Then Came You

by Vanessa Devereaux

  He kissed her again as he pulled the material from her ass and the rest of the thong slid down her legs, falling around her ankles. Gillian freed herself from it, all the time keeping her mouth on his.

  Connor stepped back and sat down on the edge of his bed.

  "Okay, pretty lady, let me take a look. Let me live out the picture that's been playing in my mind over and over again since the first time you came calling at my ranch."

  He reached for her hand and held it as he looked at her and smiled.

  "My imagination wasn't that great because you are, in fact, the eighth wonder of the world."

  He pulled her in close, parting his legs so she could slip between them. He kissed the space between her breasts then let his hands slip to her butt again.

  Connor kissed her belly before his fingers slid down over her belly button on to her mound. Without saying anything he lifted her right leg up and placed her foot on his thigh.

  He glanced down, spreading her labia open with his thumb and index finger. He wasn't taking his eyes away now.

  "There's not a single part of you that's not pretty,” he said. He rubbed his thumb over her clit a few times before exploring each fold, tracing them with the edge of his finger. He circled her slit several times, sending pulses through her pussy and lower belly. He slid one finger inside, then two as he began thrusting them into her, gently at first then, as she started to buck her hips, he picked up intensity until Gillian had to hold tightly on to his shoulders because he was taking her on the ride of her life.

  "Connor, mmm, that feels like..."

  She couldn't describe what it felt like, she wasn't sure she'd ever experienced anything like it. She shook and almost fell to her knees, weakened by her orgasm.

  Next thing she knew she was being swept up in his arms and placed on the bed. Connor got on it too, opened up the drawer of his bedside table, pulled out a foil package and tore it open.

  "Maybe this time I'll let you have the honour."

  He handed the condom to her and placed himself in front of her on the bed.

  Gillian's pussy pulsated just thinking about him being inside her again as she eased it over his cock.

  He spread her legs with his knee, eased in between them then eased into her.

  Connor kissed her before he began a slow but steady thrust. She held his arms then slowly brought her legs up over his thighs so he could fill her some more. That was almost all it took to fill her with heat down in her pussy.

  She stroked his chest that now had a few drops of perspiration on it. Their bodies slapped together as he plunged harder and deeper.

  Gillian eased her head back, trying to hold on, but finally had to give in to her climax. She groaned and turned her head to the left, trying to get her heartbeat back to a normal beat but couldn't do it, her orgasm and its aftershocks were still ripping through her.

  Connor called out her name as he plunged hard and found his release.

  He stayed inside her for a few minutes, kissed her on the mouth, then the nose, then the neck until he finally pulled out and rolled on to the other side of the bed. She turned over and rested her head on his chest as he wrapped his arm around her.

  "Mmmm, I could stay like this forever,” she said.

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  Chapter Eight

  * * * *

  They had stayed that way for at least thirty minutes. Half an hour for them both to recover from their fantastic climaxes, a chance to snuggle, touch one another again, get them ready to make love again. This time Gillian had rolled on to her right side. Connor had slid into her shortly after and held on to her like he never wanted to let her go again.

  What a turn-on for him to know she was pleasuring herself while he also went to work on her. She'd played with her clit as he'd thrust deep and hard each time hearing and feeling her reach paradise. Shit, her pussy was so tight, hot and moist. He could feel all that even through the condom. He could imagine what it would be like inside her with nothing in between them. Maybe one day—yeah, one day soon.

  He snuggled into her neck, still inside her. He glanced at the clock on his bedside table. It was already one-thirty a.m. He kissed her cheek.

  "Happy Thanksgiving.” he said.

  "Wow, is that the time? Happy Thanksgiving to you too."

  "Does this beat spending it all by yourself?"

  She ran her hands over his arms as he held her tightly.

  "Oh yeah. Maybe we can just sleep in all day like this."

  He kissed her again. “Afraid not, and if we don't get some shut-eye we won't be up in time to put the turkeys into the cooker."

