Beau (Remington Ranch Book 4) (14 page)

Corinne nodded. She did trust him. He was trying to be completely open with her and she appreciated that. She almost had to trot to keep up with him as he strode along the path by the river. “Where are we going?”

“I told you it’s a surprise.”

She hoped wherever it was wasn’t too far or she’d be too worn out to enjoy it by the time they got there. He took a smaller path that led away from the river and back toward the houses. These houses were bigger and much grander than the ones they’d passed earlier. This was the upscale end of town by the looks of it. He left the path and walked across the grass toward the backyard of one house. She was surprised when he took his keys out of his pocket and unlocked the gate in the tall fence. She stepped through and waited while he locked it behind them. When he had, he took her hand and led her through a beautifully manicured garden with lawns and flower beds.

“This is your place?” Her heart was hammering. He’d said they were going to do something that was just about them. Then he’d brought her here. The tingly shivers were running down her spine again.

He nodded. His eyes were even darker than usual and there was no mistaking the desire in them. He started to unlock the back door. “Do you want to?”

“Yes.”

He held the door open for her, and she stepped inside. It was a lovely house, but she didn’t get a chance to admire it. He came to stand behind her and slid his arms around her waist. She sagged back against him as his hot, wet mouth came down on her neck. She pressed her ass back against him. The way his hard cock pushed at her told her that he wanted her badly. She gasped as one hand came up to close around her breast while the other slid down inside the waistband of her skirt. It felt as though he was everywhere.

She turned around to face him, sad to feel his hands move away. But it wasn’t his hands she wanted most. His mouth came down on hers as he pinned her against the wall with his weight. His hands were busy lifting her skirt pushing it up around her waist and then finding their way inside her panties. She moaned when his fingertips brushed over her clit. Oh God! That felt so good. She scrabbled at his belt buckle, then his zipper. She was desperate now, to get him out of his jeans. He didn’t make it easy, continuing to taunt her with his fingertips while he took her bottom lip inside his mouth and sucked. It took every scrap of concentration she could muster to get his jeans undone and push them down past his hips. She took hold of him with both hands and was rewarded when he let out a low moan. He hadn’t been joking about being well-endowed. He felt huge, so hard and hot in her hands. But that wasn’t where she wanted to feel him.

He pressed his knee between her thighs making her open them. She gasped when he thrust two fingers deep inside her. Then somehow his fingers were gone and the throbbing head of his cock had taken their place. He was spreading her legs wider, opening her up as he pressed at her entrance. She braced herself for the thrust, but instead let out a long deep sigh as he slowly slid inside. He grasped her hips tight and slowly but surely rocked his hips against her. It was like some kind of exquisite torture. He was stretching her to the point she didn’t think she could take any more, but he kept coming, ever so slowly until his self-control was gone and he thrust deep and hard making her scream and clutch at his back. He hooked his arm behind one of her legs lifting it up to wrap around his waist. Now she was completely as his mercy. She had to cling to him to stay upright and he was pounding into her, his hips thrusting wildly. His hands found their way around her ass and held her open. That was more than she could take. The pressure began to build and build until she couldn’t hold it back. Her orgasm erupted like a dam breaking. She screamed as it swept through her, then screamed again as she felt him stiffen and gasp. His release intensified her own, their bodies straining together as the waves of intense pleasure swept through them. By the time they were both still she felt as though her legs were about to give out under her.

Beau lifted his head and smiled. She smiled back. It seemed neither of them had any words just yet. He took her hand and led her upstairs where he showed her to the guest bathroom. While she was in there she started to wonder. That had hardly been romantic, had it? They hadn’t even made it two feet past the back door. She sighed. And now he’d shoved her into the guest bathroom and was no doubt cleaning himself up ready to take her home. She sighed. Oh well at least she’d ended her dry spell! And what a way to end it!

She peeked around the door wondering where he was.

“In here,” he called.

She followed the sound of his voice and found him in the master bedroom, lying on the bed with a towel around his waist. He patted the bed beside him, but she hesitated, not sure that she wanted to join him.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I wanted to make it up here, I wanted to do it right, but something about you just brings out the need in me. I needed you, right there, right then.” When he smiled like that he looked almost boyish, he was so open, vulnerable almost. He sat up and held his arms out to her. “Please?”

She went to him and sat on the edge of the bed.

“Are you mad at me?”

She shook her head. “No, if anything I’m mad at me. You bring out the worst in me. You make me lose track of everything but lust.”

He smiled and lifted her chin with his thumb, making her look up at him. “And that’s a bad thing?”

Looking into his handsome face and his big brown eyes, she knew it was a dangerous thing. She shrugged. “It depends.”

“On what?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry, it’s a good thing.”

“Good. I’m glad you see it that way, because I plan on doing it again.”

Her body was already reacting to him. “Doing what?” she asked, as if she didn’t know.

“On making you lose track of everything but lust.” He traced his fingers down her cheek and on down over her throat. He traced each breast in turn then started to unfasten her top. “Your lust, my lust, our lust. They are the only things you’re going to be aware of.”

They already were! This didn’t feel right any more though. She wasn’t sure why, but it just didn’t. She knew she felt stiff as he closed his arms around her.

“What’s the matter?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.”

He hugged her to his chest. “I screwed up, didn’t I?”

