Promises to a Stallion (Kimani Romance)

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  The sound of his belt being unbuckled and the zipper being pulled excited her. Travis’s hands moved back to her body, gliding across her stomach to that sweet spot between her legs, taunting the swollen nub. His breath was heated against her, his lips following where his hands had led. Tierra moaned, pleasure sweeping through the room.

  Their loving was bliss. Neither could begin to imagine that their intimate act would feel like the first time each time they were together. As Tierra clung to him hungrily, holding on for dear life, she knew that nothing and no one could ever move Travis Stallion from her heart.

  After a wonderful meal of Caribbean shrimp and sweet potatoes in a spicy coconut sauce, the two had sat before an open fireplace, sipping on glasses of warm sherry, enjoying the ocean air. Travis had suggested they take a walk before retiring for the night.

  A full moon sat high in the darkened midnight sky. Tierra and Travis strolled along the beachfront, hand in hand, the cool waves washing over their bare feet. In the distance lights flickered with a soft intensity, beckoning them forward.

  “We have to leave tomorrow,” Travis said softly, breaking the silence that had settled around them. “Then I’m back to Afghanistan.”

  Tierra nodded. “I don’t want you to go.”

  “I don’t want to go, either, but I have to.”

  Tierra squeezed his hand, her other palm lightly caressing his arm. “If I haven’t told you already, Travis, I want you to know how much the last few weeks have meant to me. Even with all that drama with my ex, I would do it all over again if I had to.”

  Travis stopped, turning to face her. He clasped her face between his palms, staring deep into her eyes. “Tierra, I love you. And I think you know how much I love you. So…” Travis dropped down to one knee. Reaching into his jacket pocket he pulled a small velvet box into his hand, flipping it open to expose a stunning emerald-cut diamond ring in a lavish platinum setting.

  He pulled Tierra’s left hand into his own, staring up into her eyes as he continued. “At this moment, I am kneeling before you with my heart in my palms, offering it to you, Tierra Braddy. I love you. I want to spend my life with you. I need you by my side as I leap into the future. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

  Tierra gasped, the moment surreal. She dropped to her knees beside him, her mouth meeting his in a divine kiss. “I do love you, Travis. I didn’t know it was possible to feel what I’m feeling for anyone. But you have it like no one has ever had my heart before. Yes. Yes. I would be honored to be your wife.”

  Travis’s grin was a mile wide as he slipped the ring onto Tierra’s ring finger and placed a kiss into the palm of her hand. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into a deep embrace. He kissed her excitedly, joy filling his spirit as it danced in sync with hers.

  They’d talked and walked the length of the beach for hours. Out of nowhere a sudden rain storm showered down from the sky. The downpour was heavy, the kind of rain that soaks deep into a body within minutes. Neither of them seemed to notice as they kicked their way through the sand, still holding hands. The sky had grown even darker, so much so that Travis could barely see Tierra standing beside him. A flash of lighting suddenly illuminated her exquisite face.

  Enamored, Travis pulled Tierra to him, kissing her deeply as rain ran like a river over their heads. Tierra kissed him back, her tongue pushing eagerly past his lips into his mouth to dance alongside his own. Bolstered by her enthusiasm, Travis slid his hand beneath her skirt, her clothing saturated through to her panties. Tierra moaned her excitement into his mouth as he slid his fingers beneath the fabric, pressing his thumb over the hardened nub between her legs. As he drew slow circles against her flesh, making her draw her breath through her teeth, Tierra slid her leg up his, her knee resting against his hip.

  Moving his mouth to her neck, Travis nuzzled the soft flesh, his tongue teasing the lobe of one ear and trailing the line of her chin to the other lobe. Tierra popped the buttons to his shirt, her hands moving across his broad chest.

