“So beautiful,” he whispered, tracing her nipple through the see-through lace, smiling at the way the bud of it rose beneath his touch. He pulled the material away from the fullness of her breast, dipping down to kiss her creamy skin lightly before making his way to her pert nipple and sucking it into his mouth deeply.
Reaching beneath her, he unhooked her bra to pull it slowly from her body, never breaking his suction on her nipple. He smiled against her skin as he heard her moan and felt the rumble of her excitement against his chest. He pulled off her nipple with a resounding pop, smiling down at her as she looked up at him, her expression soft.
“How are you feeling, honey?” he asked her softly.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“No pain?”
“Pain?” She looked at him in confusion.
He reached down and cupped her mound. “Here, baby. Are you too sore for me to sink my cock deep inside of you again?”
Gracie couldn’t stop the blush that covered her cheeks at Deuce’s explicit words. “I’m okay,” she told him softly. “I want you again.”
“What do you want, baby? Do you want my finger inside of you?” He slowly slid his finger beneath the lace of her panties to trace her delicate folds and sink it into her just enough to feel the heat and the wetness that her body already had just for him. He smiled as she moaned. “Or do you want my cock inside of you.”
“Yes,” she moaned, arching her hips up to allow him to sink his finger into her deeper.
“Yes what, Gracie?” he whispered. “You need to say it, honey. You need to tell me with words. Don’t be embarrassed. Nothing we do together is wrong. Nothing you say to me is wrong. Tell me, honey. What do you want inside of you?” He pushed his finger in deeper, pulling out and pushing back in with a little more force, curling his finger slightly.
Gracie moaned and reached down to hold his hand tightly against her core. “I like it when you use your finger,” she told him finally.
Deuce smiled. “What else?”
“I like when you use your mouth on me, too,” she admitted, winking.
Deuce laughed and removed his fingers from his mate’s body, licking them clean before reaching up to tug at the waistband of her sexy lingerie. He pulled at her panties, appreciating her long legs as he dragged the delicate lace down her lean and strong legs to the end of her toes before throwing them to the bottom of the bed.
He kissed his way down her torso, loving how her long body fit against his. Being six feet five inches tall, he always worried about overwhelming his mate, but Gracie’s five-feet-eight-inch, voluptuous frame fit him perfectly. He loved the long lines and soft curves of her body.
His cock arched against his belly, leaking profusely. The thought of loving this woman and burying himself deep inside her body made something inside of him settle. Her touch, her kindness, and her humor made him know that this woman, his true mate, was the one he would spend the rest of his life with.
He settled himself between her thighs, shouldering them apart easily. She opened to him immediately, reaching down to touch his head and caress him tenderly. He nudged her curls with his nose, taking a deep breath and inhaling the scent of her desire that was meant only for him.
Reaching up, he carefully parted her folds and extended his tongue to lap the juices already dripping from her. He growled at the taste, loving the flavor that was unique to his mate. He placed his mouth over the opening of her channel, licking at it lightly before sucking deeply, drawing more cream into his mouth and swallowing it down.
He hummed in appreciation, dragging his tongue up to his woman’s clit, circling it firmly before sucking it into his mouth, and pressing against it with the flat of his tongue. Gracie’s moan of approval made him smile against her. Inserting two fingers deep inside of her, he set up a gentle rhythm to match the pressure of his tongue.
He felt Gracie’s fingers tighten in his hair and knew he would have her soaring very soon. Only then would he seek his own release. And only once she committed to him. He needed her to accept him completely. He wouldn’t settle for anything less.
Curling his fingers, he rubbed against her G-spot and increased the pressure on her clit. Her moan of release was immediate, and he eagerly lapped up her sweet cream as it escaped her. The quivering of her internal muscles as they pulsed against his fingers made him want to feel those same muscles pulling on his cock.
She tugged at him, and he climbed up her body slowly, kissing her mound, her stomach, her breasts, and her neck before settling on her lips and sharing her taste with her. The way her arms surrounded his back and pulled him tightly against her body made him say a silent prayer of thanks that he was the recipient of her tenderness.
He felt her heart thudding against his chest, and he held her tenderly as she fought to catch her breath. He smiled as she kissed his neck and rubbed her cheek against his. So sweet—his little mate.
“James,” she whispered against his ear, pulling him tighter within her embrace.
“What, baby?” he asked, kissing her shoulder lightly. “What do you need?”
“I need you inside of me,” she told him softly.
“You need to use the words, baby. Don’t be shy. You need to tell me exactly what you want.”
He could feel her tension as she fought to push through her shyness. When she leaned against his neck and kissed him once again, he hoped she would break through the boundaries of her upbringing. He would show her a life of freedom if she would only trust in his ability to care for her and see to her needs and desires.
“I want your cock inside of me.”
She whispered the words so softly against his ear he barely heard her, but hear her he did. And he was going to reward her for her courage.
“Whatever you need, Gracie,” he told her, leaning back to look down and smile proudly at her. “Always.”
