by Fran Lee
Stepping out of the library, she hurried up the curving stairs to her own room. Lily walked to the armoire, and pulled out what she planned to wear down to dinner that night. Yep. It was high time she pulled her head out of the sand and started using her head for more than a hat rack.
* * * * *
Curley glanced up at Flint with a frown. "You got a burr under your saddle, or what, boss man?" His blue gaze searched Flint's expression. "I take it you haven't gotten beyond first base with that little spitfire yet?"
Dark eyes slid his way, and Flint's lips tightened. "What the hell do you expect? Her asshole of a step-father has soured her on men completely. I don't want to push her into a corner. That might make her hate me. Takin' my time here..."
"Betcha I could get her to forget her asshole of a step-father within 24 hours. Wanna place a wager on it?"
The look on Flint's face was his answer, and Curley howled with laughter. "Just pullin' your leg, boss-man. Loosen up and just go for it. No way in hell will that filly refuse to give you whatever you ask from her, my friend. I've seen the way those big ol' gold eyes light up when she doesn't think you're lookin'. Don't regret your inaction. You need that woman more than you need air."
Flint scowled at the man, but couldn't help but grin after a minute. Curley and he had been sidekicks since they had been too short to see over the paddock fence. Curley's parents had left him with Flint's folks for a short stay...and had never come back for him. When it had become apparent that the gangly waif with the straw-colored thatch and the wide blue eyes had been abandoned, Frank Calderon had filed legal papers for guardianship, and he'd raised the kid with his own son. The boys took it in stride, already feeling like brothers, they'd sealed the bargain by poking their thumbs with barbed wire and becoming blood brothers. And when his dad had died, he'd left a few acres of ground and a small nest egg to help Curley be independent.
Curley had built himself a three-room cabin and had taken that nest egg and bought six good brood mares. Training and selling the colts those mares produced from Flint's big quarter horse stud had given Curley a cash flow of his own. And rodeoing had brought the pair good winnings when they needed cash quickly.
Closer than born-brothers, the two had learned to communicate without talking a long time ago, and Curley could read Flint like a goddamn book at times...like now.
"I'll get around to saddling and taming her when I feel the time is right. You just keep your damn paws off her. That is, if you want to keep them."
Curley's deep chuckle rumbled through the hay barn, and they both returned to tossing hundred pound bales onto the winter stack. A comfortable silence surrounded them as they completed their task. They forked a couple of bales of fresh hay to the horses and then headed back to the house for showers.
Dora was putting plates on the table when Flint and Curley came into the dining room, and Flint frowned as he glanced around. "Where's Lily? I told her to help you with supper."
The older woman lifted her brows and wiped her hands on her apron as she turned to face her boss. "After what she went through earlier with all that emotional rigmarole, you just don't say one word to her about anything, Flint Calderon. I would have shooed her out if she'd tried to come in here to help."
Curley glanced sideways at Flint, and simply took the dishes and distributed them around the table without saying a word. He went to the sideboard and got silverware, and placed it carefully by each plate, then put out water glasses. Flint just stared at him as if he'd grown another head.
"I've got two hands, boss-man. And I'm not plumb wore out. I'll help Dora. You go find Lily."
Dora smiled up at the big blond cowboy and winked at him as Flint turned toward the stairs. He'd only gotten a couple of steps out into the hallway when she appeared at the top of the stairs, and he stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth dropping open and his eyes widening in amazement.
Had he thought she was beautiful before? Well, in that pretty dress he'd bought for her, with knockout legs exposed by the short hem and those sheer hose, she was drop-dead gorgeous. The embarrassed look on her pink face took his breath away. She walked carefully, obviously not used to heels. As she started down the staircase, her hand gripped the oak banister tightly as though she feared toppling the rest of the way down.
He came to a halt at the bottom of the staircase, just staring up at her as she came toward him. He realized that her hair was pulled back by a rose-colored ribbon that was tied at her right temple. His hands clenched and unclenched as she came nearer, and when she was on the last stair, her eyes were almost level with his.
"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?" His words were almost a whisper. He watched hot color fill her cheeks, and she bit her lower lip. He didn't hesitate. He put his hands on the sides of her warm face and dropped his lips onto hers without another word.
Lily felt like Cinderella coming down those curved stairs toward her prince. The look in Flint's eyes made her almost topple off the top stair, but she managed to get all the way to the last one before she halted, breathless under his gaze. She had covered her worst bruises with a small amount of foundation, but they were still visible, at least, to her. She halted at eye-level with him, and her heart nearly burst from her chest as he murmured soft words meant only for her ears, then slid his big hands around her face and bent to take her mouth with his.
She lost track of time as he slowly, insistently slid his strong tongue over the seam of her lips until she opened for him. His hands moved from her face to her waist as he dragged her against his lean body until she could barely draw a breath. The moan that she heard was hers. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his beck, and kissed him back fiercely.
The sound of Curley clearing his throat brought Flint back to earth, and as much as he wanted to ignore the bastard and carry his little spitfire back upstairs to his bed, he drew away from her with a reluctant groan, and glanced at his friend standing in the dining room door. Curley laughed softly and turned back into the room.
