Cougar in Texas: 3 (Rugged and Risque) (18 page)

“See, darlin’?,” he whispered. “I told you it’d all work out.”

A new man, a new romance, a new future… What more could she ask for?

Well, there was one thing…

After dinner, Caleb dropped their bags on the bench that ran the width of the king bed in their hotel room.

She hugged him and said, “Thank you for not booking us into the Four Seasons or the Ritz-Carlton. Think I’ve exceeded my opulence quota for the year.”

“Today marked the New Year, remember? You’ll have to reset your tolerance level, because something tells me Ginger and Ryan’s wedding is going to push the boundaries of opulence.”

She winced. “You heard about the foie gras terrine appetizers to be passed with champagne as the guests arrive?”

“No, I did not hear that. Though Ryan told me about the butterflies to be released upon Ginger’s request at the end of the ceremony. And apparently Jess told him she outdid herself when she’d created an even more ridiculous bouquet of flowers for you, so Ryan has asked her to basically cover the grounds with floral arrangements and oversize hurricanes with candles.”

“He is not to be one-upped.”

“We’ll see about that.” He winked at her.

“No competition here. You win hands-down when it comes to impressing a woman between the sheets.”

He groaned. “I have motivation to impress.” Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed and placed her there.

She grinned at how quickly he undressed her and then removed his own clothes. Staring at him in all his hunky cowboy-vet-knight-in-shining-armor glory, she scooted to the edge of the mattress and ran her hands over his chest as he stood between the vee her parted legs created.

Her fingertips skimmed the rigid grooves of his abdomen and his muscles flexed beneath her touch. Leaning forward, she brushed her lips over his warm skin and sighed contentedly.

His fingers plowed through her hair and her head dipped, her tongue dragging along the side of his hard cock, from base to tip. He sucked in a sharp breath.

Reese took him deep in her mouth and the sharp breath turned into a low groan that spurred her on. She wrapped her fingers around his base as her head bobbed up and down while she pleasured him. Then she used the other hand to cup his balls, gently rolling them.

“Darlin’, you’re turning me inside out again.”

She drew him deeper into her mouth.

“Oh, yeah.” He grunted. “Suck me hard.”

Her fingers worked his balls as she did as he asked. His hips bucked and she was more than willing to take him all the way, but he released her hair and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Darlin’, this party will be over before it’s started if you keep that up.” She pulled away and stared up at him. He shook his head. “You know how to test a man’s restraint.”

“Something you want to do to me, cowboy?”

He reached for the condom, tore open the packet and rolled it on. He climbed into bed with her and she straddled his lap.

“Nothing quite like being inside you,” he said as she eased onto his cock, bringing him slowly into her body.

His hands clasped her hips and he guided her into a sensual rhythm. Her hips undulated as they pressed down, grinding her against him.

“You want it all, don’t you?” he asked in a tight voice.

Reese knew he wasn’t just talking about his cock. “Yes.”

He smiled and thrust up into her. “Good. Because I am head over heels for you, sweetheart.”

Gripping her upper arms, he pulled her down so she was sprawled across his chest. He pistoned into her, the way he had the first time they’d made love. She barreled toward orgasm at rapid speed. When it hit, she did her best to keep her cry of ecstasy at a respectable level. They were in a hotel after all.

He rolled her onto her back and made love to her, slowly pumping in and out of her. He held her tight as he came, his body convulsing, his breathing jagged.

She whispered, “I’m head over heels too.”

And knew she’d finally found her own brand of bliss.

Epilogue

Five months later

“This dress weighs more than I do.” Ginger groaned as she stood in front of the full-length mirror in the room designated for her bridal party at the inn.

“What did you expect?” Jess teased. “You kept adding all those beads and sparkly things to it. And a six-foot train?
Really
, Ginger?”

Reese laughed. “It’s the most stunning wedding dress I’ve ever seen. Cinderella has nothing on you.”

