The Cowboy's Choice

by Janalyn Knight

  Grinning, he kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his pants. His cock proudly pointed to the heavens. He would make her scream his name.

  Lara went to her knees and took him in her mouth, sucking hard, stroking up and down.

  She was exquisite—he almost came in an instant. Taking a breath, he made the sensation fade. Clasping her face, he closed his eyes, letting her have her way with him.

  Her tongue worked him and her lips created a suction that nearly drove him wild. He rode waves of pleasure that grew stronger and stronger. His world centered on her mouth and his cock.

  Suddenly, it was too much. He pulled back before he blew inside her. Drawing her to her feet, he kissed her, eating at her mouth, stroking her with the velvet lash of his tongue, nibbling with lips and teeth. Savoring her. "Come on, baby. Let's go." He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, pulling the covers back before laying her on the bed. Taking hold of her panties, he quickly slid them off, his lips parting as he pulled air into his lungs in a near pant. He could sense the need radiating off her.

  She smiled trustingly at him. "I love you, Adam. I always will."

  "Honey, you're everything to me." He slid her thighs apart and climbed between them, laying her legs over his shoulders. Spreading her, using the tip of his tongue, he circled her sensitive clit then licked it.

  She gasped and stiffened.

  He did it again and she moaned. Slipping two fingers inside her, he licked her again, and gently sucked.

  She arched her hips.

  He continued to play with her, eliciting cries and moans until Lara begged him, "Please, now, Adam."

  He sucked one last time and, with her legs over his shoulders, rose and thrust inside her.

  She clutched the sheets. "Adam!" Panting, she cried out with each deep thrust as her pleasure climbed. She reached for him. "Now!"

  She was hot and Christ she was gorgeous. He loved it when she lost control. He pulled out of her and lifted her off the bed and set her on her feet beside it. Bending her over, he drew her to him and thrust inside her. Rolling his hips, he stroked deep, caressing her with his length. His lips touched her ear and he whispered, "Give it to me, babe."

  She moaned. "Oh, God. I love you." She cocked her hips, bowed her back, gave him access to her core.

  Pumping hard, he rasped, "I love you, sweetheart." She felt so good—so perfect. Every muscle in his body was tied to her—a part of her. His skin was so hot he burned. He was close, so close. He couldn't hold off much longer.

  Lara gasped. "Adam!" She spasmed in ripples around him and her knees went weak.

  He exploded inside her, shudders racking his body, and he grunted from the pure animal satisfaction of his release. Lara moaned and he held her to him. Languid now, he pulled her with him and climbed in bed, cuddling her to his chest. As she turned her head and sighed, he kissed her temple. Lara was the piece that had been missing in his life. Holding her tight, he kissed her again. "I love you, honey, and I always will."

  She smiled, clasping the arm that surrounded her. "Forever, sweetheart," and she brought his fingertips to her lips.

  He closed his eyes. His life was complete.

  Epilogue

  LARA FINISHED WRAPPING the last birthday present. Her baby turned one today. She couldn't believe how fast the year had gone. At first there were sleepless nights. It had taken a while for her milk to come in, but after that, things had gotten better, thank God. Managing her father's busy practice as a new mother had been no easy feat. She’d pumped her breasts twice a day. That took care of two feedings on Adam's part. Her sitter had brought the baby into the office to nurse around one-thirty each day. Lara had loved getting to see her little one while she worked.

  Adam was an absolutely perfect father. He hadn't minded taking his share of the night-time feedings, and he became an expert diaper changer. And now that their little one ate baby food, he excelled at making an airplane fly into a little mouth.

  Adam walked in the living room and wrapped her in his arms from behind, nibbling on her neck until it tickled. "Looks like you're done."

  She grinned. "I am. All’s ready for the party. Thanks for all your help, honey."

  Turning her to face him, he kissed her tenderly. "Of course. This is a big day." Mewling sounds came from the baby monitor. "Somebody's waking up. I'll go."

  Lara smiled and stepped away. This daddy sure loved his baby. He was such a help, and Lara seldom needed to ask.