Lowering his gaze back to the object of his lust, he whispered roughly, "When you've eaten, all bets are off, woman. You're mine for the night. If you don't want that, say so right now."
She bit her lower lip again, and lowered her eyes to his open collar and the crisp dark hair that peeped out. "I want that."
Chapter Six
Dora had made a wonderful roast with all the trimmings, but Lily hardly tasted a bite, as nervous and flustered as she felt. Curley and Flint kept up a running conversation about the ranch and what they wanted to use their winnings on before winter hit. Dora kept putting in her own requests for things she needed in the house, and happily, Lily managed to remain unnoticed as she ate small bites and wondered what Flint would do once they were alone again. Hell...she wondered what she would do.
She wasn't a virgin. She'd done this before. But somehow she felt as if this would truly be the first time. She'd never felt this way before. The big, delicious cowboy with the chocolate eyes that turned almost black when he was feeling strong emotion was an unknown quantity. He was full of raw emotions and hot Texas blood, yet he was as gentle and kind as she could hope for. He had actually made her almost forget Jacob Proctor and her current situation.
Almost.
No man had ever made her feel as protected...desired...wanted. She desperately needed to know what it was like to have such a man make love to her. She sensed that she would not regret her decision. Even if she left the next morning, she would never regret taking this man and what he offered her. It would be a memory she could hold onto in the dark, cold nights ahead.
Immersed in her own thoughts, Lily didn't hear Dora's question. Blinking, she glanced up into the now kindly eyes, and stuttered an apology for not paying attention.
"I asked if you wanted pie, honey. You were a million miles away."
"Oh! Um...I don't think I could hold another bite. Your supper was absolutely delicious, Dora. I'm as full as a tick." She looked down at her barel
y-touched plate and realized what a poor liar she was. She quickly shoveled a bite of tender roast into her mouth and made appropriate noises of enjoyment.
When she lifted her eyes to Flint's face, his eyes were nearly black again. Curley's deep chuckle brought hot color to her cheeks as the man accepted a big slice of peach pie from Dora's hands. "I'll sure have a piece, Dora. And maybe a second of that cherry over there. Never can get enough of your pie."
Lily managed to finish her plate before getting up to help clear the table and wash the dishes, but Dora insisted she go on out to the porch with Flint, and let her and Curley do the cleanup. "You don't want to get that pretty dress messed up, do you? You've had a full day, honey. You go keep Flint company awhile. He could use the sight of a pretty gal right about now. All he ever gets to see is me." Her smile was warm as she took the apron out of Lily's hands and shooed her out of the kitchen.
Curley smacked Dora on the butt and leaned in close to whisper something in her ear, and the woman batted at him with her hands and laughed. "I'm way too damned old for you, Curley! Now keep your paws to yourself and help me get these dishes washed."
Flint was sitting in the big porch swing, but he rose to his feet when she stepped out of the house. He hadn't turned on the porch light because it attracted way too many moths and mosquitoes. She hesitated, apparently feeling suddenly shy. His eyes slid over her slim silhouette in the light from the house. That filmy soft skirt let the light shine right through, and his cock rose to greet the vision.
"Come sit with me?" His voice sounded rough even to him.
She wrapped her arms around her chest and turned to approach him.
"You chilled, sweet thing? I can warm you..." He reached out and drew her trembling form against him, fighting the sudden need to get that lovely piece of clothing out from between them. Her body melted against his and he heard her soft sigh of surrender as she slipped her arms around his waist.
He led her to the swing that his grandfather had made for his grandmother, and he sank onto the warm well-worn oak. He pulled her down onto his lap, and savored the feel of her fine little ass pressed over his hungry cock. She stiffened a little as she felt it beneath her, and he pressed her head to his shoulder to keep her from bolting.
"I'm as eager as you are, love. But I'm plannin' to take my sweet time with you. Don't change your mind on me...I don't think I could take that." His lips moved against her soft hair as he closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet, female scent.
God, but he needed her.
Lily shivered as he moved his lean hands over her waist and hips, and her body responded wickedly to his touch. Warm moisture wet her new lace and satin panties as his big hands brushed over her skirt and slipped beneath it to move sensuously up her thigh to the top of her silky stocking. She heard him inhale deeply, and his body tightened as his fingers moved gently into the vee of her legs to caress and massage her swollen mound.
"Damn, woman...you don't know what you're doin' to me. Let me touch you?" His voice shook with his excitement, and Lily knew she would deny him nothing. She let her thighs drop open a bit, hearing his hum of approval as long fingers traced her wet undies to the place over her pulsing clit. "Ah...fuck..." his rasp of need left her pulses throbbing. "I have to feel you, darlin'...open more for me..."
Instantly his digits slipped under her panties, and she gasped and arched as she felt them trace her wet, swollen slit, dipping into her hot cunt with slow, certain pressure. "Oh, Flint...oh god yes..." she turned into his kiss and moaned as his lips sought hers and his tongue pressed inside her mouth to plunder every soft surface.
