Always On My Mind: A Bad Boy Rancher Love Story (The Dawson Brothers Book 1)

by Ali Parker

  "Yeah. Becca didn't tell you?"

  "No, but she was knee deep in something yesterday. I didn't want to bother her if I didn't have to." He stopped beside my office. "You know we're having the office party tonight."

  "Yeah. I need to grab a gag gift sometime today. I'll probably run out at lunch." I flipped on the light and walked into my office.

  "Grab me something too."

  I chuckled and turned to face him. "I think it would probably be best to have someone besides me on the Deming account. Their CEO is a lady by the name of-"

  "Dina Deming. I'm aware. How do you think we got the introduction?" Parker walked in and glanced around. "I slept with her."

  "Oh shit. Really?" I shook my head before dropping down into my chair. "Then maybe you should run the account."

  "No. You know I can't do that. She needs accounting help. I'm just the marketing guy." He shrugged and turned his attention back on me. "She hit on you?"

  "Yeah, but something tells me that she hits on everyone." I leaned back and crossed my ankles. "It's no big deal to me, but I don't want Becca getting upset."

  "Very true. I'll talk to the boss lady later today and get her thoughts on who might be a good fit for the job." He gave me a quizzical look. "You not decorating in here?"

  "No." I let out a soft laugh. "Do I need to?"

  "I would. Becca loves for the place to look festive."

  "Even the offices?" I leaned to my right as she moved into the doorway. "Hey, baby."

  "Not the offices. No." She gave Parker a look as she moved around him. "How are you feeling?"

  I got up and nodded toward the door. "Parker. Close that behind you, man."

  "Really?" He gave me a look and Becca turned and must have put him in his place. It was almost comical. "Fine. Jeez. Don't forget about the party tonight. I'm not running that thing by myself."

  She turned back to face me and smiled. "I got you a gag gift when I went to the store a few nights back."

  "Thank you." I moved toward her and pulled her into my arms, loving the way her white blouse opened and gave me a quick view of her breasts. I'd never get used to being around such a beautiful woman. "I'm sorry about last night."

  "No problem. You feeling okay?" She pressed herself to the front of me, and I couldn't help but run my hands down her back to cup the top of her ass.

  "Much better." I leaned down and brushed my nose by hers. "We should take a long lunch break and go back to your place. I wanna make up for lost time."

  "I have a lunch meeting, but tonight?" She leaned in and kissed me. "I need you. I've slept alone for the last week."

  "Me too." I kissed her again. "Send someone else on these long-ass trips, or come with me next time."

  "Deal." She brushed her hand down my chest as she moved back. "I wish last night would have ended differently."

  "Me too." I ran my hand over my stomach, trapping hers as she continued her descent. "Tonight."

  "Good." She pulled her hand from me and walked toward the door. "The party shouldn't last too long tonight. Just a few more things and we'll be done for the year and on our way to Denver."

  "Hey." I waited until she turned to face me, her dark red hair catching my attention. I wanted so damn bad to sink my fingers down into it and help encourage her to slide down to her knees for me. I hadn't opened certain doors in our sexual relationship just because I was cautious to make sure I didn't upset her.

  "What?" She pressed her back to the door, causing her back to arch, her breasts to jut out a little.

  Desire raced through me. I needed to talk to her. To tell her how much more I wanted from her in the bedroom. It was selfish, but maybe she wanted it too. Maybe I was being stupid by making sweet love to her each time we got together. The first time we'd been together had been filled with heat and passion, but not since. The sex was good, but it wasn't great. Something told me that it was mostly my fault. It was hard to fuck a woman I was in love with. I wanted to take care of her, to hold her, to make love to her.

  I needed to figure out how the hell to re-infuse passion into our relationship, and soon. She deserved it. I needed it.

  "Are you all right with my sister, Natalie, joining us for the trip to Denver? I know Parks and Adam are going with us, and it's a little odd, but she really needs to get the hell out of here for a little while." I searched her face, noting a tone of disappointment. Was it due to Natalie or something else?

