Travis heaved a very deep sigh, still staring into space after Tierra. She hadn’t spoken one word to him on the ride home. But even as the two of them had ridden back across town in silence, Travis couldn’t help but wonder just how exquisite Ms. Tierra Braddy might look in her dream wedding gown, walking down a chapel aisle in his direction.
After throwing the length of her body across the king-size bed, Tierra grabbed one of the plush pillows from beneath the bed’s down comforter and pulled it to her chest. Rolling onto her side, she hugged the pillow as she drew her knees upward, curling her body tightly around its form.
She felt like crying again but didn’t have any tears left to shed. And she simply refused to shed another drop for a man who hadn’t been worth the time of day, let alone her love. If she cried again anytime soon it definitely wouldn’t be for Damien Porter, she professed to herself.
Tierra squeezed the pillow tighter, digging her nails into the cotton fabric. She took a deep breath and then another, drawing as much air into her lungs as she could.
It was suddenly warmer than she would have liked it to be. She could still feel the heat from Travis Stallion’s body against her own. The man had held her too close, his body feeling so good and so right against her own that Tierra was certain there had to be something seriously wrong with him doing it, and with her for having enjoyed it as much as she had.
“What is wrong with me?” Tierra questioned out loud. She rolled from one side to the other, conflicted by what she was feeling and what she thought she should be feeling. None of it was making an ounce of sense to her.
But she had thoroughly enjoyed being in that man’s arms. He had held her and she had felt safe and secure, her heartache lifted by the sheer warmth of his touch. Right then, in that moment, she would have given almost anything to feel his arms around her one more time.
She hadn’t wanted to enjoy anything about their time together, and she hadn’t wanted to like Travis as much as she found herself liking him. Especially while she was trying so hard to be angry at her ex-fiancé. But Staff Sergeant Travis Stallion had incredible presence. Tierra liked how he commanded attention without an ounce of effort. He carried himself with an air of confidence that only a few men possessed.
He’d taken full control as they’d moved from bridal venue to bridal venue. Each time Tierra had fallen apart, pieces of her spirit unraveling at the counter in front of a sales clerk, Travis had picked her up and put her back together again. He’d done so without hesitation, knowing not a thing about her.
Tierra also liked that he was slightly cocky but not in an unflattering way. He was self-assured just enough that it couldn’t be misinterpreted as arrogance. Tierra imagined that was what made him such an exceptional leader, the reason his soldiers looked up to him.
With no clue to how long she’d been lying there tossing and turning as she thought about Travis, Tierra couldn’t shake the sensation of his hands gently stroking her back as his broad chest had easily kissed the curves of her torso. Even with his hands long gone, his touch still burned too hot for comfort. Tossing her legs off the side of the bed, Tierra lifted herself up and headed for the bathroom, desperately hoping a cold shower would wash the heat away.
The decadent smell of barbecued meat wafted through the late afternoon air. Travis took a deep breath as he moved past the large black smokers positioned on the home’s rear patio. His cousin Luke; Luke’s fiancée, Joanne Lake; his cousin Mark; and Mark’s wife, Michelle, were debating the relevance of Facebook versus Twitter as a marketing tool. Travis hadn’t bothered to throw in his two cents, personally having no preference for one over the other. They both kept him in contact with folks he needed to stay in touch with.
He’d been waiting for Tierra, hoping that she could move herself past her hurt and anger to join them, but there had been no sign of her. His patience had worn thin, and now he was just anxious to see and spend time with the exquisite woman.
Excusing himself, he moved from his cushioned seat, through the back door and into the home’s kitchen. Sisters Eden, Marah and Marla were deftly navigating the room as they prepped potato salad, baked beans and pineapple upside-down cake to accompany the racks of ribs barbecuing outside.
“Hey!” Travis chimed cheerily. “Have any of you seen Ms. Braddy?”
Marah cut her eye at Marla, both women smiling slyly. They both shrugged, a low hum easing past Marah’s lips.
