Her Texas Cowboy Protector, page 5
Then he moved, unbuttoning her jeans, his hands moving with surprising deftness. They were down to her ankles in seconds, and he drew her to him, placed tiny kisses around her navel. She clasped his head as pleasure shot through her.
Then he rose and gently drew her shirt over her head. With a deft movement of his fingers, he released her bra and slipped it off her shoulders.
Her heart pounded as she looked into his eyes and saw a reflection of her own excitement there.
He urged her onto the bed and took her heels off. Her jeans slid off seconds later. Drawing her to her feet again, he pulled her against him.
Her nipples hardened as her breasts pressed against his chest.
He smiled down at her. “I’ve imagined you like this while I lie awake at night. But reality is so much better.”
She chuckled. “Same here, cowboy.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah.”
He pulled back the covers, then laid her gently in the center of the bed.
Touched beyond words, she smiled up at him as tears pooled in her eyes. He was so sweet, so tender. She felt a deep need to be close to him, to show him how she felt.
He climbed into bed beside her. “Lights on or off?”
She turned toward him. “You choose.”
He grinned. “On, then.” He turned to his side and met her gaze. “Hey, beautiful.”
She traced the line of his strong jaw. “Hey, handsome.” She slipped her hand behind his neck and drew him close. “Kiss me like you mean it, buster.”
He clasped her hip and pulled her against him.
Her heart pounded like rain on a tin roof. She opened her mouth as he covered it with his, stroking his tongue as he slipped it inside. Then his lips caressed hers so gently she tingled all over. He trailed a line of kisses up her jaw and behind her ear, and she sucked in a quick breath as a shock of pleasure ran through her.
He drew away and looked into her eyes as he tenderly brushed her hair back from her face.
She twined her fingers with his, needing the closeness. “That was wonderful,” she whispered.
He nodded. “It was.” Then he urged her to her back and hooked his thumbs in her panties as he slowly slid them down her thighs. As he slipped them off her ankles, he dropped them on the floor. His eyes inched their way up her body. When he reached her face, he kissed her softly. “You’re perfect, honey. Just perfect.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I’m glad you think so.” Then she reached for the waistband of his boxers. He grinned and helped her slide them off.
She felt her eyes widen. She’d been right about his size.
He eased her onto her back again and slid his leg over hers as he looked down at her. “Tell me what you like, honey. How can I please you?” He slipped his fingers through hers and smiled.
He surprised her. She’d never been asked this before. “I love the way you kiss me, so more of that.”
“Of course.” He drew her fingers to his lips and kissed them. Then he traced his finger around her nipple, and it hardened. He bent and took it into his mouth.
“Mm, yes, lots of that.”
He flicked it with his tongue and rose, smiling. “I’d hoped you’d say that.”
Then he trailed kisses down her belly, traced around her navel, and kissed her softly until he reached her soft curls. “Any objections if I go lower?”
“My God, no,” she said in a breathy voice, barely able to stand the suspense.
He rose and lay beside her again, resting on his elbow.
She smiled at him. “I think you might have done this once or twice before.”
He grinned. “Once or twice.”
She drew him down to her, her pulse racing, and kissed him hard, then thrust her tongue into his mouth, stroking him, pressing her body against him.
He moaned, his eyes on fire. “God, you drive me crazy.” He moved over her and took her breast into his mouth, sucking hard, stroking her nipple with his tongue.
Her body burned with desire, and she raked his scalp with her fingers, wanting more. He moved to her other breast, and she gasped as he stroked her nipple until she bit back a cry.
Her breasts ached, needing his touch desperately, but he moved to her belly. He made tiny swirls with the tip of his tongue as shivers of pleasure swept through her core. She ached between her legs as want overwhelmed her.
He kneed her thighs apart and knelt between them. She trembled with anticipation, her hunger for him more than she could bear. Gently pressing her legs farther apart, he bent to her.
