Promises to a Stallion (Kimani Romance)

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Travis had always marveled at how much they’d known about each other, often finishing the other’s thoughts and reading each other’s minds. The couple had loved each other deeply. Travis had grown up knowing that one day he would want that for himself with a woman who duplicated his mother’s fiery spirit and no-nonsense demeanor. Tierra embodied many of his mother’s attributes and more.

  Tierra excited him and he was curious to see what the future had in store for them as each other’s partner, best friend, companion and lover. No matter what it took, he was convinced that Tierra Braddy was destined to be the future Mrs. Travis Stallion.

  Travis drew his hands over his body, lathering his skin with an almond-scented body wash. He tilted his face into the spray of warm water, the fluid rinsing suds over his broad shoulders and down the length of his back. He suddenly imagined himself standing beneath a spray of water with Tierra, the woman’s naked body pressed against his own, kissing her like he’d kissed her earlier that day. He wished it were her flesh beneath his fingers, his touch lingering against the softness of her skin. Fantasizing had hardened every one of his muscles, the wanting causing his blood to boil hot through his veins.

  Reaching for the faucet, Travis turned the water from hot to cold, cringing as the chilling fluid hit him. If nothing else, he thought, allowing the cold to wash thoughts of Tierra and that kiss from his mind, he had to do something about that woman soon.

  Tierra stood staring out at the view of the city from her apartment window. She hadn’t planned on returning home as soon as she had, but she needed extra clothes for her short sabbatical at the Stallion family ranch. She had also needed to hang her wedding gown in the closet, having finally found the resolve to retrieve it from the bridal shop. A late-night dinner with his cousin Matthew had been the only thing to keep Travis from following behind her. The man had been like a thorn in her side since he’d declared himself her chief protector and personal bodyguard.

  As she stood there, dressed in her Monique Lhuillier wedding gown, she couldn’t help but note that it had been well over a week since the man had walked into her life, and ever since that first day everything in her existence had changed. Even more important, none of it was making any sense to her.

  She moved back to the full-length mirror to stare at her reflection. The strapless, one-piece, full A-line gown with its corset closure and ruched bodice featured a sweetheart neckline and dropped waist trimmed with embellished lace motifs. The skirt boasted three voluptuous gathered tiers of organza. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn, and Tierra had known the moment she first tried it on that it was meant for her to wear on her wedding day. She blew a soft sigh, thoughts of Travis suddenly wafting through her head again.

  Travis was still rationalizing reasons the two of them should think about marriage. The man was almost convincing, but Tierra continued to brush his insistence off, choosing to believe that the man was simply poking fun at her.

  Tierra had to admit, though, that the notion made her smile. And it didn’t help that her grandmother had taken a shine to Travis, treating him as if he were the next best thing since the baking of white bread.

  The matriarch had called her just minutes before to reiterate the virtues of Travis Stallion. Tierra shook her head as she thought back to the conversation.

  “Did you see Travis today?” her granny had asked curiously. “He’s such a sweet young man!” she’d exclaimed for the umpteenth time.

  “He’s really not that sweet, Mama Dee.”

  “He’s got a nice disposition, plus he’s skilled and educated, and he has impeccable manners. He’s definitely got more going for him than that other one ever did.”

  “Please, don’t start, Mama Dee.”

  “I’m just saying.”

  “Is that why you called me, just to say?”

  “Don’t be a wiseass, Tierra. You ain’t that grown.”

  Tierra heaved a deep sigh. “Yes, ma’am. I apologize.”

  “Maybe Travis would like to come for dinner this week. I do expect you and Tingin to join me on Wednesday.”

  “I don’t know, Mama Dee. I’ll have to get back to you about that.”

  “He’s a good man, Tierra.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m sure he is, but it’s not like that between us.”

  “You won’t know what it’s like if you don’t allow yourself to be open to the possibilities.”

  “But, Mama—”

  “But nothing. Think about it, Tierra, and when you’re done thinking about it, then pray on it. Pray long and hard and you’ll know exactly what to do.”

