by Hope Ford
His hands tighten on my shoulders. “Millie, what are you saying? Are you a virgin?”
I blink at him, trying to keep the embarrassment off my face. “I, uh, no; there was one time when I was eighteen.”
“Fuck,” he swears. He pulls me against his chest, and I can feel his heart pounding under my ear. “Baby, I don’t want to hear about another man with you.”
I shake my head. “No, I just thought you should know. I may need you to tell me when I’m doing something wrong. I just don’t want to disappoint you.”
He grabs my hand and presses it to the large bulge between his legs. “Does it feel like there’s any way you could disappoint me? Just looking at you makes me feel things I’ve never felt before.”
The sincerity I find in his gaze has me standing up. I kick off my shoes and pull my skirt down my legs. When I stand up, I reach for the hem of my shirt, take a deep breath, and lift it over my head. I wore my matching black panties and bra set today, and the way his gaze traces over my body, I know I made the right decision.
“Finish,” he says with a thick voice. “I want to see all of you.”
My body trembles at his command. I reach behind me and unsnap my bra and let it fall to my feet. My breasts, large and heavy, sway with my heaving chest. I pull my underwear down my hips and let them fall, kicking them away. When I’m completely naked, I stand up, pull my shoulders back, and look him straight in the eye. There’s a huge part of me that wants to cover myself, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking as he looks at my rounded body. But I’m not going to let those thoughts ruin this for me.
“It’s your turn,” I tell him.
He grabs me around the waist and pulls me so that I’m standing between his legs. My hands go to his shoulders to steady myself. “Let me look at you,” he says as his hands slide up my ribcage. He cups my breasts in his hands and kneads them.
I grip his shoulders tighter. “Austin,” I moan as he pulls my nipple into his mouth. He sucks, sending a tremor through my body. I can feel the desire between my legs as his mouth and hands caress me everywhere.
He moves up my chest, putting open-mouthed kisses along my shoulders and neck. He stands up and fits his lips over mine. Before I know it, I’m lying down on the bed with him standing over me.
He undresses quickly, and I can’t take my eyes off him. There’s a smattering of hair across his chest, and my first thought is I want to feel it across my cheek. He’s muscled and defined, and just looking at him causes a pull in my lower belly.
He climbs onto the bed, and I widen my legs so he can fit between them. His hard length is against my thigh as he reaches between us and strokes his finger through my swollen, needy folds as a low groan leaves his lips.
My orgasm from earlier still has me extra sensitive to his touch. “Austin...” I moan as I lift my hips to meet his hand.
Austin
She’s a seductress and doesn’t even know it. The way she stripped confidently in front of me had me chomping at the bit to get my mouth and hands on her. She’s moving her hips against my hand, wanting another release, and I can’t wait to give it to her.
“I need to be inside you, Millie. I need to feel you come.”
Her moans deepen, and she reaches for me, pulling me by the forearms until we’re face to face. “I want that too.”
I let my forehead fall to hers. “I’m clean.”
Her eyes widen. “Me too. And I’m on the pill.”
I don’t wait to examine why her being on the pill bothers me. That’s something I’ll have to think about when I actually have blood running to my brain because right now, it’s all running south.
She reaches between us and wraps her hand around my length. I hiss on contact and pull my hips. I don’t want to come in her hand like some teenage boy. “Fuck, baby, you have no idea what you do to me.”
She smiles and strokes me again from root to tip. “I have an idea.”
I position myself and line up at her core. She widens her legs, and I push slowly inside her. I have to take it slow, or I’ll come in an instant. Her pussy is tight, and already with only my tip in has me in a vise.
“You okay?” she asks as I realize I’m holding completely still. Her smile is lethal as her vaginal walls tighten even further on me.
There’s no other choice. I push in, sliding into her honeyed depths, and this time, she’s moaning with me. We move our bodies in tune to each other. Her pussy is drenched, and I pick up the pace, loving the way she feels as if she’s made just for me.
Her eyes are on me, wide and aroused. My most genuine smile stretches across my face. How did I get so lucky to have this woman in my bed?
I reach between us and stroke my finger through her folds before pleasuring her clit. She starts to writhe underneath me, and our thrusts become manic. The only sound in the room is our breathing and the sounds of our bodies slapping together.
“Yes, Austin. Right there. Please don’t stop.”
With her urging, I give her all I have. In and out. Thrust after thrust, I make her mine.
When there’s no more holding back, I tell her to come, and her body thrusts one more time before she tautens, overcome by the orgasm coursing through her body. She’s held so tightly, I grunt as I move in and out of her, releasing my cum deep into her sex.
I hold myself over top her and kiss her.
I lie to the side and pull her against me, never breaking our kiss. She molds her body into mine.
When I pull away, she surprises me. “Can we do that again?”
I laugh, a deep one that comes from my belly. “Yeah, sugar. We’re going to be doing that a lot.”
I pull from her arms. “I’ll be right back.”
I’m gone only a minute before I’m back beside her with a warm washcloth. I clean her up and then clean myself up in the bathroom. When I lie down next to her, she’s boneless and can barely hold her eyes open. I pull her into my arms. “Rest, honey.”
