Julián’s tanned cheeks darkened a bit. He didn’t argue with her but neither did he agree. “Maybe so, ma’am.” To Jayne, Julián seemed a bit like a tumbleweed.
Kate hugged and patted all three of them then backed away from the truck as the other citizens of Lusty bid them farewell and went about the rest of their evening. With Toby settled in his car seat and the handy, hefty diaper bag at her feet, Jayne sat back carefully to avoid jostling her injuries and said, “I’m ready to go home.”
“Me too,” Seth murmured. As if in agreement, Toby sighed heavily, his eyes already drooping.
* * * *
Late October…
Seth placed Toby on the floor near Jayne, who sat reading a book on the couch, and went to answer the doorbell. The man at the door towered over him by at least three inches. While the family resemblance was a little harder to spot, Seth recognized the stare of a father about to have a come-to-Jesus-meeting with the man who was interested in his daughter.
“Seth Carter?”
“Yes, sir.” Best to be up front, honest, and sincere. And hope the man wasn’t packing a handgun.
“Robert Sheridan.” Jayne’s father stuck out his big hand and Seth shook it firmly without hesitation, holding back the wince at the sensation of bones in his hand bending.
“Daddy?” Jayne moved to stand beside Seth, with Toby on her hip. “I didn’t know you were coming. Supper will be ready in a little while. Are you staying?”
The man’s demeanor changed when he shifted his focus to his daughter, no longer looking like he ate nails for breakfast. “Hey, angel bud!” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “This must be little Toby.” Seth’s son stared up at him with wide eyes and an open mouth, but grinned at him when the man gave him a smile. “Yes, I’ll stay for supper but right now I need to borrow your fiancé.”
Jayne’s eyebrows shot up. “Huh?”
All business once again, Robert Sheridan leveled his stare at Seth again. “Let’s go get a beer, Carter.”
Seth nodded and grabbed his truck keys from the table by the door. Robert held up his keys. “I’ll drive.” To his daughter he said, “We’ll be back in an hour.”
Jayne pursed her lips. “Daddy—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring him back in one piece.”
Mr. Sheridan was mostly quiet on the drive to The Dancing Pony, allowing Seth to direct him to the nightclub where happy hour was well underway.
Seated at the bar with beers in hand, which Jayne’s dad had allowed Seth to purchase, Mr. Sheridan peered at him and said, “Carter, I’ve got several things to say to you.”
Seth nodded, figuring this was the part where he just shut up and listened. He respected what the man was doing and knew if he had a daughter, he’d be doing the same thing—putting the fear of God into his future son-in-law.
“First. Thank you for saving Jayne’s life. If it wasn’t for your quick thinking we might never have seen our only baby girl ever again.”
Robert paused, giving Seth the chance to speak. “Your daughter means everything to me. I’d have taken that bullet for her if I could’ve outrun it.”
Robert nodded. “Second. I understand that you’re a tattoo artist. I have mixed feelings about the fact that you’ve tattooed my daughter, rather extensively, so I hear.” The man appeared to grit his teeth for a few seconds before taking a sip from his beer. “I’m the minority opinion in my family about tattoos, so I’m going to suspend sharing my thoughts.” He turned and squinted at Seth. “Although I’m sure you already know how I feel about my baby having tattoos.”
“Loud and clear, sir.”
“She’s a grown-up and she can make her own choices. It’s clear she’s chosen you. I love her, I want her to be happy, and it’s obvious you make her happy. I’m honestly impressed that you took on the care of your little son there, with no notice at all. You sucked it up and took responsibility. That says a lot about your character in my book.”
“Thank you, sir. I have full custody of him if that’s a concern for you.” He was thankful he was finally able to say that, with all the familial loose ends tied up, thanks to Ace Webster’s and Kemp Whittier’s private investigation services.
“Good. Jayne’s been through an awful lot and we want her to have stability and happiness in her life. Seems like you and Toby fit the bill. But I want you to know…if you hurt her, I’ll hide your body so good they’ll never find it.”
