Juliana took a sip of her tea and stood up as he did. “Thanks again for lunch. You brightened my day.” She went to him, and he wrapped his arms around her carefully. He tipped her chin up and looked into her pale blue eyes. Her scent filled his nostrils and stirred his senses as he kissed her gently. She felt delicate in his arms, and he was mindful of not squeezing her too hard. Her tender lips opened, and he deepened their kiss, stroking her tongue with his. His cock responded instantaneously as she enthusiastically returned his kiss, moaning quietly to him and snuggling close in his embrace. He smiled with satisfaction at the dazed look in her eyes as he released her.
“You’re welcome, darlin’. I’ll see you at the ranch.”
* * * *
Ash stood on the driveway of the Divine Creek Ranch, directing drivers to the wide expanse of grass along the fenced pasture to one side of the drive.
He turned and looked up the driveway, smiling when he recognized Juliana’s white Camaro cruising down the driveway. He’d been looking forward to seeing her in her red dress. He stepped to the edge of the driveway as she pulled up, another car directly behind her. He squatted down and smiled at her.
“Damn, darlin’, you look gorgeous. Why don’t you park next to the Cadillac, and I’ll help you get out of the car.”
He gestured to the driver behind her, indicating they should pull in beside her. There were no more cars coming for the moment, so he walked over to her driver’s side door and opened it for her. He smiled when he saw the long slit in the dress she wore, which showed her ivory skin clear up to above her knee. She smiled up at him as she took the hand he offered.
“Now see? You get to see me all put together.”
“And absolutely stunning, darlin’,” he said, twirling his finger so she would turn for him.
The dark red made her ivory skin seem radiant in the fading sunlight. Her eyes sparkled as if she enjoyed the admiration in his gaze. His eyes drank her in, all the way down to the sexy heels she wore.
“I take it you like the dress?”
“You glow tonight,” he said, smiling at her reaction to his compliment, a measure of disbelief and gratitude.
“Thank you,” she said, blushing when he pulled her to him. He slid one hand around her waist, his fingertips sensing her body heat through the slinky fabric of the dress as they drifted down over her hip. He felt her tremble slightly as he traced a finger along the inner edge of the deep V-neck halter, not stopping until it reached between her full breasts. He looked up into her eyes, knowing she could probably see lust there. He didn’t try to hide it and was pleasantly surprised to see it mirrored in her sky-blue eyes.
“You’re looking handsome yourself, cowboy.” He smiled, glad he’d pleased her. When he’d told Rosemary what Juliana was wearing earlier that day at Cheaver’s, she’d helped him find a dark red twill shirt that would coordinate nicely with her dress, and he’d worn it with the freshly pressed black jeans and his black snakeskin cowboy boots, which he’d taken the time to polish up. He was also wearing his new black felt Stetson his sister had sent him for Christmas.
She shuddered lightly when his fingertip brushed the flesh between her breasts, and he growled softly when he saw her nipples peak. He lifted his hand to her jawbone and slid his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck. His thumb tipped her chin, and he slowly lowered his lips to hers in a tender kiss, encouraged by the faint moan that escaped her lips as she parted them for his exploration. He’d never experienced a sweeter kisser than Juliana as she leaned into him, clinging to him while he stroked the silken recesses of her mouth.
The spell was broken by the opening of the car doors next to hers and the conversation that continued as the occupants of the vehicle climbed out before suddenly going quiet. He drew back from her lips long enough to greet the elderly wedding guests who were smiling indulgently at them.
“Evening, folks. If you’ll follow the driveway down, the wedding party is at the back of the house. Just walk toward the music.”
“Thank you, sir. Sorry to interrupt,” the husband said with a wink before taking his little wife by the hand and leading her onto the driveway.
Juliana caught her breath and said, “I–I’d better let you get back to work out here. There are more vehicles coming down the drive. I—oh—”
He leaned down and kissed her a little harder a second time before saying. “I guess that one will have to tide me over.”
“Uh—wow,” she whispered. “You—”
He smiled broadly as she fumbled for intelligent speech. “That good?” he asked hopefully.
