by Alix Labelle
She tried to scowl at him, but the feel of his girth sinking into her made her eyelashes flutter. It had been so long for her that taking all of Tom’s steel-hard thickness inside her body felt almost impossible. Just as she was about to cross the line from pleasure to pain, a deep heat blossomed inside her. The dark delight made her sex go liquid around his shaft.
Tom dragged in an uneven breath as he felt her surge of sweet wetness, and then he shook his head as if dazed now.
“It’s all for you,” she whispered to him. “It was in the shop and the park and now here. Anywhere you want me, I’m yours. Take it. Take me, Tommy.”
He began to move inside her, gently and slowly at first, and then with steady, firm thrusts. She could hear their bodies working together now, and felt the electric excitement spreading through her. She had Tom Boone inside her, and nothing in her life would ever be the same again.
Tom grunted as he went deeper, his thick cock bottoming out inside her pussy with every thrust now. He covered her breast with his hand to squeeze it and rub her nipple before he slid his hand down. Shay moaned as she felt him touch the aching pearl of her clit, and then cried out as he began stroking it with the same rhythm as he used to forge in and out of her pussy.
“You come for me, Shay,” Tom muttered as he caught her nub between his fingers, and gently pinched it. “Now, all over me, now, now.”
Shay grabbed his shoulders as her body bowed under his. The twin delights of his pumping shaft and pleasuring fingers drove her higher and higher. Just when she thought she would snap in two Tom buried himself deep and kissed her.
A sharp cry burst from her throat as the climax took her off into the dark. From there her body dissolved in an endless fountain of bliss. As she poured through the delight, Shay tightened around Tom. He jerked over her, his thick shaft swelling and then pulsing as he groaned and jetted his seed deep inside her.
As Shay tried to catch her breath Tom’s arms encircled her, rolling her with his big body as he moved them to their sides. He looked into her face, his own alight with a stunned, sweet satisfaction.
“I do like these freckles, Shay,” he mentioned as he tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “How tired are you again?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Not that tired.”
He rubbed his thumb across her lips. “Want to show me what you were going to do with your mouth in the park?”
#
Early the next morning Tom stood in the center of an enormous grass field. The empty, open-air stadium seemed to magnify every bird call, every shift in the breeze, and every beat of his heart. Not sleeping a wink last night should have left him exhausted, but he felt strangely calm and alert. He’d had to wear out Shay, however, before he could get her to sleep. He’d hated leaving her alone back at the house, but he didn’t want her in any more danger. It had still been dark when he’d left to make arrangements.
The minute he put his phone back together, the killer had called. “You ready to do this?”
“You want the rifle, come to this address.” Tom gave it to the man, and then said, “It’s where they hold the county marching band competition, but no one will be there today. Just me. You just come out on the field, get the gun, and go.”
“Smart choice, Cowboy,” the killer said. “I’ll see you there in a few hours.”
Tom expected the killer to sneak in and come up from behind him, but played dumb until he felt the business end of a handgun pressing against his spine. “You must not want that rifle too bad.”
“I don’t give a shit about the rifle, you dumb hick,” the killer told him, and gave him a shove. “Walk.”
“I really love marching bands,” Tom told him as he strolled toward the bleachers. “They didn’t have these big-screen TVs when I was in school, though. Would have made it a lot easier to watch some of their fancier moves.”
Overhead the stadium’s four enormous display screens flickered on, and showed Councilman Bramson standing in the park with the killer.
“My little brother put a mini-cam in my truck,” Tom mentioned as he glanced back to see the killer staring at the video. “Has a nice, wide-angle lens, too.”
A muzzle flash flared on the screens as the killer shot the politician, and then tossed his rifle at Tom.
“But then as a cop, you’d know that,” Tom added. “I saw the emergency light inside your unmarked sedan in the park.”
The killer pointed his gun at Tom’s face. “You think this’ll stop me? You’re dead, and tonight I’ll be drinking rum punch in the islands, you dumbass.”
