“You must be Addison,” an older gentleman said, coming toward her while the two women sat on a loveseat across from Caleb, who’d parked himself on the sofa.
“I am.”
“I’m Duke Hart, Caleb’s uncle.”
“Great to meet you, Mr. Hart.”
“There’s no formalities in my house.” He too offered her a hug. “Please call me Duke.”
Addison smiled. “Duke it is.” She accepted his hug and was somewhat shocked when Caleb pulled her toward him on the sofa and forced her to sit on his lap. Didn’t he realize how inappropriate it was for him to behave this way in front of company? Caleb didn’t seem to care. He just wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Addison, you look really familiar,” Jada said.
“Really?” Addison wiggled in Caleb’s lap, uncomfortable at his open display of affection.
Jada snapped her fingers. “Oh, wait, did you have your coming out ball at the Dallas Country Club? You’re Addison Walker.”
Addison nodded. “I did. How did you know?”
“My sister has an amazing memory,” Bree responded.
“Addison Walker,” Duke said her name again. “I don’t suppose you’re related to Benjamin Walker?”
Addison detected a note of concern in his voice. “He’s my father. You know him?”
Duke nodded. “We go way back.”
“Enough about the past,” Caleb said, glancing up at her. “Would you like a drink before dinner?”
“I’m sorry, Addison,” Duke replied, walking over to the wet bar in the room. “Forgive my lack of manners. What would you like?”
“Nothing right now. Perhaps some wine with dinner?”
“Wine?” Caleb scoffed.
“Yes, wine,” Bree quipped. “Some of us are civilized and would like something other than a beer. Isn’t that right, Addison?” She glanced in her direction.
Addison laughed. “I’m going to have to agree with Bree on this one. I can drink the occasional beer, but it’s not really my thing.”
“You didn’t seem to mind much on our first date.”
“Oh, leave the girl be,” Duke replied. “Let’s head to the dining room. It’s about that time.”
Caleb smacked Addison’s bottom, and she rose off his lap so he could stand up. When his uncles and cousins left the room, Caleb held Addison back for several minutes.
“What—” She never finished the rest of her sentence because he planted his lips on hers.
Caleb had to kiss her. He stepped closer, pulling her into his arms. His mouth descended on hers yet again, and her lips instinctively parted, allowing him entry. Addison tilted her head slightly, making her lips more accessible to his demanding mouth. Sitting on the sofa, every nerve in his body had compelled him to kiss her, ravish her until he couldn’t remember his own name. And when she’d wiggled her bottom earlier in his lap, he could feel his erection springing to life at her innocent action, but that’s the affect Addison had on him.
He was happy to have her on his turf tonight and away from her father and his restrictions, but he couldn’t wait for later when it would be just the two of them alone.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and connected with him in an almost primitive way. The erotic foreplay of their tongues fusing was arousing all sorts of sensations inside of him. “If you keep that up, we’ll forego dinner,” he said throatily.
“I didn’t start this.”
“No, you didn’t,” Caleb murmured, “but I’m more than ready to finish it.”
“Ahem.” A loud cough sounded from behind them, and Caleb turned to see Duke standing in the doorway. “C’mon, lovebirds. Dinner is ready.”
In Caleb’s opinion, the rest of the evening went splendidly. Addison had a natural, easy way about her that anyone who met her was bound to fall in love with. And he saw that happening with his cousins and Uncle Duke.
After dinner, while the girls chatted across the table, his uncle leaned over and whispered, “That’s a mighty fine girl you’ve got yourself there, boy.”
Caleb glanced at Addison, who must have sensed him watching because she shot him a sideways look and winked. “I know that,” Caleb said, turning to Duke.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“What do you mean?”
Duke shrugged and picked up his bottle of Bud Light. “That’s not a girl you want to mess with, if you get my drift.”
“Who says I’m messing?”
Duke gave him an incredulous look.
“Okay, okay,” Caleb whispered, “but there’s something about her that I’m drawn to. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.” He knew Uncle Duke was warning him to be careful, but he was a man who liked to live on the edge. Ignoring his advice, Caleb grasped Addison’s hand. “We’re going to call it a night,” Caleb announced to everyone.
“Oh, of course,” Jada said with a smile. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Addison.”
“Likewise.” Addison reached over and squeezed Jada’s hand, then nodded at everyone and wished them a good night.
Caleb rushed Addison out of the dining room and down the corridor.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
When he made it to the indoor solarium that housed a large indoor pool and hot tub, Caleb flipped a switch. The room came alive with soft lighting.
“Wow! This is amazing,” Addison said as she walked on the mosaic-tiled floor. She glanced up and admired the glass sunroof and the moonlight streaming in.
“Uncle Duke put it in years ago, but no one hardly uses it,” Caleb said from the opposite side of the pool. He toed off one of his cowboy boots and then the other. “That’s why we can take advantage of it tonight.” He began unbuttoning his shirt, and once it was undone, he tore it off and flung it across the pool at Addison. She caught it.
“Caleb,” Addison said, glancing at the door they’d just come from, “what if someone comes in?”
