by C. R. Moss
The metal and stone gleamed in the candle light. “They’re lovely, Dak, but you know how strict my dad is. He’d skin me alive if I came home wearing a ring like this.”
“Oh.”
The disappointment in his face and voice cut her. “Tell you what. I’ll put the ring on the necklace my friend, Bristol, gave me and keep it hidden beneath my clothes. I know other people won’t be able to see it, but at least you’ll always be close to my heart. Is that cool?”
“Sure. The last thing I’d want is for you to get in trouble with your pa. You need to be able to come back.”
She smiled and put the ring on the necklace, hiding it securely under her t-shirt.
“Cassie?” Dakota caught her gaze.
“Yeah?”
“Dance with me?” He bent down and pushed the play button on the portable double cassette player. A man’s voice crooned about love and being lost, light and heat, being complete with another.
She stepped into his arms for a slow dance. “The song from the movie. I didn’t know you had the artist’s album.”
“I picked up the album after we went.”
In each other’s arms, they swayed to the music. His heart beat strong and steady beneath her ear. As the song came to an end and fed into the next about empty streets and dreams, she realized she never wanted to let him go.
“I’d like to kiss you if you’ll let me,” he whispered in her ear.
A wave of liquid heat washed over her. “Sure. I’d like that, too.”
He leaned forward, traced her mouth with his fingers, then placed his lips on her. He slid his hand to her thigh, while capturing her mouth in a kiss that made her nerves zing with desire. His thin but sensual lips played with hers, his tongue teased the opening. Warmth spread through her body. She parted her mouth. His tongue slipped in. He tasted of summertime—the sweet and tangy taste of lemonade and strawberries. Her lips and tongue brushed against his braces. She giggled into his mouth.
He dragged his mouth away. “The braces, huh?”
She nodded.
“They’ll be gone by next summer. Promise.” He caressed the side of her face, pushed a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. His deep blue-eyed gaze peered into hers, touched her soul. “I can’t believe you’re mine. You’re my first love. You’re gonna be my only love. Tell me you love me.”
Tell him? He sounded a little too demanding for her tastes. Too much like her father. And she hated how that man controlled her life, dominated her, and her mother. Father was overbearing and never let the females in his life have an inch. She was still amazed she was allowed to visit the ranch and her cousin for the summer.
“Cassie?” The light of hope brightened his eyes. His gaze bathed her in adoration.
Dakota wasn’t her father. The men were complete opposites. She didn’t think she’d ever have to worry about Dakota smothering her spirit. With a smile, she palmed his cheek. “I love you, too, Dakota.”
“Promise?”
“Promise. Cross my heart.” She made an X over her chest.
* * * *
A low moan snapped her from her musings. She glanced up at the boy, now a man, who had professed his love in the very spot they stood. No wonder she believed the ring had been connected to something good, something pure. It was connected to the man in her arms, someone who truly cared for her, wouldn’t hurt her, wanted a commitment from her once upon a time.
Commitment. Her mind staggered. Hitched to one person. Memories of the nightmares she had regarding her parents’ fights and split returned. Her breath quickened. Her gaze darted around the area. Why hadn’t she recognized where her own phobias and control issues stemmed from before this? No wonder none of her relationships lasted very long, and she was a true commitment phobe.
Now the question was, could she get over her own fears so she could experience a long lasting, loving relationship for once?
His gaze peered into hers. Gone was the stare of a hopeful youth. In its place was the heated gaze of an adult. The longing she saw within his eyes touched her soul.
Before she knew what he planned, he hugged her tight, his cock pressing against her, his lips claiming hers. A slow sizzling burn ignited then flared in her core. The fire from another’s pleasurable contact blazed through her.
Dakota grabbed the back of her head, deepened the kiss. He parted her lips with his tongue. The kiss was urgent, as if he feared she’d vanish. It was intense, exploratory, demanded her response. Her knees weakened and he captured her with a strong arm around her waist. She grasped the muscles of his neck, raked her nails down his back, wanting to melt into him. His skin was hot and slick. She slid her hands along his lower back, the sides of his torso, grabbed his ass cheeks. He growled into her mouth.
