by Dahlia Rose
Kaleena almost hit the floor scrambling off his lap. She backed away from him, her head spinning. “Oh no, Cody. I’m so sorry. You’re the most wonderful man in the world, but I can’t. I just can’t. To say yes, around this time? I can’t do it. I have to go. I need to get back home.”
She spun on her heel ready to run out the door, her thoughts rolling over top each other, her vision blurred with tears. The sob she heard she was pretty sure came from her, and all she could think was Cody deserved better. Maybe she’d been a fool to assume the brokenness between the two of them would mend with a few scattered experiences of fun over the Christmas holiday. She should have thought more of him and what he felt, not her own selfish notions.
Kaleena made it to the hall before Cody caught her wrist and whipped her around to face him. His hold on her might be gentle, but no amount of wriggling freed her. He drew her closer, and she trembled at the warmth radiating off his body. Even his natural male scent teased her, along with the sensation of his chest brushing her nipples through her nightie. She raised her hands and tangled fingers in his T-shirt, not knowing if she wanted to push him away or pull him nearer.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and she figured he took back the offer. “I can’t let you go.”
She blinked up at him. “What?”
“I loved you last year, Kaleena. Somehow during those weeks I looked after you, I fell in love, but that wasn’t the time to make declarations after all you’d been through. I was forced to watch you walk away, knowing I would never see you again. That day was the hardest I’ve ever lived through, apart from when I first found out about my parents. I let you go back then because it was the right thing to do, but that can’t happen again.” He drew her tighter to his chest, and rested his cheek on the top of her head. “I can’t go through this again. I can’t have you walk away from me another Christmas. I love you. If you can’t marry me, I understand. But please, baby… Please stay.”
“Yes.”
Cody picked her up and thumped her on the hall table. He drew her chin up with both hands at her jaw and leaned in to kiss her lips. Kaleena moaned beneath the onslaught of his tongue and the way he parted her legs to push between them. He left her mouth to explore her cheeks, to kiss her eyes and her temples. When he returned to her lips, he dropped his hands to the front of his sweatpants and dragged them low. With a flick of a finger, he shoved her panties aside at the crotch and filled her with his cock. Kaleena cried out his name. Her wetness allowed him easy entry, but her inner walls clenched his shaft, and she hooked her legs around his waist. Cody thrust deep inside of her, drew back only a few inches, and then pounded deeper.
He raised her legs higher and ignored how the table banged the wall each time he rammed his dick into her pussy. Kaleena gripped his shoulders and angled back to take all of him. She rained kisses along his throat and tasted the salty skin on his shoulder. Sucking and licking, she loved on him, hoping for the evidence of how much she loved this man to show up for the entire world to see. He’d chosen her, when she was broken and afraid—he’d made her special to him.
“You’re going to make me come, Cody,” she whimpered.
“That’s the plan,” he growled.
He pulled out and yanked her to her feet. With a twist, he had her facing the table. Once again, he ripped her panties aside and thrust into her heat. She arched her back and went up to her toes, doing her best to accommodate his thickness.
Cody’s hunger and his rough treatment had her legs banging into the table. He tried bracing them both with a palm on the wall, but he didn’t slow his pace. She pushed into his drive and met him grind for grind. Their bodies knocked together so hard until she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to let go. Her orgasm exploded, and she lost the ability to hold herself up. When she collapsed, Cody caught her. He held on and pumped nonstop until he found his own release.
At last, he pulled out, and she drew away from the table. The fronts of her thighs were red despite her brown skin. Cody dropped to his knees. “Oh damn, baby, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” He kissed her thighs and stroked the tender skin. “I’m an idiot. You agree to stay with me, and I go and hurt you.”
“It’s okay.” She touched his hair, tangling her fingers in the silky locks. “You really should get up from there though because you’re getting me hot all over again.”
Cody jumped to his feet and took her hand. “Come on. Let me do this right.”
