Southern Comfort

by Ciana Stone

  A woman who was in danger and one he wanted to protect. Was it the need to protect that had him feeling so strongly about her? He didn't think so. She pretty much had him the first time he saw her standing there in the road beside that broken down RV.

  He knew he liked her, knew that he wanted her and was almost certain he was falling in love with her. And that was the rub. He'd fallen in love before. Three of those times he'd married the woman, and all three times it had ended badly. Riley thought of it in baseball terms. Three strikes and you're out. Maybe love wasn't meant for him. At least not the lasting kind.

  Which left him with a decision. The first option was to backtrack and tell her he wasn't in love with her, but cared for her as friend and hope he could save the friendship. The second choice was to go with what he was feeling and hope they didn't end up like all of his other relationships.

  Seemed that both options carried a strong chance of him losing – either her friendship or her entirely. Damn, he wished he knew what to do. He opened the backdoor, put his boots down beside it and padded in his sock feet to the kitchen, intending on grabbing a beer and getting a shower.

  What met his eyes had him forgetting all about that beer. Annie was standing at the butcher block in the center of the kitchen, with her back to him, preparing a salad. She had music playing and was singing along as she worked.

  There was an amazing aroma coming from the kitchen and he could see through to the dining room where two places had been set. There were even candles on the table. Riley leaned against the doorway and just watched.

  This was something he'd fantasized about more than once, what it would be like to have someone to come home to. Only it was better. Those choices he'd been pondering two minutes ago vanished like mist in the morning sun. This was what he wanted. This place, this woman and this kind of moment to come home to every night.

  Analise gathered up the cutting board, knife and scraps from the vegetables and went to the sink, still singing. Once she'd disposed of the cuttings and washed the cutting board and utensils she picked up a dish towel to dry her hands and turned.

  "Riley." Her smile lit something warm inside him. "I didn't hear you come in."

  "Something smells amazing."

  Her smile hitched up a notch in brightness. "I hope you'll like it. Oh, you want a beer?"

  "I think I'll get cleaned up first."

  "Okay. I'll just pop the salad into the refrigerator."

  "I'll be fast."

  "Take your time."

  "Okay, back in ten."

  He turned and crossed the hall to his room and turned to close the door. Analise was leaning back against the butcher's block, watching. He intended to close the door, to head to the shower. To his surprise, his body propelled him back the way he'd come.

  Three seconds later, Riley had one hand behind her head and the other wrapped behind her to pull her to him. One of her arms snaked around his body, fingers digging for purchase in his damp work-shirt as their lips met.

  All thoughts of showering, having that beer or eating dinner fled. He couldn't think of anything, all he could do was feel her lush body pressing against his, her mouth taking as much as it gave and the little sound in her throat when his hand moved lower to cup the side of her rear.

  Both of them jumped at the sudden pounding on the front door. They looked at one another and then in the direction of the front room. Riley opened his mouth to speak then closed it and headed for the door.

  Bobby Daniels stood at the door, shifting weight from one foot to the other. "Mr. Riley, we got trouble."

  Bobby's words made Riley's gut clench. "What kind of trouble?"

  "Old Tom said he just heard on the news. Dust storm headed right for us and we got horses out in the pasture and the new calves out there as well."

  Riley considered it for half a second. The cattle should be able to survive, unless the storm was too strong. The horses would panic and that could cost them stock, particularly the new foals "Have the hands saddle up. We'll round up the horses. With luck we'll get them in the barns before the storm hits. Tell Tom to pick three men to get everything secured. I'll meet you at the barn."

  He closed the door to find Analise standing behind him holding his boots. "I can help."

  "I know Cody taught you to ride, Annie but—"

  "I can help. Please."

  "Okay, grab two of my jackets from the closet in the laundry room and a couple of bandanas."

  Analise hurried off to follow his instructions and Riley took a seat to pull on his boots. Dust storms were no joke in these parts. Big enough and they could rip roofs off buildings, flip vehicles and kill livestock.

  A split second later the warning siren three miles away went off. They didn't have long. Analise ran back into the room, handing him a coat and a bandana. She wore one of his coats, the arms rolled up in a big wad around her wrists and the hem brushing her knees.

  "Come on." He led the way.

  Together they ran from the house and into the stable where the hands already had his horse saddled. He gestured to one of the senior hands, Russ Courtney. "Take Miss Annie to Tom and tell him she's here to help. Annie, as we get the animals you help Tom get them settled."

  She nodded and he climbed on his horse. "We don't have long so let's get'r dun boys."

  With a nod to Annie he kicked his horse into action. She watched Riley and his men ride away and then turned to Russ Courtney. "Show me what to do."

  "Come with me."

  Annie followed him to the bunkhouse where an older bearded gray-haired man was barking directions at three other men. "Boss said Miss Annie is here to help you, Tom."

  The older man turned. "Tom Cleardon, ma'am. 'Preciate the help."

  "Just tell me what to do."

  For the next half hour it was a race to get everything moved into barns, to shutter windows on the bunkhouse and main house and tie down anything that couldn't be moved inside a structure. By the time an hour had passed the ranch hands were returning, driving horses in front of them.