  He came back into the room, bouncing their little girl in his arms, her soft dark curls a stark contrast to Adams white shirt. He kissed her and she laughed, turning clear grey eyes to him. "Who's daddy's pretty girl?" Bouncing her again, he grinned. "It's my sweet Grace. That's right."

  Lara headed toward them, her happiness overflowing as it always did when she saw them together—her two most precious people on earth. Having Grace didn't erase the loss of Lara's first daughter. Nothing would do that. But having this new child with Adam was a joy like no feeling she'd ever experienced. She hugged him and kissed Grace's little cheek. Though Lara’s journey had been dark and long, this perfect ending, God’s wonderful blessing, eclipsed those black days. Her future was built on joy in her little family and endless love.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  SUANNE SCHAFER, D.O.– Many thanks to Suanne for her advice on all things medical. Dr. Adam couldn’t have existed without her. Any mistakes in medicinal details are entirely my own.

  BONUS CHAPTER

  THE COWBOY’S WISH,

  BOOK 3

  DYLAN GOVAIN DALLIED his rope to the saddle horn and slid his tall bay gelding to a stop in a cloud of dust. The calf hit the end of the slack and spun toward him. Pivoting his horse, he dragged the calf toward the cowboys who would brand and inoculate him. The cows and bull would go through the portable head gate for their shots and deworming, but the youngest calves were too small for the big metal contraption.

  The heat of the June sun penetrated the denim of his long-sleeved shirt and sweat pooled on his chest and back. He took a minute to remove his hat and wipe moisture from his brow while the ranch hands went to work. The calf bawled loudly as the branding iron sizzled against his hide. A second cowboy gave him a shot. Before he was set free, the little bull calf received a quick spray of dewormer between his shoulders.

  Dylan rode back into the herd, his eye already on another calf. After four years of college and more classes to achieve his teaching certificate, he was finally home. He'd missed being horseback and the day-to-day chores of working cattle. However, he didn't plan on spending the rest of his life taking orders from his big brother, Caleb, who ran the 263,000-acre ranch now that his dad was semi-retired. That was why Dylan had trained to teach Agricultural Education, or Ag, to high school kids.

  Teachers sure didn't get rich, but he felt a calling. If young people didn't learn the skills they needed to be successful at farming and ranching, the way of life Dylan loved would fade away. He wanted to do his part to motivate the next generation to choose living on the land as their future.

  By the end of the afternoon, the herd had been inoculated and dewormed, and the fence panels loaded and sent on their way back to the barn. Dylan hung back from the line of vehicles, letting the dust settle from the truck and trailer in front of him. A day like today left him tired out but satisfied. Sleep would come easily tonight.

  Tomorrow he wouldn't be working on the ranch. His dad had his annual cardiology check-up, and Dylan was driving him. Roy said he could drive himself, but that wasn't happening. What if he got bad news? After suffering a life-threatening heart attack years ago, nobody took Roy's health for granted.

  When Dylan got back to the ranch, he unsaddled the gelding and washed him off with the hose. The horse jiggled the skin on his back and sides, enjoying his bath. After settling him in his stall for the night, Dylan headed into the house, ready for a cool shower before dinner.

  As he opened the front door, baby talk came from near the stairs, and
soon his little niece Abi came toddling around the corner.

  Her face lit up, and she raised her arms, running toward him. "Dilwan, Dilwan."

  He laughed and knelt to pick her up. "How's my pretty girl?" Planting a kiss on her soft cheek, he continued into the family room.

  His sister-in-law, Eve, stood, her phone to her ear. "Okay. I'll see you in a few minutes." She hung up. "Well, someone found her favorite cowboy."

  Dylan laughed. "She sure did. Met me at the door."

  "When she saw I was on the phone, she scooted out of here. I figured she couldn't get in much trouble while I talked to Caleb for a second."

  He knelt and put his niece down. "I stink. I need a shower."

  Abi clung to him and cried.

  Laughing, he peeled her little fingers from his shirt and gave her a kiss. "I'll be back in a jiffy, sweetheart."

  Eve picked up her daughter and hugged her, and the tot quieted.

