by Yvette Hines
However, the two of them would face the truth soon.
“Do you want to leave now, too?” Her voice trembled even as she tossed the ends of the wig hair over one shoulder and lifted her chin.
“Not at all, my sweet pearl.” He moved toward her, toeing out of his boots.
She tracked him.
Another few steps, and he dropped his jeans and stepped out of them.
She licked her lips again.
At the top of the steps, his underwear landed at his feet. Standing bare before her, he allowed her to take in her fill.
Her heated stare caressed him from face to cock.
Chapter Four
Chelsea gasped at the large size of Rick’s still half-erect cock—thick and long. She had felt it inside her, stretching her, connecting them as one. However, now she could see it. She had the urge to slide her mouth down over it.
“I’m sorry it’s just me, now. I’m headed to the shower. You can either meet me there and see where this night takes us or be dressed when I get out. I’ll get the message loud and clear. I expect to have company.” With that said he turned and went to the bathroom.
She could hear the hard water pressure of the shower start. He was truly leaving the choice to her. When Stem had left, she’d assumed Rick would be gathering his things behind him. Real clear to her now, she wasn’t woman enough to keep two men entertained.
Two men who had been conquering sexual partners for years. She’d never even heard whispers of Rick being with a woman alone. Stem had, but his reputation tagged him as a horndog of the first degree.
When Rick announced his decision to stay, her heart had lifted. The moment she’d always fantasized about. If she’d invited him on his own, would he have come? Or laughed at her? The thought hurt as much as it did as she and Siann had sat before the computer completing the request form.
She’d accomplished the first brave move, set up the night. However, she couldn’t see revealing herself to the man in the shower. Let him enjoy a night with an anonymous woman. She’d have memories, and he’d have another notch on his bedpost.
She dropped the sheet then scooted from the bed, she removed her nightie, and made sure her wig and mask were straight. If not for the tightness of her mask, Stem would have pulled the wig from her head. Going to her purse in the dresser drawer, she tossed a mint in her mouth then applied more gloss to her lips.
On the way into the bathroom, she broke up the hard mint between her teeth then swallowed the bits. Now that she had this time with Rick alone, she didn’t want the taste of another man on her tongue. Not even his best friend’s.
The glass door, already fogged, prevented her from seeing Rick inside. Opening the door she stepped inside the spacious shower.
He lifted his head from under the spray and stared at her.
She hadn’t been able to tell what thoughts went through his mind earlier. His features had been set, not revealing his emotions. Now, held in the cobalt blue gaze filled with admiration and passion, she knew she’d made the right choice. This was their time. Nothing else mattered.
Pulling her to him, he kissed her. As passionately as he had on the bed, but less restrained. As if he had been freed in some way, he took possession of her mouth, groaning his pleasure.
Her back pressed against the wall as they gave and received from each other.
When their lips parted, he said, “I want this night.”
“So do I,” she confessed.
They stayed that way for a moment, lost in one another. She felt a little ashamed he couldn’t really see her as she saw him. However, she couldn’t fool herself enough to remove the guise.
He stepped away, pumped expensive, thick and creamy, body wash into his hand from one of three dispensers mounted on the wall of the stall. When she’d used it earlier, she’d sworn she washed with cream and tiny pearls, luxurious on her skin.
Not as wonderful as Rick’s hands as he cupped her breasts and began bathing her.
He washed her all over, rinsed her body, then followed the trails of water from her breasts to her sex. Once again her back lay against the wall, but this time she curved one of her legs over his shoulder while his mouth clamped onto her pussy.
After he brought her to a quivering orgasm, she returned the favor, bathing him then taking him deep into her mouth. His taste on her tongue was a combination of robust spice and sweet cream. She became drunk on his essence.
He gently cupped her face, not forcing his cock deeper into her mouth or guiding her. Rick allowed her the lead. Stretching her throat, she relaxed and took him in, watching his eyes darken to almost black while his desire built.
She massaged the warm steel of his shaft and brought him to completion.
After their shower, they returned to the bed and had sex again. This time with him over her where she could hold his body against hers. They rocked in an intimate dance all their own while Rick kissed her. The loving was slow and tender, like his kiss, as they held off their orgasms until they were both shaking with need.
Coming, she bit down on her lip, keeping herself from calling out how much she loved him—revealing herself.
***
Ten minutes later, Rick stood in the bathroom, gripping the sink. He discarded another condom and took a moment to pull himself together. He was pretty damn sure the Earth had tipped another direction and started rotating backward. Every time he came inside Chelsea, he lost another piece of his soul to her. By the time this night ended, there would be nothing left of him without her if he didn’t watch it.
He took in his reflection, black hair tousled and tanned skin showing a flush put there by the pleasurable hours spent with Chelsea. The woman would kill him. Not physically—hell, he could take what she dished out and give her more. However, on the emotional side, he stood on dangerous ground.
He needed to keep this night on an erotic plane.
Pushing from the sink, he took a deep breath and returned to the room, feeling a little more like himself.
