“I won’t. I’m not letting her go anywhere.” I placed a hand on his shoulder.
I stood frozen next to the rail, not wanting to leave my father’s side. This moment was fragile. All the times he had disappointed me suddenly didn’t matter. Right now, we were on the same page.
“I love you, Dad.” I choked out the words and turned toward the door, before he could see the emotion on my face.
“You too, son. And send your mother back here. These nurses can’t get anything right.”
“Sure thing.”
“Everything ok?” Chelsea looked up at my face, her eyes darting back and forth.
“Darlin’, it couldn’t be more perfect. Let’s get you home.” I draped an arm around her shoulder and walked toward the waiting room in search of my mother.
She tucked a bookmark in her crossword puzzle book when she saw us approach.
“How’s he doing? Did he eat anything?” She folded her glasses.
Chelsea grimaced. “I think we talked too much to let him eat anything. I’m sorry.”
“He’s asking for you, Mama.”
“All right, well I better get back there before he pulls out a bull horn.” She giggled.
It was good to see she had some of the color back in her cheeks and a reborn sense of humor.
“We’re headed back to the ranch.” I pulled my mother into a bear hug. “You going to be ok to handle him?”
“You know I’ve been handling him since the day we got married. I think we’ll be all right.”
“But you call me if you need something. I can hire nurses, whatever you need. Don’t let it get too hard on you before you ask for help.” I lectured. “I’m going to have a specialist here in the morning for a second opinion.”
She waved a hand in the air. “You know your father isn’t going to like all that fussing. I can manage on my own.” She moved closer to Chelsea. “Thank you for driving up here in the middle of the night. I’m glad Ben has you to lean on.”
Chelsea blushed. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
“You two better get on the road.” She wiped at her cheeks. “Call me when you get there?”
“We will.” I hugged her again before leaving the waiting room.
“You sure you want to go?” Chelsea asked.
“No, I don’t want to go at all.” I pressed the L for lobby on the elevator button.
She wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned against my chest. I closed my eyes as the elevator slipped to the lower level.
“Thank you,” I whispered into her hair.
“You were there for me.” She nuzzled closer.
“But you didn’t have to be. I know that.” I straightened my shoulders as the doors retracted.
“Yes, I did.” She slipped her fingers through mine, and we left the hospital.
***
Once I called the studio and told them my father was in the hospital undergoing treatment from a heart attack, they pushed my production commitment back a few days. Art decided to rearrange the shoot schedule. Evangeline’s scenes with her roommate, Lily, became the focal point. Everyone was understanding and sympathetic.
Nan had a hard time finding a place for all the flowers and fruit baskets that were delivered. I had her send most of them to Shiner where my parents could enjoy them. I still intended on speaking with her about her attitude toward Chelsea, but with the emergency road trip to Shiner, the timing was off. I wasn’t going to tolerate any more rudeness from my staff. When I fired Rick, I had vowed that would be the last time someone under my employ would take advantage of me. I didn’t care how well the ranch ran.
Chelsea sat on the edge of the bed, her legs crossed. I threw a few shirts in a bag. “We don’t have to do this much longer and then I’m home.”
She sighed. “Until the next time.”
“Don’t say it like that.” I pushed the bag to the side and sat next to her. “I don’t have to do any more movies. This can be the last one.”
I hadn’t worked through that decision yet, but after the emotional week, certain things were clearer. Family was everything. I wanted Chelsea to be my family, but I still couldn’t get her to say she would move in permanently.
“I’m not asking you to give up your career,” she stated.
“I know you’re not. And I’m not asking you to give up yours. But it doesn’t have to be black and white. We can figure this out.”
She threw herself back on the bed. “What if your next movie takes you to Singapore, and what if I have to go on tour with Mark over the summer to keep up with his writing schedule?”
“Details, baby. Details.”
I climbed on top of her and tickled her sides.
She laughed, trying to throw my hands off her. “Ben, stop. Stop.” Her laughter peeled through the room.
“Not until you agree with me.” I assaulted her sides until she was almost crying from the giggles.
“Not fair.” She twisted to the side.
“Say you agree with me. Come on, say it.”
“Ok, ok.” She relented, her voice completely breathless.
“That’s what I thought.” I steadied myself over her. Her blue eyes blazed and her cheeks were flushed.
She sat back on her elbows. “Ok, I’ll make a deal with you.”
I laughed. “I know how these negotiations go. What is it you want this time?” I roamed the softness of her skin under her shirt.
“I’m serious. I have a real proposal.” Her back arched when my hand slipped below her waist. “It’s something I came up with in the waiting room at the hospital.”
“I usually like your proposals.” I kissed her stomach, loving how she wiggled under me. “Do you need business advice again?”
Her chest rose. “No, nothing like that.” She unfastened the buttons on her shirt, letting the fabric fall to the side. “I think I know a way we can make this work.”
I grinned. “This must be a serious negotiation. Giving up your cards already?” I leaned toward her lips and stole a rough kiss.
“How much time do you have before the car picks you up?” She reached for my belt.
“For you, as long as you need.” I groaned as her hands descended. The jet could wait for me.
