9781631052323ForeverKindofCowboySullivan (13 page)

Frustration
and anger zipped through her.
Told him to
stay away from her, did she?
“Wow.
Really?”

“Yep,
but telling a Young to stay away from a woman is like throwing meat on the
grill at a barbeque and then telling all the people there they can’t have it.”

“Okay,
blonde moment here, I don’t understand. Why did she tell you to stay away from
me?”

“Not
because she didn’t want us together, Callie. My mom knew exactly how I would
react to the statement. She knew I’d do the opposite so she was playing a
little reverse psychology thing on me. She wants us together, trust me on
this.”

“Are
you sure?”

“Positive.”
He brought her fingers to his lips, kissing the backs before he continued. “She
loves you and would welcome you into the family in a heartbeat, baby.”

“Okay.”

Their
dinner arrived as two steamy plates. Hers was steak and lobster tail where his
was a huge
ribeye
. As they ate in silence, Callie
contemplated all Jeremiah had said before dinner. He loved her? Why
was she
not quite convinced he’d changed his mind too
quickly. It seemed too easy to her. Jeremiah rubbed the fingers of his right
hand, shaking them like they’d gone to sleep. “What’s wrong?”

“My
fingers have been going numb. I’m going to make a doctor appointment this week.
I’ve had some other things I’d like to talk to him about to see what I should
do.”

“Like
what?”

“Blurry
vision but the numbness mostly.”
He smiled.
“Nothing to worry about.
It’s a pinched nerve probably. I got bucked off a horse about a month ago.”

She
frowned. “You could have been seriously hurt, Jeremiah. You should have gone to
the doctor when it happened. Please call to make an appointment tomorrow. I’m
worried now.”

“That’s
sweet. I like you worried about me.”

“I’m
serious.” She wanted to hit him with her plate.
Stubborn man.

“Me
too.
I’ll
call in the morning. I’ll be fine.”

She
exhaled before picking up her wine glass with a shaky hand to drain the
remainder. This scared her more than anything. The blurry vision and numbness
could be anything, but since they admitted their love for each other, it meant
a whole lot more.

When
dinner concluded, they walked out to the truck with their arms around each
other as she soaked up being close to him like this.

“Come
back to my place. I want to love on you.”

“Okay,
but I can’t stay all night. I have to open the garage tomorrow for Dad. He has
a doctor’s appointment in the morning.”

The
frown on his face made her smile. He looked like a lost little boy who’d just
had someone take his favorite toy away.

“You’ll
be fine.”

“I want
you with me all the time.”

“We
need to take this relationship slowly. We haven’t been a couple until now. This
is all new.”

“I
know, but I want to show you off, be with you, sleep with you,
wake
up next to you. You know, all the things lovers do.” He
opened her door, lifted her by the waist, and deposited her on the seat, buckled
her seatbelt for her and then leaned in to kiss her on the lips. He shut the
door before going around to the driver’s side.

As they
drove back to Bandera, he held her hand over the center of the truck’s console
the entire trip. She liked this new relationship they had. It was different and
special. She’d always known they would be good for each other. It took him some
time to figure it out, but now that he had, everything should be fantastic.

“How is
your mom doing?” She frowned. “What happened anyway?”

“She’s
doing better. A drunk driver hit her on the back road to our ranch the other
night, head-on. She had some bleeding on the brain so they put a tube down her throat
so they could keep her asleep and make sure she has enough oxygen to her brain.
They needed the swelling to go down and the bleeding would hopefully stop on
its own. It has and they are going to take out the tube tomorrow. I plan to go
in to see her sometime in the afternoon. Do you want to come?”

“I
don’t think that would be a good idea, Jeremiah. I mean, I’m not family.”

“You
will be eventually.”

“But
I’m not right now and don’t put the cart before the horse. We might find we
can’t stand each other once we get to know one another better.”

He
kissed her fingers. “Not going to happen, sweetheart. I love you.”

“You
have no idea how much I like hearing you say those words.”

“You’ll
hear them a lot more in the coming years.”

“I hope
so, but no, you go on and see her. I’ll wait until she comes home and gets some
rest before I stop by.”

“She’ll
have to have rehab for a bit. She broke her leg too.”

“Wow.
It’s a wonder she wasn’t killed.”

“The
guy would have been a dead man if she had.”

