Stone_Bad Boys of Willow Valley

by Shannyn Leah

  She retracted her hand and reached for her shawl lying between them on the console. “We’re beyond complicated and, if I recall correctly, you’re a better talker after sex.” She shrugged. “But if you insist we go for a walk, let’s get this over with.”

  She wrapped the sheer shawl around her shoulders. “I didn’t ask to come to Willow Valley to talk, so I hope you have a great sex spot on this walk.” She quoted the last word as if it were code for something before she hopped out of the truck.

  Stone kicked off his shoes and his socks followed. He reached behind him in the cab for his suit jacket before jumping out.

  They walked barefoot to the cement parking lot edge and then sunk their feet into the cool sand.

  Bowie gasped. “That’s cold.”

  He slipped his hand in hers and they started their walk to the water’s edge, staying a short distance from the wet sand. They continued beyond the public beach and along the private properties. When the sun began to lighten the sky, giving it a subtle, romantic glow, they turned around to start back.

  “Are you planning on devouring me on the loungers?” she asked as they approached one.

  “No.”

  “The water? You’re planning skinny dip style.”

  He chuckled at her extreme personality turnaround, while recognizing this woman from his past. Was it her lack of sleep? Her traumatic day? Or was this her breaking through the barriers of uncertainty she’d been living behind for the last ten years?

  “I love water sex.” This woman was relentless.

  He squeezed her hand. “You love sex in general.”

  She circled in front of him, forcing him to stop walking. “If you know this then why are you denying what we both know is mind blowing?” She rose to her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the lips before returning beside him and leaning into his side. “We should have done it in your pickup.”

  He inhaled the cool air between his teeth. Relentless.

  “We could double-decker on the swing set naked.” She pointed at the playground they were approaching. “I haven’t been on a swing or slide since-forever. I feel like today’s the day to relive my childhood.” She let go of his hand and took off running across the distance.

  Stone laughed to himself, but found his inner child too. He took off in a sprint behind her. She passed the swings where he found himself contemplating a naked double-decker with her. She climbed a ladder to the second platform and leaned over the top, waiting for him to catch up. “Getting slow in your old age, Patino?”

  “I was enjoying the view.”

  “This view?” She turned around, stuck her rear out and gave it a slap. She glanced over her shoulder at him, still giving him a great view of her ass and said, “You want a piece of this then you have to catch me.”

  He rubbed his hands together. “You can’t outrun me, doll.”

  “Maybe not, but will you be able to fit through the tunnels?” She took off running, her laughter fading.

  Stone grabbed the wood on each side of the slide and hauled himself up to the second level as she climbed to the top. He ran across the deck and hoisted himself to the next level. His hand just missed her shoulder when she took off laughing down a winding slide. He gripped the wooden beam running along the top of the slide and shot his legs out in front of him. When his feet hit the sandy ground at the bottom, he caught a glimpse of her darting underneath the main level. He tracked behind her, chasing her around the poles, sand spitting up under their feet.

  When she started up a ladder, he grabbed her ankle, bringing an excited scream from her. “Was it me you were calling slow?”

  She laughed, shouted, and pleaded all at the same time while attempting to wiggle free from his grasp. He took his time ascending the ladder while firmly holding her ankle. When he reached the top she’d flipped over on that round, sweet derrière of hers, still struggling to yank her foot free.

  Stone grinned.

  “Neanderthal.”

  His grin widened as he deliberately pulled her legs slowly closer to him. He bent over and with his free hand brought her face to his and tasted her laughter.

  Delicious.

  He laid her back down on the wood surface, spread her legs apart and settled between them. Their lips didn’t part the whole way down, growing harder and more forceful. She arched against his hand running over the material covering her breasts. He needed to taste them. His hands slid behind her back and unzipped her dress.

  “We have to get out of sight,” she panted, and he didn’t know how she was thinking about anything else. He could hardly focus on her words when she tasted so damn good. “I saw a beach hut over there.” She shoved her hands between their chests.

  “Really?” he huffed, taking a glance around, but he saw nothing but the fog of lust around them. “No one’s even up yet.”

  “You want to have sex where kids play?”

  “I would have sex on the sand right now.”

  She shook her head, more laughter spilling from her swollen lips. “No. Remember the eighty grit rub on our asses last time we did that?”

  “Alright. Where’s this beach hut?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  AN HOUR LATER, after stumbling across a locked beach hut, failed break-in, and morning dog walkers, Stone drove them to his place.

  “Hungry?” He pulled a carton of eggs from the fridge and a pound of bacon from the freezer. He dropped the frozen meat in the sink and flipped on the hot water to thaw it.

  The way she strutted around his kitchen really looking as if seeing it for the first time kept him from sweeping her up and making love to her on the kitchen table. What was the rush? He shifted the growing hardness below.

  “Yes.” She ran her manicured fingers along the wood table and over the chair backs. Having Bowie here felt right.

  He set a couple pans on the oven before slicing the package of bacon open and filling one pan.

  “It’s cozy here.”

  “Cozy?”

  “Yes.” She blushed a shade of pink that put a little color on her porcelain skin. “I mean, it’s not small, but it’s not huge either. It’s cozy. Perfect.”