He pulled back to sit on his haunches, reaching down to take hold of her hips and slide her body up onto the incline of his thighs. Taking his hard length in his hand, he glided it through her swollen lips, gathering her cream and placing the mushroom head of his cock at her entrance.
“Do you belong to me, Gracie?” he asked her as he pushed in just an inch before withdrawing completely.
“Deuce,” she moaned. “Please.”
“Tell me, Gracie,” he commanded. “Tell me who you belong to.” He pushed inside of her again, only allowing a few inches of penetration before pulling out completely.
He leaned forward, covering her body with his and taking her face between his hands to look down at her. Her beautiful, blue eyes looked up at him with such softness his heart actually hurt. He wished that the expression she gave him meant that she loved him just a little bit. He needed her to love him not only as his friend but also as his mate.
“Tell me,” he whispered, ignoring the way his cock was pulsing with need. He needed her to say the words. He needed her to accept that they were fated to be mates.
Gracie’s eyes softened as she reached up to touch his face lightly. “I belong to you, James,” she finally admitted, her voice soft. “I always have.”
He kissed her tenderly then leaned his forehead against hers. “Yes. You belong to me, Gracie.” The happiness that burst through him was monumental.
Leaning back once again, he took his shaft in hand and led it to his mate’s body, sinking into her slowly, loving the sounds of pleasure that escaped her as he pushed into her. He held her hips tightly against his groin, pushing inside her as deeply as he could. Holding himself still to savor the feel of her warmth surrounding his cock, he looked at where their bodies were joined and knew that this was where he was meant to be.
Pulling out slowly, he growled at the sight of her cream glistening on his length. She desired him as much as he desired her, and he was going to make sure she would know how wonderful a life with him was going to be.
Pushing back deep inside of her, he began a rhythm that gave them both complete pleasure. Reaching
down, he gathered some of her cream and began an assault on her clit, rubbing it with increasing intensity as his hips snapped against her.
Gracie moaned as he pushed deeper inside of her with every thrust. She never thought she would ever share this with this incredible man. Every touch, every word, every moment of intimacy he gifted her with was more than she could have ever dreamed of or hoped for. She did belong to him. She could never belong to any other man.
When he leaned forward, lying over her and covering her body and holding her within his arms to cover her mouth with his as he thrusted into her over and over, she knew it wouldn’t be long before she exploded again. His heart was pounding against her chest, and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him tighter against her. She wanted to pull him as close as she could, needing to surround him with all the caring and warmth that she had for him.
Deuce growled as he pushed himself up onto his hands and pumped into her fiercely, making sure to rub against her clit with his pubic bone with each inward thrust. He could feel his balls drawing up against his body, and he knew that he was going to come very soon.
“Come for me now, Gracie,” he commanded, pushing against her clit hard as he slammed into her and held himself still as his body exploded and his seed erupted deep inside of his mate.
Gracie screamed her release, her vaginal muscles contracting and drawing his shaft deeper with each pull. His moan of her name and continued groan with each pulse of his release made her reach a smaller orgasm, pulling another gasp from her as her body jerked uncontrollably beneath him.
She pushed her face against his neck, breathing in his scent and filling her lungs with all that was Deuce. She held herself tightly against his shoulder, afraid to let him see the emotions that had to be evident in her eyes. What she was feeling was overwhelming her, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to contain them or hide them from him.
Deuce could feel her shaking beneath him, and he tenderly caressed her body as he held the bulk of his weight off of her with his left forearm. He tried to pull back to see her face, but she refused to take her face away from his neck. He felt her kissing his shoulder lightly and smiled at her tenderness. He bent his head and rested his chin against her shoulder.
“Are you all right, honey?” he asked her quietly.
She nodded her head yes against his neck.
“Look at me, baby,” he told her.
“Not yet,” she whispered.
He nodded and held her tightly within his arms. She needed to deal with all that she was feeling, and he was determined to give her the time she needed to process everything. He had to admit that he was pretty overwhelmed himself.
She was caressing his back as she held him, and he was content to experience her gentleness. He kissed her shoulder lightly, waiting patiently as their breathing settled and their hearts calmed. His cock softened and slowly slipped from her body, drawing a moan from both of them.
Gathering her into his arms, he turned them and settled her against his side, petting her hip gently as she cuddled against him and rested her cheek against his chest. He held her loosely, turning to take hold of her legs and drag them over his hips. He wanted his seed to remain inside of her as long as possible.
Closing his eyes and leaning against her temple, he whispered the words that had been taught to him as a young man that would bless Gracie and their future together. Every man who found their true mate on this blessed land knew to say the same words that would ask the Great Spirit to bless their mating and grant them a life filled with happiness, love, and children.
As he finished the words to complete the mating ritual, his entire body relaxed. Her warm body settling so trustingly within his arms gave him more than a sense of peace. It gave him hope.
Gracie was his now.
Chapter 8
The house was quiet and still. Deuce looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw that he had a good half hour before he had to get up for the day. Gracie was snuggled against him, her warm body molded against his side. Her left arm was resting across his chest and her face was tucked against his neck. The soft puffs of her breaths against his shoulder made him smile.
