28. Twenty-Eight
Twenty-Eight
Rhett
I had zero plans of going to the rodeo today. I contacted the arena and removed my name from the board, knowing that the last thing I needed before meeting Kyla’s mother was another broken barrier.
Lachlan was making sure I was completely up to speed on everything happening at the ranch. David had made his presence known, and my dad seemed to like entertaining the idea. I tried reaching out to my father, but he simply responded with, “ You’re not aware of what’s happening behind the scenes, Rhett.” Which only made my blood boil hotter.
I needed to get that out of my head, and back into my rides, and I knew that wasn’t going to happen today.
Time .
I just needed time.
I sent a quick text to Lachlan the morning after we arrived in Phoenix, asking him not so nicely to leave me out of any group or single texts that revolved around the ranch today.
Me
Just give me today to get my head on straight, then we can tackle this. You own it, I don’t yet. Leave me out of everything until I get home . . . please. I need this.
Even though the ranch was the forefront of his mind and should be the forefront of mine, I couldn’t help but admit that the ranch wasn’t all that was taking up brain space.
I glanced at the bathroom door where Kyla was getting ready for the day, the memory of just hours before wafting through my brain on repeat. She found so much joy in just sitting on the small “X” on the concrete—simply loving the fact that she was in four places at once—and then she thanked me. She thanked me for making her dreams come true. Her kiss felt different last night. Where her kisses were always something I craved, last night she had more desire, a deeper pull than she had in the past as her lips and tongue danced against me, her hands finding every inch of my skin that brought me alive. I only stopped because she reminded me we were in the middle of nowhere and should probably find a hotel. I had every intention of kissing her again once we got into the hotel, but instead, after seeing her curl up on the bed and instantly fall asleep, I climbed in next to her and enjoyed the time being with her .
I didn’t need time.
I needed time with her.
My phone buzzed in my hand, pulling me back to the cloud that hung in the room.
Lachlan
I’ll text you whenever I damn well please. Get your damn head on straight and stop breaking the fucking barrier.
I could practically hear his voice through the words. I’ll text you whenever I damn well please. A laugh escaped my lungs as I reread the text, not even giving him the satisfaction of a response. He knew I meant what I said, and I knew he would outright ignore me.
“I like your laugh,” I heard Kyla say as she stepped out of the bathroom.
I had said that to her not too long ago, and now, here she was— mine —saying it back to me. She wore a sexy smile showing me just how much confidence she had gained since becoming my wife. I knew I wasn’t the reason for her newfound confidence, but fuck , I loved watching her glow.
“I haven’t heard it in a while.” She came up to me, her hands falling on my shoulders as she ran them to the base of my neck, her fingers linking together.
I almost pulled her on my lap, wanting to feel her straddle me, but I refrained.
“I laugh,” I defended, pulling out the teasing nature I knew existed with her .
“You haven’t for the past few days. You gonna tell me what’s going through your head, darlin’ ?”
“Darlin’?” I parroted, a full laugh gaining one from her as well. She tilted her chin as she laughed, her cheeks flushed, making me forget about everything completely. She was gorgeous when she laughed.
“Princess, Darlin’, Bunny, Sugar . . .”
“I don’t think I ever called you Sugar. ”
Twisting her lips and raising an eyebrow, Kyla smirked. “You’ve called me a lot of things.”
“But you have a favorite?”
“I have two, but that’s not what we are talking about right now. What’s going through your head?” Kyla moved her hands, cupping my chin, a small flush radiating through her skin when I kissed her palm.
I wanted to tell her everything. That I was nervous that no matter what we did, her ex would be in our lives forever—always there to threaten us. That he would succeed in taking a piece of my land and never ever let it go. Nerves that Kyla wasn’t mine; that her happiness could get taken away with the quick swipe of a pen on a paper, and that all of this meant more to me than I let on. But none of it mattered more than her. If he didn’t stop, I could lose more than a corner of land. I could lose her .
“Absolutely nothing a day out with my wife won’t fix,” I said instead of dropping everything.
