by Robin Deeter
Nora sighed with pleasure as he nibbled on her neck and then moaned when he gave more attention to her breasts. As he suckled and teased them, Nora’s need for him intensified and she couldn’t hold still.
It was exactly what Wheels had intended, wanting to give her as much pleasure as possible. Gently, he slipped his fingers between them, finding her core.
Nora tensed for a moment as he began pleasuring her, but as delicious sensations coursed through her body, she relaxed until a different type of tension built, one she recognized from weeks before. However, without any barrier, it was a stronger experience.
Watching her eyes close as she gasped in bliss was the most powerful aphrodisiac Wheels had ever felt and his arousal became intense. He barely let her drift halfway down before he cupped her bottom and lifted her so he could get rid of the covers.
“Easy,” he said, guiding her into place.
Her eyes widened as she took him inside. It felt foreign but incredible at the same time. She sat back a little faster than he’d intended, but she felt no pain, only sheer pleasure. She smiled at his startled expression.
“I’m fine. You feel so good, Carter.”
Her voice had grown a little husky and hearing her say his name drove Wheels crazy. Grasping her hips, he helped her settle into a cadence that quickly drove them towards the brink. He might not be able to do anything with his pelvis, but those mighty arms of his aided her along their journey to the summit.
Fierce determination and his deep love for her gave him the strength to hold off until she cried out his name. Leaning forward, he wrapped his arms around her and gave in. His release wasn’t the sort that he’d experienced before his injury, but it was much more powerful than anything he’d ever felt with Wendy. Although it wasn’t as intense in his nether-regions, it radiated throughout the rest of his body so strongly that he couldn’t breathe for a few moments.
Nora had never experienced anything so glorious, so overpowering. It swept through her like a summer storm, her heartbeat thundering in her chest as pleasure as sharp as lightning lit every nerve in her body with ecstasy. She held onto Wheels, her anchor in the storm of passion.
Their movements had slid them down in the bed a little and, as the storm passed, Wheels laid back on top of the disarrayed pillows, pulling Nora down on top of him. Both were content to lie that way while the thunder and lightning died away.
Wheels shifted slightly, which set off a round of rapid leg spasms. Nora gasped and looked at him in alarm.
“Your legs are moving!”
He smiled. “Sorry about that. They do that sometimes when I shift positions. It doesn’t mean anything. I don’t feel it and I can’t control it. My upper half can feel it, but not from the hips down. It’ll calm down in about a minute.”
Nora giggled at the strange sensation. “It feels good. I like it.”
One of his eyebrows arched. “It does? You do?”
She nodded. “Yeah. It’s …fun.”
Wheels’ snort of laughter developed into a full belly laugh. Nora laughed and then made a noise of disappointment when the spasms quit.
“Don’t worry, sugar, you’ll feel that a lot, even when you don’t want to. It usually happens whenever I lay down, so if I get up in the middle of the night, I’ll probably wake you up when I come back to bed.”
The devilish smile that spread across her beautiful face surprised him. “I hope so.”
His answering grin made her giggle. “I never thought my spasms would be considered erotic, but I’m not going to knock it.”
Nora kissed his chest before carefully sliding off him. He scooted down further in bed and rearranged the pillows so he could fully lie down.
“Come here, sugar,” he said with a beckoning gesture.
Nora cuddled against him, drawing the covers over their cool bodies.
Caressing her back, he said, “Without a word of a lie, I’ve never felt anything like that in all my life, Nora.”
Raising her head, she met his gaze. “Never? Not even with—”
“Never,” Wheels interjected. “Not with anyone. You’re so exciting and gorgeous and you drive me wild. You don’t have any idea how hard it’s been for me not to make love to you before now.”
“I think I have some idea. It wasn’t easy for me to resist you, either.” Nora kissed him. “I’m so glad that I please you.”
“You do much more than please me, honey. I love you.”
Nora’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too.”
Wheels kissed her long and slow, enjoying the softness of her lips and her scent. Parting, they smiled at each other for several moments before Nora rested her head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. Sated and happy, they soon drifted off into a contented slumber.
Chapter Fifteen
The newlyweds spent three heavenly days alone together, their bond deepening as each day passed. Neither had ever been so happy. Ollie had come over the day after their wedding, missing his human parents. They didn’t mind and spent a lot of time playing with him.
On the fourth day, they went over to the main house, surprising everyone. They’d missed their family and they were ready to get on with their new life together. Their days settled into a pleasant routine, one in which they rejoiced and lived to the fullest. Their joy was evident to everyone and many hearts were filled with gladness for them.
While Wheels worked, Nora helped Rena with the kids since school was now out for the summer. She also still helped her mother and with the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Cleaning their little carriage house didn’t take very long and Nora had time on her hands, which she put to good use. Sometimes they ate at home and other times with one of their families.
Their nights were filled with passion and fun, even when things didn’t go quite as planned in the bedroom. After Nora had grown angry with him one such night when he was critical of himself, Wheels took her at her word when she assured him that she wasn’t upset.
