Chapter 24
Cal had never craved anyone as he did Dillon. He’d never felt hunger so deep, longed so vastly.
Yearned so absolutely.
Desire had never burned this hot. The connection with Dillon was visceral, instinctual.
It felt as if it had always been there, waiting until he found her to make itself known.
Once it had begun to solidify, there was no backing away, no ignoring it.
But he wasn’t running from Dillon. He was running to her.
Cal moaned at the feel of her hand on his rod. He’d dreamed of her holding him in just such a way. He stared into her blue eyes and prayed that he wouldn’t wake up if this was another dream. Everything felt too good, too right.
He reached between them and tugged the belt that closed her short, blush-colored satin robe. The garment fell open, giving him a glimpse of a matching gown beneath. Cal’s heart thumped wildly as he gazed down at Dillon.
“So beautiful,” he whispered as he gently pushed the robe over her shoulders.
She dropped her arms to her sides and let the robe pool at her feet.
Her eyes searched his as he brushed his knuckles over her cheek.
He stilled when she grasped his wrist and turned her head to place her lips against his palm.
Then she tugged down one thin strap of her gown, followed by the other, before shimmying her hips a couple of times and letting the slip puddle at her feet, too.
He threaded his fingers into the silky hair at the base of her neck and tilted her head back before lowering his head to hers. The instant their lips touched, desire consumed them. They were skin to skin, touching everywhere.
Cal backed her to the bed. He put a knee on the mattress and supported her with one hand at her back as he lowered her. She ended the kiss long enough to smile and move fully onto the bed before she pulled him down atop her. He moaned, his hips instinctively rocking against her.
Her nails lightly ran down his back. Cal shifted to his side and ran his hand down her body as he kissed her.
Her skin was soft, her body pliable. She smelled like jasmine and heaven.
He gloried in her curves as he caressed her hips, dipping in at her waist, and then moving to her amazing breasts that filled his hand.
His balls tightened when he found her nipples already hard.
He rolled a turgid peak between his fingers, and hers dug into his back as she released a soft moan.
He ended their kiss and gazed down at her swollen lips and the way her pulse jumped erratically at her throat.
He wanted to spend hours pleasuring her.
Her eyes opened, heavy-lidded and glazed. “Please, don’t stop.”
“I’m not,” he promised as he kissed her mouth, her cheek, and then moved to her neck where he trailed kisses down to her breast.
Cal looked up and caught her staring at him. He held her gaze as he bent his head, wrapped his lips around her nipple and sucked. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she sighed seductively. It was the most erotic sound he’d ever heard—and he wanted to hear more.
He moved from one breast to the other, teasing her nipples until she ground her hips against him, seeking release.
The need to bury himself inside her right then was so strong, he nearly gave in.
Somehow, he managed to keep control of himself and continue learning every nuance of Dillon’s body and what made her moan.
His hand splayed over her stomach before caressing downward. His fingers met the trimmed patch of hair as her legs fell open. When he felt the wetness at her sex, his hand shook from the force of the hunger that rolled through him.
Cal swirled his finger around her clit, slowly at first. Her answering moan was music to his ears. He continued tantalizing her, gradually increasing his speed, all the while teasing her nipple with his tongue.
A rush of hot need engulfed Dillon. She sought the pleasure that was just out of reach, eager and impatient for it. Cal’s masterful fingers knew just how to touch her with the right pressure. It was the most exquisite torture she’d ever endured.
And she hoped it never ended.
Her back arched, a cry falling from her lips when he suckled her nipple deep and quickened his finger’s movements. Just like that, he had her on the precipice of an orgasm. The sensations coursing through her were hedonistic, decadent. Utterly carnal.
She needed him. All of him. Inside her. She couldn’t wait any longer.
Dillon reached for him at the same time he added the softest of pressure to his ministrations. And just like that, pleasure surged through her with such force that it took her breath. Ecstasy swallowed her. It wound within her, crashed over her, rushed through her.
When she finally came back to herself, tiny spasms still ran through her.
She forced her eyes open and found Cal watching her.
The need reflected in his gray eyes made her stomach flutter in excitement.
He moved between her legs. Her gaze lowered to his cock, watching as he guided it to her entrance.
Then he was inside her, filling her. She dropped her head back in delight at the feel of him sliding in and out of her. She grabbed him, trying to bring him closer with each thrust of his hips. Just like his mouth and hands, he knew how to use his body to show her pleasure she’d never known.
His lips found hers, their tongues moving in time with their bodies.
Cal pumped his hips faster, pushing deeper into her each time. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rose to meet him with each thrust. Their bodies moved in a dance as old as time, but he’d never experienced anything so beautiful with another before.
