by Thorn, Ava
When the time came for their release it felt like fireworks from above. He showered her with kisses and told her how much he loved her. She held him tight like she never wanted to let go of him. They kissed until they both gasped for air.
“I love you,” he whispered breathlessly into the crook of her neck. “I’m not a perfect man, when you see my flaws will you still love me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I love you, flaws and all,” Kari replied.
“Damn.” He kissed her. “You’re too perfect.”
“Nope, It’s your love,” she giggled as he tickled her.
“I’m worried…”
“I know,” she said quickly.
He laid behind her as he pulled the sheets and cover on top of them as the night air became cold even with the fireplace going. “What do we do?” he asked.
“You show me the way, how good it can be. I believe in things unseen, I believe in the message of a dream… so I believe in us because we love each other.” She yawned.
Hank held her close, he felt when Kari’s body relaxed on his. There were parts of him that worried it would all crumble beneath their feet. He held onto her tightly with no plans of letting go. Even with Natalie back in Nashville waiting for him to return.
Chapter Nine
For the past three days Kari worked rigorously to get the nursery done before Farrah and Austin McBride returned tomorrow. She was starting to stage the room with the handmade furniture that Hank created for the western style nursery, the handcrafted antler chandelier dangling from the ceiling was a nice added touch.
“Are you ready for your surprise?”
Kari turned around to see Hank leaning against the doorjamb with a smirk on his face. “I just want everything to be perfect when Farrah and Austin return,” she said, and went back to straightening the pillows on the red sofa by the large bay window.
“The pictures crooked,” Hank said, pointing to the black and white picture of Austin, kissing Farrah’s stomach.
“Done,” Kari said, after aligning the picture correctly.
Hank walked behind Kari, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You did a good job, doll.”
“Thanks,” she said softly. For the past few days Kari had been in heaven with Hank. She would work on the nursery, and Hank would work with the ranch hands with duties around the ranch. Like clockwork he would show up to the main house to pick her up for their evening horseback ride around the ranch. Then, they would have a meal he prepared back at the guest house, they fell into a routine where they would watch movies cuddle up on the sofa or playing a simple board game. The days she spent with him were like painting a picture of what their future could be like.
“Come on before we are late for your surprise,” he said against her ear.
Kari turned around his arm to see Hank smiling deviously at her. “What’s the surprise?”
“We’re going horseback riding.”
“Okay.” She excitedly walked over to the lamp, turning it off. Her work at the McBride Ranch was done.
An hour later, she was on top of a beautiful white horse named Princess, she was huge and charming. Princess was the horse she became accustom to since arriving at McBride Ranch. In the morning before the sun peeked over the hills, Hank would take her horseback riding.
“Darling, you have become a natural cowgirl,” Hank winked at her. Kari licked her lips as she looked over at Hank, who appeared so handsome atop of Onyx, a stallion with a beautiful shiny black coat. Hank was cowboy in his element, wearing a red plaid shirt and a pair of worn blue jeans. His grey eyes sparkled with excitement and adventure.
“So, where we headed?” she asked.
“It’s a surprise,” he chuckled. “If you want to we can race over the hill where your surprise is at.”
“You ready to win this time? Because I beat you yesterday and the day before that.”
Hank’s brows arched up. “Darling, last time I check, I let you win.”
Kari threw her head backward and laughed. “I beat you by five seconds, but if you want me to beat you again I will.”
He grimaced when she laughed again.
“Let’s make a wager.”
Hank arched his eye brows again. “I’m listening.”
Kari put her finger to her chin and thought hard about the wager. “Let’s see. If you beat me I’ll cook breakfast and if I win you will write me a song.”
Hank hooted and hollered with laughter.
“What?” Kari pouted.
“You don’t cook, I do want us to see another birthday.” He reached over and tugged her hair. “But the song I can do.”
“If I win you have to streak into the pool,” he said, extending his hand to hers. “We must shake on it though.”
“Fine,” Kari said without hesitation, shaking Hank’s hand.
“On my mark,” he said. “Ready! Set!-”
“Go!” Kari yelled, taking off before Hank could say it. “Eat my dust, Jackson!”
Hank laughed so hard he couldn’t think about beating Kari.
“Come on girl,” Kari bellowed to Princess, galloping at top speed on the trail, she could hear Hank closing in from behind. She rounded the corner and her eyes open wide as she came to a gazebo in the distance in the middle of a field that was lit up with candles everywhere. She slowed her horse to a stop; she jumped off Princess and looked around.
Hank was galloping over towards her in a slower pace. “Do you like?”
Kari was speechless as she nodded her head up and down. Candles were arranged everywhere throughout the gazebo and the ground, for the first time since arriving she noticed a soft country medley playing over a boom box.
“I thought we could have dinner by candlelight and moonlight, ma’am,” Hank said taking his hat off.
Putting her hands to her mouth, she blinkingly stared at him. “This wasn’t here yesterday,” she stuttered, as he guided her up the stairs to a table set for two.