Her attitude was much the same as the day when she’d taken away his cookies and he had no wish to repeat the experience. He learned to not put pressure on himself to perform, to just enjoy his beautiful wife no matter what happened. In exchange, Nora accepted the bliss he gave her without guilt, knowing that it gave him a different sort of pleasure to satisfy her.
One evening when Wheels arrive home with a strange look on his face, Nora asked him what was wrong.
Frowning he said, “Nothing’s wrong exactly. In fact, it was right, but it was the wrong time for it.”
“What do you mean?” Nora asked as she set the table.
Grinning, Wheels said, “It’s your fault.”
Her eyebrows rose. “My fault?”
“Yeah. I was thinking about last night and, well, it’s a good thing that I was sitting at my work bench.”
Nora covered her mouth, trying to stifle the laughter that bubbled forth.
Wheels laughed. “It took a while for things to calm down, too.”
They wanted to start a family as soon as possible, but they knew that conception would be tricky.
Nora quelled her mirth. “Well, I have a solution. If I’m home, you just take a break whenever things happen.”
His smile widened. “Are you serious?”
Nora sat on his lap and played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Very.”
Heat entered his gaze. “In that case …”
He captured her lips in a kiss that spoke volumes about what his appetite craved at that moment. Supper was late that night.
*****
“Carly, Carly! Look at my new dress!”
Carly smiled as twelve-year-old Pilar Ruiz ran into her office, sporting a very pretty light blue dress with puffy sleeves and lace at the collar. Since hiring Hector, Carly had become close with his younger siblings, Diego, Susanna, and Pilar. She’d overrode Hector’s objections to the children visiting her, assuring him that she’d have it no other way.
“What a vision you are!” Carly rose from h
er desk. “Turn around and let me get the full effect.”
Her dark eyes shining, Pilar turned a fast circle, her skirt flaring out as she giggled. Carly laughed and clapped her hands. “Beautiful and graceful, not to mention smart.”
Pilar’s cheeks grew pink from her praise but her smile never dimmed. “Thank you.”
Hector entered her office, humor and affection in his eyes as he looked at Pilar. “She had no rest in her behind until I let her come with me this morning.”
Carly hugged Pilar. “Well, what’s the sense in getting a new dress if you can’t show it off?”
Pilar returned her embrace and said, “Susanna is minding Senora Lopez’s children today and Diego is working, so I would have been home alone anyway.”
Carly sent Hector a disapproving look over Pilar’s head and he fought a sigh of frustration. There were times when there was no one to stay with Pilar or no one to leave her with. Hector hated leaving Pilar alone, but sometimes he had no other choice.
Drawing back from Pilar, Carly said, “Well, I’m glad you came. I have something you can help me with.”
“You do?” Pilar’s face shone with happiness.
“I do.” Carly shot Hector a stern look that warned him not to argue with her. “How would you like to come to check on the new park with me?”
“Yes, please!”
Carly smiled. “Good. I could use your opinion on it. Hector, will you tell Phillip that we’ll be leaving shortly?”
With a curt nod, Hector left the room to do as instructed. While he appreciated Carly’s kindness, he worried about crossing the line between employer and employee. He made more money than he ever had and he was able to be home almost every night with his family. They’d moved to a better neighborhood since he could now afford a nicer place to live and he was able to afford medicine that seemed to be helping Pilar.
Although he hid it well, worry gnawed at him that something would endanger his employment with the mayor and he took every precaution to make sure that didn’t happen. Protecting Carly was his first priority, but he went above and beyond in his position with her, doing several sweeps of the town hall on days when she went to her office and doing the same at the Branson estate.
He expected daily updates from his subordinates there and nothing escaped his attention about the family home, including the fact that Ray made nightly visits to Carly. The epitome of digression, Hector never let on that he knew about her affair with the former hustler. Other than the safety of the Branson family, what Carly did in her private life was none of his business.
Shortly after taking over as supervisor of the Branson’s security team, Hector had made it clear that he wouldn’t tolerate the other guards gossiping about the family. He’d warned them that there would be dire consequences if they disobeyed him. Shrugging off his concerns, he carried out Carly’s wishes and did a quick check around the building.
*****
“I can’t believe that you’re going to change the park plans based on the opinion of a mere girl, and a Mexican one at that.”
Carly took a sip of wine and calmly regarded her father. “I don’t care what you believe or don’t. Pilar’s ideas are good ones. After all, children are primarily for whom the park is being built.”
Loren pounded the dining room table. “I’ll block you!”
“You can try, but I don’t think you’ll succeed,” Carly responded, taking a bite of Cornish hen.
Her father made a disgusted noise and threw his napkin on the table. “You’ve lost your mind, Caroline! First this insane engagement to the likes of Ray Stratton, taking to Mexican children, and now this! It’s just too much. I’m putting my foot down.”
“Careful where you put it, Dad. It’ll get trampled on.”
Her mother, Jillian, sighed. “Can we please just eat in peace?”
Loren sent both women a scathing look before leaving the table in disgust. Carly enjoyed any victory over her father, even the small ones. Jillian began telling Carly the latest gossip, but Carly largely tuned her out, preferring instead to think about her fiancé. The modest yet beautiful ring that Ray had given her sparkled beneath the chandelier that hung over the table, making Carly smile at the memory of Ray’s proposal a few nights after the night they’d gone to Benny’s together.