Palming the back of her head, his grip around her waist tightened. She couldn’t go anywhere. The hold he had on her reminded her of the rough idiot at the party back home. Panic about being in a precarious situation again with someone much stronger than her sent icy bolts through her veins. She squirmed to be released from his clutches.
He broke the kiss, stared into her eyes. “Don’t do this, Catherine,” his voice, dark and deep, vibrated and sliced her core. “Don’t try to leave me again. I’ve spent years wondering what happened to you, missing you, thinking I did something wrong.”
She gritted her teeth together, hating the hurt she saw in his gaze, heard in his voice. The best thing she could do right now was yield to him, share her fears and hurts, let him know what was deep in her soul. That she cared for him, maybe even loved him now. But her apprehensions about relationships won out stimulating her flight response, again, to her dismay. Running away was safe. Entrusting her heart to someone, not so much.
“You didn’t do anything, Dak. Not then. Not now. It’s me. Please, let’s get dressed and go back to the lodge.”
Chapter Seven
Clothing herself, she watched Dakota dress faster than she had ever seen any man do so. He packed up and grabbed his items, cradled them in an arm, then clutched her hand in a vice-like grip.
“Hey, what’s the deal?” She tried to yank her hand from his. He wouldn’t let go as he led her down the trail to the truck.
“I hate that it’s not you it’s me crap. You’re sticking by my side until you either come completely clean with me or until further notice. You’re not leaving the ranch and you’re not leaving my sight.”
“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?”
He leveled her with a stern glare. “I’m the man who’s going to protect you from other men, from the likes of whom would put their hands on you and mar your beautiful skin. I’m going to protect you from yourself. Consider me your knight in shining fucking armor. Your carriage awaits.” Dak opened the door and waved her in.
Settled in the passenger seat, she flinched when he slammed the door, tossed all the stuff into the bed of the pickup, then hopped into the driver’s side.
“You’re something. You know that?” She didn’t care that ire coated her words.
Dak chuckled, a low, sexy rumble that filled the small space, not seeming to care how upset she was. “You are, too. We make a fine pair.” He hailed Kent on the walkie-talkie cell phone, advised him of the carcass. “I say send Jake and Hugh if they’re available. And I’d like you to meet me and Cassie at the TR later.”
Kent acknowledged. The phone crackled and went silent.
Dakota kept to his word about protecting her the rest of the day, too.
Christ’s sake, for twenty years she’d been on her own. She was used to not answering to anyone. It agitated her that a man thought he could boss her around. He was keeping her from other activities, too. Not that she needed roping and shooting lessons since she pretty much had those talents covered, but it would have been nice to hang out with her friend and even the bride and her gals. Maybe even go for a trail ride.
On the slow, crawling drive around the rest of the property, every time she considered jumping out and un
locked her door to do so, he clicked the automatic locks for all the doors on his side. When he had to stop and inspect an area, he made sure she exited the cab on his side, held his hand as they checked out the fencing and the rest of the location, and then re-entered the truck on his side. At no time did he leave any chance for her to escape.
Occasionally, he’d ask her if she was ready to talk and be straight with him. She’d only shake her head in response.
He even put on the alpha-male show in front of the ladies and Kane when he stopped to chat with the guide and riders on the trail near the family burial area.
She tried to leave his side to go talk to Allison, but he grabbed her and made her stay put. Allison mouthed a concerned question asking if she was okay. Cassie rolled her eyes in response, mouthed the word men, tipped her head toward Dak and shrugged a shoulder. The bride laughed with a nod of her head, then trotted off with a couple of her friends.
Down at the training ring, he had her sit on the gray weathered wood fence and directed Kent to keep her company while he worked on breaking one of the colts. During a brief moment when she thought neither man was paying attention, she attempted to sneak away. The bright sun, and Dak’s dominance, had given her a headache. She wanted to get inside and cool off, maybe go for a swim before dinner. Half way off the fence, Kent caught her before she could hop down.
