by Delilah Hunt
He wouldn’t be able to blame her. What right did he —a lowdown, speech impaired, white cowboy have to dream of a woman like Noelle taking up residence with him in some country-ass town, worse than Copper Mesa, where she’d probably feel and look out of place.
“Is that what you think of me, Cole, that I’m disappointed you’re unable to speak?” She brought her legs together and he noticed the subtle way she placed both hands over her tits, shielding herself from his view. He wanted to pull her hands away and roll her onto her back with her legs splayed wide for his viewing, but he couldn’t. The only way he could get her to understand was to reach onto the damn night table for the pen and paper he’d learn to carry with him at all times.
He did so and began scribbling. He disliked doing this, each time he had to pull out the paper and separate himself from everyone else.
A woman like Noelle needed someone strong. Sure he had the physical attributes more than covered, but she also needed a voice. Someone who would stand up for her, and let people like her father know it was unacceptable to treat her the way she was being treated.
It pissed him off to no end, the way her father had spoken to her and how she accepted it as if she had it coming to her. He hadn’t expected that from her and to be honest, he sure as hell didn’t want to see her putting up with taking shit from anyone. She was a thousand times better than that and deserved the best, not just from her father, but from him too.
The knowledge that there was only so much he could do for her was painful to admit.
Cole ripped off the piece of paper and handed it to her. Her eyes scanned the words.
Noelle. This is a big thing between us. No, I don’t think you’re selfish, beauty. Just look, instead of holding you in my arms and talking to you, I had to separate myself. If you stay the night and the lights are off, there won’t be any quiet talking or laughing with me. Never.
He had drawn a line below the word ‘never’ to emphasis his point. I can’t stand up for you sometimes like I would prefer. I’d never allow anyone to harm you, but I can’t give you a voice, beauty.
She lifted her gaze to his and smiled softly. “I don’t need you to stand up for me. You or anyone.” Noelle tried to widen her smile but he could see the pain behind her eyes. “Even if your friends who don’t like me tried to hogtie and haul me off the property if they found out about us.”
Cole knew she was grossly exaggerating yet he couldn’t help but shoot her a deadpan look. If anyone dared so much as lay a hand on her, he knew he would go insane and cause bodily harm to the fool.
She moved away and lay on her back. “Do you have a problem with me being black?”
Cole frowned. If he did, would she be in his bed with him thinking of nothing but ways to make her happy and stay with him?
She smiled at his reaction. “I can’t change that and I wouldn’t want to. You can’t change who…how you are either, it’s you. Cole. That’s all there is to it.”
She made it sound so simple. Could it really be that simple? The way she put it. Not for once did he see the color of her skin as a slight against her. He only saw her as Noelle, the woman he cared for. Could it be that easy for her to deal with his shortcomings?
Cole felt her hand on his stomach. He twined his fingers with her before signing, “What is this?”
“What is what?”
He pointed between them. “Us. Is there an us?”
Noelle looked away for a second, then said. “You’re the first person in seven years to see me naked. The only person that I’ve allowed to get this close to me.” She swept her hand across his fingers. “You’re mine and you have to know by now that I want to be yours.”
The sweetest words in the world. Nothing else, none of the worries could compare to the way her words made him feel.
He kissed her forehead and his chest tightened even more when she said. “Cowboy, you know what? I think Mr. Somerset might have splurged a bit on this mattress.”
Cole grinned and lifted an eyebrow. Noelle leaned into him. “It’s starting to feel really comfortable. Making me sleepy.”
His heartbeat sped. She wanted to stay with him. He’d never spent the night in bed with anyone before. Noelle being his first made it all the more worthwhile and special.
He tugged on her hand and brought her up beside him onto the pillows. “You look good in my bed.”
“It feels good.” She scooted closer, cuddling into his arms.
By the time Cole glanced down at her again, she was fast asleep. Lying in bed, he was content to simply watch her. She’d said no one had seen her naked except for him in years and innocent as her words were, he had to bite back his hatred for whoever the man or men were.
He hated to think of Noelle curled up in someone else’s arms. Someone who her parents probably approved of and could provide her with the life he’d never be able to, even if he managed to bring the Tumbling Y up to snuff.
Just have to work twice as hard then. Cole placed a kiss on her forehead and flicked off the light. Noelle was his reason for everything. Sooner or later, he was going to do right by her.
Chapter Ten
“I thought you said this wasn’t a race,” Noelle shouted. She tugged on the reins of the mare. Riding atop Firebrand, Cole looked back at her and winked before urging his mount into a gallop over a hill scattered with wildflowers just below the pasture.
That’s what I get for bragging about my skills, she thought, smiling to herself. Being out here with him was another sobering lesson on all the things she had taken for granted that her parents had provided.
Horseback riding. Lessons she rebelled against because yet again it was seen as them trying to mold her into someone she wasn’t, someone they wanted to brag about like they did with her younger sister. It all seemed so ridiculous now that she had removed the blinders of youth.
They had been doing what any normal parents would do, trying to give their children the best of life. A tinge of sadness gripped her. At least back then, they wanted the best for her, unlike now, when they assumed she still required saving from herself.
