Texas Two Steps Four-Pack Bundle (10 page)

His hands slid down her bare legs and he raked his nails softly against the insides of her thighs. The bed dipped as he snatched two pillows from the headboard and placed one under her head and the other beneath her butt. Oh yeah. A stickler for details. He settled himself between her legs, holding her hips in his big hands, kissing one knee then the other.

"Look at me, Melanie. Watch me." His deep voice oozed over her like warm chocolate.

Melanie swallowed hard. His hold on her hips scorched her, and he bent his head toward her mound, hovering over that one special spot, his breath hot and damp. She waited with bated breath for the most intimate kiss of all.

His hands left her hips and he parted her folds, then slowly pressed the flat of his tongue on the sensitized flesh, holding in place for half a second before moving away and kissing her curls. He stuck his middle finger in his mouth before easing it into her channel, then flicked his tongue across the tender quivering bud. Once . . . twice . . .

Again, he hovered over her, blowing the damp flesh, licking with long slow strokes. His finger caressed from within, and soon he had a rhythm going of licking and stroking, teasing and blowing, pushing his thick finger in and out, in and out.

Melanie felt the tension building to an almost unbearable degree. Every stroke of his tongue pushed her closer to the edge. Just when she thought she'd shatter, Blake would hold back, leaving her panting for breath. Her body begged for release, and he played her with exquisite finesse, nurturing her passion until everything else faded away and her entire being focused on achieving the ultimate bliss.

"Open your eyes," Blake said. "I want to see you come."

She hadn't realized she'd closed her eyes. When she opened them, Blake's gaze was heavy-lidded, the blue irises gleaming in the dimness.

He pushed another finger inside, stretching her, filling her. He pressed downward at the same moment his tongue rasped against her and Melanie exploded in orgasm, fragmenting into thousands of shards of delight.

Blake felt Melanie's body stiffen in climax. He continued his ministrations, milking her pleasure, delaying his own. When he knew she was floating on the aftermath of sensation, he grabbed a condom and sheathed himself.

He straddled her with her butt still on the pillow and plunged into her hot smooth wetness. She was tight and slick and her warmth clasped him in an intimate hold. With his gaze locked on her, Blake began moving. He stayed on his knees and draped her legs over the crook of his arms as he pumped in and out. She bucked against him, matching his thrusts, her head thrashing from side to side, her eyes glazed with passion.

He licked the pad of his thumb and touched her, and she became a wild thing beneath him, jerking and shuddering, moaning in pleasure. Knowing he wouldn't last long because he was too riled up, Blake buried himself to the hilt, pushing in and pulling out, only to thrust back in. After only five or six strokes he knew he was a goner. He made one final plunge and found heaven.

****

They saw each other almost every day over the next couple of weeks. Melanie had to work on Christmas Eve, supervising a large holiday party at the hotel, but Blake picked her up after her shift was over and took her out to his ranch. Tomorrow, they would spend Christmas with his family and then Melanie was leaving for Houston to visit her mom and dad.

Melanie had spent the night at Blake's place several times. Last week, they'd gone out into the pasture to cut down a tree. After decorating it and drinking hot cocoa, they'd made love before the fireplace with the Christmas lights twinkling in the background.

Melanie thought this had been the best holiday season of her life. The more she saw of Blake, the more certain she was that she had fallen deeply in love with him.

As they turned off the pavement and onto the dirt road, the lights of the ranch house glimmered through the mesquite trees. Blake pulled the truck to a stop in front of the house. Melanie waited while he walked around and opened her door. Again she marveled at his gentlemanly manners. He made her feel so special. He obviously had strong feelings for her, but did he love her as she loved him?

They'd been seeing each other for over two months,
if
you counted the time they'd worked together on the Cattle Ranchers' Christmas Ball. In the big scheme of things, two months really wasn't that long. Melanie sighed. It was long enough for her. She loved Blake Chambers, that's all there was to it.

Blake helped her from the truck and hurried her to the house. "Damn, it's cold. Watch your step. There's ice on the walkway." With his arms securely around her middle, he guided her to the porch and into the warm house.

Melanie loved the old homestead. It had been in Blake's family for generations. His parents had retired and moved into town, letting Blake take over the ranching operations.

Blake helped her off with her coat and hung it up. "I'll build us a nice fire. Why don't you go put on some coffee." He turned to put logs into the fireplace.

Ten minutes later, Melanie handed Blake a steaming mug and sat by him on the sofa. Together, they watched the fire and the Christmas lights. He put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. "I haven't given you your present yet."

Melanie looked up at him. "I thought we were waiting until tomorrow."

Blake took her coffee cup and set it on the table alongside his. "Tomorrow is going to be pretty hectic. Tonight, I have you all to myself." He sat forward and pulled her with him. "Now close your eyes, and I promise you a big surprise."

Melanie grinned. "I remember someone else saying that not too long ago."

Blake grinned back. "So do I. Do you want your present or don't you?"

"I do."

"I certainly hope you do, sweetheart. Shut your eyes and hold out your hands."

Melanie did as he requested, all sorts of emotions tumbling around in her stomach and squeezing her chest. She felt Blake take her hand in his big one, holding it in his firm clasp. She loved his touch, both comforting and exciting. He kissed her fingers, and his five o'clock shadow scratched her skin. Then she felt him slide a ring on her third finger. Her heart constricted and jumped into her throat. For a minute, she was afraid to open her eyes. Could it be what she thought it was? Hoped it was?

