Destry (11 page)

In the short time I had been on the ranch, I’d learnt a few things about myself. I was most comfortable just being me. Not worrying about a hair out of place or a designer cushion not perfectly centered. It was freeing and I’d come to quickly realize the life I had been living wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted wide-open space and fresh air. I wanted a cowboy who’d wrap me up in his arms and lay in peaceful silence. I wanted this kind of life. I looked across at the man beside me. I wanted this kind of life with Destry. I didn’t know a million things about him, but I wanted to find them all out in the best ways possible. I wanted to watch him screw his nose up at food he didn’t like. I wanted to watch him struggle to do something just because he thought I wanted to do it. I wanted to learn about him. But first I needed to learn about me. I’d lived a lie for the entirety of my life. Not only had my relationship with Warren been a load of crap, apparently, any chance of a close relationship with my sister had been too. I shuddered at the thought of having to face the disaster I’d driven away from, but if I wanted to move on, I needed to go back and deal with it all. Or at least, collect a few things and clear out my trust fund.

“Sorry?” I asked when I realized Destry had asked me a question and I’d missed it while wrapped up in my own thoughts.

“I said, where’d you go?” He brushed my hair back and tucked it behind my ear while staring down at me. “You got this look on your face while you were off in dreamland.”

“Oh, just thinking. I need to sort a few things out. Go back home and wrap some things up before I can start over here.” I stopped for a second when it registered how my words would sound out loud. “I mean, before I come back and find a job, get a house, all of the financials settled, that kind of thing.”

“Mhmm.” His lips ghosted across my bare collarbone; the vibration from his lips as he spoke sent goose bumps across my arms. “How long will you be gone for?”

“Umm. I, ah. I... Oh…” My train of thought completely derailed and his mouth came down over my nipple.

“How long, darlin’?” The want in his voice was hard to miss. So was the delicious way he was nibbling on my breast. I shifted my legs and rubbed them together in a feeble attempt to relieve the ache that was building between them.

“What?” I asked confused and distracted. I pushed my chest up, silently asking for more to no avail. He lifted his head and stared into my glassy eyes.

“How long you gotta be away from me, darlin’?” His smirk told me he knew how distracting his tongue and mouth were. However, with his hand slowly snaking up my inner thigh, I would tell him the answer to the world’s mysteries just so he’d keep going.

“A few days, a week at most, I think.” My chest was now moving heavily as the fire burned brightly inside of me. I reached up and grabbed either side of his head, my fingers twisting into his hair. I bit my lower lip and slowly scanned his chiseled jaw, his broad muscled shoulders and down his solid smooth chest. When I looked back up to his eyes, they were reflecting all the heat and passion I was feeling.

The hand he had running up the inside of my thigh stopped and he gripped my leg tightly, his fingers digging into my flesh, which in turn only worked me up more. He needed me as much as I needed him. I brought his face down closer to mine. A hairs breadth away from our lips meeting, we stopped. I could almost feel the electricity crackling in the air between us. I never knew being with somebody could be like this. It was exhilarating and the very opposite of boring everyday mundane sex. Destry set me alight in every way imaginable and I didn’t want it to stop.

“‘Melia.” A light kiss on my shoulder had me stepping from complete sleep to eyes closed not wanting to wake up. I loved when I had these types of dreams. Destry touching me, his soft gentle lips touching my skin. “‘Melia, darlin’. Time to wake up.” His voice sounded so real, but then it always did. I snuggled deeper into the blankets and sighed. Only when I moved my hands to grab the pillow I always tucked up against me, did I realize I wasn’t dreaming. I slowly cracked an eye and was greeted with a glorious naked—from the waist up—Destry. His hair ruffled from sleep.

“Mmmm.” Best non-dream ever,” I quietly mumbled, smiling to myself. That earned me a chuckle and another soft kiss this time to my forehead.

“Time to get up, sleeping beauty.” He moved to his knees and I noticed his jeans weren’t buttoned. The happy trail that I’d taken my time following the night before caught my eyes, and I all but eye raped his toned stomach.

“Commando in the morning might be the best thing in the world.” I yawned, stretching out my sore muscles. We’d cuddled under the stars all night making good use of the food I’d packed, and eventually fell asleep in the back of the truck. “Cum gutters are pretty high up there too,” I smiled sleepily.

“Cum gutters?” he asked with a short laugh, handing me my clothes he’d obviously gathered up at some point.

“Mhmm.” I ran the tip of my finger along the clearly defined V muscles that ran from the top of his hips and disappeared into his jeans. “Cum gutters.” Tapping the skin there, I slowly sat up, watching him shake his head and smirk.

After a quick unplanned make-out session and the short ride back, I pulled the ATV up beside Destry’s truck and watched him climb out. He walked around and lifted me off it before setting me down and laying a hard heavy kiss on me. It was a total caveman move with him marking his territory, but I was more than fine with it. He grabbed my hand and led us up the three steps to the house, not loosening his grip on my hand once.

The moment we walked inside, everyone stopped what they were doing and took in our clearly disheveled appearances. Braxton zoned in on our linked hands and smiled to himself before nodding once at Destry and walking back to the stove. Thankfully, my ankle hadn’t given me any grief. It seemed I’d slightly sprained it, and once the swelling had gone down, a slight twinge here and a small ache there was all I had left after my fall.

“You owe me ten bucks,” Austin called over to Ellie-May. “Told you they were out screwing around,” he snickered. Ellie-May slapped him upside the head as she walked past him and put a plate of crispy bacon on the big table. “Quit slappin’ me, woman.” He growled at her as she ignored him, and continued making breakfast. I gave them a brief eye roll and shake of my head. Funnily enough, I was not at all surprised about their bet. I was sure the tension between Destry and I was obvious to everyone since I’d been at the ranch.

