by Gayle Eden
It was romantic, beautiful, and yes—Corey sighed, hearing the conviction in each word, watching, as Ryder gave Falon away and Asher handed over the ring. Sara dabbed her eyes. Finn dabbed his. The kiss after the announcing of Mr. and Mrs. put blushes on more than one face.
Standing, she clapped with the others, laughing as Lucas picked Asher up and whirled him around.
Everyone was invited to the wedding supper. Folks spilled outside to a lilting and happy tune, everyone waiting for Lucas to sit at the head of the first table. Asher on his left, and Falon on his right.
Finding her own seat, Corey toasted a dozen times as one after another Finn, Morgan, and Alex, stood with glass of champagne, and offered well wishes. Eventually it was eating, drinking, celebrating, and many couples dancing happily on the emerald lawn and small courtyards, even on the walkways.
Sitting back, and absorbing, observing, Corey saw Alex talking to a dark haired young woman, olive skin, and almost black eyes. She was of some mixed blood obviously.
“Who is that?” She leaned to ask Rose.
“Miss Porter. She’s half-Spanish, I think. I heard the banker’s wife introduce her, saying she’d recently come to PineFlatts to open an eatery. I believe her brother owns several back east.”
Sipping from her glass, Corey observed how Alex studied the woman’s proud profile. No matter whom he talked to, he kept sneaking looks at her, seemingly unaware of how long he stared and watched. Gowned in ruby that did everything for her warm skin, she had to admit Miss Porter was quite attractive. Later, after people were mingling, she caught the woman also watching Alex, and grinned. Ah, Alex Croft may have just met his someone special.
In the evening hour, she danced with him, teasing him somewhat, as he appeared distracted.
“She’s attractive.”
“Who?”
“Miss Porter. The woman you keep looking at.”
He actually flushed. “Her name is Angela. She’s—”
“—Looking at you when you’re not looking at her.”
“Is she?” He grinned.
“Um. Go ask her to dance.” Corey pulled away laughing. “You’d better hurry too, because half the single men here are tripping over their feet to get to her.”
He bowed to her and his eyes were twinkling as he muttered, “I’ve never had to compete for a woman before.”
“Oh, you’ll enjoy it.” She chuckled back. “And so will she. Turn on that charm. She won’t be able to resist.”
Corey watched him make his way over to the crowd of swans, some old and some much too young, vying for Miss Porter’s attention. He elbowed his way through them and took the woman’s hand, kissing it, before pulling her out for a dance. Alex winked at Corey before taking the woman in his arms. Corey winked back; sure Alex would have no trouble at all, sweeping Miss Porter off her feet.
Chapter Fourteen
Sometime after nightfall, Morgan McCabe got on one knee before Rose Landry and declared his love. Rose—fell into his arms, sobbing and laughing.
Corey heard the “Will you marry me?” and the yes, yes, yes, over the cheers and laughter. Lordy, but it was about time. The parlor stayed full of flowers and Rose put Morgan through his paces twice a week.
She didn’t blame Rose, and Morgan took it in stride, but the both of them needed to get on with it. She’d seen a kiss or two between them when Morgan departed from calling, and watched his hands roam—watched Rose clutch him like a drowning woman. Any fool could see a year ago it was real love.
Alex left—apparently to escort Mrs. Porter home. Some of the guests were leaving. Sara and Finn, the bride and Groom, were in the house.
Too much champagne, dances with Finn and a few others, had Corey with her shoes and stockings off, feet in a chair, a little foggy eyed watching Jordan and her Uncle—who were standing awfully close in the shadows, talking by the garden gates. Morgan and Rose had melted back toward another path long since. She had a feeling she would be riding home alone tonight.
“You forgot our dance,” a deep voice sounded before Noah stepped around, moving her bare feet from the chair, and seating himself in it.
“You forgot to ask me.” She propped her feet on his hard thigh.
