Back to the Heart

by Sky Corgan

  Her breath hitched, and her cheeks grew warm as her hands made their way up to cup her breasts. As she stared at Ryan, she could imagine his lips pressing against hers, picture herself in his arms. While his hands were much larger than hers, it still felt good to touch herself. Knowing that he wanted it, that he was channeling himself through her, turned Ana on. Perhaps it was because the connection between them was so strong. Even though he was far away, it felt like he was right in the room with her. Her core heated up and throbbed as she took her tender nipples between her fingertips and rolled them until they were pressing hard against her pajama top. Again, she cursed herself for not wearing sexy lingerie, but she knew he could tell how hungry her body was for him, even with the frumpy garment.

  “Just like that, Ana. You’re so sexy. My dick is already hard for you.”

  “Let me see. Please,” she begged, her mouth watering at the very thought of seeing his glorious manhood standing at attention for her.

  Ryan stood up. The tent in his boxers was more than apparent, and he rubbed himself over the material leisurely, denying her the pleasure of seeing his naked flesh. After a moment, he sat back down.

  “Take off your top. But don’t pull it over your head. I want you to unbutton it slowly, revealing each inch of delicious skin to me, one button at a time.” Ryan licked his lips, and it about sent Ana overboard, thinking of kissing him. How she missed his taste, yearned to have him there with her.

  Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the top button, popping it open and pulling the material apart just enough to show some skin. Ryan quickly caught on to her game, but he didn’t stop her. A soft hiss escaped his lips as his hand picked up the pace, rubbing himself harder over the fabric.

  “I could come just looking at your breasts,” he told her, although she hadn’t even exposed them to him yet. “Now, let the top slip over your shoulders, all slow and sexy.”

  She obeyed, feeling the cool air of the room make her nipples perk even more.

  “I’d kill to kiss and suck on your breasts right now. My mouth is watering for them.” He parted his lips as if to further show her his desire, his eyelids growing heavy with want. It was quite clear to Ana that he was suffering with the need to touch her just as badly as she was to touch him.

  Impatience welled up inside of her. She wanted to wait for his next command, but she was way too aroused. Instead, she took matters into her own hands, cupping her bare breasts and pushing them together, squeezing them and tilting her head back as she moaned for the camera. What had this man done to her? Ana had never felt more sexual in her entire life, more pent up. If she could have reached through the monitor and pulled him to her, she would have forced him down onto the bed and crawled on top of him, taking him inside of her and riding him like her life depended on it.

  “Yes. Just like that.” Ryan’s hand moved to draw his sex out, and Ana could only smile in triumph. They were both already nearing that special moment together. She loved that he couldn’t refrain from touching himself a second longer, tried to imagine it was her hand giving him pleasure, grasping him and moving up and down his velvety skin.

  “Ryan. You’re so bad. I can hardly control myself.” She half whimpered his name, allowing memories of their lovemaking to drive her to the heights of ecstasy as she squeezed and tugged on her own nipples, the heat between her thighs firing off tiny bursts in preparation for the grand finale.

  “I want to be inside of you so badly. Wish I was there to touch your breasts, to feel the wetness between your legs, to know that you’re coming from my touch—my body.”

  “Don’t talk like that. You’re going to make me come,” she warned.

  “Not yet. Not until I say so.” His hand stopped moving, drawing her attention back to the screen. “Take your pants off. Slide them slowly over your hips.”

  Ana’s need receded as her hands left her breasts, and she was thankful for a moment to catch her breath and find her restraint as she slipped her thumbs into the waistband of her pants and pulled them down before shimmying out of them. The plain white underwear she was wearing left much to be desired, but she was pretty sure Ryan didn’t care. After all of his compliments, he had her convinced he found her sexy in just about anything. And the lustful look in his eyes only confirmed that.

  “Touch yourself through your panties. I want you to tease your fingertip across your folds, pretending it’s my hand pleasing you.”

