"Why the hell didn't you tell me Mom was coming?" Matt grumbled under his breath to his brother. All Garrett could do was turn red and chuckle. From the faces in the living room, her and Matt's love connection had been rather entertaining. Andy inwardly groaned. Lacey 1. Andy 0.
Chapter Twenty Three
The evening at Matt's parent's continued in much the same vein as it had started. Lacey fumed quietly on the other end of the table and no one pretended otherwise. Travis, Garrett, and Nora carried on regular conversation, while Matt sat next to Andy with his hand on her thigh. The agony of that distraction made Andy miss most of what was said. Once in a while Nora would shoot a knowing look her way. Andy felt it her duty to make as little waves as possible; much like prey doesn't draw attention of its predator. By the end of dinner, Andy couldn't have told you if she had eaten any of the pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn and homemade rolls. The answer was visible on her plate. Not much.
"I will help Mom clean up the table. Matt maybe you could show Andy around the ranch." Nora grinned, her usual deviousness showing through. Her brother must have missed it though.
"It's dark out, Nora. There isn't much to see in the dark." Matt got two looks of exasperation and finally, it dawned on him what his sister was trying to say. He widened his eyes in comprehension and Andy chuckled while her cheeks burned at the innuendo. Matt took ahold of her hand and clasped it warmly in his. Pulling her towards the door, Andy fought the fog of desire already building.
"Harper will be up soon." Andy looked at the still sleeping Harper. Poor girl looked exhausted, but if she didn't wake soon, no one would get any sleep tonight at Nora's house.
"No problem. I will listen for her. Just don't be gone all night." Nora grinned and Matt threw the dish towel at his sister. Andy smiled appreciatively to her new champion.
They made their way out onto the wrap around porch. The night was cool and quiet, except for an occasional cricket chirping. A soft breeze barely ruffled the autumn mums next to the stairs. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stood beside Matt. Her eyes kept sliding over his features accented by the light from the kitchen windows. The slight stubble on his jaw and his ruffled dark hair made her want to run her fingers over it. She flexed her fingers while she thought about the stiff hairs rasping her bare skin. Matt squeezed her fingers still clasped in his own. There wasn't much light, but the look he shared with her was unmistakable.
"Come on. I want to show you something." Matt's gravelly voice sent the slightest shiver up her spine. She followed him down the three stairs to the yard and around the back of the house. Andy felt oddly disoriented in the dark with the slightest brush of pine needles against her arms. Leaves crunched under foot. Her thin, black leather jacket wasn't much protection against the chilly air. Andy tried to pick up her feet, taking bigger steps than normal. It was a strange way of compensating for the lack of sight. Once she overstepped and a large branch whacked her in the shin. It smarted, but she kept walking.
"How far are we going?" Her voice sounded so far away. Matt slowed ahead of her and turned slightly into her. Andy halted, her last step bringing her level with a tall, sexy cowboy. Her heart jumped.
"We're here." Matt gestured around them and Andy took stock of their surroundings. The tree line was slightly behind them and ahead of them was a pond. The moonlight glinting off the water made it hard to tell just how large it was. The silvery image of the moon wavered as the breeze disturbed the water. Everything was so quiet except for the breeze in the dry grass and her erratic heartbeat.
"It's breathtaking." She took her eyes from the water and lifted her gaze to see Matt looking at her.
"You are. This is one of my favorite places in the whole world." The pad of his thumb traced the line of her chin to her jaw and up her cheek to her ear. His blue eyes were a steely gray in the moonlight.
"I'd love to see it in the light." Andy mumbled softly, self-consciously wetting her lips with her tongue. She shuddered when he leaned in closer; their lips inches apart.
"We can do that." His breath was warm on her face and her senses reveled in the spicy scent of his cologne. Her very core melted in need of him. Sweet Jesus! I need him. Mentally she begged him to take her; to make her his own. It seemed like an eternity since he had make her body thrum with satisfaction. Nothing about the future mattered right now; not as long as he held her in his arms.