As his hands spread her open, she felt the tip of his tongue enter her, delving deep. She gasped at the sensation, so erotic, so fabulously sensual. Then he slid his tongue up, finding her sensitive spot. She sucked in a breath, the feeling so amazing she cried out.
He stroked it again and again, driving all thoughts from her brain. Eyes squeezed shut, she lost herself in the pleasure he created. Then he slipped two fingers inside her. Her body clenched him hard, then released him as her excitement rose. As he worked his fingers deep and drew them out, she began to ache. She wanted more, needed more. She rocked her hips to the rhythm of his tongue strokes as a wave of pleasure built inside her. She clenched his head, seeing nothing, until the wild wave suddenly broke.
“Landon, now!”
He rose and quickly slipped on a condom, then lifted her legs up, resting her calves on his shoulders.
She groaned. “I want you, Landon. Oh God, now.”
He slid inside her and she said, “Yes! More, hurry.”
He pulled out and thrust inside her again. A shock of ecstasy hit her. This was what she wanted. She clenched her fists as he thrust into her again and again. Her legs clung to his shoulders, her muscles hard as rocks, as ecstasy fogged her thoughts. She knew only that she wanted him, wanted all of him. She lost herself in his rhythm for long moments.
Suddenly he stopped, cried out, “Natalie!” and held still, silent, as he pulsed inside her. Her body still clasped him rhythmically as her intense pleasure slowly subsided.
Moments later, he released her legs and rolled to his side beside her. He leaned down and kissed her gently. “You’re amazing.”
She smiled and caressed his cheek. “So are you.” She sighed and turned toward him. “If you wake up in the night, wake me. Round two is on me.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “I’ll make sure I wake up then.”
She gave him a quick kiss. “Promise?”
“Bet on it.”
She rose and said over her shoulder. “Be back in a minute.”
In the bathroom, she couldn’t keep from smiling. Landon was a wonderful lover, but even more than that, there was a sweetness about him that melted her heart. Before she left the room, she looked at her face in the mirror and saw only happiness. She kissed her fingers and placed them on her reflection. “You deserve this.” She’d sleep well tonight, wrapped in her cowboy’s arms. She couldn’t wait to see where this relationship went.
Chapter Six
Landon reached under the dinner table and clasped Natalie’s hand. She squeezed it and slid her eyes toward him, the corner of her mouth lifting.
His older brother, Beau, said, “Natalie, I’ve never been to a Central Market, I’m embarrassed to say. What makes it different from, say, a regular H-E-B store?”
Natalie put her fork down. “A Central Market has lots of gourmet foods. We also have a sushi bar, and we offer cooking classes and wine-tasting classes. It’s just more high-end, I guess. I love managing the store. There’s always something new to learn.”
Beau and his wife Dakota, along with Dakota’s adult foster son Jonathan, their six-year-old daughter Cat, and toddler son, Micah, had all come down to visit Beau’s parents for the weekend. Landon had invited Natalie over to meet them.
“It sounds like a wonderful store. I’ve been shopping in a Central Market but had no idea that they offered those classes. I’ll have to go into the one closest to us again and sign up,” Dakota said.
“It’ll be fun, Dakota. I’m sure you won’t regret it,” Natalie said.
“Seconds, anyone? There’s plenty of food,” his mom said. She’d had to add the four extra leaves to the dining table to make room for everyone, and she beamed with happiness to have her whole brood at the table.
“I’ll take more okra. You make the best fried okra I’ve ever tasted, Debra,” Haley said.
Landon’s dad passed the bowl to Landon, and he sent it on its way around the table to Haley.
Carson reached for the fried potatoes. “I’ll have more of these. Dang they’re good.” While he was at it, he added a bit of them to his little daughter Aria’s plate. She immediately dug into them, and he smiled.
Debra had made two large peach cobblers and homemade vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Taking a bite, Natalie said, “This is amazing, Debra. It’s so incredibly rich. And the peaches are full of flavor. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
His mom smiled. “I’m glad you like it. We’re blessed to have our own peach tree, I know, and the ice cream isn’t hard to make.”