  With his hand still dancing against her secret garden, Travis kissed her again, their connection so sweet that Tierra couldn’t imagine anyone moving her spirit the way he did. No one before him had ever kissed her like Travis kissed her. Travis’s lips ignited fires deep in her belly, shooting fireworks through every nerve ending and turning her knees to jelly. If it were not for his strong arms encircling her waist or her arms latched around his neck, she’d have melted to the ground. Instead, she strained against him, needing him fiercely, longing to be one with him. The feelings were so strong they scared her, yet she couldn’t break free. She would have stopped breathing first.

  She wanted to protest when he drew away. The cool evening air chapped her sore, swollen lips. Travis’s gaze smoldered into hers. “Let’s take this back to our room,” he whispered. “It’s too cold out here for you.” His teeth nipped her earlobe, and then his tongue bathed her ear. Arching her neck, she shivered against him.

  Lifting her into his arms, Travis leaned his head back, his raspy breathing mimicking hers. Tierra nuzzled her face into his neck, her arms draped around his shoulders. With the rain still falling around them, he carried her back across the beach to the patio outside their room. By the time he maneuvered them through the sliding-glass doors to lay her across the bed’s comforter, Tierra was completely naked beneath him. Standing back to take in the view, he was totally enamored with the sight of her.

  Travis wanted her badly, and he sensed that Tierra wanted him just as much. He rubbed the goose flesh of her cold skin as he admired her body. Tearing his wet clothes away from his own body, he stood completely naked. Leaning over her, he took her face into his hand, kissing her lips passionately. Her hands whispered across his skin, tracing the powerful muscles of his back.

  Cupping her small breasts, he kissed them gently. Her nipples hardened beneath his touch as he ringed first one and then the other, teasing back and forth with his tongue. Tierra moaned expressively, unable to contain her excitement.

  Moving her hands to grasp his manhood, she stroked him easily. When her ministrations became too much, Travis pushed her hands away and reached for a condom that rested atop the nightstand. As Tierra helped him with the prophylactic, he gasped for air. Rolling her back against the bed, Travis supported himself on his forearms and began to slowly pump his body back and forth. With each stroke he drove into her, crushing her soft breasts against his hard chest. Tierra whimpered faintly, urging him in with her hands.

  As release claimed them, both sheened in sweat despite the chill in the air, the rain outside continued to dance down, tapping eagerly at the window.

  Chapter 20

  There were two limos waiting side by side when they stepped off the private jetliner onto the tarmac. Tierra’s stare was questioning as she looked from Travis to the driver, who was beckoning for her attention.

  “What’s going on?” she asked curiously.

  Travis gave her a breathtaking smile, his eyes glistening with joy. “We have to go get ready. I will see you later this afternoon,” he answered as he leaned to kiss her cheek. He gave her a gentle push toward the car, the driver swinging the door open for her.

  “Bye, and I love you,” Travis said as he gave her a quick wink, moving toward the other vehicle.

  Tierra was still standing there looking stunned when she heard her name being called from inside the car. Leaning to peer inside, she was greeted with smiles and laughter, Eden, Marah, Marla and her grandmother all waving excitedly.

  “Girl, get in this car. We have a million things to do,” Mama Dee chimed.

  “What’s going on?” Tierra asked, looking from one to the other.

  Eden grabbed her left hand, holding it up in the sunlight.

  “Nice!” Marah exclaimed. “Very nice!”

  “That boy’s got good taste,” Mama Dee said, admiring Tierra’s engagement ring.

  The young woman beamed. “Isn’t it gorgeous!”

  “I’m
just glad you said yes,” her grandmother responded. “Now we’ve got to go get you ready.”

  Tierra eyes widened. “Ready for what?”

  “Your wedding, of course. Travis said you would be his wife before he left to return to duty, and we promised to help make that happen.”

  Eden leaned forward in her seat. “You do want to marry him, right, Tierra?”

  Four pairs of eyes focused intently on her face. Mama Dee’s eyebrows were raised in query. They all stared as Tierra seemed to mull over the question, the answer coming to her slowly. Then she nodded, a deep smile filling her face.