Her eyebrows knitted. “What time is the rodeo?”
“I bowed out,” I told her, kissing the tip of her nose. “I told you I needed time, and I want that time to be with you. I have an idea.” I grinned, dipping my chin but keeping my eyes firm on hers. She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. “But you gotta trust me.”
“I . . . trust you . . .” She drew out the words, arching her back away from me as an eyebrow rose.
“Good.” I kissed her, just enough to leave a tease on both our lips. “Because I know you’re going to love it.”
Kyla folded her arms across her chest and pushed herself into the seat. She glared out the front window, avoiding me completely. The hesitant look she gave the store in front of us told me everything I needed to know. She didn’t want to do this. Even though she had told me it was just for her, now that she was here, with me, I could see the nerves building in her body.
“You brought me to a lingerie store. You’re skipping out on a rodeo to let me shop for lingerie?”
“I’m skipping a rodeo to spend much needed time with my wife, who happens to want to buy herself lingerie. So, what better way to spend time with her.”
“The purpose of lingerie shopping was for me—”
“And it still is for you,” I reminded her, moving a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder, “I can stay in the car if you’d like.”
“No,” she said quickly. “You should come in.” Kyla unfolded her arms and took a deep breath. “I mean, you need to enjoy them too . . . right? ”
I held back a smile. “This is for you, not me.” I met her gaze, concentrating on her breathing, “After this we will go buy a coffee maker. This is for you, Mrs. Hartwell. I promise.”
Biting her bottom lip, she turned to look at the store one more time before making the jump out of the truck. “Okay, but”—she turned to look at me over her shoulder—“you’re coming.”
Soft music filled the room as we both entered the store. Kyla released my hand as she turned and made her way to the racks of red and black. The small twinge of nerves that floated through her was still present in every way as she gently reached out to touch one of lacey sets, but with the way she held herself, a passerby would never be able to tell she was slightly hesitant. A plump woman approached her, a smile on her face and as Kyla raised her arms so she could wrap a tape measure around her, I turned to the other half of the store.
Silk nightgowns and lacey covers adorned the walls, and my mind couldn’t help but wonder what Kyla would look like in all of them. How the white silk would lay against her skin, until I could slowly raise it over her to take her in. How the black lace would stand out, even if the dark room covered her from my sight. My chest tightened as I imagined the way she would feel, the only thing guiding me was the memory of our one night. Her soft skin, the shivers I caused, the breaths that came from her lips as she moved…
Maybe it wasn’t a good idea for me to come in with her.
Blinking away the heat that I could feel rising in my body, I turned to find Kyla, but all I saw was rows of lace and silk. A quick glance outside told me she hadn’t left, so the other option was . . .
“Excuse me,” I asked the woman I had seen helping Kyla. “My wife? ”
“Oh, she went into the dressing room.” She smiled, pointing me in the direction of a room off to the side. “Second door on your left.”
“Thank you.” I tipped my hat to her, heading into the small hallway.
The five dressing rooms were empty, except for one. I gave the second on the left a quick knock, leaning against the door frame.
“Mrs. Hartwell,” I mused. “I take it you found something?”
“A few things, Mr. Hartwell. I’ll be out soon. Are you okay out there?” Her voice sang in my ears and I felt that heat rise again.
I swallowed. “Can I join you?”
“The point of lingerie—”
“Is for you to feel damn sexy, not to surprise me. Can I join you?” I interrupted, trying to remain quiet and calm, waiting for her to make the first move.
I heard her exhale before the door gave a small click and opened. Keeping it slightly closed, I snaked into the small room, all thoughts leaving my mind the moment I saw Kyla. She was wearing a purple lace bra, black butterflies trailing up her breast into the straps, and purple boy shorts covered her own thong, hugging her hips and curves in all the right ways. Her breasts were plump at the top of the lace fabric, almost begging to be free—to be touched. She was flawless.
I forced my hands into fists.
“Holy . . . shit . . .” I murmured, losing my breath as I took in the sight of her, feeling myself harden as my heart rate picked up.
