The Patriot Girl (23 page)

Her body pressed forward, wanting him to take her. She pulled her garment up over her head as his mouth took in one breast at a time, trailing his tongue around her nipples. Her arms came down around his head and pressed him closer. She could barely breathe. Her body threw off more heat than the fireplace beside them. Her hips began to buck on their own accord and she didn’t fight to stop them.

He pulled back and smiled. “How about we go a little slower before this ends too soon?”

She looked down at his excitement and smiled. “I agree. Come on.” She dragged a handmade afghan from the back of the sofa and they each held the corners and spread the woolen fabric in front of the fireplace. They closed the distance between them. He fondled any part of her he could touch as she unbuttoned his shirt. “Do you have protection?”

He reached backward and removed a condom from his wallet. “It’s been waiting for you.”

This moment seemed all too dream-like. Her hands caressed the soft fine hairs on his chest. The warmth of his skin and his male scent had her legs weakening. She sent his shirt skittering across the floor and then trailed soft kisses down his chest as she reached for his belt buckle.

He touched her hands. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Your hands are freezing.”

She shrugged. “I’m a little nervous. It
has
been a long time. And Paul was the only man I’ve ever been intimate with.”

“Relax. We’ll take this slow.”

Her brow rose. “Not
too
slow.”

They laughed, and he finished removing his clothes as she made herself comfortable on the floor. The romantic glow and crackling of the fire set the perfect mood for what was about to take place.

For the first time, she was about to take full control of her life—to take what she wanted with no worries of consequences. She’d been too long without the touch of a man.

Kneeling beside her, he leaned forward and captured her breast in his mouth. He removed her panties and teased between her thighs, sending her body into an inferno. “Dustin, don’t make me wait any longer.”

He tore open the square packet and applied the protection. His body covered her like a human blanket. Her breast grazing his flesh aroused her unlike anything she’d ever felt before. “Dustin, please.”

He slid inside her wet walls. Her breath hitched as her muscles captured him with a welcoming hug.

“Open your eyes, MaKayla.”

Her heavy eyelids barely lifted and she smiled. The passion in his eyes was loving and warm.

Feeling him inside her was so right. Their bodies pieced perfectly together like a jigsaw puzzle. She couldn’t take this moment slow. Her body was too excited for the ending she knew he’d provide.

Her hands pushed against his bottom, sending him deeper inside with each thrust of his hips. Her eyes filled with tears and her soul with pleasure and happiness.

He stopped and kissed a tear off her cheek. “You’re crying.”

“Happy tears.” Her voice cracked. Being with him was filling not only the emptiness between her thighs, but the hole in her heart as well. This would be the beginning of her new life and a worry-free future.

He smiled and buried his face in the crook of her neck, suckling the sensitive skin there. Her hard nipples glided against his chest with each drive, sending her body into a tremor. She tightened her thighs as her body and mind slipped deeper into a world where everything was perfect.

“Dustin…” She moaned as her muscles tensed into what seemed like an endless orgasm. Seconds later, his quick shudders against her revealed his own pleasure.

She kissed his shoulder until he gently collapsed on top of her. The rise and fall of his chest against her was a reminder of her too-long deprivation. She was a woman with needs—she’d just forgotten.

This was what she wanted for her future—his warm breath against her neck, his body against hers, and his never-ceasing loyalty. He’d stuck by her even when he wasn’t sure if she would ever get past her issues.

She broke the silence. “I’ve never experienced anything that satisfying.”

“Good.” He rolled to his side and caressed her stomach. “So this wasn’t our first and only time?”

“I hope not.” She rotated onto her side and caressed his chest. “I need you to be patient with me. I’ll still need to get used to all this.”

“You take all the time you need. I don’t want to rush you. He smiled and leaned forward, growling as he kissed her on the mouth. “Whenever you’re feeling animal-like again, you let me know.”

Chapter Eighteen

The dance floor wasn’t as crowded as the last time MaKayla had danced in Dustin’s arms. Of course that had been during the grand opening and half the town had joined them. She felt like a million days had passed since then.

