Delicate Promises

by Kelly Elliott

  The moment Miles stepped inside the barn, he jabbed his hands in his hair, leaned over and screamed. I watched him attempt to control his anger. This was a side of Miles I had never seen before. He was filled with a rage that literally stopped me in my tracks. It was a side of him I honestly wasn’t sure I ever wanted to see again.

  “Son-of-a-bitch. Fucking hell!” he shouted as he punched the side of the barn. I gasped and covered my mouth as I took a few steps away from him.

  With his hands on his knees, he fought to get enough air. Miles was having a panic attack. That was what must have happened to him during the thunderstorm the other night.

  “Miles,” I softly said, making my way over to him. He buried his face in his hands and did the one thing I never thought I would see Miles Warner do.

  He cried.

  Miles

  THE SOUNDS OF gunshots and helicopters whirled in my head. I was running, desperate to make it to the helicopter before it took off. Everyone was yelling. Shots were being fired and explosions nearly sent me flying. I wasn’t going to make it. They were going to leave me behind.

  Then I saw her face and heard her sweet voice. “You can do it. Get there, Miles. Get there for me. Come home to me.”

  “Kynslee,” I cried out.

  “I’m right here. I’m right here.”

  The feel of her arms around my body instantly calmed me. I felt myself leaning against a wall. Her voice right there. She was right next to me.

  “Shhh, it’s okay.”

  Opening my eyes, I saw the barn. Smelled the grain and horse manure. Smelled her. When I turned my head, her eyes were filled with a mix of fear and sadness.

  “Kynslee?”

  “Yes, I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere, Miles.”

  Her words slammed my chest, bursting open a warmth I had longed for so many years.

  I cupped her beautiful face in my hands and kissed her.

  Kynslee wrapped her arms around my neck, moaning when she opened her mouth, and I took full control of the kiss.

  How many days had I dreamed I would open my eyes and see her there? How many nights had I woken up drenched in sweat and prayed to see her again? I needed to get myself under control, and the only way I wanted to do that was by being with Kynslee. Getting lost in her body.

  I lifted her up, pushing her against the wall of the barn. Her hands frantically moved under my shirt.

  “I need you,” I gasped. “I fucking need to forget.”

  “I’m yours, Miles. Take me.”

  I pushed up her dress and slipped my hand in her panties, making her gasp, then moan. She was wet and so ready for me. I couldn’t stop now if I wanted to. Without so much as a single fuck given that her parents were in the house, I undid my jeans, took out my cock, and pushed myself inside of Kynslee. She gasped at the roughness, and I felt like a dick, but I would apologize later. Right now, I needed this. Needed her like she was my next breath.

  “Oh Miles, yes! Don’t be gentle.”

  Her words sounded like a siren going off in my head. I held her against the wall and pulled out before thrusting back into her hard and fast.

  “Yes!” she softly cried out, still mindful that we were close enough to the house that if her parents walked down this way, they would hear us.

  “Do you like that, baby? Do you like it when I fuck you?”

  “Yes! Please don’t stop.”

  I buried my face in her neck and fucked her as fast and hard as I could. My legs and ass burned as I pumped into her with a raw, carnal need to get lost inside of her. It was as if Kynslee sensed I needed this, and she whispered for me to give her more. I needed to lose myself in her, and she knew it.

  “Miles, I’m so close.”

  There was something about being fully clothed and having sex in her parents’ barn that was a huge turn on. Maybe it was for Kynslee, too, because she dug her nails into my shoulders and pulsed around my dick as her orgasm built up.

  “That’s it, baby, come on my cock. Tell me how it feels.”

  “So. Good. Oh, God. Miles.”

  This was what I had missed. This woman. Her passion, her body. The way she made me feel like I was the only person in the world who could make her feel this damn amazing. She was the only thing that soothed my soul. Made me feel whole. Calmed the fear.

