Deuce smiled as he speared his fork into the macaroni salad. “Do you like working at the advertising agency, Gracie?”
“Most of the time I do,” Gracie admitted. “It seems to have lost some of its appeal lately, though. There are so many more important things in life than figuring out how to make the public want to buy a particular brand of workout clothes.”
Deuce nodded, his expression serious as he watched her. “If you don’t like it, you should leave.”
Gracie reached for the bag of chips and opened it, offering it to the man who sat across from her. She watched as his large hand disappeared into the bag and pulled out a handful of chips. As he brought one to his mouth and ate it in one bite, she watched his lips, remembering how they felt on hers, and how he tasted.
“You can always work for the McKade Ranch,” he offered. “I have paperwork up to my eyeballs that I never have time to get to.”
“Do you really need help, or are you just trying to keep me close?”
“Both,” he answered honestly.
Gracie smiled, taking another bite of her sandwich. “I’ll think about it,” she mumbled around her mouthful, laughing as she caught the small bit of roll that fell from her mouth.
Deuce watched her silently. He knew she had to make the choice. As much as he wanted to tell her to leave her job and work with him, he wouldn’t. He pictured her working beside him as his mother had done with his father.
He remembered how his parents had spent countless hours working together, and he pictured the way his father always gathered his mother into his arms and pulled her onto his lap whenever they sat in the ranch office. Most of all, he remembered how happy they had been making a comfortable life for each other and their boys. He wanted that with Gracie.
“This place will always be my favorite spot on your land, Deuce,” she told him softly as she looked over at the softly rushing water. “I remember how I used to come here to escape my parents. You were always here to sit with me. You never minded how I used to make you hold all the wet pebbles that I snatched from that brook.”
Deuce looked at the mature woman who sat across from him, seeing the small, innocent child who had been so much a part of his life. He remembered how she had taken care of her little sister and the way she had soothed any skittish animal. What he remembered most was the way her light blue eyes had looked into his soul, and her touch had sent a sense of complete calm through him. That had never changed over the years, and he realized sadly that he had allowed too many years to be wasted when they could have been sharing their lives.
“Every minute we spent here together was a breath of fresh air for me, Gracie,” he admitted honestly. “I had a lot of chores and a lot of responsibilities. When we were here I could relax, and you always made me calm.”
Gracie lowered the bottle of water she had been drinking from, capped it, and put it aside. “You mean you liked hanging out with me?” She couldn’t help but be a little skeptical.
“I used to pass by this section all the time,” he told her, his voice distant as he thought back. “Sometimes I got lucky and you were here.” He reached out and took her hand in his, loving the sense of calm and love that surrounded him. “I didn’t like it when I found you upset.” He touched her cheek and rubbed the back of his knuckles over her jaw. “I especially hated it when I saw the bruises.”
“I know,” Gracie whispered, leaning into his hand and kissing it. “I wasn’t too fond of that either. Luckily, it didn’t happen too often. Melanie and I became masters at disappearing when our parents were close to losing their tempers.”
She handed him the container of macaroni salad. “Want some more?”
He took the container from her and ate silently, watching her as she finished her sandwich, amazed by how she offered him food each time she picked up something to eat. He knew that she didn’t even realize what she was doing. It was innate to her personality, always offering and giving before she thought of herself. Well, he was determined that she was finally going to be shown how important she was. He was going to show her every day for the rest of their lives just how much he cherished her. She was going to see that she was the most important person in his life.
“That was absolutely delicious.” Gracie rubbed her stomach lightly. “Do you want any more food, Deuce?”
“No thanks, honey. I’m full.”
Deuce’s deep blue eyes watched her movements as she carefully covered the plastic containers and packed away all the remnants of their meal. When she sat quietly and was looking at the brook happily, she reached out and touched his foot.
“Thanks for taking me here,” she told him quietly. “You’re a pretty thoughtful guy, you know that?”
“Aw shucks, ma’am.”
“Oh no, you don’t, Deuce McKade,” she stopped him, turning and pushing at his chest so that he lay back against the blanket. She covered his body with hers, holding her body over his as she looked down at him. “You are the nicest, most generous man that I have ever known,” she told him firmly. “Don’t you dare make light of it.” She leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “How did I ever get so lucky to have you as mine?” Her voice was soft, and her eyes openly showed every feeling of love she had for him.
Deuce reached up and took her face between his hands, rubbing the pads of his thumbs across her cheeks. He looked at her beautiful, blue eyes as she smiled down at him and was thankful that she had remained a kind and caring woman despite how she had been treated in her lifetime. She had shown him only support and understanding, and she gave herself to him without reservation. The way she touched him, the way she loved him, and the way she brought joy to him made him thank the Great Spirit that he had been gifted with her as his mate.
Her hands found the buttons of his shirt and worked their magic, touching each bit of exposed flesh as she pushed open the material to reveal the powerful muscles of his chest. Deuce moaned under her hands and mouth, loving every whisper of caring and desire they ghosted across his body.