“I’m
sorry. I don’t mean to be morbid. I’m glad she wasn’t hurt worse.”

He
shuddered as he squeezed her fingers.
“Me too.”

Several
minutes later, they pulled up the gate of Thunder Ridge and she waited while he
punched in the code to open the gate.

“I love
this place.”

“Me
too.”

“I hear
there are ghosts on the property.”

“Yep.
A cowboy, a
couple upstairs in the main lodge, and a group of children who play in the
yard.”

“Have
you ever done any research on
who
they are to maybe
find out why they’re trapped here?”

“No,
but I’ve thought about it. I hear the children the most since I’m out in the
cabin area.”

“Do you
hear them a lot?”

“Yeah.
If it’s real quiet you can hear
them almost every night, especially if I’m coming in late or something.”

“That
would kind of freak me out, I think.” She shivered at the thought.

“Don’t
worry. I’ll protect you. Besides, they’re children.”

“I
know, but ghosts are ghosts.”

They
pulled up in front of his cabin. When he shut the engine off, he waited for a
minute before coming around to open hers.
Gentleman to the core.

“You’re
safe. I don’t hear them right now.”

“Good.”

He
swept her up into his arms, carrying her toward the door of his cabin after he
pushed the truck door closed with his foot.

“You
shouldn’t be carrying me.”

“Why
not?
I want
to hold you.”

“Yeah,
but if your back is messed up or something is pinched, you could be hurting
yourself more by carrying me.”

“I’ll
take my chances.” He reached over to kiss her on the lips before she could say
another word. “Reach in my shirt pocket for my keys and open the door.”

“Okay.”

Once
the door was opened, he carried her inside to deposit her on the bed. “Stay
there.”

She
kicked off her heels and tucked her legs beneath her as she watched him shut
the door and flip on the light.

His
space was so much like him, western décor, wrought iron headboard and
footboard, wooden nightstands and a huge computer desk, never mind the big-ass
television with a top of the line gaming system. He liked his toys apparently.

“Why
are you still dressed?”

“Because
I thought you might like the honors of peeling this dress off me.”

“Oh,
yeah.
I
could do that.”

She
stood at the side of the bed as he sauntered closer. “You look so awesome
tonight in your dressy gear, but I like the rugged cowboy too.”

“You
do, huh?”

“Yeah.”
She watched as he peeled off
his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair before he toed off his boots and
walked over to stand in front of her in his white shirt, pressed jeans, and
socks.

He
smoothed his hands over her bare shoulders. “You look hot in that dress, but I
want you out of it more.”

“Take
it off then.”

Chapter Twelve

With
one hand on the zipper at the back of her dress, he slowly peeled it down until
the material stopped right at the curve of her butt. The bodice gapped open at
her chest, the only thing holding it up were her arms at her sides. He hooked a
finger at the bodice on each side and peeled it down her body until the whole
thing fell into a pool at her feet. The strapless bra she wore left little to
the imagination as he skimmed his fingertips over the swell of her breast.

“I like
these.”

“My
boobs or my bra?”

“Boobs.
They are so pretty.” He reached
behind her to unhook her bra, letting it fall to the floor too. “I love how the
little nipples are standing straight up for me.” He cupped her right breast in
his palm. “They want me.”

“Yes,
they do.” Her voice came out in a breathless sigh. Wanting him this badly made
her hot and cold at the same time. Shivers rolled through her whole body,
leaving goose bumps on her skin in their wake.

“Are
you cold?”

“No.
Excited, yes.”
She splayed her hands on his chest. “I want
you out of these clothes.”

“In
a minute.
I
want to worship you.”

“Such
a sweet talker.”

“You
know it, darlin’.”

“There
is my favorite word coming from a cowboy.”

“What?”

“Darlin’
in that little southern drawl.
Makes me so horny.”

His
hands did a slow crawl from her shoulders to her fingertips before each one
cupped a breast again. “You weren’t horny already?”

“Oh,
hell yes I was, but it makes it worse.”

“I’ll
call you darlin’ anytime you want me to.”

His
lips skimmed over her jawline on their way to the shell of her ear. “I’ll
remember that.” This man knew exactly what to do to ramp her up. He did it so
well, she almost wondered where he learned all the little tricks he did with
his hands and mouth. She might have to ask him one day so she could thank the
woman who had taught him to make love. When he laid her back on the bed, she
lifted her arms over her head. She remembered how he liked it when she didn’t
move while he skimmed her body with his mouth or fingers. Pleasing Jeremiah was
her utmost concern.