  "Yeah, that's fine. I don't mind at all." She turned and opened the door before moving out into the hall. "Enjoy your morning. Let me know if you need anything."

  "What if I need you?" I smiled, but she didn't return the gesture.

  "Then I'm down the hall." She walked away, leaving me feeling more concerned than secure. I needed to talk with Parker. He was a whore and a half from what I'd come to know about him. He didn't talk much about his past, but whatever happened left him sleeping around more than most of the guys in a college fraternity, and that was saying something.

  I dropped back down in my chair and turned to turn my computer on when the sound of his voice caught my attention.

  "What did you do? She looks deflated." He leaned against the doorframe and gave me a look.

  "Nothing. Shit, I don't know." I turned and typed in my password. "I need to figure out how to mix love and lust in our relationship. I just want to make sure she knows I respect her. That this thing between us is more about love than lust."

  "Women like lust," he whispered roughly. "You're making her feel her age by not grabbing her hair and fucking her against a wall."

  I gave him a stern look. "You always coach your employees like this?"

  "Don't pull out that good guy shit on me." He walked in and stopped in front of my desk, leaning over and pressing his fists to the desktop. "You know what I'm talking about."

  "I get it, but I'm not talking about this with you." I spun around in my chair and gave him my full attention. "Besides, how would you know? Have you and Becca slept together?"

  "No, but I would in a heartbeat."

  Every muscle in my body locked. "What did you say?"

  "I would have before you, man. I wouldn't mess up what you guys have going. Becca is my best friend. If we were going to be together, she'd have let me in a long time ago." He sat down and slumped backward. "You gotta stop playing the good guy all the time. In the office and in public, yeah, but at home when it's just the two of you? Make her feel like a woman. Give in to the urge to pin her to the bed and remind her who she belongs to."

  Heat raced through the center of my body and the room felt far too hot all of a sudden. "I don't want to objectify her."

  "Objectify her? What are you? A hundred?" He snorted. "You'll know the difference when you get into the moment. I promise."

  "And if she doesn't like me being rough?"

  "Then you'll know it and you back off." He ran his fingers through his hair. "And it's not rough, it's passionate. Figure out the difference and stop living in second gear, Jason. Push the throttle forward and wake up before she does and walks away."

  "She wouldn't do that. We're in love, Parker. It's not a shallow relationship."

  "Right." He stood up. "Cause love has the power to save us all."

  I didn't respond. I didn't need to.

  Love did have the power to save us all. I was sure of it.

  I just needed to make sure I didn't need saving at all.

  Chapter 5

  Rebecca

  I'd just finished wrapping mine and Jason's gag gifts when Mary walked into my office.

  "You almost ready?" She smiled as I glanced up.

  "Yeah. I like that red sweater on you. It looks good." I put the last piece of tape on the gift and stood up. "There. Done."

  "This old thing?" She ran her hands down the sweater and shook her head. "Terrance loves it too, but it's getting old."

  "Well, if me and your husband like it on you, then it's a keeper." I picked up the gifts and reached for my purse. "Parker
and Jason already at the restaurant?"

  "Yeah. They left an hour ago." She moved back and closed my door behind me. "Jason okay? He didn't look like he was feeling too good."

  I shrugged. "I think so. He got a stomachache last night from something he ate on the trip, but other than that, I think he's fine. Why? You don't?"

  She turned off the lights and moved out into the hall with me before locking everything up. "I'm not sure. He was really quiet this afternoon."

  "Hm, I don't know. I'll check on him tonight. Probably just still feeling the effects of being sick."

  "Maybe." She moved up beside me. "Are you guys still dating?"

  I wouldn't have a personal conversation with most people in the office, but Mary was a good ten years older than me. It almost felt like having a sister, which was nice. Being an only child and only have my best friend, Trisha, to lean on meant having far too many conversations in my own head and nowhere else.

