by Magan Vernon
“Guess she has grown on ya.” I stared at what was the most important girl in my life, Snogs, now a sucker for the girl who I was pretty sure I was falling for. It was a memory I’d engrain in my brain forever.
“She’s just doing this because she knows what’s in my purse.” She opened the black bag and pulled out a deer antler with a red bow tied to it.
Snogs sat up, wagging her tail happily as she took the prized bone in her mouth and ran to the couch, chomping down.
Christy stood, pulling a small red bag out of her purse, and looked up at me with a smile. “Well, this made more sense before you cut your hair. It’s nothing really big ...”
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” I shook my head. Shucking my coat and taking hers, I hang them both on the rack before we walked into the living room where the cactus Noah had decorated with lights was set up.
“But I wanted to,” she murmured.
I bent down and grabbed the box wrapped with newspaper, holding it out to her. “Hopefully, you don’t think this is weird ...”
She laughed, taking the box as I grabbed the bag from her in exchange. “It’s the thought that counts, right?”
“You say that now ...” I trailed, opening the gift bag and unwrapping some tissue paper to reveal a coffee mug with glittery words reading “Be a unicorn in a field of horses” and inside was a bag of Cowboy coffee.
I laughed, holding them both to the light. “This might be the coolest thing anyone’s ever gotten me. This includes my Xbox.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I know it’s kind of silly, but I got it because of what you said to me about worrying about being different from anyone else. I saw the mug at the store with my mom, and the cowboy coffee for my Mohawked cowboy and knew I had to get it. You know, since your coffee mug collection only consists of Q Ranch ones.”
“And if you breathe a word of my collection, I’ll tell Noah you used his towel to dry off the other night and put it back on the rack, I said, grinning.
She put up her hands. “Taking it to my grave.”
Setting the mug and coffee down on the coffee table, I motioned with my hands. “Now unwrap yours.”
“Did we get each other the same thing?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Not exactly.”
She tore into the crudely wrapped paper, then opened the small white box, a big grin finally crossing her face. “Oh my God, I can’t believe you got this.”
Gingerly, she set the box down, then held up the silver chain with a rainbow unicorn charm dangling from the end.
“After you helped me order Vi’s gift, I kept getting ads for unicorn stuff and figured it was a sign, so I ordered it as soon as I got home.”
She unclasped the chain, her voice dropping to a huskier tone. “Put it on me?”
I swallowed hard, all the blood rushing from my head to ... well ... my other head as she slowly turned, pushing her hair away from her neck.
Taking the silver chain, I slowly wrapped it around her neck and fastened it in the back. My thumb traced the bare skin before I leaned in, pressing my lips right below her ear.
She shuddered at my touch, her hands reaching back to run her fingers over the stubble of my head.
“I miss the Mohawk, but I don’t mind this,” she murmured, her hands trailing to curl in the collar of my shirt.
As I kissed down the length of her neck, she pressed her body against mine as the sweetest little moans escaped her lips.
I’d barely even touched her, and my entire body was on fire.
I wanted her. I wanted this. It was just the two of us, and at this moment, I couldn’t think of a reason to say no anymore.
If she left me tomorrow, I wanted to know at least I had her tonight.
I wanted to take it slow, to savor her, and it took everything I had to only inch the zipper of her dress down between every suck and nip of her neck and shoulders.
The red material puddled at her feet, leaving her in just a silky bra and thong, her ass pressed against my straining bulge.
She swiveled her hips as I moved my hands from her back and traced the curve of her hips before pushing aside the soft material of her bra.
Sucking in a hard breath, I ran my thumb along her puckered nipples, a sweet moan of pleasure emitting from her throat as she arched her body into me.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” I managed to whisper even though each word came out a stuttered breath.
She didn’t say anything and instead slowly turned, moving one of my hands from her breast to her wetness, her dark eyes never leaving mine.
Moving aside the material of her panties, I brushed the small strip of hair on her core, feeling her shudder against me before I crushed my lips to hers.
Her moans were breathy against my mouth as we crashed together, moving to the couch. My hands worked her to the brink before she arched her back, letting go in a beautiful crescendo that had me groaning along with her.
My clothes ripped away as quickly as I could, followed by the thin material she had left, leaving us panting together. I hovered over her, splayed in all her beautiful glory below me.
I managed to fumble for a condom from my wallet and slid the latex over my shaft, tracing a line down her wet entrance.
Raising her knees with my hands, I kept my eyes on her, sinking in and filling her inch after decadent inch, watching her breath quicken as she steadied her hands on my shoulders.
We moved together in a perfect rhythm, fitting together like nothing else before. Like this was where we were supposed to be.
Every touch of her skin against mine awakened a new sense I didn’t even know I had. The little kisses she trailed and moans of pleasure lit up my entire body.
This was the closest to heaven I’d ever been. And as I watched her eyes flutter when she arched her back and came undone, that was my undoing as well.
We laid there for I didn’t know how long, tangled in a sweaty heap and just listening to the beating of each other’s hearts.