He
hooked two fingers in the waistband of her nylons and panties and
shimmied
them down her legs until he could peel them off her
feet. “Open for me.” She spread her legs, giving him an unadulterated view of
her pussy.
“So wet.”
He dipped one finger inside her,
making her eyes roll back in her head. “Uh-uh.
Eyes on me.”

Their gazes
held as he slowly slid between her thighs and then licked her pussy from slit
to clit.

“Ah,
God!”

“
Mmm
.”

The
vibration of his lips on her clit almost threw her into a climax, but she
tamped the need down. She didn’t want to come yet. She wanted to hold out as
long as possible for the ultimate release. He wasn’t having any of her holding
back though. He went in for the kill, licking, sucking, and doing little figure
eights on her clit in a rapid fashion.

“Jeremiah!”
She threw her head back on the
comforter as her whole body vibrated and the force of her climax bowed her
back.

He
seemed pleased with himself as he licked his way up her body until he reached
her mouth. The smile on his lips was infectious.

“Good.”

“Better
than good.
Amazing.”

“Oh, I
like amazing. Shall we try for two?”

“
Mmm
.
Only if it’s from you inside me.
I want to feel you
deep.”

“I can handle
that.” He reached over into the nightstand drawer for a condom, tore it open
with his teeth and rolled it on with one hand.

“You
are pretty good at that.”

“I’ve
had some practice.”

“I
bet.”

A soft
moan escaped her lips when his cock found the entrance to her pussy and slowly
slid inside.
“So good.”

“You
feel fantastic. I’ve been waiting weeks for this.”

“Only
weeks?”

“Since
the last time, so yeah, it’s been weeks.”

She
looked up into his soft, pewter-colored eyes. “You haven’t been with anyone
since we were together?”

“No. I
couldn’t. I only wanted you.”

“Me
too.”

“I love
you, Callie.”

“I love
you too, Jeremiah. You are my life.”

He
slowly started to move as she wrapped her thighs around his hips. He softly
kissed her nose and her cheeks, taking the wetness of the tears from her face.

“Why
are you crying?”

“Because
I never thought we’d be here like this. I never thought I’d hear you say those
words to me. I’ve waited so long for you.”

“I’m sorry
it took me this long to see you for the woman of my dreams.”

As he
continued his slow assault on her senses, she lost the ability to think of
anything beyond Jeremiah and what he was doing to her body. Her nipples pebbled
into hard little nubs when he sucked first one before the other, between his
lips. His tongue worshipped her body, moving from her lips to her breasts and
back again as he slowly pumped his hips, driving his cock in and out of her
body.

“Uh,
Jeremiah?”

“Yeah?”

“Can
you speed it up a bit? You’re killing me.” He pushed up so he was standing
between her thighs, shoved his hands under her hips and slammed his pelvis
against hers. Heaven on a hill, he was fantastic when he made love.

“This
is fucking.” He slowed his pace to a crawl again. “This is making love.” He
moved a little faster. “I like both. Which do you prefer?”

“I want
you to shut up and fuck me.”

“Your
wish is my command, darlin’.” He shoved against her so
hard,
he had to hold her in place with his hands. “I’m going to fuck you until you
scream for me.”

“I
already did once.”

“Do it
again.”

“Oh,
oh, oh.”
Each thrust hit just the right spot inside her to drive her up the side of the
cliff, leaving her hanging on by her fingernails. “A little bit…yes!” Her
scream echoed off the walls of his cabin as she hit her climax a second time.

A few
uncoordinated thrusts later, Jeremiah groaned as he came apart as well,
slumping against her chest in a heap of boneless mass meant to squash her into
the bed. She grunted at the weight on her chest. He had to weigh two hundred
pounds at least. “I can’t breathe.”

“Sorry.”
He slowly slid out of her with a groan before he walked toward the bathroom to
dispose of the condom. When he returned, he had a warm wash cloth in his hands
to clean her up with.

“You
don’t have to do that.”

“I want
to.” Before he wiped her off though, he took one finger, dipped it inside her
pussy and then smeared the wetness around her back hole. “I want you here too.”

