Dallas at Midnight [Midnight in Montana 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Bella Settarra

  “Oh yeah, my wife doesn’t mess around. She’s got the whole thing planned already. She’s been dying for you to wake up just so she could ask what songs you’re gonna sing.” Caleb teased, “She needs to print the running order or something.”

  “Now hang on a minute. I don’t recall ever actually agreeing to all of this,” Shane objected.

  “Heck, she wants to sing, doesn’t she? Why not make some money while she’s at it?” Kerry-Leigh waved him off.

  “Do you wanna sing, darlin’?” Shane asked, gazing at Dallas.

  She thought for a moment. She loved singing. She’d always dreamed that one day she would be on a stage with hundreds of people watching her. She’d spent a fortune on singing lessons when she was younger, though her tutor had told her she was a natural already. There were years of evenings spent learning new songs on that guitar she’d left behind. Hell, yeah! She wanted to sing all right.

  “Yes please.”

  Shane sighed. “Well, darlin’. You’ve got a beautiful voice and if it’s what you want to do then I’m right beside you. As long as you don’t overdo it—that’s my baby you’re hatching in there, don’t forget.”

  Dallas felt a flame burn through her body. He was so concerned about her, and yet so supportive. “I love you!” It was a thought which tumbled out of her mouth in the form of words. She hadn’t meant to say it, and was stunned when she heard her own voice.

  She was even more stunned at the expression on Shane’s face. Instead of shocked he looked relieved—and happy. He gave her a massive smile which lit up the whole room.

  “I love you too, darlin’.” He leaned in and almost kissed the mouth off her. She melted in his arms and lost herself in him. In that moment the world carried on turning without them as they merged into one big cloud of sensation. Dallas floated as his love swallowed her up and she felt as though she was wrapping her arms around his heart.

  “Well, I guess that’s another job for your personal event-planner, over here,” Kerry-Leigh announced matter-of-factly when they finally broke apart.

  Her voice permeated Dallas’s mashed-up brain, just adding to the confusion. “What?”

  “The wedding. I assume you’ll be having a big affair at the ranch with all the neighbors. I know someone who does these wonderful sculptures with balloons, and of course we can get some of those flower-arches for the vows. I know just the spot we can use. You just leave it all to me.”

  Shane frowned at Kerry-Leigh. “Don’t you think you’re getting just a wee bit ahead of yourself there, sister?”

  “What? You don’t want a big wedding? I can handle that. A small one it is. That’s no problem, you just tell me what you want and I’ll sort it for you.” The buxom blonde rattled away nineteen to the dozen, and Dallas couldn’t help giggling.

  “Hold on a minute.” Shane objected.

  Kerry-Leigh looked stunned. “What?”

  “I haven’t even asked her yet!”

  “Well, what are you waiting for? Get on with it, bro.”

  “Perhaps we should wait outside?” Caleb offered, standing up. He held a hand out to help his wife out of the tiny chair, but she looked horrified. She opened her mouth but Caleb put a finger in front of it to stop her. “Give them their moment,” he muttered, before ushering her out into the corridor.

  Dallas took a deep breath and stared at Shane. He looked absolutely gorgeous as he gazed up at her through his long lashes. He actually appeared a little nervous and she felt her heart melt all over again.

  “All right,” he said firmly. “Dallas, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

  Her heart must have missed a beat as it shot into her mouth. She felt herself glow with a warmth that oozed throughout her body. She realized that she had never wanted anything more in her whole life. “Yes,” she whispered.

  Next she was in his arms, being squeezed tighter than she ever imagined possible. He seemed so happy and she was delirious.

  He gently pulled apart from her and concerned eyes gazed into hers. “Are you sure, darlin’? I don’t want to put any pressure on you or anything. You can take your time to decide if you want to.”

  Dallas melted at his anxiety and she smiled at him. “I don’t need any time, Shane, I just need you. I love you and I want to marry you.” She reached up and kissed his soft lips, feeling them smile under her own.

  Somewhere, in the middle of a lingering kiss, Dallas heard the sound of the door opening. She felt Shane slowly pull back and they looked over at the beaming couple who were peering into the room.