They headed upstairs to his room, and Cody relieved her of her clothing before taking off his own. He stood in front of her and guided her hands to his chest. Kaleena luxuriated in the feel of his hard body, the rapid heartbeat beneath her palms. She stared into his eyes and saw the love she never thought she’d see or want to see in another man other than the fiancé she lost. Cody wasn’t like Jeff had been, but he didn’t need to be. Cody’s attentiveness, his sweetness, and his strength made him the man she loved now.
“I thought I could never be with anyone else,” she murmured. “Not because I didn’t want to. My heart ached to love again and be loved. I just thought it wasn’t meant to be, that nobody would care. As hard as I strove to heal, I doubted my ability. You were there from day one. You helped me stand up and live. I love you so much, Cody. I’ll admit I’m scared about this, but like you, I can’t see myself leaving. Even with the risk—”
“Shh, my love.” He touched her cheek when she started to cry and thumbed the moisture away. “There’s no risk, except to be cherished by me.”
He raised her into his arms and laid her gently on the bed. When he followed her down, Kaleena spread her legs to allow him to settle between them. She moaned as his cock sank into her heat. Connected physically, they lay unmoving. Kaleena mentally opened herself to Cody, as tough as it was. She trusted him, and even while an ache of fear started in her belly, she stayed open. The torment and pain of her loss hadn’t robbed her of the ability to be with another. Instead, she realized, it sealed her fate toward finding the kind of completion she’d known before. The miracle came with Cody—her rescuer, her friend, her lover. Fear would not keep her from holding onto him now and forever.
As Cody began pumping with slow, deliberate movements, she raised her knees and locked her heels behind him. Their fingers intertwined at their sides, they moved in perfect unison. Kaleena arched into him and concentrated on the sensations his amazing body elicited. She lifted her legs higher and felt the bump of his ball sac against her anus. Pleasure exploded on a new level, and she gasped when her pussy walls compressed around her lover’s shaft. An orgasm began to expand outward from her core. She shuddered from head to toe. Between gasps of ecstasy mingled with a spasm of fear, she managed, “Cody, I will. I will marry you.”
The End
At Last
DAHLIA ROSE
Chapter One
Beau Everett looked at the horse standing on the other side of the corral. He’d bought the stallion for breeding, and because he was just so damn beautiful. His coat was like black ink and shined like onyx. His lines showed perfect breeding and muscle tone, and Beau knew the name Midnight Ink was apt. But the stallion was stubborn, and now they were in the middle of a stare down. Even in winter he decided to work the horse. Wyoming was known for snowstorms as late as May. That was many months to wait, and the stubbornness set in. Midnight needed to be broken.
Beau puffed out a breath and watched it mist in the cold. Today wasn’t bad, but he would prefer to take a horse and head to the hot springs in the mountain instead. Twin Falls ranch sat on a prime piece of property. The backdrop was Cloud Peak Mountain, and hot springs sat on their property. His father built the business from a small two-bedroom house to what it was now. After his parents died, he and his twin brother Cody took over the work and grew it exponentially since then. Cody managed the cattle, and Beau always loved the horses. Except for right now with the battle of wills he had going with Midnight that had taken center stage for the past few weeks. He’d been working with th
e horse for weeks, and each day it was the same routine. Midnight refused to take the bit or be saddled.
“Staring him down working for you?” His brother’s voice came from behind him and startled Beau. He was so intent on the horse that he didn’t hear the boots crunching in the snow as Cody walked up.
“We’re coming to a mental accord.” Beau looked at his brother and grinned. It was like looking into a mirror except Beau ran his hand over the scar that was in the hairline over his right temple. At ten years old he thought he was a dare devil and tried to jump from the coral to the back of a horse . . . He missed.
“It seems he may be winning,” Cody teased.
“I’m giving him the illusion of victory,” Beau replied easily. “I saw your old friend drive up.” A year ago, Cody spent a couple weeks helping a woman get over the loss of her fiancé. Beau saw her get out of the car at Cody’s house a few days earlier. He also saw the look on his brother’s face and the flush on his neck. There was more there than what his twin was saying.