Reaching up, he gently slid his hand beneath her hair at her neck to lightly caress her, hoping that the mating mark had already manifested there. She moved into his touch, kissing his shoulder lightly.
“Nice,” she whispered.
“Yes, Gracie. It is,” he told her, kissing her forehead lightly.
“Is it time to get up already?” Her voice was soft with sleep, and she snuggled against him tighter, not wanting him to move away from her.
“I have to in a little bit, but you can stay in bed and get some more rest,” he told her.
“Okay,” she mumbled, falling back to sleep very quickly.
He held her tenderly, watching her sleep as the early morning sun started to illuminate their bedroom. He was looking forward to every morning with her, waking up and holding her as she fought through her sleepiness. She was absolutely adorable and incredibly sexy. Her naked body rubbed against his and he felt his already hard shaft jump as desire for her filled him.
Pulling away from her slowly, he stepped from the bed and looked down at his sleeping mate. Her long, light brown hair covered her shoulders, falling in soft curls to the middle of her back. Stepping forward, he reached out and carefully brushed the soft tresses to the side to look at the nape of her neck. Seeing her beautiful skin without the mating mark that would signify their mating having been blessed by the Great Spirit made his heart hurt. He had hoped that the proof of their mating would already be evident. To see that it wasn’t caused him to feel a disappointment so deep it made a nearly debilitating ache fill his heart.
Covering her tenderly, he turned and made his way into the master bathroom. He flipped on the light and faced himself in the large mirror over the double sink. He turned his body just enough so that he could see the skin on the back of his neck and was disappointed to see that his neck was also void of the mark.
Sliding open the glass shower door, he stepped in and turned on the water, waiting only a brief moment before he turned the control to engage the showerhead. He stuck his head under the warmth of the water, placing his hands on the tiles in front of him to lean forward and drop his head. He didn’t understand why they hadn’t been blessed with the mating mark. He had made sure that Gracie had acknowledged that she belonged to him. He had whispered the words of the ancient blessing. He didn’t know why the Great Spirit hadn’t shown them that they were destined true mates.
He reached out and grabbed the shampoo, pouring some into his hand before placing the bottle back on the ledge. Scrubbing at his hair, he tried to work through the problem. He was at a loss. There was no reason he could think of for this to be happening.
Finishing up his shower, he walked back into their bedroom and watched Gracie sleeping peacefully as he dressed. He loved the way she looked in their bed. She was lying on her back and the covers had fallen away to bare her beautiful breasts to his gaze.
He sat beside her, placing his left hand on the bed beside her hip. Leaning forward, he kissed her lips lightly then pulled back to rest his cheek against her chest, rubbing softly against the fullness of her breast.
“I love you, Gracie Lee,” he whispered, kissing the soft mound tenderly before leaning back to sit up and gaze down at her. “I don’t know why we don’t have the mating marks yet, but it doesn’t matter. You’re my mate, and I’m yours.”
Covering her carefully, he kissed her lips one last time before standing and turning away from her. His heart was heavy with sadness as he left their bedroom.
* * * *
Deuce rode beside John as they made their way out to the south pasture. He was deep in thought and was glad his chestnut mare Daisy was a good workhorse, and he didn’t have to really pay attention to where they were going. The horse dutifully walked beside John’s white stallion Brutus as she did every morning.
“W
ant to talk about it?” John’s deep voice invaded his thoughts.
He turned his attention to his best friend. John looked back at him with patient understanding that was so typical of his personality. He knew that of anyone, John would be the one he could talk to about his concerns. He had been his best friend since they had been kids.
“I’m concerned that Gracie and I don’t have mating marks yet,” he told him finally.
“Why would you expect that to happen so quickly?” John asked, tipping his black cowboy hat up with the index finger of his right hand as he faced him.
“When we were together last night, I got her to admit that she belonged to me,” he told John calmly. “That should have made the commitment firm. Don’t you think?”
John was quiet for a long time. Deuce almost thought he wasn’t going to answer him.
“The night that the mating mark appeared on both Jamie and me, we talked about more than Jamie belonging to me,” he told Deuce quietly. “Did you tell her you belonged to her, too, Deuce?”
Deuce looked at him seriously. “I didn’t say those words.”
John nodded. “Didn’t think so.”
“What?” Deuce’s voice held frustration as he faced him.
“Deuce, you’ve always been in charge of this ranch and your brothers,” John told him calmly. “Your nature is to get answers. You don’t think about what you’re feeling, and none of us ever question you. We already know what you think and how you feel about things and how you feel about us.”
“And that’s bad?” Deuce asked, seriously wanting to understand.
“No, not at all,” John told him honestly. “You don’t need to tell us those things because we already know. But with Gracie, she doesn’t know, Deuce. You have to tell her what you’re thinking and what you’re feeling. She needs to know what your intentions are. And, knowing Gracie as I do, she would never assume you feel anything permanent with her.”
Deuce faced forward and thought about John’s words. “She did mention that she would be mine as long as I wanted her to be,” he admitted after a moment, remembering how her words had worried him.
Touching Deuce [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 9