Seth nodded stoically, knowing he’d probably say the same exact thing to the man who wanted to marry his daughter. “Reading you loud and clear, sir. Another one?” he asked Robert as he held up his empty bottle.
Robert nodded and chuckled. “Been looking forward to that speech since she was a little tyke.”
Seth mirrored his nod and chuckle, and held up two fingers for Quinten, and pointed at their bottles. “Good job, sir. I’m duly warned. But you don’t have to worry. She owns my heart.”
“That makes two of us, son,” Robert said as he held out his hand to Seth to shake. Seth returned the gesture.
“Frieda says you do good work. She’s been bugging me for matching tattoos.” Robert chuckled again and shook his head. “That little dynamo has me wrapped around her finger. Be warned, she trained Jayne well. So how much you charge per hour?”
They chatted companionably for several minutes and Seth was mildly surprised when Julián Alvarez sauntered through the front door of the club. He grinned and lifted his chin in greeting, before coming to join them when Seth waved him over. Seth turned to Jayne’s father and said, “Mr. Sheridan, this man was involved with saving Jayne too. Got shot in the process of disarming the man who abducted her and Toby.” Seth performed the introductions.
“Alvarez, it’s good to meet you. Thank you for acting to save them.”
“I’d do it again, Mr. Sheridan. Jayne, Toby, and Seth are like family to us in Lusty.”
Seth ordered him a beer as he took the seat on Mr. Sheridan’s other side. “So have you made the move to Divine yet?”
Julián shook his head. “Not quite yet. I need to tie up some loose ends, but soon I’ll be out at the Cook Ranch.”
“The Cooks are good people. I hope it works out for you at their place.”
“Got a good feeling about it,” Julián replied and smiled at Camilla when she placed his opened beer bottle on a napkin on the bar. “A real good feeling.”
When they returned to the house, Jayne met them at the door with a wary expression, quickly checking them both over for injuries, which made her father laugh as he hugged his daughter. “Don’t worry, angel bud, I didn’t hurt him…much.”
For Jayne’s benefit, Robert gave him the evil eye and pointed at his own eyes with two fingers and then at Seth, in the universal I-have-my-eyes-on-you gesture. Jayne gasped and then laughed when she realized he was joking.
“Come in and eat. I already have Toby in his high chair. Mom called.”
“What did she want?”
“For me to remind you to talk to Seth about designing matching tattoos for the two of you.” Jayne seemed surprised when Robert laughed and turned to Seth and held up his little finger.
“Just prepare yourself, son.” Robert didn’t look like the thought bothered him all that much.
Jayne’s shocked expression was priceless. “You’re getting tattooed? You hate tattoos.”
“Yeah, but I love your mother. And I don’t guess they’re all that bad,” he added, pointing at the artwork on Seth’s forearms showing because he had his button-down shirt sleeves rolled up.
Jayne came to Seth with big eyes, and mouthed “wow” before hugging him. She whispered, “That’s not the dad I know and love. He’s a pod person too.”
Seth hugged her and laughed until Toby joined them and Robert squinted at them all like they were crazy. “Pod person?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Soft cello music played over the speakers set up in the spacious shaded backyard of the Divine Creek Ranch. G
race had squealed and jumped at the opportunity to host Jayne’s early-November wedding at the ranch. Seth had taken Jack, Ethan, and Adam’s advice and let the ladies plan the wedding, nodded when necessary, and been as helpful as he could, all while seeking to stay out of trouble.
He stood before the congregation, who were all seated in neat rows of white folding chairs on the lawn, with his best man beside him. Well, not so much beside him as in his arms. He’d tended to be a loner until meeting Jayne, and since then, had felt equally friendly with all the men associated in some way with their group of friends. It had been impossible to choose just one best man. Jayne had suggested Toby and told him that it didn’t matter to her. Her father was walking her down the aisle, Grace was her matron of honor, and Grace’s daughter, Rose Marie, was the tiny flower girl. Jayne had been happy with that wedding party, so Seth didn’t worry about it.