  Analise had never heard anything like this storm. It was like a train approaching, a roar that grew steadily louder. Thumps from debris hitting the barn and groans from the wood had her nerves stretched thin. With the whinnies of nervous horses, the wind and the shouts of men to one another it was bedlam.

  After that Annie lost track of time. The roar of wind continued to grow stronger and before long flying debris slammed into the barn like gunshots. More of the men returned and she watched as they entered the barn and then as several men worked to close the doors and dropped a bar in place to secure them. She looked around. Where was Riley?

  She saw Bobby and ran over to him. "Where's Riley?"

  "Still out there. He was chasing a colt. He sent me back."

  "He's still out there?" She tried not to jump as the lights flickered, but found herself reaching for Bobby's arm when they died.

  "Get the generators going!" Tom's gravely voice rang out. "And close it all down."

  "No!" She ran in the direction of his voice. "Someone has to find Riley."

  "Can't. Storm's on us. Just gotta ride it out."

  "No! You can't leave him—"

  Tom grabbed her by the shoulders. "He knows what to do."

  "No." She tore away from him. "If you won't send someone, I'll go."

  She raced toward one of the horses that was still saddled. As she scrambled to get into the saddle someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her off. Analise kicked and screamed but she couldn't get away. Finally she was released and she whirled to face Russ Courtney. "He could die out there!

  "He won't die, Miss Annie. You just gotta have some faith. Riley knows what to do."

  Have some faith? Right now it was taking all she had not to lose it and become a red hot mess of screaming and crying. She clenched her teeth so hard her jaws hurt and nodded. Russ gave her a pat on the shoulder and got back to the business at hand.

  Analise looked around at everyo
ne, all working toward a common goal and it hit her. They all believed without question that Riley would be okay. They were doing what he'd told them to do, protecting his place and his animals and none of them had any doubt that they would all survive the storm.

  She wanted that faith. She needed it. It had taken a lifetime to find Riley Morgan and she couldn't lose him now.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Riley could taste dirt. Little wonder. The storm had been sizeable. As he rode, he surveyed what he could see of his land in the darkness. A couple of fences would need mending, and several trees had been pushed over. The oldest of the two barns was missing some roofing but all things considered things didn't look too bad.

  This wasn't his first dust storm, but something had been different about this one. When he sent the rest of the men back, he figured he had time to get that colt and make it back before he got caught in the storm.

  When he realized he'd miscalculated, he did the only thing he could do. Found as high a ground as possible, made the horse and the foal lie down and wedged himself between them with his coat covering him.

  It didn't last long, though it seemed to stretch on forever and in those minutes Riley fully realized something that had changed everything. He wanted Annie. Not just for passion, but wanted her in his life. He'd known and liked her for a year and meeting her, and spending time with her had shown him that he did more than like her. He was in love with her.

  He'd wasted a lot of his life chasing the wrong goals and the wrong women and now he wanted something real and solid. A home. With Annie.

  He dismounted in front of the barn and pounded on the door. "Everyone all right in there?"

  A few seconds he heard Annie's voice. "It's Riley. Open the door!"

  The door opened and she flew out, launching herself at him. He caught her in midair and she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Before he could catch his breath her lips were on his.

  Riley forgot the taste of dirt and his bone-tiredness. Had it not been for the sudden chorus of cheers and hoots, he might have lost himself in that kiss. Annie pulled back and put her hands on his face. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

  "I'm fine, honey."

  She slid down him to get her feet beneath her. "I was so scared –"

  "I'm fine." He looked at everyone. "Ya'll did a fine job and I'm in your debt. Now get some sleep. We'll have plenty to do at daylight."

  Men filed out, clapping Riley on the shoulder or bidding him goodnight. He waited until they'd left then looped his arm over Annie's shoulders. "I'm so hungry I could eat the south end of a north bound mule right now."

  "I can warm up dinner. Hopefully it's still okay."

  "Sounds good to me."

  Together they made their way to the house. Aside from scattered tree branches and a few fence posts, the front yard looked okay. Riley bypassed the front door and walked around to the back. He pulled off his boots and coat and tossed them into the laundry room as they entered.

  "I gotta get clean. And pardon a man for saying, but you smell a little of horse, honey."

  Analise looked up from pulling off her boots and grinned. "Then I guess I better head upstairs and get clean, too. Let me just turn on the oven to get things warmed up."

  Riley followed her to the kitchen and watched as she checked the meal that was in the oven and turned it on. When she finished she turned to leave the room, he blocked her way.

  "I thought—"

  "I know." He took her hand and led her across the hall, through his bedroom and into the bathroom.

  He reached into the shower to turn on the water and then turned to face her.

  "Riley."

  There it was again, two syllables that undid him, obliterated all other thought but wanting her. He reached for her and she met him, working her arms up around his neck. Her fingers tightened in his hair as her breasts crushed against his chest. Their mouths met in a clash of lips and tongues.

  That initial collision of bodies only held them still for an instant. They two-stepped back against the wall and thudded against it in a tangle of limbs. Analise reached for purchase as Riley pinned her against the wall. Her hand found a towel rack and ended up pulling the towels from where they hung.