  "Yeah." I smiled. "He's a great guy. I think I'm going to actually open myself up to talking about us moving in together, but I don't know. It seems a little too fast, right?"

  "Mind if I ask how old you are?" She pushed the door open on the bottom floor of the building and reached for one of the gift bags in my hand as it flapped in the wintry wind.

  "I'm thirty-four." My stomach tightened at the idea of her judging me. "He's only twenty-two. It's a horrible age difference, but-"

  "Terrance is ten years older than me." She shrugged and helped me redistribute the presents in my hands. We only had to get across the street to the Italian restaurant most of the staff had voted for to have the annual Christmas party.

  "Don't you think that's more acceptable? The man being older? I'm a cougar by most people's standards."

  "Right, and how many of those people do you care about?" She gripped my arm as we jogged across the busy downtown street.

  "None, I guess." I moved back and she opened the door. The delicious smell of roasted tomatoes raced out and smacked me in the face. It almost reminded me of my dinner with Jason the night before.

  "Exactly. I think you guys make a great couple. Talk to him about the next steps on your trip in a week and see what happens. No need to rush things." She patted my back softly.

  "Other than the fact that I wanted kids, and I'm in my mid-thirties."

  "And? Stranger things have happened." She pointed to the group. "There we are. In the back room."

  I walked toward the growing voices, the laughter, the warmth of my staff having a good time. One thing was for sure, Parker and I had done a great job of finally hiring the right people. It was more like a family than an office. I couldn't have been more proud.

  ***

  "You really don't have to stay tonight. I know you're still not feeling good, Jason." I tossed my keys onto the table as I walked into the house. Sadness swelled in the center of my stomach. I wanted passion like I'd experienced our first time in bed together, but wasn't willing to say anything to him about it.

  I knew what he was doing. He was trying to love me with everything he did. No one could fault him for it. It was just disappointing, but mentioning it would likely bruise his ego. It always did with younger guys.

  "I'm not going anywhere, baby." He moved up behind me and wrapped me in a tight hug. His strong arms felt so good around me.

  I sunk against him and closed my eyes, wanting to ask for a million things, and yet too embarrassed to know where to start.

  He brushed his lips by my neck. "You smell so good."

  "I taste better," I whispered and let out a small yelp as he spun me around.

  "Don't I know it." He smiled and ran his hands down the sides of my throat. "I want to consume you, but I don't want my touch to ever remind you of anything but how much I love you."

  "What if I need more than love?" I whispered against his lips as he growled softly. There was something there, bubbling just beneath the surface of his gentlemanly persona.

  "Then I'll supply it." He nipped at my lips. "I'd give you anything you asked for."

  "Fuck me?" I tightened my grip on him and let my guard down for the first time in nine months. "Like you did the first time we were together. Consume me. Frighten me."

  The desire to hold back my need for passion came tumbling out, and the world seem to slow. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him in any way at all, but something inside of me broke open. I needed him for so much more than love and tenderness. I needed fiery hot passion.

  He gripped my hands and pulled them above my head before taking two steps toward me, which forced me to stumble backward. I hit the wall and let out a low groan as his teeth pressed against my throat, his body tucked against mine, his erection pressed to my stomach.

  "I didn't want to offend you, Becca." He moved back a little and ran his hands down my sides, brushing my breasts with his thumbs before moving down to his knees in front of me.

  "Offend me?" I whispered and arched my hips as he pressed his mouth to the front of my skirt. "I don't think you could."

  "Maybe I'll try." He smiled up at me and gripped my skirt, jerking it up before leaning in and running his tongue along the outside of my panties.

  I moaned and slid my hand into his hair. Was this all I had to do? Tell him how badly I needed him to give in to carnality with me?

  The strong press of his mouth against my center left my knees weak. I reached down to jerk my panties to the side and he did the rest.

  I cupped my hand over his as he reached up to squeeze my breasts tightly. I was so close to orgasm that fire burned my insides. Lifting my leg, I wrapped one of my knees around his shoulder, and he reached up and pressed two fingers deep inside of me.

