“I love you.” She spoke on a soft whisper as she finally set the emotions free, punctuated with a deep sigh of acceptance.
“Great Spirit. I love you so much, princess. It’s going to be all right now.”
When he started to thrust his cock in slow, easy strokes, a rush of joy seized Tamara. Her spirit soared, reaching out to Dakota, joining with this amazing man. Together they climbed, tangling their hearts and spirits together in ways she knew could not be undone.
She would never be alone again. Dakota would be by her side for the rest of her life.
He began chanting words in a language sounding older than time, speaking an ancient ritual binding them together, completing each steady thrust with the beautiful words she felt with every beat of her heart. They both exploded in blinding climax, flying into the heavens together on the wings of an eagle. The love and approval of the Great Spirit blessed their union, joining them for all time.
Chapter Twelve
Dakota’s every thought and action over the past several days had gone into nurturing their love and strengthening the bond growing stronger between them. They’d been gone longer than he’d anticipated. By now it was likely the others had become concerned, but he knew Tamara would have to be sure of his feelings and devotion before they returned to the ranch to face her friends. She needed a great deal of reassurance and tenderness, and would have to realize he would never walk away.
Watching as she began to accept the kind of things most people took for granted was an amazing sight to behold. Things like casual conversation, having a lover ask her opinion or listen to her dreams. Even relating to a man in ways not involving sex was new to her. For Dakota, it was akin to watching a delicate bud unfurl its petals to the warm embrace of the sun as it bloomed with a new, radiant vitality.
They shared common tasks with joy—from preparing meals to cleaning up their living space. The fragile new vibrancy glowing from his spirit mate as she opened herself to what they created together brought him both hope and happiness.
After a lazy soak in the hot spring, they settled on a blanket at the base of a large pine tree to enjoy the warm breeze against their bare skin. She curled up in his lap like a kitten and fell asleep to the comforting cadence of his voice while he told her stories from his childhood.
Dakota still marveled at how such a huge spirit was contained within quite so small a package. His fingers looked huge against her cheek as he brushed a glossy mahogany lock behind her ear. It made him want to shelter and protect her from the world, even as he felt a sense of pride over how far she’d come in such a short time.
And when they made love…
Making love with Tamara was beyond anything he’d imagined. No matter how they came together—fast and fevered or slow and reverent—it was a total joining of spirits. The wildcat had the ability to heat his blood with a simple glance, bring his cock to attention with the slightest caress, and drive him to his knees with her intense sexual energy.
A frown pulled down the corners of her pouty lips and creased her forehead.
“You realize we have to go back, right?” Tamara’s voice was raspy from sleep. “I have a business requiring my attention and you have a job.”
She looked up at him, worry over returning to the real world apparent in her green eyes. He was worried too, but being able to read Tamara’s emotions with such clarity in her expression lightened his heart. It showed how far she’d come, how much she had healed.
He didn’t fool himself into thinking it would be easy to return to the ranch or that the battle had been won. Being back in the familiar atmosphere, old habits would try to reassert themselves and it would be tempting for her to slip into her old ways. And he predicted the cowboys would attempt to come between them, encouraging a return of the Tamara they knew.
“No matter how wonderful it is to laze around and play out here, we have to go back to the real world,” she grumbled.
He understood her concerns, but there was no sense in worrying over what would happen in a future neither of them could control or stop from happening. Not when his sultry spirit mate lay curled against his body, her small hands beginning to wander, sending heat coursing through his veins.
“We’ll handle it all together, but first…” Tamara gave him a smoldering look from under thick lashes. Her green eyes darkened with desire. Those beautiful eyes always captivated him, and her sexy glance made his cock stand up and pay attention as it thumped against her belly.
“I’m hungry,” she mumbled against his chest. Her tongue snaked out to taste the muscular flesh cushioning her head. He felt her lips form a smile against his skin when he sucked in a sharp breath.
The hard edge of her nails sought out and teased his sensitive nipples, electric bolts of sensation racing down to his throbbing cock. Sharp shards of pleasure shot through him when her teeth scraped over his flesh. The warm, wet slide of her tongue against his nipples heated his blood to boiling. Tangling his fingers in her silky hair, Dakota held her mouth close to the rapid beating of his heart.
Her fingers played across his chest before moving lower. The warmth of her lips pressed sultry kisses over the ridges of his abdomen, blazing a heated path to join her fingers. He groaned when her nails raked through the dark curls covering his groin, wanting to demand she stop teasing and give him what he wanted, but enjoying the anticipation created from her playfulness.
Some thought must have tickled her funny bone because she giggled, the subtle vibration teasing his senses. Witnessing Tamara learning to let go enough to have fun while making love was a heady aphrodisiac and a beautiful gift he treasured.
She gazed up at him often, gauging the reaction she elicited. He eased his grip on her hair, sweat breaking over his skin as she headed lower. He’d dreamed of seeing those full lips stretched around his cock, cheeks hollowed sucking him deep into the warmth of her mouth. His princess was so beautiful, both inside and out.