***
He watched his palm cup the back of her neck and continue up into her hair. Diamond studs glinted in the light from the moon and his mouth watered. He wanted to kiss her desperately. His entire body ached to have her skin pressed to his own. Massaging her scalp, Andy leaned her head into his hand and groaned with appreciation. His groin tightened and the familiar swelling of passion grew. Every line of her soft, pearl-like skin captivated his attention. Gripping her hip, Matt pulled her into his body and almost sighed with the desired effect. Her chest rose and fell quickly with each shallow breath.
"I thought you were avoiding me earlier." Andy murmured in the dark and his eyes opened wider.
"You did? I'm sorry you thought that." His lips pressed along her jaw and up her smooth cheek. His hand gravitated from her hip to her behind, kneading with an instinctive rhythm.
"I thought maybe you were pushing me away." Andy tilted her head to the side, allowing him access to her neck. Grinning wickedly, he obliged by nipping playfully at the pale column. His hands stroking and testing her need for him. She was extremely responsive.
"Pushing you away? Oh, Andy, it's all I can do to keep my hands off of you!" He growled into her ear, noting the reactive shiver that coursed through her body and into his. Andy's hands kneaded his chest migrating further south as his sane thoughts evaporated.
"So glad we are on the same page." Andy whispered heatedly into his ear as she pulled his shirt from the band of his jeans. His breath hitched, sucking it from his body in anticipation of her fingers delving under the heavy denim. Abandoning the smoothness of her neck, Matt lifted the thin black shirt and grazed his fingertips along her stomach. He felt as well as heard her quick intake of breath. Andy leaned into him, trapping his fingers and her hands in between their heated bodies. She wriggled and twisted until she found him hard and wanting. The hot velvet length of him quivered in her hand and she moaned appreciatively.
"God, girl! Feel what you do to me?" Matt growled low in her ear and she let out a breathy chuckle. Her fingers gripped him tighter and he wanted to lose himself in her touch. His palms reached up to feel the lace of her bra and cup her breasts. Using his thumb and forefinger he rolled each of the hardened peaks until she pressed back against him. Almost purring with need, Andy pulled one hand from his jeans and jerked impatiently at his belt. He let out a throaty chuckle and increased the pressure, which slowed rational thought. Andy's hand trembled as she futilely plucked at his belt and groaned in frustration.
"I need you, Matt. At this rate, I'm going to burst before you get inside me." She growled once more and Matt heated to a cosmic level at her words. Now the need to be a part of that sweet body slick with desire filled him to capacity. Suddenly it was imperative that they consummate the beginning of this relationship. He was no longer afraid they wouldn't have one. He was determined to do whatever it took to secure her as his own.
"Are you sure? When I brought you out here, I didn't think we'd get this far." Matt whispered huskily into her ear. His heart was thudding heavily in his ears. She leaned against his body, his arm encircling her waist to hold her upright. Pressing open mouthed kisses to his neck and the vee in his shirt, Andy rubbed her increasingly sensitive body against his.
"Matt, please, it has been forever. I want you now." She tipped her chin up, engulfing him in those mossy depths. You're lost, man! It was a fantastic misdirection, if he had ever had one. Sweeping her tightly against him, Matt took her lips in a frantic kiss. Tongues dueling in a mind-blowing dance. His hands drifted possessively over her back and her behind. Insisting she wanted more, Andy
dug her nails through the seat of his jeans. It only served to stoke him hotter and he hardened still further; if it were possible to be harder than he already was! He hardly knew himself at this moment.
In a blind flurry of activity, Matt unsnapped the button of her jeans and dealt swiftly with the fly. She continued to kiss him, sucking his tongue further into her mouth. Nerves experiencing electric shock, zapped him each time his fingers came into contact with her feverish skin. Flattening his palm along her abdomen, he slid past the top of her panties and found her slick core. Ah, fuck. She moaned, high and desperate for release. Trying to focus solely on her pleasure, Matt pressed one finger and then another into her. She engulfed him in the white hot chamber that he longed to stick his aching erection into.
