Craving Country
Page 40
“So, you see, I just, I’m just—”
“Guarded. I get it. Apology accepted, Ella.”
She looked down shyly. Owen reached down and tucked a loose strand of long hair behind her ear. Ella turned fully to him, searching his eyes for a moment.
“What about River? Aren’t you two…”
“God, no! Rule number one in my world: Never Read the Tabloids.”
He smiled, then frowned.
“What about the slugger from the bar, your boyfriend?”
“Timmy? Oh my God. Timmy is not my boyfriend. Never was.”
Now they both smiled widely. Owen stepped closer, closing the gap between them. This time, though, Ella didn’t tense. She let herself be pulled in by his magnetism, breathe in his clean, manly scent. Her head was level with his broad chest; she saw the hint of dark hairs above the open buttons of his shirt and wanted nothing more than to tear it open.
When she looked up into Owen’s eyes, she saw his desire matched her own. Slowly, he lowered his head to meet hers; his lips hovered but didn’t touch. The anticipation of his kiss was sweet agony, and the heat emanated between them intensely. Ella would not be denied this kiss any longer. She grabbed the waistband of his jeans, curling her hands inside the band so that her knuckles were pressed against his hips, and pulled him against her.
Through her sundress she could feel the heat from his body, and the hardness in his jeans made her gasp involuntarily. Desire shot through her, straight to her core. He walked her backward and stopped her against the barn’s half door. Owen traced one of his big, strong hands up her arm, over her shoulder, and then his fingers were coiled in her hair. He gave a gentle tug, and she willingly tipped her head back and exposed her bare throat. His other hand braced against the door, locking her in his teasing embrace as his parted lips danced over her collarbone, up her throat, along her jaw. When he came back to her lips, he nudged her chin with his, parting them further to receive his passion fully. It was then at last that their mouths connected, their tongues meeting with playful flicks.
Ella pressed harder against his erection, eliciting a groan from his mouth into hers. She deepened her kiss, now walking him backward, toward the pile of blankets strewn over the hay, as she slid her hands under his shirt and raked his bare skin with her nails. There was no question, no doubt as to what was going to happen next. Ella was ready for consequences to be damned.
Owen sat, then laid back onto the blankets, pulling Ella down on top of him. She reached down between them and unbuckled his belt, then undid the button of his jeans. Slowly she lowered the zipper to reveal a sizeable erection through his boxer briefs. Owen had his hands high on her thighs, his thumbs caressing and pressing into the hollows near her center, his fingertips scratching her tanned flesh. He moved them up and around the swells of her full bottom, hooked his fingers into the lacy band of her thong, and lowered them. In seconds, they were both free of the constraints of undergarments. Owen spread her apart as she slowly grinded against his hardness; it was right against her clit, and she moaned in ecstasy.
With every slow rock of her hips, the tip came closer to entering her. She could take no more. She needed him inside her. Knowing her impatience, and his own as well, Owen grasped Ella’s hips and raised her high enough to plunge deeply into her. They started off hard and fast, but Ella wanted it to last, so she slowed her pace, making tiny, deep circles with her hips. Owen matched her movements and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Her hair fell all around them like a curtain, and they rocked gently.
The slow, steady friction, the deep kisses, his hot skin…Ella was close, and Owen knew it. He let her control the moment, waiting until she climaxed with a gasp and a deep moan before he flipped them over, putting Ella on her back beneath him. Her legs were firm against his hips, and she rose her pelvis to meet his thrusts. All the while he kissed her, occasionally murmuring her name against her neck, her bare breast. It renewed her excitement, and just as he began to come, Ella climaxed again.
They panted against one another’s necks for a few moments, unable to speak. Then Owen looked down at her sheepishly.
“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for our first time, you know.”
“Hmm, I didn’t even know you’d had ‘our first time’ on your mind at all.” She grinned.
“Oh, stop. You felt the sparks between us too. No denying it, Ella.”
“Fine,” she sighed. “Yes, I imagined lots of things…but no, not this. Do you think they’re wondering if we’ve killed each other?”
“Nah. I have a feeling they knew we were destined long before we did.”
“Destined, huh? Now’s how’s that all going to work? You’re Hollywood. I’m Everwood. Long distance relationship? With a movie star? I don’t…”
“Ella, Tomorrow Always Comes is my last film. Call it early retirement, if you will. I’ve been quietly looking for a place to settle down for the past year.”
“Seriously? What about, I don’t know—the fame, the fortune, all that crap?”
“Exactly. Most of that stuff is just that: crap. Don’t get me wrong, it’s afforded me a lot of opportunity. It fact, thanks to Hollywood, I’m going to have all the money I’ll ever need to run a ranch for rescue animals and a camp for disadvantaged kids.”
Ella looked at him incredulously, momentarily speechless. Then she blurted, “I have a ranch. You could use it. If you want, I mean.”
“You have a ranch? But I thought you lived in that apartment over the flower shop?”
While they hurriedly dressed and made themselves presentable, Ella explained about the property and why she’d abandoned it. Owen’s expression went from sympathetic to excited.
“Ella, this could be absolutely amazing!”
They walked into Jessica and Ray’s arm in arm, bouncing ideas off one another and oblivious of the surprised stares from their friends.
“Hey guys, sorry we took so long. Owen’s going to start a rescue ranch on my farm! Isn’t that great?”
They had all slow blinked for a moment, then Jess shrugged as if to say, “Well, why not?” Ray, probably the most confused of them all, announced, “Steaks are ready.”
Eddie raised his beer bottle in salute and smiled at his old friend. He’d never seen him look so relaxed or happy. He foresaw many happy, contented years for the reluctant movie idol in his new life.
As for Jessica’s opinion of what the future might hold for Ella and Owen, all she needed was to just read their faces to know she couldn’t agree more with Eddie. Somehow, these two people from such different worlds couldn’t be more perfectly matched.
Their dinner that night would be the first of many more to come. Owen finished his movie with River Ryan to rave reviews and an Academy nomination (and ultimate win). He did not attend the ceremony, however. He and Ella were busy welcoming their very first round of camp arrivals. He sent his regrets and let Eddie accept on his behalf.
They named their ranch The McKinley-Collins Rescue & Rebuild Center, where disadvantaged kids could spend time rehabilitating and helping rescue animals, among many other things. Eventually, they bought Milton’s Farm and expanded their non-profit into one of the most beloved and popular attractions in the country.
Oh, and they lived happily ever after.
About the Author
Elsa Kurt, pen name of children’s book writer Melanie Cherniack, is a happily married mom of two grown daughters who (when not writing) enjoys gardening, hiking, re-purposing old furniture, and developing her brand of positive message apparel, called igoodhuman. It is safe to say she is never, ever bored.
Elsa has three independently published novels—Livvy Takes the Long Way, Lost and Found Girls, and The Awkward Woman’s Guide To Dating (After Divorce). All her work can be found here http://www.elsakurt.com
Dedication
To my husband always.
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Acknowledgements
Limitless Publishing would like to thank all the authors who shared their stories with us to make this Craving Country Anthology.
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