Dakota’s balls tightened and he was ready to climax from the seductive sight of her bent over his cock, mouth hovering over the bulbous head, back arched and heart-shaped ass thrust up into the air… Great Spirit, he considered himself to be a very lucky man.
One hand finally held his shaft close to the base, exerting firm pressure while the other cupped his balls and began a tortuous massage. Every muscle tightened and hot pleasure streaked through his groin. Tamara's pink tongue licked a wet path across her lips while she stared at his cock like it was a delicious treat she anticipated savoring. As they both watched, a pearly drop of pre-come beaded at the slit.
The slow and steady descent of her mouth created an ache within Dakota to thrust his hips to meet her halfway, but he didn’t want to rush her. He wanted to relish his heightened senses being bombarded, delight in every touch, enjoy every sultry look, and melt under each lash of her tongue. Yet at her first hot swipe over the head of his cock, he moaned and bucked his hips. The extreme pleasure was both agonizing and heavenly.
She teased and tasted the entire plum-shaped head, then placed a tender kiss on his glans before tracing a scorching path around the prominent ridge. The hand gripping his shaft started to stroke him with small, slow movements, and a finger from the other hand began to slide along the shallow groove behind his sac, filling Dakota with the overpowering need for more.
It became obvious she was not unaffected by the sensual torture she created. Needing more stimulation of her own, Tamara dropped her hips down and began rocking her fiery pussy against his leg. Great Spirit, she was so wet. Her sweet cream coated his skin and filled the air with the musky scent of her desire.
He moaned her name as she licked and nibbled long, wet tracks from tip to root, taking great pleasure in discovering every ridge and vein of his silky, hot flesh. Giving into the ecstasy of her warm mouth enveloping his cock at long last, Dakota threw back his head and closed his eyes.
Her mouth sliding down over his cock engulfed him with a pure, absolute and utter bliss that might just
drive him insane. The fingers wrapped around his shaft followed the movements of her lips as she began moving up and down. Rising up on his elbows, he watched his impassioned lover begin sucking his cock with sincere delight, eyes closed, cheeks hollowing while she struggled to take every inch, working to draw the very life right out of him.
“Damn, Tamara,” he moaned. “You’re killing me.”
She looked at him from under heavy lids, her green eyes dark and determined. While her lips sucked and her head bobbed, her wicked tongue swirled over his shaft. Rolling his balls in one hand, she increased the pressure of her grip with the other.
It was all too much. No matter how much he desired to draw out the experience there was nothing he could do to delay his impending climax.
Giving himself over to gluttonous delight, Dakota began thrusting his hips, fucking her pretty mouth. Her muffled moans of satisfaction sent bolts of electric sensation streaking through his shaft to gather in his balls, which were drawn up tight and ready to explode.
“Fuck yeah. I’m going to come,” he mumbled in warning.
Opening those beautiful eyes wide, Tamara watched him while sucking even harder, demanding her reward. Thrusting into her mouth one final time, he gave her everything, spilling his seed down her throat as she worked to swallow every drop. Once she had sucked him dry, she released his cock to lick her lips clean. A small trickle of pearly come ran from one corner of her swollen, reddened lips onto her chin.
Damn, he’d never seen a more beautiful sight.
Grabbing hold under her arms, he dragged her up his body, licking up the trail of his seed before sealing his mouth over hers, tasting his salty essence. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, drinking in the erotic flavors. Wrapping his arms around her, Dakota fought to slow down his racing heart and ease his rapid breathing.
Tamara was a writhing ball of sexual energy needing his attention. Her drenched pussy pressed against his still semi-hard cock, and she rocked her clit against him, hot cream dripping down over his balls.
The evidence of how much she’d enjoyed giving him head produced a fresh wave of arousal through his body, lengthening his cock once again. Tamara broke the kiss, pulling back and gasping for breath.
“Fuck me,” she demanded.
Gripping his hips with her strong legs, she levered herself up his body until the tip of his cock found her soaked entrance. Wriggling her hand between them, she grasped his cock then slid down his length. She was so hot and ready, thick juices easing his way into her silken warmth.
“No, princess. Now, I will make love with you.” He whispered the declaration in her ear then nibbled the soft lobe.
Her pussy spasmed and an inferno of liquid heat raced through her, gushing from her needy cunt. In this position, Tamara swore she felt every ridge and vein, felt him all the way up to her navel. She knew every wonderful texture and nuance of his gorgeous cock—by taste, touch and appearance.
Making love. It was a new concept, but one she decided was good. The magnitude of Dakota’s love struck her, and she was taken by surprise with how alive he made her feel.
It was true. She was now living for the first time, cherishing every wonderful minute, all thanks to this amazing man she loved with complete and total devotion.