“Yeah-uh-huh. Hmmm.” She sighed shakily. “My gift is in the trunk.” She pressed the release button on her remote, and he lifted the box wrapped in shiny white paper out of the trunk for her.
Handing it to her, he caressed her jaw and kissed her one more time. “Save me a seat beside you?”
“Sure. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
He watched in utter male appreciation as she stepped away from him, up onto the concrete drive. Looking back, she blushed when she found his eyes were still on her. He watched her hips sway as she walked away. Her heels were high, accentuating her long legs.
The mild evening breeze pressed the long skirt of the dress against her right side, conforming the fabric to the curve of her hip and thigh, and he felt himself harden. The wind fluttered her hair a little, and he thought he caught a whiff of her perfume. The sway of her derriere was hypnotic, and he didn’t look away until he heard another car pull up to him on the driveway. When he looked up to find her departing form, she was turning the corner around to the back of the house.
* * * *
Juliana stood watching the reception with Grace Warner. Guests were gathered around the bridal party, congregating at tables, eating cake, or taking a turn on the dance floor. Juliana thought Teresa looked radiant, and the grooms were ruggedly handsome as they gazed adoringly at her.
“Grace, you’ve done a fantastic job of planning Teresa’s wedding. You could make a mint doing this for others as an independent event planner.”
Grace smiled and shook her head. “We’re a close-knit family, which makes this a pleasure to pull together. Speaking of being close knit, how come you never told me Lawrence broke up with you Christmas night? I had to find out from Evelyn. You should’ve told me. Then we could’ve gone and toilet papered his house. Charity would’ve helped.”
Juliana shrugged. “I needed to be alone. Ash tried to get me to stay. He said I shouldn’t run and hide. Kinda pissed me off a little. He also thinks I’m a workaholic.”
“How’d that shoe feel?” Grace said, smirking.
“Very funny. I know, but I’m here, right?”
“Yeah, I’m impressed. I honestly didn’t expect you to show up until after you’d closed the store.”
“I’ve really let my friendships lapse when that’s what people expect from me. I would’ve hated missing her wedding. So, that’s Joaquin, huh?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“And he’s—they’re—”
“Yep. Look, aren’t they sweet together?” she said as Teresa danced once again with Angel. She would never have thought Teresa would fall for two men, not given her history. Juliana supposed it depended on the men.
“She’s lovely tonight. You really only had five days to put all this together?”
“Yep.” Grace turned to her and smiled speculatively. “Which reminds me, when you admit you’re head over heels in love with that gorgeous cowboy over there, who’s watching you as we speak, I’ll be happy to plan your wedding, too. When he asks you.”
Juliana scoffed but gazed longingly at the cowboy in question. “I doubt that’s going to happen. We’re like oil and water.” As the words left her lips, she knew it was an excuse.
“Hmmm, looks more like gas and a lit match from where I’m standing. Lawrence was a complete ass. Ash loves you, and it’s obvious you love him,” Grace said with a confident wave of her hand. “Y
ou just have some kinks to work out, that’s all. Just remember that offer will still stand once you settle your differences.”
Juliana shrugged and then grimaced as the stitches on her back pulled with the movement. Ash, who’d been watching her, began making his way toward them across the yard.
Grace leaned toward Juliana. “Look at his face. That’s the look of a man that cares deeply about a woman. He’s been watching you because he’s worried about you. He feels responsible for your injuries,” Grace said, indicating the cast on her wrist before turning to Ash, who now stood beside them.
“Hello, Ash. Thank you for helping with parking. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Grace. I was happy to help.” He turned to Juliana, concern obvious in his eyes, and asked, “Darlin’, are you okay? You look like you’re hurting.”
As if to reinforce the fact, a sharp pain zinged through her shoulder. She flinched again and groaned. “It’s that shooting pain again. I meant to take a pain pill before I left the salon, but I left them home in my other purse.”
To Ash, Grace said, “There’s Tylenol 3 in Ethan and Adam’s bathroom medicine cabinet. Why don’t you take her inside, Ash, and get her some? There’s also gauze and tape if she needs a new dressing.”