He found her wrapped in a robe, standing on the balcony. The air was still warm, but the humidity of the day had reduced to a tolerable level. Slipping his arms around her, he nuzzled her neck. “Are you hungry, beautiful?”
She leaned into him. “I am starving. I think the lunch I had earlier wore off around two.”
He chuckled. “How about we order dinner and rejuvenate ourselves.”
Turning in his arms, she snuggled her lush frame against him. “That sounds wonderful. I hope you don’t mind porterhouse, sweet potatoes, and grilled asparagus.”
“As long as steak is on the plate, I don’t care what’s beside it.” He swatted her backside and she ground against him. He groaned. “Don’t make me change my mind about feeding you.”
“Must have food.” Rising onto her tiptoes, she kissed him.
Chelsea was a tall woman, but he still topped her by five inches.
Ending the kiss, she left his side.
He kept his attention fixed on her swaying ass as she headed for the phone to call the concierge.
Exhaling hard, he tilted his face toward the heavens. “Have mercy on me.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance as he entered the room.
***
“All right, my sweet pearl. Easy now.”
“I thought you said this way would be easier.” Chelsea tried to breath, but her lungs seemed to have stopped working. She straddled Rick’s hips while his cock drove into her.
His chuckle vibrated beneath her palms where she balanced her weight on his chest.
“Gravity helps. Breathe and don’t tense up.”
Relax your ass, Chelsea. How could her best friend praise this nefarious deed? At the moment, Chelsea struggled to believe particular objects could fit in certain places; especially his cock stretching her ass.
“Maybe we should use more lube.” She had her lids squeezed shut, trying not to think about the nether region invasion. She must have been insane to agree. However
, if Stem had stayed she would have been taking both of them, with one of them in her ass. That was why Siann had attempted to coach her through it earlier.
“Focus on me.”
His calm voice wrapped around her like a blanket. She opened her eyes.
Those sensitive, sincere dark blues stared back at her as he caressed her hips, gently working her onto him.
“I love your mouth. When you smile, the room lights up.” He pulled back a little.
She could not help the smile that curled the corners of her lips.
“Your skin is like a delicious combination of cinnamon and cocoa.” He pushed in deeper.
Her breathing hitched.
“Your hands feel like silk feathers every time you touch me. I can’t help but be turned on.” He drew his member out some.
Biting her bottom lip, she whimpered.
“But the way you walk spins me inside out. Long legs, thick hips, and perfect breasts flowing in one smooth motion.” He thrust his hips up.
“Rick!” Crying out in mind-boggling pleasure, she bore down taking him all the way in.
“Ahhh, my sweet pearl….”
Rising, she lowered herself again and dug her nails into his chest; the sensation along her sensitive virgin walls curled her toes. Wicked and delicious.
“If I’m not mistaken, you like it.”
“Oh, very…much.” She panted with pleasure, unable to lie still.
“Come here and kiss me. Show me how grateful you are to me for initiating you into such naughty delight,” he teased, sliding his hands up her back.
Leaning down, she laced her kiss with gratitude for the act and the entire night. So much more than she’d imagined. Rick was the consummate lover. However, even when they’d sat across from each other at dinner, talking and laughing about shows, politics, movies, and mystery books they both enjoyed, it had been wonderful. In silent agreement, they’d stayed away from discussions of Lucky Valley.
Burying her hands in his thick ebony locks, she rotated her hips, gliding her ass up and down his cock.
As the kiss intensified, so did their loving. Soon Rick held a tight grip on her ass, giving her deep, rapid thrusts over and over again until they were both climaxing. Together they jerked and shivered, bucking into each other they swallowed each other’s groans of ecstasy.
When warm waves of pleasure coursed through their bodies, she ended the kiss. She buried her face in the curve of his neck and took in the peace in her mind and heart. Lying on his chest with his strong arms around her. For this moment, as dawn began pushing the darkness of night away, she allowed herself to dream of a life that didn’t belong to her.
Where days would begin with passion in Rick’s bed and end in his arms. In that fantasy he would be content with having somebody. Her.
Chapter Five
“I can’t believe your ass is out here workin’.” Stem climbed out of his truck in Rick’s back field.
Finished moving his livestock, Rick dusted his gloves off on his jeans. “Where else would I be?”
Stem snatched his black cowboy hat off and smacked it against his thigh. “Out convincing that medicine woman she should meet you at the church.”
Medicine woman? Chelsea? “Why would I do a thing like that when it’s apparent she’s had her fun and doesn’t want anything more?”
Still holding his hat, his friend pointed a thick finger at his chest. “Because your narrow ass has been panting after her for years. Hell, you haven’t even screwed another woman in the two years she’s been back in town. I’ve been a single rider with the ladies. Damn it, since she invited you to a one-night stand, you would think you’d get the picture.”
Why was his friend so angered by that? Stem hadn’t awakened alone in a hotel with nothing but a note. That burned the most. Chelsea had snuck out leaving a simple message on the hotel tablet that read, Thanks for a memorable night, Rick. I’ll never forget it.
