Her hands slowed then stopped moving. He could feel her breathing deeply and knew that she had fallen asleep. Opening his eyes, he watched her silently, completely content as he ran his hand down her back and then up to her hair over and over again. When she turned in her sleep to settle on her stomach, he smiled as he took in the creamy skin of her back and the delicious fullness of the globes of her ass.
A soft, golden glow suddenly appeared at the back of her neck. He held his breath as the importance of what was happening hit him. It was only a matter of seconds before the glow disappeared. Reaching up, he took her beautiful, light brown hair and carefully pushed it to the side so that it draped over her shoulder, revealing the golden, entwined links that now appeared at the nape of her neck.
His chest filled with happiness and, for the first time in a long time, hope filled his heart. He knew they were fated to be together. He knew that she was meant to be his. The Great Spirit had blessed them, and he knew that they were going to have a wonderful future.
“I love you, Mate,” he whispered against the top of her head just before he kissed the golden links that proved that she was his.
Chapter 10
Gracie stretched against the solid wall of warmth beside her. She ached deliciously, and she couldn’t prevent the smile that crossed her lips as she thought about making love with Deuce. He was an amazing man who made her fly. She wanted to spend the rest of her days showing him how much she loved him.
“I hope that smile is for me, honey,” his deep voice rumbled beneath her cheek as she rested against his chest.
Her smile remained in place, but she didn’t open her eyes, afraid that her happiness would dissipate like a soft cloud. Instead, she hugged him tightly before dragging her nails through the black hair that populated his chest. Could this man be any sexier?
“Just thinking about the chocolate cake that Claire made,” she answered softly.
Deuce’s bark of laughter made her giggle. She cuddled against him tighter, trying to hide her happiness.
“Chocolate cake, huh?”
Pulling her up into his arms, he settled her on top of his body. She immediately hugged him and squeezed her knees tightly against his waist. He was content as she settled against him, smiling at the way she rested so peacefully against him. Her arms were relaxed over his shoulders, and her legs were draped open across his waist, allowing him to push against her core with his already hard cock. He watched as her eyes opened and her sweet mouth fell slack as he searched for home.
His hands held her hips and maneuvered her slightly so that the tip of his cock nudged her slick folds and he slid easily inside of her warm channel. He held her tightly as he surged up into her in one slow move, pulling a grunt of desire from her.
“Want to tell me again why you were smiling, Mate?” he goaded her, reaching up to hold her face between his hands so that she met his intense gaze.
At the use of the intimate title, she became serious at once. He truly believed they were mates. Deep in her heart she believed it, too. There was no use denying what she felt anymore.
“I was thinking about spending the rest of my life making love with you, Mate,” she whispered.
His face grew serious at her admission. There was no smile, no teasing glint to his eyes. He moved his hips slowly, pulling from her body before surging up to seat himself deeply within her once again.
Gracie closed her eyes at the incredible feeling of pleasure that raced through her. Laying her head on his chest, she tightened her hold on him and moved her hips to meet each thrust and retreat.
“Look at me, Gracie,” he demanded, his voice rough.
She obeyed him immediately, her blue eyes soft as she looked at him with all the love and desire that she had for him. “I’m looking at you,” she whispered.
“Yes, you are,” he told her, smiling. “Want to tell me about wanting that chocolate cake again?” he teased.
Gracie couldn’t prevent the grin that came to her. “If I had to choose between the chocolate cake and you, I would have a tough time deciding,” she said calmly, gasping as he pushed inside of her deeper than before. “Maybe not,” she admitted, leaning forward to cover his mouth with her own and kiss him with all the pent up longing she had for him.
He kissed her back with such intensity it was difficult to breathe. When he bit her bottom lip and sucked it into his mouth to soothe the sting with his tongue, she lost all control of herself. She canted her hips, meeting each of his thrusts with one of her own, slamming down onto his hips and taking him deeper inside her with each plunge. All conscious thought left her. She was just a bundle of want—and he was the one she wanted.
In a matter of seconds, their fury erupted into two bodies reaching and finding ultimate pleasure in the gift of the other. His hands held her hips in place as he filled her with his seed, each pulse causing delicious aftershocks within her.
She laid limp against him, content to let him hold her tightly against his chest. Kissing his nipple, she opened her mouth and swirled her tongue around its peak, suckling on it before biting down on it gently. His responding moan of pleasure made her smile, and she released it slowly, kissing it one last time before all strength left her and she lay draped over him.
“You’re bad for my health,” she whispered. “I’m going to be exhausted from having orgasms all the time.”
Deuce smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get enough rest, honey. I plan on keeping you in our bed as much as possible.”
* * * *
“I’ve set up Spence’s old room with the furniture I want to keep as a surprise for Gracie,” Deuce told Jake and Claire as they worked together in the kitchen.
“Is all the bedding up there, Deuce?” Claire whispered, making sure that no one overheard their conversation.
Deuce nodded. “You can get it later so Gracie doesn’t see you.” He turned to face his brother. “Remember to help Claire put up the canopies. I don’t want her getting hurt.”
“I will,” Jake answered, looking at Claire and raising his eyebrow as if daring her to challenge him.