“Come on, Kent. I just want to find some shade or something.”
“Stay put,” he ordered and jogged over to his truck.
He came back and handed her a couple of aspirin, a bottle of water and a tan cowboy hat. Minutes later, under the influence of the medicine and shade of the hat, she started feeling better.
A shrieking whinny echoed over the land. The young brown animal with a white star on its forehead bucked as Dak roped it. His tall form, dressed in dark clothing and topped with a black cowboy hat, contrasted against the countryside and the dirt of the small square ring.
Now there’s a man, rugged, earthy. A man made of honor by living life. She watched him play tug-of-war with the animal. All that controlled power beneath me… A long sigh escaped her.
Thing was, as much as she played around with trying to escape him, she didn’t really want to leave Dak’s side. She kind of liked his I want to take charge because I care about you attitude. Hours had passed since his release of control session on the rock. He didn’t look any worse for wear. No mental strain lines creased his face. He didn’t appear to be contemplating the meaning of life or questioning his sanity. Perhaps he’s all right with the experience we had on the rock.
Another man, a short and stocky fellow with hair the color of chocolate milk, leaned on the fence across the way from her and Kent. Dak settled the horse. “Hey, Hugh,” he called. “Get that problem cleaned up?”
“Yeah,” Hugh answered back, adjusting the collar of his purple paisley button down shirt and shoving his hands into his jeans. “But I need to ask you a question.”
“Shoot.” He crooned into the colt’s ear.
“We got new neighbors?”
“Not that I know of.” He stroked the animal’s mane. The colt calmed, nuzzled his chest.
“Any of our neighbors get a new car?”
Dak turned his full attention to Hugh. “Not that I’ve heard. Why?”
Hugh scratched his head. “Well, I was fixin’ to go take care of the sign ag’in, so you wouldn’t have to worry about it, and this fancy black car passed by a few times. I know that’s the main road that the city folk use to go out to Red Rock, but the same car creeping by several times? Strange, right? And I can’t say I recognized it or the driver. Maybe somebody’s entertainin’?”
“Maybe.” Dakota looked over his shoulder in their direction. “Kent?”
Kent shrugged a shoulder. “I think I heard tell of the Bennetts throwing a big shindig all weekend.”
Dak’s gaze fastened onto hers.
He’s checking in again with me. Cassie offered a smile this time. She remembered how years ago all the property owners in the area seemed to know each other and everyone seemed to know everyone else’s business. It appeared that aspect of country living outside the city limits hadn’t changed. Everyone knows everyone and everything. She gasped. How fast would people know about her and Dak? Maybe their naked playtime on the rock hadn’t been such a hot idea.
“I have to use the little girl’s room,” she blurted and dismounted the fence.
Dak advised Kent to follow her.
She shook her head, annoyed and pleased at Dak’s protective instincts, and ran to her cabin, leaving Kent to hang out on her porch. Once inside, she locked the door and leaned against it. Hopefully, the gossip mill hadn’t gotten wind of their relationship yet. She ran a hand over her face. The dust and grit of the ranch irritated her skin.
In the bathroom, she stripped out of her clothes and stepped into the shower. The hard hot spray beat on her, helping her to feel something other than worry about potential rumors. She bowed her head, placed her hands above the faucets. The water sluiced down her hair, cascaded in wide streams over her back. More time passed. Relaxed and clear headed, she finished her shower and was about to open the door when a thud and click sounded on the other side.
Gripping the towel wrapped around her body, she opened the door and cautiously looked out into the room. Dakota lounged on the bed, one leg bent, his hat propped that leg’s knee. His hair stuck up in clumpy spikes. He ran a dirty hand through his brown locks.
Cassie released a pent up breath. “How’d you get in here?”
Tired eyes gazed up at her. “I’m part owner of this ranch, ‘member? Got a bunch of master keys.” Dak held up the ring of them. “You okay? When you didn’t come back, I got worried.”
“I’m fine. I think the heat and sun got to me. Along with the dirt.”