Reaching up, he pulled at her shirt, dragging it over her head and baring her upper torso. When he unhooked her bra and slowly tugged it from her body, he couldn’t prevent the moan of desire that escaped him as her full breasts and turgid nipples dragged across his bare chest.
She just loved the feel of his solid muscles and soft hair that covered them. She couldn’t prevent herself from blushing at the thought of how she loved the masculine feature of her own teddy bear.
“So good,” he murmured against her neck, biting down on it lightly before soothing the sting with his tongue.
Gracie placed her hands on Deuce’s chest, pushing herself up until she was nearly sitting. She ran her fingers through the black hair on his chest, her body pulsing with need at his incredible sexiness. Leaning forward, she kissed his chest lightly, dragging her mouth across his muscles until she made her way to one dark nipple. She licked it lightly, swirling her tongue around the flat disk, covering her mouth over his nipple and sucking deeply. When she flicked her tongue over the tip and bit down gently, she smiled against his chest as he growled his approval.
He grabbed for her arms and pulled her up into his embrace, slamming his mouth against hers and taking what he needed from her. He kissed her with such need and passion they barely had enough oxygen in their lungs to continue the connection. He pulled her gently away from his mouth, reaching up to kiss her forehead lightly.
“I need you, Mate,” he whispered.
“I’m yours,” she whispered back, rubbing her face into his neck. “I always will be.”
He carefully moved them so that she lay beneath him. His hands found the snap of her jeans and made quick work of opening it and tugging down her zipper.
She lifted her bottom to help him pull her jeans over her hips and down her legs. When he pulled at her underwear, she barely registered that they fell away from her body. She was too busy unbuckling his belt and tugging open his jeans. She was glad he had the smal
l bit of sanity it took to realize he had to remove his boots. When he finally was divested of his jeans and underwear, she moaned as her body was pinned beneath his, fitting perfectly against him from chest to thigh. She opened her legs to accept him in the cradle of her body and reached her arms around his body to pull him tightly against her own.
“I love how you feel against me,” she whispered, kissing his neck.
“I do, too, honey,” he moaned, rubbing against her.
She gasped as the hardness of his shaft settled between the folds of her lower lips. His moan joined hers at the intimate touch. Reaching between them she took hold of him, squeezing lightly and pulling up gently. His sounds of desire filled her mouth, and she pushed her tongue against his as he devoured her.
Pulling away suddenly, Deuce sat back on his haunches and looked down at his mate as she was spread out before him. His cock pointed at her pussy, and he wanted to plunge into her sheath and feel her warmth surrounding him as he lost himself in the sweetness of her body. But he couldn’t. Not yet. He was going to drive her wild with desire and bring her to release until her body begged for his. They would join together when the need for each other tested their restraint until only their bodies coming together as one would satisfy both of them.
He lowered his massive frame and settled himself between her legs, shouldering them wider apart as his mouth descended upon her and licked through her already dripping channel. He growled against her, the vibrations pulling the most incredibly sexy moan from his mate. Latching onto her clit, he flicked his tongue with increasing pressure against her swollen button as two of his fingers delved deep inside of her.
Her channel tightened, and her grip on his fingers increased as he pumped in and out in quick succession. Her juices dripped down his fingers to pool onto his palm, and he leaned down to lick them up quickly, moaning at the exquisite taste of her before returning to her clit and biting down then laving at it to soothe the slight nip of pain.
She came apart. Her hands sought him, her fingers finally finding him as she gripped his head. She pulled at his hair as she bucked up into his mouth. Her heart pounded against her chest as every nerve in her body screamed with her release. Her vaginal walls gripped his fingers—wanting, needing, and demanding that he give her more.
She didn’t have time to do anything but hold on as he climbed up her body and slammed his mouth down onto hers. He took from her without apology, and she didn’t want to change one thing in the way that he made love to her. She loved exactly what he was doing and how he was doing it. She wanted him to demand from her. She wanted to give him everything she had. Closing her eyes, she allowed her feelings of love and need to fill her.
He reached down and took hold of his hard and weeping shaft. It was so engorged it was almost painful to touch. Without hesitation, he guided the tip to her waiting channel and slammed home in one smooth move, burying himself deeply within her until his balls slapped against her ass.
“Look at me, Mate,” he demanded, his voice gruff.
She opened her eyes immediately. “I see you,” she moaned.
“You’re mine.”
“Yes.”
He began moving, pulling out slowly and pushing in with equal tenderness. With each thrust, his cock dragged across her G-spot, pulling continuous gasps of pleasure from her. He held himself above her, snapping his hips with a force that pushed Gracie up the length of the blanket they were lying on.
Reaching around her, he wrapped his right hand around her back and pulled her up to sit on his thighs while he continued to pump up into her. She held onto his shoulders, her nails digging into his muscles as she fought to meet each one of his thrusts with one of her own.
She was out of control. He had pushed her there. And he loved it.
“Harder,” she moaned against his chest, biting down on his pectoral muscle in her frenzy to love him.
Deuce yelled out his pleasure at her roughness, snapping his hips harder. He held her hips tightly, determined to shove as deep inside of her as possible. He could feel his balls drawing up tightly against his body and knew he was going to come within seconds.
