Sarah asked, with a coy smile.

  “Back to my place!”

  “I didn’t know you had a place. I thought you lived on base,” Sarah said, as she dug her shades out of her bag.

  “You don’t know everything about me,” James said, laughing.

  “Ummm, but I want to learn more.”

  When they pulled into his driveway, he got out and opened her door, and said, “We can get something larger if you want. I’m barely ever here—as you know.” James unlocked the door and swung it opened. “Surprise,” he said, as he picked up a vase of white roses from the coffee table and handed them to her.

  She grinned and hopped up and down like school girl and held them to her nose. Giving him a sideways smile, she asked, “Any particular reason you picked out white?”

  “Umm…let me see.” He grinned.

  “They’re beautiful, thank you.” She set the vase back on the table and started rearranged the flowers saying, “We never discussed living together.”

  “We never had the chance. What do you think? Do you like the idea?” James cocked his head to one side. He hoped she wouldn’t surprise him by saying, “No.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I love the idea, and I love our place. We could paint this room a lighter color and move the couch—”

  “Let me show you the bedroom to see what you think can be done there.” He took her by the hand and lead her down the hall.

  She pulled back, and said, “I’m a little nervous James. I hope you understand.”

  James threw back his head and laughed. “Sarah Connors nervous…” But when he saw her eyes were wide, he realized his mistake, and said, “Don’t worry, honey. It’s just me. The same guy who was marooned on the island with you. The same guy you grew up with.” Then he whispered in her ear. “You just relax and let me take you on a ride.” When he turned her around and covered her mouth with his, she moaned and response by letting him in.

  Her voice was so husky he almost didn’t recognize it when, she said, “I’m ready James. I’ve been waiting for…” He took the clue and pulled her blouse out from under the waistband of her slacks. Delving his hands underneath, he caressed her soft skin. Then one-by-one he unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it off dropping it to the floor. He noticed she had replaced the sports bra with a sexy see-through one. He stopped and made a point to notice how lacy it was. Then kissed her mouth and caressed her nipples, one in each hand. “Your skin feels wonderful Sarah, and you’re so beautiful. It is nice to see you in the light.”

  He took her red lips again with a smoldering kiss and unhooked her bra, allowing it to drop to the floor. Her breasts were firm and large and were begging for his attention. First, he flicked her right brown erect nipple with his tongue while he rolled the other—remembering her response to his technique from previous experiences. He heard her silent cry when he knelt down and sucked one then the other. She moaned and let her hot lips fall open, arching her back she began to squirm. James recognized her silent signal and explored the soft skin of her stomach, sliding his hand toward the buckle on her belt.

  “Wait, James. Can we get in bed?”

  “Only if you striptease for me, please.” James didn’t take his eyes off her as Sarah slid out of her uniform slacks down to her pink lacy panties that matched her bra. He unzipped and followed her lead.

  Cupping his hand around the back of her neck, James pulled her close, and whispered, “I’ve been waiting for this moment longer than you know, Sarah,” before covering her mouth with his. Then he traced a zigzagged path with his tongue, past her breasts, past her belly button to the top of her panties where he got the first whiff of her hot pussy. He moaned and gently laid her back onto the bed.

  “Please,” she gasped, as she slipped out of her panties. “I’m ready for you,” she said, spreading her legs. He gazed at her, his erection ready to be set free. But first, he kneeled between her legs and lifted them up, one on each shoulder. She groaned and pushed back against his mouth while he licked her clitoris, letting him slip first one finger then two inside.

  After trying to work her pussy further open, he lowered his body, and said, “Honey, you’re so fucking tight,” as he pressed through her hymen into her warm spot.

  “You’re so big,” she said, opening her legs wider. She gasped then bit her lip while he massaged her clit with his thumb pushing deeper and deeper inside. By that time, his manhood filled her full, and they began to move as one. When he thrust down, she pressed up with her hips matching his every move.

  “I love you,” James whispered in her ear.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she mumbled, “I love you more.” He felt her pussy clamp down on his cock and her body began to tremble more and more with each of his strokes.

  “Oh, James I’m cumming for you. When he felt her organism began to subside, he smiled down at her and took a moment to appreciate his masculine pride before he flipped over one his back.

  She looked over in shock, and said, “James, you didn’t get off. I’m sorry—”

  “We’re not done. Get up here, Babe and take a ride.” James smiled and opened his legs a bit ready to steady her weight. She claimed on top and spread her pussy lips, lowering slowly onto his hard shaft she squatted over him. At first, she lifted herself up and down with the strength of her legs. James knew she would tire, but he let her go for a moment. She had to learn through experimentation, and he got off being her guinea pig. She worked her ass up and down faster and faster. Licking two fingers, she began frantically rubbing her nub until she was breathless and frustrated. He grinned and took her hands, saying, “Sarah, get on your knees and lean forward.” He waited for her to rock toward him and grabbed the back of her neck. Pulling her down, he starting kissing and tonguing her mouth. When she began a rhythmic motion, she raised up and looked down between her legs. Joining in her observation, James said, “See look, how your pussy is taking my cock.”

