by Rye Hart
My entire outlook on life was grim. I never imagined a time when I would leave this town and now, after years of hard work, I could go wherever I wanted. It was funny how I no longer wanted to leave. My work was in Atlanta but I ran the damn company, I could move it wherever I wanted.
With that thought in mind and a grin on my face, I stepped into the living room. Caroline was laid back on the couch, her eyes focused on the television and a distant look on her face. When she saw me, she sat up quickly, wincing slightly, and motioned for me to join her.
“Don’t get up,” I said with concern. “You’re still healing.”
“I’m fine,” she said. “Just a bit sore. I’m glad you’re here.”
I smiled and brushed my lips against hers. She grabbed me just as I was about to pull away and held me to her, kissing me long and full of meaning. I immediately felt my dick twitch but I shoved down my desire and pulled away. There were more important things for us to do right now.
“Where are you going?” She pouted. “I haven’t been able to get you alone all week.”
“I know,” I said, laughing softly. “But right now, isn’t the time. Besides, you can’t even do that yet. Doctor’s orders.”
“Screw the doctors,” she said, huffing and crossing her arms across her chest. She looked adorable, laying back against the couch cushions and pouting. I wanted to kiss her again but I knew I had to remain focused. I’d been planning this moment for a long time and I wouldn’t let it slip through my fingers.
“Listen,” I said softly. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to say for a while now. First of all, thank you.”
“For what?” she asked.
“Saving my brother’s life,” I said.
She rolled her eyes and said, “Enough of that. You don’t need to keep thanking me.”
“I do,” I said seriously. “What you did is more amazing than you’ll ever know. Because of you, my family is together and whole. That’s a huge gift, Caroline.”
“I was happy to do it,” she said, tears brimming in her eyes.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that I came home,” I said. “When I left town, I really never thought I would be back. They released me from prison and I just ran as far and as fast as I could. I threw myself into my work and never once looked back. Except, when I thought about you. There wasn’t a single second of the past seven years when you didn’t cross my mind, Caroline. I never stopped loving you.”
She smiled and wiped her eyes, trying to stop the tears from flowing. I smiled back at her and kept going.
“You mean everything to me,” I said. “And I’ve been trying to think of a way to show you that. It took me a while but I think I’ve finally figure out how.”
She frowned and watched as I pulled the package out of my pocket. I unwrapped it slowly, letting the key dangle from my fingers. She frowned deeper and reached out her hand to take it.
“What is it for?” she asked.
“That key is to your art gallery,” I said simply.
Her eyes flashed and her mouth fell open. She stared at me in shock, unable to speak. I just laughed and kissed her lips before I explained.
“Stephanie told me everything,” I said. “About your dream to open the art gallery and café. I thought it was brilliant the minute I heard it. I bought you a space. It’s not far from here but I think the location is perfect because it’s right around the corner from my new office.”
“From your new office?” she stammered.
“Yup,” I said, nodding with excitement. “I rented a place earlier this week and my company is moving everything here next week. The job sites can run without me and I can organize everything from here. We’ll open up a few new jobs in Austin to keep me local but other than that, everything’s set.”
“You didn’t have to do all of this.”
“I had to show you how much I love you,” I said. “Words weren’t enough to express it, so I thought this might work.”
“You bought me an art gallery?” she asked weakly.
“Just the space,” I said. “It’s up to you to fill it. But, I know you’ll be amazing. Caroline, I believe in you and your dream. This is exactly what you were born to do and I want to help you do it.”
“I can’t believe you did this!” she said, finally coming to life. “You’re amazing! This is incredible!”
“Breathe.” I laughed. “You can’t get too worked up right now.”
“Are you kidding?” she said. “How can I not freak out about this?”
I laughed again and kissed her. She quieted immediately, sighing against my lips and sinking into the kiss. Our kiss deepened and it took everything in me to pull away. When I did, she stared at me with wide eyes and excitement still on her face.
“And you’re staying here?” she asked. “You aren’t going back to Atlanta?”
“Well, I’ll have to go back a few times,” I said. “But, I’ll be living here, yes. Once the office is transferred, I won’t have to go back to Atlanta except to start and finish new job sites. Otherwise, I’ll be here. With you. And since I’ve been building ranches for everyone else these past two years, I can finally start building my own.”
She pulled me to her and kissed me again, this time not letting go until we were both out of breath. I wrapped my arms around her and let her rest her head on my chest. This was exactly what I wanted, this moment.
I spent years longing to have Caroline back in my arms. I never imagined it would happen, let alone that we would find each other under these circumstances. Now that we had, I knew I would never let her go again.