A shotgun slide pumped. “Probably not,” Ethan Boone said as he stepped out of the bleachers, his twelve-gauge leveled at the killer.
“Yeah, I have my doubts, too,” Caleb Boone mentioned as he walked out from the other side of the field, handguns in both fists.
“This is just not your day, pal,” Chris Boone said as he stepped out from behind an equipment shed. His semi-automatic gleamed black in the sunlight.
Liam Boone appeared at the top of the judges’ stand, and checked the scope on his sniper rifle before he simply crouched down and targeted the killer’s skull.
“That guy up there is my brother, William,” Tom said. “He was a sniper in the Army. And he never misses.”
The killer glanced around as a heavily armed SWAT team emerged behind the Boone brothers.
“Put down the weapon,” the SWAT leader shouted.
The killer carefully placed his gun on the grass before he raised his hands. “I’ll make bail and come looking for you, Cowboy. You and that snatch you were with last night. You’re both dead.”
“Then you’re the dumbass.” Tom spotted a slender figure hurrying out of the stands toward them, and started toward her. He heard the killer scramble behind him, and hurled himself at Shay, knocking her to the ground as a dozen weapons fired over them.
Once Shay opened her eyes she glared. “Are you hurt?” When he shook his head she smiled. “Good, because I’m going to hurt you now.”
Tom caught her fist before it connected with his face and kissed her, holding her struggling body until her arms wound around his neck.
“See?” Chris Boone said to Ethan and he and his brothers came to stand over Tom and Shay. “I told you, she likes him.”
Chapter Five
Shay turned the shop’s door sign from OPEN to CLOSED and shut off the front lights before she went to set the alarm at the back door. Outside Tom stood leaning against his pick-up and smiling as Jenny chattered with excitement.
“I can’t believe you and Shay were on Montana’s Most Wanted list for almost a whole day,” her assistant gushed. “I have to get a copy of the flyer to hang in the shop. It’ll be so outlaw.”
“We are not, and never were, outlaws,” Shay said firmly. “Now go home and get some rest. The St. Patrick’s Day sale starts tomorrow, and I plan to sell every yard of green we’ve got.”
“Yes, boss.” With a wink at Tom Jenny went to unlock her little compact car.
Shay stood beside Tom to watch her drive off. “You ready to do this?”
“I have another idea.” He tugged her into his arms and gave her a soft, leisurely kiss. “Let’s go back to your place.”
“You’ve been living at my place for the last three days.” Which she had loved, because they’d spent just about every minute of it in her bed. She and Tom had finally talked out everything, and made plans for their future. They’d also made love so much they both should have been limping.
“We can do it tomorrow,” Tom told her.
“No. Pretty soon Ethan will be calling the cops on us.” She climbed into his pick-up. “Come on. It’s like taking medicine. The sooner you do it, the better you’ll feel.”
Tom grumbled most of the way from the shop to Ghost Lake Ranch. As soon as they were in sight of his family’s property, he pulled off the road and parked.
He stared at the steering wheel. “I can’t do this to them, Shay.”
When they reached the big house everyone poured out to greet them. While she was being passed around for hugs, Shay kept an eye on Tom. He put on a good show, but worry still lingered tight around his mouth.
“I was about to file a missing person report on you,” Ethan told Tom as they went inside. “Any more problems with the mess in Helena?”
“After we gave our statements, and Tom turned over the recording to the D.A., we were done.” Shay made a face. “Councilman Bramson’s wife stopped by the station to speak with us before we left. She was in pretty bad shape.”
Shay glanced around as the family gathered at the big kitchen table, and then met Tom’s gaze. She knew how wretched he felt about this, but he had the courage to do it. He just had to get the words out.
She mouthed hers first. “I love you.”
He nodded, and went to the head of the table. “I need to tell you all something.”
Because Tom seldom spoke up, everyone quieted.