“Good, because we aren’t leaving this room until I get exactly what I want.” Her smiled turned wicked.
Right then, I knew she had total control and I was going to agree to absolutely everything she wanted.
“And what’s that?” I asked.
She bit her lip, drawing me toward her. “This.” Her hand circled my hard cock.
The rest of our clothes were on the floor in seconds. I ran my hand between her slick folds, inhaling sharply when I realized how wet and ready she was for me. So damn perfect.
I pumped a finger inside her as she mewed. I loved that expression on her face. The one that was desperate for me. The one that said she loved me. Every part of my body. Every part of my insane life. She loved me.
I crawled forward, spreading her legs. “Mine, always.”
She nodded. “You’re mine.” She always liked to turn the tables.
I nudged my cock to her pussy, feeling it stretch around me.
“This is what you want?” I breathed into her ear.
“God, yes,” she moaned. “Fuck me.”
It was all I needed. The last switch holding the restraint had been flipped. I surged inside her, hilting myself with a claiming thrust. There was no mistake she was mine. I thrust again, sending us into oblivion.
She panted and begged. I fucked her harder, rolling her on her stomach.
She lifted her hips for me eagerly as I took her from behind, loving how she looked like this. How fucking gorgeous she was.
I flicked her clit, as I pumped inside her.
She fisted the sheets in her hands as the orgasm claimed her. Her pussy tightened around me as the climax shook her.
“Fuck,” I groaned, pulling her into my lap.
She
bounced wildly, her back sliding against my chest. I cupped her tits, twisting and pinching her nipples until she came again. This time submitting more, leaning into me as I coaxed it from her body.
I kissed her ear and the sweat along her neck.
I carefully spun her to face me, her ankles hooked at my back. I loved having her this way. I gripped her hips, slamming her up and down on my cock. Her head rocked back and I had an eyeful of her tits bouncing at my command.
She leaned forward, kissing me. Her lips were warm and soft as her tongue explored my mouth. It was crazy that after all these months together she could still make a kiss feel like something to be savored and treasured—like the kiss of a virgin. But that’s what she did to me. Took me back to the place where I wanted to give her everything. Protect her. Love her. And right now, fuck her until she screamed my name.
I watched with greedy pleasure as she slid up and down on my cock as she was ready to come again. I thrust forward. I might as well join her.
I fucked hard until we were both falling into the electricity. Falling into an abyss where our blood coursed with lightning. Our skin wet with sweat. Our lips swollen. And it was fucking incredible. Every. Single. Time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Chelsea
I pulled the sweater tightly around my shoulders. The wind whipped off the water in sudden gusts on spring evenings like this one. I inhaled the salt and the last bits of sun coming off the wooden railings. If she peered hard enough I could make out a trawler rounding the channel, headed in for the night. In a few minutes, the ship would be at the docks unloading the day’s catch.
I looked down at the lyrics I had on my notebook. Funny how as soon as I sat in the hammock, they popped into my head. They were clear and certain. I missed this. Writing for fun, not because I had a deadline.
I kicked off the porch.
“Chelsea, I think we’re done for the day.” Jimmy Hazelton poked his head out the sliding door.
“Really? The countertops are done?”
“Come see.” He held the door open for me.
I laid the lyrics in the hammock and walked inside. What used to be my kitchen was now a living room. The wall that separated this part of the house from my bedroom was gone. In its place were sturdy pillars. I followed Jimmy to the far side of the house.
The kitchen now overlooked an entirely glass view of the ocean.
I ran my hands along the marble. “These look great.” The surface was smooth.
“I’m pretty happy with how they turned out.” He patted the countertops. “The master bath upstairs is done too. I’ll be back to finish up the guest bath, and I think that’s the last thing on the list.”
“It is.” I smiled at the gray-haired contractor. “I can’t believe the house is finished.”
“Well, you all said you wanted to be in by summer, so May was about the best we could do.” He picked up his clipboard. “I’ll see you in the morning. You might want to leave the doors open for an hour or so. Get some cross-ventilation going in here.”
“Ok.” I walked to the opposite side of the room and cracked the new French doors.
“Have a good night.” He collected a bag of tools and tossed it over his shoulder.
I walked him to the door. “Thanks, Jimmy. You too.”
“And tell your mama I said hello.”
“I will.” I listened for the sound of the door to close.
My mother was on a trip with her sisters to tour historic homes in Charleston and Savannah. My father returned from his winter getaway in Florida with Eileen. I had only seen him once since he had been back, but he didn’t look happy. Maybe things with his girlfriend weren’t going smoothly. I could only hope.
In the meantime, my mom was spending more time in the store, and my parents had seemed to work out an arrangement to take turns managing the office. I didn’t know how long things would stay amicable, but for now it made life easier.
I retraced my steps to the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of wine from the wine fridge.
A cold wet nose bounced off my bare leg.
“Cowboy!” I looked down at the puddle of sand and salt water dripping on the hardwoods. The black lab looked pleased with himself. He dropped a tennis ball at my feet.