Dustin had expressed his gratitude for all the hard work she’d put into helping No Bulls acquire so many new loyal customers. She was happy to hear that many regulars now came after dinnertime for dance lessons, and MaKayla’s other promotional ideas were paying off also. There had been a creditable turn-out the first open mic night last Thursday.

He kissed her. “I enjoyed waking up with you in my arms this morning.”

“Hmm.” Her hips swayed in a double motion as she followed his lead. Her arms rested lazily over each of his shoulders. Her thoughts switched gears. “Me too.” Last night had been an evening she’d never forget.

Their lovemaking had continued for several sessions with short naps in between. While neither wanted to spend their first night together sleeping, their no-longer twenty-something bodies required recuperation.

He pulled her closer. “I wish I wasn’t leaving in the morning.”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?” She smiled and wished there was a ticket to Oklahoma with her name it. If she’d had the slightest inkling their relationship would have gone this far, she would have accepted his invitation on Monday. “Is this a business trip?”

He shrugged. “I have a meeting with a realtor. My grandmother passed away recently. I told my mother I’d take care of getting her things cleaned out and putting the house up for sale.”

“I’m so sorry. Were you two close?”

He nodded.

“When will you be back?”

“Saturday night. Can you live without me for two days?”

“I’ll try.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

She felt content not having her heart argue with her head anymore. Allowing herself the pleasure of holding him guilt-free had been a big step for the two of them.

And what they’d done in front of the fireplace this morning still made her blush.

She pulled back and faced him. “Can I ask you something?”

“‘Course.”

“Where’d you come up with the name for this place?”

He chuckled. “Well, I’ll always be a lawyer at heart. When Jesse wanted to put a mechanical bull in here I told him ‘no bulls’, that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. We laughed, and knew that had to be the name.”

“Cute.” There was so much she needed to learn about him. Now was not the time to get into a conversation on why he had given up his law practice. “Oh, yeah. As your unofficial publicist, I had another idea for this place.” She’d forgotten to tell him the idea she’d had while pity-shopping with Tammy. “How about a family night? One night when you don’t sell liquor. Kids could come and learn line dancing, do karaoke, hang out and spend some time with their parents. Maybe have a talent show night.”

He showed his approval with a deep passionate kiss that made her moan. Being with him made her mind journey into another world where nothing else mattered but the two of them. They had lost time to make up for, and if they’d been alone, she had a suggestion as to what they might do to start catching up.

An uneasy feeling made her break the kiss and turn around. “Oh…my…gosh. Look who’s here!” Jodi, Nancy, Sara, and three other women she didn’t know surrounded them. She hugged Jodi. “We missed you at work today. How was the seminar?”

“Boring.”

MaKayla hugged Nancy. “Oh my gosh, I haven’t seen you since your son was born. How are you and the baby doing?”

“Great. Timmy’s already growing. Alex’s girlfriend, Tammy, is babysitting him and Sara’s son tonight.”

“Tammy loves children so your boys are in good hands.” She hugged Sara. “You look good. How’s little Buck doing?”

“Baby Buck’s doing great. As far as Big Buck goes, my grandparents will be back next month for another visit.”

MaKayla nodded, making a mental note to contact Buck to discuss making good on little Tiffany Reynolds’ prize.

“Dustin, can we steal MaKayla for a while?” Jodi smiled, daring him to say no.

“Of course.” He placed his hand on MaKayla’s lower back. “I’ll talk with you later.”

While they searched for a table large enough for the seven of them, Jodi dragged her beside the pinball machine in the corner. “Spill it. What’s up with the two of you?”

This time she didn’t mind Jodi’s harassment. There would be no lectures, nor a disappointing frown on her friend’s face. “We’re taking things slow.”

“Not according to that kiss.”

“That was a goodbye kiss.” MaKayla covered her mouth to stifle a yawn. “He’s leaving for Oklahoma in the morning.”

Jodi moved MaKayla’s head from side to side. “You slept with him. Didn’t you?”

