Hearts Are Wild (19 page)

* * * * *

“Nicole’s Bed-and-Breakfast,” Nicole answered the phone at the reception desk, barely holding back a sigh. It was the day after her night with Kev at the dancehall, and she found herself feeling down for some reason. Usually she felt pretty up after seeing him.

“It’s Trace. You okay?”

Nicole did her best to sound a little perkier to her best friend. “Sure. Great. What’s up?”

“Just thought I’d call and see how you’re doing.” Trace paused. “It’s been almost a month now, hasn’t it?”

Nicole almost sighed again. “Yup. Gotta break it to Kev today or tomorrow.”

“Did you tell him?”

“What, about the fact that I bet my cousins I would see one and only one man for a month?” Nicole shook her head, even though she knew her friend couldn’t see her. “One month of all-out sex, and that’s exactly what I did.”

Trace sounded hesitant as she asked, “So…you haven’t developed any feelings for Kev?”

“Of course not.” Nicole tossed her hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “As if. I like my freedom. No man is going to take that away from me.”

“Being married doesn’t take your freedom away from you.” Trace had a determined note to her voice. “If anything, it’s
more
freeing. You have someone you love, who you know loves you. It should be unconditional and it shouldn’t change who you are or what you do. It’s just…wonderful having someone there for you, someone who really cares about you.” She gave a little laugh and added, “Plus sex all the time is an added benefit.”

“Yeah. Well.” Nicole ran her finger over the old-fashioned telephone that was part of the B&B’s charm. “Serious relationships aren’t for me. If it wasn’t for the damn bet, I’m sure I would never have lasted this long with Kev, anyway. In fact—”

A shadow fell over the telephone and Nicole jerked her head up to find Kev watching her. His jaw was set and anger darkened his hazel eyes.

“Nicole?” came Trace’s voice over the phone line, but Nicole barely heard her.

“Hang up.” Kev’s voice was tight, his mouth a thin line. “Now.”

Nicole hesitated only a second. She had to face this, had to get it over with.

“Listen, Trace,” she said as calmly as she could. “I’ve got to run.”

“Everything okay?”

“Fine. Sorry to run, but I’ve got a guest waiting.”

When Nicole finally hung up the phone, she took a deep breath and met Kev’s gaze head-on.

“A bet.” Kev’s thumbs were hooked through his belt loops, but his knuckles were almost white. “You fucked me because of a bet.”

Nicole’s cheeks heated. “I never lied to you, Kev. You’ve known from the start that I was only in it for the sex. The fact that we had a lot of good times is just that. Good times. Fabulous sex and fun. That’s what it was all about.”

Kev stepped behind the reception desk, caught her wrist, and jerked her toward him. “I don’t believe you,” he said, his mouth barely above hers. “I don’t believe I mean nothing more to you than another good fuck.”

Nicole’s heart pounded like crazy. “I’m not into serious relationships.” She tried to shake her head but he slipped his hand into her hair and clenched it tight, keeping her from moving. “I never have been.”

“You are now,” he said the fraction of a second before his lips came down on hers in a truly punishing kiss. It was hard and angry, a completely dominating kiss that sent her mind whirling and made her body weak.

She couldn’t help how her nipples tightened and her pussy grew wet. She couldn’t help how her pulse raced and her senses swam. Her body knew him, wanted him, and she was completely helpless to fight it.

He tore away from her, his eyes still angry, a harsh cut to his mouth. “I love you, Nicole Landford. When you get it through your thick head that you’re in love with me, too, then you know where to find me.”

Kev released her, turned on his booted heel and strode out the door, then shut it behind him. Hard.

Nicole’s hands started trembling and she clenched them into fists.

Kev Grand was in love with her?

No. That couldn’t be.

A strange sense of euphoria overwhelmed her, like she could almost burst with happiness.

God, she was losing her mind. She tried to stuff it down, to push it far away. “It would never work.” She clenched her hands tighter, her eyes still focused on the door.

Nicole closed her eyes tight. “Freedom. I need my freedom.”

Yet Kev had never crowded her the entire month they’d been dating. Yes, he was possessive when they were alone, but he never acted jealous about her past history. He had appeared to be confident in their relationship and in her as a person. He always asked her about work, enjoyed her B&B, and expressed how much he liked that she was an entrepreneur. He never questioned her need for time alone, never expected her to report in to him on where she was going, or insisted on going with her everywhere she went.