Eden laughed. “No, we haven’t. I think she’s still in her room.”
Travis eyed the three questioningly. “What’s so funny?”
Eden smiled in response. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Why don’t you run up and let her know that we’re almost ready for dinner?”
Travis looked from one to the other, each of them avoiding his stare. As he moved to the door, Marah and Marla both burst out laughing.
“What?” Travis asked again, a befuddled look etched across his features.
Eden shrugged as the three answered in unison. “Nothing!”
Tossing his hands in the air, Travis headed up the stairs. Moving straight to the guest room door, he knocked loudly, calling out, “Tierra? Hey, it’s me, Travis. Eden wanted you to know it’s time to eat.”
When there was no response, he knocked a second time. “Tierra?”
Becoming concerned when there was still no response, Travis slowly eased open the room’s door, peering inside. Tierra was nowhere to be seen, but he could hear her voice coming from inside the adjoining bathroom. Tierra was singing loudly, an off-tune version of Beyoncé’s latest hit echoing off the walls. Even as Travis stepped into the room, toward the sound of her voice, he knew he should probably turn around and retreat. But curiosity had gotten the best of him.
Stopping short in the doorway of the bathroom, Travis’s eyes widened, a deep grin blossoming across his face. Tierra lay comfortably in a garden tub filled with warm water and lavender-scented bubble bath. Headphones plugged her ears as she lay with her eyes closed tightly, her hands at shoulder level as she snapped her fingers to the beat of the song playing on her iPod. Her legs were crossed at the ankles, her feet propped against the tub’s edge. It was the first time since they’d met that she seemed totally and completely relaxed.
Travis couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of her lying there in all her glory. Even after holding her in his arms, Travis was still amazed at just how tiny a woman she was, her size 2 frame looking even smaller.
Her face shimmered with warmth, the steam from the hot water heating her caramel-colored complexion a rosy red. Her luscious, dark brown tresses were pinned atop her head, a few wispy strands framing her delicate face. She was stunning.
Snow-white bubbles danced atop the water’s surface, the occasional breaks in their flow allowing him a quick peek at her form. Small, apple-size breasts bobbed at water level. If he hadn’t been searching he would have missed the small heart-shaped tattoo that adorned the inner curve of her right one, the image as tiny and as petite as the rest of her. Her hardened nipples stood at full attention, bubbles and water caressing them easily.
Travis suddenly wanted to nuzzle his head against her chest to taste the chocolate delights. A quiver of heat surged through his groin and he felt himself lengthen in his jeans. He inhaled swiftly, fighting to stall the sensation.
When she pulled the short length of her legs toward her chest, then eased them back beneath the water, Travis knew he was completely enraptured. He could have stood there staring at her forever.
Shaking the reverie from his head, he eased back out of the room. He paused a quick minute, then cleared his voice and knocked gently on the door frame, calling out Tierra’s name. Startled, Tierra jumped, water splashing onto the floor. “Who? What the…? Don’t you knock?” she sputtered as she realized he was standing right outside the opened door.
“I’m sorry,” Travis interjected. “You couldn’t hear me, and I was trying to get your attention. Eden wanted me to tell you that dinner is ready.” The man w
as still grinning broadly, his face hidden from her view.
Tierra reached for one of the large plush towels hanging from the towel rack. Drawing it up and around her body, she moved to shield herself from sight. “You really have some nerve,” she said as she stepped out of the tub. Pressing her body against the bathroom wall, she peered around the door frame to where he stood, eyeing the man from head to toe.
Travis leaned back against the wall between them, his arms crossing evenly over his chest. He stared back. “So, are you coming down to dinner?” He smiled sweetly.
“You really need to get out of my room,” Tierra responded. “I don’t remember inviting you in.”
“I just wanted to make sure you eat something. You’re going to need your nourishment.”
“Why?”
“Because, we’ve got a busy schedule this week, you and I.”