“She just wanted to say hi,” Cody answered.
“Uh-huh.” Beau snorted. “Christmas lights in the window?”
Cody cleared his throat. “She likes the holiday.”
“Apparently.” Beau grinned. “Seriously, bro, I’m glad you seem to be taking that bull by the horns. You need someone in your life. I’m your big brother. I have to watch out for you.”
This time Cody laughed. “By five minutes. That doesn’t mean a thing.”
“So you say, but I am more world savvy.” Beau grinned.
“This year is sixteen years,” Cody said suddenly.
Beau sighed. “I know. Didn’t seem like that long since we lost them. I’ll get flowers on Christmas day and take them to the graveyard.”
“I’ll be there. One more week till Christmas,” Cody said. “Do you think they wanted this for us? The place looks like a sterile hospital on the holiday. Remember how Mom used to do it up? The house smelled like ham, bread and pies, and she even decorated the bunk house for the ranch hands.”
Beau closed his eyes and remembered it easily. If he concentrated hard enough, he could swear he smelled her baking. Losing his parents still cut deep. Having them die on Christmas day made it even worse. He didn’t know if they’d want this for him, but there was nothing about the holiday that brought him joy anymore.
“I hope Kaleena can help you enjoy it,” Beau teased.
“You’re a fine one to talk. By the way I went into town this morning, and Natasha said hi,” Cody said and punched Beau in the shoulder. “Bam, you should see your face.”
His brother meant the hottest woman in Huntsford as far as Beau was concerned. They knew each other since high school, and she was always his unicorn. She moved to New York to be a photographer and then moved five years ago and bought Razzlez Bar and Grill.” Upstairs she ran a studio taking pictures of babies and the residents of the town. Plus she worked at the small gazette taking pictures for the newspaper. She was a whirlwind packed into a pint size body being a mere five feet three inches to his six feet two. But when she entered a room, she dominated it. Her skin looked like it shimmered in the summer and was warm as hot chocolate in the winter. Big wide almond eyes would make any man fight a war for one look in their direction, and her full lips could curve in a smile or cuss like a sailor. Perfect woman.
“Earth to Beau, you’re beginning to drool.” Cody’s voice held humor.
“Bite me sideways, Cody,” Beau replied. “Go tend your cattle and let me work on this demon horse.”
“Heading to Razzlez tonight?” Cody called over his shoulder as he walked away.
“Probably, the Friday night sunrise shooters are cool,” Beau answered.
“That’s all, huh?”
“Shut up, Cody,” Beau yelled, and the response he got was a snowball in the back.
His brother’s laughter faded away, and Beau faced Midnight again. Even though he needed to focus, Natasha’s face came to mind, and a small smile crossed his face. Ok so maybe he was into her more than he let on. It could be the middle of summer and he’d want to kiss her senseless. The holidays brought up feelings that couldn’t be trusted, especially with the loss of his parents and the feeling of loneliness that came with it. Beau didn’t even want to think of Christmas, the cheer, and all the other stuff that came with it. He knew he sounded like a Scrooge, but it didn’t matter. He was going to keep his head low until the New Year came in.
“Ok, Midnight, let’s dance,” Beau murmured and moved toward the horse. With slow, careful ease, he began trying to tame the willful animal once more, knowing full well that the next day he might have to start all over again.
* * * *
Rocking around the Christmas tree in a Christmas party hop. The music was up loud and holiday cheer in the air. Natasha Quinlan looked around the bar and smiled. This was her baby, and everyone seemed to be having fun. The dinner crowd had moved out and as per Razzlez’s way, the night was for couples, dancing, and fun. The pool tables were in use and the dartboards along the back wall. The Christmas tree in the corner had envelopes pinned to the branches, and she hoped it would be packed before the end of the night. Her patrons were pinning tips to it for the children’s home in Huntsford. Natasha moved the little fuzzy ball of her elf hat back and scanned the room. The one person she wanted to see wasn’t there, and she felt disappointment well up inside her. Stop acting like a lovesick puppy, she told herself. But it wasn’t such an easy task to do. She left the town wanting to wrap her legs around Beau Everett and came back to find the feelings didn’t change. The man was built like a linebacker in a cowboy hat. She had it bad for the part owner of Twin Falls Ranch.