  Ana spread her legs ever so slightly and ran her hands down over her ribs and stomach for extra visual stimulation before she slid a hand between her legs, touching the soft fabric there. Ryan moaned in appreciation. The look in his eyes made Ana lose her inhibitions. She writhed against her own hand, teasing herself and feeling the need for Ryan’s thick fingers to push inside of her, filling her up.

  “I’ve never seen anything as sexy in my entire life,” he told her, and she believed him.

  “I need to come. I need your fingers inside of me. Ryan, please. Please let me touch myself,” she begged, knowing full well that she was driving him insane.

  “Lie on the bed, on your back, with your bottom toward me, and take off your panties. Very slowly. I want to see how wet you are for me.”

  Ana was happy to acquiesce. The heat between her legs was almost scorching, and she was definitely wet for him. It was starting to seep into the thin material of her panties. She needed to take them off, to feel the cool air on her body.

  It felt different lying on her back, not being able to see Ryan anymore without straining her neck, but she could still imagine he was there. The soft sound of his breathing made him feel not so far away, and she was quickly able to find that space inside her mind where they were together and he was watching her so intently. Very slowly, she pulled her panties down over her hips, then bowed her legs, so he could see everything.

  “Good God, Ana. I’m about to lose it.”

  When she looked up at the screen, his eyes were closed. He hadn’t been kidding. A satisfied grin crossed her lips.

  “Mmm. Now imagine yourself inside of me,” she teased.

  “Not yet. I still need to see you come.”

  She blushed. There was no way she would deny him. She couldn’t. Her body was far too sensitive. It wouldn’t take much more touching to send her sailing over the edge of oblivion. She just needed his direction.

  “Touch yourself. Not between the legs. I want your hands to rove all over your body, as mine would if I were there. Tease yourself to the point that it wouldn’t take much at all to draw out your orgasm. I want your body so hot that as soon as you slip your fingers inside yourself and pretend it’s my cock, you’ll come right away.”

  “I’m almost there already,” she breathed, closing her eyes and running her fingertips ever so lightly over her curves. Too much stimulation, and she would be done for. She needed to savor this moment, because it was all that she’d get with Ryan for who knew how long.

  “If I were there, I doubt I could hold out this long. You’re so beautiful. I’ve never wanted to be inside a woman more than I want you right now.”

  “I want you inside of me. I can hardly handle it. Oh, Ryan,” she moaned, teetering dangerously close. Apparently, he wasn’t far behind. Ana could hear the crude sound of his hand working feverishly over his manhood, and soft grunts and groans coming from his throat as he followed her into the void of pleasure.

  “Ana. I’m inside you now. Touch yourself and come for me.”

  Her fingers found the heat between her legs and barely grazed over it before she exploded into an earth-shattering orgasm. Everything in Ana contracted as her back arched off the bed, and her toes clutched at the comforter below. The air left her lungs in a whoosh of release, rendering her stunned.

  Ryan cursed, and Ana lifted her head to look at the screen just in time to see pleasure overwhelm him. The sight of him having an orgasm brought her right up the summit again, and when she plunged her fingers inside herself, imaging that it was him, sh
e joined him in his fall, panting.

  “Holy crap, I came again,” she whispered, riding out the wave as she kept her eyes fixed on the screen, on the satiated expression on his face and the way his hand was moving over his sex, coaxing out the last of his seed.

  “That was amazing,” he said when he was finally able to catch his breath.

  Ana grinned, squeezing her thighs together and crawling up on the bed so that she was facing the camera. She kicked her legs back and forth, letting the last bits of excitement leave her body.

  “Did you enjoy it?” he asked.

  “Did it look like I didn’t?” she replied with a shy grin.

  “This is part of why I love you. You’re so amazing on so many levels.” The way he was looking at Ana now made her heart feel warm, even though her naked body was beginning to get chilled from the air conditioner blowing down on her.

  “I’d do anything if it meant feeling closer to you,” she confessed.

  “Soon, we’ll be together again. But for now, I need to get to bed. I wish I could stay up all night and talk with you, but business calls.” He sighed.