  “You haven’t seen it all.”

  “Give me a tour and maybe I could borrow a T-shirt.” She pulled the hem of the dress she’d worn to a fighting match, in a hospital, and a stroll on the beach.

  “Alright.” He turned off the stove and slid the pan of sizzling bacon to a cool burner. “This is the kitchen. I built these cupboards from old barn board I picked up at the antique mall in town. I had the stone counters custom cut to fit my space.”

  “They’re beautiful. I know you’re good with your hands—” From her provocative look he knew she wasn’t referring to building and the blood rushed down south. “—but I had no idea you were talented in the way of building.”

  He held his hand out and led her to the sunroom. “I built this from our inspiration.”

  “I knew that.” She walked to the wall of windows and looked out over the acre of land that led down to the brush around the river. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her front. She leaned the back of her head against his chest and he rested his chin on it.

  “It’s nice in here. I bet this is a nice escape during the cold winter months.”

  “Especially in the winter, with the fireplace burning and the television on low enough that you can still hear the crackle of the wood. Stretched out on the sofa with a coffee and blanket is like camping.”

  “Sounds incredible.”

  “It is.” He kissed her head.

  “Maybe we could have a campout in here tonight? Is that a pull out sofa?”

  He nodded. “Throw a few cushions on the floor by the fire and we can sleep there.”

  She tilted her head to look up at him. “Oh, the romantic.”

  “I’ve dreamed of nights with you in front of that fireplace.”

  She twisted around and wrapped her arms around his neck, stretching
upward to kiss him. “It sounds perfect.”

  “The bedroom’s this way.”

  She lifted her eyebrows. “Now who’s the horny dog? Had a taste and can’t get enough?”

  He bent down and nibbled on her ear. “T-shirt,” he whispered.

  She laughed and lightly shoved him away. “Lead the way, stud.”

  He chuckled.

  Down the hallway, and he pushed open each door of the three spare rooms and let her gander at their emptiness. Two bedrooms consisted of a bed and the third room bare to the walls—emptiness he’d never been able to see beyond. But now, standing in the doorway and watching her walk a circle in each room, stopping to peer out the window, he envisioned her holding their child in a nursery that she would over decorate but he would love, but would razz her about anyway. He could hear the baby giggle and see Bowie’s smile.

  Life, he saw life.

  On her way out of the last empty room she grinned at him. “I see you thoroughly enjoyed furnishing these rooms.”

  “I’ve been tempted to store car parts in these rooms.”

  “That’s something. Is this your bedroom?” She’d already started toward the double doors at the end of the hallway.

  He didn’t answer and she didn’t wait for the go-ahead—being the brash woman he remembered.

  Inside his bedroom, he leaned against the doorframe, crossing one ankle over the other.

  The same feeling applied to this room—a room he’d only used for sleeping. With the woman sauntering in his private space, future sleep would only be one aspect of this room. He’d bet she was mentally placing her stuff around his room. She’d need three quarters of the walk-in closet to fit only a third of her wardrobe and would no doubt request he convert one of the spare rooms into another closet The built-in vanity between the bedroom and master bathroom would be sprinkled with loads of makeup, hair tools, scarves and jewelry. She’d replace his red, plaid quilt for some high thread count comforter and toss his pillows for feather pillows.

  All her changes would be okay with him. Besides, her beds had always been adorned with the softest bed sheets—some Egyptian crap.

  He grabbed a T-shirt from the tallboy as she walked around.

  “Again, cozy.” She leaned against the wood slat, rustic footboard. “I really want to get tangled up in your sheets.”

  His thoughts exactly after their near sex adventure had gone sour.

  “What about breakfast?” But he’d already throw the T-shirt on the floor and tore his over his head.

  She giggled and skittered back on the bed when he almost jumped to the edge. He dropped to his knees and lifted one of her legs to his mouth, kissing a trail of warm, smooth sweetness. He’d missed these long pillars of softness and he heard her small gasp when his mouth started a trail up her thigh. He pushed her dress up as his voyage of her body continued. When he bit the side strap of her panties, she dug her fingers through his hair. He pulled them down no more than a couple inches and licked her skin alongside the lace material.

  He wanted to kiss her sweet sounds, almost a whine, but in a good way. He continued pushing her dress upwards, over her dipping middle where he sprinkled more kisses before progressing to her lace bra mounds. He cupped her covered breasts and licked the flesh rimming the top of the material enjoying more small, quiet sounds.

  He needed her dress off. She stretched her arms as if hearing his thoughts and he pulled the dress over her, loving the tangled mess the action made of her hair.

  Tossing the dress behind him and not caring where it landed, he sat back and soaked in her beauty. Damn gorgeous.

  The sex in her wing had been too fast and with too many clothes on to appreciate her. But now, he could really look at her.

  “Hey,” her voice drew his eyes to hers. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She reached her arms out and he settled on top of her giving her nose a light kiss.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  “I meant what I said before. About falling in love with you. I never stopped loving you, but there’s a new side of you, a more mature side and that’s the side I’m falling in love with.”

