His words strike a chord. That last brick wall crumbles to the ground, and I wipe my damn leaking eyes. “Okay,” I whisper.
Duane’s heart pounds underneath my ears. “Okay—what?”
“Let’s do it. Let’s build a house.”
“Really?”
I nod my head eagerly. The more I turn the idea around in my head, the more it makes sense.
Duane hoists me up into his arms, and I laugh to myself. His strides are effortless up the stairs. I don’t know or care where we’re going. Opening a door, the room is dark, and he sets me on his big king size bed. The sheets are soft and clean under my already-heated skin. The bright white shines in the moonlight, making his bed look like a giant cloud.
He leaves me on the bed and, now that my eyes have adjusted, I can see him easily. He stalks around the room as it shrinks under his presence.
“What are you doing, Cowboy?” I question.
He stops his stalking to look at me and shakes his head, his body visibly vibrating. “I’m so worked up, Red.”
Slipping Liv’s heels off, I get on my knees, and wave him over. “Come here.”
He comes keenly, putting his head on my breasts.
Lazily combing my hands through his hair, I say, “Talk to me.”
He sighs and rubs his face further into my chest. “I love you, so fucking much.”
I close my eyes, and fight the urge to happy cry. “I love you, too.”
Eyes glossy, Duane looks up at me. “Good.”
Letting me go, he gets up from the bed and beckons me to get up with him. Grabbing my waist, he pulls me close and I lay my head on his chest, mindlessly stroking his muscles. He moans and pulls at my chin, forcing me to look up. The need in me grows, and I grab both sides of his face and bring his lips to mine.
When we break away, Duane smiles, “What was that for?”
I kiss him more.
“I can’t imagine doing this without you.” I suck on his neck. “Because you’ve suddenly become everything to me. Because,” I pause looking him square in the eyes, “you’ve chosen me.”
He shakes his head, like what I’ve spoken is silly. “Ann, you’re everything I’ve searched for. You are it for me, there is no one else.”
I slam my mouth to his and get up to straddle his hips. Feeling his erection against my core, I cry out.
Duane murmurs against my mouth, begging, “I want to make love to you, Ann. Please say yes.”
He always asks me for permission. I’ll need to break him of that habit. I’m not going to brake anymore.
He licks up my neck and my eyes fall back. I grab onto his shoulders. “Yes—oh my God, yes.”
Duane sets me on my feet and pulls my mouth to his, eager to pull off my shirt. Ready to feel his skin, I quickly slip my jeans off and pull at his shirt. Next goes my bra with a snap of his fingers. Eagerly, I pull at his boxer briefs, exposing his smooth, hard cock. Soon there is a pile of clothes on the floor, and all that’s left are Duane and I, staring at each other’s naked bodies.
I study his toned body, starting at his un-kept sandy brown hair that’s fallen around his eyes.
Oh God, those eyes.
They speak to me.
I eye downward to see his round pecks and tight flat stomach. He doesn’t have abs, but his body is tough as steel. His stomach pours into his deep, sexy V that points to a smooth, thick shaft.
I bring my mouth to his chest and kiss along the contours of his body. Slowly stopping just above his pant line. Grazing my teeth along the edge of his skin, I hear Duane hiss. I lift my head looking into his eyes. He returns my coy smile, but this time the smile reaches far beyond his eyes.
Putting his hand on my chest, between both breasts, he pushes me gently toward the bed. Once the back of my legs hit the soft blanket, I sit down, opening myself up to him.
Standing between my legs, he combs a hand through my hair, relishing in my kneading hands. Grabbing his ass, I pull him to me. Kissing and sucking my way up his body. His skin twitches under my touch, letting me explore. Smoothing my hands up and down the back of his thighs, I rock his shaft against the mounds of my breasts.
“Holy fuck, Red,” he says as his head falls back, savoring the sensation.
Kissing my way down his body, I stop just before the motherland and look up to see Duane watching me with rapt attention. He watches every move of my lips, every lick and breath. Kissing at the base of his cock, I look up to him, asking for permission.
I’ve never done this before. I’m not even sure I know what I’m doing, but I’ll sure as hell try with Duane.