  That was all it took.

  A moan ripped from me as I bounced against him, taking every ounce of pleasure I could from the moment. Never in all of my life had I felt so vulnerable, so open.

  "So delicious, Becca." He ran his tongue through my folds and let his eyes meet mine.

  I whispered and reached down for him, "I need you inside of me."

  "Good." He stood and reached for my face, pulling me into a long kiss as I worked his belt open and fumbled with his slacks. "I got it." He swatted my hands away and spun me around, pressing me against the wall.

  Desire boiled between my thighs as I panted softly. "Don't do anything you don't want to do." I felt like I was forcing him into something all of a sudden.

  "You don't think I want to take you against this wall?" He pulled my skirt the rest of the way up before making quick work of my panties. The thick length of his cock pressed against my ass, and damn if I didn't roll my hips to tease him.

  "I don't know," I whispered roughly and reached back to grip his thighs.

  "You're the most beautiful woman in all of Texas, Becca. I wanna do things to you that I'd never utter in a million years." He slid his hand up my back and gripped my hair before repositioning his cock to press inside of me.

  "I want to know them all." I cried out as he pressed into me and tightened his hand on my hair.

  The soft brush of his lips along my neck as he fucked me slow and hard against the wall was an odd comfort. The man I was in love with was most certainly still here, ever-present, but like me, he seemed to need more from our sex.

  "You're gonna be mine forever. No more condoms." He reached his other hand around and pinched my clit between his fingers as my body tightened in pleasure. "And from now on, ask for what you want. Or take it. I plan to."

  Chapter 6

  Jason

  I woke up the next morning with her tucked to my side. I rarely spent the night, but we'd fucked long into the early hours of the morning, like we'd just discovered one another.

  Reaching out, I brushed her hair off her shoulder and studied her beautiful face. I didn't deserve a woman like her, and yet, here she was, giving my ass a chance.

  "Mmmm... I love it when you touch me," she whispered, surprising me a little.

  "Good. I love touching you." I r
eached for her as she moved onto her hands and knees. "Come ride me."

  She moved onto my lap and rolled her hips, impaling herself on my cock as I groaned. We would be turning another corner in our relationship soon, as I was done playing it safe. I'd stuck my neck out when I wanted to get her attention and been beyond ballsy, and she was mine.

  Time to up the ante again.

  I reached up and ran my hands around her breasts, massaging them as she rolled her hips and fucked me slowly.

  "God, I love you," she whispered and let her head fall back, giving me an incredible view.

  "I love you too. I'm moving in, by the way. I don't want to hear anything about it. It's time." I slid my hand down to the soft wet curls at the junction of her thighs and pressed my thumb to her clit as she moaned loudly.

  Her nails dug into my chest as she moved forward and hovered above me, her body tight and warm. I wanted to stay in bed all day with her, but I knew she wanted to get a few things done for the holidays.

  "I'm gonna come," she muttered roughly.

  "Good. Me too." I ran my hands down her arms and pulled her flush against me before gripping her ass and pulling at her tender flesh, forcing her to pump her hips faster.

  She surprised me by turning her head and pressing her lips to mine as we came together. It was hot, attentive, loving.

  I groaned as she rolled off of me and dropped down on the bed beside me, her large breasts bouncing as I glanced over.

  "God, you're hot." I rolled onto my side and ran my hand down her stomach. "Marry me, Becca. Let's stop playing around, baby. I need you beside me forever."

  She glanced over at me and smirked. "We've been together for nine months, and you're twelve years younger than me. We're not getting married until we're sure about everything."

  I reached for her as aggravation built in my chest. She got up and walked to the bathroom, wagging her hot ass and making me rethink the decorating thing. I wanted more time with her.

  "Sure about everything how?" I ran my fingers through my hair and closed my eyes. My heart was going to beat its way out of my damn chest if I wasn't careful.