Nicole Austin

by Tamara's Spirit (lit)

  Her eyes traveled down the thick column of his neck to broad shoulders capable of carrying the weight of the world with ease. She drank in every detail of the way he looked. Muscular arms and torso, rigid abdomen, trim hips, and… Oh. My. God!

  With his left hand, he stroked the most sumptuous cock with casual confidence. The satiny skin over the steely shaft was a shade darker than the rest of his skin, the head a deep, ruddy color. Thick blue veins engorged the flesh with blood. The base was thicker than the shaft, ending in an uncut foreskin below the large crown. Each stroke of his hand created a game of peek-a-boo with the head of his cock, revealing it on the back stroke, covering it again with each forward stroke. It was an incredible sight.

  “Holy shit,” she blurted in amazed wonder. “You’ve got a hoodie.”

  How delightful. She’d never seen an uncircumcised cock before, but found it to be a mouthwatering thing to behold. Tamara pictured taking his beautiful cock in her mouth and laving the sensitive area protected by the foreskin when flaccid.

  Dakota groaned at the images created in his mind as the pink tip of her tongue slid across her lips. There was no way he would survive the sinful pleasures of her wicked mouth right now, though. Not without exploding and shooting his come down her throat. They would have to save such sweet pleasure for later. He wanted to be buried balls deep in her hot pussy.

  “We’ll try a taste test later,” he stated with arrogance. “Right now, I need to be inside you and feel your pussy cling to my cock.”

  His princess offered no objection. Need filled her darkened green eyes as she bent her knees and spread her legs wide.

  “Don’t make me wait any longer.” Desire had tightened her throat so the words were a mere whisper.

  Kneeling between her thighs, Dakota used his own legs to push hers wider. His hands slid under her ass, massaging the firm muscles before lifting her hips high above the pallet.

  When he lowered his weight over her, Tamara expected him to plunge his hard shaft straight into her. She was surprised when he leaned forward and took her mouth in the sweetest of kisses, sharing the depth of his affection. By the time he pulled back, they were both panting for breath.

  “There is no going back, Tamara.” His voice was husky with emotion, his expression serious. “Once we join together, I’ll never let you go.”

  She had no doubt he’d honor the statement. The words were reflected in the turbulent black depths of his eyes where she witnessed his conviction. This man meant forever.

  “If you can’t accept that, tell me now.”

  Her heart lodged in her throat and a tremor spread through her body. Never in her life had she even allowed herself to dream of such a man, and such a proposition. It was beyond comprehension. Dakota was offering her the world on a silver platter. All she had to do was reach out and grab hold.

  For the briefest of moments, Tamara worried she was not a forever kind of woman, but then she looked into his eyes again. What she saw melted the icy shell protecting her heart. In those fathomless black pools she caught a glimpse of the future. Dakota would give her complete and total devotion, unconditional acceptance, nonstop passion, and love without limits. Everything she’d never let herself hope to find, never knew she desired.

  Opening her arms in welcome, she struggled to find the words to express the overwhelming tide of emotion surging to life within her splintered spirit. “Yes,” she croaked, then cleared her voice. When she spoke again, her voice was stronger and held a deep sincerity. “I want it all. Everything you have, and everything I can give in return.”

  Before the words were even out of her mouth, she felt the broad head of his cock press against her spread opening. Slight movements of his hips had his cock stroking along her heated slit, coating himself in the abundance of her hot juices.

  Gripping his biceps, Tamara implored him, “Please, Dakota. Now!”

  He was certain it was difficult for her not to break from his impassioned gaze, but she wouldn’t avert her gaze. When his hips thrust forward, her eyes widened and she gasped. The walls of her pussy gripped his cock, pulling him into her depths like they’d done with his tongue.

  He held stock still for only a moment, giving them both a chance to adjust, savor their initial joining. When he thrust forward again, he seated his cock within his princess to the hilt. His spirit soared into the heavens, and a feeling of rightness settled over him. Pulling back, his cock slid from her pussy until only the head remained in her warm embrace, then he began a slow rhythm of advance and retreat, punctuating each forward drive with words of devotion.

  “Everything…forever…my heart…my spirit…always.”

  Tamara gripped his sides with her thighs. Her heels dug into his ass a she clung tight to anchor her movements, meeting each trust, holding nothing back. She took his mouth in a kiss she knew fell short of expressing what was in her heart. As their lips separated, she struggled to find the words. Words she’d never used and didn’t know how to utter. Instead, she followed his example, repeating his oath back to him, adding in her own twist.

  “Everything…forever…my heart…my spirit…always, my love.”

  What drove her to speak those last two words was beyond her grasp at the moment, but they felt right. Even if she couldn’t say I love you, the sentiment would let him know she did.

