A Rancher’s Bride: The Stones of Heart Falls: Book 3

by Arend, Vivian

  They stared at each other until Kelli noticed that their breathing had become synchronized. The repetitions were slow and even, strangely enough, considering how frantically her heart pounded.

  She reached across the distance between them, caressing her fingers over his cheek. The rough stubble on his chin scratched against her palm briefly before she slid her fingers into the curls at the back of his neck.

  His face tightened. Not in anger, but as if he were hurting. She didn’t bother to ask what was wrong because it was pretty obvious what was going on. The same pleasure and pain rippled through her system.

  If she were smarter, she would know the perfect words to say.

  If she were braver, she wouldn’t bother with words at all. She’d simply roll on top of him and let the next thing happen.

  Luke caught her wrist in his fingers, and she thought everything was going to end right then. Instead, he tugged her hand closer. Opening her fingers and pressing a kiss to her palm.

  Her heart shot to an even higher cadence as he twisted her hand to reach the inside of her wrist. Pressing his lips there as well. No way could she hide how fast her pulse was racing now. Not as he put his tongue to her skin and slowly worked his way up the inside of her forearm to her elbow. Lips and teeth stealing along as if he was afraid she would bolt.

  Run away? No. Fall apart, possibly, completely unmade by the swirling need rushing through her.

  Luke tugged at the sheets, tossing them back as he slid closer, and the next moment he was braced over her, lips teasing her shoulder and upward, brushing the ticklish spot at the base of her neck.

  “Oh my God,” she whispered.

  There was too much to think about. Too much to experience. She chose to focus on the way his mouth sent shockwaves through her system, kisses inching up her neck to below her ear.

  His body covered hers, his torso naked as she discovered when her hands lifted of their own accord. Hot skin stretched over taut muscles, and she let herself explore the way she’d longed to do for so damn long.

  She dragged her fingertips up his back, her nails barely long enough to scratch his skin, but it was oh-so-satisfying when a tortured groan escaped his lips, his mouth jerking away from where he’d been teasing her earlobe.

  Her legs were trapped between his, and he held his groin above her. Considering her track record from earlier in the day, she wasn’t about to move her knees anywhere too close.

  And then she didn’t have to make any decisions because he’d made them for her. Adjusting his weight slightly, dropping a knee between her thighs and pushing them apart so he could settle between them.

  Luke pulled back far enough to stare into her face as he lowered his body against hers.

  “Kelli?” he asked.

  She lifted her hands, wrapped them around the back of his head and brought their mouths together. Kissing him fiercely, taking the heat that he returned.

  She lifted her legs and wrapped them around him with a groan as he flexed against her core. The thick length of his erection lay against her, and her head was spinning already just from the idea of this contact.

  She didn’t know if she should be cursing or thankful that she’d wore pyjamas to bed. He wore something as well, which meant there were two layers between them at the bottom, just her tank top between their torsos.

  Nothing between their lips. Nothing between their tongues except a wild dance of sexual need and urgency.

  He leaned on one elbow. Still kissing her, still teasing his tongue against hers, while his other hand dropped to her waist. A sharp tug separated her tank top from her pyjama bottoms, then he slid his hand under the elastic, his fingers drifting over her belly and upward.

  She needed air. She needed—

  “God, Kelli. You feel so good under me. The things you do to me…”

  His hand had reached her breast, and without hesitation he cupped her firmly. A low rumble rose from his chest and his body shook slightly.

  “Ditto,” was all she got out before he moved again. Shoving her shirt upward to expose her breast.

  After moving so slowly, it was a shock to have him change pace, because a second later he had both her breasts bared, his hands cupped around them as he stared in admiration.

  Just enough light stole across the covers to give her a perfect image to tuck away into her memory bank: Luke Stone—mooning over her boobs.

  He shook his head slightly. “It’s sinful you’ve had these covered up and hidden away for so long.”