  “I’m going to come,” she whispered. I gently pulled her head back with a fistful of her hair. Kynslee’s eyes met mine, and we came together. I leaned my forehead to hers and poured myself into her. Her name falling off my lips in a whisper that almost sounded like a plea.

  I wasn’t sure how long we stood there, me still inside her, my dick twitching and demanding another round. Kynslee’s breathing settled as she took in a few deep breaths.

  “Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” she asked between deep inhales.

  Pulling out, I moved her panties back in place. I wished I could clean her up, but the thought of my seed inside her, soaking her panties made my heart quicken in my chest.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, barely above a whisper as I set her feet on the barn floor.

  Kynslee placed her hands on the sides of my face. “Look at me.”

  I did as she said. Her eyes looked deep into mine. “Don’t ever apologize for being with me. For taking me the way you did. I wanted it as much as you needed it, Miles.”

  “Did I hurt you?”

  She shook her head. “No. And I loved every moment of it. It was raw, passionate, and hot as hell. What I need to know is what happened to you before that. You were gone from me.”

  I swallowed hard as I tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

  “Sometimes I get a memory triggered, an unpleasant memory. If I get mad enough, or I hear a gunshot or loud noise I’m not expecting, I get transported back to this one mission in Colombia. I’d been shot and was bleeding pretty bad. I could hear the helicopter and the pilot was screaming into my ear that I needed to hurry. My fellow Marines yelled for me while the rebel soldiers were running up from behind, still shooting. Bullets were barely missing me from both directions. I didn’t think I was going to make it to the helicopter.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes, but she fought to keep them back.

  “Then I heard your voice like you were standing right there next to me. Telling me to run. Urging me to make it to the helicopter and come home to you.”

  Kynslee lost the battle and a tear slipped free. It worked a path down her cheek. Reaching up, I brushed it away with my thumb.

  “I never told you I loved you as more than a friend because I didn’t want some guy in a uniform to show up at your house one day and tell you I had died. You would have never known why, where, when. I couldn’t do that to you, Kynslee. So I took the chance and prayed like hell you loved me as much as I loved you…and that you’d wait for me. I made plans to come back and do this the right way. Now your father has these opinions of me, and the whole town probably thinks I’m an asshole.”

  Her finger pressed against my lips. “Stop. I was angry when you first came back, but it was because I was so damn relieved, Miles. Even though we weren’t a couple, it doesn’t mean I didn’t worry every single day about you while you were gone. You were my best friend, Miles. Only hearing from you a few times a year was so hard, but I longed for the day you came home. I knew you would. I always knew you would and that was what I focused on.”

  “I love you, Kyns, and I swear to you I’ll never keep anything from you.”

  She smiled. “I do have one question that I think is pretty important.”

  I chuckled. “What’s that?”

  “You still like lasagna, right?”

  Rubbing my nose with hers, I answered. “Yes, it’s still my favorite.”

  Her arms wrapped around my neck as she lifted up on her toes and kissed me deeply. If we didn’t stop now, I was going to take her again.

  “We better get back up to the house before they come looking for us,” I said against her li
ps.

  “I’m so sorry about my father. I am so angry with him, and I honestly don’t know where that came from.”

  “You’re his little girl and I get it. I’ve been gone for years and show up out of the blue turning your world upside down. I asked my mother and Rich to keep the fact that I sent money home to themselves. All your dad ever saw was me causing you pain; he has every right to be upset. I should have been prepared for it but clearly I wasn’t.”

  “He has no right to say any of that. I know my mother is horrified.”

  “Let’s just go back, eat dinner, and then go back to your place for dessert.”

  She waggled her brows and licked those soft lush lips. “Sounds like a plan.”

  When we walked back into the kitchen, Kynslee’s mom was placing the lasagna in the middle of the table.

  “Miles, Kynslee, perfect timing!” Ally said, attempting to keep the situation light and easy. She always had a way of doing that.

  “Sorry about that,” I said, running my fingers through my hair. “For walking out like that.”

