“You’re also a survivor, Sweetness,” I interrupt. “And you’re right, I went about this shit all wrong. I shoulda’ made plans to meet you at a fuckin’ coffee house. I don’t even drink coffee, but I’d have met you there and done it, if it woulda’ made you believe something different about me.”
A few tears leak from her brown eyes.
My heart clamps.
“I shoulda’ given you the option to come with me, and I should never have taken you, the way I did. I was just afraid that…” My throat tightens and I pause to recalibrate. “I don’t wanna’ do anything but love you, Candy. All of you,” I whisper, staying firmly in place. “From the minute I saw you on N2U, I wanted to meet you; and then when I did…” My mouth bunches. “One serving of Candy just ain’t enough for this cowboy. I’m sorry.”
Candy swipes the back of her hand over her eyes and straightens her posture. The barking dogs catch her attention and her eyes turn toward the commotion. “You need to tend to those cows,” she mutters.
My head swings in the direction they’re grazing and then towards the setting sun.
She’s right.
I sigh, head back for the horse and start to jump on.
“Can… I help?”
My brows pull. “You wanna’ help me herd the cows?”
“Yeah,” she smiles weakly. “I mean, if it’s not too hard. I mean… I know that it is. I Googled it. It could take hours.”
I laugh. “It’ll take a couple,” I admit, “but I bet it won’t be harder than you moving that fuckin’ dresser in front of my bedroom door yesterday.”
Candy laughs with me and rubs her lower back. “Maybe. But neither will it be more excruciating than you knocking me out and dragging me to no-man’s land,” she throws back.
I sigh and leave the horse. This time, she doesn’t move away when I approach. Instead, she runs her fingers through my hair as I press my lips against hers. The sensation of the connection releases a heap of tension outta’ me, and just like that, my cock is rock-solid.
“Your hair looks and smells really nice,” she whispers against my lips, smiling. “Did you get it done?”
I grunt. “I knew you’d come around, so I wanted to look fancy when you did. Wasn’t sure how you felt about the rugged look.”
She laughs. “I like all of your looks, Trigger.”
My heart is about to blow up.
I take her hand and lead her to the waiting horse. Then, I take her by her small waist and lift her onto it. We dash through the grass, scooting the cows to where they have to go.
Candy is having a blast! She’s laughing and calling out to the animals, like they’re gonna’ understand what she’s saying to them.
I don’t bother to tell her it’s not the cowboy way. As long as she’s happy, whatever way she wants it is how I’m gonna’ give it to her.
Candy
Oh my God, who would have thought organizing cows would be so much fun? By the time we’re done three hours later, I have a new appreciation for all things related to the wild, wild west.
I also have a new appreciation for Trigger.
As we bounded through the grass, I held onto him, arms wrapped tightly around his waist. I laughed and squealed with excitement, but the irony of the situation didn’t go unnoticed. The cattle were responding to Trigger. They trusted him. At his command, they moved in tandem to greener pastures, to safety. They were fully aware that he was their protector and that he would do whatever it took to keep them safe.
The cattle had faith in him, so why didn’t I?
Forget my excuse about not trusting men. Forget the fact that he’d knocked me the hell out and abducted me. I believed him when he said the only reason he’d done it was because he wanted to help me. And he was right: I definitely would have tried to evade him the minute I got the chance.
God had coordinated our paths.
Thanks to N2U, I’d met a man who would love and protect me, unconditionally.
Thanks to Mandy – a woman I had never even met – I potentially had access to my happily ever after.
The journey back to Trigger’s homestead finds us talking, hashing things out. He apologizes over and over, until I finally tell him to stop; and instead, I apologize to him. I tell him that I’m sorry for running and for not trusting him. I also apologize for locking him out of his room.
He twists a little to look at me. “You mean that, Sweetness?”
“You mean about locking you out of your room?”
“Yeah,” he says, chuckling, “but also about the trusting me part.”