  Tierra had nodded her head into the telephone receiver. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mama Dee had continued. “I honestly believe the man loves you, Tierra. And I believe you’ve fallen in love with him, too.”

  Tierra had shaken her head, making a mental note to call her brother to ask if he thought they might need to have their family physician give the old woman a psychiatric evaluation. Her grandmother was clearly as crazy as a loon. And the fact that Tierra had actually given the idea of her and Travis being in a relationship together some consideration wasn’t saying much for her sanity, either.

  Tierra giggled softly at the thought, her head still shaking. Taking a deep breath, she slid out of her wedding gown, placing it carefully back into its zippered bag. As she hung it in her guest room closet, her hand lingered against it for a brief moment, one solitary tear drop rolling over the round of her cheek.

  Chapter 11

  Breakfast in bed had become a ritual for the couple. Since that first morning, Travis had awakened her each morning with a plate of something decadent in his hands as he stood in the entrance to her room. This morning was no exception, as he knocked on the door and then burst inside without waiting for a response, the sweet aroma of blueberry muffins teasing the early day air.

  Tierra was better prepared, though, fully clothed in a pair of flannel sleeping pants and a tank top as she sat upright in one of the cushioned wingback chairs awaiting his arrival. She couldn’t help but smile back as the man greeted her with a charmed grin.

  “Good morning, beautiful.”

  “Sergeant Stallion, good morning to you.”

  “Did you sleep well?”

  Tierra nodded. “Exceptionally well. How about yourself?”

  He shrugged, the thought crossing his mind that he would have slept much better had she been curled up against his body. He bit back the desire to say so. “So, what’s on our agenda today?”

  As Tierra took a bite of her muffin, following it with a sip of freshly squeezed orange juice, she shook her head. After swallowing the mouthful of food, she answered. “Not a thing. I plan to wash my hair and just sit back and relax. If I do anything, I may go horseback riding, but that will probably be it.”

  Travis dropped down on to the bed, crossing his leg over his knee as he stared at her. “We can do that.”

  “There’s no we in this, Travis. That’s what I am doing,” Tierra said, emphasizing her desire to not include him in her plans. “I don’t know what you are doing.”

  Travis laughed. “I am washing your hair.”

  A bite of muffin caught in Tierra’s throat, choking her momentarily. She coughed into her inner elbow.

  “You okay?” Travis questioned, leaning toward her.

  Tierra nodded. “I’m fine. Why must everything be a joint effort with you? You’re driving me crazy!”

  “We don’t have much time left before I deploy again, Tierra. I’m trying to take advantage of every moment.”

  The woman heaved a deep sigh. “Well, I’m going to wash my hair in the shower, and I can do that all by myself. But thank you for offering.”

  “Even better,” Travis exclaimed, rising to his feet. “Let’s get started,” he said excitedly.

  Tierra shook her head vehemently. “I don’t know what you have in mind, Travis, but the answer is no!”

  The man ignored her, chuckling to himself
as he headed into her bathroom. Tierra could hear him turning on the water, adjusting the flow of hot and cold. He called out her name. “Let’s go, Tierra!”

  She couldn’t begin to fathom what the man had to be thinking. Breakfast was one thing, but this was something else all together. “You’re crazy,” she admonished. “I really can take a shower all by myself.”

  “And I can take one with you while I wash your hair,” the man responded matter-of-factly.

  Tierra’s eyes widened in astonishment as Travis suddenly stripped out of his jeans and dropped them to the floor. Pulling his T-shirt over his head, he stood in nothing but a snow-white pair of boxer briefs.

  The man was clearly a work of art. The lines of his torso were picture-perfect, his sculpted form breathtakingly beautiful. There was a faint scar that ran a few short inches down his abdomen, but that was the only blemish that appeared to mar his complexion. The defining bulge of his manhood drew her attention, the apex heralding his thick thighs and toned calves.