He pushed his pelvis against her mound with each erratic snap of his hips, putting pressure on her clit with each upward thrust. He could feel her body tightening within his hold, and he knew she was just as close as he was.
“Touch yourself, Gracie. Make yourself come,” he demanded.
Gracie moved her hand immediately, reaching down between them and rubbing her clit roughly. Her body bowed instantly, and she screamed as her orgasm shattered through her.
Her vaginal muscles gripped his cock painfully, making his thrusts that much more intense. With only two more thrusts, he held himself still as his cock exploded and sent a gush of seed deep inside of his mate.
She held onto him tightly, breathing erratically against his chest as her head hung limply between them. Petting his arms lightly, she entwined the fingers of her right hand with his left, squeezing tightly as emotions overwhelmed her.
His right arm was wrapped around her body, holding her tightly against his chest. He struggled to draw air into his lungs and gasped as her vaginal muscles contracted one more time, pulling another pulse of seed from him.
Tipping them both forward, he placed her gently on the blanket below them, releasing her hand and reaching out to draw the second blanket that lay to his left over them. He lay above her, nestled against her core, his cock still buried deep inside of her.
When he lifted his head to look down at her, she gazed up at him with the most unbelievably tender expression he had ever seen. He could feel himself returning her feelings without hesitation. This woman, his mate, was his life. He adored her and would spend the rest of his life showing her just how much she meant to him.
“I love you, Gracie Lee Emery,” he told her before lowering his face to meet hers and kissing her softly.
Gracie smiled and touched his lips tenderly with the tips of her fingers as she watched the expression of total and utter devotion cross his face. She felt the same devotion toward him. He was hers, and she was going to make sure he always knew what he meant to her.
“I love you, James Robert McKade the second,” she told him softly.
Deuce smiled at the use of his formal name. The feeling of rightness filled him. She was his mate, and they would spend the rest of their lives together.
His softening cock started to slip from her body, and he pulled out slowly, kissing her tenderly as their bodies separated. He settled beside her and pulled her tightly against his side, wrapping the blanket around her more securely.
He kissed her temple as she snuggled against him. When she kissed his side, he squeezed her tightly, laughing at the soft grunt that escaped her.
“Too tight?” he asked, laughing.
“Never,” she answered immediately. “I like it.”
“Good.” He ran his hand down her back until his fingers followed the crease of her cheeks, and he rubbed against her puckered star.
She gasped and pushed into his touch, making him smile. His Gracie was a passionate woman.
“I’m going to put a plug in here tonight, Gracie. Then tomorrow I’m going to take you here.”
“You are?”
“Mmm hmm,” he murmured. “Then I’m going to put the plug back in to keep my seed inside of you, and you’ll have to wear it until I take it out at lunch time.”
Gracie was quiet for a while, and he worried that he might be expecting too much from her too soon.
“Sounds interesting,” she said finally, her voice light. “Why do you want to put the plug back in me after you come inside of me?” she asked after a moment.
Deuce smiled. She was always thinking. “It’s just my way of claiming ownership of you.” His voice was calm but firm, and he waited for her to think his words over.
“Okay,” she said finally. “I’m going to have to think about what I want to do to you to show that I own you.”
&nb
sp; Deuce laughed and drew her tighter against his chest. “You think about that, honey.”
She pinched his waist lightly. “Are you laughing at me, Deuce McKade?”
“Not at all, Gracie. I like that you have ownership over me.”
She looked at him warily. Seeing his complete happiness, she relaxed and settled against him comfortably. “Okay. Now shush so I can take a nap.”
“Okay, Mate. You get all the sleep you need.”
Gracie sighed contentedly. She closed her eyes and leaned toward the wonderful scent of the man who filled her heart. She trusted him to hold her and take care of her so she could sleep. It wasn’t long before she drifted off, feeling safe and happy in the arms of her mate.
Deuce held her tightly within his arms, tucking the extra blanket tighter around the two of them to ward off the chill of the setting sun. He had never felt so sated or so cared for. Gracie’s touch gave him that. It was her hands and her heart that made him understand the true miracle of the land. The Great Spirit had blessed their mating. They were destined to be together forever—something he never thought would ever be gifted to him.
He smiled against Gracie’s head as she cuddled closer against him. He listened to the quiet sounds of the babbling brook and knew such peace for the first time in his life. Everything was better. The sounds were clearer, the beauty of the land crisper, and the joy of his family deeper—all because of the woman he held in his arms.
A feeling of warmth suddenly surrounded Deuce. He felt it deep and solid as if it were a part of him. It was a strange feeling, but not an unpleasant one. Just different.
He pulled Gracie tighter against him, worrying slightly at the feeling. As her body rested against his, he felt the intensity of the warmth that surrounded her. Pulling back slightly, he looked down at his sleeping mate and touched her face gently. Her smile at his touch made him happy. Running his hand down her neck, he tenderly followed the line of her shoulder, down her arm, and reached for her hand as it rested against her abdomen.
Touching Deuce [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 16