I pause, even though I don’t need to. “I do, Trigg.” I squeeze tighter and rest my head on his broad back.
He groans, then out of nowhere, kicks the horse’s flanks, sending it into high gear. I could’ve asked what the rush was, but I know. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, this damn horse isn’t going fast enough.
When we get to the house, the living room lights are on, but Trigg dims them until they match his smoldering hazel gaze.
I walk into his arms and don’t wait for him to kiss me. I’m desperate to taste him. The smell of his cologne, mixed with hard work, is turning me up more notches than I’m anticipating. I could have devoured him. The fact that he has yet to climax during our over-the-top lovemaking sessions has me even more eager to please him.
Only one of the buttons to his shirt is fastened, so I rip it open and drag it off his body. Then comes his fancy belt buckle. I make short work of that. In no time, the rugged cowboy with the sexy locks is standing before me, wearing nothing but severely tented boxers.
I wet my lips, hungry for him.
I slide my hands over the ripples in his body and he shudders.
“Candy, you have no idea how much I desire you,” he rasps covering my mouth with a salacious kiss.
“Show me, Trigg. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. Not anymore.”
He pulls away and pins me with a stare that almost shatters me with desire.
He grabs my hand and leads me into the kitchen.
“We’re doing it in here?” I ask looking around.
“If you want,” he answered, “but I need to get somethin’ from the fridge.”
I watch as he retrieves a china bowl, full to the brim with fresh strawberries and a few bars of chocolate, which he quickly puts into a bowl and deposits in the microwave. After a few seconds, he pulls the gooey slabs out and brings them over to me. Saying nothing, he takes his time undressing me and it isn’t long before I’m standing in front of him, naked and quivering.
Eyes locked, I watch as he takes one strawberry and dips it into the decadent sauce.
Then he dips it again.
“Gotta’ double dip this, Sweetness. Can’t get enough,” he growls.
He places the fruit on my parted lips, and I lick the chocolate, twirling my tongue around the pointed base.
“Fuck, Candy…”
“I want to,” I reply, “but you’re too busy feeding me strawberries, double-dipped in chocolate.”
He grunts and drops the fruit back into the bowl, then he takes me upstairs and ravages my body until all I see are stars.
Trigger
When Rob sees me this time, his snarky comments are limited. Instead, his eyes are locked onto Candy, whose hand I’m holding as we stride into the office building. A thread of jealousy runs through me, but I ignore it.
Candy is mine and she’s not going nowhere. She told me that last night as I fucked her until the sheets came clear off the bed.
She wasn’t the only one saying a bunch of shit either. The minute her mouth wrapped around my cock, I was pledging my life to her, telling her that I loved her and that I wanted to marry her.
Rob’s eyes shift from her to me. “You… here to see Miss Sanders, or…”
“Tell her I’m here for my appointment,” I answer.
“She ain’t gonna’ be too happy ‘bout this, Emmerson,” he warns me. “I don’t think she’s expecting
– ”
I cut him off and lean across the desk until I’m in his face. “Just get her on the phone, Robert.”
He nods and dials her extension.
As Candy and I make our way to the elevator, he calls out, “Like your hair, by the way.”
* * *
Rob was right: Reba isn’t happy about Candy’s presence, but we’ve come to an agreement, which means I don’t give a shit about whatever attitude she’s sporting. Still, I have a feeling if she keeps looking at Candy the way she is, there’s gonna’ be a problem.
I clear my throat and attempt to temper the atmosphere. “Reba, I know I’ve said it before, but I’m eternally grateful for your help on this. We both are.”
She rolls her eyes away from Candy and onto me. “Well, like I said,” she responds, “if you’ve got appropriate evidence, I don’t see why I can’t assist. We have history, Emmerson, which means that I’d never blow you off.” She hums and Candy stiffens.
I touch the small of her back and draw a few small circles before escorting her to a seat. I introduce the two women, before handing Reba the fully charged cell phone.