  Kelli laughed. “Don’t think I’m about to start doing chores naked. Straw is scratchy, and dust would get everywhere.”

  He flashed a smile as his gaze met hers. “Honestly? I don’t want you naked around the barn. I don’t want anyone else seeing these because, damn…”

  He knelt over her, strong thighs supporting him and keeping him from crushing her as he lifted both palms to caress her sensitive skin. Her nipples tightened against him, the rough calluses on his hands perfect, just like she’d always imagined.

  His teasing touch intensified as he caught the tips between his fingers and rolled gently.

  “Oh God, yes. Like that.” She arched her back, pleasure driving through her.

  He hummed in appreciation. “Sensitive?”

  “Sometimes. Right now—” She stopped because it was impossible to speak when he had his mouth on her. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, hard and then soft, flicking the tip of his tongue against the sensitized peak.

  But when he left her to slide farther down her body, kissing his way to her navel, Kelli forgot to breathe.

  He chuckled, the sound out of place and yet perfect.

  Kelli wiggled up on her elbows and stared.

  Luke Stone, between her legs. There was a sight to behold. “What are you laughing about?”

  He tugged at the waistband of her favourite pyjama pants, the red with black lines well-worn and soft from repetitive washings. “Why am I not surprised?”

  “Don’t mock my Spidey-suit,” she said as seriously as she could, considering Luke Stone was between her legs and all.

  “I’m not mocking them,” he said, raising a brow as he tucked a finger under the elastic edge and slowly tugged them downward. “I think they’re perfect for you. It explains a lot.”

  He abandoned his task with the fabric tangled around her shins, but he’d moved on to a better job, so Kelli figured it wasn’t the time to distract him. Not when he was sliding a thick finger through her curls and between her legs. Rubbing his fingertip over her clit, then deeper. Back up, and deeper again.

  Luke took a controlled breath as he continued to stroke her, high pleasure tingling and rising with his every motion. When he spoke, his voice had gone lower and harsher, as if he’d swallowed a load of gravel. “If I’m going to go to hell, I may as well get you to heaven first.”

  He put his mouth over her, catching hold of her clit. At the same time, he rotated his hand and slid two fingers ruthlessly into her sex.

  “Yes,” Kelli moaned. He picked up the pace, both his mouth and his fingers driving her higher. She wasn’t that far from the cliff to begin with, but with each determined thrust he teased all the places inside that needed filling. Using tongue and fingers to torment her, the two combined together as if he’d put a balloon to the top of a helium-tank nozzle and opened the valve all the way.

  Between one breath and the next, she swept from anticipation into climax, slamming her heels to the mattress and jamming her hips against him.

  Only now she realized her fingers were tangled in his hair as she tugged him from her too sensitive clit. “Oh my God, that was perfect.”

  He tilted his head back to look up at her, wiping the back of his hand across his wet mouth to reveal a wide smile. “Glad you think so. I had fun.”

  She caught his shoulders and tried to pull him up higher, back over her body.

  “I have condoms—” she began, but the rest of the sentence was buried under the onslaught of hi
s mouth as he kissed her vigorously.

  She wrapped her arms and legs around him, trying to roll so she could take the evening to a logical conclusion.

  Instead, he slowed them down. He pinned her in place with his body even as he softened the kiss. Teasing now, a touch, then away. Another touch, until it was clear that in spite of the firm erection pressed against her, he didn’t plan to progress to sex.

  No idea why, but she figured in this too, he was a grownup. She relaxed under him. Not as if she were giving up or mad or falling asleep. More like she was letting him take the lead.

  Continue to take the lead since the last minutes had been all about him being in charge.

  But she did press her palms against his cheeks, putting as much tenderness into her kiss as possible until he adjusted position, reaching down to help put her clothes back in place before returning to rest at her side.

  * * *

  Having her pressed against him was pretty damn perfect. Yes, he still had a hard-on, but while his body wanted to continue, his brain had reached its limit.