I can feel her head nod on my chest, but she doesn’t say a word. “You’re mine, Millie.”
She doesn’t move, making me believe she’s already asleep. I go to sleep with my arms around Millie as I try to figure out how I can keep her.
9
Millie
I can’t stop smiling. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop. It’s crazy because I know I probably look like a crazy person. Every time my dad sees me, he makes some kind of joke about me smiling so much and then just shakes his head, asks me why I’m smiling and keeps walking. It’s obvious to everyone why I’m smiling... it’s because of one Austin Yates. He has completely flipped, turned me upside down. He calls and texts me every day, and he insists that he see me every day. It seems that everything is moving so fast, but also so slow at the same time. A part of me wonders if this is really my life. How did I end up with the hot cowboy?
I’m standing at the front of the store. I just went over a few things with Ranger, the ranch hand that Austin sent to try out the manager’s position. He’s been a godsend. He’s already helped so much with the store, my dad has been able to spend more and more time at home on the ranch.
My phone dings in my pocket, and already smiling, I know it’s probably Austin. I open the texting app.
Change of plans for tonight.
That’s all it says. I don’t text him back right away because I’m waiting for him to say something else. When a few minutes go by, I text him back. Ok.
I get back to work, and even though I’m wondering what’s going on, I know he’ll text or call me before I get off work.
Hours go by, and when it’s time for me to head home, I grab my purse, look at my phone one more time, tell Ranger I’m leaving, and walk out the front of the store. I get to the edge of the parking lot and freeze. Austin is standing next to his truck with his arms wrapped around a woman. Pain squeezes my heart. I swear I’d never believe it if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes. I turn quickly and run back into the store. I wipe at th
e tears that I didn’t even realize were falling. Ranger is busy putting things on a shelf, and I dash into my office. I drop my purse on top of my desk and pace back and forth. I’ll wait just a few minutes and leave. What’s he even doing here? All the thoughts are running through my head when the bells over the front door of the store ring. I completely stop breathing. I don’t even have to look to know who it is. It’s Austin... and that woman.
I walk out of the office and do my best to keep my expression guarded. But I must not be hiding my emotions very well, because Austin takes one look at me and frowns. As soon as he’s close enough, he pulls me into him. “Josie, this is my girlfriend, Millie. Honey, this is my sister, Josie.”
“Your sister?” I squeak out. He’s mentioned his sister, but she lives in Texas. He never mentioned that she was coming into town. My stomach unbinds with relief, and I can’t even try to hide it. “It’s so nice to meet you.” Even I can hear the relief in my voice.
Josie and I talk, and the whole time, Austin is looking closely at me.
We talk about going to dinner, and it’s then I realize this must be the change of plans.
“Josie, Ranger’s right over there. Why don’t you go say hi and then we’ll go to dinner.”
Josie turns to me. “You’re joining us for dinner, right?”
“Yes, she’s coming.”
Josie slaps her brother’s arm. “She doesn’t need you bossing her around, bub.”
I laugh, already liking his sister. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
As soon as Josie walks away, Austin grabs my hand and walks with me to my office. He closes the door and turns me so I’m leaned up against it.
Austin
“What was that?” I ask her. I knew the minute I saw her exactly what she was thinking. If I was anywhere else, I’d take her over my knee right now.
She lifts her chin. “What was what?”
I thread my hand through her hair and hold on to the nape of her neck. “What were you thinking when I walked in with my sister?”
She looks back at me stubbornly. “You don’t want to know what I was thinking.”
“Yes, I do.”
She tries to pull from my arms, but I’m stronger, and she doesn’t get far. I edge my leg between hers and cage her in between my arms. “No, let’s get this out in the open so we can put it behind us.”
“Fine. I saw you hugging your sister in the parking lot. I thought, well, you were together.”
Well, fuck. “Obviously, I’m doing something wrong here.”
She shakes her head. “No, this is not on you. This is all me. I’m the one with all the insecurities. I know what kind of man you are, and I should never had let my head go that way.”
Her voice is so sad, I know she regrets it. I swear if that Mike was still in town, I’d whoop his ass again.
I bring her over to the couch and sit down, pulling her into my lap. When she’s completely settled with my arms around her, I look into her eyes.
“Millie, I love you.”
It’s the first time I’ve said the words, but I mean them. I’ve probably loved her since the day she came to the ranch when I was hurt. “I only want you, sugar. I can’t even imagine looking at another woman. It’s you. You’re the one. I promise that I will always be faithful to you. Nothing will ever come between us.”
“You love me?”
I laugh. “Yes.”
“I love you too, Austin. So much.”
I lean in and seal my lips to hers. My sister will just have to wait.
Epilogue
Violet
Standing at the counter of my diner, I look around with pride. Besides how busy the restaurant is, I’ve actually made quite a difference in some of the patrons’ lives. I’ve never seen Millie so happy, and I’ve known her almost her whole life. She’s still young and deserves happiness more than anyone I know. She’s having dinner with Austin and his sister, and I could watch them all night. The protective way that Austin looks at her is stuff that dreams are made of. I don’t know if I’m the reason that Austin and Millie met and got together, but I like to think so. If I hadn’t told him she worked there would he have stopped and talked to her that day or bypassed her office, not even knowing she was there? I like to think I’ve done something to help make my friend happy.
