Almost A Bride (Montana Born Brides)

by Mayberry, Sarah

  “Thank you,” she said. “I think you might have just saved my ass today.”

  “Only your ass? I’ll have to lift my game.” His smile was small and slightly self-conscious.

  Typical Reid, bold in everything except accepting heartfelt appreciation.

  “You’ve been a good friend to me, Reid Dalton. I’m going to miss you like hell when you abandon us and head to Chicago.”

  “Might not get the job yet. Don’t go counting your chickens.”

  “They’d be crazy not to take you.”

  She scooted across her seat a little and leaned in to kiss his cheek. They didn’t normally kiss and hug or do any of that touch-feely stuff, but it felt right for today. It felt necessary.

  Her hand landed on his shoulder, and she inhaled the good, fresh scent of him as she pressed her lips to his cheek. She must have surprised him, because he shifted a little and his stubble rasped across her lips, the lightest of abrasions.

  She pulled away, instinctively licking her lips to soothe them. Reid’s gaze followed the movement, and she was close enough to see his pupils dilate and his nostrils flare.

  She went very still. And then she did something she’d been wanting to do for a very long time: she leaned close and kissed him, properly this time.

  His mouth was warm, and she could taste the sweetness of the lemon meringue pie he’d had for dessert. She waited for him to respond, to do something, but he seemed to be waiting for something else. Something more.

  Well, might as well go for it. Feeling bolder than bold, she ran her tongue along the closed seam of his lips, asking for entry. There was the smallest of pauses, then some of the tension went out of him as he opened to her, his tongue stroking hers, his mouth starting to move at last. His hands found her waist, his fingers gripping her warmly as his kiss became more demanding, more urgent.

  God, yes. Urgent was how she felt, and she’d never been greedier, more ready, more eager in her life. Her heart was already racing, her body flooding with heat, the need for more, more, more a drumbeat in the back of her head.

  She made a small encouraging sound as his hand left her hip and smoothed its way up her torso. If he touched her breasts, she was pretty sure she could almost come on the spot.

  Suddenly he stilled, pulling back slightly so he could look her in the eye.

  “Tara... this is a bad idea.”

  “No, it isn’t.” It was the best idea she’d had in a long time. “You’ll be going soon. I know that. But I want to know before you go, Reid. I need to know.”

  A whole year they’d been sitting side by side in that damned patrol car, denying the pull of desire between them.

  She was sick of denying it. She was sick of playing it safe.

  His gaze searched her face, and whatever it was he saw seemed to satisfy him, because the next thing she knew he was kissing her as though his life depended on it.

  Fierce and demanding, taking no prisoners. She gripped his shoulders as his hand slid onto her breast, the friction of his thumb gliding over her nipple making her shudder with need.

  It felt so good, he tasted so good. Operating on blind instinct, she threw a leg over the center console and slid into his lap.

  “Jesus, Tara,” he said, his hands gripping her ass as she straddled him.

  They kissed again, bodies grinding together. He pushed a hand beneath her sweater, tugging her bra out of the way to reach her breast.

  She couldn’t get enough. The taste of him. The feel of his hands on her body. She was on fire, her sex hot and wet for him. All she could think about was having him inside her, filling her. She slid a hand between their bodies, feeling the hard, long length of him through his jeans.

  This. She wanted this. She wanted it now.

  She fumbled at the stud on her jeans, breaking their kiss so she could maneuver more easily.

  “What are you doing?” Reid asked, his eyes glinting in the darkness.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  She rolled to the side, already pushing her jeans down her legs, taking her panties with them.

  “Don’t worry, I’m on the pill,” she said.

  Reid’s hand found her bare ass as she kicked off her jeans, his fingers curling into her flesh possessively.

  “Just as long as you know we’re in the driveway in front of your townhouse,” he said, and she could hear both the amusement and the desire in his voice.

  “I can’t wait.”

  She couldn’t, and it was dark enough and they were private enough down here at the end, away from her neighbors.

  Reid took care of his belt buckle and button fly, and together they pulled his jeans down. His erection sprang free, thick and long and hard, and she wrapped her hand around it, reveling in how hot he was.

  Need driving her, she straddled him once again and guided him into place. The exquisite pressure of him filling her, stretching her, made her clutch at his shoulders as she took him all. His hand slid to the back of her neck, squeezing lightly.

  “Give me a second,” he said, his voice very low, his hand holding her still.

  She understood. She’d expected it to be good, but she hadn’t expected it to be profound.

  This felt right. Right and so good and absolutely essential.

  Reid pressed his mouth to her neck. “I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

  “Me, too.”

  Even though she’d been too scared, too stupid, too blind to acknowledge it.

  His hands found her hips as he thrust up into her, and together they started to move, quickly finding a rhythm that was all their own. Reid’s hands slid from her hips and up her torso, pushing her sweater out of the way. She leaned forward, offering him her breasts and he took her left nipple into his mouth and tongued it avidly.