  Separating the Kelli he’d known for eight years from this brand-new woman wasn’t something he could do in under the space of twelve hours.

  The fact he’d given in to the temptation to touch her had more to do with the fact she deserved something special for being a big enough person to deal with his stupidity in a mature and positive manner.

  Orgasms for acting like an adult. He laughed softly as he rearranged them, tucking her against his body as he spooned against her back.

  She adjusted his arm under her head until it was where she wanted it, which just made him chuckle again.

  “You’re way too comfortable shoving me around,” he teased.

  “I’m too fussy to compromise when it comes to being comfortable.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, wiggling in tighter. Her soft ass cradled his cock temptingly, but it was clear she wasn’t trying to push tonight’s agenda further. She truly was getting comfortable.

  Kelli caressed a hand along his forearm to where his hand rested against her belly. It had been tempting to slip under her shirt, but as she stroked up and down the lines of his fingers, he leaned in to press his nose against her neck and inhaled deeply. He didn’t need more.

  Slow, easy breaths followed. Kelli slipped off to sleep.

  Luke lay there for a long time, thinking.

  His mind played through a mess of memories. Kelli wandering around the ranch, up on horseback, driving a tractor while hauling a combine.

  Was that part of the problem? That she’d always been there?

  Maybe that was part of the reason why this felt so right. Kelli had been a part of his life for a good long time. What’s more, she’d been a friend. Someone he trusted. She knew how to make him smile, and she knew exactly how to get his temper rolling, and yet she always seemed so unflappable.

  She was just—Kelli.

  A little snore escaped her, which he found absolutely adorable. And then she wiggled enough that he eased off, giving her space to change position.

  She rolled instantly, arms and legs shooting out. One arm slapped his face, a foot caught him sharply on the shin. He twisted instinctively, far too late to have been any good if she had accidentally aimed at his nuts again.

  “You are one hell of a dangerous woman,” he murmured, staring at her face. He stroked the hair back from her forehead and watched her until sleep snuck up on him.

  She woke him twice in the night with her flailing arms and kicking legs. The second time it happened he was too tired to be amused anymore, gathering her oblivious to the world body against him and pinning her in place.

  She might be little, but one errant kick would turn her green light to full red on his side of the equation.

  Luke woke to an empty bed, the bathroom door still moving as he peered around the room in search of his missing bed partner.

  “Kelli?”

  Her head poked out the doorway a second later, eyes twinkling as she crooked a finger and motioned for him to join her. “Hurry up.”

  He hesitated too long because she rolled her eyes then marched out to whip back the top sheet and grab his hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not about to ravish you in the shower or anything. You’ve got to see this.”

  This time he followed, curiosity winning out. She guided him to the deep soaker tub that sat in the corner of the bathroom, stepping into the empty basin so she could sit on the far side and point toward the mountains. “Look.”

  It was a little strange, stepping into the empty tub. He leaned over her, and happiness bubbled up from inside as her laughter rang out.

  The massive snowfall had been put to good use already this morning. Someone had built a field full of snowmen, with typical branches for arms and carrots for noses. Here and there were hats and scarves.

  A herd of deer were foraging on the edge of the tree line. A couple of the does had fawns with them, yearlings by now, but still with a heightened sense of curiosity. Two of the young ones had wandered in amongst the snowmen, sniffing and scratching at the snow near the base of the rounded balls.

  One fawn took a great liking to a scarf around a snow woman’s neck, grabbing hold of the end and giving it a tentative nibble. The deer tugged too hard, and the scarf tightened, knocking against the snow woman’s neck and decapitating the poor creature.

  The loosened head rolled toward the deer, and chaos ensued.

  Tails were lifted, flashes of white warning rang out. Deer jumped back, knocking into other snowmen. Within seconds the herd had trampled the snowy field, and most of the snowman army lay in ruins.