“Shay and I really appreciate you coming to help us up in the city.” His gaze shifted. “Liam, I’m sorry you had to take that kill shot. Not how I wanted it to end.”
“Better than what he had in mind,” his older brother replied.
Tom touched the empty chair in front of him. “None of us sit here because it was Dad’s place. We’ve all worked real hard to keep his dream going, too. I know he’d be proud of us, but he’d also want us to have our dreams, too.” He took a deep breath before he looked at his oldest brother. “Ethan, I’m not coming back to the ranch. I’m moving to town. I’ll be staying with Shay until I get my own place, and then I’ll be opening up a carpentry shop.”
“You mean, leave for good? To be a nail-pounder?” Caleb demanded, and then yelped as Chris elbowed him. “What? He’s a cowboy, not a shop keeper.”
Jonah looked a little unhappy, too. “No Boone’s ever had any business except cattle.”
“I’ll always be part of this family,” Tom told him. “And if you need me here, you just have to pick up the phone.” He looked at his youngest brother. “Cal, you know how much I love working with wood, and building furniture, and restoring old things. This is what I want for me. This is my dream.”
“Well, then.” Ethan got to his feet. “I guess there’s only one thing to do.” As Tom gave him a wary look he grinned. “We’ve got to find a great place in town to open this shop.”
Shay blinked against the sting in her eyes as she rose and went to hug her lover.
“There is one more thing.” Tom removed the mini-cam from his pocket and set it on the table. “I know you didn’t put this in my truck to test it, Caleb. And you didn’t send me Helena to return ribbon for Jessa, Ethan.”
Shay frowned. “They didn’t?”
Tom eyed Chris. “Since Shay told me she talked to you about me, this had to be your bright idea.”
The big man shrugged. “Thought we’d try, anyway.” He smiled at Shay. “We sent Tom to Helena so he could bump into you.”
Caleb nodded. “And I put the mini-cam in his truck so we could see you two kissing.” As Tom took a step toward him, he held up his hands. “Hey, if not for me you’d be in jail, buddy.”
Tom turned to Shay. “I can move in tonight, right?”
THE END
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***Here is a sample from Wanted by the Cowboy, the next Ghost Lake Ranch story!***
Loved by the Cowboy
Love in Ghost Lake Ranch
By: Amber Duval
Loved by the Cowboy
Chapter One
“Okay, two more errands, and we can head back to the ranch,” Liam Boone said. “I’ll get the wire tacks from the hardware store, and you can grab Jessa’s fabric order. She said she already paid for it, so you just need to pick it up.”
Thomas Boone took the order slip Liam handed him, but nearly groaned when he saw the name of the store at the top. “Want to trade?”
“It’s a quilt shop, Tom, not a minefield.” His older brother grinned. “Besides, the owner is the prettiest gal in town.”
Tom glanced down the street. Spring had finally arrived in Montana, and after the long winter everyone was anxious to get out and about. He liked seeing the new green grass, and the patches of wildflowers popping up everywhere – but he’d rather walk through a sub-zero blizzard than go into Shay Larabee’s quilt shop.
Liam nudged him. “What’s the problem? Don’t tell me it’s Shay. That girl’s pure sweetheart.”
Tom’s dread climbed another notch. “You got a thing for her?”
“Sure. Every man in the county with a pulse does.” Liam gave him a shrewd look. “So, what? That bee you’ve had in your bonnet all winter named Larabee?”
“Nope.” To avoid more talk Tom climbed out of the pickup, resettled his Stetson over his shaggy black hair and headed across the street.
QT Quilts, Shay Larabee’s quilt shop, occupied two storefronts in the center of Main Street. Tiny crystal beads hanging in the big display windows sparkled over waterfalls of brightly colored fabric bolts. The soft pastel colors of the store’s facade always reminded Tom of the pretty dresses the shop owner liked to wear.
His ferocious crush on Shay made it hard enough For Tom to see her, but the fact that she owned her own business jabbed at him, too.