MaKayla needed to buy a shade for the window to her soul that Jodi was always looking through. She pushed her friend’s hand from her chin. Had Jodi been at work today, she would have told her everything. Standing here, she felt a little foolish discussing such private matters.

“Shh. Yes.” Her blood flowed through her veins like a soft caress, as the memory of their lovemaking replayed in her mind.

Did he know he’d unleashed a lioness? She’d never known sex could be so much fun. If the stories of a woman’s prowess being at its peak when she turned forty were true, soon she would be in her prime. “I’ll call you later and tell you everything. Not here.”

“Were you able to play out your sexual fantasy?” MaKayla watched her friend use her tongue to push out her cheek, and then lick her lips.

“It’s not
my
fantasy. It’s the one you have for me.” She had to admit the way Jodi described the intimate act did have her curious regarding oral sex.

“It’ll happen soon enough.” Jodi leaned forward and hugged MaKayla. “I’m glad you’re coming around. You two were stressing me out. Now come have a drink with us.”

****

MaKayla had enjoyed a couple of drinks with her friends and another slow dance with Dustin before she left for home.

She turned on a couple lights as she entered her house and smelled something awful. The chicken dinner she’d had earlier hadn’t taken long to spoil in the trashcan. She needed to take her barrels to the curbside anyway. Now would be a good time. The stench would only be worse by morning.

She turned on her back porch light, carried the smelly bag outside, and then dragged the trash bins to the curb. The chill in the air had a bite, warning that a snowfall wasn’t far behind. It’d been so long since she’d watched the news, there could be a blizzard coming and she wouldn’t know it.

The closer she got to the back door, the louder the phone seemed to ring. Dustin had gone home to pack, assuring her he’d call so they could talk more before he left in the morning.

She let the door slam behind her and reached the receiver in time before the machine ended. “Hello?”

“My plane hasn’t taken off and I already miss you.”

She cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder as she went into the bathroom off the kitchen to wash her hands. She stepped out of the bathroom and glanced at the window above her kitchen sink. She’d forgotten to turn off the light.

“It’s going to be a long couple of days without—no-o-o!”

****

Dustin squeezed his phone at the sound of shattering glass followed by a loud shot echoing in his ear. “MaKayla?” His heart quickened when the other end went silent. “MaKayla, answer me!”
Damn.

His hands shook as he hung up, dialed 911, and explained to the woman on the other end what he’d heard. He bolted to his car and drove toward MaKayla’s house. He stayed connected as she dispatched help to the address he gave her. Several minutes passed before the woman came back on the line. “Sir, the police have arrived at the scene.”

“Thank you.” He disconnected and calmed himself.

Being upset behind the wheel had contributed to the death of MaKayla’s husband. He lifted his foot off the accelerator. Getting into another accident wouldn’t help him to be there for MaKayla or to find the bastard who did this.

Damn.
Just when he thought life was finally giving him a fuckin’ break, this happened. What had he done so wrong to make karma kick his ass once again? He had pulled through dealing with MaKayla not talking to him, but losing her all together would crush him.

If he hadn’t put his feelings into perspective before, he sure could now. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life on this earth without MaKayla waking up in his arms each morning, seeing her smile, or hearing her soft moans in the heat of passion.

Eight minutes of driving felt like a lifetime. Having no information made his mind focus on the worst.
Stop it.
If Duke was on duty and heard MaKayla’s address come over the radio, he would be at the house with information. He flipped open his phone, put it on speaker, and then hit the preset button that dialed Duke’s cell phone number. He set the phone on the car’s console, and kept both hands on the wheel.

“Officer Richards here.”

“Duke, it’s Dustin. Are you at MaKayla’s house?”

“Yeah.”

“Is she okay?”

“Don’t know. They’re taking her to Dalton Memorial now. How’d you know about this?”

“I’m the 911 caller.” He explained what had happened as he drove past the bank where he’d met MaKayla months ago. Sirens echoed in the distance. “Did the rescue leave?”