  "Then we'd better get to sleep."

  * * * *

  Gillian couldn't let Connor do everything by himself. She was the houseguest and had to pitch in.

  "Okay, so what can I do to be useful?” she asked when she stepped into the barn where preparations for the dinner were underway.

  Connor was checking the turkeys that were now in the roasters while a couple of his ranch hands were setting up the tables.

  "Other than looking pretty,” he said, kissing her on the cheek.

  "Yes, besides that.” She rolled up her sleeves.

  "Okay, while I go grab the heaters to warm this place up, how about you put the cloths on those tables as the guys assemble them?"

  "Any food you need help with?"

  He shook his head. “I supply the turkeys, the venue and drinks, all the guests bring everything else."

  "Okey dokey, then."

  While Connor left the barn. Gillian grabbed the tablecloths and threw them over each of the wooden tables. A few minutes later Connor returned and plugged in three heaters and turned them on high.

  "You thought of a name for your horse yet?” he asked, getting the other side of one of the tablecloths and pulling it over the top of a table with her.

  "I was thinking of Starlight because the first night I was here I looked outside and was taken aback by all the stars shining. I haven't seen a sky like that many times in my life."

  "Yeah, country living has its pluses. And you know, I like that name. It kinda suits him. “

  "Do you think he'll recognise me each time I visit?"

  "Horses have pretty good memories but just in case, maybe you'll have to make more of them. Or maybe Starlight and I can pay you a visit in Chicago sometime."

  Gillian wasn't sure if he was joking around or not. By now she knew Connor well enough to know he'd do just about anything if he put his mind to it.

  "Uncle Connor."

  Gillian turned to see a boy of about five who looked almost like a young version of Connor running towards them.

  "Hey, buddy. You drive over here all by yourself?"

  He jumped up into Connor's arms. Connor planted a big kiss on the boy's cheek.

  "Hey, don't do that...it's wet and sloppy. And I don't drive yet."

  "This is my youngest brother's son, Clay. Do you want to say hello to my guest?” asked Connor.

  The boy nodded.

  "This is Gillian Matthews and what do you say to her?"

  "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Miss Matthews."

  Gillian smiled at his formality for such a little guy.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Clay."

  "So where are your mom and dad?"

  "Getting stuff out of the car. They let me run ahead to see you."

  Connor put him down on the ground just as a couple turned the corner into the barn, both carrying dishes of food.

  "Brenda, Jon, this is Gillian Matthews who's staying here over the holiday. Gillian, my youngest brother and his wife."

  Gillian shook hands with both of them. Jon looked a little like Connor but wasn't as tall and didn't quite have the broad shoulders of his older brother. Brenda was tall and by the look of things wasn't far from her due date.

  "Pleased to meet you,” said Jon. “Hope my brother's being a good host."

  "Oh, the very best,” said Gilli
an. She looked at Connor and he winked at her.

  "So how's my niece?” asked Connor, patting Brenda on her stomach.

  "Very fidgety and keeping me awake every night now."

  "Brenda's due the week before Christmas, so we'll probably have another O'Riordan to buy gifts for this year."

  More people started to pour into the barn. Gillian couldn't keep up with everyone's names as they shook hands with her.

  "Gillian, this is my oldest brother Thom and his wife, Sally."

  "Pleased to meet you,” said Thom, tipping his hat. “Those two noisy kids over there are my two boys, Bradley and Nicholas. And my daughter is around here someplace too but I can't see her. She's just gotten to an age where she's starting to notice boys so I'm guessing she's got her eye on one and is tracking him down as we speak."

  "And I'm guessing you're also one of Connor's brothers,” said Gillian, seeing another man who resembled Connor approach them.

  "Sure am. Adam O'Riordan, pleasure to meet you, ma'am. And this is my wife, Janey."

  Gillian noted that Janey also looked pregnant. Maybe it was the air or the water around here.