  “Hey, what about a ring?” Caleb teased, as he and Kerry-Leigh sauntered in.

  Shane stood up straight, looking sheepish. “I–I didn’t get one. Not yet. I wasn’t sure if…well, you might not have wanted…” His eyes were wide and anxious as he stumbled over his words.

  “It’s all right. We can choose one together, whenever,” Dallas assured him. She really wasn’t worried about a ring. She wanted him, nothing else.

  He gave her a hug. “OK. That’s a promise. We’ll get it as soon as you’re well enough to go shopping.” He kissed her again and she felt a tingling in her stomach.

  “Well enough? Heck, what do you think computers are for? You never heard of online shopping in these parts?” Kerry-Leigh teased, laughing.

  Shane climbed on the bed and held Dallas in his arms. She snuggled close, enjoying the feel, the smell and the closeness of him. This was where she belonged and where she intended to stay.

  * * * *

  Shane hadn’t been joking about not letting Dallas lift a finger once they got home.

  “It’s doctor’s orders,” he told her, “You need to rest.”

  Kerry-Leigh and Caleb were more than happy to make the dinner while Shane and Dallas curled up on the new sofa Caleb had bought them. It had been a thank-you gift for Dallas’s input for his story, which was already making him big money, Shane had explained. It seemed the whole world was interested in the tale of the demise of Ed Powell, and Caleb had even been offered a TV contract for a documentary which was planned. He stood to make mega bucks with his story, and Kerry-Leigh was already planning on how to spend it. That house of theirs would be restored in no time.

  The meal was delicious.

  “I could cook in that kitchen all day,” Kerry-Leigh told them as they tucked in.

  “Only ’cos you can fit in it.” Caleb snorted. “You couldn’t swing a cat in ours.”

  “Give it time, honey.” The blonde girl gave Dallas a conspiratorial wink. “I’ve got big plans for that room.”

  Caleb rolled his eyes playfully. It appeared that Kerry-Leigh was a creative girl and was always planning something. She was a brilliant entrepreneur, too. Money had already started rolling in from a few events she’s organized in the couple of weeks they’d been at the ranch, she’d told them proudly.

  “We need to go shopping for your outfits for the gig!” Kerry-Leigh told Dallas excitedly. “What sort of look do you want? Sexy, Dolly-Parton-like with plunging necklines and lots of bling, or down-home gingham and ‘yee-hah’ chaps?”

  Shane’s jaw tightened and Dallas laughed. “I’ll have a think about it,” she promised, reaching up to kiss her fiancé on the cheek.

  “We’ll have a think about it,” he muttered.

  Dallas smiled as she watched the family chatting and teasing each other. She was happy to be joining them, and was so pleased that Caleb had finally decided to make amends with his older brother.

  “You had any more thoughts about the ranch, bro?” Caleb must have been reading her thoughts—or he was just tactfully changing the subject.

  “Yeah, I reckon you’ll make thousands out of the gig,” Kerry-Leigh piped up. “Time to start thinking about what to do with it all.”

  Shane sighed uncomfortably. “I’ve got a few ideas,” he told them bluntly.

  “Such as?” Kerry-Leigh was tenacious.

  Shane took a deep breath. “Well, the place sure needs
sprucing up a bit. And I figured I might see if I can buy back some of our old land.”

  Dallas watched Caleb’s eyes light up. It sure sounded like his big brother was trying to establish the ranch back to how it used to be.

  “You could do with some more furniture in this place, too,” Kerry-Leigh remarked, stuffing another chunk of fresh bread into her mouth.

  Shane cleared his throat. “Yeah, I kinda thought Dallas might wanna help out with that.” He looked down at her a little anxiously. “I thought you might have some ideas of how you’d like it. Maybe a bit more…homely? I dunno…” He shrugged.

  Dallas grinned. “I’d love to,” she assured him, touched that he wanted her to make her mark on the house. Shane looked a little bashful as he smiled at her, and then he cleared his throat again, as if clearing his thoughts at the same time. “I’m thinking of getting more horses. I dunno…maybe set up a riding school or something.”

  They all stared at him. He had obviously been harboring entrepreneurial ideas of his own!