“Excuse me, are you Violet Jennings?”
A young woman walked up to the counter while I was daydreaming. She’s timid and obviously shy. Her clothes are clean, but she looks so frail, I instantly want to fix her something to eat. She has a large bag over her shoulder and it looks like it weighs more than she does. “Yeah, I’m Violet.”
“Hi. I’m Heather Bates. I went to the Sugar Glaze Bakery to apply for a job, but they weren’t hiring. They suggested I come here.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’m not hiring, but something stops me. “Well, Heather, it’s nice to meet you. Have a seat. What can I get you to eat?”
She looks taken back. “Oh, I’m not going to eat.”
From the look on her face, I know exactly why she’s not going to eat. I’ve seen it before. There have been many people come through Whiskey Run, and if they don’t have any ties here, then they’re here because they’re running from something. I’ve never seen Heather before, so all I can assume is she’s definitely running.
“I’ll be running around, and it will actually make me feel less guilty during our talk if you are eating than just sitting here waiting on me. What about a burger and fries?” I don’t wait for her to answer, instead I ask her, “You want everything on it?”
She looks like a deer caught in the headlights. “Uh, no onion.”
“I got it. And a milkshake too? You like strawberry?”
She nods, and I walk away to put her order in. I’m talking to Eddie and watching the restaurant. Heather is looking around, and I see her gaze stop on something a few feet away. I follow her gaze and see she’s looking at Brett Barrett. At that exact instant, Brett looks at the counter and sees Heather. For just a second, I can see the chemistry sizzle between them, but just as quickly it fades when Heather whips her chair around and puts her head down as she picks at the napkin in front of her.
I join her again and am wiping down the counter as we talk. “So what are you doing in Whiskey Run?”
There’s fear in her eyes. “I’m looking for somewhere... to live. I needed to move, and I ended up here.”
“What kind of experience do you have?”
She shakes her head. “Not any. I wasn’t allowed... I never had a job before, but I’m a fast learner and a hard worker.”
Brett gets up from his booth, and there’s no doubt he’s heard our conversation by the way he’s looking at the small woman in front of me.
He hands me his check card. “How you doing tonight, Brett?”
“Good,” he grunts, and when he does, the woman jerks and wraps her arms around her middle.
Brett and I both notice it, and Brett’s face turns hard. That’s one thing about Brett Barrett: he’s a good man. He doesn’t talk to a bunch of people, but it’s mostly because he doesn’t trust them. He’s been sort of clammed up since his fiancée left him standing at the altar.
“Hey, Brett. Are you still hiring for a housekeeper and a cook out at the ranch?”
He shakes his head, but his eyes tell me he knows where I’m going with this. “I never was hiring.”
His negative response doesn’t even faze me. “Well, I can just imagine how long it’s been since it’s been cleaned.”
“I clean it,” he says, not even offended.
“You’re a rancher. You don’t have time for that. Well, Heather here is new in town and she needs a job. Unfortunately, I don’t have any openings, but I talked to her, and I think she would be perfect for what you’re needing.”
He’s about to argue when Heather jumps up. “I can’t... I can’t go to his ranch.”
Brett stares at her, and he takes a few breaths before he says
anything. “What’s wrong with my ranch?”
I hide my smirk. I was expecting him to walk away, but obviously he’s bothered by what’s going on with Heather, and he’s not going to leave her in a lurch.
The woman blushes prettily. “Nothing. I’m sure it’s a fine ranch.”
Brett snorts. “It’s not. It’s falling down around me. But you’d have food and shelter. You would just have to cook for me and two other guys. Maybe clean a little bit. I won’t be able to pay you a lot, but you’ll get room and board too. And you’ll be safe. No one will bother you out there.”
Heather was shaking her head, ready to say no the whole time Brett was talking, until he said the word safe. It’s then she stopped shaking her head.
“But I don’t know you,” she half whispers.
“I can vouch for him. He’s sort of grumpy, but he’s a good guy. He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
She seems to be weighing her options. She pulls her shoulders back and lifts her chin. “I don’t know how else to say it, but I have to ask. Do you drink and have you ever hit a woman?”
Brett jerks back as if she slapped him. His face is covered in horror. “Fuck no. I’d never raise my hand to a woman, and I’d never let it happen around me either. I promise if you come work for me, you won’t have to worry about that. And yea, I drink, but not very often. And I don’t get drunk.”
Eddie walks up beside me and hands me the burger in a to-go box and milkshake in a Styrofoam cup. I hand them both to Heather. “Here you go, honey. Have Brett bring you to come see me the next time he’s in town.”
She looks at the food in her hands and back to me. “How’d you know I’d need it to go?”
I look between her and Brett and try to hide my knowing smirk. I seem to have a knack for these things. “I wasn’t positive, but I was pretty sure.”