by Lola Stark
“How long, darlin’?” The want in his voice was hard to miss. So was the delicious way he was nibbling on my breast. I shifted my legs and rubbed them together in a feeble attempt to relieve the ache that was building between them.
“What?” I asked confused and distracted. I pushed my chest up, silently asking for more to no avail. He lifted his head and stared into my glassy eyes.
“How long you gotta be away from me, darlin’?” His smirk told me he knew how distracting his tongue and mouth were. However, with his hand slowly snaking up my inner thigh, I would tell him the answer to the world’s mysteries just so he’d keep going.
“A few days, a week at most, I think.” My chest was now moving heavily as the fire burned brightly inside of me. I reached up and grabbed either side of his head, my fingers twisting into his hair. I bit my lower lip and slowly scanned his chiseled jaw, his broad muscled shoulders and down his solid smooth chest. When I looked back up to his eyes, they were reflecting all the heat and passion I was feeling.
The hand he had running up the inside of my thigh stopped and he gripped my leg tightly, his fingers digging into my flesh, which in turn only worked me up more. He needed me as much as I needed him. I brought his face down closer to mine. A hairs breadth away from our lips meeting, we stopped. I could almost feel the electricity crackling in the air between us. I never knew being with somebody could be like this. It was exhilarating and the very opposite of boring everyday mundane sex. Destry set me alight in every way imaginable and I didn’t want it to stop.
X X X
“‘Melia.” A light kiss on my shoulder had me stepping from complete sleep to eyes closed not wanting to wake up. I loved when I had these types of dreams. Destry touching me, his soft gentle lips touching my skin. “‘Melia, darlin’. Time to wake up.” His voice sounded so real, but then it always did. I snuggled deeper into the blankets and sighed. Only when I moved my hands to grab the pillow I always tucked up against me, did I realize I wasn’t dreaming. I slowly cracked an eye and was greeted with a glorious naked—from the waist up—Destry. His hair ruffled from sleep.
“Mmmm.” Best non-dream ever,” I quietly mumbled, smiling to myself. That earned me a chuckle and another soft kiss this time to my forehead.
“Time to get up, sleeping beauty.” He moved to his knees and I noticed his jeans weren’t buttoned. The happy trail that I’d taken my time following the night before caught my eyes, and I all but eye raped his toned stomach.
“Commando in the morning might be the best thing in the world.” I yawned, stretching out my sore muscles. We’d cuddled under the stars all night making good use of the food I’d packed, and eventually fell asleep in the back of the truck. “Cum gutters are pretty high up there too,” I smiled sleepily.
“Cum gutters?” he asked with a short laugh, handing me my clothes he’d obviously gathered up at some point.
“Mhmm.” I ran the tip of my finger along the clearly defined V muscles that ran from the top of his hips and disappeared into his jeans. “Cum gutters.” Tapping the skin there, I slowly sat up, watching him shake his head and smirk.
After a quick unplanned make-out session and the short ride back, I pulled the ATV up beside Destry’s truck and watched him climb out. He walked around and lifted me off it before setting me down and laying a hard heavy kiss on me. It was a total caveman move with him marking his territory, but I was more than fine with it. He grabbed my hand and led us up the three steps to the house, not loosening his grip on my hand once.
The moment we walked inside, everyone stopped what they were doing and took in our clearly disheveled appearances. Braxton zoned in on our linked hands and smiled to himself before nodding once at Destry and walking back to the stove. Thankfully, my ankle hadn’t given me any grief. It seemed I’d slightly sprained it, and once the swelling had gone down, a slight twinge here and a small ache there was all I had left after my fall.
“You owe me ten bucks,” Austin called over to Ellie-May. “Told you they were out screwing around,” he snickered. Ellie-May slapped him upside the head as she walked past him and put a plate of crispy bacon on the big table. “Quit slappin’ me, woman.” He growled at her as she ignored him, and continued making breakfast. I gave them a brief eye roll and shake of my head. Funnily enough, I was not at all surprised about their bet. I was sure the tension between Destry and I was obvious to everyone since I’d been at the ranch.