  “No, it wasn’t you at all,” Ally stated.

  “Where is Daddy?” Kynslee asked, taking a seat in the chair I pulled out for her.

  “In his study. He needed a moment or two to get his shit together.”

  Kynslee shot a shocked look at her mother while I let out a chuckle.

  “Plates, please, and I’ll put the lasagna on them. Miles, you first,” Ally stated.

  I handed her my plate. She put a giant piece of lasagna on it and handed it back to me. I filled the rest of the plate with the salad and two pieces of my mother’s bread that Ally must have cut up while Kynslee and I were…busy…in the barn.

  Steve walked back into the kitchen as Ally was serving herself. She gave me a warning look, then slowly sat down.

  “I want to apologize for the way I behaved earlier, Miles, and for the things I said. I clearly didn’t know the situation your family was in, and I came to the wrong conclusions. For what it’s worth, I did always like your brother a little better.”

  His mouth lifted into a slight smile. I could appreciate his attempt at humor, but I was pretty sure he was telling me the truth; he liked Rich better.

  “Daddy, really?” Kynslee said.

  “Apology accepted, sir. I’m sorry I walked away like that.”

  Steve nodded. “No need to apologize, son, I was out of line and I’m not sure why I acted like I did. Someday you’ll understand when you have a daughter of your own, but that’s still not an excuse.”

  Kynslee reached for my hand while Ally cleared her throat. “Well, now that we’ve got that all settled, let’s eat!”

  Kynslee

  I COULDN’T HELP but smile as I stared at my computer screen. The new Christmas campaign for our social media outlets was on my computer, untouched for the last fifteen minutes. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the memory of Miles kissing my body.

  The light rap on my office door had me glancing up. “Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, standing and making my way around my desk.

  He walked into my office, kissed me until I felt drunk, then took a seat. I was left swaying on my feet until I regained my wits. Good Lord, now I knew what being kissed senseless felt like.

  “Was at the hardware store and wanted to stop by and say hi. Tell you I was thinking about you.”

  I leaned against my desk and let my eyes roam over his body. He had already been busy working this morning. The dust on his jeans and his favorite black cowboy hat were evidence of that. He looked delicious, and I fought my urge to straddle him in that chair. After all, my parents were right on the other side of my office door.

  “I’m glad you stopped by. We’re running way behind and only have a week and a half until the fall festival. We need costumes!”

  “Kyns, why can’t we start a new tradition and not dress up? Make some of the kids who work here dress up.”

  My brows lifted. That was actually a good idea, but it was time to make Miles Warner pay for all those years he left me sexually frustrated, not to mention his request to cash in on the promise we had made. Ugh. That still unnerved me.

  “You promised you’d dress up,” I said with a pout.

  He smirked. “And you’re so great at keeping promises yourself.”

  “Ha ha.”

  Miles shrugged.

  “I have the perfect idea for costumes. Ready for it?”

  He shook his head. “I see that look in your eye, Kynslee. You’re fixin’ to torture me.”

  I waved my hand in dismissal. “We’re going to do something my folks never did, and it’s easy to make!”

  The corner of his mouth rose slightly, and I knew he was enjoying this but didn’t want to admit it. “Do tell.”

  With a wide smile, I said, “Spices! We’re going to be spices! I think I’ll be ground cinnamon and you can be something like spicy pepper.”

  He snarled his lip. “Spicy pepper? Why?”

  I lifted one shoulder nonchalantly. “Everyone loves pepper. And cinnamon. And we have to give you a little bit of spice because of how hot you are.”

  “You’re being serious.”

  “Of course I am. I think it’s perfect!”

  “No, I’m not dressing up like a fucking spice.”

  With another pout that I tried to make sexy, I replied, “Why not?”

  “Why can’t we do something other than food. Like, I’ll be a bar of soap and you can be a loofah.”

  “A loofah?” I asked, staring at him.