Dakota chimed in, “No matter how many times I eat it, I’m always blown over by how fantastic this is. Your desserts are always one of the highlights of my visits, Debra.”
“Thank you, honey. I’m glad,” his mom said.
After dinner, grandma and grandpa took the kids into the living room and entertained them while the adults did the cleanup. It didn’t take long, even though the three brothers were constant cutups during the process.
When they’d finished and were filing out of the room, Natalie slipped her arm around Landon’s waist. “I’d better get going. I have a lot to do yet tonight to prepare for tomorrow.”
He paused and kissed her temple. “I wish you didn’t have to leave, but I understand.”
“I want everything to go perfectly for our visit from corporate.”
He wrapped her in his arms and held her close, saving the feel of her body into his memory. “Drive safely, okay? Watch out for deer.”
She rose to her tiptoes and kissed him, slowly, thoroughly, making his heart race.
He grinned as she drew away. “That’ll hold me for a while.”
Smiling, she said, “I’ll miss you tonight.”
“Me too. Call me when you get home safely. I’m going to worry until you do.”
“I will.”
After she said her farewells to everyone, he followed her outside. After one last sensual kiss, she said goodbye and climbed into her jeep.
As he watched the jeep recede down the long ranch drive, his heart fell. He hated how far apart they lived from each other. Nearly two hours’ drive was too much.
When he entered the living room again, Beau said, “I liked Natalie.”
“I did too,” Dakota said. “She seems kind—and of course, she’s intelligent. Managing a large store like Central Market takes skill and hard work.”
“I’m glad you all got to meet her. She’s important to me,” he said as he sat down.
“It’s great that you share an interest in climbing,” Beau said. He took a swallow of his beer, then continued. “You’ve been climbing by yourself for a long time, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, I have.”
“I feel better that he’s going with other people now, I can tell you,” Debra said. “I always worried something would happen to him when he went out alone.”
He smiled at her. “I was safe enough. There’re always other climbers around at the places I go.”
He rose and went to the kitchen to get a beer for himself. When he reentered the living room, Beau said, “Why don’t you and Carson and I go out on the porch? Some brother time would be nice.”
Dakota said, “I’d like to get that ice cream recipe from Debra.”
“Me too,” Haley said.
When the three of them had found seats outside, Beau looked at Landon. “So, tell me, how serious is it with Natalie?”
Landon smiled. His big brother had always been protective of him. “On my end it’s serious. And I think she really cares about me too.” He took a sip of beer as he considered his next words.
After a moment, he said, “Honestly, I think she may be the one. I’ve never felt this way before. She’s a bit of everything I’ve been looking for. Beautiful and smart, and funny and sweet. She wants a family, and I like her parents, and they seem to like me. We enjoy doing the same things, and that’s important. I couldn’t ask for anything more in a woman.”
“She sounds perfect for you, brother,” Carson said. “And Haley and I really like her.”
“You’ve been alone for quite a while. It’s about time you met the right woman. I’m happy for you, Landon,” Beau said.
Ken walked outside, beer in hand. “You three solved all the world’s problems yet?”
“Have a seat, Dad,” he said. “We were just talking about Natalie.”
Ken sat in the chair nearest him. “She’s a real nice girl, son. Your mom and I like her.”
His dad’s approval meant the world to him. “Thanks, Dad. She means a lot to me.”
“That boy of yours has sure grown since we last saw him, Beau,” Ken said.
Beau smiled. “He’s like a weed. And boy can he eat. I’m surprised he’s not chubby. But he runs around too much, I guess. He keeps his momma busy.”
“He sure is cute,” Landon said. “And I’m surprised how easy he is to understand for how young he is. He’s not even quite two, right?”
“Not quite yet, but, yes, he’s quite a talker. I think having a big sister helps a lot. He’s always trying to boss her around.”