“I don’t remember saying I was planning to spend any time with you.”
Travis laughed. “You didn’t, but you are.”
Tierra rolled her eyes skyward. “Why?”
“Because you like me,” Travis answered smugly. He winked at her as he crossed back to the other side of the room.
“You really are an arrogant, annoying, pain in the butt,” Tierra said, her head shaking.
Travis laughed. “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“Get out!” She clutched her towel closer around her body.
Wrapping his hand around the doorknob, he paused. “Oh,” he said staring back at her. “Really cute tattoo! It suits you.”
Her eyes widening, Tierra screamed at the top of her lungs, “Get out!”
Chapter 6
There was no denying the strain between Tierra and Travis when the woman finally joined the gathering for dinner. The tension swelled so thick and full that you could have sawed it into pieces and played a game of hockey with them.
Tierra moved into the room and purposely avoided meeting the man’s intense gaze. And he was staring, a quirky smile plastered across his handsome face. As she cast a sidelong glance in his direction, she was tempted to slap that smile away. She couldn’t believe he had peeked into the bathroom and had seen her naked. And just how long had he been standing there staring at me? she wondered silently. Too long! Tierra thought, shaking her head. Much too long! She couldn’t believe the man’s audacity.
And she couldn’t believe that she was excited at the thought of him. Even now, trying to reason with her own senses, she couldn’t stop the quivering that had started in her feminine spirit and had spread throughout her whole body. She found herself yearning for his touch, and just the thought of his hands had her pulse beating like a steel drum between her legs.
He had beautiful hands. It was clear that he didn’t neglect them, his nails clean and neatly manicured. His touch was strong but gentle, the large appendages belying the hint of calluses across his palms from the manual labor he did.
Tierra couldn’t help but imagine his fingers dancing across her skin, tracing easy lines as he gently caressed her. She couldn’t stop herself from imagining what it might be like to have him trace the line of her tattoo as his palm cupped the wealth of her breast. Tierra inhaled swiftly.
“Tierra?…Tierra? Are you okay?”
Her name ringing in her ears drew her back to the moment. “Excuse me? Oh, I’m sorry. I was just…”
Everyone seated at the table chuckled softly. “You were gone, girl!” Luke Stallion chimed.
“I want some of whatever you’re having,” Marah laughed.
“Excuse me,” Tierra said, her gaze skating around the table. “I don’t understand.”
Eden patted her friend on the shoulder. “You were moaning, girl!”
Tierra’s shocked expression made them all laugh a second time. “I was not!”
Marla nodded her head. “Well, it sounded like a moan, and the look on your face said whatever you were thinking about was good. Real good.”
“Or whoever you were thinking about…” Eden added, her eyes moving in Travis’s direction. The man grinned broadly.
Tierra blushed profusely, the temperature in the room suddenly uncomfortable. “I’m sure I didn’t moan,” she insisted, rolling her eyes and trying to laugh the moment away. “I was just thinking about the chores I finished today. If anything, I probably groaned,” she said, desperate to change the subject.
“So, where did you two disappear to today?” Marla asked, looking from one to the other.
Tierra met Travis’s gaze for the first time since they’d sat down for dinner. Her look was pleading.
Travis winked and smiled warmly. “Nowhere special,” he answered, turning his attention back to Marla. “Tierra just gave me a quick tour of Dallas. Isn’t that right, Tierra?’ He met her gaze a second time.
The young woman nodded. “Yeah,” she muttered softly, her eyes still locked with his. She was grateful that he didn’t mention where they’d gone and what she’d had to do. She didn’t want to start another conversation about her failed relationship. Gratitude spilled from her stare as she gave him a soft smile back, her mouth curling ever so slightly. Travis smiled again before breaking their eye connection when he turned to ask his cousin a question.
Conversation filled the room as the group chatted comfortably back and forth. As they enjoyed their dessert, Travis listened intently as Tierra discussed the nuances of preschoolers and kindergarten with a very pregnant Michelle Stallion. Mark and his wife were excited at the prospect of nurturing a newborn.