“You
do?”

“I want
you every way possible, darlin’. This is one more fantasy of mine.”

“Okay.”

“Do you
like anal?”

“I love
it, actually. It’s one of my favorite positions.”

He
smiled as he wiped her pussy from top to bottom. “Good.
Next
time.”

“And
when will there be a next time?”

“Soon.
I need you with me always, so
yeah, soon.”

She
pushed herself up on the pillow. “Come here. I want some cuddling.”

The
minute he sat back against the headboard, she laid her head on his chest and
sighed in contentment. This is what she wanted.
Just him.
Forever.
“I hope your mom will be okay.”

“I’m
sure she will. They said things were going better.”

“It
must have been terrible to see her in such a state.” She shuddered until his
hand made some soothing circles, rubbing up and down her arm. “I would hate to
see my dad like that.”

“You
know, I don’t think I ever heard what happened to your mom. I just knew she
wasn’t around.”

“She
left us when I was three. I don’t remember her much. She’s only a few faded
pictures and memories to me.”

“I’m
sorry, darlin’.”

“It’s
not a big deal. She contacted me several years ago wanting to be a part of my
life, but I wouldn’t. I found out she had a drug problem and wanted money. She
figured if she got all cozy with me, I would give her some, I guess. I have my
dad. That’s all I need.”

“Well,
I’m sure my mother will become the mother you didn’t have. She’s like that.”

Her
fingers swirled in the hair on his chest, entwining them together like their
hearts belong there. “I’d be more than happy to have your mom become a
surrogate mother for me. I love your mom.”

“I do
too. She’s great and now that they are financially
secure
,
their life will get so much better, I think.”

“Financially
secure?”

“Yeah.
I’ve been investing for them.
They have quite a bit of money in the bank now so they don’t have to work
anymore if they don’t want to, but I can’t see them doing that. They love this
ranch more than any of us. It’s their life.”

“I bet,
but I’m glad they are doing so well.” She sifted her fingers through the hair
on his chest. “You should be investing for yourself too, since you are so good
at it.” He grinned, but didn’t reply, making her wonder what he might be
hiding. She studied his expression for a moment before sitting up on the bed.
“I hate to fuck and run, but I should be getting home. I have to work in the
morning.”

“All
right.”

He
moved to grab his clothes as she stood by the side of the bed to locate her
own. After she slipped on her dress without her bra, and nylons, she shoved her
feet into her shoes and proclaimed herself ready to go as she grabbed her wrap
off the chair where it had landed when they stumbled inside the cabin.

Once he
managed to shove his feet into his boots, he grabbed his keys and hat. “Let’s
get you home then.”

* * *
*

The
next morning Jeremiah peeled open his gritty eyelids to the early sunrise. He
had some work to do on the finances this morning before he went into San
Antonio to see his mom. Hopefully by the time he got there they would have
removed the breathing tube so she could sit up and talk to him. He didn’t want
to see her like she’d been a few nights ago.

When he
threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood, he stumbled, leaning to the
left. He grabbed the bedpost to steady himself. His left leg felt numb from the
hip down like he’d slept on it. “Okay, this is getting crazy. I really need to
call the doctor.”

He
shook out his leg until the feeling came back and he could walk on it again
without falling.
This isn’t normal.
People my age don’t have these kinds of things happen. It’s probably a pinched
nerve or something.

After
he managed to get dressed, he heard the breakfast bell ring as he grabbed his
wallet, hat and truck keys from his nightstand. He glanced back at the bed with
a smile, remembering the night before. Callie took his breath away, spread out
like a virgin for the offering.
Damn, I
have it bad for her and I like it.

Tugging
on the handle, he opened the door. A small group of people were headed to the
main lodge for breakfast from the cabin just up the way. A couple of little kids
were laughing and pushing each other like he and his brothers used to do when
they were young.

“Hey
mister, are you a real cowboy?”

“Yes,
sir.”

“Do you
ride horses?”

“All
the time.
I’ve even ridden a few who weren’t very tame.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“I want
to ride a horse.”

“Well,
tell your mom and dad we have horses available for everyone to ride. My brother
Joey will take good care of you if you want to learn to ride. He’s a great
cowboy.”

“How many
brothers do you have?” the boy asked as they opened the door to the lodge.