by Delilah Hunt
“Oh God, Cole. More. Fuck me harder. Your cock feels so good.”
He wanted to answer her so badly. Love your pussy, Noelle. Love you so damn much it hurts.
Cole grabbed her hair and lifted her head to press his lips to her nape. She rubbed her ass against him and her cunt felt like heaven, pulsating around his cock. Her pussy was still so small yet she fit him like a glove, molding perfectly around his cock from the amount of times he’d fucked her in the past weeks.
Cole pressed his lips to her slender neck and closed his eyes. He wasn’t going to last. He pumped harder just the way she liked it, rough with a big cock slapping inside her.
Come on, beauty, come with me.
He heard a muffled cry and felt her legs quiver. She was pressing her face into the pillow to stifle her screams. Cole lifted his head and in one forceful thrust, he slammed home hitting the walls of her cervix. Burying his face in the hollow of her neck, his muscles lagged as hot semen rolled up his prick and ejaculated into her. He thanked God with every fiber of his being that he hadn’t orgasmed before her. Noelle’s pleasure meant more to him than his own, than anything else in this world.
Afterward, when the pounding in his chest settled to a faint lull, he climbed beside her and slid his arms around her waist, drawing her to his side.
“Did I hurt you?” Cole signed, after reluctantly moving his hand from her hips.
She cuddled into him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. “You could never hurt me. I love everything we do together. I…” She broke off and gave him a small smile then kissed his lips instead of finishing what she was about to say. What he hoped she was on the verge of revealing. He wouldn’t rush her about this or anything else. Not when he hadn’t offered up any words of love or commitment. How could he, when he feared the possibility of running her off because he had nothing else to offer? Worse, he still hadn’t informed her that he would be leaving in a few weeks. He would have to do so soon, but he hated that in telling her, it would make the impending separation all the more real.
His chest tightened with guilt as she leaned her head on his shoulders. He really needed to do better. He was bone tired but he no longer felt it. Being with Noelle just made him want to work even harder. He wanted to fix up the ranch and make it a place she’d be proud to visit or, dare he hope, live with him one day.
Chapter Thirteen
Another day of house hunting. Sighing, Noelle climbed into her car and turned the engine. She had hoped to find maybe a small house to rent, since there were virtually no decent apartment buildings until the next town almost forty-five minutes away. That was out of the question. The distance was too far from Copper Mesa. She would be too far from Cole. Unacceptable. For so many years she only had herself to think about, throughout all the wrongs and then it was about her seeking forgiveness and allowing herself to become lost in the process of trying to please her parents. But now, she had someone else to think about. Cole. Not just him, their relationship…and what it would mean when she told him the real reason her father had a lack of respect for her.
Cole was bound to be disappointed and shocked. The only thing that gave her hope was his incredible treatment of her. Always caring and tender as if she was the most precious thing on earth. Cole would understand and Noelle knew he would be able to get over it and not make her feel dirty and disgusting.
Noelle tilted her wrist and glanced at her watch. Time was catching up on her today. She still had to finish up on work, first a stop over at the Wayland Ranch, a couple miles from her home and then on to Mr. Somerset’s place.
Minutes later, Noelle arrived across town on the second largest cattle ranch in southern Colorado. Mr. Wayland, the widower and owner of the ranch, always took these visits as an invitation to sit down to tea and coffee, when all she wished to do was retake the man’s order for cattle feed.
Normally, she’d indulge the old man for the sake of her job and keeping up appearances but today she wasn’t about to put up with it. In and out then over to the Somerset ranch. Maybe if she was brave enough and in the mood she would finally tell Cole the truth of why she was getting the cold shoulder. After all, the worst was over. She’d weathered the storm so to speak. Her father, mother, everyone on the ranch knew about her relationship with Cole and she was thrilled about it, proud that they all knew she belonged to him and he to her.