“It is pretty, isn’t it?” Ginger smiled at her reflection.

“You look spectacular,” Liza told her as she added the bling she’d lent Reese for her trip to Dallas.

“You ought to start renting that jewelry out,” Reese said.

“I was only holding onto it until this wedding. I knew it’d be sensational with Ginger’s fairytale gown.”

Indeed, the bride was radiant. Her strapless dress had intricate beading on the bodice, which tapered at her narrow waist where the shimmering silver satin skirt flared dramatically with more beading and enough crinoline to make a nineteenth-century Southern belle jealous.

“Ryan will be on his knees when he sees you,” Reese told her.

“This is what I’ve always wanted.” Ginger sighed dreamily. “But until y’all opened the inn, there was no place for me to have a wedding like this. I was resigned to the Elks Lodge with the faded gray, peeling paneling on the walls. I never could have pulled this dress off at that venue.”

“I’m so relieved we finished the renovations in time,” Reese told her. Ginger and Ryan had pushed back their wedding date to correspond with the grand opening of the inn and that had put considerable pressure on everyone to meet the tight deadline.

But Caleb’s horses were in their stalls and corrals. The clinic was complete and staffed. And Sam had a dozen volunteers working the stables. Reese had filled all the positions at the inn—the entire enterprise being a significant boon to the job market and economy in Wilder. As Caleb had predicted, she had her hands full. She loved every moment of it.

Jess said, “It’s time. Let’s try to get this monstrosity into the hallway.” She surveyed the dress and added, “Thank goodness we’re in a suite with double doors.”

“Patio doors are double too,” Reese said. “She should fit.”

Ginger laughed. “Thanks, guys. You’re making me feel so good about myself.”

Liza said, “We’re just poking fun because you’re so petite. There’s more dress than there is woman, you realize.”

“Of course I know that,” Ginger said. “But this is the dress I always wanted. I don’t care how over-the-top it is. It’s my damn weddin’.”

The others lifted the train and they carefully made their way down the stairs and to the doors that led to the back deck, where they waited for their cue. Down by the lake sat the trimmed gazebo Liza had once envisioned, now a reality. A hundred chairs were perfectly aligned on the lawn, all covered with formfitting white linen with silver satin bows tied at the base of their tall backs, and occupied by Ginger and Ryan’s friends and family.

Red and white rose petals were scattered along the center aisle. Tall lampposts were accented with the elegant tulle and white floral decorations the women had crafted with silver ribbon. The trunks of the trees had been wrapped with white twinkle lights for later on, when the sun set.

Round tables that sat eight all had white linen table cloths and silver satin napkins. Squat domes of red roses served as centerpieces. Votives would be lit during the reception.

Reese, Liza and Jess had provided all the additional decorations and the setup for the wedding as their gift to Ginger and Ryan.

The bride said, “Good Lord, it’s like something straight out of a bridal magazine.”She swiped at a tear.

“No crying,” Liza said. “You’ll smudge your makeup.”

“It’s all so breathtaking,” Ginger said. “So much more than I’d imagined.”

“And look what else we did for you,” Liza said as she gestured toward the gazebo down by the water. “We even brought along a sexy Adonis for you to get hitched to.”

She laughed. “That makes you the best maid of honor, and the best bridesmaids, in history.” Peering through the framed windowpanes of the patio door, she added, “Damn, he’s hot.”

“They all are,” Reese said as she eyed Jack, George and Caleb in their tuxes, standing up for Ryan.

“Our wedding pictures are going to be gorgeous,” Ginger said. “The three of you in those strapless silver minis with your red-rose bouquets. Y’all look like movie stars.”

“No one will even notice us,” Liza said. “All eyes will be on you.”

Ginger fanned her face with a hand, apparently to keep the tears at bay.

“Well,” Reese said. “We’ve tortured Ryan long enough, making him wait for you. Jess, why don’t you start down the aisle and I’ll follow.”