  She giggled, “I love to watch—”

  James grabbed her hips and pulled her down. She moaned and squealed as he buried himself deep inside. Then in a flash, he flipped her over. When he did, she let out a playful scream. She clutched at him and opened her legs to the point her knees almost touched the bed. He could feel the walls of her pussy starting to contract as the heat inside of him began to rise. She dug her nails into his arm and whined just as he exploded, and at that moment they become one. The only two people on earth.

  Sarah was still breathless when he sank down on her and rolled onto his side. Her legs were limp as two noodles when he pushed them open and fingered her hot juicy slit again. Bringing their cum to his mouth, he licked his fingers, and said, “Ummm…want to taste?” She shook her head ‘yes’ and licked and sucked his fingers. They both sank into the covers beside each other exhausted when James pulled her head over onto his shoulder he whispered, “Was that worth waiting for, Babe?”

  “Oh, my God. Yes!”

  Secluded Valley Billionaire Cowboy

  (Preview)

  by

  Arabella Steedly

  BLURB

  TESS She didn’t want to give herself away to New York City billionaire who was buying their ranch, but her desire for Clay overwhelmed her. She didn’t dream she would end up having his baby and find the man of her dream
s.

  It wasn’t easy growing up on a secluded ranch surrounded only by rough, tough cowboys. Her mother had passed away when she was only three, so her daddy and her three older brothers were fiercely protective of her. Tess knew that was the very reason she was still a virgin at the age of twenty-five.

  Her family had been struggling and was close to bankruptcy, so they had put the ranch up for sale. When a New York City billionaire showed up wanting to buy the ranch Tess was furious at first until he gazed at her with his sexy green eyes.

  She couldn’t help but notice how tall he was how he had wide shoulders and muscular arms. Something inside her wanted him to take control and ravish her, as she had fantasized a man would do when she was upstairs in her bedroom alone.

  CLAY He marveled at Tess naiveté and found it to be sexy as hell. For a second, he tried imagining her in New York City wearing stiletto heels and tight skirts but found it hard to do.

  He eased the truck up under the rocking ’S’ the ranch’s brand and was taken aback by the untouched beauty and the ranch’s old-world charm—a stark contrast to the vistas from his penthouse overlooking Central Park. When he pulled up to the house, he saw a woman younger than him had stepped out onto the porch.

  Her shapely long legs were accentuated by the way her Wrangler jeans were tucked into her cowboy boots. She was a tall, curvaceous woman with full breasts—just the way he liked them.

  Already Clay's mind had drifted from business to naughty thoughts of pleasuring himself with her. Then he shook his head—he had intended to leave his womanizing ways behind when he came to Colorado.

  Chapter One

  TESS

  Tess galloped up to the hitching post in front of the barn at Secluded Valley Ranch and jumped down from Daffodil, her pinto mare. After leading the horse into her stall and feeding her a flake of hay, she blew a lock of her flaxen hair out of her eyes. Glancing down at her wristwatch, she noticed it was four o’clock. It was her responsibility to have dinner on the table for her father and brothers before seven, and she was running thirty minutes behind.

  She pulled open the screen door at the back of the house and let it slam shut with a ‘bang’ behind her. After washing her hands at the kitchen sink, she noticed the mail was laying on the table. Picking it up she began thumbing through the envelopes and papers. “Oh, no, not another one,” she gasped. For the second time in a week, they had received an invoice from the feed store stamped in red with ‘Past Due.’ When she had asked her father about the first one, he shrugged his shoulders, and said, “Oh, I must have gotten busy and forgot to pay it.”

  She was peeling potatoes and chopping carrots when she heard someone come in the back door. Her brother, Joe, greeted her and asked, “Where’ve you been? We’ve been looking for you.”

  Tess glanced over her shoulder and smirked at him. “I guess you haven’t been looking too hard. I’ve been back from my ride for over a half hour.”

  “You should've left a note on the refrigerator or something,” Joe reminded her.

  Tess turned on the water to rinse the vegetables before she put them in the pot with the roast. “Why do all of you need to know where I’m at all the time? I feel like a bird in a cage.”

  Joe squinted his eyes. “This ranch is huge, and it's covered with woods and mountains. You could fall off your horse and get hurt—or God knows what! Just leave a note next time, will ya?” Tess rolled her eyes hoping he would go away. Instead, Joe reached inside the pantry and took out two more potatoes and a few carrots. Clearing his throat, he said, “You need to fix extra. We're having a guest join us for dinner.”

  She couldn’t remember the last time they had entertained company. The Baker family was not known for socializing. Tess turned to him and scowled. “A guest? Who?”

  “Nobody you know. Just one of our associates.”