But… all that was in the past. It couldn’t be changed. From now on she had Cole, although the damn cowboy seemed hell bent on showing her she was no match for him on horseback.
Noelle dug her heels into the horse, riding close on Firebrand’s thick shiny tail. Not in a million years would she have imagined herself awake at four in the morning with the wind zipping by her face and galloping on a mare named Agnes to check on her neighbor’s cattle. Oh, and doing so with Cole McKinney, the silent ranch hand.
She threw hear head back and laughed. The very act she would have scoffed at was actually bringing her joy. She was out here in the refreshing summer’s morning with nary a soul around but her and Cole. It felt amazing. As wonderful as it felt to wake up in his arms, knowing that he’d welcomed her into his bed without putting on the pressure to have sex.
By the time they came to a stop on the flatland, the sunrise was still low on the horizon.
“You do this every morning, so early?”
He shook his head and looked toward the herd of Hereford bulls. After a minute he turned to her. “Earlier. I don’t mind it.”
Her eyes opened. Was he serious? When she’d awoken, she assumed he was going to stay in her arms and cuddle some more. She was shocked when he climbed out of bed and shrugged into a flannel shirt, insisting she go back to sleep. No way. She’d made it clear that she wanted to spend every free moment she had with him. Noelle recognized the moment he accepted it as the truth, slowly nodding when she asked him to tag along. She was pleased he agreed to her company.
“Do you like it out here?” Cole asked, minutes later after he had deemed everything in order with the cattle. No signs of theft or injuries to the animals.
Noelle hesitated. She liked being with him. What she didn’t like was the feeling they were sneaking around. Meeting in the shroud of twilight and now the only way to spend a morning toge
ther in the opening, was hours before the crack of dawn to which she’d have to hurry back to the house before her parents assumed she had been out gallivanting and losing control again. They didn’t trust her and it was wearing thin.
Noelle looked over at Cole, noting the way he studied her in seriousness. She felt guilty. He must have thought she’d snubbed his question out of a genuine dislike for this lifestyle.
Lifting his hand, he stopped in mid action of signing to her. Cole reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his wallet, handing a photograph to her.
Noelle took the picture, registering the faces that already seemed familiar. A woman with the same dark eyes, an older man, looked to be in his late fifties and a younger boy close in resemblance to Cole but without the height and build, stood in front of a house.
“These are your parents and brother?”
He nodded. Noelle studied the picture. “Do you guys have a farm or something?”
Cole smiled ruefully and Noelle opened her mouth in surprise. There was so much she didn’t know about him. If Cole’s family owned a ranch, why would he work those backbreaking hours on someone else’s ranch?
“Why aren’t you there? I thought most ranches were run by families.”
“Our ranch isn’t big. Not even half the size of this place.”
Okay, but that confused her even more. She didn’t understand why he would choose not to help his family on their ranch.
“I work here so we can keep the ranch. It’s nothing compared to this.”
This time he kept his eyes trained on her, the same unreadable expression on his face as if he was expecting her to hightail it the other way from him.
“Your family is very lucky to have you on their side.” She was lucky to have him. This man who was so much more than what met the eyes. He made her yearn for so much more, including the courage to stand up for herself.
He nodded and pointed over the horizon as the sun climbed higher. The sun was coming up, which meant the other ranch hands would be making their way to the pasture to work another group of cattle.
“Are you going to join them?” She despised the thought of leaving him so early.
His gaze went in the direction of her parent’s home, the red shingle rooftop visible across the distance.
Noelle swallowed and raised her chin. “Ask me, Cole.” She knew what he was thinking after mentioning his family and ranch. She also needed to clear the air between them.
“Do you want to go home or stay with me?”
“You mean after letting me know you’re poorer than I assumed?”
He lifted a shoulder and stared at her as if he was actually waiting for her to make a decision. Dear God. He actually thought it made a tremendous difference to her. Noelle lowered her lashes, grabbed the reins on the horse and whispered quietly. “Let’s go back.”
His nostrils flared, anticipation simmered in his eyes. Noelle felt her stomach flutter before giving a curt nod and guided the mare into a turn. She’d seen that look in his eyes before. Her pussy clenched. Noelle licked her lips. They were going to have sex. She stole a glance at Cole who was inches behind her. Their gazes locked. She was going to feel him inside her. All the way, as he’d promised.
Her heart leapt when he blinked and gave her a curt nod as if he knew what she was thinking. Both urging the horses into a gallop, Noelle knew that right now that little bedroom was the only place she wanted to be.
****
Cole couldn’t believe Noelle returned with him. He leaned against the door, drinking her in. She was sitting on his bed and all he could do was stand there and stare like a lovesick fool. Not good. He wished he had more experience with women, decent women so he would know the right way to pleasure her. He wanted to hear her scream his name in reckless abandon. He didn’t want their first joining to end with horrible memories for her.
“Cole?”
His cock hardened painfully inside his jeans. If Noelle said his name like that one more time, he’d probably come before he had a chance to slide to the hilt inside her wanton cunt.
