"Oh, God," she cries, her whole body shaking with her soft sobbing. The tiniest sounds come from her while she struggles to compose herself.
I release her right hand, keeping hold of her other, and reach into my pocket to pull out the ring I bought almost four months ago. Right after our second dinner at the ranch. I knew then, just like I knew when I stupidly denied it to myself the night I met her, that she's my forever.
When the sun catches the diamonds, Caroline stops trying to control herself and cries harder. I place the ring against the tip of her ring finger and wait, looking at the diamonds as they reflect thousands of colorful prisms in the sun, feeling my own eyes burn, knowing that this moment will forever be one of the greatest triumphs in my life. Her body shudders as she sucks in a choppy gasp, and I glance up just in time to see her looking down at our hands with her chin quivering and more wetness starting to pool in her eyes. This time, there are no sounds, just her tears running silently down her cheeks while she watches me intently. A lesser man would feel some dread over the prolonged silence from the woman he just asked to be his wife, but not me. I know what she'll say. I've known for months now that her answer would be yes, no matter when I asked. It's what drove me to the jeweler to begin with, needing this ring to be ready when the moment came. Confident as I was, I knew she'd be like this. She wouldn't be the woman I love if she didn't need to work through the overpowering emotions slamming into her. If I need to kneel here until the sun dips below the trees, I'll do it. I'll give her all the time in the world to give me--us--the beginning of everything.
By the time we leave here tonight, I'll have my ring on her finger; our bellies will be full with the food waiting for us; and there'll be grass stains on our clothes from when I love my future wife slow and soft under the blue skies, endless green pastures, in the spot that was my only salvation for thirty-five years. Used to be--not now. Not with the love of a damn good woman showing me my way.
Her hand pushes forward in my hold with a sharp jerk, the movement causing the ring to slide down to the middle of her finger, stopping at her knuckle. I'm unable to look away from the big round stone surrounded by tons of smaller diamonds, what it symbolizes hitting me with a maelstrom of emotions. None of them bad, either. No panic, like I had felt when this was almost forced on me by my ex. No fear when I think about my parents' marriage. Nothing but excitement for what my future with Caroline holds. I swallow thickly before glancing back up at her. Her silent tears are still cascading down her tanned cheeks, but she's giving me a huge, blindingly happy, toothy smile. Even though I knew it in my gut, seeing how happy she is and knowing those tears are because she's that happy, I feel my own expression break as my joy is given free rein.
"Yes," she finally answers in a small whisper so soft that if there had been some wind, it would have carried her word away with it before it reached my ears. Awe present in her hushed tone, her stare is locked on our hands as I slide the ring the rest of the way down her slim finger. She continues to look down, only giving me her eyes when I lift her hand and press a kiss against the ring. I hold my lips there, watching her chest shake as she pulls in rapid breaths. It's the pure, unmasked joy lighting every inch of her that has me silently vowing I'll do everything in my power to make sure she never loses that happiness while we love each other for the rest of our lives.
I climb to my feet, bending down to dust the dirt off my knee, before stretching to my full height. Caroline looks so tiny standing before me, holding her hand out in front of her face as she admires the ring.
"You look good wearin' my diamonds, Linney, love." My voice must have broken the spell she had been hooked in, because her head snaps up and she jumps. When our gazes collide, I see she hadn't really stopped the crying like I thought. "You're killin' me with the tears, darlin'."
"I'm so happy, Clayton Davis." Her whole body shakes as she gets choked up. I can't help it when my chest puffs slightly. I feel damn good about being the reason she's feeling this way--even if it's coming with some tears.
"How about you get in my arms with your mouth on mine and show me just how happy you are?"
She doesn't hesitate. She jumps, and her arms go around my neck at the same time her legs circle my hips. My hands instantly go to her sweet ass, pulling her closer and keeping her right where I want her. The heat of her pussy is unmistakable against my hard cock, even with the layers keeping us apart completely. She peppers my face with kisses, her soft lips moving frantically as she covers me from forehead to jaw. When she lifts her head, after pressing one last kiss to the side of my jaw, I expect her to finally give me her mouth. Instead, she tips her head back, and shouts up to the sun and the bright blue sky, her back arched, with her tits right in front of my face, while holding on with her hands hooked together behind my neck. Her body bounces, excitement flowing, and I groan when I feel that movement milk some pre-come from my needy cock.