He rocked back and forth, moving his fingers in and out. He tried to ignore the pain from her fingernails biting into the flesh of his shoulders. She spurred him on, panting in short breaths. He repeated this age old dance, pressing harder and faster. Her high-pitched whimpers hung in the air as Andy got closer to the pinnacle. He felt her muscles tightening, very near the point of spiraling out of control. His own body was close to mutiny. God, what wouldn't I give to be inside her right now? Still he held his course. Just when the air thickened around them, her muscles clenched around his fingers and he pulled her tightly against his body with his free hand.
"Oh, Matt!" Andy said near his ear when she lost herself to the oblivion. He rode each wave with her in his arms. She shuddered and shivered as she came back to him. The air was noticeably cooler than it had been before. He hugged her tighter, looking into those big eyes. He smiled, kissing her lips softly.
"I love the way you say my name." Matt nipped her earlobe and she giggled, shifting away.
"I would love to hear mine on your lips when you come too." Andy ventured, biting her lip. It made Matt even more aware of the rock hard erection still waiting for his happy ending. As if knowing what he was thinking, she pressed her hand against his fly. He bit back a loud groan.
"It just isn't the right place, Sweetheart." He would have to plan a bit better if they did this again. She ran her tongue over her lips and he nearly broke free of reality. His patience dearly strained.
"I could make things a bit more comfortable." Andy's husky voice brought to mind some serious cries of satisfaction. He was beyond hard at this moment. Just thinking of having her mouth on his dick nearly cindered every thread of control left. She lowered his fly, thrusting a hand inside and springing him free. The night air caressed his feverish flesh. Dropping slowly to her knees, Andy gripped him tightly in her hand and pulled towards her. He could feel her warm breath as she opened her mouth.
A twig snapped closer to the trail near the house before they heard footsteps. Matt stilled instantly and Andy gasped, pulling her head back. No one was near enough to see them, however.
"Here kitty, kitty! Here kitty, kitty! Food. Food." Matt's mother's voice broke the quiet. They didn't breathe for the few seconds his mother yelled for her cats. Nice fucking timing, Mom! They heard the front door slam and that was the cue for silent gales of laughter to erupt.
"I thought we were busted." Andy hiccupped, looking up at him with sparkling eyes. The intrusion and fear of being caught with his pants down, so to speak, caused his erection to disappear. He rolled his eyes and tucked himself away.
"Shoot, Andy! You should have seen your face." He teased and drew her to her feet. "Come on. I don't think she was really feeding her cats."
He and Andy picked their way back along the path towards the house. This was definitely going to be a night to remember. Next time, he would find a more secluded and inspired place for seduction.
***
"She didn't! Are you kidding me?" Nora giggled and then an endless stream of laughter filled the small living room of her cottage. Andy had tried to appear mortally offended and shocked by Matt's mother calling in her cats just when Andy was about to, well, offer comfort to Matt. The harder Nora laughed, the more Andy felt those walls of indignation breaking down and soon both women were wiping tears away from their eyes. Their sides hurt from the hilarity of the situation.
"You should have seen your brother's face!" Andy sucked in a breath, but couldn't stop the giggles that came forth. Nora widened her eyes, trying to see past the tears.
"Which time?" Nora doubled over when she saw the meaning dawn on Matt's girlfriend. Andy shook her head, her cheeks flooded with color.
"We were caught like a couple of horny teenagers, Nora. I've never been as embarrassed as I was when I had to walk in the house and face your mother." Andy pressed her lips together, remembering the all-too-knowing look in Lacey's eyes. "She knew exactly what we were up to and she wasn't pleased at all." Andy pushed herself into a straighter position on the couch. Nora used a tissue to wipe her face and blow her nose. What would she do without Nora? Matt's sister had become such a kindred spirit.
"Oh, I'm sure she knew! I told you that they know who comes and goes from this house. After a while, I just have to remind myself that my parents sleep together too." Nora succumbed to more chuckles as Andy made a face. "That should scar me more than you." Nora grinned.
"I don't know. She really doesn't like me with Matt. How am I going to change her mind?" Andy asked, picking up her cup for a sip of tea. It steadied her as she delved back into this tense situation. Being caught in the act with Lacey's son was hardly as big of a problem as Lacey not accepting her as Matt's girlfriend. Andy couldn't fix her family situation, but she wouldn't make Matt's worse. It was too important to him.