Tom had loved wood-working since he was a boy, and for years had dreamed of opening his own carpentry shop. But since his parents had been killed he and his six brothers had worked hard, endless hours to keep running Ghost Lake Ranch, the family cattle business. All of his brothers loved ranch life, too – so how could Tom ever tell them that it wasn’t the life he wanted for himself?
Out of the corner of his eye Tom spotted Liam coming out of the hardware store down the street, and forced himself to head into the quilt shop.
Inside the usual gaggle of ladies browsed neatly-stocked shelves and aisles of fabrics, patterns, kits and notions. Little pots of tea roses on the window sills lent a delicate, sweet scent to the air. Behind a long cutting table stood a willowy brunette in a rose-colored dress and spotless white apron. She smiled at an elderly lady as she folded a length of bright red cotton.
“Be sure to prewash it so it doesn’t bleed through your quilt top, Mrs. King.” Shay Larabee’s doe-brown eyes flashed up as Tom approached. “Be right with you, Mr. Boone.”
Tom belatedly remembered to remove his hat, and nodded to Ella King as he hovered beside the cutting table. He liked watching Shay work, as her slim hands moved as gracefully as the rest of her. He liked watching Shay, period.
Tom could remember the first time he’d seen her, on the very same day she’d moved to town from Wyoming to take over her aunt’s business. They’d literally bumped into each other coming and going from the bakery.
“I’m so sorry.” Shay had looked up at him with those big brown eyes and offered him a donut from her box. “Here. A bribe, so you won’t have me run out of town.”
“No need,” Tom assured her, unable to hear anything but his own heartbeat thundering in his ears. “I’d never do that.”
That had probably been the last complete sentence he’d ever said to her. Tom had never been especially easy around girls, but there was something about Shay that set his blood to roaring like a lion and his mouth to closing up as tight as a bear trap.
When Shay sent the elderly woman up to the register with her yardage, she turned and grinned at Tom. “Okay. What can I do for you, sir? Are you hankering for some calico for your next sewing project, or can I interest you in my new line of no-sew fleece?”
Tom knew she was only teasing, but he couldn’t respond with the same. “Neit
her, ma’am.” He could almost feel his tongue tying itself in knots now, so he simply took out Jessa’s order slip and offered it to Shay.
“Ivory silk and burnout cream velvet – oh, yes, this is that special order for Dr. Cooper. I think it’s so lovely that she and her mom are going to make her wedding dress.” Her expression turned curious. “She’s marrying your brother Ethan, isn’t she?”
“In June, yes, ma’am.” Tom could feel everyone within earshot watching them now, and turned over the hat in his hands. “I’m picking it up for her.”
“Well, then, you’re already a very nice brother-in-law.” Shay sorted through some packages under the cutting table before she produced a large white box tied with a silver ribbon. “Here it is. Please let Dr. Cooper if she needs more yardage to call me before Friday. That’s the day I drive up to Helena to pick up new stock from my distributor.”
Tom nodded and replaced his hat as he took one long, last look at her lovely face. “Thank you, Ms. Larabee.”
Her full lips curved. “You’re very welcome, Mr. Boone.”
#
Shay Larabee’s assistant Jenny came to stand beside her and watch Tom Boone walk out of the shop.
“That cowboy is so gorgeous,” the little blonde said with a dreamy sigh. “I’ve never seen eyes like his. What color are they, anyway?”
“Violet blue,” Shay murmured absently. She could still smell the sandalwood he left in his wake. Too subtle to be cologne, so she felt pretty sure it was from the soap he used. “He’s not dating anyone, is he?”
The unofficial hub of all town gossip, Jenny made a quick negative sound. “Tom Boone doesn’t date much at all. When he does it’s a certain kind of gal. One who likes roadhouses, pool tables and horizontal good times, if you know what I mean.”
“Well, he’s a man, not a monk.” Shay rubbed the back of her neck. “So which roadhouses does he go to?”