  She was so wet, so aroused, she could already feel her climax bearing down on her. She drove her fingers into his hair, holding him to her as she rode him. He switched to her other breast, biting her nipple gently before drawing it into his mouth.

  “Reid,” she breathed.

  And then she came apart, sensation rippling through her in delicious waves, her sex throbbing around him, her knees locked to his sides.

  One of his hands found her ass, pulling her more tightly to him, and he thrust himself deep, his whole body shuddering as he found his own pleasure.

  She was breathing hard, her body damp with sweat, her breasts and face tender from his stubble. And yet she’d never felt better, more alive, more herself than ever before in her life.

  Bowing her head, she rested it on Reid’s shoulder, pressing a kiss to his skin.

  She would never regret this. Ever.

  Chapter Nine

  Reid woke to the smell of apple blossom. Stirring lazily, he smiled as memories from last night rushed over him. Then he pushed Tara’s hair out of his face, sliding a hand around her body and tucking himself more snuggly behind her.

  They’d slept well together, he and Tara—when they’d finally slept. She’d asked if they could go back to his place rather than do the obvious and go to hers. He had been more than happy to eschew the ghosts of her former relationship, driving out to the orchard and kissing her every step of the way up the stairs to his apartment.

  They’d barely made it to the bed the second time, tearing each other’s clothes off, the room echoing with their roughly-voiced words of encouragement and appreciation. Making love to Tara had been... extraordinary, in the truest sense of the word.

  He’d never had such intense, fun, gratifying sex in his life, and just lying here thinking about it was making him hard all over again.

  He nudged his hips a little closer, enjoying the pressure of her ass against his erection. She stirred, her behind pressing back into him more firmly, and he realized she was awake.

  “Morning,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.

  “Morning.”

  She was smiling. He couldn’t see her face, but he knew it. Could feel it
.

  He spread his hand over her belly. Her skin was soft and warm, and she smelled so good, like sunshine and soap.

  “I have a question for you,” he said.

  “Mmmm?” She wiggled her backside against him, teasing him shamelessly.

  “Are you a morning person?” he asked, gliding his hand down her belly and into the silk of her pubic hair. She was wet and swollen with wanting and he got even harder as he stroked the seam of her sex.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  He shifted, rolling on top of her, and she welcomed him with widespread thighs and arms. This would be their fourth time making love, and he still had to stop himself from simply plunging inside her, his need for her was so powerful.

  Instead, he kept a tight rein on himself, using his erection to tease her, sliding back and forth, loving the way her head dropped back and her mouth opened, her teeth just showing as she started to pant.

  “Want me?” he asked.

  “Yes. Stop being a tease.”

  Her hands gripped his ass, encouraging him to push inside her, and he gave into her urging, beginning the slow slide to ecstasy. She lifted her legs, locking them behind his hips, and he slid his hands under her ass and used his grip to tilt her hips as he stroked into her.

  She was flushed and tousle-haired, her green eyes cloudy with desire, her nipples budded into taut peaks. He drew one into his mouth, savoring the taste of her, relishing all the little sounds she made: the catch of her breath, the low moan in the back of her throat when he stroked her deeply, the little rushed exhale as he stepped up the pace.

  He stoked her desire, holding his own in check, until finally he couldn’t wait a second longer. She panted out her encouragement as he pounded into her, then he felt her tighten around him, and she was gone, her gaze dazed and shaken and lost as she came.

  Her pleasure fed his, and he pressed his face into her neck and inhaled the essence of her as he gave himself up, his body shuddering into hers.

  Her arms held him tightly afterward, denying him when he would have rolled away to relieve her of his weight. He was only too happy to stay. In fact, if he had his way, the world would stop turning altogether so they could remain like this forever.

  “What’s your best guess?” she asked, her voice husky and low.

  “About what?”

  “Whether I’m a morning person or not?”

  He was still inside her, and he felt her muscles tighten around him. He smiled against her neck.

  “I’m thinking yes.”

  “I’m thinking I might be an afternoon and evening person, too, when it comes to you.”

  He lifted his head so he could see her face, supporting himself on his elbows. She had a strand of hair across her forehead and he brushed it gently away. She watched him a little warily, although her lips were smiling.

  “Tara—”

  “No, don’t. Let’s not say all the things that need to be said. Let’s just enjoy this while it lasts. Be a little reckless.”

  He brushed a thumb along her cheekbone. She was so freaking gorgeous. It made his chest tight, being this close to her and seeing the many different shades of green in her eyes.

  “Okay. If that’s the way you want it.”

  “It is.”

  “There’s still the small matter of work.”

  “But not for much longer.”

  “As much as I enjoy your faith in me, I haven’t got the job yet.”

  “You will.”

  Her confidence in him was simple and unequivocal, and he brushed his thumb along her cheekbone again.

  “We’ll see.”

  A knock echoed through the apartment, and they both glanced over his shoulder toward the door.

  “That’s locked, right?” Tara asked a little nervously.

  “It should be.”

  “Reid?” His mother’s voice sounded clearly through the door. “I’m making waffles. Should I save some for you?”

