by Kim Redford
She took a deep breath. This wasn’t what she’d planned. She wanted something lighthearted and fun after the seriousness of the day.
“I’m always too soon with you, aren’t I?” He raised his hands to either side and then dropped them again. “Don’t you think we’ve been through enough high water together that we know each other pretty well by now?”
“Yes, of course…but if you’re talking about moving in together, then—”
“No. That’s not what I want.”
“But—”
“I want it all with you. I knew it from the first.”
“I treasure our time together, but—”
“Marriage. Kids…runny noses, dirty diapers. All of it. I want to share my life with you.”
“What about your ranch? My ranch. My business. Your business—whatever it is.”
“Do you think we can’t have it all?”
“I think we can have it all, but tonight… Tonight I really just want to have sex.” She put her hands on her hips, letting him know she was annoyed with so much seriousness at the end of a long, hard day. “Is that too much to ask?”
He grinned, dimple flashing in his cheek. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“I’m not sure I’m in the mood now.”
“I bet I could get you in the mood.” He stalked toward her.
She backed up. “I don’t know.”
“What if I told you I loved you?”
“You told me that before.”
He chuckled as he reached her. “Do you need to hear something new?”
“Yes. You owe it to me now after all that seriousness about moving in together.”
“I am serious, but not about that. Like I said, I want it all.”
“You’re greedy.”
“You’d make any man greedy.”
She put a fingertip to her lips and wet it with the tip of her tongue as she cocked her head to one side, considering him.
“Are you trying to torment me?” He slipped her fingertip from her mouth and put it between his lips.
When she felt his gentle kiss, she just sort of melted inside. “You’re the one tormenting now.”
He placed her hand against his chest. “Undress me.”
“No.”
“No?”
“Strip for me and get on the bed.”
He smiled as he snapped open his shirt, revealing hard muscles underneath. “Is this what you want?”
“Yes.” She feasted her eyes on him, wanting the play after the serious but realizing she also wanted him to want her, wanted him to want permanent, wanted him to want to be with her forever…and love cascaded over her like the gentlest of rainwater on a soft, summer day until she melted for him alone.
He jerked off his shirt and tossed it aside, revealing his tanned and toned chest. He didn’t stop there. And he didn’t take his eyes off her as he sat down on the bed and shucked his boots, his jeans, and finally his shorts. Finally he simply sat there watching her watching him…waiting.
“Greedy,” she said. “You look very, very greedy.”
“That’s the way I feel when I see you.” He looked her up and down. “Now it’s your turn. Strip.”
“No.”
“No?”
“We’re talking about your greed, not mine.”
“And so?”
“Lie down on your back…and let me see to your greed.”
He smiled, nodded, and lay back, putting his arms above his head and crossing his wrists. “Like this?”
“Perfect. Now don’t move.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She knew he was smiling, thinking he knew what was coming, but she wore a secret little smile of her own because Morning Glory kept a few items hidden behind a counter that she might share or she might not. In this case…Belle pulled open a drawer of the nightstand, lifted out a very special canister, and set it on top.
“What’s that?” Rowdy asked.
“You’ll see.”
She lifted the lid and set it aside, and the sweet scent of honey wafted across the bedroom. She pulled apart the golden strings of a yellow-satin drawstring bag inside the canister to reveal fine white powder. Atop the powder nestled a feather duster about three inches long with a group of feathers attached to a wooden knob. She slipped the tips of the feathers through the dust and turned to him.
“What’ve you got there?” He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
“Honey dust.”
“Am I supposed to eat it?”
“No.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “I am.”
And then she stroked the feather duster down his chest and around his nipples, watching them harden in response. She followed the dust with her tongue, lapping at his sensitive skin, tasting him, tasting honey, tasting pleasure.
She moved up his throat, tickling with the feather and following with her tongue until she reached his lips, where she paused to nibble and lick until he grasped her head with both hands and gave her a deep, searing, searching kiss and they both groaned with spiraling desire.
She lifted her head and smiled down at him. “You like?”
“Morning Glory is a genius, but we already knew it.”
“Oh yes.”
“I thought I was greedy before,” he said, “but it was nothing compared to what I am now.”
“There’s more honey dust.”
“There better be.” He took the feather duster from her hand and swirled it in honey dust. When he turned back, he stopped and eyed her clothes with a raised eyebrow. “Are you going to strip for me?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
“I have the honey dust.”
“Good point.” She stood up, slipped her sweatshirt up and over her head, and then dropped it to the floor, knowing he was watching her every move. She hooked her hands in the waistband of her sweatpants and then slowly slid them down her hips and her legs to the floor. She kicked them away.
He gestured toward the bed with the feather duster, and she lay down exactly as he had before and waited for him to give her what she’d given him. She shivered in anticipation.