  “What a brilliant idea!” Dallas squeezed his arm.

  Kerry-Leigh nodded. “It’ll sure be a money-maker in a place like this.”

  “It’s not just about the money,” Shane said awkwardly.

  Caleb grinned. “It’s about the dream. Our daddy’s dream.” He turned to the girls, who were gawping at him in surprise. “Daddy always said that one day he’d have a riding school on those fields that got sold off. It’s the perfect place, lush, flat land and plenty of it. He never made it himself ’cos he never had the money and then he and momma died. I kind of felt that the dream had died with him, and when Shane had to sell of the land, well…” Tears filled his eyes as he spoke.

  “It was the hardest decision I ever had to make, bro. It was the only option at the time. The land was just lying there and the spread was going under.” Shane was obviously choked, too.

  Caleb reached over the table and put a hand on Shane’s shoulder. “I know that now. I was young and stupid and downright selfish. I had no idea how things were. Seeing Kerry-Leigh start her business from scratch made me realize how hard it is sometimes to make the right decision. I’m sorry, bro. You weren’t burying Daddy’s dream. You were holding it in safekeeping until the time was right. And I believe that now the time is right. And if you want any help, you just holler. We’re only a few hours away, I can get back here any time you need me.”

  Both men stood and hugged each other. Dallas felt her heart swell and before she knew it tears were streaming down her face. She looked over and saw Kerry-Leigh snivelling, too. Both girls giggled shyly before embracing each other.

  “It’s just the hormones,” Kerry-Leigh whispered as they hugged each other. Dallas giggled through her tears.

  After a few minutes the men had their arms around the women too. Dallas felt the warmth of her family surround her and she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation.

  “Well, I’d best get these dishes cleared up,” Kerry-Leigh said brightly at last.

  “I’ll help,” Dallas offered.

  “No, you won’t.” Shane was adamant.

  “Yeah, you look tired. I’ll help out here. You go rest up a while,” Caleb told her.

  Shane looked concerned as he led her into the lounge.

  “Are you tired, darlin’?” He snuggled her on the sofa.

  Dallas smiled at him. “Maybe just a little. I’m OK though,” she assured him.

  He frowned. “You better take a nap,” he whispered. “I don’t want you tired come bedtime.”

  Chapter 13

  Shane needn’t have worried. By the time they had all finished watching a movie and chatting about their plans for the gig, the wedding and the future, Dallas was wide awake again, her mind whirling with plans and possibilities.

  He led her down the corridor and into the master bedroom. Her leg was still a bit sore and she limped a little, but apart from that she felt fine. Shane carefully helped her remove the borrowed jogging trousers she had been advised to wear, and she watched his eyes grow bigger as he caught sight of her lacy panties.

  Her heart thumped as she slowly rolled up her T-shirt and pulled it over her head. She felt herself flush as he stared at her in just her underwear and she felt nervous and excited.

  His arms came around her and she melted into his embrace. His lips devoured hers and she felt the fire burn in her stomach. She ran her hands through his soft, wavy hair, and felt his stubble next to her cheek. Carefully he lifted her onto the huge bed and she felt the soft coverlet against her flushed skin. Then his body was over her, his weight on his arms.

  His kisses nibbled at her ear and his hot breath tantalized her throat. “I want you,” he murmured, and she felt a sudden gush escape her aching pussy. She had been on edge since the kiss in the hospital, and balanced on the precipice of tumultuous anticipation.

  She rammed her tongue into his hot mouth, showing him what she wanted him to do to her pussy, and she heard a chuckle from deep in his throat. “I want you,” she panted in blatant desperation.

  He chuckled again and she pushed him off her. “Are you laughing at me?” She raised an eyebrow at him teasingly as she rolled him over and sat astride him.

  He chuckled again, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Is that a problem?”

  She was already unbuttoning his shirt. “Not a problem for me, darlin’,” she replied with a salacious wink, mimicking him.

  His face lit up and he let out a loud laugh, which she felt ripple through his gorgeous body. She pulled at his shirt and he leaned up slightly to help remove it. Next, her hands found his belt and his fly, which she easily undid.