What kind of shit is that?
Speaking through gritted teeth so his voice wouldn’t carry to the ears of his eavesdropping crew, he said, “Evidently she got what she wanted, a wild time in the sack with two horny cowboys. Just like any other woman in Lucky Valley wants.”
Rick finished padlocking the divider fence and gave his men the signal to head back. Too many fields of hay still needed to be baled.
His best friend still stood in the same place, watching him.
Rick yelled, “Let it be.” Then walked off toward his truck.
But Stem hollered after him, “I never took you for a pussy, Rick Forrester.”
Rick froze. In Lucky Valley, them was fightin’ words.
The men piled in the cab and truck bed started guffawing and throwing out jeers. Rick shot them all a hard glance. They got his message loud and clear. If they didn’t shut their mouths, he’d have them all in that very field picking up cow patties by hand.
Taking long strides across the trampled grass toward Stem, he demanded, “What the fuck did you call me?”
Setting both fists on his hips and his feet wide apart, Stem said even louder, “A pussy.”
Three feet away from the man who used to be his best friend, Rick stopped. “Your ass might be as big as those bulls you raise, but I can still kick it even if I have to use one of these fence posts.” Rick cracked his knuckles for emphasis.
A good brawl might help him blow off all the tension he’d been building up for over a week. Hell, more like he needed release for the strain he’d suffered with over two years since Chelsea showed back up in town.
Stem took a step. “If you’re so goddamn big and bad then use some of that gut and man up.”
He let out a grunt of frustration. “Why in the hell would I do that? What purpose would it serve?”
Stem lowered his voice. “If what you say is true, and she wanted to be in the middle of a Stem and Rick sandwich…then why didn’t she hightail it out of there when I left?”
The hell if I know. In the week since that night happened, he’d spent most evenings thinking about how he’d go on now that he’d had a taste of Chelsea. Held her in his arms. He’d stayed out of town because he didn’t know if he could handle seeing her and knowing she could never be his.
“I don’t know.” Like steam from a kettle, some of the tension left him with that confession and eased the tightness around his chest.
“I’ll tell you, Rick.” Stem placed a hand on his shoulder and peered at him hard in the eyes. “No matter what that sassy little lady said, I never believed for a second that she wanted us.”
“Then who?”
Stem lowered his head, shook it, then raised it again. “You idiot. She wanted you.”
Snatching his hat off, Rick ran his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair. “You think so?”
“Trust me, I have it on good authority.” Stem pulled his hand away.
Rubbing his chin, Rick glanced at his friend. “Was that authority before or after you put your dick in my woman’s mouth.”
Tossing his head back, Stem let out an uproarious chuckle.
Which didn’t put Rick at ease.
“I’ll never tell.” Stem smiled.
Rick laughed. If he got Chelsea as his, and one night she wanted someone else to join them, Stem would be the only person he’d call.
“She ain’t your woman ’til you get this shit right.”
“You’re right. Hey, let me see your truck keys.”
Frowning, Stem pulled them out of his pocket. “What for?”
Rick snatched them from him then tossed his friend his own. “Cause you’re going to need my truck to take the men balin’.” Quicker on his feet, Rick moved out of arm’s distance and hustled to the other truck.
Stem still cursed a blue streak about having work on his own ranch as Rick drove away.
***
Angry at the world, Chelsea tried to get through another day of work. During the last week, all of her orders had gone into the system wrong and she’d had to start al
l over—twice. Two of her assistants had gotten sick, with the flu, no less, and she’d chipped three nails.
Things weren’t going her way at all. At least once an hour, she put the blame on Rick Forrester’s shoulders. The man had made her touch heaven so many times, she wasn’t any damn earthly good. She couldn’t watch any of her favorite shows because she thought of comments he had made about them or she wondered if he was watching, too.
She couldn’t leave well enough alone. She had to have Rick, even on his terms. Now she carried around a broken heart. One day, somehow, it would get easier.
Once Siann discovered Chelsea and Rick had been alone most of the night, her friend asked her if she’d revealed herself that night.
She’d told Siann that she played the night out as planned. Siann had prompted her more than once to go to Rick, tell him the truth, and see where things led them.
However, Chelsea was too scared. She admitted that to herself and her friend. Afraid if he rejected her, she’d be stuck having to see him all the time.
Not that she’d seen him much in the last week; she’d made sure of that, staying away from his watering holes and venturing out of her apartment only for work and essentials.
Thank goodness they were busy today. She could at least keep her mind off the man while she worked. In her office, she pulled the prescriptions from the local physicians from the printer. She’d already reviewed them on her computer to ensure they were things carried in the pharmacy.
“Chelsea, there’s a customer at the consultation counter.” Margie, one of two assistants working with her that evening, poked her head through the doorway.
“Oh God, is it Mrs. Sanchez again?” Chelsea groaned. The older lady came in at least twice a day for one supposed illness after another. Chelsea tried not to be short with the single and lonely woman. Hell, one day she could be Ms. Sanchez.