When she felt the first light touch of the feather on her breasts, she caught her breath at the erotic sensation, and then he was tickling, teasing, licking, and sending her higher and higher…up and down her body, into her belly button, inside her thighs, even the tips of her toes…and she was grabbing him and holding him and wanting him until she heard him groan deep in his throat.
“I want your honey now.” And he tossed the feather across the bed where it rolled out of sight.
She was so ready to give him anything he wanted because she wanted everything he could give her, too. He spread her legs, knelt between them, kissed her on the lips, and gently eased inside. She grasped his shoulders, pulling him tightly to her, feeling him move harder, faster, deeper as he lifted them to ever greater heights until they flew free, soaring into ecstasy together…with the sweet scent of honey and the sweeter taste of love.
Chapter 35
Life had taken on the magical quality of Christmas that Rowdy enjoyed every year. As he drove down Wildcat Road, he thought about the fact that the county was only two days out from the annual festivities centered in Old Town, Sure-Shot, and Wildcat Hall Park. Out-of-towners were starting to arrive and fill up Twin Oaks B&B, Wildcat Bluff Hotel, Cowboy Cabins, and every other available space for rent. It was fun and exciting, but everybody was running to get last-minute details completed so everything rolled out smoothly for those who came to relax and enjoy the holidays.
Well, not quite everybody was involved in supporting the festivities. At Lulabelle & You Ranch, Belle had created her own little island of holiday happiness. She wasn’t involved in the county’s affairs, so she was focused on her clothing line, the horses and cattle
on the ranch, and the pigeons in her barn. He smiled at another thought. She also put a little focus on him because he spent evenings at her house. She planned to attend the festivities with him, so he planned to wait until after Christmas to tell her anything that might negatively impact her holidays. Maybe it was selfish of him, but he wanted to prolong this special time and share Christmas with her.
He turned off the road, rattled across the cattle guard of Belle’s ranch, and drove up to her house. He parked in front on the circle drive. He shook his head in disgust at the shingle stacks. They were a glaring reminder of what he—and others—hadn’t done for her, but at least most of them were there. If she had a leak on her roof, there’d have been no question about reroofing her house, but upgrading could wait until they were past the holidays… At least he hoped she saw it that way.
He’d make up for the shingles today because he was arriving with gifts in the back of his one-ton pickup, sort of like Santa Claus with gifts in the back of his sleigh. Horsepower and reindeer-power got the job done.
She knew he was coming, so she opened the front door, raced across the lawn, and threw herself into his arms just as he stepped out of his vehicle. She felt good like she always did…and so right with him.
“Did you bring my gifts like you said?” She grinned at him, excited like a little kid on Christmas morning.
“Look in the back of the truck.”
She started to run back there but stopped and looked at him. “You could have waited until Christmas.”
“I want you to enjoy my gifts now. Besides, aren’t you going to your family’s ranch for Christmas dinner?”
“I always do, but this year…”
“Family is important. Tradition is important.”
“But we’re important, too.”
He pressed a soft kiss to the tip of her nose. “Let’s table that for today. I want you to have what I made.”
“Made?” She opened her hazel eyes wide in excitement.
He clasped her hand and tugged her to the back of his truck.
“Oh my!” She turned and hugged him hard. “You made furniture for my new patio?”
“Remember, I told you I did a little woodworking as a hobby. I hope you like cedar. It’s perfect for outdoors.”
“It’s gorgeous. I love it.”
He was pleased with the two chairs, love seat, and table he’d created for her. He lowered the tailgate and hopped up into the bed of his truck. He set each piece on the ground and then picked up a big sack and handed it to her. He leaped back down and closed the tailgate.
“What’s in here?” She hugged the sack to her chest. “It feels soft.”
“You need cushions for your furniture, don’t you?”
“Wonderful! You thought of everything.”
“I wanted you to have it all for the holidays.”
She peeked into the open sack. “I can hardly believe it. You matched the color of the new trim on my house.”
“If I’m going to do something, I do it right.”
She gave him a little self-satisfied smile. “Yeah. I can give testimony to that fact.”
“And a little honey dust never hurt.”
“Helps, you mean.”
“Right.” He grinned back. “Come on. I’ll carry your new furniture around back and set it up.”
“I’ll help.”
He picked up the love seat and headed for the backyard. She kept right up with him, lugging the sack of cushions. When they got there, he set down his piece of furniture near the metal set. The old patio set looked insubstantial, almost whimsical, in comparison.
“Where do you want me to position your new furniture?”
“I’m not sure.” She set the big sack on top of the old table.
He checked the flagstone patio under his feet, looking for any problems that might have occurred since he’d finished installing it. No issues so far, but he didn’t expect any because he did meticulous work. He liked the big size of the patio. It stretched the length of the house just outside the long bank of windows, so the patio served as an extension of that room, melding outdoors with indoors.