  He heard her groan right before she grabbed his arms, fingers digging in as she tried to turn him against the wall. Her foot slid on a towel that had slid to the floor and she would have fallen as well had he not wrapped his arms around her and backed her over to the vanity.

  Riley's hands went to work on the button of her jeans as she started tearing at his. His pants fell to his knees before he peeled hers off. He lifted her up onto the vanity counter and she wound her legs around him. He reached between them and angled a bit. One push and he was sliding into her wet sex.

  Analise gasped at the initial penetration and then again as he picked her up, turned and pinned her against the wall. One curl of his pelvis and she moaned in pleasure. "Yes, please."

  Then he took her. It was lust, hungry and primal but flavored with the intensity of love. She took and gave, exulting in the overwhelming sensations and the satisfaction he gave her time and time again. The third time she went into free-fall she felt his pulse heavy inside her. His body went rigid at the onset of his orgasm and she went with him.

  When it ended, they were both sweaty and breathing hard. Riley slowly lowered her so that she could put her feet on the floor.

  "I didn't mean – what I mean is I didn't intend – I wanted to do that a little slower."

  "I didn't."

  His look of surprise had her smiling. "We'll go slow next time."

  "So there's going to be a next time?"

  "Well, I guess that's up to you isn't it?" Suddenly she felt insecure. Would he toss her aside now? "I mean if it's just a one time—"

  His kiss silenced her. "I want to love you slow and sweet, Annie. Often and repeatedly, but right now if I don't get clean and get something in my belly I think my stomach's gonna gnaw on my backbone."

  "Then get in the shower, stud."

  "Stud?"

  She smiled, overcoming the moment of insecurity and stripped off the rest of her clothes. When she removed her bra he grinned. "Well, hello there my beauties."

  With a laugh she scooted by him and got into the shower. A moment later he followed. It took a bit longer than normal to get clean since he seemed to be fixated on her breasts but eventually they finished. Analise dried off and wrapped a towel around her body. "I have to run upstairs and get some clothes."

  "Grab a shirt from my closet."

  "A shirt? I'm going to have dinner in just a shirt?"

  "If I'm lucky."

  She grinned and went into the bedroom. Inside his closet she found a soft cotton shirt. She had to roll the cuffs up several times because the sleeves were so long. It covered her from neck to upper thigh. She turned as he walked into the bedroom.

  "Now that's the way to wear a shirt." He grinned and went to the chest of drawers to pull out a pair of soft cotton drawstring pants. He pulled out a t-shirt but she snatched it away from him.

  "I like it better without the shirt."

  "Whatever you want, honey. Now about that dinner…?"

  They went into the kitchen and Analise got busy getting plates filled. Once done, they took their plates into the dining room.

  Riley took one bite of the pot-roast and groaned. "Oh my god, this is good."

  She grinned and they both dug in. Conversation was sparse and what was of it was about the storm. Analise was so caught up in thinking about what had just happened between them that she had a hard time following the conversation. She'd just had sex with Riley. And it was amazing.

  Whoever said fantasy was better than reality was full of crap. She'd fantasized about Nate Bridges for years and never had her dreams been as good as what she'd just experienced. He didn't seem to mind periods of silence which was good for her. She wasn't quite sure what to talk about once they'd covered the stor
m topic.

  When they finished, Riley helped her clean up the kitchen and put the leftovers away. He grabbed a beer and she poured a glass of wine and they took their drinks into the den.

  Riley lit the fire, turned out the lights and they settled on the couch with Analise snuggled up next to him. Neither of them had much to say and that was fine with her. She was full, tired, had enjoyed several amazing orgasms and was feeling rather lazy.

  "You tired, honey?" he asked as he put his empty bottle on the end table.

  "A bit."

  "Ready to turn in?"

  "Are you?"

  "Yeah, I think so. There'll be a lot to do tomorrow."

  "Okay." She stood, picked up her empty wine glass and his beer bottle. He followed her to the kitchen and waited as she put the bottle into the trash and washed the glass.

  "Well, I guess that's it." She walked over to him. "Good night, Riley." She stood up on tiptoes, kissed him softly and then started to skirt around him to head upstairs.

  "Hold on there, Wildcat." He grabbed her hand and stopped her. "Stay with me, Annie."

  Those words were the perfect end to the perfect fantasy. "If that's what you want."

  "More than anything."

  "Okay."

  He led her into his room and turned back the bed. He slid off his pants and climbed in. Analise hesitated for a brief moment then took off the shirt and got in beside him. Riley turned off the lamp beside the bed and lay on his back, pulling her to his side. Analise put her head on his shoulder and draped her arm over him.

  "I was wrong, Annie." His whisper was so low she almost didn't catch the words.

  "About what?"

  "I'm not falling in love with you."

  Her world was a split second from crumbling beneath her when he continued. "I’m not falling, I'm already there, honey."

  She almost cried, so much emotion filled her. It was more than a fantasy. It was a dream come true.

  "I love you, Riley."

  She felt his lips against her forehead and his arm tighten around her. "I love you. Good night, sweetheart."