Kyla gave me a soft smile and a sexy giggle before turning back to the mirror. Her hands trailed down her stomach as her eyes focused on the boy shorts .
“I have others to try. Felica was great in helping me pick out some sets. I have a red, black, yellow—”
Before I could stop myself, I found my hands gliding along her lower back, my fingertips light as feathers as I traced her hips, resting on her waist. I met her eyes in the mirror, closing the distance between us, wanting—no needing —her body against mine.
“Rhett . . .” she warned, breathlessly. “We are in a dressing room.”
“That’s right, Princess , and my wife is wearing the most perfect lingerie I have ever seen in my entire life.” I leaned down and kissed her bare shoulder, a smile spreading on my lips once I heard her breath shake.
“Rhett . . .”
“I don’t think you know how sexy you are, Darlin’ .” I kissed her neck, moving her hair to the side, lightly biting down on her skin. She gasped, making me want to bite harder—but remembering where we were—I held back, using my lips to kiss where I had bit.
“Rhett.” Raising her arm she cupped the back of my head, her fingers grasping onto my hair as her back pushed into me.
I trailed my hand along her stomach, reaching her breast, cupping her in my palm.
“I love it when you say my name like that. I love every sound you make, Sugar. ” I spun her to face me, pressing her up against the mirror. Our bodies met, flush against each other and I wish I was as bare as she was. I wanted her skin against mine.
Her breath hitched, a high gasp of air as her eyes met mine.
“Cold . . .” she whispered as my lips came close to hers. A shiver escaped her as I felt her warm breath on me .
“Let me warm you up, Baby .” I kissed her, hard and strong. There was no time for sweet and gentle when she looked and sounded like this. My kiss was electric, but hers was just as hungry, kissing me back as she moaned into my mouth.
My hands trailed along her entire body, feeling her shiver as I cupped her breasts, her ass, enjoying everything about her. The way her skin felt against my hands pulled away everything my mind was trying to hold onto. Everything left, and all that meant anything, was right in front of me.
“Oh, my god, Rhett . . .” She leaned her head back, hitting the mirror with a soft thud. I kissed her chin before kissing her throat again, gently nipping to hear her gasp.
My fingers slipped under the lacy boy shorts, feeling her own thong underneath, feeling her heat there as I inched closer and closer to her center.
“You are so perfect.” Lifting my chin, I kissed her again, simply loving her moan. “ Mrs. Hartwell.”
She breathed me in, her hands moving up my chest, finding the nape of my neck and hair all too easily as she pulled me back to her mouth. The kiss— this kiss— was one for the record books. The heat and need that grew between us was anything but temporary. She wanted this as much as I did. The proof was in the way her mouth claimed mine, as she took control of the situation. Her tongue moved against mine and I suddenly wished her mouth could travel other places. Everywhere, just as mine would.
I slowly reached up, unclasping the purple bra, ready to move to take her when a small knock at the door startled us both .
Kyla pulled away, bringing her arms to her chest to keep the bra on her, as her lips formed a tight line, her eyes wide on mine. I grinned, raising my eyebrows at her, the fact that we were almost caught only adding to the rush.
“Doing okay in there?” Felicia asked through the door.
“Yes.” Kyla’s voice shook. “Perfect. Thank you.”
“No problem, don’t be afraid to let me know if you need anything.”
We both listened intently as her footsteps faded. Once Kyla’s eyes met mine once again, I cocked an eyebrow.
“We’re getting this set,” I hummed, my fingers slipping through the loose strap that still hung on her shoulder.
Rolling her lips, she finally formed a smile. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You loved it.”
“That may be but . . . go.” She kissed my lips gently as she pushed me away with one hand, the other still firmly holding the purple lace in place. “Let me pick the others.” Her free hand reached out for me, her thumb trailing my swollen lips. Her eyes were still heavy, her lips still raw.
I bounced my eyebrows once, reaching for the door handle. “I’ll be waiting out front.” I winked, loving the small giggle she let loose as I left the dressing room, my body reacting once again to the heated sigh she let out.