His palm cupped her mound as his long fingers sweetly fucked her, finding and massaging her G-spot with every slow, deep slide. Her clit was fully engorged, rubbing his calloused palm as he drove her wild. "You like that, darlin'?" His voice was ragged. "How would you like to sit on my cock?"
She gasped as he eased her off his lap a bit and she heard his zipper come down with a soft hiss. "Someone might come out here!" She struggled to move, but he murmured against her temple.
"No, they won't. I told them to stay away..."
She jerked her head to stare at him as he eased her skirts out from under her ass and spread it gently over their legs. His face was hidden in shadow. "Face to me or back to me, darlin'...your choice. Either way, I'll take care of you..."
"I...I've never...can you do it that way?" She closed her eyes as he lifted her enough to press his thick, hard cock into her wet opening, his fingers massaging her clit. "You have a rubber on already?" The feel of the condom-clad shaft sliding into her soaked pussy was a shock
"Just call me Mr. Boy Scout...always prepared..." he grunted slightly as she took him slowly into her tight body. "Fuck...you feel so good around me..."
The fullness stretching her body left her breathless and hot as she felt every thick, delicious inch of the man pressing deeper as her body lowered until her ass touched his jeans. The feeling of her silk and lace panties stretched aside to allow him access made her even hotter. "Ooohh...you're so big, Flint...so hard..."
His rough chuckle against her ear sent shivers through her, and then his lean fingers were slowly making love to her hard little nub. The sensory assault on her pussy and clit was enough to send her plummeting over the cliff, and then he started to move.
Feeling her tight cunt clasping him deep inside nearly ended it right there, but Flint took several deep breaths and calmed his eager cock. Her pussy was so damn tight he couldn't move at first, but the shuddering clench of her orgasm and the sudden gush of fluids eased his way, and he began to move inside her, holding her slender body up just enough to allow him to slide in and out with quick, hungry thrusts. He fucked her hard and fast, knowing that he wasn't hurting her. Her little gasps and mewls of pleasure drove him half crazy as she tightened again around him and stiffened, telling him that she had climaxed again.
He couldn't hold back any longer. He gave one last deep thrust and lost it completely, barely holding back the shout of exultation as he pumped his cum into the end of the condom, his hips jerking as he gave her everything he had.
She lay slumped in his arms, her breathing ragged and quick. His hands touched them where they were joined, and he growled against her ear, "Can you turn to face me without losing me?"
Her body trembled as she eased up a bit and turned on his lap, shocked that he was still hard and solid inside her. He helped her to turn, moving her skirt to keep them covered as she bent her leg and turned to face him, her knees planted on the oak on either side of him. He caught her mouth with his hungry lips and lifted his hips as she sank down again. His palms cupped her ass as he lifted her gently, and lowered her with each slow thrust.
"That feels so good..." she moaned against his mouth, as his lean fingers slid into the cleft of her butt cheeks to gently massage and dip into her tight rosette. His cock grew stiff and eager once again as she clenched tight around him.
"Have you ever had a man take you here?" he rasped as he slipped his index finger in to the first knuckle.
"No...never." Her voice was choked as he slowly brought her to yet another orgasm while tending to her untried entrance.
"Maybe someday you'll let me in there..." he nipped her shoulder, and pulled her tight to him as she cried out softly and climaxed once more.
Her body alight with sensation, Lily still stiffened as he told her that he wanted to take her there. Being touched there had set her off like a firecracker...but it also brought back her step-father's threat to hurt her by doing that to her. She drew in a ragged breath and lifted from him, feeling his shaft slide from her body as she quickly stepped back onto the porch and shoved her skirt back down. "Whoa...easy there, sweet thing...if that isn't something you'd enjoy, forget I asked." Flint's wet cock clad in the milky condom was still alive and ready.
She averted her gaze and said something unintelligible as she turned away toward the still open door. What had she been thinking? How could she have let th
is go so far? Loneliness and pain had lowered her defenses to the point of no return, and now she knew she had to get away from here. She couldn't remain here and pretend the world would just go away and let her live peacefully.
She heard him scuffling behind her as she almost ran for the door. As she quickly slipped through the screen, there wasn't a soul in sight, so she broke into a run for the stairs, kicking off her shoes so she wouldn't break an ankle. She had reached the third stair when he caught her and swung her off her feet to carry her the rest of the way up.
She didn't fight him. She simply turned her face away and closed her eyes as he walked down the hall to his bedroom, and set her on her feet on the lush Navajo rug. She didn't look at him. She kept her eyes glued to the oak floor and its beautiful rug.
Now that he'd had her, would she be able to run?
Flint lifted her chin gently with his fingertips, forcing her to meet his gaze. "I guess that was a flat no. If you don't want that, it's totally off the menu. Tell me what happened to you, Lily. And no bullshit. A woman doesn't panic like that unless there's a good reason."
He saw the flash of fear in those incredible tawny eyes, and once again he wanted to throttle the bastard that had hurt her so badly. He ached to tear his head off. Almost as much as he ached to be back inside this amazing, beautiful creature that had knocked him for a loop at first sight.
"Talk to me, baby...what can I do to help? I feel so damn helpless right now, and that's not something I enjoy feeling."