EPILOGUE - CAROLINE
One year later
I stood alone in my childhood bedroom, looking out the window at the big backyard I used to play in as a child. It was now covered in flowers and rippling white tapestries. There were chairs lined up on either side of an aisle peppered with roses. I smiled as my eyes scanned the yard, falling on the alter my father paid extra to have set up for us. This day would have been perfect no matter where it happened but here, in my childhood home, it felt like my entire life had come full circle. I finally felt like I was exactly where I was always meant to be.
“Hey,” my dad said from behind me. “You ready?”
I turned to face him, smiling and nodding. He grinned and held out his arm for me to take. The guests were all seated, lined up and waiting for my entrance. As my father led me down the stairs to toward the back door, I felt my heart pounding inside my chest. I was nervous but mostly, I was just excited. I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone but Dean. In just a few short minutes, he would become my husband. My dream was finally coming true and I couldn’t believe it.
Dad and I paused in front of the door. He turned to face me with a smile and tears in his eyes. I laughed at the sight of him being so emotional and he soon joined me.
“I know I doubted Dean at first,” he said. “But, I was wrong. I see now how good he is for you. You’ve flourished over this past year and Caroline, I am so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
He kissed my cheek and we turned back to the door as it swung open. The yard was even more beautiful from this vantage point. I already felt tears well in my eyes as we took our first steps down the aisle.
Things between my dad and I were better than I ever imagined. After my surgery, he and I bonded a lot. I couldn’t say the same for my mother. Finally, after years of unhappiness, she left my father. I could honestly say they were both better off for it but it made my mother even more distant. She kept in touch but not too often. The second the divorce was final, she flew abroad and hadn’t returned to the states since.
I missed her sometimes, especially today, but I knew it was for the best. The Michaelson family was all finding a way to be happy and for that, I was grateful.
As we moved further down the aisle, my eyes fell on Dean. The sight of his standing there waiting for me took my breath away. I couldn’t breathe as my
father led me to him. When my hand was placed gently in Dean’s, butterflies erupted in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him for the rest of the night.
The wedding progressed quickly. We said our vows, both of us teary-eyed and emotional. I could hear Teresa sniffling in the audience and Daniel was even tearing up behind Dean. Stephanie was crying behind me and when we said “I do,” the entire backyard erupted in cheers.
Our reception was fun and lively. Everyone danced and had a great time. Out of respect for Teresa’s sobriety, we made it a dry wedding, which added something special to the festivities. Knowing Dean’s mom was there, and sober, was the best gift we could have received.
When the night ended, Dean whisked me away to our private honeymoon suite downtown. We weren’t leaving for our honeymoon until the following day but I planned on spending our wedding night showing him just how much I loved him.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered as I slid my wedding dress down my body. I was wearing white lingerie beneath it, picked out especially for this occasion.
Dean’s eyes raked over my body while he removed his tux. I couldn’t stop staring at him as he moved toward me, naked and hungry with desire. When our lips finally met, electricity shot through my body, binding me to him for all eternity. I kissed him with more passion and desire than I ever had before and before I knew it, he had me on the bed, ravaging my body.
I moaned and writhed while he claimed every inch of me with his lips. He tore my lingerie in his haste to taste my skin but I didn’t care. The passion coursing through my veins and the love I felt for him were stronger than anything else. My entire body was lost in the moment. He held me close, running his fingers over my skin and making me shiver while our lips crashed together again and again.
When he took me for the first time as husband and wife, I gasped and felt myself tremble with need. He moved slowly that time, savoring every inch of me and whispering words of love in my ear. Our bodies melted together and I truly never felt more loved than I did in that moment.
Dean rocked his hips into me, his thrust slow and powerful. With each thrust, I came closer to release. When I finally came, it was with a rush of love and adrenaline that brought tears to my eyes. I cried out his name and clung to him desperately, digging my nails into his skin. He held me close and continued his thrusts, moving harder and faster each time.
“I love you,” I moaned.
“I love you.” His voice was weak and rough from exertion. It was husky in my ear and I felt like putty in his arms. He continued to take me, never letting our passion dissipate for even a second.
As the waves of pleasure rocked my body, I suddenly came alive in his arms. Keeping him inside of me, I flipped him on to his back and sat up to ride him. My pleasure was still so fresh that it drove me forward, hungry for more.
I rocked my hips back and forth, watching his eyes watch me. He couldn’t keep his hands off my breasts as they bounced freely with the motion of my hips. I ground myself on top of him, and he met my every move.
Each time our bodies connected, shock waves went through us both. It wasn’t long before I was coming again, rocking forward and clenching my pussy around his pulsating cock. The feeling was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I collapsed on top of him, letting him envelope me in his embrace.
Our bodies were drenched in sweat as we held each other well into the night. When I finally had the strength to move, I pushed myself to the side and curled into Dean. He held me even tighter as I rested my head on his chest. It felt like I was living someone else’s life. My life had become a fairy tale, a dream, and I never wanted to wake up.