  "Okay, I'm just going to carve our turkeys so if you'd like to start lining up over there to get your meal."

  Gillian helped Connor set the turkey on plates. By now the barn was toasty warm and about forty adults plus too many children for her to count had filled the barn to the max. She and Connor were the last to get their food.

  "You want a beer or a soda?” Connor asked her as they put their plates down at two spots at the top of one of the tables.

  "I think I'll try a beer."

  When they sat, their knees touched just like they had in the diner the first night she'd arrived.

  "This turkey is so good. You're a great cook,” she said.

  He squeezed her knee under the table. She looked at him and he winked.

  Another one of Connor's nephews came up to him and tugged on his shirt sleeve.

  "Mom said I have to ask if I can go look at the new horse."

  "Sure you can but after we finish eating. And Gillian here will show him to you. He's her horse now."

  The little boy looked at her. “You want to know his name?” asked Gillian.

  He nodded.

  "It's Starlight."

  He looked at his uncle. “Pretty good name for a horse, don't you think?” asked Connor.

  A teenage girl approached Connor and whispered in his ear.

  "Honey, it's rude to whisper when you're in company. I know your parents have taught you better than that,” said Connor. He pulled out a chair beside him and indicated with his thumb for her to sit there. “Can you say hello to Gillian?"

  "Hi."

  "Nice to meet you,” said Gillian.

  "This is my niece, Keighley, by the way."

  "I'm getting my braces taken off next week."

  "Hey, I think your father and I will have to hold those boys back once that happens."

  Gillian smiled when yet another two of Connor's nephews ran over to him, one approaching him from behind and throwing his arms around him, the other one pulling on his shirt collar.

  "Hey, Uncle Connor, are you going to be Santa again for us?"

  "Now, how many times have I told you that it's not me? That guy really is Santa."

  Gillian smiled. She could imagine him dressed in costume. She only wished she could stick around to see it.

  "It's you,” said the little boy, pulling on his collar again.

  "I'll have you know it's not. Do I look as fat as Santa?"

  He patted his belly.

  "You stuff a pillow under there,” shouted the boy.

  Connor winked at Gillian. It was obvious they loved him and he adored all his nieces and nephews. She wondered why when he'd been married that he and his wife had never had kids of their own. Maybe he liked them but just not his own. Some guys were like that.

  "So who wants some pumpkin pie?” asked Connor.

  "Me."

  "Me."

  "Not me, it tastes funny,” said the boy hanging on to Connor's neck.

  "I'm taking a guess that you don't think the ice cream tastes funny,” he said.

  "Can I have extra...I mean, because I'm not having pie?"

  Connor rolled his eyes at Gillian. “So what do you think of my clan? A handful of rogues, don't you think?"

  "I want to see Starlight now.” Bradley pulled on Connor's jeans.

  "Hey, hey, let's show our guest that the O'Riordans have some manners. You'll wait until Gillian's finished eating her pie and then she'll take you. In fact, why doesn't she take your mom and aunts and you can all get to know one another."

  * * * *

  Gillian had left Connor and all the guys sitting around talking and drinking beer in the barn while she headed over to the barns with his three sisters-in-law and various children in tow.

  "Connor tells me you're the sales rep for his animal vaccines,” said Brenda.

  "That's right. I cover Wyoming, Montana and Idaho."

  "So have you always done that sort of work?” asked Janey.

  "Almost. I worked in computer sales for a while but got laid off and out of the blue applied to Jensen's Pharmaceuticals. I was hoping to land the job with their human division but didn't get the job and a few weeks later they asked if I'd be interested in the animal vaccine division. It means travelling but this is a pretty country so it's not much of a hardship."

  "And you and Connor. I hope I'm not being nosy but I was just wandering if you're his girlfriend,” said Sarah.

  Gillian didn't know quite how to answer that. They weren't really dating—after all, they'd only entered into a physical relationship a day ago. And she wasn't sure how Connor thought of her.