Taking hold of one small foot, his tie lose, shirt undone a few buttons, Noah considered her narrow eyed and grinned. “How much champagne have you had, brat?”
“Too much.” She grinned back. “And when are you going to stop calling me that?”
“Never.” He looked around, then back at her. “Rose tells me she’s staying at Jordan’s place tonight.” He ignored her snort. “You ready to go?”
“Yep.” She tried to get up twice.
He stood and scooped her up.
“Put me down, you—oak.”
Having tossed her over his shoulder, he murmured, “No one is out here to see.” A big hand swat her backside. “An oak? Is that the best you can come up with? You must be drunk.”
“I’m not—” She found herself plopped on the bench seat, and shoving her hair from her face, her combs long lost, Corey watched him toss her shoes in the buggy.
“You’ll have to ride up here where I can hold onto you.”
Climbing up, he untied the reins and got the horses turned. She opened her mouth but nearly fell off the bench seat when he got them going at a pace.
“Slow the hell down.”
“We’re barely trotting.”
“My head’s not.” Corey grumped.
He slowed the horses to a walk, glancing at her in the moonlight. “You look a mess. Hair undone, shoes off, and gown wrinkled.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“A beautiful mess.” Noah’s gaze went over her before he turned back to the road.
“Hmmm,” Corey made that sound, leaning against his strong side to steady herself. “You’ve called me many things, but never beautiful.”
He didn’t say anything for the short ride, but in the barn after seeing to the horses, he went up to her, standing there in her bare feet with mussed hair, and took her hand, sliding it inside his shirt to rest on his hard pectoral.
“Does that feel oak?”
Corey felt the pound of his strong heart. She felt hard muscled skin and warm sleekness. “No.”
His aqua eyes held hers when he let go, but she kept her hand there on him. Noah said under the rustle of horses inside the big barn, “You owe me a dance.”
She felt a shiver go down her spine, looking into those light blue eyes. He was taller, bigger, and brawny. Corey murmured, “You’ll have to hold me up.”
Taking off his jacket, he lay it over a stall door, and then turned, picking her up in his arms.
Hers slid around his neck. Grinning down at him, Corey said, “I don’t think this is dancing.”
His gaze lingered on her mouth, and then skimmed up. “It’s not dancing I wanted anyway.”
Her heart thudding, losing her playful grin, Corey stared at those sea eyes between inky lashes. She looked at his proud nose and strong face, his sensual lips. Her hands went into his curly hair. “What do you want?”
He slid her down enough to tilt his head and place a soft kiss on her mouth. At her soft gasp, Noah then gave her a full and sultry one, making her dizzy with warmth, skill, and slow, sensual hunger.
When he pulled back, Corey was glassy eyed, aroused and surprised. He didn’t give her time to voice it before he was burning her up with another kiss. Holding her tightly, ravishing her mouth, showing her things that had Corey panting, and moaning.
At the moment he stopped and set her on her feet, she clung to him. Her cheek against his hard beating heart and wide muscled chest. “You smell good.”
He chuckled though strained. “So do you.” His palms were on her back.
Nuzzling a bit she whispered, “I tingle all over.”
“That makes two of us.” He sighed. “You drank too much.”
Nodding, she didn’t argue that. When he tucked her under his arm and led her i
nside the house, she went passively.
In the kitchens, Corey fumbled around until Noah made her coffee. She sat down at the table while it brewed, looking him over, his breadth and height, liking the snug black trousers, the way he’d undone the white shirt, and left the tails out.
He poured her a coffee, pulling a chair back so he drank his own, rocking back on the legs while he watched her sipping.
“I’ll be all right now.” She was sobering. Although, not from that kiss.
“I won’t.” He finished his cup and stood. Before heading out the back door, he leaned down and kissed her nape, making her shiver. Hands cupping her upper arms he husked, “You remember the time you told me I’d see hell before I touched you?”
“Yes.” She laughed.
He didn’t. “I have seen it, brat. Two years of watching you, waiting for you to see what’s right in front of your face.”
