"I love havin' you here," he purred. "Now scoot."
As she ambled away he wanted to call her back and tell her everything, and now that he was going to confront his father he could, but the following day was too important to have her mind on anything but showing the horses. Moving out of his closet he thought back to the happy days when his mother was alive and his father had been a funny, loving guy.
"What the hell happened to you?" Keith muttered, absently touching the key under his shirt. "Did grief eat you up so much it left you with a black heart?"
But as he murmured the words he had a sudden thought. Had he been keeping his cowboy life secret because he didn't want to add to his father's pain? It was a notion he'd never before considered. His worry of being discovered had come from the fear of his father's wrath.
"I guess I'm gonna find out exactly who you are now. Shit."
A nervous wave was moving through him. It wouldn't be an easy conversation and it wasn't one he was looking forward to, but Elsie's diagnosis had been right. He'd hit the wall.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Though Salvo had been invited to dinner to help celebrate Carly's promotion no-one expected him to walk through the door, and when he did Carly was deeply moved. She knew he'd made the effort for her. He'd saved her life, they shared a unique connection, and on the odd occasion when their eyes met she had the feeling he cared deeply about what happened to her.
"I saw you ride," he said sheepishly as Elsie handed him a glass of champagne. "It was fantastic, and when you were on Preston using just that halter I couldn't believe it."
"Thanks, Salvo, and thank you for coming tonight."
"Sure. I wanted to be here."
Watching them warmed Andy's heart. Carly was bringing Salvo out of himself.
"Here's to your ride tomorrow," Andy said, raising his glass. "I know Connie Masters will be blown away and write us a big fat check."
Everyone laughed, clinked their glasses, then took their seats at the table. As the dinner progressed the sense of camaraderie and closeness filled the room. The champagne flowed, and halfway through the meal Keith excused himself to fetch a second bottle from the kitchen. Retrieving it from the refrigerator he gazed out the window. The sky was bright and clear, and a huge full moon was low in the sky. He smiled, it was a magical night, and ambling back to the dining room he pushed open the door—but stopped—his eyes wide.
Salvo, Andy and Carly were shrouded in a golden light, and a sudden epiphany rolled through him.
Salvo was the little brother he'd never had. Elsie had taken him under her wing as her own. Andy was his rock, and Carly…Carly was his wife and the mother of his unborn children.
They were his family, present and future.
He touched the key beneath his shirt.
Heat was flooding his body.
He thought he was going to pass out.
"Keith? Why are you standing there like that? Are you all right?"
It was Carly's voice. The halo began evaporating.
"Keith?"
"Sorry. Just thinking," he replied, and stepping forward, fighting the heat in this throat, he placed the bottle on the table. "Thank you all for being here, I mean here at this ranch with me."
"Where else would we be?" Elsie said warmly. "Sit down and finish your supper. Andy, would you please open the bottle?"
"Sure thing."
As Keith sat down he studied his aunt. She'd known he was shaky. How could he not be?
His mother had filled the room with her loving energy and shown him the truth of his life.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Andy was the first to excuse himself, and as Keith left saying there was something he needed to take care of in his office, Carly walked Salvo to the front door.
"Thanks again for coming tonight," she said earnestly. "I never thought I'd find myself in a position like this and I'm really excited. It means a lot to me that you were here to celebrate. I know you don't really like the whole social thing."
"Carly, I, uh…"
A faint blush was crossing his face, and reaching out she softly touched his arm.
"Salvo? What is it?"
"I don't like to talk about myself much. Maybe I shouldn't say anything. Sorry. I didn't mean to overstep."
"You didn't and you couldn't. You're my hero. I'm not sure I'd even be here if you hadn't found me under that branch. You can tell me anything."
"I'm not very good at talking."
"Take your time."
"My sister," he said quietly. "You remind me of her."
"Salvo, I don't know what to say."
"I don't know where she is."
"Why? What happened?"
"We were in foster care. It was horrible and we took off. We were being chased so we split up. That was the last time I saw her. I walked the streets for days looking for her. I don't know why I'm telling you this. No-one knows. Shit. I shouldn't have told you. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry. I can't believe you've been carrying such a heavy burden all this time," she said softly, her heart breaking for him. "Will you let me help you?"
"I don't know how you can. She could be anywhere."
"What's her name?"
"Theresa."
"I know I'm not supposed to ask personal questions, but you can trust me, I promise. What's your last name, Salvo, and I assume this happened in Houston?"
"Uh, yeah, but…"
"Honestly, no-one will know you've told me, I swear. What's your last name?"
"Cavalleri."
"Thank you. How old were you when this happened?"
"I was fourteen and she was two years older."
"You poor thing. I'm so sorry."
"Carly, you're like her. Beautiful and brave and…sorry," he muttered, dropping his eyes to the ground as his voice cracked. "I need to go now."
"No, wait," she said, grabbing his arm. "I'm sure Keith would want to help too."
"But he's already done so much for me. I don't know where I'd be if he hadn't taken me off the streets, but he needs to stay under the radar just like I had to when he found me. My foster father was crazy. He would've killed me."