  He pushed her hair down the sides of her face. “I never stopped loving you, either. I was angry. Wounded. Hurt. But I didn’t stop loving you. You had always kept me guessing what new and exciting side of yourself I could love all over again. Nothing’s changed there. You still keep me guessing.”

  “And that’s good?”

  He nodded. “But I’m not rushing you, Bowie. If you’re not ready, if you need time with your brother—”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m done with him. I’ll put him in rehab but he’s toxic and I don’t want to be a part of that anymore.”

  “He’s your brother.” He knew she didn’t mean it. The Blake siblings had always found it easier to run from problems than face them—who was he to judge after his past with his dad? The only difference between them was Stone had fought against his father while the siblings had run to him to dig them out of their troubled situations.

  “Rush me, Stone. Sweep me off my feet. Show me what it’s like to be a part of your world because I never want to spend another day away from you.”

  “We’re on the same page there. But it’s not all beach huts and bed tumbling with me.”

  Her lips curled upwards in amusement. “Really? What else is there? Tell me?”

  “Cuddling.”

  Bowie laughed.

  He cocked his head back. “I’m dead serious. Even cuddling before we fall asleep and before we get out of bed in the morning.”

  “I think I can suffer through cuddling.”

  He kissed her. “Right now I’m wearing too many clothes when you’re practically naked beneath me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  THEY ATE A late breakfast after they’d fallen asleep for a few solid hours. It wasn’t until early afternoon that they finally showered, which included more kissing than washing.

  Still wrapped in a towel, he caught her waist and pulled her close to nuzzle her neck. “I want to show you something, but you need clothes. I messaged Ava and asked her to drop them off.”

  “Ava?”

  “Dax’s wife.”

  “Dax is married? Your Dax? Womanizing Dax?”

  He chuckled, his warm breath against her cool skin. “Yes, he’s married and has the cutest step-daughter and new baby.”

  “Wow. Thank her for me.”

  “You can thank her when we go to their house for supper on Friday.” Bowie liked the sound of that, for the sole reason that maybe he’d considered not fighting Walker on Saturday.

  “Meet me in the kitchen when you’re dressed, and choose the shorts because you’ll be spreading your legs.”

  Reaching for the shorts, she said, “Spreading my legs? Wouldn’t a dress give you better access?”

  “Get your head out of the gutter, doll.” He slapped her rear end. “We won’t need to be naked. I’ll be waiting in the kitchen.”

  Bowie scrambled to dry and get dressed, anticipating his plans for the afternoon. With no makeup, she brushed her hair and rubbed a bit of his cream to moisturize her skin before rushing down the hall to meet him.

  He held out a pair of sneakers and she gave him a frown. “Put these on.”

  She took them reluctantly “These are not pretty.”

  “It’s not about looks, doll.” He nodded toward the back door. “Follow me.”

  They walked the brick path to his back shed. She could picture flower gardens, a swing hanging from the line large maple tree, and vegetables growing in a garden.

  Stone held the door open and she ducked under his arm. The cool air in the shed was a nice surprise. He grabbed her hand, sending tingles to her fingertips as he weaved her around vehicles. Some were covered and others uncovered with tools spread about like each project was being worked on.

  He stopped in front of a covered piece and Bowie’s heart flip-flopped thinking she knew exactly what was under the tarp.
She reached out and touched the cover, tears burning her eyes. “Is this...” Her breath caught in her throat.

  He let her hand slip away and walked to the end. He fisted the material in both hands and without a word, he lifted it away, making a swoosh sound that covered her gasp.

  At the sight of her father’s bike, the tears slipped down her cheeks. “You kept it.”

  “Of course I did.”

  She touched the leather seat and ran her fingers down it. “It looks exactly the same.”

  “I didn’t change a single detail.”

  “He loved this bike. I remember riding on the back when I was a little girl. He’d drive to the outskirts of the city and we’d simply ride. For hours. The wind, the country air, just the two of us.”

  He held a helmet out to her. “Wanna go for a ride? I’ve packed a lunch, and we can drive as long as you’d like.”

  She took the helmet. “Yes.” She could barely push the word through her emotion.

  “Do you want to drive?”

  She bit her lower lip thinking about it and finally shook her head. “I would rather sit on the back, with no worries, and enjoy the ride.”

  “Okay.” She watched Stone climb on the bike and grab his helmet. He looked as handsome and adventurous as her father once had.

  She positioned the helmet on her head and when she struggled to fasten the strap, Stone reached over and clipped it for her. Stepping up, she slid one leg over the seat and straddled behind Stone, purposely rubbing her front against his back.

  “You tease.”

  She laughed and tightened her grip around his middle. She inhaled all the wonderful smells of him, smells like his sheets, his towels, everything.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  The bike roared to life and Stone kicked the kickstand up. The path in front of them was clear to the door left wide open waiting for their departure, just like the road before them giving them a second chance to their future.

  THEY RODE FOR HOURS along the shoreline taking detours to all of Stone’s favorite spots.

  When lunchtime rolled around, he pulled off the main road toward the spot he’d been driving to show her. They traveled down the bumpy gravel road and turned onto a hidden path in a bush. Less than a minute of driving later, he parked the bike at the edge of the brush.