“I’m gonna get a quick shower,” I whispered, let go of his hand and scooted around the other side of Destry to the steps. He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me back into his hard body. The moment his lips came down on the skin behind my ear all the worry and uncomfortable feeling melted away.
“I’ll be up real soon,” he whispered in that husky voice he’d mastered so well. I nodded and stepped out of his arms that were wrapped around my waist. On my way up the stairs, I heard a thud and then Destry in a hushed grumble, “Don’t be an ass, Austin.” Laughter rung out and followed me as I let myself into the bathroom with a smile plastered on my face. I hadn’t been this happy in… well, ever.
Halfway through my shower, there was a knock at the door moments before it opened. Destry walked in, shucking off his clothes as he stepped toward me. I stood, soapy hands in my hair, bubbles sliding down my body as I watched mesmerized while he got naked and stepped into the shower with me. I was still staring and quite possibly drooling when he leaned down and kissed me softly, while removing my hands that were still in my hair and replaced them with his own.
“Step back, darlin’,” he instructed. I stepped back under the flow of water and he slowly massaged my scalp while washing the foamy shampoo out of my long hair.
“You’re washing my hair?” I asked in amazement. Destry just looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read and slowly turned me around so I was leaning my back against his chest. He reached for the conditioner, pouring a good amount onto my head and proceeded to dig his fingers into my hair. A moan escaped my mouth when he took all my weight on his chest and massaged harder.
“You’re spoiling me,” I murmured, melting like butter under his hands.
“You deserve to be spoilt,” he replied in a hushed whisper and moved me forward into the water to wash the conditioner out. Once I was sparkling clean, he pulled me out of the shower and towel dried me off. He went his own way to get ready and I was left to my own devices when it came to getting dressed thankfully; it was sweet the way he was taking care of me but I was certain I could dress myself. The level of intimacy Destry had shown me had thrown me off kilter; never would I have guessed he was capable of being so thoughtful and caring.
When I deemed myself ready for the day, I ducked into the study just down the hall from my room and made a quick call to the mechanic in town to check if my car would be ready that afternoon. He informed me the work would be done within the hour. I hung up the phone and looked around the beautiful room. Running my hand across the mahogany desk in front of me, I sighed. I couldn’t help feel a little saddened by the fact my time here was up. I would be back after I had taken care of my former life, but in the meantime, I would miss the sweet silence and all round homely feel of the ranch. Even when I returned, I wouldn’t be visiting the ranch often. I needed to find work. Any kind was fine by me, just something to pay the bills and a place of my own somewhere in town. Those would have to wait though; I had a long drive back to my own personal version of hell to look forward to.
X X X
“I’ll see you when I get back.” I smiled against his lips when he snagged the keys out of my hand and wrapped his big warm arms around me, pinning me to the side of my car.
“How long, again?” he asked, the stubble on his chin rubbing against the crook of my neck where he was dropping a kiss to my skin every once and a while.
“A week maybe,” I answered, feeling a swell of emotion at just how much he didn’t want me to go, followed by a grip of concern for how much I didn’t want to go either.
I pushed the uncertainty away, reminding myself I was allowing myself this shot at some kind of happiness. I deserved it and I was damn well going to have it.
Watching Amelia drive off was harder than I thought it’d be, regardless of the fact I knew she was coming back. We’d not even discussed why she had to go in depth. I knew she had to wrap up a few things money wise, but other than that, I hadn’t asked and she hadn’t told. I pulled my cell out of my pocket and scrolled down to make sure her number hadn’t magically erased its self then rolled my eyes. “I’m turning into a chick,” I grumbled to myself and stomped to my truck.
My phone chirped on the seat beside me just as I was starting up the engine. Picking it up, I read the message that appeared on the screen and smiled.
I lied. It’s a big deal, cowboy.
I quickly typed out my reply and hit send.
Damn right, it’s a big deal, darlin’. Hurry back and I’ll remind you just how big.