He rose with a nod, put the hat on his head. “Get dressed. You’ll come with me while I get cleaned up then we’ll go hang out in the rec hall.”
“You know what, Dak? I appreciate the Boy Scout approach and how you’re trying to get a merit badge for babysitting, but all I want is to lie down and take a nap.”
“Cassie, please. I’m hot, dirty, and tired. I don’t want to argue.” He strode to the door. “Get dressed so we can get going.” His gaze flashed darkly, roamed over her with an appraising glance. A slow grin tipped up the corner of his lips.
“I don’t know why you’re keeping such a close eye on me. I’ve been taking care of myself for years and have done fine on my own.” She clutched the towel, suddenly feeling weirdly exposed. The odd, chilly sensation was one she hadn’t experienced in years, not since before her interest in being a nudist. Cassie checked herself. Maybe it wasn’t so much the I’m-naked-in-front-of-a-man part as it was they way he looked at her—heated, wanting, lustful. Sure, other men had looked at her the same way over the years, but their attentions were more like ogling than genuine interest. But still. Wasn’t her reaction to his salacious regard silly? Especially after what we’ve done together.
Or was it because deep down she thought he was the one? She pushed the last thought aside. It was way too soon to come to that conclusion. Wasn’t it?
“Really? Even with the company you’ve told me you keep back where you come from? And you still haven’t told me about your neck.” He twirled a finger in the air, pointing at her throat.
“And I’m not about to now.”
“Why?”
She stared him down not saying a word.
“Man, I thought I was stubborn,” he mumbled. “Now come on, there’s a stranger driving around this area, and I don’t want any of my guests to get hurt if that character’s up to no good.”
“It should appease you then that I’m going to stay here.” Irritation leaked into her voice. Anger was good. It was better than exposing her confusion over her feelings and how her body was reacting to his stares. “Sic your guard dog, Kent, on me some more. He can keep watch if you’re really that adamant about keeping me
under surveillance.”
“Kent has a job to do. He can’t stick around here.”
“Well then, either find someone else or deal with the fact that I’ll be alone for a bit.”
“Why are you being so obstinate?” He blinked. The heat in his eyes left. He glared at her with a narrow-eyed gaze.
“Why are you being so paternal?” She reciprocated with a scowl of her own.
With another scathing glare at her, he yanked open the door. “Maybe because now that you’re in my life again, I want to keep you here.” He stormed out, slamming the closed behind him.
After making sure the blinds were closed and the door was locked, she shucked the towel to the chair and collapsed to the bed. He wants to keep me here. She appraised her reactions to that thought. Surprisingly, there was no fear, no cold sweat of anxiety. The thought actually made her happy and warm, like she was wrapped in her grandmother’s handmade quilt and sipping on a bowl of her famous chicken noodle soup. Comfort. Home. Love. Cassie closed her eyes and smiled.
What seemed to be only minutes later, but was in fact a couple of hours, she woke to a rapping on the door.
“Miss Cassie?” Kent’s worry-tinged voice fought through the thickness of the wood. “Miss Cassie, it’s close to dinner time.”
Cassie grabbed the towel off the chair, wrapped it around herself. She opened the door an inch. “I’m up Kent. Give me a few minutes to get dressed and do something with my hair.”
“All right. Just don’t take too long. Dak’s steaming mad. Worse than the time he bit into a habanero pepper by mistake.”
“Mmm, I’m sure that was a sight.” She laughed, but when Kent didn’t share in her humor over Dak’s eating incident, she said, “Don’t worry. I won’t be but a minute. Dak won’t have anything else to be upset over.”
Cassie couldn’t have been more wrong. During dinner, Dakota didn’t like the fact she kept wandering off to talk with the ladies. He didn’t like the fact she didn’t want to sit right on top of him while they ate. He didn’t seem to like it that she went up to the food line for seconds. Thankfully, he was smart enough to keep his comments about her eating to himself. What she didn’t like was how his attitude degraded as the dinner hour progressed from the meal to the bridal celebration.