  Kelli was laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe. She turned to toward him, catching his arm and dragging him with her into the bottom of the tub where she gasped for air between peals of laughter.

  He felt pretty lightheaded himself.

  How had he missed seeing this? How had he missed seeing Kelli?

  11

  By the time they reached the afternoon, Kelli was in dire need of a break. It wasn’t that anything had gone wrong, but between the buffet breakfast, a morning filled with more meet-and-greet, and a lunchtime movie event where they ate burgers and watched Hidalgo, she was done.

  She sat patiently though as replays of the previous year’s Kentucky Derby started, plotting her escape, when a soft voice sounded in her ear.

  “Ready to sneak away?”

  She discovered Diane at her side, the beautiful black woman lifting a finger to her lips then motioning for Kelli to join her.

  If she couldn’t have her first choice, which was stealing upstairs to have a nap with Luke, stealing away with Diane sounded like a solid second.

  Considering she didn’t know where Luke was, she was very willing to upgrade Diane to first place.

  Besides, she had to admit the truth—the possibilities of napping if she had found the man were slim.

  Thankfully the noise and chaos in the meeting room allowed them to slip away unseen. Diane linked her arm companionably through Kelli’s as they strolled to the main foyer.

  “You having fun?” Kelli asked, before realizing the question might be a little too juvenile.

  One delicate brow rose in a perfect arch. “What’s not to love about being immersed in all things equine?”

  Okay, Diane might be richer than God, but damn, Kelli liked her. “My point exactly, but there are times my friends seem to think something else exists.”

  Diane pulled to a stop, placed a finger against her lips and looked deep in thought. Then she shook her head, curls bouncing enthusiastically. “No. Can’t think of a single thing.”

  They were both still laughing as they headed back upstairs, kicking off their boots and getting comfy.

  “Jack sent me a text earlier. He picked up some snacks and left them for us in the minifridge.” Diane dropped bags of potato chips, dip and chocolate bars on the coffee table before stretching out on a couch. “Come to think of it, I lied earlier. There is more to
enjoy in this world than horses.”

  Kelli nabbed a KitKat off the table, sinking her teeth into the chocolate with a happy moan. “Food.”

  “The four food groups,” Diane elaborated. “Chips, bacon, chocolate, and more chocolate.”

  “He’s a good man, your Jack,” Kelli said, raising a loaded chip in the air in a toast before munching enthusiastically.

  Her new friend’s eyes lit up. “There’s another thing to add to the list of enjoyable pastimes. Men. I like your Luke.”

  Kelli liked the sound of him being called hers, even if it was just for a short while. “He’s a good one,” she said honestly.

  Diane eyed her closely. “I’m curious, but if it isn’t something you want to talk about, feel free to tell me to mind my own business.”

  That sounded ominous. “What’s your question?”

  “You must’ve met Penny Talisman, considering you’ve worked around Silver Stone for a long time.”

  “That’s not a secret. Of course, I’ve met her.”

  “Is it going to be awkward when you see her in the future? I mean, our world is not really that big,” Diane pointed out.

  “Still don’t see why it would be a problem,” Kelli said honestly even as it she gave it a little more thought.

  She and Penny were never going to be besties, but knowing that Luke wasn’t holding a grudge meant Kelli couldn’t cling to much more than jealousy that the other woman had gotten a taste of the man she still lacked.

  Jealousy was a silly emotion, though. It was in the past. Penny had no future with Luke—

  Kelli lifted her gaze to Diane’s. “I don’t think she knew what she had.”

  The door swung open behind them, but Diane was nodding slowly, something that looked an awful lot like approval in her expression before she turned to blow a kiss at her man.

  “Thought we’d find you beautiful ladies here,” Jack teased.

  Luke entered the room on Jack’s heels, grinning as he made his way to the couch where Kelli was sprawled. He collapsed beside her hard enough she bounced, taking advantage of her momentary distraction to steal her bag of chips.