“And are you going to clean up this mess?” I searched for a towel. With the doors wide open, the six-month-old puppy had easily found a way in. He had spent most of the day on the porch with me, but wandered down to the shoreline for a few minutes.
I stooped to his level to wipe the wide planks of the floors. The puppy lapped at the side of my face.
“You are gross, you know that?” I laughed and tried to towel him off in the process. He wagged his tail as I patted his chunky paws, brushing more sand to the floor.
Cowboy seemed like a fitting name for the dog. Ben thought it was the perfect tribute to one of his favorite John Wayne movies, but it also fit the pup’s rebellious personality. Whether at the ranch or the beach, he liked to venture out on his own.
We had picked him up in Shiner on a fall visit to see Joe and Patty and deliver the promised Quinn Jansen CD.
“Darlin’, you here?”
“In here,” I called. I stood upright and watched Cowboy run toward Ben.
“Hey, boy. You been swimming?”
He strolled through the new great room with the puppy on his heels. “Man, look at these countertops.” He grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me on top.
I giggled. “Hey, you. I didn’t think you were going to be here until tonight. This is a good surprise.”
“I am officially done. Very last Love & Bondage interview was this morning in New York.”
“That is what this wine is for.” I held up the bottle. “I was going to start my celebration a little early.”
“Yes, I’ll drink to that.” He pivoted on his heels and reached for two wine glasses. He fixed the corkscrew to the top of the bottle and freed the cork.
“How did it go today?” I watched him fill the glasses with wine.
“It was good. It felt good. Glad to get it over with. Rebecca says hi by the way.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course she did.” I readily accepted the glass. “I recorded the interview this morning, but I haven’t watched it yet. It was too loud with the guys in here. Jimmy just left a few minutes ago.”
“You haven’t seen it?” He eyed me, and for a second, I felt guilty I hadn’t tuned in this morning. I shook my head. “Then let’s watch it. I haven’t seen it either.”
“But you were there.”
He set me on the floor and walked to the couch. Within seconds, he had the interview cued on the TV. Cowboy pounced on the ball and ran out of the room, carrying it in his mouth.
I settled under Ben’s arm.
The interview started with the host introducing Ben and Rebecca, then showing a clip from the movie. It was still difficult to watch Ben like that—his hands on Rebecca, gliding down her back, along the curves of her hips. I tried to focus on other movie details instead, like the light fixtures they chose.
It didn’t matter how many times I had seen the movie or the posters. It never got easier. Trying to separate Ben from Jule was always a mental challenge. I was glad the majority of the press coverage was behind us.
Cheryl Cromwell started her questions as soon as the clip faded to black. “How does it feel to star in the number one movie in the world? It’s been number one for three weeks now and I don’t think it’s losing steam if you know what I mean.”
Rebecca smiled. “We’re happy. Just so glad people love the movie as much as we loved making it.”
“I think we’re still blown away by it,” Ben added.
“Did you ever imagine anything like this?” the host asked.
Rebecca patted his knee. “Never in our wildest dreams. It’s bigger than we could have imagined.” She looked at Ben. “Did you think anything would happen like this when we first worked together on Wanted?”
“D
efinitely not. It has been a surprise.”
“You two definitely know how to heat up the big screen. Everyone wants to know what it was like filming those love scenes. So, tell us, did sparks really fly on the set?”
Ben eyed Rebecca. She giggled. “That’s the magic of movie-making. Really, it’s just so technical. There were people telling us where to put arms and legs. It wasn’t really romantic, but it looks like it was.”
“Rebecca’s right. It’s more like a choreographed fight scene than anything else.”
“Fight scene?” Cheryl questioned and the audience laughed.
“Not that kind, but sort of what I’m used to preparing for in some of my other action films. There are a lot acrobatics involved.”
The audience laughed.
“Well, from our vantage point it looked sizzling hot.” Cheryl giggled and a shot of Ben’s mouth hovering above Rebecca’s navel flashed on the screen.
“Tell us, Ben, exactly how many marriage proposals do you get every day?” Cheryl flipped her hair over her shoulder.
He chuckled. “Plenty, that’s for sure.”
Rebecca touched him on the shoulder. “He’s off the market, ladies. Take it from me, this guy is unavailable.”
Cheryl raised her eyebrows. “Are you saying there’s a wedding in the future? This is breaking news.”
“Hold on, hold on.” Ben put his hand up. “I think Rebecca’s just trying to help me out.” He turned to his co-star.
“Because if that’s the case, hearts are breaking all over the world this morning.” It looked as if Cheryl might have one of those broken hearts.
Ben leaned forward. “No wedding to discuss right now. Actually, I do have an announcement I’d like to share, Cheryl. Not marriage related.” He winked.
“An announcement? We can’t wait to hear what it is. But first, let’s get this commercial break out of the way. We’ll be right back with Ben Baldwin and Rebecca Campbell, stars of Love & Bondage.”
“She’s really dragging this out.” I waited while Ben fast-forwarded through the commercials.
“Yep. Cheryl is dramatic. Ok, here’s the good part.” He pushed play.
Bucking Bareback Page 21