He stepped in front of her and touched the side of her face. Her skin felt like silk beneath his craggy fingertips. Much too delicate for the likes of a rough ranch hand. Cole brushed the pad of his thumb over her plump lips. His cock twitched, swelling in response to the only part of her luscious body, he’d been able to release in.
His breath hitched with the tantalizing memory. Noelle had swallowed his cum, a fantasy he’d entertained but would never have expected her to perform in reality. But she had done it, and found pleasure in it as much as he’d enjoyed sampling her tasty pussy.
His prick hardened even more. Cole blushed. He hoped she’d take him between her lips again. Sometime soon. And God help him for selfishness, but he wanted to watch her inviting mouth fill with his semen. Noelle brought her lips to his thumb giving it a soft kiss.
His lips curved upward. She was so fucking adorable. He suppressed a grin, fully aware that Noelle would probably be annoyed being thought of as adorable.
“I want to feel you inside me.” She lifted her face to his.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. For her to say that to him… She couldn’t have any idea how much he actually wanted her, was dying to push her back and sink every unforgiving inch into her cunt.
Cole took her shirt between his hands, freeing each button. His knuckles brushed over the tips of her breasts. Her nipples were so full, pert delicate buds peeking out through the shirt and beckoning to him. He glanced up at her lovely face. Her lips were slightly parted and he felt her legs brush against his as she widened them.
“Oh, Cole, look at what you do to me.” She placed his hand between her thighs. “It feels so hot down there.”
Sweet Jesus. Cole ran his finger over her pussy. So wet for me.
“I want to see you. I love how you look naked. The way your cock stands out so proudly and I know it’s because of me. Because of how much you want to fuck me. That is what you want, isn’t it?” Her eyes pleaded with him.
Cole stood, his breathing harsh. She wasn’t afraid of him. Here she was begging him to use her completely. He shook his head. Perhaps she needed a reminder of what she was asking for. He stroked his hand across the entire length of his cock, from the spot right above his testicles to the head, swollen and dripping with so much pre-cum it would make any other man ashamed to have a woman see how desperate he was for her. How much power she had over him.
He lifted a brow and slid his hand over her naked little pussy. Soon to be his pussy, if he gave her what she was asking for her. Because after he got started with Noelle tonight and every other night if she was willing to spread her legs for him again, her pussy was going to mold around his prick and he doubted she’d ever be able to enjoy another man smaller than him. Not that he had any intention of allowing her to stray. Right or wrong, deserving or not, Noelle was his and it would remain that way.
Her eyes fixed on the hand sliding over his cock; Noelle gazed up at him with brown eyes full of worship and nibbled her pouty bottom lip. “I love it, Cole, and I’ve been thinking about what you said.” She paused, looking him straight in the eyes as she splayed her thighs wider and arched her back. Cole stifled a groan, but allowed his gaze to center on her wet, glistening display.
His chest tightened with love. Noelle was shameless in her passion and desire for him to see her needy cunt. Damn, he loved her and was selfishly happy she hadn’t been with another man for such a long time to make her this vulnerable and willing to take him on.
She let out a small breath and lifted her hand to his stomach, continuing her speech. “That day when I asked you how deep inside me you would come, you touched my stomach. I know what you meant and I want it so much. I don’t want you to hold back with me.” She released a breathy moan. “Cole. I’ve thought about nothing else since then. Just the need to be taken, have someone else in control for once so I don’t have to think beyond what you’re doi
ng to me. I don’t care if it hurts. I want to feel you so deep inside my pussy until you’re almost touching my heart.”
Cole pushed his pants and briefs past his hips. He heard another sensual moan escape from her lips and it went straight to him, as he stood before her, his cock and sac completely visible to her. He liked her sultry eyes on him and loved the way she admired his prick. It felt so much different than the other women he had been with it. Their interest had extended to his appendage and nothing else. While he could tell Noelle was already half in love with his cock; he knew she also cared about him.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he told her. There was only so much restraint and control he could maintain once he got inside her with more than just the enflamed tip.
She lowered her head and licked away a bead of pre-cum that spilled from the narrow opening. “I want you, cowboy. Every single part of you,” she murmured. “You won’t break me. Trust me, you won’t.”
Cole swallowed down a lump in his throat. She might not be the one to break, but once they made love, he knew it would be impossible to ever let go of her, even if she asked him to.
“Stand up.”
A slight frown marred her beautiful face. Noelle gaped at him in confusion. “I thought…”
Cole took her hand, forcing her to stand before him. Bringing her down on his lap, he circled his arms around her slender, curvy frame. He wanted her to take as much as she could handle for now. He wouldn’t chance being on top of her and losing control their first time together.
She looked between them and Cole was glad when her face softened with understanding. “You want me to ride you?” she asked softly.
He stroked the curve above her provocative ass and nodded. Leaning back on the bed with his knees bent, Cole held her to him, hands on her silky thighs.
Noelle flattened her palms to his chest. Ever so slowly, she lowered her pussy on his hard cock. Her lips parted on a luxurious sigh. His eyes closed in unbelievable pleasure. Noelle was sitting astride him, her tight cunt sinking deeper on his shaft. It felt like a fucking dream.