"You will win her over when she realizes how much he loves you and how good you are for him. Just be yourself." Nora said, stretching across the other couch. Andy raised a brow in disbelief but said nothing. "You have Garrett and me in your corner. My dad even likes you too. He has a way of softening my mother up when he sets his mind to it."
"Well I hope it happens sooner rather than later. She looks at me as if I am there to destroy her precious boy. Not that I blame her exactly. I come with alot of baggage." Andy sighed, leaning her head back against the cushion of the couch. It was late into the evening, possibly after midnight and she was tired. Drew had been put to bed hours ago and Harper had finally fallen asleep after a bath and bottle.
"It's probably because you could destroy Matt if you wanted." Nora didn't bat an eye at the alarmed look Andy shot across the space. "He loves you, Andy. We are all very aware that if he loses you, he may not come out of it." Nora offered a sad smile. "No pressure."
"No pressure indeed." Andy half whispered, her heart slowing almost to a stop. It was difficult to see their relationship that way. Of course he had told her that he loved her and she loved him, but what if they couldn't make it together? What if she obliterated every dream Matt had in his own love?
"Well, hey, we need to get to sleep. It's an early start to the Buffalo Roundup at the state park." Nora said after a prolonged yawn. Andy nodded, getting up from the couch and turning towards the sunroom. The light switched off, leaving the tiny house in darkness. Inside the glass windowed sunroom, Andy could make out the trees and wide open prairie under the soft moonlight. She lay down on the bed, pulling the covers up to her chin and sighing. There was no denying the ache deeply embedded in her chest. So much rode on finding her place and standing firmly behind what she wanted. In the quiet of the night, she could admit that she wanted Matt. What wasn't certain was whether she was good enough for him. Closing her eyes, Andy tried to sleep, but it was hours later before she found the oblivion she craved.
***
Waking up before the light had even crept into the sky had Andy feeling a bit less than graceful this morning. She felt like she had been pulled limb from limb and then put back together wrong. It was weird. She sighed, looking over her daughter in the car seat. Harper was chipper and chattering on like a spring bird. The truck was relatively quiet, except for the radio. Lacey was driving with Nora in the front passenger seat and Harper and Andy in
the back. Seeing Matt's mother this early in the morning and remembering the events of last night, caused Andy more than a little embarrassment. Good thing it isn't a far trip to the Buffalo Roundup.
"We will have to hurry when we get to the parking section. It won't be long and they will have the herds moving." Lacey said in a tight tone, both hands firmly gripping the steering wheel of the Chevy truck. Nora cocked her head to the side to wink at Andy. Andy rolled her eyes and then wondered if Lacey was watching her reaction in the review mirror. Perfect.
"How close can we get to see the buffalo?" Andy asked Nora, lightly touching the black leather case her camera was in. She hadn't taken pictures in quite some time. She hoped she didn't forget how.
"Not as close as some would like, but the animals can be unpredictable. A few years ago, a cow shifted in front of a rider and his horse. It was terrifying! Both the female buffalo and the horse went down and the rider was thrown some distance. Luckily he wasn't killed." Nora gestured emphatically with her hand and Lacey nodded in agreement.
"Why would someone join in if it is that dangerous?" Andy asked, her breath catching in her chest. Her stomach turned at the thought of Matt being in harm's way.
"There is something magical about it, I guess. The connection to nature, to history, and well, to our roots is what keeps it going. The volunteers can get hurt. It is an accepted risk." Nora's words held some reverence for the activity. The South Dakota Buffalo Roundup was an event born of passion, identity, and pride. Andy felt the thrum of anticipation and anxiousness at the same time.
"The guys know what could happen and take precautions to keep from being in any harmful situation. Their horses are sound. Their gear is double checked. Their objective is clear. It does them little good to know we worry the entire time they are out there." Lacey added, her voice losing some of its sharpness. Clearly she worried about them all. Who wouldn't?
Black Hills Angel (Black Hills Series) Page 25