Claire waved her hand at him, dismissing him. “I’ll have it all set up by tomorrow afternoon,” she promised Deuce. “I’ll grab the bedding tonight and wash everything. Jake can help me set up the canopies when he gets home from work tomorrow.”
“I’ll be home for lunch, Claire,” Jake told her firmly. “We can do it then. Just don’t try to do it without me.”
“Okay,” Claire muttered. “I don’t know why you two are so worried. It’s not like I haven’t done things by myself before.”
“This is not about you being capable of doing something,” Jake interrupted her, reaching out to grab her forearm as she tried to turn away from him. “This is about your safety.”
Claire looked at him quietly, feeling the warmth that seeped into her arm where his hand touched her. She knew he didn’t truly understand what his touch did for her. It was more than a grounding feeling or a buffer that protected her from other peoples’ feelings. It made her sense his caring for her all the way to her soul. Even though he held back and had no plans to act on those feelings, she was always happy to know that he at least cared about her. She would never tell him that she knew. That would be something he would have to come to terms with and tell her when he was comfortable with that fact—if he was ever comfortable with that fact.
“I’ll wait until lunch,” she told him calmly. “But I have class at three o’clock and have to get it done before I have to leave to go to school.”
“There’s no hurry,” Deuce told them both. “I don’t plan on showing Gracie the room yet.”
“What’s with this room, Deuce?” Jake asked, stepping forward and leaning against the sink as he faced his oldest brother.
“Gracie always wanted a canopy bed when she was a kid,” Deuce explained. “I’m making sure that our daughters will have them.”
Jake looked at Claire
with raised eyebrows. “Daughters? As in more than one?” He looked at Deuce and folded his arms across his chest, waiting for his brother to explain that one.
“Yes, daughters,” Deuce answered, smiling slyly. “I’m hoping for two girls and two boys, but I haven’t talked to Gracie about it yet. If she only wants three kids, we can compromise. We’ll have seven.”
Jake burst out laughing, pulling Claire against him as he saw her cover her face with surprise at the emotions Deuce was pushing at her. Claire settled into his embrace, smiling up at him as she felt Deuce’s total happiness.
“I think you should have a talk with Gracie,” Claire suggested. “She might be more open to what you want than you realize.”
“Deuce, maybe you should settle more than just having children,” Jake offered calmly. “Are you going to commit to her?”
Deuce nodded, reaching out to grab a warm roll off the serving plate on the table and taking a bite. “She’s my mate, Jake,” he told his brother firmly, lifting the platter with the rolls and carrying it out of the kitchen.
“She’s his mate,” Jake stated firmly, looking at Claire and smiling. “About damn time he realized that. Took him long enough to see what was right in front of him all along.”
Releasing Claire from his arms, he turned and lifted the platter that held the deliciously cooked pot roast Claire had prepared for dinner. He walked carefully through the kitchen, pushing open the swinging kitchen door with his hip before exiting through it.
“Must be a McKade trait,” Claire muttered as she reached for the bowls containing the mashed potatoes and sweet corn before following him out of the kitchen.
* * * *
Deuce looked at the people who filled the large, open living room and was content. Having his family here made him happy. Each of his brothers sat beside the woman he knew was meant for each one of them. He considered Tim and John his brothers, too. All seven men had grown up together and had shared life’s joys and tragedies. There was not one of them who wouldn’t lay down his life for the other.
Knowing that all of these men would finally be given the happiness that they deserved with the women who would be by their sides to create a life filled with love made him finally relax. Melanie’s vision that the women in this room would be their mates would come true for each of them soon enough. He was immensely thankful that he had already bonded with his own mate.
Looking at his Gracie, he couldn’t prevent the smile that crossed his lips at the sight of his beautiful mate. Her soft, brown hair hung down across her back, hiding the mating mark that was now forever a part of her. He was looking forward to showing her the golden, entwined links on the nape of her neck when they were alone later. She would see that they were fated mates who had been blessed by the Great Spirit.
“How’re you feeling, Melanie?” Gracie asked her sister as she sat beside Luke with their son cuddled on his lap as he rested against his chest, sound asleep.
“I’m a little uncomfortable,” Melanie admitted. “I don’t think it will be long now,” she told them, rubbing her belly gently.
Luke’s large hand covered hers, his fingers threading through hers and rubbing his knuckles against the hardness of her belly. “Are you having contractions, baby?” he asked, worried.
“No, not yet,” she told him, smiling up at him. “But I think I will be soon.”
Luke nodded, leaning forward to kiss her lips tenderly. “I love you, Melanie,” he whispered, resting his head against her temple as he caressed his daughter beneath his hand.
“Robbie’s room is all ready for him,” Deuce told them, reaching out to take Gracie’s hand in his as she sat on the arm of his recliner. “Spence and I put together the crib earlier. Your little girl is good to go, too.”
Melanie smiled and looked at her sister happily. “I know all of you will take good care of her and Robbie.”
“Luke’s old room is ready for the two of you for when you come home from the hospital. You’ll stay here with us until you’re ready to go back to your place,” Deuce told her firmly.