So what if her father hadn’t spoken to her beyond reminding her of her duties to the company and the family? Fine by her. If he wanted to continue seeing her as his druggie daughter who doesn’t know how to run her own life, there wasn’t anything she could do about it, except try to find happiness away from him with someone who wouldn’t judge or make her feel like a piece of shit for falling off the tracks.
After making her way up the grassy path of the Wayland Ranch, Noelle knocked on the front door of the two-story brick house. The door opened right away, revealing the smiling, albeit weathered face, of Mr. Wayland. The old man ushered her into the house, his wrinkled hands gesturing toward the living room. He was saying something to her in that shaky voice of his but all Noelle could see was drinks and cake centered on the coffee table. She groaned inwardly. Hell no.
“Mr. Wayland,” she began. Surely he had to understand that her visits weren’t social. It was her fucking job, one that she was enjoying less and less each day. Noelle closed her mouth in mid-sentence and placed her briefcase in front of the doorway and sighed. In a way, Mr. Wayland was just like her. For more times than she could count over the years she had wanted someone to sit down and talk with yet no one bothered. Even her own sister had avoided her.
She plastered on a smile. “What’s going on, Mr. Wayland?” The door closed behind her with a resonating thud. Noelle gave another quick checked of her watch. It was going to be a long half an hour.
****
Cole wiped the smatterings of dust from his hands on his jeans. He had just returned from retrieving some goods in town when he caught sight of one of the tenderfoots, the same idiot Leewood, who had tried to pry into his business during the cattle drive last week. The kid was trying to drag one of the calves out of the pen. Of course he was doing a shit job of it. The only thing being accomplished was Leewood getting his ass handed to him by a three hundred pound Black Angus calf.
Amused at the scene playing out in front of the corral, Cole kept his silence and watched the show. He had to give the boy some credit this time; the idiot had worn his chaps to protect against the kicking. Seemed the only way to teach some of the tenderfoots a lesson was to have them return to the ranch, barely walking from the sting of the cuts and bruises.
Pushing down his annoyance at the kid, Cole ambled over, intending only to help the save the animal from incompetence. A few skilled holds and the calf was ready to be examined. Cole pinned Leewood with a stare. Hopefully next time the tenderfoot would know what to do. Knowledge was one thing he didn’t begrudge any of them no matter how annoying they could be. Good help was a rare commodity around these parts. Many of the younger cowboys were heading to the feedlots for work instead of the open range, which was probably one of the reason his family’s ranch was failing miserably, a lack of money and good hired help.
Damn. He hated to think about leaving Noelle behind. His mood darkened, souring at the thought.
When the time came to return to Elk Basin, he wasn’t going to have much time for himself or to see Noelle. Speaking over the telephone was impossible, although it warmed his heart each and every time she left a message on his cell phone for him to read or listen to. Luckily, he could rely on text messages to let her know he was thinking of her each waking moment.
Flipping the hat on his head, Cole kept the brim low over his face, offsetting the glare of the afternoon sunlight. The sun was riding low over the prairie and he still had a dozen or so Herefords to brand before sunset.
Might as well get started.
A quick trip into the tack room to retrieve his chaps and he was caught up in work, s
o much that when a pair of footsteps resonated behind him, Cole didn’t look up. Was probably just Beau making sure everything was running smoothly.
The person spoke, a deep baritone garnering his attention. Cole carefully placed the branding iron on the dirt. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Of course Mr. Williams would seek him out sooner or later. That had to explain why he was the one here dealing with Somerset instead of Noelle.
“You remember me, son?”
Here we fucking go again. Did the man think he was that simple to have forgotten who he was? Cole didn’t even bother to look at the man; instead he dug into his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled. I’m not brain dead. If you came here to talk to me man to man, try again.
Mr. Williams stared at the paper for a minute longer, touched his moustache then folded the paper and nodded. “That’s a fair demand. I apologize for the offense.”
Cole blinked, surprised that Noelle’s father had conceded and acknowledged his fault.
Mr. Williams took a sweeping look around the ranch before his gaze landed on the cool branding iron.