“I had it delivered just for you,” he replied.
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” she said in awe.
“I love you, honey,” he smiled. “I decided to remind you of our semi-first date.”
Hank opened the lid covering the dish in the middle of the table revealing Chinese food. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me,” she confessed, sipping her wine.
“Kari, you deserve to be happy,” he said.
They ate their food smiling and looking at one another, both of them were irresistible to the feeling they had for one another.
“Why do you love me?” Hank asked, looking up from his plate of plate of shrimp Lo’mein.
“There are too many reasons why I love you that are nearly impossible to count.” She reached across the table and took his hand into hers. “You take my breath away each morning and night I wake up to you, I love the way you call me ‘darling,’ and ‘honey’ and most of all I like when you sing to me. Your turn.”
Hank wiped his mouth. “As I got older I realize what my uncle and aunt meant when they said ‘actions speak louder than words,’ lately people say these words without showing action. I don’t toss this four letter word carelessly around. We both had our share of heartbreak and heartaches. When I say ‘I love you Kari Daveney Hayes’ I’m accepting you in the strongest way possible, I’m supporting you in anything and everything even when I disagree with you.”
Kari took a deep breath and continued to listen to Hank as he spoke to her heart.
“When I met you I wasn’t trying to find something better than I had or seeing what was out there. We were just two heartbroken people fumbling our way in the dark. Somehow you completed me in every way possible, that I didn’t know a person could. We are two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together.”
She felt as if his words put her under a love spell, the breeze picked up and the lights flickered from the candles that surrounded them.
The lights from the ca
ndles gave Kari a sensual glow. It made her eyes shine, her lips glisten, and it took all of Hank’s will not to take her right there and then. His day dreaming spell was broken by Kari snapping her fingers in front of his face.
“Hank…are you okay?”
“Yeah…my mind was somewhere else.” He couldn’t wipe the smirk off his face as he gazed across the table dreamily at Kari.
“Was it good?” she asked.
“Very.”
Kari blushed as Hank winked at her. Wherever Hank mind was at, Kari knew it was about her, especially the way he was looking at her like she was on the dinner menu.
“Thank you for this amazing date, especially since today is our last night in Dallas,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
They smiled at each other, caressing each other’s fingers as they spoke. The intimate dinner heightening their feelings for one another as they seemed to glow in each other’s company. There nights were filled with passion and promise.
Kari heart flutter as she smiled at Hank, recalling the feel of his lips against hers, his hands on her body, the sound of his deep voice. She held Hank’s hand, rubbing her thumb over his hard knuckles, capturing his gaze and holding it. They spoke in soft, seductive whispers.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she smiled weakly at him.
“What’s on your mind?”
Kari stood up and took of hold of his hand. “We should dance,” she said, leading him away from the table.
He rested his hands on her hips, holding her close as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They swayed to the music.
“I could stay here forever with you,” she said before she could stop herself.
Hank smiled, looking right into her eyes. “Yeah.”
Kari bit down on her bottom lip as she felt her face become warmer. Here she was slow dancing with her handsome cowboy, and she had a feeling that finding someone like Hank was too good to be true. Or maybe she was waiting for something terrible to happen.
They stared into each other’s eyes as they slowed swayed in circle in time to the country ballad. She’d already lost herself to Hank. She never realized how pretty his eyes were now or the fact they had gold flecks in them. She reached up to brush his shaggy brown hair out his face.
Her heart felt like it was about to burst through her chest. A slow dance between lover as Hank pulled her closer, his head lowered and he rested his cheek against hers, nuzzling her neck. She sighed when he held her tighter. Closing her eyes, she enjoyed their moment together, his strong arms wrapped around her waist and his warm breath tickling her skin.
They continued to sway together. Kari was unaware of the sounds of crickets, owls hooting around her- all that matted was Hank. He rested his forehead against her, gently touching her cheek with the back of his hand. There weren’t dancing anymore, only holding each other in the middle of the gazebo. Their lips touched in a slow, soft and sensual kiss.
“We should get back to the house,” he said when the temperature started to drop.
“Okay.”
The ride back to the stables was quiet, Hank looked over at Kari. “You’re very quiet.” His deep voice brought Kari out of her thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
She was so entranced with looking up at the stars. Completely enchanted by how bright the moon and stars shined on a night she would never forget. “Their beautiful.”
“Just like you,” Hanks said, smiling up at the dark sky.
“Thanks, but seriously you see how dark it is out here, you know this path like the back of your hand.”
Hank nodded his head in agreement. “I should.”
“I wish I could put a few stars in a mason jar so it could light your way to me in the darkness when you’re lost.”
“I can never get lost,” he replied. “If I ever got lost Kari, I will always find my way back to you.”
“Okay.” she said,
Once back at the stables, she got off Princess. She followed Hank’s lead with putting the saddle away and brushing the horses before leading them to the stable for the evening treat of a shiny red apple.
“Are you ready for dessert darling?” Hank leaned down, kissing her lips slowly.