“Where on Earth are we going, Ray?” Carly panted as she followed Ray up the incline. Hiking wasn’t something she did, so the walk up the winding path left her out of breath.
“Not far now,” he responded.
The humor in his voice said that he was enjoying her discomfort.
“I’m not a mountain goat! Why are we out here in the wilderness?”
Ray laughed. “This isn’t the wilderness, sweetheart. It’s just the woods. There are houses and ranches around.”
As someone who spent the majority of her time in town, the woods certainly seemed like uncharted wilds. “Where? I don’t—oh! Ow! I can’t see, Ray.”
She let out a startled cry when Ray swept her up in his arms and began carrying her along the path. “Cry baby.”
“I’m not a cry baby. It’s fully dark and I can’t see the stones and sticks along the path.”
“You need to get out of that office more, Carly. You need to clear your head with some fresh air and see that there’s more to life than work,” Ray said.
It irritated Carly how easily he carried her uphill. He didn’t appear at all winded, which did nothing for her ego. “Well, I don’t have time to traipse around in the woods. The work isn’t going to get done on its own.”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “Make time. Even once a week. Put it on your schedule. Just one hour a week would do you a lot of good.”
“You’re certainly in an overbearing mood tonight.”
Smiling, he said, “No, I just worry about you.”
“Worry about me? Why?”
“You work too much. You need to have more fun.”
She brushed a lock of inky hair away from his forehead. “You need a haircut.”
“Damn it, Carly. I’m trying to tell you that I’m concerned about you and you’re worried about my hair. Screw my hair! You’re too tense, too wound up, and I’m worried that one of these days you’ll snap from all of the pressure you’re under,” he said. “We’re here.”
As he spoke, they topped a rise. A long valley stretched out below the summit where they now stood. A large, meandering stream shimmered in the star and moonlight. Up so high, the heavenly bodies seemed closer to the earth, and easily reachable. A coyote howled somewhere nearby and the lonely sound was echoed by a far off answer.
Carly looked around at the splendor before her in awe. “It’s beautiful, Ray. Beyond words, really.”
Ray carefully set her on her feet. “I’ve come here ever since I was a kid. Whenever I was sad or pissed off, I’d come up here to get away from whatever was bothering me. Most of the time that was my mother.”
“Your mother? I know that you didn’t get along, but I have the feeling that there’s much more to the story.”
Ray smiled sadly. “And that’s why you’re the mayor, Carly. I’ve never seen anyone with such spot-on instincts. You know what people need and when they need it. You might be rich, but you don’t make people feel bad because they’re not. You’re great with kids and I can’t wait to watch you with ours.”
Carly touched his arm. “Ray, tell me about her. You already know all about my dysfunctional family, but I don’t know your history.”
A muscle in his jaw jumped as it clenched. “I know. Come here.”
He took her over to a level spot and unrolled the blanket he’d brought along. Sitting down, he reached up and helped her get settled next to him.
Without preamble, Ray said, “My mother was a drunken whore who left me with anybody who would watch me. Booze, drugs, you name it, she abused it. The way my Uncle Connor tells it, she didn’t start acting like that until my father ran off. I was only two when he lit out. I don’t remember a thin
g about him and I don’t look a bit like him, either. He looks like Uncle Connor, his brother. Blonde, blue eyes.
“I’m the spitting image of my mother. Hell, I don’t even know if my father is still alive. Ma lost every place she rented because she drank away whatever money she made. She tried to dry out a couple of times and get a regular job, but it never lasted very long. I should have, but I never gave up hope that she’d turn her life around and we could be a family. I kept hoping that she’d meet some nice guy and fall in love with him and marry him. Maybe then I’d have a father.”
Carly’s heart broke for the young boy Ray had been. “But she never found anyone.”
“She could’ve, but I doubt she’d have stayed faithful to him. Once his money ran out or he got tired of dealing with her behavior, any man she’d have married probably would’ve left us. So I guess it was better that she never got seriously involved with anyone.
“So, I’ve spent all of my life like a hobo, moving around from house to house, but never settling anywhere for very long.” He shook his head and looked away from her. “I’ve never told anyone this, Carly, not even Johnny, but I—”
He broke off, rising from the ground. “I’m just like her, Carly, but not by my own making.”
Carly’s brow furrowed as confusion filled her mind. “What do you mean?”
Gazing down at her, Ray found the courage to meet her eyes. “I was sixteen when my mother introduced me to the profession of hustling. She’s the reason I started doing it.”
Carly’s eyes went wide and her breath caught in her throat, making it impossible to respond.
“She took me to one of her friends, saying that I must have urges at my age and that since I didn’t have a father to take me to a whore to be educated, that it was her responsibility to do it. I have to admit that I was all for it. I was young and full of myself. I had no idea what Ma was really up to.
“I saw this woman a couple of times a week. I had no clue what I was doing in the beginning, but I learned fast. She made sure of that and I enjoyed it. What boy my age wouldn’t? About three months later when I went to see her, there was this other woman there. She was beautiful and I could tell that she had money.