by Ava Kyle
“How have things been going with Dallas?” he says.
“Fine.” I tense slightly. What’s this about?
“You two have been spending a lot of time together.”
“We work together.”
“Work.” He turns to face me. “Is that all it is?”
I hesitate. Sneaking around sucks, and I hate hiding it from him, but I don’t think Dallas wants Brendan to know about our little trysts.
“Yeah, just work. How are things with Tina?” I ask, attempting to change the subject.
“She’s good. I know I’ve been spending a lot of time over at her place, leaving you alone with Dallas.”
“You make it sound like I need protection from him.” I laugh.
“He’s never been one to keep his dick in his pants.”
“And you’re an angel, I suppose?”
“In comparison—yes.”
“Why are you so obsessed with keeping me away from him? Does he have some deep, dark secret in his past? A string of illegitimate babies or something?” I can’t keep the annoyance from my tone. I’m so sick of listening to my brother’s warnings, which seem to hold no actual merit.
“I worry about you. For the first time since the accident, you seem happy. I don’t want anyone to take that away from you.”
“Thank you, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of my life without your input.”
“I’m trying to be helpful.”
“Nothing’s going on with us,” I say.
I shouldn’t lie, but I don’t feel like getting into it with him right now. I also don’t want to tell him about our relationship without talking to Dallas first.
“Okay,” Brendan says. “Because if he hurts you…”
“He’s not going to hurt me.”
“Okay.” He nods. “I’m heading over to Tina’s house for the day. I took care of my chores already. If you need me, call.”
“I’ll be fine.” I grab his shoulder and give him a squeeze. “I appreciate your concern, but there’s really nothing to worry about.”
He gives me a quick hug. When he steps back, his face is more relaxed. He takes the mug inside and then says a quick goodbye before leaving.
A minute later, Dallas steps onto his front porch. He smiles before jogging over to me. He pulls me into his arms and gives me a smoldering kiss.
“Was your brother warning you away from me again?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“It’s good to know that he holds me in such high esteem.”
“I don’t think it has anything to do with you. He’s overprotective. He’s been like that ever since our parents died. Mom had a heart attack. They call it the ‘Widow Maker.’ She literally dropped dead in the kitchen in the middle of making dinner. I’d just graduated high school. Dad died a year later from cancer.”
“That’s hard, losing both parents so young.” He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close.
“It was hard. I went to a dark place for a while. I wanted to die too, but Brendan propped me up. He helped me though it. I left to start racing a few months after dad’s funeral. Brendan thinks I did it as some kind of reckless death wish, but it wasn’t like that at all. I wanted to live my life to the fullest, not wallow in pain.”
“I’m glad you found a way through your loss.”
“What happened with your parents? You never told me why you left.”
“As far as I know, they’re alive and well in Dallas.”
“Have you ever been back to see them?”
“Not since I moved to the ranch.”
“Why not?”
“Dad’s a mean sonofabitch. Mom’s too weak to stand up to him. I tried to get her to leave. Even got her out of the house once. But she went back to him. She always does. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I left. Maybe it’s a cowardly thing to do—”
“No, not cowardly. You can’t save everyone. You tried, but she wasn’t willing to leave. You can’t make someone leave if they don’t want to go. I know this firsthand. After the accident, Brendan spent weeks calling me trying to convince me to come to the ranch. I refused. Leaving meant giving up on my dream. I couldn’t do it.”
“I think my mom’s like that,” he says. “She’s old fashioned and believes in her marriage vows. Divorce isn’t even a concept in her world. She’ll never leave him. I couldn’t stay around and watch that. It’s really why I left.”
I caress his cheek. He turns to rub his lips across my fingers.
“I don’t know why I can tell you everything,” he murmurs.
“I’m a good listener.”
“There’s more to it than that, and you know it.” He gazes deep into my eyes as if trying to read my soul.
“Is there?” I hold my breath.
“We promised we wouldn’t fall in love.”
“We said it would only be sex.”
“We did, didn’t we…” He smiles softly. “What if it’s more?”
“If it’s more, then we have to stop hiding.”
“Brendan’s going to kill me.”
“I won’t let him.”
He smiles and my heart sings in response. I lace my fingers in his hair and pull him down. When our lips meet, liquid fire burns through my core. Even though I’ve kissed him at least a hundred times by now, it’s never enough. I can’t get enough of this man, and it scares me. Everything seems to be going well, but that’s usually when shit blows up in my face.
“Take me inside,” I whisper.
His palm settles onto the small of my back. As he guides me toward the bedroom, I set my mug on the kitchen table.
“You have fresh coffee and you’re holding out on me,” he growls against the shell of my ear.
“You have to earn your coffee.”
“Oh, really?” He smirks. “And how do I go about earning it?”
“In here.” I grab his hand and pull him into the bedroom.
He kicks the door closed behind us. It’s a flurry of shirts and jeans and boots until we’re both naked, wrapped in a sensual embrace on my bed.
“Tell me something,” he whispers.