Juliana needed some relief, so she allowed Ash to draw her toward the house. Another pain shot across her shoulder blade. She thought it was total overkill when Ash lifted her into his arms and carried her up the steps.
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask earlier about your shoulder, Juliana. I meant to, but I was distracted.”
“I can’t believe I left the pain pills at home. I was hoping I could tough it out.” He said nothing to indicate it, but she could tell that beyond his obvious concern, he was also put out with her.
“The Tylenol 3 will help.” He set her down in the living room and led her down a hallway to one of the bathrooms in the ranch house. He lifted her to sit on the marble countertop like she weighed nothing and peeled the adhesive backing on the flesh-colored bandage back. “The stitches all look fine, darlin’. You must have overdone it last night or this morning, and now you’re sore.”
He handed her a couple of capsules and filled a disposable cup with water. Standing there, watching her with his hands on his trim hips, Juliana could almost hear the gears turning. She looked in his eyes, torn between wariness and defensiveness and waited for his edict, imagining what he would say.
You work too hard.
Your hours are too long.
You need to take time off.
You need to stop pushing yourself so hard.
Ash sighed deeply and asked, “What are your hours tomorrow?”
She frowned, thrown for a loop. “It’s a Sunday, so I’ll only work from ten to two. Why?”
“We’re leaving here at eight-thirty. I’m following you home. I’m putting you to bed as soon as we get home, and I’m not letting you get up until you have barely enough time to get ready and be at work at ten on the dot. After work, I’ll pick you up and take you back home, and then I’m putting you back to bed again. You’re staying in bed the rest of the day, even if I have to physically keep you there.”
As he spoke, she bristled, her backbone going straight and rigid, her hands forming into fists. “Now listen here, you big, overgrown—”
“Big enough to tie you to your bed if you fight me.” The gleam in his eyes told her he meant every word.
She hopped down off of the countertop and stomped out of the bathroom into the hallway. “You will do no such thing. You’re not my keeper, and I don’t need you lecturing me—”
Grasping her around the waist to stop her, he pulled her into the bedroom across the hallway. Quietly, he closed the bedroom door behind them as he said in a succinct tone, “I’m not lecturing you because you don’t listen. You pushed yourself until you’re in agony, and now you’re going to rest. There is no shoulda, woulda, coulda. I’m telling you what you’re going to do,” he stated in a low, husky drawl as he drew closer to her until her ass was pressed against the heavy wooden dresser. “You’re slowing down the healing process by not taking this time to recover.”
She didn’t like that he was crowding her and pressed her forearms against his chest, but he didn’t budge. He was seriously pissing her off, and she sharply said, “I’m not some fragile china doll!”
Chapter Eight
Ash surprised her as he yelled unexpectedly, “I know! And I’m tired of having to handle you like one!” and reached for her, grasping her by her hips and yanking her forward until her hips were crushed against his groin. His hands were unyielding on her tender flesh, and she gasped when she felt the steely erection inside his blue jeans.
Her cunt pulsed as he grasped the back of her head and drew her to his lips in a hard, passionate kiss. She struggled against him, trying to fist the fabric of his shirt without success because of the cast and stitches. As if that were her signal that he was right, she stopped fighting him altogether. A moan escaped her lips as his kiss gentled, until his lips were lightly brushing against hers, his tongue flicking out to lick her lips as if in apology for being so rough with her before.
“I’ve been hard for you all night, looking at you in that dress. I want to listen to you make little moaning sounds like that while I make love to you, and I want to hear you scream when you come for me. I want you so much you’re all I can think of, damn it.” His lips pressed against her throat, sounding tortured.
Juliana knew if he pressed her to him again, as turned on as she was by his touch, his words and his rough handling, she’d come right then and there. Her clit pulsed, aching for that push over the brink. Juliana had no idea why she reacted so explosively to his strong hands mastering her body. She knew without a doubt that he’d never force her or harm her, and she felt as desperate for him as he sounded.