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I was right there with you. I wanted it as much as you did, but it feels weird now. I’ve gone back to thinking about the time and wondering if Ruby’s okay. It’s not you, it’s me. I put myself and what I wanted first and I guess now I’m feeling guilty.” She looked up at him. How could she expect him to understand? He wasn’t a parent, he was a guy who was used to going after what he wanted and getting it.

His expression was gentle, concerned. “I don’t want you to have to feel that way. You should be able to do what you want. But I don’t want you to feel bad about it. How can we turn it around?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I wish I did.”

Beau nodded. “We’ll figure it out.” He planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Do you want to get going?”

Her heart sank. He’d been hoping for more sex and she’d gone and spoiled it. Now he just wanted to get rid of her.

Once they were back in the truck and on the way back down the valley he looked over at her. “You’ve hardly said a word. I’m starting to feel as though I really screwed up here.”

She smiled sadly. “I think we both know that it’s me who screwed up. I just don’t want this good-bye to be awkward. And I don’t want things to be awkward when we run into each other in future.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to see me again?”

“No, I’m assuming you don’t want to see me again. Come on, Beau. I’m sure you can have your pick of the ladies around town. You’re better off with someone who can jump into bed with you whenever you both feel like it.”

His face turned stony at that. “That’s not fair. You were just as up for it as I was. And don’t make out that’s all I want. I thought you knew better than that. If it was, why wouldn’t I have stuck to my original offer? Why would I have enjoyed so much time with Ruby?” He glared at her, waiting for her answer.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I’m feeling guilty, I’m realizing how difficult this could be and I suppose I’m deciding for you that it’s not worth your time.”

“Well, do me a favor and let me make my own decisions?”

She stole a glance at him. “Okay.”

He turned and smiled. “Thank you. You’re right, this is kind of tricky, but if we want it enough, I don’t see why we can’t make it work.”

Wow! “Are you saying that you want it enough?”

“I am. I do. Do you?”

She nodded. “I’d like to try.”

He smiled. “Then how about we both try to relax a bit?”

“Easier said than done I think.”

“Yeah, which is why we’ll both need to make an effort. And most importantly we’ll need to keep talking. You can’t go clamming up on me like that.”

“I’ll try not to, but I will warn you, it’s a defense mechanism.”

“I can see that. We all have them, but we don’t have to let them override everything.”

“Okay, I’ll try not to.”

“Me too.”

When they were almost back to the ranch, Beau stopped the truck in one of the pull outs by the river. He reached over and took her hand. “What are you going to do when we pick Ruby up?”

“We need to get everything ready for tomorrow. For her first day at school and my first day at work.”

“Can I come hang out and help?”

She smiled. “I don’t know what you can do to help.”

“So how about I hang out and make a nuisance of myself?”

She laughed. “That’s more like it, and yes, I’d love you to. And I know Ruby would.”

“Thanks. See, I’ve been thinking on the drive back and it strikes me that you’re not going to be able to relax with me until we’re used to being around each other.”

She nodded.

“So I’d like to be around each other as much as we can.”

Wow. She hadn’t expected that, but she did like the idea. “So, come spend the evening with us.”

~ ~ ~

Beau smiled as Ruby climbed onto his lap. “I like your mommy.”

“I like your mommy, too.” They were back at the cabin after picking up a tired but happy Ruby from his folks’ place.

“I know. She likes you. Are you going to be girlfriend and boyfriend now?”

He smiled. “I hope so.”

Ruby smiled. “You should ask her. She’ll say yes.”

Corinne came back into the living room. “What am I going to say yes to?”

Ruby smiled up at him. “Go on then,” she urged.

What the hell, he’d asked her once, but that was before she’d weirded out on him this afternoon. It wouldn’t do any harm to ask again. “To being my girlfriend.”

She smiled.

“Say yes, Mommy!”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“Yay!” Ruby bounced up and down on Beau’s lap. “Are you going to kiss each other?”

Corinne laughed. “Not right now. No. We’re supposed to be getting you ready for your big day tomorrow.”

Ruby smiled at Beau. “I’m going to school tomorrow with Josie and Tara.”

“I know. You’re going to have fun.”

“Can you come pick me up?”

Beau frowned. He could, but he didn’t think that was part of the plan.

“You know Miss Susie is going to pick you up,” said Corinne.

“Yes, but I mean from her house.”

“I’m going to pick you up when I finish work.”

“But my Beau could come with you.” She looked up at him with her big blue eyes. “Pleeasse?”

He looked at Corinne. He didn’t know how he could say no to that little face, but he didn’t see how he could say yes either. It’d be up to Corinne.

“You want to?”

He nodded. “I’d love to see how you both enjoyed your first day. I could come meet you when you finish work?”

She smiled. “That’d be lovely.”

“Okay. I’ll be here then.”

Ruby flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “I can’t wait!”

He laughed. “You just make sure you’re a good girl and have fun, then you’ll have lots to tell me about.”

“I will. I’m already good at letters and I’m going to make lots of friends, too.”

“I’m sure you are.”

“And you need to get a good night’s sleep first, so it’s time for bed for you, madam.”

Beau was surprised to see her eyebrows knit together. She’d been so sweet the last few days, he’d already forgotten about the other side of Ruby. The side he feared was about to surface again now.

“I don’t
want
to!”

“Well, want to or not, you have to.”

“But I want to stay up with my Beau!”

“You need to go bed, pumpkin.” He was hoping that by now he had some influence over her. He was thrilled to see that apparently he did.