She had all the freedom she needed.

As she kept her eyes shut tight, she could see only images from her month with Kev, and even images from all the years they’d known each other.

This month they’d had dinner, went dancing, helped one another out with their respective occupations, and even went shopping together. They’d laughed, they’d talked, and they’d argued like crazy. And they’d made love countless times. Wild, hot, animalistic sex, and slow, sensual lovemaking.

“Made love,” Nicole whispered as she opened her eyes and stared at the door that Kev had just walked through. “We made love.”

No, it wasn’t that.

Maybe it was?

Wait, it was all about the sex.

Nicole sighed. She finally had to admit it to herself—it hadn’t been all sex after all. She’d known it, she just hadn’t been able to face it.

Well, when Nicole Landford wanted something, she went after it. And this time she knew exactly what she wanted.

Chapter Nine

Thunder rolled across the valley as Nicole kicked the flat tire of her ‘vette. “You have perfect timing, you know that?”

Her features softened as she trailed her fingers through the dust on the corvette’s fender. “But if it wasn’t for you….all this—Kev—never would have happened. I owe you.”

Nicole looked off into the dusk in the direction of Kev’s ranch. “If he’ll forgive me.” She rubbed her damp palms on her white jean skirt and set her mouth in a determined line. “He damn well better.”

She leaned in the driver’s side window to snatch the keys out of the ignition, then headed to the trunk. This time after unlocking the trunk, she stuffed the keys into her skirt pocket before leaning in to grab the tire iron and the jack. She carried both to the front of the car before returning for the spare. When she finally managed to drag it out, the tire slipped against her chest, down the front of her white blouse and her white denim skirt, and landed on her sandaled foot.

“Shit.” Nicole grimaced and held her breath for a moment until the throbbing in her big toe lessened.

Great. Now she had a flat tire
and
she was filthy.

She cast a glance at the stormy sky and almost laughed. At least she should end up getting a good shower.

With fierce determination, she wrangled the tire around to the front of the car. She knew the routine for this old thing. Set the brake, place rocks in front of and behind each tire, just to make sure it didn’t roll down the slope, and then jack up the car.

This part was the most fun, she thought as she slipped her torso beneath the car and placed the jack under the frame.
Not.
When she slid out from beneath the ‘vette, her skirt hiked up to her waist, and one of her buttons caught on the car and popped off.

Nicole groaned as she got to her knees and rearranged her clothing. Lovely. She now had dirt in her hair and on her backside, black down the front of her skirt and blouse from the tire, and her hands were black from everything she had come in contact with.

Raindrops splattered her face in big fat drops. And then it started pouring.

Nicole snorted. A small giggle escaped. The next thing she knew she was laughing so hard tears rolled down her face, mingling with the rain. She slid down the side of the car so that her knees were bent and her back against the driver’s side door, laughing until her sides ached.

She wiped tears and rain from her cheeks with her palms and realized she’d just spread the black from her hands all over her face.

Nicole burst into giggles again. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with laughter as rain pelted her, soaking her clothing and her hair.

Two large hands grabbed her wrists and pulled her arms down to her sides.

She jerked her head up—

To see the man she’d fallen in love with. “Kev.”

“Now, hon,” he said with a grin as he released her. “Aren’t you getting to be a little old for mud pies?”

She clenched both fists in the wet earth beside her and gave him a devious smile. “Not even close.” She brought her hands up and wiped mud down each of his cheeks. “I’ve wanted to do that since elementary school. Now we’re even.”

Kev growled and jerked her to a stand. He pressed her up against the ‘vette, capturing her legs between his. “You’ve been a very bad girl, Nicole Landford.”

She tilted her head back, mindless of the rain pounding down on them both. “Whatcha going to do about it?”

Kev gripped his hand in her hair, dragged her to him and kissed her. Their mouths met with all the fire and passion they’d known since the first time they met. She gripped his shirt tight in her fists, and felt the mud from his cheeks slide onto her own. His tongue probed the depths of her mouth and she tasted him, wanted more of him.