"Keep the faith. I have a feeling you'll be seeing your sister sooner than you think. What is it? Why are you looking me like that?"
"That's what she used to say."
"What?"
"Keep the faith. She'd say that whenever things were really bad."
"Maybe it's a message," Carly murmured. "Maybe there's an angel looking down on us and she wants you to know things will be okay. That your sister is okay."
"I feel that she is. I pray for her every night."
Carly knew he was fighting heavy tears, and reaching past him she opened the door. As they stepped outside the moon was directly in front of them, so low and full it seemed close enough to touch.
"It's a magic night," she murmured, and putting her arms around the brawny young man she gave him a squeeze.
For a moment she thought she'd made a mistake and he would push her away, then suddenly he clung to her. It was a desperate clinging, like the man in the desert dying of thirst and being given water. She heard a stifled sob, and she wondered how long it had been since he'd felt arms around him.
"Carly, you out here?"
It was Keith's voice, and abruptly breaking away, Salvo glanced at her for a brief moment then strode off down the driveway.
"Everything okay?" Keith asked, stepping outside to stand at her side.
"More than okay," she said softly. "Look at that moon. It's a magic night."
"Yeah, it is. Come with me. I've got some magic of my own waitin'."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Carly walked into his bedroom the lights were off, a fire was burning in the fireplace, flickering shadows were dancing on the amber walls, and the bed was bathed in a golden glow.
"This is wonderful," she murmured, but as she moved slowly towards the bed she saw four black leather shackles, a blindfold, and
a small dildo lying on the bedspread.
"Have you ever been tied up?" he asked softly, stepping behind her.
Turning around she looked up at him and smiled.
"Only in my fantasies."
"Are you ready for them to become reality?"
"I was ready the moment I laid eyes on you."
"Good answer," he crooned, "and the blindfold?"
"God, yes."
"Two outta two," he grinned, reaching past her to pick it up.
"Keith, my legs just went wobbly."
"That's okay. I'm right here. If they give out I'll catch you."
Placing the soft black foam across her eyes and securing it behind her head, he dropped his lips to her ear.
"Now I'm gonna peel off your clothes, and you're not gonna move."
Unbuttoning her blouse he slipped it down her arms, and as a warm shiver moved through her body he deftly unsnapped her bra.
"Keith…I feel so weak."
"Let's sit you down," he muttered, and gently moving her on to the bed, he pushed her on to her back and pulled off her boots and socks. She waited breathlessly to be stripped of her jeans, but his mouth was suddenly sucking in her breasts, and she surrendered to the sparking pleasure as he moved from nipple to nipple. It seemed to last forever, and when he finally rose up and pulled off her jeans and panties, she waited for his touch between her legs.
But her wish wasn't granted.
As she felt him climb on the bed she whimpered in disappointment, but a moment later his hands were rolling her over, and she gasped as he lifted her up and laid her over a fat cushy pillow.
"Don't move. I'm going to shackle you. If you start to feel uncomfortable or panicky say red and I'll stop whatever it is I'm doing. What word do you say if you need to?"
"Red," she squeaked, thinking there was nothing he could do that would make her say it.
Slipping off the bed he cuffed her wrists, pulled them behind her back and snapped them together, then walking to the footboard he spread her legs and secured them to the posts. Stepping away he studied the gorgeous sight, then sitting on the edge of the bed he tenderly moved her hair off her face and softly kissed her cheek.
"You look incredibly beautiful."
"I feel amazing," she breathed. "I don't know why but I'm loving this."
"Did you see the small dildo?"
"Uh-huh."
"At some point I'm going to slide it into your backside. When the time comes you might feel agitated and it's important that you relax. Will you do your best to stay calm and accept it?"
"I'll try."
"Good girl. Are you ready for your ride?"
"Aren't I already on it?"
"You are such a smart-ass," he grinned, "but yeah, and now we're goin' from the walk into a slow jog. Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back."
"I thought I was the smart-ass."
"You're the red-ass now," he quipped, landing a solid slap on her upturned bottom.
"OW."
"What did you expect?"
He waited for a retort but she offered none, and moving into his bathroom he fetched the glass of ice cubes he'd hidden beneath the sink. Returning to the bed he sat on his haunches between her legs, and picking out a cube he began tracing it down her spine and over her cheeks.
Though she gasped and wriggled, it wasn't until he slid it into her pussy that she let out a wail. Sliding on to his stomach, he dove his mouth against her sex lapping hungrily at the melting cube, and her panting moans filled the room until it had completely dissolved.
"Do you want me inside you?"
"So much I can't stand it."
"Since you sound truly desperate…" he murmured, and rising to his knees, he placed his stiff rod in position and surged forward.
Carly was overcome. Spread apart, restrained and blindfolded, she felt exposed and vulnerable, but she was loving the sense of helplessness. The ice had been an unexpected, startling surprise, and when it had visited her pussy she'd almost seen stars. His mouth had sent her even further into the whirlwind of sizzling sensation, and as he'd plunged inside her, she knew there would be no stopping her looming orgasm.
He'd been expecting the explosive convulsions, and as they rippled through her body he continued to ride her until she was drained and limp. Gently withdrawing he stretched out alongside her, and turning her head around he delivered a languid loving kiss.