Dean kissed my head and breathed me in, sighing deeply and tightening his hold on my body. I smiled against his skin, pressing my lips to his chest and breathing deeply with contentment.
“I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you too.”
“Caroline, you’re everything to me. This, our life together, is more than I’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Me too,” I sighed.
He smiled and sighed again, holding me close and letting his exhaustion take him over. It took a long time for me to fall asleep, my body was wired from the excitement of the day. I knew my own exhaustion would insist on sleep eventually but for now, I was enjoying the moment.
Listening to Dean breathe. Feeling the strength and comfort of his embrace. Knowing without a shadow of a doubt that he loved me.
It was everything.
The End
BEST SELLER: THE BETTER BROTHER
PROLOGUE
I turned to face him, and my eyes dropped to his lips. He was just inches away from me now, and my entire body was crying out for him.
Our kiss was hot and fast. The second our lips touched, his body reacted. He shoved me roughly against the elevator wall, holding me in place with strong hands. I’d been dreaming of this moment since he first picked me up that night. Seeing him in a tuxedo was almost too much for me to handle. I knew what was beneath those clothes, and I was desperate to get my hands on him.
“God,” I whispered as his lips found my neck. “I’ve wanted this all night.”
“You have no idea,” he growled, his lips still pressed against my skin.
His teeth bit down lightly, and I moaned. His hands roamed over my body, sliding over my hips and reaching around to grip my ass. Every inch of me that he touched lit on fire.
“Come here,” I demanded, pulling his face back to mine.
I kissed him so hard we were soon out of breath. My tongue slid into his mouth desperately. I could taste the martinis he drank that night, and it only made my head spin faster. Alcohol coursed through my veins, propelling me forward. I was reckless. I was horny. The elevator couldn’t rise fast enough.
His hand reached down for my thigh. He tightened his fist around the light material of my dress and pulled it upward. His finger caressed my bare thigh, moving higher with each stroke.
I moaned and let my head fall back. Panting, I wiggled beneath his touch. He slid his fingers even higher, soon realizing that I wasn’t wearing any panties.
When he touched my bare pussy, he groaned and buried his face in my neck. His fingers played with me, lapping up my wetness and then sliding upward to tease my clit. I moaned loudly and pushed my hips forward.
“You’re the devil,” he said roughly.
He pressed down harder on my clit and rubbed me roughly. The elevator door chimed behind us, and we jumped apart. My pussy was throbbing, aching for his touch, but neither of us wanted to get caught. We stood a few feet away from each other while the doors slid open.
There were a few people in the hallway, so he dipped down to grab my wrap off the floor, and we hurried toward our room. Neither of us said a word until were safely tucked away behind the door.
The second we were inside, he grabbed me and tossed me roughly on the bed. He crawled up below me, taking my legs in his hands as he moved. His lips traced light patterns over my calves as he moved upward, shoving my dress aside as he did.
Soon, I was completely exposed to him. He gripped my thighs and buried his face between my legs, his tongue already lashing out at my waiting clit.
“Fuck!” I cried out. For the first time in my life, I didn’t care about being overheard. I cried out his name repeatedly as his tongue flicked back and forth over me. Wet desire rushed between my legs, dripping onto the bed while he pushed me further toward the brink.
He reached around to grip my ass, holding me tightly while his tongue took me harder. My legs shook, and just like that, I came so hard that my back arched. My mouth opened but no sound came out. The cry of pleasure got caught in my throat as my whole body shook with ecstasy.
He stood up and tore his tux from his body. I wiggled upward just enough so that I pressed against the pillows. My eyes trailed down his body, growing wider when his rock-hard cock sprang free.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” he told me as he climbed
onto the bed, now fully naked.
“Prove it,” I teased.
CHAPTER 1
JULIE
Either I’ll end up in a mental institution, or this will be the best damn decision of my life.
My new place was small but charming. The walls of the living room were painted a shade of green that lightened both the space and my mood. I leaned back in my desk chair and stared at the wall in front of me. Dallas was good to me, but there were too many bad memories now.
I needed a change. This place was just forty-five minutes outside of the city. Quaint. Quiet. Peaceful. And, away from pain – at least that’s what I wanted so desperately to believe.
Ennis, Texas, was the last place I ever envisioned myself settling down. I thought I’d spend my entire life in one big city or another, chasing my dream of being a journalist. Now, freelancing was all I needed. Living a quiet life seemed perfect and relaxing. After the last few weeks of hell, I longed for quality alone time.
Just as the thought crossed my mind, there was a loud knock on my front door. I frowned and got slowly to my feet. The only person who knew where I lived was my best friend Andrea, but I couldn’t imagine she would drive all the way down here.