“Anything.”
“Where do you like to be kissed the most?”
“Um…” Suddenly shy, I can’t bring myself to say it.
“Is it here?” He nibbles the edge of my throat.
“Is it here?” He trails his tongue down to circle one plump nipple.
“Or is it far, far lower?” His wicked grin disappears as his face drifts between my parted thighs.
His breath sweeps across my tender flesh. I whimper. He’s done this to me before, and I lose it every time. He knows exactly where I like to be kissed.
The moment his tongue traces my lips, I jolt. He holds my hips.
“Now don’t go givin’ me a black eye. I just got over the thumb injury.”
“Sorry.” I flush.
“Shh…” he murmurs. “I’m trying to find that spot.”
I laugh. As if he has to look for anything. The man’s a sex god. Of course, I have no real point of reference, but this can’t be normal. He drives me completely wild with that evil little tongue of his. If this is what sex is like for everyone, then I’m pissed that I waited so damn long to try it.
“How about here?” he asks in a teasing tone.
His tongue feathers over me. I arch to meet him. Electric sparks of pleasure ignite a flame that burns deep in my belly. He worships me with his mouth, tracing every flutter of nerves as if anticipating my every desire.
I’m lost to him. I surrender to his passionate kisses, writhing beneath his lips until I can’t hold back. Relentless in his erotic torture, he coaxes me higher and higher. He finds the spot that always sends me reeling.
An ardent moan carries me over the edge. Sharp spasms of pleasure ricochet through me. I clamp my thighs around his face and ride endless waves of ecstasy.
When I collapse back to reality, he’s climbing up to cover me. He surges into my still-quaking p
ussy. He fills me, stretching me with his thick cock. I cling to him, reveling in the strength and power surging through his body.
“Emily… Oh God,” he whispers.
I smile against his shoulder before pulling back to capture his lips with mine. Our tongues dance together in one fluid motion, as if we were made to kiss each other. People talk about soulmates, and I used to think it was pure bullshit, but he’s turning me into a true believer.
My hands find the edge of his ass. I draw him in, spreading wider, holding nothing back. He’s so deep that I’ve lost the ability to form a coherent thought.
Wild moans part my lips. I undulate, matching his rhythm with my own. Melding together until I don’t know where I end and he begins.
He flips onto his back, carrying me over him. I lean back.
“Ride me, cowgirl,” he whispers.
He grabs my hips and holds me over him. I circle my hips and ride up and down on his cock. It feels like racing again. I’m flying down the track at two hundred miles per hour with him under me. The fun and freedom I enjoyed on the track is back, and it’s all because of him.
“Dallas, please,” I moan.
“Come for me, baby.”
I arch at just the right angle to drive my clit against his cock. My orgasm comes fast and furious. It rips through me like a bolt of lightning.
I scream. He grunts as his face contorts in bliss.
And then I’m falling into his arms. He’s moving inside me, finishing what I’ve started.
I collapse against him. He kisses my face, my throat, my lips.
After, we’re lying in my bed, limbs twisted together. He strokes my breast softly.
“What do you really want in life?” he asks.
“Jeeze, ask me something deeper, won’t you?” I joke.
“Seriously. What do you really want?”
“I guess I haven’t thought about it.”
“Think about it.”
“Why?” I turn in his arms to face him. “What’s this about?”
“Before things get more… intense. I need to know what you want to do in the future. I’m starting to…” He looks away.
“What?” I clasp his jaw with my thumb and forefinger, then draw his face back toward me.
“I care about you a lot, and I don’t want to do anything to mess up your plans.”
“I don’t have any plans. Remember? We’re supposed to be taking it day by day?”
“At some point, you have to think about the future.”
“I will. I promise.” I kiss him until he moans. “Until then, please don’t stress about this.”
“This?”
“Us.”
“I like the sound of that. Us.”
“I do too.”
As I settle back into his embrace, I consider his question. I wasn’t lying when I said I never really thought about the future. Expectations have ruined my life before, so I’m hesitant to plan anything. But I can’t leave him hanging. If we’re going to have some kind of… relationship… then I need to figure out what I want, because it’s not just sex anymore. It’s more. And that scares the shit out of me.
9
Emily
A future. I haven’t let myself fall into the temptation of planning a future for well over a year. The accident took everything from me, including my future. But Dallas is right. I need to figure out what I want. I’ve never been one to sit around waiting for life to happen to me. I like to grab the bull by the horns, so to speak.
I glance at cows in the rear-view mirror of the tractor. It took some convincing, but my brother finally let me take over hay feeding the cows. Dallas still takes care of the horses, and Brendan’s been working on various jobs around the ranch.
As I pull to a stop, the last bits of hay fall to the frozen earth. Both of my guys—that’s how I think of them now—have assured me that while the cows are cold, the wind break and extra hay will keep them happy through the winter. I still feel bad when I see a light dusting of snow on their fur.
“Spring will come soon enough.”