  “I do. I want to marry Travis Stallion more than anything else in this world.”

  Her grandmother laughed, the deep chortle filling the car’s interior with glee. “That’s my girl!”

  Eden nodded her agreement. “Well, then, let’s go get you ready for a wedding.

  The next three hours were a complete blur. Manicures and pedicures were followed by a trip to the hair salon. When all of the women were primped and pampered, they returned to the ranch for a light lunch before it would be time to get themselves dressed for the wedding.

  The women were joking and laughing, telling Tierra about their own nuptials and the extremes that had been taken to get their men down the aisle.

  “Your granddaddy thought he was slick,” Mama Dee said with a deep chuckle. “He thought he was going to get the milk without buying the cow. I had to set him straight real quick.”

  Tierra laughed. “Papa Jake loved you.”

  “Yes, he did, baby. Your granddaddy said I was the best thing that ever happened to him. And I was,” Mama Dee said, her face beaming with glee.

  The matriarch moved to Tierra’s side. “I have to ask you this one more time,” her grandmother said, as she reached to lower the flame on the teapot that was just beginning to simmer for attention. “You know you don’t have to do this if you’re not ready, right? You do want to marry this man, right?”

  Tierra smiled, pausing as she stirred a teaspoon of sugar into the tall glass of lemonade. The kitchen was suddenly warmer than usual, and Tierra knew it had nothing to do with the heat wafting off the large black burners or coming from inside the oven, where a pan of quiche was just beginning to set. Since she’d first laid eyes on the man, every thought of him caused a rise in her temperature. She shook the sensation, taking a deep breath. “Yes,” she answered, the surety in her tone undeniable.

  Mama Dee leaned to kiss her granddaughter’s cheek. “Just checkin’!” The older woman reached out a wrinkled hand and pressed her fingers to the spot where her lips had just grazed. “That man loves you, Tierra. I feel it with ever fiber in my body. And you love him, too. But that’s not enough. You and Travis are going to have to grow into this relationship. There are still some things y’all don’t know about each other, and you might discover some things y’all don’t like about each other. But if you want it to work bad enough, you can make that happen. Just hold tight to the love and let it grow with you.”

  Nodding, Tierra leaned her head against her grandmother’s chest as the woman wrapped her in a deep embrace. Both women wiped a tear from their eyes, trying not to burst out crying. “Girl, you’re going to ruin my makeup,” Mama Dee exclaimed warmly. “Now finish up your meal so you can go put that dress on and let us all see how pretty you’re going to look going down that aisle!”

  Travis was laughing warmly as his cousins made joke after joke about his impending nuptials. The men had gone for a quick lunch, each enjoying a cold beer before returning to the ranch to prepare themselves for his wedding.

  As he stepped out of the limousine he was momentarily taken aback by the preparations that had already been attended to. A staff of dozens was scurrying around to ensure that the ceremony and reception went off without a hitch. The women had arrived back just minutes before them, and Eden and her sisters were giving orders with exact precision.

  The oldest sister hurried to his side, a wide smile filling her face. “Hey there! Are you excited?”

  Travis chuckled warmly. “And scared to death!” he said, his tone teasing.

  Eden brushed a warm palm against his arm. “Everything is going to be perfect. Now—” she glanced down to the page of notes in her other hand “—the chapel is ready, so make sure you take a peek inside. If there is anything you need or want in there, just let me know.”

  “It’s filled with roses, right?”

  She nodded. “Every single one between here and the Mexican border.”

  Travis laughed.

  “After the ceremony, Ross wants you and Tierra to go down to the pond for some photos.”

  Travis looked around excitedly. “Is he here?”

  “Yes,” Eden answered with a nod. “He’s around here somewhere assessing the best lighting and angles and whatever else it was he said he needed to make sure the photos were perfect. We’ve assigned two assistants to take care of anything he needs. I’m sure he’ll catch up with you soon.”

  “Great!”