"What about you?" she murmured, feeling his hard cock pressing against her leg.
"What about me?"
"You didn't climax."
"Sweet girl, that was only round one."
"Round one?" she bleated. "Uh, how many rounds are there?"
"Seventeen."
"WHAT?"
"Just kidding," he said with a soft chuckle. "I have no idea, but you appear to have your breath back. That means it's time to move along."
Climbing off the bed he unsnapped her wrist cuffs, helped her to straighten up, pulled away the cushion, then laying her on her stomach he moved to the foot of the bed and unbuckled the leather straps attached to the shackles around her ankles.
"Are you ready?"
"For what?"
"This," he declared, grabbing her ankles and flipping her on to her back. She let out a squeal, then a happy laugh.
"Can we do that again? That was fun."
"I'll be doing that many times in the coming weeks," he promised, "but right now put your arms above your head."
Snapping her wrists back together he secured them to a rail in the headboard, then retrieving his glass of ice cubes he popped one into his mouth, lowered his lips to her nipples, and listening to her moans and gasps he sucked hungrily until it had melted.
"How can I be so turned on again?" she mumbled. "I want you, I can't believe it but I do."
"You're going to have something else instead," he said softly, and reaching for the small dildo he thrust it inside her.
Holding it in place he felt the scintillating buzz permeate her pussy, and moving his lips to hers he devoured her mouth in a crushing kiss. He knew it wouldn't be long before the stimulating dildo would rocket her into another orgasm, but as he broke their kiss to return his mouth to her breasts, he felt her body grow taut.
"I'm going to come again," she suddenly shouted. "I am. I can feel it."
"So soon?" he mumbled, continuing to hold the vibrator in place.
"I can't help—OOHH—"
Effervescent pins and needles shot through her limbs, each one more powerful than the last. She was panting heavily, crying out her ecstasy, then finally the buzzing beast inside her fell away and the tingling spasms waned.
Keith was fully aware the powerful dildo could bring on multiple orgasms, but the suddenness of the onslaught had surprised him. He carefully pulled it out, and aware she was floating in her post-orgasmic bliss, he smoothed his hand across her body until her breathing returned to normal.
"You are somethin' else," he murmured as he slid off the bed and removed her shackles. "I've gotta whole lot to learn about you, and I think it's gonna take me a long time."
"Keith?" she mumbled, becoming aware that her limbs were free. "Keith, where are you?"
"Hey, babe, right here. The blindfold's stayin' on for a bit."
"I've never been through anything like that."
"You are one passionate girl. Are you thirsty?"
"Very.."
Picking up the water bottle on the nightstand, he gently sat her up and brought it to her lips. She took several mouthfuls, and after setting it back down he pulled her into his arms.
"Are you ready for more, or have you had enough?"
"Um, you said something about that dildo…" she said tentatively.
"I did," he said with a smile. "Are you up for it?"
"Probably not, but I want to try it."
"I absolutely adore you.".
"Because I'm ready for more?"
"Because you're you," he replied, and gently moving her on to her stomach, he open
ed the drawer of his bedside table and withdrew a small bottle of specially formulated massage oil.
Pouring a dollop into his palms he glided his hands down her back, and as he kneaded her bottom he slipped his fingers into her sex. She started mewing, and pushing her legs apart he slid his oiled finger inside her pussy to seek out her magic button. She let out a soft cry, and for several minutes he fingered her, every so often massaging the secret sensitive spot.
"Are you ready for me?"
"Yes, Sir, very ready."
Kneeling between her legs he grabbed her hips and pulled her into his pelvis, then sinking his cock into her glorious pussy he slowly began to stroke. She was sighing happily and bucking back to meet his thrusts, and resting his hands on her cheeks he pulled them apart and gazed down at her virginal rosebud.
The lewd exposure sent a hot flush across her face, but taking a deep breath she tried to follow his direction to relax and stay calm.
"Do you want me to continue?"
"I do and I don't," she said breathlessly.
"If there's a part of you that wants it then it's just fear in the way. Can you trust me?"
"Yes, yes, I can. I do."
"Then tell me to keep going."
"Please, Keith, I want this. Keep going."
Picking up the oil he let a dollop drop between her cheeks, and as the spicy sensation took effect she found herself arching her back and offering herself up. Placing the thin dildo against her puckered hole he gently pushed it forward, moved it in and out a few times, then leaving it buried he switched it on.
As the luscious tingling swept through her and his cock began to thrust, she buried her face in the bedding and let out a loud wail. She was tumbling through a white wash of sizzling sensations, but the wave was reforming and lifting her higher and higher, and she was suddenly riding the crest of a massive wall of water.
Keith's cock was shrouded in the divine buzzing, and with every stroke he could feel his climax building. His member had been craving attention, and now plunging in and out of her hot, wet, scintillating pussy it was aching for its release. He was trying to hold back so they could explode in unison, but even when he slowed, his need to erupt didn't ebb away.
COWBOY: His ranch. His rules. His secrets. (Taking Charge Book 1) Page 13