I knew I had to take her home, though my heart was begging me to ask her to stay. That this wasn’t just about the ranch or getting some anymore. This was so much more.
And holy hell was it ever.
Chapter 26
Christy
I was crying post orgasm.
Not a regular thing for me.
But nothing about this night had been normal for me.
Clay didn’t say anything; he just stroked my cheek and watched me whimper, and not in a good way.
“I’m not crying because it hurts or I want you to stop. It’s because, well, it’s the first time a man has ever taken care of me.”
“Taken care of you?” He raised an eyebrow.
“The ... eating me out ...”
“What the hell kind of guys have you been with that they haven’t feasted on this magnificent pussy of yours?” he asked with a grin, his hand still pressed against my core.
“Not the right kind ... obviously ...”
He nodded, and his eyes darkened before he pulled his hand away and then propped himself up on the pillow beside me, reaching over to the nightstand for the remote.
Dammit.
Did I say something wrong?
Was he that disgusted with me that I’d never had a guy go down on me?
Or something more?
That I admitted I was with the wrong guy.
Too many wrong guys.
He laughed. “You know you’re voicing all this shit out loud instead of in your head, but that’s okay because right now I’m getting us a pay-per-view movie, and we’re going lie here, watch it, and cuddle until we fall asleep.”
“I can take care of you ...” I offered, reaching for the zipper of his pants. Instead, he put his arm around my shoulders and pulled the blanket back with his free hand for me to climb underneath.
“We’ll have plenty of time for that later. For now, let’s enjoy each other.”
&nb
sp; It was the first time a man had ever said that to me.
A mixture of emotion ran through me, and the biggest one was that I was easily falling hard for Clay Carrington, my now husband.
And as I pressed my naked body against his side, my head on his chest, all I could think about was how much I wanted to wake up in his arms in the morning. And every day afterward.
Chapter 27
Clay
Sex was kind of like Pringles. Once you pop, you don’t stop.
Sure, there was Christmas, then a slow week after Christmas before New Year’s celebrations started.
But that was why the Q Ranch had a dressing room for brides. I mean, well, I guess brides changed in there, but it also made a perfect location for rendezvous during the day.
I buttoned the last button of my shirt, running my hand over the stubble of my head as Christy slipped her pants back on.
“So, what are you doing New Year’s Eve?” I asked, trying to be casual.
“Um, I think we’re both working the party here that night?” she said, putting on her shirt and fixing her ponytail.
“The party ends right after midnight, but I have some friends, well, guys I used to hang out with in high school, and they should still be going into the night. They invited me by if you wanted to come with.”
I tried to ignore the pounding in my heart.
We’d been together behind closed doors, and she’d hung out with my family, but meeting my friends was something completely different. And the next step to her being more. Whatever we were. That was something we still hadn’t discussed even though now we were seeing each other on the regular.
“People from Friendship?” she questioned as if we went to completely different high schools.
“Yeah, I used to hang with Josh and Sadie Tucker. Even tried to form a band with them once.”
She nodded but didn’t smile. “I think I remember them. Didn’t know they were still around here, though.”
“Yeah, uh, Josh married Karen O’Grady after she got pregnant our senior year, and they have another kid too. Sadie moved in to help them out at this place near the edge of Copeville they inherited from his grandparents or something. It’s a shitty little place, but I try to go when they invite me. You can say no if you want; it’s totally cool. I don’t have to go either, and we can just hang at my place with Snogs,” I said, realizing I was rambling. My hands were trembling, so I shoved them in my pockets.
This girl had gotten to know me. Not just the badass I portrayed, but also the crazy kid who never got a chance. The one who wanted to be with this girl who was just as crazy and still stuck around.
“If you want me there, I’ll be there.” She stood on her tiptoes, placing a small kiss on my lips.
“Really?”
She laughed, swatting my arm. “Yes, really. Now c’mon, let’s get back to work before people realize we’re gone.”
I HATED WORKING NEW Year’s Eve parties, or any big events at the ranch where the bar was the main attraction.
After the midnight toast, I was wiped as everyone started to clear out of the place.
One of the bussers, Jorge, didn’t speak much English, but with the few words he did know, we could communicate.
“Hey, cowboy, grass?” he asked, widening his dark eyes.
I shook my head. “Naw, man, not packing tonight. I’m about to head out ...”
He put one hand up then pulled a joint out of the front pocket of his shirt. “Puff, puff? Quick? Behind barn?”
Dammit. I could smell the earthy flavor from here.
It would be a few minutes before Christy was done and could sneak out anyway, so I figured a few hits wouldn’t hurt. Maybe it would even calm down my nerves.
Josh and Sadie couldn’t believe I was bringing a girl by and actually seemed excited to meet her. Little did they know she was the brat from high school, or that I was technically married to her.
“All right, man, lead the way.”
I followed Jorge to one of the horse barns. Watching him light up the joint and taking a puff, I observed the smoke billowing in the air around him before he passed it to me.