A cow moos in response. A smile spreads across my face. Who would have thought I’d take to ranching as well as I have? I’ve been her for a few weeks now, and I can’t imagine leaving. When I think about the future, I think about the possibility of owning my own ranch.
I pull my phone out. After a few clicks, my bank account pops up. Between winnings and endorsement contracts, I’ve got almost two million dollars saved up. It’s enough to buy almost any future I want. But what do I want?
As I put the phone back into my pocket, I gaze across at a huge sign on a nearby hill. One thousand acres adjacent to Brendan’s ranch, for the low, low price of one-point-two million. As far as I know, there isn’t a house on the property. Not that I tried to find it on every single real estate app or anything. I’m tempted to call an agent, just to check it out, but I don’t want to go alone.
The more I think about what I might want, the more Dallas factors into my plans. I don’t know what he wants. He won’t tell me. Claims he doesn’t want to influence my decision, but I need to find out. If I construct a fantasy life that includes him, but doesn’t include the type of lifestyle he wants to live, then where does that leave me?
I learned a long time ago that having a house doesn’t make it a home. I lived in several places, mostly hotels, while on the circuit. Nothing ever felt like home, but this ranch does. There’s something about crisp, clean mountain air that calls to my soul. I love the land. I can tell Dallas loves it too. But is this really what he wants?
With the wind picking up, I decide to head into the barn. I park the tractor with the other ranch equipment.
Brendan pokes his head over the edge of the loft.
“Hey, sis. How’d it go with the cows?”
“Pretty good. No one tried to take a nip out of me today.”
“That’s progress.”
“Yeah.” I’m tempted to ask him what he knows about the adjacent property, but I hold my tongue.
“What are you up to the rest of today?” He climbs down the ladder.
“I was thinking of heading into town for a bit.”
“Are you stopping at the feed store? I’m low on grain for the pigs. The next shipment’s supposed to arrive tomorrow, but they warned me they could be a day or two late.”
“I can pick some up.”
“I’d go with you, but I’ve got to leave for Tina’s place soon.”
“It sounds like things are getting serious.”
“She’s a great woman. Maybe you can meet her sometime soon.”
“Wow, how serious are we talking?”
“We’ve only been together a few weeks.”
“Does it take any longer to know that you want to be with someone forever?” I ask, curious.
“I’m not sure.” He leans against a horse stall. A bay pokes her head over, looking for carrots. “Why?”
“Just curious.”
“You should take Dallas with you.”
“What?” My gaze snaps to his.
“To help you load the feed.”
“Right.”
“I’m glad you two are friends. When you first got to the ranch, I had my doubts about whether he could keep his hands to himself. I’m impressed. He’s been a total gentleman. Maybe you’re a good influence.”
I stifle a groan.
“Anyway, get him to go with you. I’m sure he won’t mind. He follows you around like a puppy anyway. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was interested in you.”
“He isn’t? I mean, of course not.” I shake my head and frown as if him being interested in me is a crazy notion.
“Right.” Brendan smiles. “See you tomorrow.”
I can’t help but wonder if he’s messing with me. Does he know about me and Dallas? Could he have seen one of us slip out of the other’s house at dawn? And what did he mean when he implied Dallas wasn’t interested in me? As far as I know, Dallas is totally into me.
Brendan’s gone before I can ask any of the questions tumbling around in my mind. However, Dallas is still here, and now we’re alone.
I find Dallas in with the pigs. He’s filling their water trough. Several have heaters and they automatically fill, but two need to be manually filled.
“I’m almost done,” he says. “I can’t wait until spring when we can install the last two automatic troughs.”
“It’s tedious work.”
“That’s ranching. Tedious most of the time, punctuated by moments of terror when a calving situation goes wrong.”
“Do you like it?” I ask.
“Calving?”
“Ranching.”
“Any job where I get to work with my hands is my kind of job. Being trapped in an office shoving papers around all day would literally kill me.” He grins. “Why do you ask?”
“I was just wondering if it was something you’d want to do for a long time. Like, forever.”
“Forever is a long time.” He shuts off the hose and drains it before spooling it. “What about you? Do you like the ranching life?”
“I love it…” I shove a dirt clod around with the toe of my boot.
“Uh oh, what’s on your mind?” he asks in a teasing tone. “Are you having future thoughts again?”
“Maybe.” I bit my lip and smile.
He closes the distance between us and pulls me into a strong embrace. He murmurs in my ear.
“Want to hear my really deep thoughts?” he asks.
“Tell me.”
“First, I want to strip all those muddy clothes off.” He nibbles the shell of my ear before nipping at my earlobe. “Then, I’m going to take a nice, hot shower with you.”
“I like where this is going,” comes my breathy response.
“And after the shower…”
“Mm, hum…” I nuzzle his throat.
“I’m going to take you into town to check out the real estate office.”
“What?” I pull back quickly.
“You’ve been drooling over the property next door more than you’ve been drooling over me. I’ll admit, I’m getting jealous. I don’t know how I can compete with one thousand acres. I only have eight inches.”