  Abi got her fair hair from her father and had huge blue eyes. It was obvious that the little girl would grow up just as gorgeous as her tawny-haired mother though Eve had striking golden eyes. Caleb would have his hands full when his daughter took an interest in boys.

  Dylan eventually joined the family at the dinner table and found that his mother, Millie, along with his dad, had been invited. Dylan gave his mom a peck on the cheek. "Hey, how was your day?"

  "Fabulous. I didn't do a thing but read my romance novel, and I don't feel a bit guilty. A woman has to take a day off once in a while."

  He grinned. "I'm glad you're taking care of yourself, Mom. You should take a day to relax more often. You're retired, too, you know."

  Though his dad still went out on the ranch every day, he was never horseback, and he left the overall management to Caleb. This setup had been a hard transition for Roy after his heart attack, but a necessary one.

  "So, Dad, I'll pick you up at ten tomorrow."

  "I don't see why I need to keep going back to the damn cardiologist when I'm feeling just fine," Roy grumped.

  "Don't even think about backing out of this appointment, Roy Govain," Millie said firmly. "You promised you'd take care of yourself, and I'm holding you to it."

  "I'm going, I'm going." Roy gave a long-suffering sigh and shoved a bite of steak in his mouth.

  Millie smiled and rubbed his shoulder, the affection between them obvious.

  Dylan hoped his eventual marriage would be as happy as the one his parents shared. His father had been a wild cowboy far longer than most young men, but Millie had tamed him. Theirs was a relationship based on love and mutual respect.

  After dinner, when he said goodbye to his parents, Dylan couldn't help but notice how they'd aged. His father had stayed a bachelor until he was thirty-four, and his mother was seven years younger. Though Caleb and Adam came early on in their marriage, Dylan was way younger than his nearest brother, Adam. Somehow, Dylan couldn't get used to the idea that his parents had gotten old. He gave his mother an especially-gentle kiss goodbye and hugged his father before closing the door behind them.

  LENNIE DUNCAN EYED the fast-approaching door to the cardiologist's office. It was a royal pain to maneuver through.

  Before she could decide whether to back in or ask her father grab the door, Dylan Govain opened it and stepped outside. "Let me get this for you." He smiled as he held it wide enough to allow her father's chair to enter.

  She pressed her lips together and nodded her thanks, her heart pounding at the sight of the good-looking cowboy. Dammit, why did she always react to him this way? The Govains were persona non grata to the Duncans due to a land dispute between their great great-grandfathers which still caused problems for the Duncans today. The old saying that time heals all wounds definitely did not apply in this instance.

  Roy Govain gave her father a curt nod and looked back down at his magazine as she rolled her dad up to the receptionist's window to check him in.

  Her father huffed and turned away. There was no love lost between the two men.

  After signing her father's name, she wheeled him to the opposite side of the room and sat beside his chair.

  Refusing a magazine, her father stared out the window, obviously irritated to share the room with the Govains.

  Lennie glanced at Dylan out of the corner of her eye. They were the same age so he must be through with college, too. Crap, he was hot. Though not as tall as his older brothers, his six-foot frame was all handsome cowboy. Soft brown eyes tried to catch her attention, though she kept lowering hers beneath her lashes. Word was he could have gone pro with his saddle-bronc riding, but chose to pursue teaching instead. Wait until the gossip mill found out he was back. Tongues would wag and women would primp in front of mirrors.

  A nurse opened the back-office door and called Roy's name. Dylan glanced her way, then stood. Before following his father through the door, he looked over his shoulder. "Nice seeing you, Lennie." Grinning, he closed the door behind him.

  Damned if her heart didn't pick up its beat. She clenched her teeth and grabbed a magazine. Why did it have to be this guy, the one person who was off limits, that made her pulse race? No man had done that for her since she broke up with Nic at A&M. Dylan had always gone out of his way to speak to her in school though she hadn't given him the time of day. What was the point? Her father would never have allowed her to date a Govain.

  She flipped through the pages of the magazine without really seeing them. Dylan had been an outgoing, confident guy in school and outrageously good at bronc riding. He went to the high school national finals every year and had taken the buckle and saddle his senior year.