  “While you and Tierra are enjoying a few minutes of private husband-and-wife time getting your picture taken, your guests will be gathering for a cocktail reception on the front lawn. Then they’ll be led into the barn for the reception.

  “You’re going to love the barn. The band is already setting up and the air-conditioning is on high, so it will be comfortable for the crowd.”

  “Can I take a peek inside there, too?” Travis questioned.

  Eden nodded. “Of course. We’re using long white linens, white plates on gold chargers, a ton of candles and we’ve even lit up the twig chandeliers. It will be absolutely gorgeous. Tierra is going to love it! We’ve got the perfect combination of charming, rustic and elegant.”

  Travis wrapped the woman in a warm embrace. “Thank you. I know everything is going to be great, and you don’t know how much I appreciate it all.”

  Eden smiled. “I know that you have made one of my best friends the happiest woman in the world. None of us can ask for anything more.”

  Inside the chapel, arrangements of white roses decorated the altar and pews, the delightful fragrance wafting through the midday air. Whether she had admitted it or not, Tierra was definitely a rose kind of girl, and Travis was certain that she’d be completely delighted with his flower selections.

  With his arms crossed over his chest, he didn’t know where to focus his eyes first, in awe of the magnitude of it all. Mark and Matthew stepped up behind him, and Matthew dropped a large hand against his shoulder.

  “So, you certain about this, big guy?”

  Travis nodded. “More certain than I have ever been about anything. I love that woman.”

  Mark nodded. “I knew when Mitch and I were headed cross-country that I wanted to do the same thing. And we didn’t wait. Stopped down in New Orleans and made it legal. And I don’t regret one minute of it.”

  Matthew laughed. “He almost did when he got back and these women found out they couldn’t plan his wedding. They like to throw a party now!”

  The three chuckled warmly.

  “Well, I’m glad I could get their help with mine,” Travis said, looking from one to the other. He inhaled, air filling his nostrils with the floral scent.

  “Travis,” Reverend Joshua Patrick called out. “How are you, son?”

  Travis smiled as he extended his hand in greeting, the three men acknowledging the minister who’d moved into the space beside them.

  “Reverend Patrick, thank you for coming,” Travis said with a warm smile. “I greatly appreciate this.”

  The man nodded. “Do you think we can sit down for a minute? I’d like to talk with you, Travis.”

  Matthew looked down to his wristwatch. “You gentlemen have at it. Travis, the men are getting dressed down at the conference center. When you’re ready that’s where you’ll find your tuxedo waiting for you.” He tapped his cousin’s shoulder.

  Nodding, Travis moved beside the minister, who’d taken a seat o
n the front pew.

  “Marriage is a very serious commitment, son,” the pastor started, forgoing the small talk. “Usually, I don’t marry anyone until they’ve gone through pre-marital counseling with me.”

  Travis smiled. “I know, sir. And I appreciate your understanding our time constraints.”

  “I had a very nice chat with your young lady. She’s very grounded in her faith. She’s also got a good head on her shoulders. But I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you both some serious questions to ensure that you’re headed in the right direction.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you trust Tierra, Travis?”

  “With everything I have, sir.”

  “What will you do if you cannot agree?”

  Travis smiled. “Tierra is extremely strong-willed when she wants to be. I’m sure there will be much compromising, and on occasion, I may even have to concede to her best judgment as I would hope she would concede to mine, if need be. I do know though there will always be an open line of communication. I will keep talking to her and encouraging her to share her feelings with me.”

  The minister nodded. “With you headed back to Afghanistan, you two are starting your marriage off in a very unconventional manner. You’re essentially committing your lives to each other today, and then tomorrow you’ll be apart for the next twelve months or so. How will you continue to bond as a couple as well as build your relationship with so much distance between you?”

  Travis paused, reflecting on the gravity of the question. He and Tierra had talked in great depth about what might happen once he returned to his duties. Neither could deny the seriousness of his situation.