“What do you think?” she said, answering his question with a question.
“I think you’re starving,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say-” died on Kari’s lips as Hank threw her over his shoulders. “I hope it’s chocolate.”
“I don’t know what you’re having, but I’m definitely having chocolate.” He howled with laughter as he laid her on a bale of hale.
Kari squealed. “Hey, I really wanted dessert,” she laughed.
Hank’s delicious mouth descended on hers causing Kari to moan. She slid her hands down to his crotch, sliding her fingers to his package. He groaned and his body tensed from her touch.
“I think I wanted this dessert more,” she seductively smiled up at him, catching him off guard she pushed him on the bale beside her and stood up.
Kari unzipped Hank’s jeans and slid them down as far as she could and moved on to his briefs. She licked her lips, when she saw his thick cock standing at attention. She traced her finger across his long and thick flesh and along the mushroom shaped head. She wrapped her hands around him. Kari started stroking his shaft as it continued to grow in her hands.
Hank groaned when she did that and his body stiffened even more.
Stepping back, she undressed herself quickly. Hoisting herself up on him and slowly lowering herself on his member, holding eye-contact with each other the entire time, until Hank was buried deeply inside of her, moving slowly up and down.
Hank leaned forward, capturing her breast, he sucked on her nipple eagerly.
“Yes,” she moaned, rolling her hips against his cock.
“Kari,” he groaned and bit his bottom lip, just touching her made him want to cum. Kari rocked her hips and began to ride him slow; both hands firmly on either side of the bales of hale, she moved faster throwing her head back and letting out a moan. Hank swiftly rolled over and placed her back on the hay, he moved faster pulling her hands over her head, lacing her fingers with his and thrust as hard as he could.
“You feel so good,” he panted.
Kari wrapped her legs around his back and pulled him in deeper, her eyes closed as his thrusts became fervently.
“Kari,” he groaned, biting down on her shoulder.
She moved her hips, matching his movement causing Hank to move faster than before, Kari cried out his name as her body shook with pleasure. Hank shouted, emptied his load inside her, he rested his head in the crook of her neck, panting.
***
The sun creeping through the curtains pulled Kari from out of her slumber. She yawned and looked over the empty space where Hank was supposed to be sleeping at. She smiled and picked up the white paper on the bed.
“Good morning my beautiful filly! Every day I’m around you I fall deeper in love with you. I wish I could have laid in bed next to your warm body to see you open those beautiful eyes to gift me with tender loving gaze.”
The smell of bacon and coffee brewing made her stomach growl. Jumping up quickly, she went to the bathroom, showered and changed into a pair of jeans, tank top and riding boots.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Kari said, as she rounded the corner and stopped dead in her tracks.
Standing at the stove was the red haired beauty from the pictures she’d seen around the house back in Nashville and at the cabin.
“Natalie,” Kari said like a whisper.
“Who are you?” she snapped, looking at Kari like she was intruder. Not giving Kari time to explain Natalie reached over for the cordless phone. “I will call the police right now and tell them there is a burglar in my house.”
“I’m Kari Hayes-Hank’s girlfriend,” Kari walked further into the kitchen, going to the cabinet she took out a coffee mug and poured herself some coffee. “You�
�re the ex-wife.”
“No, honey I’m the wife,” Natalie said in a sweet southern voice that was laced with venom. “Hank and I are very much still married.” She held her hand and showcased the sparkling diamond ring on her finger.
Kari sipped her coffee. “Divorce has already been filed,” she said smugly.
“You think so? I never filed for divorce and I’m sure as hell Hank hasn’t either.” Natalie stepped closer to Kari, invading her personal space. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, you’re the mistress.”
“And you’re the whore,” she spat. Kari wasn’t one to back down to anyone including the cheater who rode into town thinking she could easily push Kari to the side.
Natalie stepped back and started clapping her hands. “Just because he brings you to the home we shared and introduced you to my family and friends, don’t mean anything. You should always know a husband doesn’t leave his wife, especially an old-fashion man like Hank.”
Kari had to save face. She couldn’t allow Natalie to know that she was rattled from the news that no divorce paper work was ever filed. Every night they were together, she was lead to believe that they had a future. “You abandoned him emotionally and physically, what makes you think he is going to be with you again?”
Natalie smiled never failed. “It’s called love and three years of marriage. If you think your month of some puppy love is going to defeat a bond between man and wife, you have another thing coming.”
Kari shook her head; this woman in front of her was delusional. “You’re right you had three years of marriage with Hank, yeah you’re legally his wife for now and I’m not going to argue that. Natalie, you claim that you love this man, but you soiled your marriage and love for him when you walked away from him for another man. If that’s your way of showing someone you love them, then maybe you need to rethink what love is about.”
“Get out of my house!” Natalie screamed, pointing her finger at Kari. “I’ll have you know, we are a perfect couple. Hank and I adored, supported, and loved one another. If you think I’m going to allow a two bit whore to come between me and my husband you have another thing coming.”