Jess pulled open the doors and the three women took their places up front, while Ginger remained ensconced in the house, awaiting her grand entrance. The gentle sound of the harp stopped and Lydia Bain tickled the ivories of the sleek, black grand piano set on a parquet platform—the piano being a splurge piece Caleb had bought for the inn’s lounge.

The patio doors opened again and Sheriff Johnson escorted Ginger out onto the back deck where she paused as everyone stood and admired her.

Tears stung Reese’s eyes. Her friend was not only beautiful, the huge smile on her face told of how happy she was. And Reese was genuinely happy for her…

* * * * *

“That was some wedding you ladies pulled off,” Caleb told her later as he climbed into bed next to Reese. Their cottage wasn’t quite finished, but the bedroom was sufficiently outfitted.

She snuggled under the covers with him. “I’d say it was one hell of a grandiose inaugural event for the inn. We had to go overboard. I mean, you
did
see that dress Ginger was wearing.”

“Hard to miss. I was a little concerned as to whether it’d fit down the aisle without knocking over any guests.”

She laughed. “Yes, but it was gorgeous. As was she.”

“My attention was mostly elsewhere.” He kissed her, then said, “Better be careful with your party planning expertise or my mother might decide to host an event here.”

“Now why would you say such a thing to me?”

He chuckled. “Sorry about that. Although, she and my father did agree to make the trip down soon to see the place.”

“I may conveniently be out of town that weekend.”

“I wouldn’t blame you in the least.” He kissed her again. Much more passionately this time, stealing her breath.

“You’re wearing entirely too much clothing,” she said as she reached for the waistband of his boxers.

“Hold on a sec. Let me grab something from the nightstand.”

He reached for the drawer and she stripped off her short nightie. When they turned back to each other, Reese gasped. He held an opened black velvet box with a ring that showcased a large, pear-shaped diamond.

“What do you say we tie the knot too?”

Her hand pressed to her chest. “Good Lord, Caleb. That’s like two carats!”

“Four. I dipped into the trust fund for it. I’m sure our kids will understand.”

The fluttering of her heart made it difficult to breathe. “Kids?”

“Yeah, I was thinking two at least. Maybe three? We can just keep adding onto the cottage. And Sam will end up with more help in the stables.”

A smile instantly touched her lips. “Three would be fine.”

“Then we’d better get a move on it. You’re not gettin’ any younger.”

Her jaw dropped. She playfully shoved him. “Thanks a lot.”

“Well, my mother did secretly call you a cougar.” He winked at her. “I think it’s damn sexy.”

“I think you’re damn sexy.”

“So you’ll marry me?”

She held out her left hand. “’Til death do we part.”

He slid the ring on her finger and then pulled her into his arms. “This is just the beginning for us, darlin’.”

“I am very much in love with you,” she said.

“Right back at ya.”

About Calista Fox

Calista Fox in a multi-published, award-winning author of contemporary, suspense and paranormal erotic romances. She began her professional fiction-writing career in 2004, following a successful career in PR, where she specialized in writing speeches and Congressional testimonies. Her books have received rave reviews and she is also the recipient of a Reviewers Choice Award for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Novella.

Calista is a member of Romance Writers of America and two of its Phoenix Chapters, Desert Rose and Valley of the Sun Romance Writers. She has served on the Board of Directors, been the newsletter director and chaired the annual Golden Quill Contest for the Desert Rose Chapter. She is also a member of Passionate Ink, RWA’s erotic romance chapter. In addition, Calista gives presentations and workshops on writing novellas.

Calista attended college on a Journalism scholarship and has worked on newspapers as an editor and reporter. She holds degrees in General Studies and Communications. Calista lives in Arizona, but travels frequently to places like Mexico, Europe, San Diego and Washington, D.C. She has traveled the country by Lear Jet, always with her laptop in tow, and is a spa aficionado!

Calista welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her
author bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.

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