He gives me a pained nod, so I lick my way up his silky skin. Grasping the base in my hand, I greedily bring him to my mouth, sucking. Letting it hit the back of my throat, I gently graze my teeth, receiving a groan from Duane.
Hands twisted in my hair, Duane pumps in and out of my mouth with easy thrusts. His body begins to shake and he pulls out of my mouth with a pop.
I look to him, confused. “Was—did I do something wrong?”
Good ol’ Rookie Ann.
Duane shakes his head, pushing me further into the bed. Crawling to the headboard, he follows me with a predatory gaze. “If I didn’t get my dick out of that sweet mouth of yours, I would have come a lot sooner than I’d like to admit.”
I tease him with my eyes a bit, producing a nipple twist from Duane. The slight pain causes me to whimper in sexual need.
Duane digs his hands into my hips, propping my legs up and gazes at me. “My turn.”
I raise up on my elbows and quirk an eyebrow in question. “Your turn for what?”
With lust-filled eyes, he replies, “to explore.” His gaze burns a hole in my heart and I comply. I’m his; he can do whatever he wants.
From the tips of her toes, to the top of her head, there isn’t an inch of skin untouched by my lips.
As I kiss the heel of her foot, I look up at Ann and say with a heady voice, “Alright, that’s enough exploring. I need to be inside you. Now.”
Ann nods as I crawl up her body to situate myself in between her legs. The heat coming from her core is intoxicating. I press myself against her and close my eyes. She wiggles her hips in order to create friction. I’m millimeters from slipping into her soft, wet pussy when I stop.
“Shit. Fuck,” I curse. “Condoms. Where are the fucking condoms?” I hover over her to dig into my nightstand drawer. Nothing. Of all that is fucking holy, I did not just now remember condoms. I’m a fucker. A cold-blooded-fucker.
Ann laughs and smooth’s her hands down my chest. My eyes close tight at the touch. I can’t believe I did this.
“Cowboy…” she urges.
I’m too pissed to bring myself to look at her. Her shoulders quake and, despite the fact that I feel like a complete asshole, I can’t deny her. Slowly, I open my eyes to look at her.
“Baby, I’m on the pill,” she states. “It’s okay.”
Relief washes over me. “Really?”
Thankfully, Ann nods and quips, “Of course.”
“Red, I’ve never had sex without a condom,” I admit.
She gives me a playful look. “Me either.”
I smirk as I lower myself into her.
“Holy shit, baby. I don’t know if I can handle this. Your skin on my skin might drive me crazy before I can even get fully in.”
With a determined look, she takes hold of me. “Let’s find out,” she urges.
Guiding me to her entrance, the tip of my cock twitches in her hand. Leaving me to do the rest, I sink into her. “Dammit, Red, you’re so tight. Are you okay? Do you need me to stop?” I still myself in her to give her some time to accommodate my size, remember she hasn’t had sex in seven years.
Ann shakes her head and brings her hips to meet mine. That’s all the incentive I need. I begin to pump in and out of her in a slow, fluid motion that speaks volumes of my love for her.
Ann skims her fingers up and down my arms, as I pull her leg behind he
r knee to bend it close to my body. Her eyes shut, and she turns her head, mouth falling open in pleasure.
I growl and place my head in the crook of her neck.
“I love you,” I say between hot, slick thrusts.
She pants, her hips meeting with mine, “I—fuck, I love you, Cowboy.”
Using my hands to hold my weight, I lift up and look at her desire-ridden face. “Look at me,” I demand. I need to see her eyes; I can feel her getting close. There’s no way she’s going to do this with her eyes closed.
A couple more pushes into her and she cracks her baby blue eyes open, clear and sex-hazed all at the same time.
I grin as sweat begins to break out on my back. “Hi.”
Oh, fuck, this is phenomenal. I’ve always loved sex. What man doesn’t? But, there’s a massive possibility Ann has ruined me. I’m done for.
She licks her bottom lip, and grabs onto my forearm, plunging me deeper into her.
“Hi,” she responds quietly, having a hard time finding her voice.
Sliding my hand down the back of her thigh, to the round of her ass, I lift her up, bringing us together as close as two people can possibly get.