  “Ah-aht.” She wagged a finger at him as he went to sit up again.

  His eyebrow shot up in excited surprise as she pushed his chest down and proceeded to pull his Levis down his legs, revealing his body bit by bit. His erection was huge and shot up to greet her, bobbing up like a flower welcoming the sunshine. He was commando, as usual, and she could smell his masculine scent and saw the pre-cum on his tip, glistening and inviting.

  It took a lot of restraint for her to leave the throbbing member momentarily while she removed his jeans down his taught, tanned legs. She felt him twitch beneath her as she slowly crawled up the bed, and she sensed his urgency as she revisited his weeping cock.

  It took both hands to hold it, and its girth was almost too much for her small palms. The skin was like warm velvet, swathing his iron bar of need. She was rewarded with his groan as she stroked the immense shaft, eliciting more juice from the gaping eye.

  “Please!” She heard him hiss as her lips neared its crown and her tongue poked out to taste his cream. He was delicious. She lapped at the bulbous head, slurping greedily at his nourishment. The stem twitched enthusiastically under her fingers and she slid one hand down to attend his swollen balls.

  “Aah!” His gasp urged her on and she sucked at the tasty chunk of meat, tormenting him with kisses and licks, and caressing the weighty orbs in her hand.

  Her hand automatically stroked and pulled his cock up and down, feeding it into her hot mouth as she opened her throat to welcome it. She had never tasted a man before—she had never wanted to—but she couldn’t get enough of his rich cream and the sensation of his excitement.

  Her passion grew and her hands moved faster up and down the lengthy shaft. Her mouth was on fire as she slurped and sucked his huge member, rolling her tongue around it and poking it into the sensitive slit. She felt it grow even harder as it swamped her mouth.

  “No, I’m gonna come,” he hissed, grabbing her hair as she devoured his most precious organ.

  “Mmm,” she nodded and winked at him, her mouth still full. She wasn’t sure if the vibrations of her mouth had sent him over the edge or if it was all just too much for him, but a second later her throat was rewarded with a surge of rich, salty cream which she swallowed eagerly before the next helping arrived.

  She heard him roar with delight as she consumed his generous offeri
ng and licked him clean of every drop.

  He was panting and she saw the sheen of sweat which covered his whole body, when she finally freed his spent member and kissed her way up to his mouth.

  “That was magnificent,” he whispered, his eyes dark with passion.

  Dallas felt the fire burn through her whole body at the pride of his approval.

  His arms came around her, pulling her down onto his body. He swiftly unfastened her bra and removed it, allowing her soft breasts to feel the heat of his ripped chest. She lifted up slightly and his mouth found a nipple, while his fingers reached for the other. She moaned as the sensation flowed through her. He nipped and then laved her hard nub with his hot tongue. The electric cable which connected her nipples to her pussy went into overdrive and she groaned as she felt another gush escape her throbbing apex.

  Shane’s hand trailed down her stomach and fondled her through her soaked panties. She heard the deep chuckle from his throat as he felt the evidence of her arousal.

  Instead of feeling embarrassed, she felt elated. He had such an amazing effect on her whole body that she could never be ashamed of any reaction he drew from her. As his fingers teased her aching pussy through the soft lace she shuddered with anticipation. His finger slid under the thin material, probing her welcoming lips, exploring deep into her body.

  She knelt up and he pulled the panties from her, leaving her totally naked, exposed. Glancing down she could see that his cock had regained its monumental proportions, and she licked her lips subconsciously. She straddled his muscular thighs, forcing her labial lips to part invitingly, and she heard him moan as her dripping pussy teased his velvet tip.

  His hands were at her hips, holding her weight as she toyed with his sensitive head, her juices mingling with his in an erotic cocktail of their arousal. She felt her own breath hitch as his helmet nudged her over-sensitized clit and a surge of lust flooded her veins. No longer able to withstand her own torment, she pressed her body gently onto his and revelled in the bitter-sweet pain of gratifying impalement. His red hot poker scorched her canal as she held his arms and gradually took in every inch of his sumptuous manhood. Staring into his deep, dark blue eyes she felt his love flood her heart as her body stretched to engulf him.