"My dark cowboy is goin' to be my husband!" Caroline shouts. Her whole body quivers with excitement as she looks back at me. "You're goin' to be my husband, Clayton," she tells me, her lips curled in a beautiful, happy smile.
"You're gonna be my wife."
"Oh my God!" she starts bouncing and I almost fall to my knees as pleasure zaps up my spine.
My fingers clench, grabbing her ass cheeks and pushing her roughly against my cock, stilling her movements instantly and groaning loudly. I hiss when she manages to wiggle just a fraction against me.
"Keep that up, sweetness, and I'm gonna strip us down and forget about our dinner so I can fuck my love into you with the sun shining down on us."
She moans, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
"You want that, baby?"
Her thighs clamp tighter around my hips and her fingers dig into my shoulders. The bite of pain just makes me crave her more.
"Linney, love. You want me to feed you or eat you?"
"Oh, God," she whimpers.
"Give me the words, darlin'. Tell me what you want. I'll give you the world, but you gotta use the words to ask for it."
"You," she breathes heavily. "I just want you."
My chest vibrates with the hungry sound of approval that bursts free and I lean my head toward hers as she moves to meet me halfway. Our mouths are already opening before our lips press together. Her tongue glides against mine in a slow caress. Her hands drag up my neck as we both give everything we have. Her moans meet mine as our tongues dance. Our bodies become frantic as she rolls her hips and I flex my ass to push my length harder against her, needing, craving more.
I have to rip my mouth from hers, unable to wait any longer to feel her heat hugging me tightly. Caroline starts to kiss and lick down my neck and that sound fills my chest again--a mix between a groan and a growl that her intoxicating body brings out in me. I see the thick flannel blanket Maverick placed under the small two-person wooden table. The huge swath of red-and-black material gives me all the space I need.
"As much as I hate to say it, you're gonna have to get down."
"No, honey," she hums, licking me from my collarbone to my ear before taking a tiny bite with her teeth, nipping me and making me falter as the shock of it creates waves of pleasure through my body.
"Linney," I grunt when she sucks the flesh she just nipped into her mouth. "Get down and get naked, now," I hoarsely command, quickly losing the battle with my control. I can already feel my balls pulling tight, ready to explode and not giving one shit that the only place I want to pour myself into is the woman drunk with arousal and high off happiness.
I don't waste a second seeing if she's heeding my demand. My fingers curl in my shirt and I give it a tug. Buttons scatter all around as I pull it and my undershirt off and reach for my belt. When I see Caroline moving just as frantically as I am, not even hesitating to strip out here in the open, I clench my jaw and pray for control. Her small, perfect-handful tits are free and jiggling slightly against her chest as she wiggles her jeans down, kicking them in the direction of her
boots and hooking her thumbs into her white lace thong. Her hands freeze, though, and I lick my lips before looking up at her.
"You're too dressed," she pants, rubbing her thighs together.
Knowing she's desperate for me to ease her ache between her legs sends an animalistic need bursting through me. I tear my clothes off wildly and so fast that when I'm taking the few steps separating us, she's still standing there with her thumbs hooked in her underwear. Her breath rushes from her lungs when my body collides with hers and I take her mouth again. My hands turn her head as I deepen our kiss and moan in her mouth when her soft belly presses against my cock.
It doesn't take much before I know I'm seconds from coming, and I'm not going to do that shit on her stomach. Shifting our bodies, I grab her hips and lift her. Her legs hook behind my ass and she slams her center against my cock. Her wet heat slides against my shaft as she rocks her hips and mewls a knee-weakening moan. Our bodies move without prompting until I'm on my back, her knees at my hips, and her hand circling as much of my cock as she can while lining the tip up with her entrance. She pauses, and my eyes practically cross when her heat kisses the tip of my cock. When she doesn't move past that, I look up at her face.
"Fuck me," I breathe. The sun, high in the sky, casts a glow around her naked body. The brilliance of the bright light hitting her back makes it seem like little beams are shooting around her. She looks like a fucking angel. I have no idea what I did to earn the love of this woman, but I'll never take it for granted. "Get on my cock, Linney, and ride me. Show me how much you love me and take what you need."
"Oh, Clayton," she gasps, her chest heaving with her rapid breaths.