“I’m—I’m so—close, Duane. I don’t want to do it alone,” Ann softly says in between intoxicating moans.
“You won’t be alone. Come, baby.”
She brings her legs up and wraps them around my hips, pushing me over the edge. Her inner muscles pulse around me, driving me toward my own orgasmic eruption. As she scrapes her nails down my back, I whisper my love for her and explode, spilling myself into her as she screams my name, chasing her own orgasm.
Sweaty and satisfied, I push Ann’s damp hair from her face, putting my head back in the crook of her neck.
Stroking my back with her tiny fingers, she sighs. “Wow. That was—whoa.”
I’ve got to agree. “Yeah, it was,” I say with a chuckle.
“I love you, Red. Forever.”
Her skin glistens in the moonlight, and she smiles a lazy, radiant, satisfied smile. “Always, Cowboy. I’ll love you, always.”
“You’re such an ass. Come on. Let’s get up. I need to pee, and you stink,” Ann says as she pushes up out of the bed, bare-ass naked, heading to the bathroom.
I could get used to this.
I had to get up early this morning to feed the animals. I try to give the guys Saturdays off, letting them sleep off their more-than-likely hangovers. Ann cheerfully slept through it. I could have sworn I heard her pleasantly sigh when I opened the door to leave.
I didn’t want to get out of bed. Who could blame me when I have a woman like Ann sleeping in it? But, hearing Belle outside whinnying for food forced me into action. After I was finished feeding, I eagerly climbed back in bed, pulled Ann to me and went back to sleep.
Apparently my smell is what wakes her an hour later.
“Hey!” I yell to the open bathroom. “I do not stink. That’s called victory smell, and I like it.”
Ann storms out of the bathroom with a smile on her face. She hops on the bed to straddle my hips. Deeply, she kisses me. Her tongue caressing mine, biting and nibbling on my lips.
“I love it, too, and you know it. Now get up, lazy.” She wiggles her eyebrows and hops off my lap. “Take a shower, or,” she studies me with hungry eyes, “better yet, don’t. I kinda like you dirty.”
Letting the sheet fall from my waist, I get up and grab her still-naked body. “We could shower together,” I suggest.
Ann steps away, giving me a fake stern look. She’s adorable.
“No, Cowboy. I need to feed you. Who knows how long it’s been since you’ve been fed a proper meal.” She heads to the bathroom once again peeking out. “By the way, how did you get a bag full of my stuff here?”
I shrug a shoulder. “Liv might have helped.”
She rolls her eyes. “Figures. You two are sneaky.”
I advance on her and she points to my chest with a wiggling finger.
“Uh-uh. I’m going to shower alone, Cowboy. Get dressed,” she toys.
I slump my shoulders for effect. “Bossy-ass.”
She smiles over her shoulder and shines. “I love you, Cowboy.”
“Always and forever, Red. I’ll love you longer than that if I can.”
Twenty minutes later, Ann is showered, dressed and clean. She is the first woman I’ve ever known to get ready that fast and look that magnificent. She’s only wearing khaki shorts and a pink tank top, but damn if it’s not incredibly sexy on her. My woman is flawless.
As she walks into my walk-in closet, bag in hand, I put the book I was reading down, and get out of bed. Just inside, Ann is sitting down on an ottoman putting her Converse on. I bend down and kiss the top of her head before I grab my clothes. As I’m pulling on my jeans, Ann clears her throat. I turn around to look at her, but, she quickly looks down and I see a hint of flush on her face.
Interesting.
A couple of beats later, Ann looks up at me, face composed, and says with a smile, “It really is a shame you have to put clothes on at all, Duane. It’s a damn shame.”
I shake my head and slip my shirt over my head. “I could say the same for you, but you’re mine and I don’t share. I’ll just have to enjoy your glorious body in private. And, you do look beautiful in those clothes.”
Ann chuckles. “Duane, I’m fashion stupid. I wear minimal sexy clothes, if at all. Look at me.” She gestures up and down her body.
I get a good look at her, which earns me another bit of red flush. She looks great. What’s the issue here?