Then with a smile, I put my truck in gear and headed back to the ranch. My grandparents were due back from their extended trip the following day so I had a few things I needed to wrap up. They’d originally planned on being gone only a week but called a few days into their vacation to let us know they’d be gone longer than expected. Little did the boys know but Gran and Gramps were planning on telling them they were going nomad. Gramps had come up with the genius idea a few weeks ago. Their plan was to get a Winnebago and drive cross-country visiting all the places they wanted to see before they were “decrepit old fools”; Gramps’ words not mine.
“She actually left?” Ellie-May asked when I closed the door to my truck.
“Yeah, pumpkin. She had a few things to take care of, you knew that,” I told her, trying not to smile at the pout on her face. I liked they’d formed a bond of sorts in the short time Amelia was here. Family was important to me and Amelia seemed to be fitting in perfectly. My steps faltered at that thought. I needed to get a handle on my balls and pull them back from where ever they were hiding. Thinking things like having her in the family was dangerous ground. The last time I had let a girl get that deep into the family, it had done a fair share of damage when everything went to shit.
“I didn’t actually think she’d go though, or that you’d let her out of your sight for that long,” she snickered from her perch on the swinging chair. I shook my head and dusted my hat off on my jeans. Before flopping down beside her, I grabbed the book she was reading out of her lap. “‘Blessed’ from David Michael.” I read out the title and then flipped the book over and scanned the back before looking back at her with an eyebrow raised. “Since when do you read this kind of thing?”
“Since the author’s cute and it’s a good book.” She snatched it back from my hands and hugged it to her chest. “Nice dodge but no prize, big brother.”
I sighed and leaned back crossing my legs at my ankles and running my hands down my face. “Yeah, she’s under my skin,” I admitted and crossed my arms over my chest.
“She’s more than under your skin.” She smiled up at me like a fool. I needed to halt this conversation pronto. I wasn’t real keen on chatting relationships with my baby sister… who was innocent.
“What’s this I heard about you going to a bonfire with Jimmy Rogers the other night?” I cringed and waited for her answer. Ellie-May might have been the baby and protected by us all, but she was growing up and none of us could stop it, no matter how hard we tried. Baby sister or not, we were screwed. I looked over at Ellie-May who was still smiling with a dreamy look in her pale blue eyes. Her honey-blonde hair hung in waves down her back. Her tiny frame and small dimple in her left cheek, teamed with her blinding smile that could light up an entire room, meant she was already the center of attention. She was a knockout, which in big-brother speak meant we weren’t just screwed; we were royally screwed.
“He’s cute.” She blushed while I groaned out loud.
“Cute isn’t good enough,” I told her gently.
“He’s not just cute; he’s smart. He’s sweet to me.” She looked down at her hands, which were now tracing patterns on the cover of her book. “He’s not like the other boys.”
“I know you’re not a baby anymore, Ellie-May, but… please just be smart.” I swallowed past the thickness in my throat. “You can always come to me or the boys. Strike that; don’t go to Austin, unless it’s in dire circumstance. Or somebody needs a hidin’.” I scrubbed my hands down my face again and stared off into the wide expanse that was our ranch, contemplating the day my little sister falls in love.
“Ellie. Please stop calling me Ellie-May. I’m not a baby, you just said it so I’d really like it if you stopped calling me that.” She protested in what I was sure wouldn’t be the last stand on her ‘growing up’
I’d always been her protector, her rock. The moment she came home from the hospital, she was my little Ellie bug and that was never going to change. She picked her book up and climbed off the swing, squeezed my shoulder and shuffled inside. Our mother had died while having her and left us boys and a newborn little girl with Dad, a guy who was a hard worker and an all-round good man, but had no clue how to raise a little girl or cope with losing the one woman who’d brought him to his knees. Hell, he had no clue how to keep on going after Mom died. So he packed us up and moved us out to the ranch. Not even two years later, he was with Mom thanks to a nasty kick to the head from a stallion he was training.