She arched her head back gazing up at him. “What?”
“I could spank you for drinking all that champagne tonight. I had something to tell you—”
Corey nudged him back and stood, staring at him, over him. Seeing tension behind his playfulness. “My lord. You—”
“Yeah.” He grinned dryly. “Me.” He scraped a hand through his hair. “Go to bed, before I offer to tuck you in.”
She bit her lower lip, realizations dawning in her sluggish mind finally. Noah was handsome—beyond darkly handsome. He was strong and powerful looking. He was amusing. Maddening. He had always been a part of her growing up life, mostly her rebelling stages and her curiosity. Noah wanted her. It all made so much sense.
Huskily she challenged, “If I let you tuck me in, will you strip down?”
His lashes dipped. “I would’ve let you climb all over me for the past year, bare assed necked—if it would have saved me having to watch you going off with Alex Croft every damned day.”
She could imagine his brawn bare assed. “I like to play, Noah.”
“Oh. I know that. Corey.” His grin was crooked and sexy.
Corey could feel her blood tingling, her body awakening. “Come and play with me.”
He reached out and cupped her cheek, holding her gaze as he lowered his head. A breath from her mouth he murmured, “When you’re sober.” Then he kissed her hot enough to curl her toes, and gave her a wink before leaving.
Corey eventually made it upstairs, stripped, and fell into bed.
She slept late, soaked in the tub, dressed in soft denims and a sleeveless denim shirt. Barefoot while she cooked a small, breakfast and drank two coffees. It took some thinking to weed through her fantasy and what really happened in the kitchen with Noah.
Corey padded out on the back porch, one bare foot resting on the other and her shoulder against a brace. Sipping her coffee, she saw Noah stride from the barn, his muscled body moving well, and his tanned skin glowing in morning sun as he spoke to some hands.
Half way through the cup, she saw him look her way for long moments. By the time he started walking towards her, she was damp and tingly. Yep. She wanted to see him in the raw with those aqua eyes glittering.
“Got anymore coffee?” He stepped up, bringing the scent of soap, leather, and sun.
“Help yourself.” She turned watching him stride into the kitchen.
He came out, tossing his hat in one of the chairs, and sipping from his cup.
Corey held his probing gaze a moment before she confirmed, “Yeah. I remember.”
He grinned and arched his brow. His white teeth strong between sensual lips. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
Her nipples were hard, pressing against the worn denim shirt. She leaned her back against the post as he sat down, legs slightly apart, resting his coffee on his thigh.
“Where are you working today?”
He lowered his lashes slightly. “Wherever you are.”
“The line shack, down on the south range?”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He finished his coffee and stood, brushing close to her before stepping down and settling his hat. “I’m going to marry you, brat. You know that, don’t you?”
She snorted, turning to refute that but his sexy smug grin stole it.
He murmured, “I’ll show you just what you’re getting today.”
When he turned and strode off, she was tempted to stand him up. But, he was too tempting, maddeningly so. She rode out an hour later and left her horse tied beside his in a small copse. Pushing open the door to the shack—she stopped dead in the doorway.
Streaks of sunlight painted his bronze skin and honed muscle. It glinted on his black hair, and in the light blue eyes watching her from the bunk. He was nude. Half sitting, an arm hooked over his up drawn knee, as he was sideways on the bed, back against the wall. She took enough steps inside to close the door and lean against it. Taking off her hat.
He lowered his knee and reached up to smooth his hair back, causing his upper back to fan, the muscles to shift all over, and those ripples on his abdomen to tighten.
Corey’s gaze went to his thick sex, fully thrust from a nest of ink black hair. Potent, beautiful, sleek. She wet her lips and began undoing her shirt.
Noah watched her peel away layers. When she stood lithe and nude, her nipples quivering from excited breaths, he grinned and beckoned her over.
“My God. You’re gorgeous.” She stopped by the bed, looking over his statue like length.