Landon laughed. “We need to get him on a horse tomorrow. Old Ben’ll be glad for the extra feed.”
“I plan on it. Micah’s quite a sight in his little Wranglers and boots. He even has a straw hat.”
Landon smiled at the pride in Beau’s voice.
“I’d like to let Johnathan ride too. Landon, can you help me with that?” Beau asked.
Johnathan had cerebral palsy, and Beau liked to have someone holding onto him while he rode. “Of course. I’ll stick around in the morning until everyone’s had their chance to ride. I assume Cat wants to go too?”
“Yep, but she wants to go riding with me on the pasture roads, so we’ll go last. I won’t need your help then.”
“Sounds like a plan,” he said.
Everyone finished their drinks, and the gathering began to break up. Carson and Haley were the first to take their young ones home.
Landon said, “I’m going to head out. I’ll see everyone in the morning.” He gave his mom a quick kiss on the cheek and waved goodbye to the rest.
When he arrived at his cabin, he glanced at the time. Natalie probably wasn’t quite home yet. He decided to go ahead and shower while he waited.
Afterwards, as he headed into the bedroom to get dressed, his phone rang. “Hey, beautiful. Are you home?”
“I sure am. Inside and safe. How did the rest of the evening go with your family?”
He heard a crackling noise and figured she had the phone crushed between her shoulder and her ear. Was she undressing? A thrill of desire went through him.
“It was nice. Carson, Beau, and I drank a beer on the porch, and all we talked about was you.”
“Seriously?”
He heard a soft thud, and then another, as she took off her shoes. “Seriously. They wanted the scoop on our relationship.”
“What did you say?”
He detected a slight note of anxiety in her voice. Was she worried that he didn’t have strong feelings for her?
“Let’s just say that they’re no longer in doubt as to how much I care about you.”
He heard her suck in a breath. “Really?”
“Oh yeah, honey. You shouldn’t either.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
He could tell she was smiling. There was a soft clank, and he figured she’d set the phone down for a moment.
When she came back, she said, “Okay, I have my sleepshirt on now. I can relax.”
“You do? What does it look like?” he asked, closing his eyes and trying to imagine her.
“It’s black and comes down to my knees, and across the chest in white it says, ‘I’ll start working when my coffee does.’”
He chuckled. “That’s cute. I’ll bet you look sexy in it.”
She laughed. “You think so?”
“Honey, you look sexy in everything you wear.”
She sighed. “God, I wish you were here.”
“I do too. This distance between us is a drag. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t mind driving to see you at all. You’re worth it. It’s just that we can’t plan a casual evening when we live this far apart. Especially when you work the hours you do.”
“My hours suck. You’re right. But I love my job.”
“Of course you do, and I wouldn’t have you change it.” He suddenly wondered what would happen if they got married. He’d never considered living anywhere else but the ranch, and he definitely wanted his children growing up here. Where did that leave Natalie? Would she be happy living on the ranch and commuting to Austin?
His heart fell. Suddenly he was unsure. Before they got more serious, they needed to talk about this.
“Natalie, I’ve had a terrible thought.” He paused, his mind whirling. What if she broke up with him?
“What? Tell me about it, Landon.” She sounded worried—and once he told her what he had to say, she’d probably be even more so.
He sighed loudly, then said, “I want to talk to you about something. Natalie, I have serious feelings for you.” He licked his lips, then went on. “I’ve never wanted to live anywhere but here on the ranch. It’s my home, it means the world to me, and I want my children to grow up here just like I did.”
When she didn’t say anything right away, he said, “What we just talked about, how you love your job so much, made me think about that. Honey, if we let our relationship continue to get more serious, if we fall in love and decide to get married, we’ll be faced with this problem. I don’t want to leave the ranch, and you love your job, which is nearly two hours away from here. I don’t want you to be unhappy, and I don’t want you to feel like you have to give up your career to marry me—”