Last night, Candy and I had gone through it. It had been torture having her show me the footage, forcing her to relive the pain she’d endured. I watched it and my entire body felt like it was gonna’ combust. It was a good thing she’d offed her ex, because there was no doubt in my mind, I’d have done it my-damn-self. But we’d gotten through it together, which was what I wanted to show her.
I held her, rocked her. I’d stroked her curls until the crying stopped and she settled in my embrace. It didn’t matter what came our way, if she was with me, I’d protect her from everything.
Reba went through the footage and collected details from Candy. An hour and a half later, the meeting was over, and I was escorting my lady out of the office, hanging onto Reba’s promises that the matter would be handled. We just needed to give her some time. She’d negotiate on Candy’s behalf, but Candy should be prepared to make an appearance, in the judge’s chambers, if necessary. What was more, she’d handle the police side of the matter. After all, she was fucking a guy in the federal office. There was no better guarantee.
* * *
That afternoon, Candy and I herd the cattle again. This time, we’re joined by a few of my buddies and after we’re done, we take up residence on my sprawling porch and enjoy beers and laughs until the sun sets.
I notice Candy’s yawn and turn to my boys. “Time to call it a night, fellas,” I say, rising from my wicker chair.
Candy’s eyes stretch open, like she’s trying to feign being awake. “Trigger it’s early,” she argues, looking to my boys for confirmation. “The night is young.”
One of the guys laughs. “This ain’t got nothin’ to do with the night being young, Candy,” he tells her. “I think my man has some other plans, ones we’re not allowed to participate in.”
You’re damn right! I ain’t sharing this one.
Candy groans as I pull her to her feet and nuzzle her neck. “Time for bed, Sweetness,” I whisper in her ear. “It’s been a long day.”
I carry her up the stairs to our bedroom and by the time I arrive, she’s all-but asleep. Her body is so small against mine, but it’s a perfect fit. I ease her onto the bed and take pleasure in undressing her. Then, I disrobe and slide under the covers. She rustles up against me, digging her soft ass against my steadily rising cock. I nuzzle her curls and squeeze her body.
“I love you, Candy,” I admit.
She hums. “I love you too, Trigg. Thank you for all that you’ve done. Thank you for believing me.”
My heart expands and I watch her in the dim light as she begins to fall asleep. “Candy?”
“Huh?”
I let a pregnant silence form between us, then I say, “Marry me, Candy.”
Her eyes pop open and she sits up in the bed. I ease back so I’m propped up against the pillows.
“What did you just ask me?”
“I asked you to marry me,” I answer, lifting my chin. “Granted, I know you’ve been through a ton of shit and you ain’t completely recovered from it; and we only known each other for the equivalent of two minutes, but… I want you as my wife. I wanna’ show you what it was supposed to be like.”
Her eyes are as wide as saucers.
I trail my finger down her jawline, before scooting forward and placing a gentle kiss onto her lips. “Marry me, Sweetness,” I whisper.
Those fingers find my hair and I tremble as the kiss deepens.
“O – okay,” she says, timid.
“Okay?”
She smiles at me, eyes brimming with tears. “Yeah,” she confirms in a whisper. “I will. I want to. After all of this is handled, let’s do it. I trust you, Trigg. I love you and I know you love me. I don’t need anything else.”
“I’ve got everything you need, Sweetness. Trust me when I tell you that.”
We kiss.
“I’ll need to go back home,” she considers after we part. “I’ve got some loose ends to tie up.”
I bristle at the thought. “Candy,” I say slowly. “I don’t know if I like the idea of that.”
She presses her hand against my cheek. “I’ll be back, Trigg. You don’t have to worry about me running.”
I assess the look in her eyes. “I’m comin’ to Atlanta to see you, then.”
“Of course!” she confirms. “Once a month?”
“Fuckin’ more than that,” I counter. “This sweet tooth ain’t letting up.”
She giggles.