As she talked about her profession, Travis could see that Tierra truly loved what she did. She had always wanted to be a teacher, and from what he was hearing she’d known she’d wanted to teach students in the elementary school level from the very first day of her student teaching assignment. She’d been teaching kindergarten for five years since then, and clearly it suited her personality.
“Doesn’t sound much different from what you do, Travis,” Matthew said jokingly.
Travis laughed. “Except I get my kids from boot camp to graduation in twelve weeks,” the man responded.
“Do you like being in the military?” Tierra questioned, curious to know more about the man.
Travis nodded. “I do. I enlisted right out of high school, and it was the best thing for me. It gave me discipline and guidance and allowed me to set goals for myself that I hadn’t known possible. I also consider it an honor and a privilege to be serving my country.”
Tierra smiled. “That’s nice.”
Everyone in the room paused, seeming to eye them both curiously. Eden broke the silence. “Tierra, have you seen our rose garden? It is absolutely incredible this time of year. Travis, why don’t you walk Tierra down to the gardens and show her the blooms,” she said, her tone just shy of commanding.
Travis eagerly set his wineglass on the table. “I’d be delighted. Ms. Braddy, would you care to join me?”
Marla pushed her gently. “She’d love to,” she answered firmly.
Tierra tossed her friend an annoyed look. “I really don’t think—” she started before Travis interrupted her.
“I promise,” he said, rising to his feet, “I won’t bite!”
Tierra sighed, moving to join him. As the two made their way out of the room, she muttered under her breath, “It wasn’t you I was worried about.”
The word incredible didn’t begin to describe the luxurious grounds outside the family’s home. The gardens were a classic formal display of beds of roses arranged in a grass-girded oval around an exquisite marble fountain. Thousands of plantings and dozens of varieties decorated the landscape, and the sweet aroma wafting through the warm evening air was pure decadence.
Tierra was awed by the sheer beauty of it all, her eyes wide with surprise. “Oh, my,” she muttered softly as the two of them meandered slowly down one of the brick paths.
“Yeah, it’s something,” Travis said in agreement.
Without giving it any thought, he reached for her han
d, entwining his fingers with hers. Tierra tensed ever so slightly, but she didn’t pull away, allowing him to hold her hand in his. That simple gesture made his heart race, his cellular clock skipping multiple beats.
Tight-lipped, Tierra continued to walk in silence, completely overwhelmed by how comfortable it felt to be so near the man. As he chattered away about absolutely nothing, trying to draw her into conversation, she found herself amused by his efforts. It didn’t take long before she finally allowed herself to relax and enjoy the moment.
“Do you always talk so much?” she questioned, a smug smile crossing her face.
Travis laughed. “Only when I have to answer my own questions. This conversation thing actually works better when the other person talks also. You might want to try it.”
Tierra chuckled. “You really are full of yourself, aren’t you?”
Travis shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’d call it confident.”
“Have you always been this way?”
“No. Actually, I was exceptionally shy as a boy. Getting me to talk was like pulling teeth.”
She nodded her head ever so slightly. “And who do we have to thank for your transformation?”
“The United States Army, ma’am!”
Tierra giggled warmly. “So that’s what they mean when they say you can be all you can be. Interesting.”
“Not really,” Travis said, cutting his eyes at her. He changed the subject. “So, tell me more about you. I couldn’t help but eavesdrop when you were talking about your job. You really love teaching, don’t you?”
Tierra’s face lit up, energy gleaming from her eyes. “I do. I love knowing that what I do might make a difference in their young lives.”
Spying an empty bench nestled deep in the center of the garden, Travis pulled her along gently, guiding her to take a seat beside him. Turning his body to face hers, he rested his elbow along the back of the seat and his hand against the side of his head. “Now that’s interesting. Tell me more.”
Promises to a Stallion (Kimani Romance) Page 4