  Tess placed her hand on her hips, and asked, “What are you talking about? I didn't know we had associates?”

  Joe glanced down at her, and said, “Just set an extra plate at the table, Tess. Please, just do as I say.”

  Tess arched an eyebrow. “You don’t seem very excited about this.”

  “No, not exactly. None of us are,” Joe said, as he turned to walk away.

  It wasn’t easy growing up being the only girl surrounded by four rough, tough cowboys. Her mother had passed away when she was only three-years-old. As a child and even to that day her father and three brothers were fiercely protective. To them, she was still their precious little girl who needed to be sheltered and coddled.

  Tess knew that was the very reason she was still a virgin at the age of twenty-three. Once, Luke, a high school boyfriend, had been caught kissing her in the hayloft above the barn. Brian, her oldest brother, had threatened to punch poor Luke in the face if he dared to come around again. After that, the rumors spread like wildfire, and no man had mustered up the courage to ask her out on a date.

  Just as she was finishing setting the table, with an extra plate like she was asked to do, she heard the sound of a truck pulling up in front of the house. Her curiosity got the best of her. So she took off her apron and walked to the front porch to see who was coming for dinner.

  Chapter Two

  CLAY

  Clay pulled out of the Rent-A-Wreck lot and headed north on Hwy. 145 toward Telluride on his way to the Baker family ranch. After listening to the old red Ford F- 150 backfire a few times he shook his head in disbelief that Clay Ramey was driving a rented beat-up truck. He was inspired by the notion that if things went as planned, he would buy a new one before he left to go back to New York City.

  Moments later he noticed, the view of the valley was breathtaking, and after about five miles the entrance to Secluded Valley Ranch came into view. The gate was open, so he turned in and switched the truck into four-wheel drive.

  While easing under the rocking ’S’ the ranch's brand, he was taken aback by the untouched beauty and the ranch’s old-world charm. The two-story creek stone house was nestled between varying shades of green in front of a backdrop of snowy peaks reaching up in the distance—a stark contrast to the vistas from his New York penthouse overlooking Central Park.

  After he had pulled up in front of the house, he sat a moment and breathed in the fresh mountain air until he heard the sound of what he thought was the front door of the house creaking open. When he turned to look, he saw a woman had stepped out onto the porch. She appeared to be younger than him and had a raw beauty about her of which he was unaccustomed.

  Her hair fell in waves to just above her waist, and she wore a summery purple cotton blouse. Her shapely long legs were accentuated by the way her Wrangler jeans were tucked into her cowboy boots. She was a tall, curvaceous woman with full breasts—just the way he liked them. Already Clay's mind had drifted from business to naughty thoughts of what he would like to do with those beautiful boobs. Then he shook his head and clenched his jaw. Clay had promised himself he was leaving his womanizing ways behind in New York City, but after seeing her he figured that might be hard to do.

  The woman stood stone still with her chin held high as she watched him make his way up the porch steps. When she turned and walked toward the door, he glanced down at her pert ass and noticed her confident air. From his first impression, just from watching her body language, he wondered if she was as naiveté as she seemed. For a second, Clay tried imagining her in New York City wearing stiletto heels, and tight skirts but found it impossible.

  Before she pulled open the screen door, she turned toward Clay and narrowed her eyes. He sensed she was studying him like an ant in one of those ant farms they had in his third-grade class. Unlike the usual reaction he had gotten from women around him in the Big Apple, this girl wasn’t blushing or batting her eyelashes or leaning in towards him to whisper a flirtatious remark. Clay was surprised by her attitude and wondered what he was doing wrong. Or maybe cowgirls were just different?

  “Before I let you in, I want you to tell me exactly what you�
�re doing here? We don't get many visitors around these parts.” The woman said to him.

  “I have an appointment with Brian Baker that was made a few weeks ago,” Clay said as tipped his recently acquired Stetson hat. He had vowed to himself to give the cowboy life a try, but he was still getting used to wearing a cowboy hat and Wrangler jeans—so far he liked it.

  She was looking up at him, with her blue forget-me-nots eyes. Clay grinned, trying to break the ice but it didn't work. She was hard to read—her face as blank as a piece of slate.

  “Who are you?” she asked after a few silent moments had passed.

  “Clay Ramsey,” he replied extending his hand.

  She dropped her gaze to look at his outstretched palm for an instant. “I don’t shake hands with people who don’t answer my questions,” she said as she pushed open the front door and walked inside. Clay followed her in without an invitation and wondered what kind of situation he was getting himself involved in.

  To him, the house seemed surreal. He had never witnessed authentic western decor before. Clay was intrigued and a bit intimidated by the stuffed animal heads, deer, antelope, and even a bear that hung on the walls, yet he found the faint smell of leather and pine cones welcoming. The girl had walked to the foot of the stairs, looked up, and hollered, “Your guest is here!” Then she turned her gaze back on Clay crossing her arms over those beautiful breasts.