Since the shooting the month before, Jayne had fully recovered and they were packed and ready for a week’s honeymoon at the bed-and-breakfast in Lusty. Toby was staying the week with Grace and her family. The November weather would be perfect for exploring, hiking, and their third-floor honeymoon suite in the bed-and-breakfast had a large, private balcony, perfect for lusty pursuits under the stars.
Seth’s heart jumped as the music changed to the romantic strains of “Beautiful” by Apocalyptica. Jayne had requested it because she appreciated him introducing her to the sensuality of the music composed by that group. It was something special they shared with their guests. The back door of the ranch house opened, and Jayne appeared, clad in a sleek, white wedding gown, on the arm of her father, Robert. Toby wiggled in his arms and held out a hand.
“Mommy.”
The guests nearby chuckled indulgently as he and his son watched her move toward them. Rapture governed the pounding of his heart as each step drew her nearer. Jayne’s radiant face was visible behind the sheer veil, and he felt the warmth in her gaze as she maintained eye contact with him. Walking along the white runner, she looked like an angel. The dress skimmed her curves, and he fought the inner beast to not just ogle her openly with her dad beside her.
Lucy came to stand at Seth’s side and touched his arm as Jayne and her dad approached. He turned to her, and when she patted her hands together, Toby went into her arms. She stayed beside Seth, at Jayne’s request, so Toby could be close to them as they wed each other.
Lucy had settled into her job as a massage therapist at Madeleine’s and was more than happy in her one-bedroom cottage in Divine. She seemed to have taken to life in Divine with relative ease but kept busy. So busy, she’d said there was no time for a social life. She’d made a point of telling him she hadn’t been back to The Dancing Pony since that fateful night in August. Seth wondered at times what was really driving her.
Moving forward to claim Jayne from her father, Seth couldn’t help but stare at her. She was so beautiful, his eyes ached. She’d looked this beautiful on the day he’d met her as he’d lifted her to her feet after tripping her. And as he’d helped her into the pool, clad in that eye-popping bathing suit on July 4th. And when she’d demanded to be shown the drawing he’d made as he fantasized about tattooing her. And as she’d allowed him to tattoo the creamy perfection of her skin. And when she’d emerged from Dr. Hawks’s office with good news. And when she’d danced for him at the nightclub, after calling him from her closet. And when they’d made love for the first time. And when she’d fought for Toby, not wanting to be parted from him. Her vehement cry still echoed in his memory sometimes. “He’s mine!”
“Are you okay?” Her question broke into his reminiscing. She reached out a hand to stroke his cheek as everyone waited for the ceremony to begin.
“You’re mine,” he whispered.
“I am yours. Always.” They turned toward the minister.
* * * *
Jayne was warmed by the desire burning in Seth’s eyes as he led her naked onto the spacious, private balcony of the Parkview Inn’s honeymoon suite. The cool air caressed her skin, which was still a little damp from her bath in the large claw-foot tub in their bathroom. With each step, the tiny bells dangling from her nipple clamps chimed, making her deliciously aware of the pinching sensation radiating from her nipples. When she’d left the tub, he’d been waiting for her with the clamps in hand. She hadn’t even realized that he’d packed them.
Gooseflesh danced across her skin, and her nipples grew even harder until she felt the tightening in her cunt as well. He’d poured her a glass of her favorite wine, the same Moscato d’Asti as the night he’d proposed. He’d brought it to her and told her to take her time as she’d soaked in the tub filled with scented bubbles. She’d heard him moving around the bedroom and opening the French doors leading out to the balcony.
The white Carolina jasmine blooming in the pots on the balcony glowed in the soft moonlight, and the sweet fragrance hung in the air. The mild weather had held on for the wedding, for which she was grateful. This late in the year the humidity and heat had eased during the daytime, and the nights had a touch of crispness to them. He slid his hand down her arm as he drew her to the large chaise, and she wasn’t sure if the goose bumps on her skin were from the temperature or from his warm touch.