“Nothing wrong with a bit of hard work is there?” He smiled at Cole. “I know you don’t think highly of me. Probably think I look my nose down at you because I have money.”
Cole shrugged. Yeah he did, but what Williams thought of him wasn’t going to make or break him or his relationship with Noelle.
Mr. Williams leaned his head to the side, one hand shoved inside the pocket of his slacks. “You care about Noelle don’t you?”
None of your business.
“All right. You don’t have to answer that I suppose,” Mr. Williams let out a small chuckle before sobering. “My daughter is a special case isn’t she? Beautiful girl who just can’t seem to get her life together. Listen here. Regardless of what you might think of me, I care about my daughter. I’ve always cared about both of my children. Why else do you think we move out here subjecting ourselves to being the only black family for miles around?”
Yes, why? It was something he’d wondered about for awhile. Williams could run his business from anywhere, live outside of Denver and have employees make the visits for him. They didn’t need to live neck deep in isolation. And what the hell did he mean in reference to Noelle not having her life together. Noelle was perfect. He didn’t know of any other woman who was as organized and hard working as Noelle save for his own mother.
“Why are you telling me this?” Cole signed furiously. The man gave him a blank stare. Of course. Cole shook his head. Sometimes it was too easy to forget not everyone would understand him.
“I don’t know what Noelle has been telling you about our family. My guess is whatever she’s told you hasn’t been the truth.”
Cole saw red. Unbelievable. Now the man was going to try and spew his bullshit about Noelle. He wasn’t going to listen to it. Cole turned, determined to finish branding the rest of the cattle.
“Hear me out. This is for your own good if you decide to continue this relationship with my daughter.” Mr. Williams moved in front of him.
Cole glared at the man. Why the hell wasn’t he able to take a hint and shut the fuck up so he could get back to work and not have to hear another disparaging word about Noelle?
“I have another daughter. However, I’m not sure if Noelle’s ever mentioned her. Maybe not. Those two never meshed well.” Mr. Williams jammed his hands even deeper into his pockets. “You know how it is, Noelle got the looks, Aleah the brains. Noelle’s always had it in for us, I suppose. Never appreciated anything we did for her. She even claimed to despise the money we had, until it started serving her purposes.”
Cole lifted his eyebrows. He shouldn’t be indulging the man. Nevertheless, there was that part of him who wanted to know everything about Noelle. Maybe he’d be able to help her get past the moments of sadness he saw in her eyes that she always tried to hide.
Mr. Williams’ eyes filled with sadness. “You know, Cole, one day you’ll understand. Some things are just a parent’s worst nightmare. More so when you think you’re doing all the right things and come to find out everything has been occurring right under your nose. Own roof, in fact. I found out a lot of things when it was too late. Noelle had quit going to school for a couple of months before her mother and I got wind of it. By the time we found out what was going on with her, just about the entire town did too. Our teenage daughter was strung out on heroin most days, shooting up with her friends and latest boyfriend. I wanted to die when I found out. I hold nothing against you, Cole. I can see you’re a decent guy, but Noelle needs a change in her life. She needs to socialize more with someone…” Mr. Williams paused as if it caused him distress to speak. “My daughter needs to think about her future and stop behaving like a teenager. You’re not the first guy Noelle’s attached herself to so she could rebel against her mother and I. You won’t be the last.”
The muscles in his body went taut. His mind reeled against the disgusting accusation. Williams had to be lying. Had to be. Noelle was smart…decent. He couldn’t imagine her pushing a needle into her vein like some careless addict.
“Now I’m not saying Noelle is doing those things anymore. I’ll give her credit. She—”
Cole lifted his hand. He didn’t want to hear anything else about Noelle, the men she had been with or her drug use. It sickened him to imagine her jamming a needle into her body, defiling herself. Had any of them been dirty, tainted? For a second his mind ran to all the times they’d made love without protection. His body shuddered with guilt and shame at the turn of his thoughts.