He unlatched his belt buckle, and it fell with a thud on the tile. “Are you scared?”
“I-well, I-” She stumbled on her words. He loved that he made her nervous and uneasy. He was going to open her up to a whole new world of sensuality, one she would never forget.
“I think you are.” Caleb reached for his zipper, removed a condom from his pocket and unzipped his jeans until they too fell on the floor. He stepped out of them until he was bare-chested and wearing nothing but his boxer briefs. That’s when he started toward her.
Addison began backing up, trying to head toward the door, but Caleb knew she didn’t want to leave. She was just nervous at getting caught. When he was a few feet away and Addison’s back was against the door, that’s when he made his move.
He bent down and swiftly removed his boxers until he was naked in front of her.
“Oh, my!” Addison exclaimed.
In three long strides, Caleb reached her and he wasted no time ridding Addison of the unwanted clothes that were preventing him from reaching the promised land. He stripped every stitch of clothing from her body, piece by delectable piece, until she was just as naked as he. His first thought was to drop to his knees and go down on her right then and there, but he resisted the urge and instead grasped her hand. He led her toward the pool, and she followed him into it.
“Oh, it’s warm,” Addison said, sounding surprised as she sank deeper into the water.
“I made sure of it,” Caleb said, spinning around to face her.
Addison smiled wryly. “You sneaky devil. So you had this idea in mind?”
Caleb laughed devilishly. “If I said yes, would that surprise you?”
“Everything you do surprises me, Caleb Hart.”
“Happy to hear it.” Caleb pulled Addison toward him and kissed her passionately.
He
wanted so badly to taste her. He pushed her backward toward the pool steps. He laid her against them, and her hair fell in swirls. He lifted her lower body to his mouth. He kissed her inner thighs until he found the place he ached to taste. That’s when he placed heated kisses there. Addison lifted her hips, arching off the steps.
Addison was beside herself. The need for modesty or inhibitions vanished as Caleb made love to her with his mouth. She unabashedly opened her legs so his lips could cover the center of her as his tongue delved in and out with delicious sweetness. “Caleb!” she screamed.
He didn’t stop, instead he nipped and licked and teased her relentlessly. Addison didn’t care who heard her because Caleb was feasting on her like she was his next meal. When he dove in again with sweeping thrusts of his tongue, a moan struggled to escape her mouth. He was doing all sorts of wicked things to her, and her thighs began to quake as an earth-shattering climax rocked her.
She was still trembling when she felt Caleb’s hardened tip at the juncture of her thighs, and when he thrust inside her, she rose and met him. She hadn’t quite recovered from her orgasm, and Caleb was already sliding in and out. He chartered a pleasure cruise for them both, and Addison wasn’t going to just lie back and let him lead. She wrapped her legs around his waist and took him in deeper.
“Oh, yes, babe, like that,” Caleb urged.
He navigated her by squeezing her butt, and soon Addison was feeling her muscles spasm as yet another mind-bending climax hit her. Caleb began to buck wildly, and Addison felt his release and he yelled her name.
Chapter 10
“Caleb, when are you coming home?” Rylee asked the following morning. He’d just left Addison in his bed at Uncle Duke’s and was on his way downstairs to fetch coffee for them both when Rylee had called. Not that he didn’t love his sister, but she was the last person he wanted to talk to right now. “I thought you were returning today, but Amar told me that you told him not to send the jet.”
“That’s right,” Caleb replied as he padded into the kitchen. Thankfully, it was empty and his cousins and uncle were nowhere in sight. As he walked toward the coffeemaker, he noticed that someone had graciously made a pot that was still on the warmer.
“You promised.”
“I know,” Caleb said, holding his cellphone in the crook of his neck as he walked over to the cabinet to remove two coffee mugs, “but I have a few loose ends here, and I will need a couple of more days. Don’t worry, sis. I’ll be back in time for the rehearsal dinner and your big day.”
“Why the delay? I called and your event ends tonight. There’s no reason you can’t come back to Golden Oaks after.”
“Wow! Were you checking up on me?” Caleb walked back to the coffeepot and poured himself a mug.
“No, of course not.” Rylee sounded like she was insulted by the comment. Then she said, “What are you hiding from me, Caleb?”
“Nothing,” he replied hastily. “I just have some things I need to take care of here first.”
“Like what?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re nosy?”
“Yeah, but as I recall when I was dating Amar, you wouldn’t let the matter rest, which could only mean ... this is about a woman, isn’t it? You’re staying in Dallas because of a female.”
Damn her, thought Caleb. How was it that Rylee could read him even when he wasn’t in person? “If you must know, I am spending some time with a woman.”
“I knew it! You were being too sketchy with details. So give it up, who is she? How did you two meet?”
“I’m not getting into all the details with you, Rylee, but suffice it to say I’ll be here a bit longer than anticipated.”
“Bring her to the wedding.”
Caleb nearly choked on his coffee. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me correctly,” Rylee said. “You should bring her to the wedding as your plus-one.”
“No way.”
“Why not? It is common practice to bring a date to a wedding.”
“Yeah, but women get ideas at weddings.”