She wondered no more what he’d been up to as she realized he’d made up the chaise with a sheet and blankets so that they wouldn’t become chilled while they were out there. For now, however, he’d turned the covers down, out of the way. He’d even brought pillows to rest their heads upon.
The chaise was situated in the center of the balcony, the railings shielded by various plantings and vines. The sky above them glistened with stars and the light of the waning moon. A breeze caressed her back as she lifted a knee to the surface of their outdoor bed and he came close, searing her with his body heat. Her wedding band glinted, reflecting the moonlight as she slid her hands up to his chest, stroking the new addition to the tattoos on his pectorals.
He’d commissioned Jim Durbin to add a rose tattoo on a smaller scale but of similar design to hers. The climbing rose curved from the base of his sternum, around his left pectoral muscle, running along the edge of his other tattoos. Just as with hers, he left it monochromatic black and gray. It made for a startling contrast to the dark colors and designs of his other tattoos, but it worked for her. Every time she saw it, her heart warmed with possessive pride.
“You really like it, don’t you?” he asked as he stroked her right breast, cupping it in the palm of his hand. He flicked at the bell on the clamp, bringing a soft gasp from her lips, before his fingertips swept down in a caress over her completed tattoo. Her cunt tightened and clenched with the sensation as her juices seeped warm and slick for him between her thighs.
Shuddering with pleasure, she whispered, “If you’re referring to the tattoo, yes, I do. I love them both.” She leaned forward and kissed his chest over the new art. The fingertips of his other hand left a heated trail along her abdomen, following the design down to the top of her thigh, before moving up to cup her ass cheek.
He slid his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck and kissed her, licking at her lower lip and then sliding his tongue against hers in a sensual duel that created a wave of heat through her body. She clung to him, her hands sliding over his muscled back as she melted in his arms, tilting her head to kiss him more deeply. His cock was a hard branding iron, trapped between their bodies, and he groaned when she undulated, caressing him with her abdomen. The action also raked her taut nipples over his flesh, and the demanding ache between her legs made her nearly mindless with need.
He squeezed her ass cheek as he rubbed against her and then slid his fingertips down her cleft until he found her slippery and ready. Her breath shuddered as he slid a digit between her lips, inflaming the hunger building inside her.
Gazing up into his lustful eyes, she caressed his biceps and murmured, “Lie down. I want to love you.”
He gave her a crooked grin and did as she asked, lying in the center of
the chaise with a pillow beneath his head as he held out a hand for her. Feeling like a kid let loose in a candy factory, she kneeled beside him and pressed kisses to his inner thighs as she trailed her fingers over his hip bones, and up to his abdomen, before sliding her hand down to his groin. The position increased the pulsating in her nipples.
He shuddered and groaned as she palmed his heavy, hard cock, stroking him as she pressed kisses higher and higher. She glanced at him as she nuzzled his balls with the tip of her nose and smiled with delight at the way he arched his back. The lean muscles in his arms stood out, rippling with tension as he gripped the pillow under his head. She slid her hand up again, touching his torso and stroking his nipples. He lifted a knee and parted his legs to give her easier access as though silently asking for her touch.
“Tell me what you want, Seth.”
“Lick me, baby. I love your tongue.”
Jayne felt like a temptress and suppressed a wicked laugh. “Tell me where you want me to lick, and I’ll do it.”
“Lick my balls, baby.” He panted and his hips rolled as she did as he asked, lavishing his sac with her love. She teased his cock with light strokes until he placed his hand atop hers.
“Want me to lick your cock?”
“Suck it, baby. I need your hot little mouth on me.”
“Will you give me your cum?” she whispered then slid the tip of her tongue up the centerline of his sac and the length of his long, hard cock. He groaned and his hand shook as he stroked her shoulder and caressed her neck. His reactions made her feel both feminine and powerful.
“Yes, honey. If you’re sure.”
“I want it all,” she replied and engulfed his shaft all the way to the back of her throat.
Heather Rainier Page 27