  “Yeah! Think how sexy you’d be dressed in some skimpy little dress made out of netting. Some black lace hose. I can see it now.” He shifted in his seat and adjusted what I was guessing had to be his growing dick.

  “And what would your costume consist of?”

  Looking up in thought, he replied, “Let’s see. Jeans. A white box of some sort with soap written on it and a white T-shirt.”

  “So, I have to dress sexy while you’re wearing…a box.”

  “The box will say soap on it.”

  “You mentioned that.”

  “Oh, and heels. Black heels, to you know, make it all come together.”

  “I don’t know if I want to laugh or punch you.”

  “Well, I know one thing I’d like for you to do.”

  I gave him an incredulous look. “And what is that?”

  Miles made his way over to me, grabbing my hips and pulling me closer to him.

  “We’re in my office, and my parents are right outside.”

  “I can be quiet if you can.”

  My lower stomach pooled with delicious warmth. Damn this man, and the way he brought out this other person in me.

  “No,” I whispered as he trailed soft kisses along my neck. “Miles…we can’t.”

  His hand moved down my body, and the moment he touched the bare skin on my leg I jumped.

  “We can, and we should.”

  For a moment, I was ready to give in. Ready to push everything off my desk and tell him to take me right then. Until I heard the knock on my office door.

  Miles removed his hand from under my dress and sat down. My chest rose and fell as I fought to get my wits about me. Meanwhile, Miles looked cool as a cucumber sitting in the chair, his leg thrown over his knee. Jerking his head toward the door, he said, “Kyns?”

  “Come in,” I said, noticing the slight shake in my voice.

  The door opened and my father appeared.

  “Hey Daddy, what’s going on?” I asked, attempting to act like everything was normal, and I wasn’t a horny mess.

  “What’s going on?” my father asked, suspicion oozing off his words.

  “Nothing. Miles stopped by to see when I was getting off of work.”

  “I also meant to tell you we have plans this evening.” Miles wore a smug smile on his face.

  Ugh.

  First off, how had he recovered so quickly while I was trying desperately to act like I hadn’t ju
st been ready to have sex in my office under my folks’ nose? It was so unfair. I needed to learn some of his skills, especially if the man was going to show up at work looking sexy as sin.

  And second, what plans did we have?

  My dad cleared his throat. “What are your plans?”

  I opened my mouth, and nothing came out. I had no idea what Miles had in mind, but I knew what my plans were. For Miles to take me to bed and do all sorts of naughty things to me.

  Stop it, Kynslee. Stop it!

  Miles came to the rescue.

  “Some old friends wanted to throw me a welcome home party tonight. They’ve been bugging me to do it since I got back home, and I’ve been busy on the farm and helping Rich and Momma. Since Kynslee and I are dating, I thought it would be a good way to let our friends know we were officially together.”

  “A party?” I asked.

  Miles looked my way. “Yeah, it was sort of last minute. Trey Rogers is in town and heard I was out of the Marines. It was his idea.”

  “Oh,” I said, moving back to sit at my desk. That made sense. Trey had left around the same time as Miles, but he had gone into the Army. Last I had heard, he was still in the Army and making a career out of it.

  “Sounds like fun. Where is the party going to be at?” Dad asked, his arms crossed over his chest.

  “Dad, I’m not sixteen anymore. You can’t interrogate Miles about where we are going on a date.”

  My father huffed. “I was curious is all. No harm in asking where my daughter will be, is there?”

  I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “Dad.”

  The warning in my voice must have caused him to snap out of his insanity. I was thirty years old, for crying out loud.

  “No drugs!” he warned, pointing his finger to Miles.

  “Oh, good gracious. Daddy, really?”

  Miles chuckled, then nodded. “Yes, sir, no drugs. There will be booze, though.”

  My father snarled at Miles, then walked out. “I’m leaving the door open.”

  Dropping my head in my hands, I let out a groan. “No wonder you never wanted to date me.”

  Miles laughed.