He wanted to stop time. To remain in this moment for eternity—the feel of Dillon’s body moving against his, her tight, wet heat clutching his cock, the way her hands moved over him.
Just like with the dance, something special was happening.
He couldn’t see it, couldn’t touch it, but he recognized that it was happening.
As he drew closer and closer to climax, he tore his lips from hers and braced his hands on either side of her head.
Their eyes locked, and to his surprise, he felt her body tighten and saw her eyes widen right before she peaked.
The feel of her body seizing around him shredded the last of his control.
He cried out as he climaxed and buried himself deep.
Cal didn’t know how long it took before he came to. He was slumped over Dillon, who traced images on his back with her fingers. He pushed himself up onto his arms to find her smiling at him.
“Well, cowboy, that was one wild ride.”
He gave her a soft kiss. “I think I passed out.”
“I know I did,” she said with a giggle.
Cal pulled out of her and rolled to the side. She faced him, propping her head up with her hand. He moved a lock of her hair away from her face. “This may sound irrational, but I feel like I’ve known you my entire life.”
“It’s not.”
“It’s not?”
She shook her head, smiling softly. “I feel the same. It’s . . . indescribable.”
He reached over and took her hand. They threaded their fingers together. The moment was unique and amazing. He’d had his share of lovers, but no one had ever made him feel so alive.
“I’ve been looking for you for my entire life,” he told her.
Her eyes searched his solemnly.
He glanced at their hands. “This may be the wrong time to say this, but everything about this night has been magical.”
“It’s not the wrong time.”
Her words made him sigh in relief, but he still couldn’t believe he had spoken the words. He’d never felt the need to say such things to anyone before. Then again, Dillon wasn’t like any woman he’d ever known.
With her, he’d found a place that gave him hope, a way of life that eased his soul, and the stirrings of something that he feared putting into thought, much less words. He’d given up ever having a fulfilling life, and yet, here it was, waiting for him. It felt too good to be true.
His past failures made him wonder if he were worthy of seeking such a life. He wasn’t exactly the epitome of accomplishment. Then again, only a fool would allow someone so precious, a woman as wonderful as Dillon, to slip through their fingers without a fight.
“What?” she asked with a smile.
He grinned and brought their hands to his lips to kiss her fingers. “I can’t believe I’m here.”
“I hate to tell you, but if you hadn’t come upstairs, I was headed down.”
“Do you always go for the things you want?”
She nodded. “Life’s too short not to.”
“That, it is,” he mumbled, thinking of his father and the life he could’ve had.
She tugged on his hand. “If all of this about my ranch is too much, I understand.”
“You are, without a doubt, a handful,” Cal teased. Then he grew serious. “I could’ve walked away at any time, but I didn’t. I stayed because I want to help. I can’t really explain why I feel compelled to sort this out, but I do.”
Dillon lowered her head to the bed. “I’m glad.”
“I was thinking about my father and all the years he could’ve had if he’d stopped bull riding.”
“You can’t live someone else’s life.”
Cal nodded and laid his head on the bed with his arm curled underneath it. “Mom resented him for leaving her to handle things on her own.”
“I can’t imagine being a single mom.”
He wrinkled his nose. “I didn’t exactly make it easy on her.”
“Did you ever call her?”
“I did,” he said with a grin. “I thought she hung up on me. Turned out, she was crying.”
Dillon’s lips spread into a smile. “Happy tears.”
“I don’t think she truly believes I’ve given it up.”
“The rodeo has been in your blood for a long time. Are you sure you have given it up?”
Cal thought about that for a moment. Then he nodded. “Absolutely. I’m sure you’ve seen the scars. A body can only handle so much before it’s had enough. I’ve put mine through more than plenty.”
“Can you tell me about the scars?”
He pointed to the one that ran from beneath his armpit to his stomach. “A bull’s horn got me in my second year of riding. I didn’t put my vest on properly, and the horn got between the vest and me.”
“Oh, my God,” she murmured.
“I’ve had both shoulders reconstructed. I’ve got pins in my left ankle from a bull landing on it and crushing it. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve broken my collarbones. After a couple of concussions, I started wearing a helmet.”
Her lips flattened. “You’ve not been kind to your body.”
“I haven’t.”
“I’m sure there are more injuries, too.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I’m not sure I could remember them all.”
“Yet, you still climbed on bull after bull. I’m pretty sure that’s called insanity.”
Cal threw back his head and laughed. “I can’t disagree.”
This. This is what Cal yearned for. Someone to talk to, someone to share his hopes and dreams with. Someone to laugh with.
Someone to love.
He’d finally found her, and he would be damned if someone took her from him.