  “Of course.” Ana nodded, a bit sad that their little tryst was over. The truth, though, was that she needed sleep too. With a full day of work ahead of her, she could use all the rest she could get.

  “I love you, Ana White. You are my world, and I can’t wait to get back to you.”

  His sweet profession of love made her blush, and also reminded her that he would never hurt her. Every doubt she had had that he wouldn’t come back was wiped away in that moment. All she had to do was wait for him, and he would be there, as sure as the setting sun.

  “I love you too, Ryan Black.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Ana awoke the following morning feeling like she was walking on cloud nine. All throughout the day, she wore a smile on her face. She chastised herself for ever thinking that Ryan would abandon her. He was the man of her dreams. There was no question about that.

  She went about her day, counting down until the moment that they’d see each other again. It played like a romantic movie in her head. He would pull up in his old beat-up pickup truck, and she would run out the front door, right into his arms. They’d embrace, and he’d lift her off the ground and twirl her around.

  The hours dragged on until all of her chores were done, and Ana was looking forward to the distraction of going out with Celia and her friends. She wasn’t going to be a gloomy Gus like she had originally feared. Now she’d be able to enjoy herself and have a good time.

  With the day’s work done, Ana went up to her room to get dressed for her evening out. She threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, something simple and comfortable. Attracting male attention wasn’t her goal, not that she’d get much being pregnant. This was her off-the-market look, the way she dressed when she just wanted to have a good time.

  She arrived at the Cowboy Bar a little after eight, wanting to be fashionably late so she wouldn’t have to wait. Celia and her friends were already seated at a table near the bar with cocktails in front of them. Celia’s face lit up, and she hopped down from her stool to give Ana a hug.

  “Hey, Sis. How have you been?”

  “Pregnant and moody,” Ana admitted, giving her a squeeze before pulling up a stool for herself.

  “You remember Michelle and Joann and Brenda.” Celia gestured to the girls one at a time. The only one Ana recognized was Joann, because they had gone to school together. Brenda and Michelle had been at the wedding, but Ana wasn’t familiar with them.

  “How far along are you?” Michelle asked, looking down at Ana’s stomach, which made her feel self-conscious.

  “Four months, give or take.” Thinking about the child inside of her made Ana decide against the glass of wine she was originally supposed to have, ordering water instead when a waitress finally came around to them.

  “I remember being four months.”

  “You have kids?” Ana could hardly believe it. The woman was a stick figure.

  “Two. Jason and Mallory. Loves of my life. It’s nice getting away from them from time to time, though.” Michelle took a long sip of the margarita in front of her.

  Ana couldn’t imagine what her life would be like when she had the baby. “I’m sure being a mother takes some getting used to.”

  “You’d be surprised at how naturally it comes to you once you have them. You’ll still have questions here and there, but for the most part, instinct takes over.”

  Ana liked Michelle already. She seemed friendly and helpful. Perhaps they could babysit for each other sometime. Maybe this was the friend she had been needing.

  “So, is it his?” Brenda asked, breaking into the conversation.

  “Whose?” Ana gave her a confused look.

  “No.” Celia shook her head. “It’s not Ryan’s. Ana was pregnant long before Ryan came along.”

  “That’s too bad. That man looks like he would make some beautiful babies.” Brenda brought a hand up to her mouth as if it would stop the words from coming out. “Look at me, only one drink down, and I’m already babbling.”

  “It’s fine.” Ana wrapped her hand around her glass of water, trying to hide her nervousness. Obviously, the news about her and Ryan being an item had circulated around town. Brenda probably wasn’t the only one who thought Ryan might be the father.

  “He does look familiar, though. Has anyone else thought that?” Michelle squinted across the table at the other girls.

  “Yeah. Like the man of my dreams. You’re so lucky you snagged him, Ana.” Brenda gave Ana’s shoulder a playful slap.

  If Ana had seen his face before, she was certain she would have remembered it. He was the kind of guy who turned heads, not someone you’d pass on the street without a second glance.