“Now,” she said when they broke apart, “I want you now.”

Kev couldn’t argue. He wanted her just as badly. He picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck, and her legs around his hips, as he carried her to the rear of the car. He freed one hand long enough to slam the trunk shut, then set her on it and moved between her thighs.

Rain plastered her clothing to her skin. Her blouse gaped where she’d lost a button, and he didn’t hesitate to lose the rest of them for her. He ripped the blouse open and then yanked down her bra. Her big, beautiful breasts spilled out onto his palms, and she gave one of her sexy little cries as he pinched her nipples.

Kev shoved up her skirt and tore off her thong. In mere seconds he freed his erection and plunged into her tight pussy.

Nicole cried out at the feel of Kev pounding his cock into her at the same time rain pounded down on them. She felt so wild and free as he fucked her out on his ranchland. Anyone could drive by, or a cowboy could ride up, and they’d see Kev thrusting into her. But she didn’t care. All she cared about was Kev and how he filled her—mind, body and soul.

When she came, it was with a scream that tore across the valley. Her body spasmed as her climax and raindrops washed over her body in one incredible sensation.

Kev thrust hard and then he braced his hands on the trunk as he came with a growl. When his cock stopped pulsing in her core, he held her tight to him. “Tell me who you belong to, Nicole.”

She sighed and kissed his wet lips. “You, Kev Grand. I belong to you.”

* * * * *

Nicole snuggled up to Kev in his bed, and studied his tanned features. They’d just taken a warm shower together, and had toweled one another off before slipping into bed.

While he slowly stroked the line of her jaw, he studied her like he couldn’t get enough of her.

She touched his stubbled cheek with her fingers. “You were right, you know.”

His thumb caressed her jawline to her ear. “Yeah?”

Nicole took a deep breath. “I love you, Kev.”

He moved his thumb to her lower lip. “Took you long enough to figure that out.”

She smiled. That hadn’t been hard at all. “You are one cocky SOB.”

“Can’t argue with you there.” He feathered his thumb along her cheek. “Don’t you think we need to buy you more reliable transportation?”

“We?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “And what’s wrong with my ‘vette?”

Kev slipped his hand into her hair. “I can’t see you driving that unreliable piece of—” At Nicole’s dirty look, he grinned and said, “That vintage beauty, all the way to Bisbee and back when you’re working your B&B.”

Nicole stilled. “Just what are you trying to say, cowboy?”

He stroked the back of her head, a slow massage that made her shiver. “When we’re married, I don’t want to have to worry about you breaking down on your way to your B&B, or on your way home.”

Nicole’s eyes widened and she pushed herself up so that she was above Kev.

“Marriage?” She punched at his chest with one finger. “You really are cocky.”

“As if you ever thought otherwise.” He pulled her into his arms so that she sprawled across his chest. “I love you Nicole, and that’s all there is to it.”

“But marriage. Wow.” He looked so damn sexy she wanted to jump him. Wanted to say yes to anything. But she wasn’t sure she was ready for that step. “Why don’t you let me get used to the idea first, and then we’ll talk about it.”

“Fair enough.” He placed his hands at her waist and moved her so that she was straddling him. “How about Vegas?”

Nicole had to laugh. She leaned forward so that her nipples brushed his chest. “
If
I say yes to marrying you, Las Vegas will be perfect.”

Kev rolled them over in a fast movement, putting her beneath him. His cock nudged her pussy and she moaned.

“
When
,” he said as he moved the head of his erection to her core.

“
If
.” She raised her hips trying to take him deeper, but he held back.

His eyes darkened and then moved his lips down just above hers. “
When
you marry me, we’ll do it in Vegas.”

“Okay,” she whispered and then slipped into oblivion as he entered her.

He drove his cock in and out of her pussy, taking her to that place they had been together so many times before. But this time her heart and eyes were wide open. This was the man she loved, the man she would spend the rest of her days with. And nothing had ever felt more perfect than that very thought, than that very moment.

She rode the wave that overtook her, flowing with it higher and higher until she broke above the surface.

Kev came with her, his shout echoing her own.

When they both slid down from that perfect place, into the bed they shared, Kev held her tight to his chest and said, “How soon, hon?”

Nicole smiled. “Vegas, here we come.”