“So, you and the boss’s daughter?” he asked, putting his hands together and squeezing them.
Taking a long drag before passing it back to him, letting the smoke roll off my tongue, I nodded. “Yeah, I guess in the simplest terms you can say that.”
“Amor?” he asked, taking his hit and passing it back.
I might have gotten a D in Spanish, but even I knew what that word meant, and just thinking of it slipping off my tongue had my body rigid.
Did I love Christy? Was that what this was?
Before I could even answer, or hell, think of an answer, a rustling came from the front of the barn. I figured it was probably some drunk party guests wanting to take a piss or bother the horses, so I put the joint in my mouth, ready to get one last puff before snuffing it out.
I was right about it being a guest, just not the one I was suspecting to shine a flashlight in my face.
“Clay Carrington, been a while,” Officer Jenkins said with that same cocky smirk he had since high school.
Only this time, the asshole actually caught me in the act.
“Hey officer,” I tried to act casual as I stubbed out the joint even though my hands were shaking.
Maybe he’d give me a break or ignore the skittish man next to me, muttering under his breath in Spanish.
But I couldn’t be that lucky.
Officer Jenkins sauntered over, full uniform on, and his cuffs out. “Hands where I can see ’em, Carrington.”
Fuck.
I could have talked my way out of it, maybe even begged, but when I looked up and saw Christy and her wide-eyed mother on the other side of the barn, I couldn’t do anything but hang my head in shame.
I’d tried so hard to be the right man for her. To prove I could run the ranch and be her husband.
Now I’d really fucked it all up, and there was no going back.
As Officer Jenkins hauled me past them, I looked up, trying to meet Christy’s gaze. All I could do was mouth, “Sorry,” before I was pushed in the back of the cop car and on my way to the station.
Chapter 28
Christy
My hands shook as I wrapped my fingers around the steaming foam cup.
My best friend, Abbey, took a large gulp of her drink like we were just about to have a totally normal conversation on a Saturday morning at the bakery.
She didn’t know what the hell just happened in Vegas. Or what my future would hold.
“So how was the trip? You and Clay finally hook up?” she finally asked, setting her cup down and wiggling her eyebrows.
I almost spit out my latte but swallowed it hard, the hot liquid burning down my throat. Then I coughed, rubbing my chest before looking back at Abbey.
“Holy shiitake mushrooms! You did! You finally bagged the Mohawk cowboy!” She slammed her hand on the table.
“Shhh,” I hissed, leaning forward and glancing around the empty shop as if someone would jump out and hear us.
“So, it’s true? How was it? Everything you’ve always hoped for? Is he tattooed and pierced everywhere?” she whispered, a large a grin on her face.
“It’s not like that. I mean, yes, we did hook up, but there’s more than just that ...”
She widened her eyes, those big doe eyes roaming over my body. “Oh, my God! Are you pregnant? Am I going to have another nephew? Or niece? Or both? He seems like the kind of guy who could land you twins.”
I sighed. “No ... At least, I don’t think I am. I think we used protection. I don’t really remember.”
She raised an eyebrow. “It was that bad that you can’t remember? Damn, I was hoping for a better story than that.”
“Well, this may be the mother of all stories,” I muttered.
She leaned in, putting her elbows on the table and her chin in her hands. “Really?”
I nodded. “Yeah
. And you may want to grab something stronger than coffee because, from what little I remember of the night, it’s one hell of a tale.”
“I don’t have a flask in my purse or something. Or are you talking about something else? Because I’ve heard rumors about Clay ...”
I shook my head. “No, he’s not like a drug dealer or anything. I’m pretty sure he was smoking pot in Vegas, but that’s not the point.”
“Okay, so what is?”
I put my left hand up, the one with the sparkling, rainbow gemstone.
Abbey choked on her own spit, clearing her throat before she leaned forward. “Holy. Shit. Is that an engagement ring?”
“Wedding ring.”
She blinked hard. “Have you told your parents?”
I shook my head. “No. I think Dad would be in jail or Clay or both for a blowout if that were the case.”
She shrugged. “Or not. Maybe things could turn out for the best. You never know.”
I sucked in a breath, taking a sip of my coffee.
I didn’t know, and that was the problem.
“What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know, honestly.”
“Well, I guess you’d better figure that out soon.”
Didn’t I know it.
Chapter 29
Clay
Brooke had my bail posted within a few hours, and by the time the sun rose, I sat in the passenger seat of her car on the way back to my house where Noah and Snogs were waiting.
I had a few missed calls on my cell from Christy and a lot of texts, but I didn’t answer any of them. Too ashamed to admit who I was.
“If you skip court, I’m going to have your ass,” Brooke muttered, the only words she’d said to me the entire ride as we got out of the car.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got nowhere else go to.”
Noah was still asleep when we got inside, but Snogs waited on the couch, like an old lady, padding to us as soon as we got inside.
“Are you going to call your wife? She’s probably worried,” Brooke asked.