  Their thrusts became harder, Dakota sinking deeper into her very being each time he drove into her body. With each plunge, his pelvic bone ground down against her clit creating the most wonderful friction. Their combined need intensified as they rocketed toward a monumental implosion that would meld them together forever.

  A fierce roar rumbled up from his chest. She had the fleeting impression he looked very much like a grizzly bear, but his words were quick to drive all thought from her mind.

  “Come for me…with me,” Dakota growled.

  Lowering her hands from his arms to the clenching cheeks of his ass, Tamara held on tight. “Yes. Now, Dakota,” she cried as the orgasm swept through her body. “Come in me…fill me,” she gasped.

  Her internal muscles clamped down on his cock, fighting to stop the shallow strokes and keep him deep within her body. The next thing she knew, she was flooded with the warmth of his come as he threw back his head and bellowed his release to the heavens.

  He continued to rock his semi-hard shaft into her pussy until the last of the lingering aftershocks faded away. With gentle care, he lowered her back to the pallet, resting his weight over her body. Tamara reveled in the feeling of lying beneath his comforting mass. In the past, the first thing on her mind after sex was a shower. Right now the only thing she considered was the man covering her with his warmth. They were both sweaty and sticky, but she didn’t care.

  Dakota stirred, rising up on his elbows and looking down into her face. His fingers came up to brush damp, matted strands of dark hair away.

  Tamara wanted to profess her feelings, but the words still stuck in her throat. She found it would take a hell of a lot of courage to utter those three little words, and contented herself with waiting awhile longer to say them.

  Chapter Ten

  “There’s no way in hell she would have set out of here on foot,” Brock bellowed into the phone for the third time. Why the dense, jackass sheriff’s deputy didn’t understand was beyond him. “She wouldn’t take off for three days alone without telling someone either. And Tamara is not comfortable with nature, especially not when facing it alone.”

  The moron had the nerve to guffaw at the statement, which only increased his exasperation. His obtuse comments were beginning to make Brock’s blood boil.

  “Why does she live smack dab in the middle of nature on a ranch then, huh?”

  Jerk off. “Look, let me spell it out for you. Tamara Dobbs is a city girl. She lives out here ‘cause this is where her friends live. Yes, once in a while she disappears for a few days at a time, but never for this long. And never on foot!” Brock raked his fingers through his mussed up hair f
or about the hundredth time since initiating the conversation. “Something has happened to her.”

  Millie, Riley, Zeke and Jesse were all trying to interject their comments and opinions. Brock waved them off. It was understandable they were all riled up, but it wasn’t helping the situation at all.

  The deputy’s voice became serious. “Now, wait a minute. Didn’t you also tell me that your new employee, the Indian, is also gone? They probably just went off for some fun and games.”

  Okay, that did it. His patience had reached its limits. This insignificant, wet-behind-the-ears idiot had pushed him too far.

  “Dakota has taken some medical R&R time. There is no way Tamara is with him. It doesn’t fit. Something has happened to her. I want someone out here within the hour to file a missing persons report and start an investigation.” The ordered came out in a gruff tone, leaving no room for argument.

  “All right, settle down now. I’ll talk to…”

  “Listen to me,” Brock growled. “Either you get someone competent out here now, or I’m coming down there.”

  For the space of several heartbeats no one said a word as the threat hung in the air. When he spoke again, the deputy seemed to have given up fighting him, taking on a more sober tone.

  “Um…you’re talking about the Shooting Star ranch, right?”

  “That’s right.” Brock smacked his forehead in frustration. He heard a muffled conversation going on in the background for several moments before the deputy spoke again with an adjusted attitude. Hell, the man seemed downright contrite.

  “Sheriff Monroe just returned to the office. He asked me to let you know he’s personally heading out there right now. I apologize for any delay in our response. Please assure the Blacks this situation will be taken seriously and handled quickly.”

  A smug grin curved up the edges of his mouth. Sheriff Monroe was a personal friend of Van’s. Since the very capable lawman was now involved, Brock knew the matter would be given the serious attention it deserved.

  “That’ll be fine. If he gets here quick enough, I may even forget to tell the sheriff what a total imbecile you are.”

  He hung up the phone with a loud thunk then turned to his impatient friends.

  “Sheriff is on his way out. I think it’s time to tell Cord and Van what’s going on.” After each of them nodded their agreement, he placed the phone call he’d dreaded making. There was no way he wanted to interrupt their honeymoon, but he knew Tamara was very important to Van and she’d want to know what was happening.

  ??

  Cord and Savannah didn’t arrive back at the ranch until after the sheriff had already come and gone. Upon stepping out of the Hummer, they were surrounded by their worried friends.

  “Any word yet?” she asked, stroking the crystal pendant hanging between her breasts. It was a habit she’d developed. Somehow touching the crystal gave her a measure of comfort.

  “Nothing,” Riley replied.

  “Sheriff Monroe didn’t find any signs of foul play,” Millie added.