  “I can get completely naked if you’d like,” Travis said casually, his thumbs tucked into the waistband of his briefs. “Or not, depending on what you’d prefer.”

  The butterflies in Tierra’s stomach suddenly turned into a flock of birds. “I really don’t know about this,” Tierra said, her calm, easy tone contradicting the strained expression on her face. “This is absurd, Travis Stallion!”

  “So, it’s not conventional, but the last few days have been quite unconventional, as well. But hey, what do you have to lose? It’ll be an experience we can tell our grandchildren about someday.”

  “We’re not having grandchildren.”

  Travis smiled, the sweet gesture washing warmth over her. “At least not for a few years. Now, are you going to get in the shower or not? You can keep all your clothes on if you want, although it will probably be easier if you at least stripped down to your undies.”

  Travis couldn’t take his eyes off Tierra. She was staring at him as if he were crazy, and for a brief moment he would have thought so himself. He didn’t know what he’d been thinking until the words had come out of his mouth. And now, standing half-naked hoping that she might join him had him completely questioning his own best judgment. With nothing to lose, he winked at her and gestured for her to step into the shower.

  This is crazy, Tierra thought, the words spinning through her head over and over again. But her body suddenly moved of its own accord, disregarding the voice in the back of her head that told her to run and run fast. With a mind of their own, her fingers reached for the belt at her waist and loosened the tie on her sleeping pants, allowing the flannel slacks to fall to the floor at her feet. In only her bikini briefs and her tank top, she slowly moved in Travis’s direction. Her delicate steps were alluring, teasing every one of the man’s senses.

  As she stared into his eyes, Travis’s desire was plain to see, although Tierra was too consumed with her own wanting to rationalize what he might have been feeling. Watching as the man had stripped out of his clothes had given her a rush like she’d never experienced before. Beneath the tank top she was wearing her nipples had hardened and stuck out like little soldiers. Tierra resisted the urge to press her palms to her breasts, not wanting to draw attention to her own predicament. Easing past him, she stepped into the shower and Travis stepped in behind her.

  Standing side by side in the glassed enclosure, the two stood staring at each other, neither knowing what to do next. The moment wasn’t what either had expected. Travis suddenly felt foolish, and Tierra couldn’t believe she’d actually gone along with him. She suddenly burst out laughing, the hilarity of the moment consuming her. Ripples of mirth started deep in her midsection and swelled full and thick between them. Enthralled, Travis couldn’t help but join her, and within minutes the two were laughing hysterically until tears began to flow from both their eyes.

  “So, what next?” Travis managed to ask, gasping for a deep breath of air.

  The young woman shrugged. “Since we’re here,” she said, the amusement still painting her expression, “you might as well wash my hair.”

  Tierra ducked her head under the warm spray and the soothing water saturated her hair in seconds. Reaching for the bottle of shampoo, she turned to face him. She extended the container in his direction, and when he pulled it from her hands she took one step closer. When their bodies touched, neither thought to draw away.

  Moving against her, Travis filled the palm of his hand with the shea butter shampoo and gently rubbed it through the shoulder-length strands. As he slowly massaged her scalp with his fingers, the thick lather ran in rivulets down her caramel body.

  Closing her eyes, Tierra leaned into the tenderness of his strokes. Travis was massaging her head gently, and each time his fingers parted the silken strands and lightly caressed her scalp, the sweetness of his touch caused her spirit to soar and swell with sheer delight. The skill with which he washed and rinsed her hair and the erotic bravado of his body just millimeters from her own caused her to quiver with wanting like she’d never known before. It also didn’t help that Travis was suddenly sporting a rock-hard erection that seemed to be straining for her full and undivided attention.

  Opening her eyes, Tierra met his deep gaze. His expression was pained as he struggled to regain a semblance of control over his own body. Sensing his obvious discomfort, Tierra couldn’t help but smile, a smug grin that made Travis raise his eyebrows. “What?”