  “Yes, please,” he called.

  Tara started to giggle quietly.

  “Tara would like some, too,” he added.

  Her eyes went wide then, and she slapped his shoulder, doing her best to push him off her.

  There was a telling silence. Then:

  “I’ll open up another bottle of syrup. Morning, Tara.”

  “Morning, Mrs. Dalton.”

  “Judy is fine, dear.”

  They heard the sound of his mother retreating down the staircase and Tara gave a mighty heave, successfully wriggling out from under him.

  “That was a dirty stunt, Dalton.”

  “I thought you liked waffles?”

  “You are lucky you are so good in bed. That’s all I’ll say for now.”

  She slid to the edge of the bed, evading him again as she stood and headed for the bathroom.

  “I need a shower.”

  The thought of Tara naked beneath streaming water was enough to have him bounding out of bed to go after her. Her smile was small but knowing as he joined her beneath the spray.

  “What took you so long?”

  They ran the tank dry washing each other, and when they emerged the bathroom was cloaked in steamy fog. He flicked on the exhaust fan and dried himself off, watching while Tara did the same. She was so freaking sexy, with her long, athletic legs and slim hips. As for her breasts... he’d lost sleep fantasizing about her breasts, and they more than lived up to his imagination, her nipples a pale browny-pink, the shape round and full.

  “I thought you wanted waffles?” she said, giving his crotch a significant look.

  He was hard again, his erection straining against his belly.

  “You’re the one standing there all naked and gorgeous,” he said, hooking an arm around her waist and kissing her.

  She let him have his way for a few minutes before pulling back.

  “I don’t suppose your parents will believe I slept on the couch.”

  He smiled slowly. “Why, Ms. Buck, don’t tell me you’re shy?”

  “No.” She frowned slightly. “It’s just they know about Simon and that we work together and it might be weird.”

  “My mother is probably in the kitchen doing a victory dance,” he said. “She loves you. They both do.”

  She looked pensive for a second, then she shrugged. “All right. I’m sure I’ll survive the walk of shame.” She turned to head into the bedroom.

  He frowned, reaching for her and pulling her back into his arms. “There wasn’t an ounce of shame in what we did last night.”

  She looked a little surprised by his vehemence. “I know. Sorry, that was a bad choice of words.”

  He studied her face, needing to be sure that she meant what she said.

  “It’s okay, Reid. I want to be here. I don’t regret anything. I couldn’t.” She pressed a kiss to his mouth before exiting to the bedroom.

  They dressed in silence, then Tara brushed her wet hair and pulled it into a ponytail and announced herself ready to face the music and the waffles.

  He led the way downstairs and across to the main house, slipping his hand into hers as they entered the foyer.

  “In the kitchen,” his father called as the door clicked shut behind them.

  Tara stood a little taller, and he kissed her quickly. “Don’t be an idiot.”

  “Good morning,” his mother said brightly as they arrived in the kitchen.

  Four places were set around the old oak table, and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice sat in the middle, along with a jug of maple syrup.

  “Hope you’re hungry,” his mother said, her gaze bouncing from him to Tara and back again.

  “Come sit next to me, Tara,” his father said, pushing the seat out for her with his foot.

  Tara smiled at them both. “Thanks. And I am hungry, thank you.”

  His father started talking about the weather, and his mother dished up the first round of waffles. Sitting across the table from Tara, he watched as she slowly relaxed.

>   As he’d said, his parents loved her. Far from disapproving of the idea of the two of them together, they were far more likely to push him to make it permanent, his parents never having been shy about their desire to see him happily settled.

  A concept that had always sent shivers up his spine—until recently.

  The whole notion of being “settled” had always conjured up visions of making-do and conceding in his mind. But that wasn’t how he felt when he looked across the table at Tara. She wasn’t a concession, she was the grand prize. She was a lifetime of laughter and generosity and challenge.

  When he looked at her, he didn’t feel trapped. He didn’t want to check the specials board at the local travel agents. He didn’t want to loosen his collar and check where the exits were.

  She made him want to stop and stay.

  “Reid? Are you with us or not?”

  He glanced up to find his mother standing beside him, a plate full of waffles in hand.

  “Sorry, did you say something?”

  “I asked how many do you want?”

  “As many as you’re prepared to give me.”

  His mother was frowning slightly as she loaded up his plate and he wondered how long she’d been standing there.

  The waffles were great, and Tara’s bright smile and sparky comebacks to his dad reassured him that she’d let go of any misgivings she had about going public with his parents regarding their... situation.

  Because it was too early to call it a relationship, even though everything in him wanted to. There were too many question marks hanging over everything for him to let himself go there. Tara might be whole-hearted after her break up, but there was no getting away from the fact that she was still recovering from the wreckage of her engagement. And then there was the Chicago job to consider.

  Tara insisted on helping clean up after breakfast before suggesting it was time she went home. She still had to collect her pickup from The Wolves Den across town, and she had “things to do.”