“Deuce and I talked about this, darlin’. We both think it’s a good idea,” Luke spoke up. “Everyone here will help us until you’re strong enough.”
Melanie nodded. “You’ll get no argument from me,” Melanie told them, smiling. “Thank you.”
“There’s so many of us ready to help, you’ll have absolutely no reason to worry,” Jamie spoke up, smiling as John tugged her closer to him as she shared one of the large recliners with him.
“I can’t wait to hold the new baby,” Lainey spoke up, her blue eyes sparkling with happiness.
Spence looked at Tim and smiled before looking at the woman they both wanted with all of their hearts. “Maybe it’s time for you to have a baby of your own, Lainey,” he suggested calmly.
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that,” Lainey answered sarcastically. “I’ll just proposition the next guy who comes into our diner. What do you think, Becca?”
Becca laughed at the expressions of anger on Spence’s and Tim’s faces. “Tell you what, Lainey, you proposition the first guy who comes into the diner, and I’ll proposition the second.”
“You will not ask a complete stranger to father your child,” Tim told Lainey sternly.
“Absolutely not,” Rafe growled beside Becca.
Lainey blushed and tried to stand, but Spence grabbed her hand and held her so that she couldn’t move away from between him and Tim on the couch.
“I think it’s time for us to go home, Becca,” Lainey said quietly as she pulled her hand free from Spence’s grasp and stood, unable to look at either him or Tim as she walked away from the couch and reached for her coat and purse on the coat stand beside the front door. “Good night, everyone.”
Becca struggled to stand, frustrated when Rafe’s hands reached out to steady her. “I’m fine, Rafe,” she told him tiredly, pushing away his hands and wobbling briefly before she found her balance. She suddenly was just as anxious to leave the McKade Ranch. Sometimes it just hurt too much to be here.
She walked over to the front door, removing her coat from the stand and pulling it on slowly then gripping her purse to her chest. “If we don’t get out of here soon, I’m going to cry,” she whispered to her twin.
“I’m with you, Becca.” Lainey pulled at the door and held it open for her sister, following her outside and closing the door behind them. Her sister didn’t realize how much she wanted to ask Spence and Tim to have a relationship with her. That was exactly why she had to leave. There had to be something wrong with her for loving and wanting both men.
Melanie looked at Rafe, Spence, and Tim and shook her head sadly. “You know, if you guys don’t smarten up and take matters into your own hands soon, you’re going to lose those women,” she warned them.
Tim stood slowly, unfolding his massive frame. His body seemed to lose power as he looked at Spence, his equal in size and stature.
“We’re going to discuss this tonight, Spence,” he told him firmly.
Spence looked at his best friend silently. He knew Tim was right. They had to decide the best course of action before they lost Lainey forever.
“Come on, Luke. Let’s go home. I think we need to pack up Robbie’s clothes and toys and bring them here in the morning.”
“You are having contractions, Melanie,” Luke told her worriedly.
“No. I just have a feeling we need to be ready.”
“Okay, honey,” he whispered, kissing her temple lightly as he jostled Robbie in his arms. He turned to look at Deuce and nodded. “I’ll be back in the morning to drop off Robbie’s things.”
Deuce stood and walked them to the front door, leaning down to kiss Robbie’s cheek before they left. When he closed the door and turned to face the living room, he saw that Gracie was watching him from her seat on the arm of his recliner, her expression soft and tender.
Walking back into the living room, he turned to the remaining members of his family. “I thin
k we’ll be welcoming our niece within the next few days,” he told them knowingly.
John stood and carefully pulled Jamie up to stand beside him. “Let’s get home, cara,” he told her softly. “You need to sleep.”
Jamie leaned into his chest and nuzzled his neck lightly, kissing him just below his ear. “Like you’re going to let me sleep,” she teased.
“Who, me?” he asked, smiling innocently. “I seem to remember a certain beautiful mate who had certain needs today and didn’t allow me to leave our home tonight without a little loving.”
His whispered words against her neck earned him a quick hug and kiss from his wife. Hugging her tightly, he could barely contain his happiness as her body pressed against his. Taking her hand in his, he led them to the front door.
“See you in the morning, Deuce,” he called over his shoulder as they exited, allowing Spence and Tim to follow them out before closing the door behind them.
“Good night, Deuce,” Claire spoke up softly, standing up from the chair nearest the kitchen to escape as quickly as she could. The depth of emotions rolling off Lainey, Becca, Rafe, Spence, and Tim were nearly drowning her.
Before she could make a clean exit, Jake came up behind her and reached out for her hand. He held it tightly and tugged at her so that she would turn to face him.
“Are you okay, angel?”
Claire nodded and smiled. “I am now.”
Jake smiled and released her hand, knowing he had helped her to ease her empathic stress. He hesitated a moment, searching her face for any sign that she still needed his help. When he saw that she was finally calm, he breathed a sigh of relief and stepped back slightly. “Good night, Claire.”
Claire smiled sadly and pulled away from him. “Thanks, Jake. Good night.” She turned and walked into the kitchen to make her way to her room at the back of the ranch house.
Touching Deuce [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 13