The door opened, and a gust of wind brought in some of the snow flurries from outside. Beau walked in, and she swallowed a shot of vodka. It made her eyes water, and Natasha cussed in her head. He looked edible in the pair of blue jeans that hung just right on his hips. He wore a black long sleeve shirt tucked at his waist and tight across those big biceps and broad shoulders. His beat up cowboy hat made him look sexier than ever, and when he took it off, he ran his hand through his short hair as he looked around. Natasha had already averaged he was probably around forty-two inches from shoulder to shoulder. She wasn’t the only one looking that’s for sure, but when his blue green gaze landed on her, Natasha felt her heart beat a little faster. Especially when he walked over and sat his hat on the bar before sliding himself onto the stool.
“Evening, Ms. Natasha, you look festive as ever,” Beau drawled.
“I could say the same for you, but I don’t see mistletoe on that hat. I might have been tempted to kiss you under it,” she said. “What are you drinking? Let me guess. A whiskey sour and a sunrise shooter.”
“You know me so well. I may start to think you’ve got a vested interest in my happiness,” Beau said.
“Stick around, you might find out,” Natasha teased. She slid his drinks in front of him. “Enjoy.” She felt his eyes on her as she moved down the bar.
The rest of the night got busier, and she didn’t really have time to talk to him one on one. He left the bar and was playing darts with Carter Moore from the hardware store. Shots n’ darts, nothing good can come of it, she mused. She left them alone. They were grown men letting off steam in a good way. Her wait staff was making good tips, and the crowd was a good one.
She changed the music, and the dancing started up just as she walked around the bar to serve some drinks to a group sitting in a booth. On her way back with an empty tray, she was caught around the waist and spun into a strong embrace. It was Beau who had the goofy look of having one too many. But when he pulled her close, her ass was pressed into the crook of his hips, and they began a slow roll. Her blood pressure went up a few notches.
“I’ve always wanted to have you in my arms like this,” he said into her ear, and Natasha shivered.
She knew he was tipsy, that she should move, but for a second she reveled in the feeling befo
re pushing away. “Ok, cowboy, you need to sit down before you fall down.”
She led him over to a bar stool, and he sat on it heavily. She hated this time of year for him. He always overindulged for one day, and then he wouldn’t be seen until the New Year. Everyone knew how Beau and Cody’s parents died. The entire town had turned out for their funeral. Sixteen years later, it was still tearing the Everett boys up. That was how close of a family there were.
Natasha rang the bell and shouted. “Last call for alcohol!”
“I’ll have a…” Beau began.
“Not you, Beau Everett. You get coffee, and then I’m driving you home when we close up,” Natasha said sternly and pushed a cup in front of him. “You sit right there.”
“Yes, ma’am, yes ma’am,” he said and took a sip.
In about an hour the bar was clearing out and clean up began. The register was counted, wait staff pocketed their tips, and she ushered them out the door. In that time the snow fell harder. The heavy, thick flakes like soap bubbles hit the ground and stayed. There was no way she was going to risk driving to Twin Falls in this weather, and he certainly wasn’t going to. She’d have to bunk him in her guest bedroom in her third floor apartment.
“I should get going,” he said and got up from the stool.
“Take your ass upstairs, Beau. I’m going to call Cody and let him know you’re not at your place, so he doesn’t worry,” Natasha said in the strictest voice possible.
“Aw, Tasha, you care about me.” Beau pulled her into his arms. Her face was buried again his hard chest, and she could hardly breathe.
Natasha extricated herself and glared at him. “Yeah, I care. Now up the stairs.”