“You gonna’ tell Elektra?” I ask.
Her brows pull as she considers my question. “Not yet,” she replies. “I’m not sure when I’ll tell her, but I’ll know when the time is right.”
I nod, following her lead, and it’s not long before her lead takes me right between those creamy brown thighs.
Yeah, I’m gonna’ be in Atlanta; and then after that, Candy is gonna’ be with me. Until the end of time.
Epilogue
Trigger
6 Months Later
Six months after the fact, we moved on impulse and did the only thing that made sense. We probably didn’t go about it the right way. Scratch that, I know we didn’t. There were a ton of people we didn’t tell. Shit, we didn’t tell nobody, including Madame Elektra and Colt; but the last thing we need is people hounding us, tellin’ us we’re movin’ too fast, that we don’t know each other well enough. I know all I need to know about Candy. What’s more, I’m the only man on earth who’s gonna’ take care of her the way she needs to be taken care of. We both know that much.
I settle in my first-class seat but take the time to squeeze my arm around my woman. I press a tender kiss on her temple, and she giggles. The sound fills me with all kinds of mirth. It’s a nice change of feelin’ for a cowboy. Ranch life can be stressful.
“You good, Sweetness?”
She snuggles deeper into me. “Oh, I’m really good, baby,” she assures me. “I can’t believe we’re doing this, but I’m glad we did.”
“Me too,” I smile and kiss her again.
“Madame Elektra is gonna’ kill me when she finds out, though.”
I grunt out a laugh, but don’t get a chance to respond, thanks to my ringing cell phone. When I see Colt’s number dashed across the screen, I frown a little.
Candy leans closer to see what’s got me all perturbed. “What is it?”
“It’s Colton,” I answer.
“Your boss?”
“Yeah.” I sigh and prepare to answer the call. “Gimme a minute.” A pause as he comes onto the line. “Colt, I can explain.”
“Then you’d better get to doing it,” he growls. “The hell you doin’ taking that woman from her job? You got my mama back on the run. She’s on her way back to Atlanta right now, and I swear to God, when she finds you, she’s gonna’ kick your ass!”
I muffle a laugh. I’d been tellin’ him to go to Atlanta and see that girl, but I ha
d no idea she was the woman he’d been pining over since college. Had I known that, I would’ve hauled his ass down there my-damn-self.
“You shoulda’ talked to her, Colt,” I tell him, trying to settle his nerves. “Candy is with me and she’s safe.”
“I tried talking to her,” he barks back, “weren’t no use.” He pauses and I can almost see him, pinching the bridge of his nose and raking his hand through his dirty-blonde hair. “Take Candy to work, Trigg. Whatever the two of you got going on, sort that shit out when her fuckin’ shift ends.”
“Sorry, Colt. No can do.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“I mean, she ain’t doin’ that kinda’ work no more,” I respond in a whisper. “I ain’t allowin’ it. Besides, she’s right where she wanna’ be, and that’s with me.”
Colt sighs. “You aren’t gonna’ take her in, are you?”
“Hell no,” I grunt. “I got that under control, just like I assume you got the situation with your woman handled.”
“Trigg, Savvy is on her way to Atlanta, and she’s looking for you,” he informs me, and I laugh. His mama was a petite thing, just like my Candy was, but she meant business. I could tell that much from the moment I seen her.
“I’ll handle it,” I assure him. “I’ll call her and tell her to stand down; that she needs to take her ass back to you.”
“Good,” Colt agrees. Then, he gives me her cell phone number and hangs up.
I hang up and look at Candy, who’s staring at me eyes wide. “Oh my God, tell me that wasn’t about – ”
“Yeah,” I cut her off, dialing her boss’s digits. “But don’t worry, Sweetness. I got this handled. You know that.”
Note from Brooklyn
Thank you for reading DOUBLE DIPPED.
I hope you enjoyed Trigger and Candy.
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Double Dipped: The Lunchtime Chronicles Page 6