  He'd had his choice of girls back then, which made it all the more surprising that he tried to connect with her so often. He even asked her to their junior prom, though he said it jokingly, and she didn't think he was serious. How could he have been serious when he knew the way their fathers felt about each other? However, she'd always wondered, had he been sincere in his invitation?

  The back-office door opened and the nurse called her father's name. As the woman led them down the hallway, the doctor entered a room on the right.

  Dylan caught her eye from inside and nodded, a smile creasing his handsome face.

  She returned the smile without thinking then mentally kicked herself. That cowboy didn't need to be encouraged. Following the nurse into a room, Lennie put Dylan Govain out of her mind. Her father, his stroke, and whether he would get better were all that mattered now.

  DYLAN DROVE HOME FROM the cardiologist's office, his thoughts racing. Seeing Lennie there was the last thing he'd expected. Once they had some privacy back in the treatment room, he asked his father why Lennie's dad was in a wheelchair. His father explained that Evan Duncan had suffered a serious stroke several months before. Dylan had noticed that part of Evan's face sagged, and his hand curled in on itself. His prematurely-aged face was heartbreaking. Evan couldn't be more than fifty. Roy had said that, as far as he knew, Lennie was running things at the ranch now.

  Dylan reached over and patted his dad's shoulder. "Glad you checked out okay today. I want you around for a long time to come."

  Roy nodded. "I plan on it, Son."

  Poor Lennie. She must be heartsick over her father's illness. How was she holding up with handling everything at the ranch on her own? She would have just graduated, too. She'd attended A&M while he'd gone to Stephenville to Tarleton State.

  Lennie was as gorgeous as ever. She still let her shoulder-length blonde hair hang naturally and bangs framed her blue eyes. Instead of downplaying her mouth, the plain gloss she wore made her full lips more kissable. He'd wanted her since high school but his feelings weren't returned. She rebuffed his every advance, and yet he couldn't help himself—he kept trying. She'd had a sweet reputation—was a good student and kind to others. To everyone except him. He grimaced.

  Couldn't they put this stupid feud behind them? Wasn't nearly 150 years long enough? The men who had caused it were long in their graves, as were their son
s and the sons who came after them. It was time to let it go.

  Maybe he could talk to Lennie about it. They could be friends, at least. He wanted more than that, of course. He'd always wanted more than friendship with her. But being friends was a start. Now if he could only get his hands on her cell number. That might take some work.

  THE NEXT AFTERNOON, Dylan parked his truck in front of his family's grand historic ranch house and headed inside. He'd spent the better part of his day while he was checking on the herds contacting friends and friends of friends, and had come up with the Lennie's number. Though homes and ranches were far-flung, people in the surrounding areas were actually a close-knit community. Now he wished he knew how to call Lennie without her getting mad. The woman had proven herself to be a hard nut to crack.

  That evening, his parents came to the big house for dinner. As everyone dug into the wonderful meal Annie had prepared, his mother asked, "When do you start your teaching job?"

  He cleared his mouth with a swallow of sweet tea. "Kids don't go back to school until the first week of September, but teachers start back the third week of August."

  His mom searched his face. "You nervous?"

  Being a first-year teacher, all sorts of things could go wrong. "Maybe a little though Andy gave me such an in-depth run-through those two days I spent with him in May I feel like I have a handle on things." Andy, the Ag teacher who had been teaching at the high school for 30 years, had just retired and was moving to San Antonio to be close to his youngest grandkids.

  "I'm so glad you got the job, honey." Squeezing Dylan's hand, her blue eyes were full of love and a mother's pride.

  He laughed. "They hired me in self-defense since I started bugging Andy and Dave for the job my senior year in high school." After he started college, he sent his old Ag teacher and Dave, his principal, a copy of his grades each semester along with his continuing commitment to fill Andy's job when he retired. "I got good grades, and my Ag professor wrote that letter of recommendation for me, too." He took a drink of tea. "Honestly, I don't know what I would have done if they hadn't given me the job. Working as the local Ag teacher has been my dream for so long that I never planned for anything else."