“I’m gonna get a quick shower,” I whispered, let go of his hand and scooted around the other side of Destry to the steps. He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me back into his hard body. The moment his lips came down on the skin behind my ear all the worry and uncomfortable feeling melted away.

“I’ll be up real soon,” he whispered in that husky voice he’d mastered so well. I nodded and stepped out of his arms that were wrapped around my waist. On my way up the stairs, I heard a thud and then Destry in a hushed grumble, “Don’t be an ass, Austin.” Laughter rung out and followed me as I let myself into the bathroom with a smile plastered on my face. I hadn’t been this happy in… well, ever.

Halfway through my shower, there was a knock at the door moments before it opened. Destry walked in, shucking off his clothes as he stepped toward me. I stood, soapy hands in my hair, bubbles sliding down my body as I watched mesmerized while he got naked and stepped into the shower with me. I was still staring and quite possibly drooling when he leaned down and kissed me softly, while removing my hands that were still in my hair and replaced them with his own.

“Step back, darlin’,” he instructed. I stepped back under the flow of water and he slowly massaged my scalp while washing the foamy shampoo out of my long hair.

“You’re washing my hair?” I asked in amazement. Destry just looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read and slowly turned me around so I was leaning my back against his chest. He reached for the conditioner, pouring a good amount onto my head and proceeded to dig his fingers into my hair. A moan escaped my mouth when he took all my weight on his chest and massaged harder.

“You’re spoiling me,” I murmured, melting like butter under his hands.

“You deserve to be spoilt,” he replied in a hushed whisper and moved me forward into the water to wash the conditioner out. Once I was sparkling clean, he pulled me out of the shower and towel dried me off. He went his own way to get ready and I was left to my own devices when it came to getting dressed thankfully; it was sweet the way he was taking care of me but I was certain I could dress myself. The level of intimacy Destry had shown me had thrown me off kilter; never would I have guessed he was capable of being so thoughtful and caring.

When I deemed myself ready for the day, I ducked into the study just down the hall from my room and made a quick call to the mechanic in town to check if my car would be ready that afternoon. He informed me the work would be done within the hour. I hung up the phone and looked around the beautiful room. Running my hand across the mahogany desk in front of me, I sighed. I couldn’t help feel a little saddened by the fact my time here was up. I would be back after I had taken care of my former life, but in the meantime, I would miss the sweet silence and all round homely feel of the ranch. Even when I returned, I wouldn’t be visiting the ranch often. I needed to find work. Any kind was fine by me, just something to pay the bills and a place of my own somewhere in town. Those would have to wait though; I had a long drive back to my own personal version of hell to look forward to.

“I’ll see you when I get back.” I smiled against his lips when he snagged the keys out of my hand and wrapped his big warm arms around me, pinning me to the side of my car.

“How long, again?” he asked, the stubble on his chin rubbing against the crook of my neck where he was dropping a kiss to my skin every once and a while.

“A week maybe,” I answered, feeling a swell of emotion at just how much he didn’t want me to go, followed by a grip of concern for how much I didn’t want to go either. I pushed the uncertainty away, reminding myself I was allowing myself this shot at some kind of happiness. I deserved it and I was damn well going to have it.

Watching Amelia drive off was harder than I thought it’d be, regardless of the fact I knew she was coming back. We’d not even discussed why she had to go in depth. I knew she had to wrap up a few things money wise, but other than that, I hadn’t asked and she hadn’t told. I pulled my cell out of my pocket and scrolled down to make sure her number hadn’t magically erased its self then rolled my eyes. “I’m turning into a chick,” I grumbled to myself and stomped to my truck.

My phone chirped on the seat beside me just as I was starting up the engine. Picking it up, I read the message that appeared on the screen and smiled.

I lied. It’s a big deal, cowboy.

I quickly typed out my reply and hit send.

Damn right, it’s a big deal, darlin’. Hurry back and I’ll remind you just how big.

Then with a smile, I put my truck in gear and headed back to the ranch. My grandparents were due back from their extended trip the following day so I had a few things I needed to wrap up. They’d originally planned on being gone only a week but called a few days into their vacation to let us know they’d be gone longer than expected. Little did the boys know but Gran and Gramps were planning on telling them they were going nomad. Gramps had come up with the genius idea a few weeks ago. Their plan was to get a Winnebago and drive cross-country visiting all the places they wanted to see before they were “decrepit old fools”; Gramps’ words not mine.

“She actually left?” Ellie-May asked when I closed the door to my truck.

“Yeah, pumpkin. She had a few things to take care of, you knew that,” I told her, trying not to smile at the pout on her face. I liked they’d formed a bond of sorts in the short time Amelia was here. Family was important to me and Amelia seemed to be fitting in perfectly. My steps faltered at that thought. I needed to get a handle on my balls and pull them back from where ever they were hiding. Thinking things like having her in the family was dangerous ground. The last time I had let a girl get that deep into the family, it had done a fair share of damage when everything went to shit.

“I didn’t actually think she’d go though, or that you’d let her out of your sight for that long,” she snickered from her perch on the swinging chair. I shook my head and dusted my hat off on my jeans. Before flopping down beside her, I grabbed the book she was reading out of her lap. “‘Blessed’ from David Michael.” I read out the title and then flipped the book over and scanned the back before looking back at her with an eyebrow raised. “Since when do you read this kind of thing?”