He was as proud of building the patio as he was of making the furniture. He’d worked hard to bring her vision to life…and he’d succeeded. He realized now that when something was made for someone out of love, it turned out not just beautiful but special as well. He could easily spend a lifetime creating beautiful things for her just to see her face lit up in happiness as it was at this moment. He’d learned that was part of what love was all about.
“Let’s center it just outside the windows so when I’m inside I can see how beautiful it looks outside.”
“The set is perfect for the patio parties you had in mind, too.”
“Yes, well…in time, perhaps.”
“We can add a grill or firepit or complete kitchen later, too.”
“Sounds wonderful.” She walked over, put her arms around him, and nestled against his chest. “You’re so good to me. Thank you.”
He hugged her close, feeling his heart swell with happiness. He wanted to say they’d make this moment last a lifetime, but he couldn’t promise anything yet except that they’d enjoy the festivities together.
She stepped back. “I don’t have anything for you…except I could give you some Lulabelle & You promo items. How would you like a Fernando the Wonder Bull sweatshirt?”
He laughed at the idea. “You don’t need to get me anything. To see you this happy is more than gift enough.”
“That’s so sweet, but I’ll think of something. I have a little time left.”
“Please don’t go to any trouble.”
“No trouble. It’ll be my pleasure.”
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s get the rest of your new furniture back here.”
He headed back to his pickup, and she came right along with him…more in a supervisory position than anything. Soon they had the furniture arranged on the patio with the cushions in place. It looked good, even better than he’d imagined when he was making it.
“Rowdy, I love it.” She set the crimson-silk-flower holiday arrangement he’d included in the sack in the center of the table and then plopped down in a chair and stroked long fingers across the smooth, varnished tabletop.
He sat down in the other chair. “You’re sure you like it?”
She chuckled as she continued to stroke the table. “You’re just fishing for compliments.”
“Always.”
She turned a warm gaze on him. “You’ll always get them from me.”
He started to answer, but he heard a whir of wings overhead and glanced upward. Homer, Aristotle, and Socrates circled once and then came in for a landing on the tabletop. They cocked their heads, putting one eye on the table and then the other. They walked across the wood, nails tapping out a staccato beat. Finally, they flew to the love seat and perched on the back all in a row…and began to preen their feathers.
Belle grinned at the sight. “Looks like you just received pigeon approval.”
“I’m glad. Nothing is worse than pigeon disapproval because—”
She laughed. “Droppings.”
“Yeah. They know exactly how to make their displeasure known in a very graphic way.”
She laughed harder and then smiled at him, growing quiet as love filled her gaze and spread from her to him.
And in that silence he heard the sound of her cell phone in the house.
“I’d better get that.” She stood up. “I set the ringer on high so I’d be sure to hear it.”
While she disappeared into the house, he sat there watching the pigeons and the pigeons watching him…wishing the disruption that was her regular life would go away so they could be alone together.
In a moment she ran back outside, holding her phone out to him. “Great new
s! Ty’s on speakerphone so you can hear, too.”
“Like I told you,” Ty said. “We found Daisy Sue. She’s alive and well and definitely pregnant.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Belle said. “I can’t wait to tell Storm…and Fernando.”
“Well, she’s a dirty, muddy mess. I’m not sending her back until she is in show barn–worthy state.”
“Nobody here will care how she looks. We all just want her home.”
“I care. It’s a reflection on our ranches. She’s just been out with the herd, so there’s nothing wrong with her.”
“I’ll send Kemp over to get her right away.”
“No. I told you. I’m not sending her back till she looks good.”
“Okay. When?” Belle asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“Fine. Kemp will be there with a trailer early.”
“Not too early.”
She laughed at their old joke because they both knew he’d be up by five like most ranchers and farmers. “Need your morning coffee first?”
“You know it.”
“Ty, really, this is absolutely wonderful news. Daisy Sue will be home in time for Christmas. You’ve just made a lot of people, including one lonely bull, very happy.”
“I regret that we didn’t figure it out sooner. It’d have saved folks a lot of worry. Please give the Steele family our apologies.”
“Will do.”
“And Belle, we want to give not only our apologies but Daisy Sue as well.”
“What?”
“Daisy Sue is our Christmas gift to Storm.”
“Oh, Ty—”
“Don’t you think that’s a good idea?”
“I think it’s a terrific idea. This way Storm and her family can really take care of Fernando and Daisy Sue.”
“Great. Glad that’s a done deal.” Ty chuckled. “And Belle, I thought you said you hadn’t met Bert Two.”
Rowdy sat up straight and leaned forward, listening to the conversation harder. Everything had been going so well with Daisy Sue and Storm that he’d relaxed his guard. Now he was suddenly in defensive mode.
“I haven’t met him,” she said.