  “So what is going on with the two of you?” Celia leaned in. It seemed she still wasn’t thrilled with the idea of Ana and Ryan being together. That didn’t matter to Ana. Celia had already gotten her happily ever after. Now it was Ana’s turn.

  “I think we’re dating,” she stuttered, not exactly sure how to classify their relationship.

  “You think?”

  “We are dating,” she confirmed, and the other girls squealed, though Celia just sighed. It took everything in Ana not to tell them that he had already hinted about marriage. That just seemed too unrealistic, and she didn’t want to look like a fool, especially since she and Ryan had only met recently.

  “What happens when he leaves?” Celia’s tone was dry.

  “I don’t think he is leaving. I mean, he just went on a business trip, but he’ll be back tomorrow, and then he’s going to stick around for a while, and we’ll see how things go.” She shrugged, suddenly wanting to talk about anything else. It felt like Celia was putting her under a microscope.

  “A business trip.” Celia rolled her eyes. “The guy is practically a hobo, going from place to place, staying wherever someone will have him.”

  “A very hot hobo,” Brenda reminded her.

  Ana wasn’t about to stand for her sister talking badly about Ryan. “He got his lawyer to contact Rick Fasken, the baby’s father. I threatened to sue him for defamation, and he’s going to pay for my lost wages from when I was in New York. That never would have happened if not for Ryan. Not to mention how he’s helped out around the house. He fixed the barn and replaced the fence posts, and God knows what else.”

  “Oh, someone sounds like she’s in love,” Michelle teased, sending heat through Ana’s face. Was it that obvious? Not that Ryan didn’t deserve to be defended.

  Celia reached across the table and slid her hand on top of Ana’s. “I just want you to be careful. You’ve already been hurt once.”

  Ana pulled away from her. “I know what I’m doing, Celia. I’m not some child who needs to be told who I can and can’t date.”

  “Girls, girls.” Brenda looked between them. “I thought we were going to relax and have fun tonight. Let’s order another round of drin
ks, and another water for you, missy.” She pointed at Ana. “Maybe we can have them squeeze some lemon in it to make it more exciting.”

  Ana was thankful for the distraction. Just like that, the tension dissipated from the room. Celia mercifully dropped the subject and moved on to talking about how she and David wanted to try for a baby soon, that way their child and Ana’s could grow up together. It was an endearing thought, and a much better conversation than how wrong Ryan was for her.

  It was grocery day. Or rather, grocery day had been switched from Sunday to Wednesday in preparation for Ryan coming back. Molly insisted on making a pot roast to celebrate his return, and Ana would make him a lemon meringue pie. In truth, they had both missed him. The ranch just wasn’t the same without him.

  Going to the store put a bit of stress on their daily chore schedule, but tomorrow Ryan would pick his duties back up, so it didn’t hurt to hustle for one day. Besides, this gave them both a nice break, something that Ana was sure her mother needed. The woman rarely left the ranch unless she was going out for groceries or to stop by the bank or post office. And of course, she still went to church on Sundays.

  Ana’s mind was aflutter with romance as she cruised down the aisles alongside her mother’s basket. Her sweet reunion with Ryan was only a few hours away, and she could hardly wait to jump into his arms.

  “Does Sunshine even like lemon meringue?” Molly asked as Ana checked the lemons in the produce section for firmness, not that she’d need anything but the zest.

  “I don’t know, but we’ll find out.”

  They gathered up the rest of the ingredients and headed to the checkout line, where there were a few people ahead of them. Ana sighed and glanced at the magazines on the stand at the register. She had never had much interest in celebrity gossip, but it gave her something to look at.

  Her eyes danced from one cover to the next. A famous actress was rumored to have gotten pregnant on one. A rock star was caught cheating on his wife on another. When Ana’s eyes landed on the third magazine, her breath hitched. She reached across the lady in front of her to pull the magazine off the rack, unable to believe her eyes, which fell to the title of the article.