  "Let's just say we're very good friends,” said Gillian.

  All three women exchanged glances.

  "Mom, come and look at the new horse."

  Lucky for her, one of the boys ordered them to go see Starlight, which stopped that line of conversation in its track.

  "He's such a beauty,” said Sarah, rubbing Starlight's nose as he approached the stall door.

  "He's Gillian's horse and his name is Starlight,” said the little boy clambering up the door to see over the top.

  "Is that right?” asked Brenda.

  Gillian nodded. “Connor very kindly gave him to me."

  The three women exchanged glances again.

  "Oh, I'd say if Connor gave you one of his horses he intends you to be more than just friends,” said Sarah. She leaned up against one of the posts in the stable. “In fact, he married the last girl he gave a horse to."

  "She never rode that horse once,” said Brenda.

  "She was too busy thinking about ways to throw up her food,” said Sarah.

  They must have seen Gillian looking at them.

  "Sorry, I know we shouldn't be talking about Connor's ex, especially in front you,” said Janey.

  "That's okay, he told me he's been married before,” said Gillian, stroking Starlight's nose. “And that she had some issues."

  "It was just so awful for poor Connor. He had no idea about it until she..."

  She looked at the other women almost as if she was asking their permission to continue.

  She stepped closer to Gillian. “Until she lost their baby."

  "Poor Connor. I've never seen a man so heartbroken,” said Brenda.

  "She miscarried?” asked Gillian.

  Sarah shook her head. “She delivered the baby when she was about seven months along and it was stillborn. Connor was there when his son was delivered by C-section. The doctor said it was because she was bulimic and so malnourished she couldn't maintain her pregnancy. The whole ugly truth came out after that."

  Gillian wasn't sure if she wanted to hear this or not. She would have preferred it to have come from Connor and not his sisters-in-law.

  "He wanted a baby so much but after that—well, he tried to get her help but she had to be hospitalised,
” said Janey.

  "I'm so sorry to hear all this. Poor Connor,” said Gillian.

  Her heart went out to him. So he had wanted kids. It must break his heart every time he saw his nieces, nephews and his brother's wives pregnant.

  Brenda touched Gillian's arm. “You know, I haven't seen Connor look so happy in a long time, so I'm glad he's finally found a new lady."

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  Chapter Nine

  * * * *

  "So what is the deal?” asked Thom.

  "About what?” asked Connor, setting his beer bottle on the table.

  "Your house guest. She's very pretty."

  "Oh, yes, she is, very,” said Connor, rubbing his hands together in front of the heater. He knew the questions would start coming soon. He was just surprised his brothers had waited this long to question him. He smiled. He'd play it cool and keep them guessing.

  "So are you two an item or what?” asked Adam.

  Connor pushed his hat back on his head. “I'm not sure what we are yet. I guess we're just taking it a day at a time and getting to know one another."

  Connor noticed his brothers glance slyly at one another. Yeah, that should keep them wondering for a while.

  "You slept together yet?” asked Thom.

  Connor picked up his beer and took another swig. He usually didn't mind telling his brothers when he'd slept with a woman, but somehow Gillian was different. Theirs wasn't a kiss-and-tell sort of relationship.

  "That I can't tell you,” he said and left it at that.

  His heart skipped a beat when he saw Gillian heading back into the barn with his three sisters-in-law walking beside her. He hoped she hadn't been grilled like he had.

  "That new horse is adorable,” said Janey, putting her hand on Connor's shoulder.

  "Well, his parents are a pretty good-looking pair,” said Connor. He stood and put his arm around Gillian's waist. Maybe that would tell his family the whole story of how he felt about this pretty lady.

  Gillian slipped her arm around him. “You warm enough?” he asked her.

  "Now I am."

  "Well, it's getting dark out there so I think we should start going home. Gillian, it was a pleasure to meet you and if you have time before you head home get Connor to bring you out to our place,” said Adam.