  Tierra couldn’t stall the giggle that bubbled past her lips. “Looks like you’ve got a personal problem to deal with.”

  Her eyes dropped to his crotch for a brief second before rising back to his face. A rash of red color flushed the man’s cheeks.

  “You seem to have one of your own,” he whispered as he stared directly at her chest, her breasts clearly visible through her wet top. Without giving it a thought, Travis cupped his palm around the soft tissue, allowing his thumb to graze the rock-candy delight that protruded so blatantly. The heat from his hands burned hot against her flesh, flooding her whole body with ardor. Tierra inhaled swiftly, his touch surprising and enthralling her at the same time.

  “What are you—?” Tierra started, as Travis moved from one nipple to the other, leaning to press his lips against the inner curve of her right breast. Her eyes widened at the sensations that suddenly swept through every nerve ending. She suddenly felt light-headed, her knees threatening to drop her where she stood. She heard someone in the room moan and then realized the soft whimper had slipped past her own lips.

  Scarcely breathing, and ever so gently, Travis moved an arm over and across her body to pull her closer. He eased both hands around her waist, pulling her tightly against him as he wrapped her in a deep embrace. Emboldened, he nuzzled his cheek against her cheek, then gently kissed her forehead as his hands danced across her shoulders and down the length of her arms. Consumed by the moment, Tierra wrapped her small hands around his thick torso, her fingers gently caressing his bare back. The taut muscles seemed to pulse against her fingertips as she hugged him back.

  Confusion suddenly washed over her senses. Sexual tension had risen like an enormous beast between them, needing to be fed and nourished lest it explode with a vengeance. Whatever was happening shouldn’t have been. He had no business toying with her so wantonly. She had no business reveling in his touch so unabashedly. Neither one of them had any business being in such a compromising position.

  Travis felt her tense in his arms. Sensing her change of heart, he leaned to whisper into her ear.

  “What’s the matter, Tierra?” he asked, his lips grazing the lobe of her ear.

  Tierra’s head shook vehemently from side to side. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she hissed softly.

  Travis sighed. Taking a step back, he stared down at her. He cupped his hands around her cheeks, tilting her gaze up to his. “I want you, Tierra, and I know you want me. I can feel it.”

  Tierra couldn’t stop herself from shaking, her body quivering a
s if she were cold. She crossed her arms over her chest, wrapping them around her torso. “I can’t do this,” she answered. “It’s not…it’s…it’s just not right, Travis.”

  “Tierra, you’re wrong. You know this is right,” he repeated, his tone adamant. “You know it and feel it just like I do.”

  “I don’t know anything of the sort.” This time she stepped backward until her back was pressed against the glass.

  “Do you want me to stop, Tierra?”

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” she repeated.

  Travis moved toward her, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek. “Tierra, I love you.”

  Her voice rose shrilly as she pulled away from his touch. “I said no, Travis!”

  Travis’s gaze swept over her face. Water sprayed over them from the large showerhead in the wall, catching Tierra’s tears as they flowed into the drain. Nodding his head slowly, Travis backed his way out of the shower.

  Turning an about-face, he reached for a plush towel that rested on the countertop and wrapped it around his waist. Bending to retrieve his clothes, he tossed her one last look, and before Tierra could think to change her mind, Travis Stallion disappeared out of the room.

  Chapter 12

  It had been three whole days since the incident in the shower and Tierra still hadn’t seen Travis. Each morning she’d sat waiting for him to deliver breakfast, and not long after it was time for lunch she would give up hope that he might actually appear. Even his family was beginning to question where the man might have disappeared to.

  “John, what’s up with Travis?” Marah asked as she took a seat at the family dining table. She took a sip of her sweetened tea.

  Hearing the man’s name, Tierra looked up from her chicken salad and fresh fruit, her stare focused on John’s face as she waited anxiously for him to answer.

  Still staring at the newspaper he was reading, John shrugged animatedly as he answered, “He headed down to the lake to do some fly-fishing. Something about needing some time to himself.”