"Melanie? Open your eyes, sweetheart."

He still held her hand in his. She blinked at the large diamond solitaire set in a platinum band with two emeralds nestled on either side. Not your ordinary engagement ring. But then, Blake was anything but ordinary.

"It's beautiful," she said softly.

"Not as beautiful as you." He gathered her in his arms and kissed her. "Will you marry me? I love you so much. I don't think I can live without you. Marry me, Melanie. Say you will. Say
I do
."

Melanie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "Oh, Blake. I love you, too. I do, I do . . .
I do.
"

###

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***

JENNY AND COLT

A Short Story

by

Anne Marie Novark

***

Colt Davis avoids commitment and long-term relationships like the plague. No woman's going to tie him down. All his life, he's guarded his freedom and relished his independence. That is . . . until he meets the irresistible Jenny Mitchell.

***

Texas Two Steps: Jenny and Colt

Copyright © 2011 by Anne Marie Novark

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

***

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

***

Texas Two Steps: Jenny and Colt

A Short Story

Where was she?

The two-lane highway stretched endlessly ahead as Colt Davis sped along in his late model Chevy pickup truck. The huge red sun sank slowly behind the flat West Texas horizon. The lights of Stone Creek glimmered in the rearview mirror.

Up ahead was the dirt road leading to Jenny's house. Colt turned off the pavement and followed it. In the yard, he pulled to a stop and got out of his truck. The place looked empty. Deserted.

He'd made love to Jenny in that old house. It had been more than getting naked between the sheets. He knew that now.

Colt bounded up the steps to the porch and pounded on the door. "Jenny! Let me in!"

No answer; only silence. No lights; only darkness.

Where was she?
She hadn't returned his calls in weeks, and no one in town seemed to know where she was or where she'd gone.

After the long drive from Dallas, Colt had first stopped at Jenny's flower shop even though it was late, but the Rock Garden had been closed up tight. No sign of Jenny working late.

Next he'd gone to the Stone Soup Cafe. Jenny oftentimes ate supper there, but not tonight. Colt had thought he could talk to Jenny's best friend, but her shift hadn't started yet. The waitress on duty told him to come back later. She'd said Jenny had packed up and moved, but that's all she knew. He'd best come back and ask Mary Beth for the details.

Colt hadn't been able to believe Jenny had actually upped and left Stone Creek. Looking at the empty house, he believed it now.

He'd thought she'd been punishing him after the fight they'd had by not answering his calls. He hadn't really been worried. She'd just been giving him the silent treatment and all that. Even though Jenny rarely held a grudge, that last fight had been pretty fierce. Pretty final.

Colt couldn't accept that. He jerked off his black Stetson and slapped it against his jean-clad thigh. He
wouldn't
accept that their relationship had ended.

The light on the pole in the front yard flickered on, chasing away the cold dark November twilight. Colt remembered the night he'd stood right here on the porch and asked Jenny to go out with him. Also the night he'd brought her home from a date and kissed her so hungrily, so passionately. She'd been liquid fire in his arms. That's the night he'd realized . . . what?

He loved her, that's what. He loved Jenny.

How could he have been such a fool and not known?

He must have loved her for a long time. His feelings for Jenny had been different. He always kept his relationships with women casual and short. He had never had a long-term relationship with a woman in his whole life. Not until he'd met Jenny. Even then, their relationship had been long distance and on again, off again. He lived in Dallas; she lived here in Stone Creek.

During the past year, he'd started visiting his folks' ranch more frequently giving him an excuse to see Jenny. His feelings for her had started growing deeper, more powerful. That had scared the living crap out of him, but he wasn't scared anymore.

Holy Shit! He had to find her.

What if he was too late? What if Jenny didn't love him anymore? Maybe she had given up on him. Maybe that's why she'd packed up and left town.

It couldn't be too late, Colt thought. Living the rest of his life without Jenny was too horrible to contemplate. She loved him, damn it. She'd told him so; only he'd been too scared to realize what her love meant to him. Everything felt so right when he was with her. Everything was out of whack when they were apart. And now she was gone.

Damn, he missed her!

Where had she gone? What was she doing? Did she miss him? She'd looked so unhappy when he'd left her over a month ago. He'd felt overwhelmed with unfamiliar emotions during that last fight they'd had. His feelings for her,
about
her, had ranged from wild desire to sheer terror. She wanted more, she'd said. She needed more. He'd high-tailed it out of there and run for his life.

But what was life without Jenny?

After he'd left her and returned to Dallas, Colt had gone through the motions of going to work and coming home, but his mind had churned with unanswered questions. Had he and Jenny broken up for good? Would he never see her again? Never hold her in his arms? Never feel her beneath him in bed?

Images of Jenny bombarded his memory. He could feel her silky skin, the warmth of her body as she snuggled against him when they slept. He remembered the tilt of her chin, the mischievous glint in her emerald eyes. Her laughter echoed in his ears. Her passion teased his hardening body.

Looking at Jenny's empty house, Colt's chest tightened painfully. He had to find her. He had to make it right with her.

Where the hell was she?

****

Five weeks. She'd only been gone five weeks. Jenny Mitchell stared at the computer screen and frowned. Why couldn't she concentrate?