It all made sense why she hadn’t said anything to him. She had to have anticipated his reaction. The normal reaction of any man finding out his girlfriend was a drug addict. His lips curled. He hated even thinking the term. It was embarrassing and shameful.
Cole rose to his feet intent on letting the man know he’d said enough. Mr. Williams opened his mouth and Cole kept his hands clenched to his sides.
“I love her, son. If I didn’t, her mother and I wouldn’t have worked so hard to get Noelle the help she needed. I just want the best for my daughter, never mind the fact she still hasn’t earned back all the trust that was lost because of her lying and stealing.”
Cole shook his head. The sad part was, he’d bet an entire month’s pay Williams wasn’t trying to be an asshole. If anything the man would know Noelle better than he did. Or thought he did. Never in a million years would he have assumed what Mr. Williams just told him about Noelle. Cole clamped his eyelids against an image of Noelle pushing a needle into those beautiful slender arms.
After Williams said his piece and left, Cole struggled to get through with branding the rest of the cattle. He wanted to see Noelle, but he knew if he saw her now it would be too soon.
Wrong as it had been for him to build her up in his head, he couldn’t shake the disappointment. Disappointment and anger slithered through him, tainting his opinion of her. Drug addict. And all because she wanted to rebel and spite her family. He couldn’t imagine the sort of person who would do that. Certainly not Noelle.
Had she worn the same look of despair, sunken cheeks and track marks that he assumed they all wore? What a mistake he’d made. He never should have thought of Noelle as perfect, for one. Two, he never should have believed anyone who was perfect would belong to him. Finally, his biggest mistake had been trusting her to be honest with him. If Mr. Williams hadn’t felt the need to enlighten him, how long would he have remained in the dark? Up until she started using it again, because there was always that risk with addicts, right?
He shoved a hand through his hair. He wished he knew more about the subject, knew more about what the fuck she had been thinking and why he’d gotten involved with her in the first place when there was no clear future in it for them.
Worse, her father’s word kept ringing in his ears. Noelle only dated men she felt were beneath her. Cole snorted. He deserved it for actually believing she had chosen to be with him
out of all the men she could have. Turns out she was with him exactly because he was so different. He wondered if she had ever planned on saying anything to him. Chances were she did and thought because of his disability he’d accept anything from her. He had acted like such a damn fool fawning all over her like a lovesick boy, of course she would think so. That had to explain why she had chosen him over someone like Beau, the foreman who had more potential and who her father would have had an easier time accepting. Her family. That was another issue. Sure the drug use left a repugnant taste in his mouth, but that wasn’t the deal breaker. If her family for all their wealth tried so hard to please her and failed, where the heck would he stand? How soon would it be before Noelle got tired and turned to something else, or someone else to give her what he couldn’t?
The worry rolled over and settled in his mind as he strode down the path to the houses. Cole reached his room and for the first time since he’d given a key to Noelle, he hoped to God she wouldn’t be waiting for him in his bed.
Chapter Fourteen
Something was wrong. Noelle could feel it in her bones. Not once since the day started did she hear the gentle chiming of her phone that sent her heart leaping with joy. Not a single text from Cole.
Noelle pressed the button, closing the screen of her cell phone. Throughout the day she had sent Cole a number of texts to which he normally replied within minutes no matter how busy he was. After the fourth message, she’d given up and decided to stop by the ranch in the evening.
Truth be told, she was terrified. Her father’s demeanor remained static but there was just something about the way he avoided her eyes last night when she’d returned from Wayland Ranch after he had called to let her know he’d already visited the Somerset Ranch.
Noelle swallowed a painful lump in her throat. Cole knew the truth about her. That had to be the reason for his lack of communication. She wasn’t stupid enough to think her father had left without stirring the pot. Of course he’d seize the opportunity to tell Cole. Noelle bit her lips. Cole had to be feeling disappointed and betrayed by her because of the way she had portrayed herself.