She doesn’t respond immediately, and I think that maybe she isn’t ready to tell me, but then my phone buzzes with a new text. Flicking my gaze down to the screen, I frown. There is more to the story than what she’s saying, and hopefully, when she’s here in person, she’ll talk about it.
But Shandy comes from a past that is much like mine, so she may not want to go into detail. I know it has taken a lot for me to open up over the years.
SHANDY: There is nothing left for me here. I just realized it now more than ever before.
Instead of asking her to elaborate, even though I want to, I give her the most caring and encouraging response I can think of.
I’ll be here, and we’ll have a nice dinner when you arrive.
SHANDY: I love you, Lola-Mae.
Love you, too.
Placing my phone down on the desk, I stand at the sight of Harlan riding up to the barn. All thoughts of Shandy become fleeting. Harlan is in my view, and he’s all I can think about. Walking out of the back door, I watch as he dismounts from Spirit before he turns to face me.
The sun shines, and even though it’s winter, it’s sixty degrees and almost warm in the sunshine. Wordlessly, Harlan closes the distance between us. I feel his hands on my cheeks, then his mouth touches mine.
“Mornin’, darlin’,” he murmurs against my lips.
“The flowers are gorgeous,” I say as my response.
He lifts his head, his eyes searching mine. For a moment, I get lost in those eyes of his. Which isn’t hard to do; I seem to get lost in Harlan on a regular basis.
“Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite girl.”
My lips curve up into a smile. You couldn’t slap it off my face at this point. I can’t stop smiling. I’ve never been this happy, not ever. “Happy Valentine’s Day to the man who has made my world a nonstop rodeo the past year, and I love it.”
“Love you, Lola-Mae,” he says, his voice rough and husky.
Hot.
So. Hot.
Two Years Later
HARLAN
VALENTINE’S DAY
My alarm sounds,but the last thing I want to do is climb out of this bed and away from the sweetest thing I’ve ever slept beside in my life. Lola-Mae is warm and soft, sleeping next to me. I should slide out of bed and head toward the barn, but I can’t seem to make myself.
Instead, I slide my arm around her waist and gently guide her body backward so her back is nestled against my front. Leaning forward, I touch my lips to her shoulder, closing my eyes as I taste her skin. She lets out a moan but otherwise doesn’t move.
Gently, I glide my hand down the front of her belly, beneath her shorts, and then dip my fingers between her legs. Lola-Mae whimpers, turning her head. With her eyes closed, her lips part, no doubt waiting for mine to touch them.
Dipping my chin slightly, I touch my mouth to hers before I slip my tongue between her parted lips. Tangling my tongue withhers, I begin to move my fingers, gliding them through her folds before circling her clit, then repeating the motion.
She begins moving leisurely at first, her hips rolling as she slowly begins waking up to the sensation of my fingers right where she needs them. When she lifts her leg and hooks her foot behind my knee, she opens herself up for me, and I know she’s awake and climbing.
Climbing higher and higher toward her release.
I want her to come on my fingers, but I doubt she’ll be able to stay like this for much longer. Lola-Mae whimpers, reaching one arm above and curling her fingers around the back of my neck. With her other hand, she shifts down between her legs, her fingers curling around my wrist as she begins to search, to climb, to find her release. Just when I think she’s going to come, she tugs my hand away.
Then she’s rolling over, climbing on top of me. I lie on my back, my hands gripping her hips as I guide her down along my hard length. She throws her head back, her hair flying as she takes me inside her.
Goddamn.
Not just damn.