At first she began rocking her hips back and forth, unwilling to let even a mere inch of his cock slip from within her. Each gentle motion created a delightful friction against her clit, driving her need higher until she had no conscious choice. Her body took over, legs clasping against his hips, fingers clenching in his biceps, feral moans escaping her parted lips. Her pussy swelled, the walls gripping his cock tight, demanding more.
She became mindless with need, everything focused on cresting the mountain she climbed. Each thrust was more powerful, taking her higher, until Dakota shifted their positions to a small degree. The subtle change was all she’d needed. Now with each stroke her clit ground against his pelvis, creating shimmering sparks radiating out through her body. Her nipples pebbled to an almost painful hardness and every muscle tensed, preparing for an orgasm which took her by surprise with its intensity.
One moment she was struggling to reach the peak, the next she was flying through the heavens on the wings of a majestic eagle. She collapsed over Dakota, and he lifted her hips, thrusting into her one final time. He drove so far within her they melded into one seamless being.
Tamara buried her face in his chest, still holding on with the last of her strength as her muscles shook. Hot tears of joy and completion rolled across her cheeks, soaking into his flesh while her lover’s hands soothed, stroking over her hair and back.
“Are you okay, princess?”
Concern was evident in Dakota’s voice, but hell if she had an answer for his question. Was she okay? Over the past several days she had turned into someone quite different from the woman she’d been. Her whole reality and way of thinking had changed, reshaped. On top of everything else, she’d fallen in love and found fulfillment with one hell of an amazing man. Her body was in a state of absolute and total satiation, weak as a newborn kitten. Most likely she wouldn’t be able to move anytime soon.
“Not sure,” she mumbled into his pecs as her eyes grew heavy. The steady pulse of his heart beneath her ear relaxed her, and Tamara fell asleep again between one beat and the next.
Chapter Thirteen
Dakota enjoyed the peaceful ride back to the ranch with his spirit mate at his side. Even though he felt the tension thickening around Tamara, her face was suffused with a happy glow that gave him great joy. While she had always been a beautiful woman, with the bawdy attitude gone and her inner beauty shining through, she was breathtaking.
In his mind, he harbored some doubts about what would happen once they returned to the realities of ranch life. Although he’d helped her face down the past and come to terms with her life, Dakota wasn’t sure she could be a one-man woman. Would she be able to let go of the cowboys and be content with only him? Maybe she would now expect him to join into their group games. While the idea was exciting, it was not what he wanted and needed. Tamara would be his alone or not at all.
She had told him she loved him, and while he believed the words came from her heart, their new love might not withstand the tests to come. He sent up a silent prayer to the Great Spirit, asking for the strength to face the coming challenges.
No, he would not allow himself to have negative thoughts. He would have faith in his spirit mate and their love. Everything would be fine.
Tamara’s sweet voice broke his contemplative mood. “Would you like to come into town with me? I’d like to show you the Paperback Roundup.”
Her beautiful face filled with a look of pride and there wasn’t any way Dakota would’ve turned her down. “I’d love to see your bookstore. Once I check on the horses we can both shower and head into town. Wanna go to dinner somewhere nice afterwards?”
“Oooh, that would be wonderful.” Her face lit up with happiness.
Dakota shifted in the saddle and leaned over to stroke her cheek in a tender caress. Great Spirit, how he loved pleasing this woman. She was everything he ever dreamed of finding in a mate and more. Being by her side brought him a wealth of pleasure.
Everything was quiet when they rode into the ranch yard. He helped Tamara down from the horse, steadying her until she got her balance. It had been a long ride and her legs were a bit wobbly at first. Hooking one arm around her waist, he pulled her against him and held her in a tight embrace, the other hand tangled in the hair at her nape. For several moments he stared into her green eyes, sharing a silent communication of love before claiming her mouth in a possessive kiss.
Her lips parted, and Dakota thrust his tongue into the cavern letting her taste explode through him. Tamara’s hands slid up his chest and over his shoulders, clasping behind his neck. It had only been a matter of hours since they’d made love, but fiery want streaked through them creating a sensual energy. Breaking the heated kiss, he leaned back
while they both caught their breath.
“Stop trying to distract me,” he teased. “Go take a shower, princess. I’ll meet you at the cabin in about an hour.”
“Mmm…why don’t you join me in the shower for a little afternoon delight first?” she propositioned, gracing him with a flirty smile.
Dakota shook his head with regret. “I’ve gotta take care of these horses, woman.” Turning her away, he landed a playful swat on her gorgeous behind to get her moving. “The sooner you get going, the sooner we can play.”
He didn’t want her to see him limping or to realize the pain he suffered from riding, so he stood watching the gentle sway of her hips until she disappeared into the cabin.
After leading the horses into the barn, he stripped off the packs and saddles, then gave them a thorough grooming before checking on the other horses. One of the cowboys had recently cleaned the stables, and all the buckets were filled with water and feed. When he was satisfied everything was as it should be, he headed for the bunkhouse, anticipating the pleasure of a hot shower and then a good massage with some herbal cream for his sore hip.
Nicole Austin Page 15