  Cord pulled Savannah into the shelter of his body as a tremor coursed through her. She was glad for his unconditional support.

  “What happened the last time y’all saw her?” Cord wanted to know.

  Brock filled them in on Dakota’s injury, and Tamara locking herself away in the cabin, music blaring. They’d all felt relieved when the music had been turned off, assuming she’d gotten over whatever had been bothering her and gone to bed. No one had gone looking for her again until she had not surfaced by mid-afternoon the next day.

  “It seems a little too coincidental both Dakota and Tamara disappeared around the same time,” Millie said. “Those two have been dancing around each other since he got here.”

  Riley narrowed his stunning blue eyes at the cook. “There is nothing going on between them.” He appeared angry at the mere suggestion.

  Fisting her hands on her meaty hips, Mille stared the big man down, showing no fear of facing his wrath. “Then why was Tamara so hot and bothered any time Dakota showed the least bit of attention to Steph?”

  As one, they all turned their gazes on Cord’s younger sister.

  Stephanie held up her hands in a defensive posture. “Hey, Dakota and I are just friends. He was teaching me about the horses. He’s a very nice man, but I have no interest in him outside of friendship.” She lowered her gaze briefly, then looked up at Riley in a shy manner from under thick lashes.

  Interesting. Savannah fought a smile at seeing her sister-in-law’s response to her friend. From the first moment she’d met the other woman she’d known there would be a connection between Steph and the prankster cowboy. Hopefully, Cord would allow things to develop instead of playing the overprotective big brother.

  She was frustrated to be unable to get any sense about what was happening with Tamara, although it wasn’t surprising. She’d never been able to see anything about her friend with her “second sight” abilities. Tamara was one of the few people able to keep her emotions hidden.

  Sensing Zeke had something to say, she turned toward the shy man. The stress riding him over the situation was evident in his cloudy, cornflower blue eyes and mussed, sandy blond hair.

  “Zeke? Talk to me, honey.”

  “We’ve all seen the way they look at each other, and the way Tamara acts whenever he’s around.” Looking down, Zeke dug the toe of his boot into the ground. “The scorching heat pouring off them when they watched Honey and Rowdy being mated was obvious.”

  Ah, she’d thought Dakota would have an impact on Tamara. It seemed logical to think they were likely together since they were both gone at the same time.

  Her friends were all well aware of her abilities. Because of this, they tended to relax when she offered reassurance. Savannah had to hope today would be no different. Taking a moment to make eye contact with each of them seemed to help ease the thick tension.

  After a brief, silent communication with her husband, Savannah wore a cheesy grin when he began speaking.

  “So if all of you are playing amateur detective, standing around here fretting about that spitfire, who the hell is taking care of the ranch?”

  Total and utter silence met the comment.

  “That’s what I figured,” he said, sounding stern. “You’re not being paid to lollygag around, chattering. I want y’all to get back to work.”

  Relief washed through her friends, allowing each to visibly relax. Knowing Cord was back and in charge gave them a measure of calm.

  Guiding her with his hand at the small of her back, her husband ushered Savannah toward the house. “Come on, sugar. Let’s go inside where you can relax before you start trying to reach out to Dakota.”

  His words made her heart swell. She’d never imagined finding such a wonderful, understanding man who accepted her abilities without question. The day he’d arrived on the ranch was one of the best days of her life.

  She was disappointed her time alone with Cord had to end, but it felt good to be home. Being away from the ranch and her friends had left her antsy. They were such a big part of her life it didn’t seem right not having them close.

  When she was able to loosen up enough to attempt using her abilities, Savannah became certain both Dakota and Tamara were fine and having a good time together. She detected a connection growing between them, which lightened her heart. She hoped the easy-going man would have a positive affect on Tamara. Her inner voice told Savannah if anyone were able to reach her friend, it would be him.

  For some reason, this knowledge didn’t seem to reassure the cowboys. Jealousy emanated from all four of them. While they were very casual about their relationship with Tamara, she knew each of them cared a great deal for their friend. It would be interesting to see how all of this played out.

  When they all returned to their normal activities, trying to act as if they weren’t worried, a palpable air of expectancy hung over the entire ranch. Savannah overheard the cowboys plotting, and began to wonder if her frien
d would be able to handle the inevitable scene she’d face upon returning home. Jesse’s words played through her head over and over.

  “If that no-account Indian has Tamara, he’s in for a world of hurt!

  Chapter Eleven

  She must have dozed for a bit, slowly coming to awareness as Dakota lifted her into his arms and carried her across the canyon. He seemed to have no concern they were both naked, and she figured it didn’t matter much since there was no one to see them other than animals.

  With gentle care, he lowered them both into the hot spring. She relaxed in total comfort against his big body, enjoying the blissful warmth surrounding her. Mmm…glorious, but what met her gaze as she opened her eyes was even better.