Our family had always been into training horses; they were beautiful creatures, but damn if they weren’t strong and on occasion unpredictable. An animal to be respected, once in a while, you’d find that one horse you connected with and she’d be your best friend for life. I pushed off the chair and made my way to the stables where my girl was. I’d been given Gypsy on my tenth birthday as a gift from Gramps. He’d told me every boy needed a good horse and this one, ‘she’ll be good to you.’ He was right too. She was getting up there in age now, so she didn’t go out often, but damn if she hadn’t always been right by me when I needed her most.
“Hey, old girl,” I called when I got to her stable door. She lifted her head and neighed a gentle greeting before nudging my hand looking for her treat. “Hold up, I’ll get you something,” I told her, rubbing the spot near her cheek where she loved to be petted. Reaching over, I snagged a couple of carrots from the bucket I kept close by and fed them to her. “I really like this girl, Gypsy.” A small snort from her and I kept going, unloading all my thoughts on the one friend I knew I could trust. “She sort of snuck up on me. I really don’t know what it is about her, but I think I need her in my life.” She nudged my empty hand and I fed her the other carrot I’d picked up. “Maybe, it’s her sense of humor. She’s so damn gorgeous it makes me want to turn into a pansy-ass and tell her every five minutes. Simple things like washing her hair, and she acts like I’ve just moved a mountain. She’s so goddamn sweet and she gets along with Ellie-May and the boys. When she smiles. I swear to God, the angels must cry; it’s that beautiful. I mean, what’s not to lov—” I shook my head trying to dislodge the word and the feeling behind it. Gypsy nudged me hard this time and neighed at me. I looked at her; she blinked at me, and then dropped her head.
“Ah, shit,” I cursed when realization sunk in. I dropped down on the stacked hay bales behind me and put my head in my hands. “I love her. Holy shit. I do. I love her.” I pulled my head back up and looked over at Gypsy who was now completely disinterested. “This week is gonna be a head fuck,” I noted aloud. I stood up, moving to the barn doors and wandered out to the lake where Amelia and I had spent some of our time together while she was here.
X X X
Gravel crunching under tires had my head popping up from the book I’d pinched off Ellie a few hours ago. I moved off the chair I was stretched out in, and made my way outside to see a bright red, obnoxious looking convertible pull up. A lanky guy with a massive bald spot flung the door open and started yelling, “Amelia, Amelia!”
“What the fucking hell?�
� I heard Austin curse from behind me. I ignored him and stomped toward the front door to find out just what this guy thought he was doing and why he was looking for my girl.
“Amelia!” he was still yelling, because apparently, if she was here, she was deaf.
“Can I help you with something?” I asked sternly when I made it to the top of the steps. I crossed my arms over my chest in a display of ‘pissed the fuck off’ and glared at him. He took a step back when I felt Austin and Braxton flank either side of me.
“I’m looking for Amelia,” he snipped, looking me up and down like I was a bug he needed to swat with a newspaper.
“Clearly. What’s your business with her?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“Amelia!” he yelled, craning his neck to see past the solid wall of cowboy barricading the front door. “Amelia!”
“You deaf?” I asked, taking the few steps down onto the cracker-dust driveway and stopping a few paces in front of him and his hoity toity sports coat. “What is your Goddamn problem?”
“My GD problem, as you so eloquently put it, is none of your business, but if you must know, I’m looking for my fiancée.” He put his hands on his hips and his words registered. My stomach dropped and my chest tightened up.
“Come again?” Austin barked from my left.
“My fiancée, Amelia. I’m looking for her. The private investigator I hired told me she was being kept here.” He looked around in disgust. My tongue seemed to be stuck to the roof of my mouth and a lump formed in my throat. She was engaged. To a guy I didn’t know existed. She wasn’t mine at all… she was his.
“Nobody was being kept here, needle dick,” Austin growled. My heart was close to beating right out of my chest and falling broken to the ground.
“She never mentioned you, not once in two weeks did she mention you,” Austin kept going. I put my hand up and silenced him without taking my eyes off this guy.