She looked up into his turbulent eyes and didn’t doubt his need. He was as hard as a rock beneath his jeans. She felt her pussy pulse again, aching to be filled by him. Leaning into him for another kiss, Juliana reached to the side of the dress and slid the zipper down until the inner closure came completely loose, while simultaneously reaching up to the back of her neck with the other hand and pulling on the ties of the halter top. When the dress came loose around her, she reached in and pulled on the ties of her silk G-string. Ash became aware of what she was doing and he groaned harshly, his hands grasping at her hips. As she reached around his neck, her bare breasts pillowed against his chest. His questing hands were warm and rough cupping her breasts, and she gasped when he rubbed her nipples with his thumbs.
“Darlin’, what are you doing?” he whispered against her throat. “You’re tempting me beyond what I can endure.”
“I’m not tempting you.”
“I thought you were mad at me?”
“I’m done fighting you, Ash. I want you.” Juliana shifted and allowed the dressed and untied G-string to fall to the floor. Ash eyed her standing there naked in her high heels as he bent to retrieve the articles of clothing and placed them on the dresser. She reached for the lock on the doorknob. He palmed her abdomen then his hands slid over her thighs, parting them. His fingertips strayed through the damp curls over her mons. She clutched his biceps and whimpered when his finger slipped into her embarrassingly wet slit, stroking over her clit then beyond it to her pulsing inner lips.
“Darlin’,” he groaned, sounding like he was being tortured.
“I’ve been wet for you all evening, Ash. You affect me, too, you see? It’s not any easier for me.”
He looked up into her eyes, desire swirling in his turquoise gaze as he kissed her again and stroked his fingers over her cunt. She tried to be quiet, but she couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her lips.
“Oh, God, Ash.” She felt her overexcited body already racing to orgasm. He looked into her eyes and must have seen her need. Grasping her thighs, he spread them and knelt in front of her.
“I’ve been looking forward to t
his moment since the first time I looked into your eyes, darlin’.”
She moaned as his hot mouth descended on her pussy. His callused hands stroked her thighs, lifting one to rest over his shoulder, without ever removing his hot mouth and talented tongue from her pussy. An ecstatic scream bubbled up inside her as he suckled at her pussy lips and her clit and slid his tongue inside her cunt.
“You taste even better than I dreamed you would, darlin’, pure and sweet.”
“I feel awkward against this dresser. What—what do you want me to do?” she panted. There was no way for her to reciprocate and she wasn’t even sure whose bedroom they were in.
“I only want you to do one thing,” he murmured before returning his tongue to her clit. “I want you to come for me.” He laved his tongue through her cunt, licking and tasting her arousal, rumbling quietly as more seeped from her pussy for him. He closed his lips on the flesh surrounding her clitoris, sucking and tonguing it repeatedly. He established a languorous rhythm and growled again when she whimpered as her climax crested.
“Ash,” she whispered shakily, “Ash, oh God, I’m coming!” Her head fell back, and her breathing turned to soft sobs. Her hips flexed in a powerful rhythm as she took what he gave her.
She responded so explosively to him, and he hadn’t even slid a finger inside her yet. He stole a few more moments, licking her cream from her cunt. His tongue returned to her clit, not giving her time to come too far down, and began stroking her again, raising her to greater heights.
She reached for him, whispering, “I need you Ash. I need to feel you inside me, please.”
“I’m a bastard for doing this to you while you’re in pain.”
“Trust me, I’m feeling no pain right now. Please, baby, we can do whatever you want to do later. You can even tie me to the bed if you want to, but I need you inside me right now.” She pulled desperately at his belt until he finally took over for her and unbuttoned his jeans and slid them and his briefs down a bit. She got her first good look at his cock, and the sight of it made her heart pound. A new ache began in her cunt as her body begged to be filled with it.
Box Set: The Divine Creek Ranch Collection, Volume 2 [Book 4 - Rosemary's Double Delight (MFM), Book 5 - Spurs and Heels (MF)] (Siren Publishing Romance Collection) Page 26