“You look incredible, Ann. I wouldn’t have you any other way.” I stop, forming the correct words. “Have some confidence. You’re stunning.”
She scoots over, letting me sit on the ottoman to put my boots on.
“Mia says that to me too, and I do. Have confidence, I mean. I just don’t feel like I’m a glam-azon, you know? That’s not who I am. I’ve accepted the fact most guys want this girly, Barbie kind-of-girl. I’m—just not her.”
“Well, I’m glad you aren’t some plastic woman that has to hide behind overly-tight, over-the-top clothes and caked-on makeup. I love you how you are. You’re perfect.”
Ann laughs and puts her hand on my back to rub. “You’re amazing, you know that? You’re the only person who makes me feel beautiful for being just me. I can be me around you. That’s kind of remarkable.”
She kisses the side of my neck and stands up.
Clasping our hands together, we move to the living room. “What are you hungry for, Cowboy?” Ann asks when she crosses the threshold into the kitchen.
“You,” I mutter to myself, but she hears me.
“Food, Rynard. What food are you hungry for?” She laughs, eyes dancing.
Sitting at the dining room, I clasp my hands together behind my head. “Anything you make will be amazing, I’m sure. Surprise me.”
Her face lights up, and she spins on her heel, walking toward the fridge. Within seconds, she’s got bacon sizzling, eggs scrambling and biscuits baking in the oven. I watch her in awe, never missing a beat in a kitchen she’s never seen before. She belongs here.
Our plates are soon piled high with steaming food and I suggest, “Let’s eat on the porch, yeah?”
She nods her head enthusiastically and follows me outside. Taking her plate, I lead her to the porch swing. The paint hasn’t chipped in all the years it’s hung here, and the pillows still have life, so I gesture for her to sit. When she does, I hand her the plate and settle myself next to her. Breathing lightly, she sets her head on my shoulder and swings us back and forth.
Content, I grin and finish my food.
She turns to kiss my neck. “We’ve had a busy couple of days, Cowboy. Love, moving in and sex, it couldn’t get much better than this.”
Before I can stop the words from leaving my mouth, I blurt, “Marry me.”
Her feet stop us from swinging and she lifts her head to look at me, eyes wide. My mouth goes dry
and I close my eyes. I’ve had my grandmother’s ring in my pocket since we came home from Arizona. I knew then I wanted to marry this girl.
“Shit, I’m sorry Red. I shouldn’t have sprung that on you so fast. You’re just getting used to the fact that we’re going to move in together. It’s just,” I trail off, “seeing you here makes my feelings heightened—and fuck, you deserve a huge gesture, not just me blurting—”
“Yes,” she replies, stopping me mid-rant.
I sputter, eyes bulging, “Wh—what? What did you just say?”
Tears start to fall from her eyes and she beams. “Yes, Duane. Of course, yes, I’ll marry you.”
I bring her in for a kiss. Knowing this woman is going to be mine forever makes the shitty card life handed me as a kid with Dad, worth every agonizingly painful minute.
“I’m going to love you forever, Red.”
She smiles and wipes her face. “Always.”
I feel for my pocket. “Wait,” I say.
I stand from the swing, and bend on one knee, producing my grandmother’s antique ring. Diamonds halo the five-karat middle round stone adding vintage glamour to the rose gold braided band. It’s the most elegant ring I’ve ever come across. I twist it in my fingers, and watch Ann’s eyes grow wide.
“Ann Daniels, I’ve loved you,” I clear my throat, tears threatening to spill from my eyes, “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you. You stole my heart the first night I watched you sing on stage. You’ve shown me love in its truest form. In the short time I’ve known you, you’ve become my best friend, my love, my life. Please, will you make me the luckiest man on this earth and promise to marry me?”
Slipping the ring onto her finger, I revel in its perfect fit. Cupping her right hand in front of her trembling mouth, tears fall from Ann’s eyes. She brings her left hand in front of her face, and exclaims, “Yes, Duane Rynard. I’ll marry you. Yesterday.”
I stand and bring her into my embrace.
“I’m going to make you so happy, Red,” I promise into her neck.
She wraps her hands around my body. “I know. Thank you for fixing me.”
Unable to Resist Page 33