“You’re not big as a mite.” He teased. “But I like that little body. I’ve been watching it for too damn long, seeing these pretty little breasts through your shirts.” He leaned up enough to stroke her round ass and flanks. “Come here.”
He sat her down across his powerful thighs, facing him. Cupping her head, giving her his tongue in a kiss that put chills over her skin. His thumbs next teased her nipples. Corey moaned and rubbed his, touching warm hollows and mounds, aroused by his powerful sinew.
Drawing in breath, he looked down where her legs trembled against his. His hand smoothed down to her wet curls. “Mmmm. I knew you’d be hot and warm.”
“Noah.” She covered his hand.
He took her fingers, playing with her sex, with her fingers and his. “You like that.”
“Oh, yes.” She panted, shifting her hips, leaning her head down to lave his neck, suckle his nipple. Her free hand fisted on his sex. It was hot and silken.
He made a sound between a groan and purr, and lifted her head, kissing her hard before he slid her up to ride against his sex. They kissed, tongues, lips, hot and sultry while rocking and rubbing sex to sex.
“I’m burning up.” She moaned, arching her head back.
He suckled and teased her breasts, strong teeth raking her nipples. His lips captured them, tongue rolled over the aching nipples, while his hands cupped her backside.
She grasped his hair, trembling and taut as a bowstring, and begged, “Please…”
Noah shifted, lying on the bed. She was astride his thighs on her knees. He peered through those jet lashes and murmured roughly, “Come up here and ride my mouth.”
She went. Corey knelt astride his face, thighs quivering and shaking, breath hissing, and then moaning out, while his fingers did wicked things. He laved and suckled, thrust his tongue in her until she was wild with want.
When she climaxed, his finger was deep inside her sex, his mouth on the nub, suckling.
Panting, laying on her back afterwards, she stared up at his half grin. “I loved that.”
“I know.” He put her hand on his sex. “Still want to play?”
“Oh, yes.”
Showing her how to stroke him, he eased his finger into her and thrust, gliding in the moisture of her climax, smiling tense when she arched and rode it.
“Now-you come up here, cowboy.” She smoothed her hand to his hip. “Let me kiss you there.”
He allowed it. His half-lidded gaze, watching her pink tongue lave around the crown of his sex. Noah moaned through grit teeth when her lips rimmed it and h
er nails bit into his hard backside. He was near spilling. He pulled back, and reclined beside her, the both of them fisting his thick sex, working his seed to the surface, their kisses more like tongue play, and hot, sexy, breathing.
An hour later, having washed his seed from her skin, Corey was glorying in mapping him with her hands. He lay passive and let her touch him everywhere, even when his sex thickened he rolled to his stomach and allowed her to satisfy her need to touch and explore.
That didn’t mean his skin didn’t quiver and his muscles bunch. He grunted, groaned a few times. When her teeth sank into the left globe of his hard ass, he hissed a curse under her giggle. When she licked the spot, he muttered something about torturing her back when she was done.
After she’d touched, she laved, bit, and teased him more. He rolled at one point and put her under him, proceeding to kiss and then tongue bathe her from head to toe. When he had her writhing and begging, Noah laid her on her stomach over his hard thighs and reached back down, teasing between her ass, until he reached her sex. Too softly thrusting in and out, he murmured, “Like this?”
“More. Harder. More.” She panted against the quilts. Her hips trying to reach back and make him thrust harder.
He gave her two fingers.
She gasped and lifted her head. “Yes.” Rewarded with long moments of his gliding fingers pleasuring her.
Before it was over, he slid her off him, leaving her on all fours while he ate her from behind, fingering her by turns. Her climax was white hot and dizzying.
* * * *
It must have been past noon, from the slant of the sun.
Corey sat across his thighs while he lay back and let her stroke him. She kissed him, laved his nipples, made his stomach ripple, and delighted in every moment of bringing him to climax.
“When you’re ready—I’d make a perfect husband for you,” he said after they dressed. “I’ll ride that little body the way you want me to.”