“It’s just a date, for goodness sake, Caleb,” Rylee huffed. “And who knows, you might have more fun. I mean we’ll all be coupled up, me and Amar, Noah and Chynna, Kenya and Lucas. You don’t want to be the odd man out.”
Rylee had a point. His siblings would be coupled up, and he would be trying to find the nearest watering hole to put himself out of his misery. But if he brought Addison, he wouldn’t feel left out and she would maybe make the event more tolerable. They’d been having a spectacular time together, in and out of the sack. Having her in his bed for a few more days before their relationship inevitably ended would be an added benefit.
“Alright, Rylee. I’ll ask Addison.”
“That’s her name—Addison?”
“Yes.” And that’s all Caleb was going to offer, otherwise, his sister would sic Amar’s right-hand man Sharif on them and have him compile a dossier on Addison before she even walked onto Golden Oaks soil.
“Excellent. Well, I look forward to meeting Addison, and I will add her to the guest list and adjust the seating arrangements. See you soon.”
“Later.” Caleb rolled his eyes. God help him. What had he just agreed to and what had he gotten himself into?
Addison awoke to an empty king-size bed, much to her chagrin. She sat up and let the sheet fall from her bosom as she spread her arms out. She couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt in spite of being completely naked. Caleb had a way of making her feel at ease. Whenever she was with him, it was like her feet barely touched the ground. She supposed that was his easygoing nature, but deep down she knew she was starting to develop feelings for him. It wasn’t a smart move considering he was a bull rider and they were known for not staying in one place. But she couldn’t help it; she was falling for him.
Just then, Caleb walked into the bedroom, bare-chested and holding two mugs, which she could only assume held coffee. He came toward her, bent down and brushed his lips across hers before sitting and handing her a mug. “For you, my dear.”
She smiled. “Thank you.” She bent to take a sip, but he stopped her.
“I warn you, it’s black. How I drink mine.”
“That’s fine,” Addison said, sipping the coffee. She hated it black, but could live with it if it meant she had her morning dose of caffeine. She glanced up and saw Caleb staring at her. “I must look a sight.” She pushed her curls out of her face. Usually she had time to straighten her hair before he saw her.
“Don’t.” Caleb stroked her cheek. “You’re beautiful.”
“Now, I know you’re lying.” She attempted a laugh. “I have bedhead, and I could use a toothbrush.”
He grinned and put down his mug on the nightstand before reaching for hers and placing it next to his. Then he pushed her backward against the pillows and lay atop her so he could look into her eyes. “I like you earthy.”
“Earthy, huh? You have high expectations.”
He looked at her again with a funny expression, and it made her nervous. “What? What is it, Caleb?”
Instead of answering, he moved off her and leaned against his side. “What are you up to this weekend?”
Addison shrugged. “No real plans. Collette and I might do some shopping. Why?”
“Well—”
She leaned over and tilted his chin so she could see his eyes. “Well what?”
“I was wondering, if you didn’t have any plans, if you-you’d be my plus-one at my sister’s wedding this weekend. It’s at my family ranch in Tucson, so we’d have to fly there, but I could bring you back in time for work on Monday.”
Addison smiled as Caleb rambled on. When he stopped long enough to take a breath, she asked, “So you want me to be your wedding date?”
His dark-brown eyes peered into hers, and Addison’s heart began beating loudly.
“Yes, I want you with me. Th-that’s if you want to come.”
Addison nodded. She couldn’t believe he was asking her to his home, where she would meet his entire family. This was a huge step, but one she would totally take with him. “Of course I’ll go with you.”
“You will?”
It was the first time Addison had heard the normally confident Caleb unsure of himself. “Absolutely, it’ll be fun. When do we leave?”
“Day after tomorrow, if that’s okay with you.”
She inclined her head. “It will give me enough time to take care of a few things before we go.” She started to get up so she could get on the road, but Caleb pulled her back down onto the bed.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he said. “You didn’t think I was finished with you, did you?”
An hour later, after they’d showered and dressed, Caleb was walking Addison to the car when she heard gunshots.
“What was that?” Alarmed, she looked around at the house and surrounding land.
Caleb smiled. “Oh, that? Probably my cousins on the gun range. C’mon,” he said, grabbing her hand, “I’ll show you.” He walked around the back of the mansion to the opposite side of the property. There, his uncle, Jada and Bree stood holding rifles.
As Jada loaded her rifle with ammunition, she looked up. “We didn’t wake you, did we?”
“Of course we didn’t,” Bree answered for them and glanced at her watch. “It’s nearly ten o’clock.”
“So?” Caleb asked, cocking a brow. “Some of us do work long hours.”
“Bullshit!” Bree snorted.
“Thanks a lot, cuz.” Caleb frowned.
Bree laughed, turned around with her rifle, unlocked it and then cocked it again. “If the shoe fits.” Then she fired. She hit the target dead-center.
“Good shot!” Caleb said.
“You’d be good too if you practiced.”
“I’m good enough,” Caleb replied, “but Addison here could learn how to use a weapon.” He pushed her toward his cousins. “Why don’t you guys show her a little something while I talk to Uncle Duke?”
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