My hands move until my thumb is pressing and rolling against her clit as the other goes to her tit. She inhales with a hiss, her eyes slits as pleasure takes hold of her. I pinch her again, a little harder, before soothing the tight bud with my thumb.
"Take me. Give me you while I give you me. Show me what having my ring on your hand makes you feel."
She drops down, impaling herself on every inch of me. Her eyes squeeze shut and her mouth drops open. She's only taken all of me at one go once, and that was after I had fucked her with my mouth until she came over and over. Even as wet as she had been after that, she still couldn't take all of me. But with the lips of her sex pressed against my pelvis, she greedily takes every inch, her hands curling against my abs as she begins to fuck my cock. Pulling herself up and dropping back down, she rakes her nails over my skin in a burning path. I keep thumbing her clit, her walls fluttering against my cock, milking me.
"I'm not gonna last, baby," I groan when I feel her wetness on my balls and her pussy start to tighten to the point of pain before sending me rolling into blinding pleasure. "Fuckin' hell," I moan, taking her hips and thrusting up as she starts to scream out my name, clamping down on me with her wet heat. I pull her hips down and flex my ass to feed her all of me while I start coming with a shout. I hold her firmly against me, not willing to lose any part of our connection, and lift off my back to take her mouth while she milks her release.
She falls against my chest and I grunt when the movement slides my cock a little deeper, closing my eyes when I feel another burst shoot deep inside of her. The tension from my release finally drains out of my muscles a minute later, but I keep my hold on her hips so I don't lose her heat. We lie there in comfortable silence, the only sounds our ragged breathing as we both come down. Every few minutes my cock, still more hard than soft, twitches inside her, making her moan. Caroline shifts in my grip, bringing her hands to my chest as she pushes against me to lift up. As soon as there's some space between our bodies, she looks from my face to my chest. She starts moving her hand in small degrees, staring at her ring, and I can only guess that the sun hitting her ring is the reason she's doing so. I watch her beautiful face as she smiles, still looking at her hand.
Then her hand drops, but her smile grows.
"Oh my God," she gasps, giggling a beat later, the ring forgotten as she points to where the horses are grazing, patiently waiting for us. "Dell . . . he's all white, Clayton!" My fingers tighten when I feel her laughter in the walls of her pussy, still surrounding my cock. "You," she snorts, unaware of what she's doing to me. "How did I not see it before! You rode in on your white horse, knocked me on my butt, but saved me in the end. My knight in pressed flannel and Wranglers."
"You're a nut, darlin'."
Her giggles multiply and I can't help but join in. "I'm goin' to make a whole section on hot, flannel-wearin', white-knight cowboys when I get The Sequel back open. Just you wait."
Her body rocks against mine as she continues to laugh softly, looking at our horses again with a tiny shake of her head. Unable to stand it anymore, I thrust my hips. Her giggle quickly turns into a whimper.
"I love you, Linney," I tell her, giving her a few more thrusts.
Her soft brown eyes darken and her lips take on a smile that will forever be branded in my mind. The sun is still swirling around every inch of her as I look up from my spot on the ground. She's never looked more beautiful than she does in this moment, joined with me as we start our forever.
"Never gonna stop lovin' you, Caroline."
Her breath hitches. "And I love you, Clayton. Always."
22
CAROLINE
"Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis
"I don't want to wait," I tell him, helping him pack up the rest of our lunch. He stops folding the blanket we finally climbed off of to actually eat the lunch I was cleaning up, but seeing the material in his arms against his naked chest makes me want him all over.
"Wait for what, darlin'?"
I place the last empty storage container into the basket before looking back at him. The rush of him loving me is still surging through my body and mingling with the euphoric high I've had since he knelt in front of me, making me feel as if I could take on the world and win it. And right now, becoming his wife is just as grand in my mind as owning the world would be.
"To become your wife," I answer confidently. No more, not with him, will the shy Caroline Michaels hold back because of her insecurities.
His shoulders move in silent laughter. "What makes you think I'd want to wait?"
"That's usually what happens, honey. Man asks woman, woman spends every waking moment planning her dream wedding until months of stress and preparation form the most perfect day that you'll ever experience."
His lips twitch before he smiles his heart-stopping grin. His green eyes squint as his smile grows. "Darlin', you planning on takin' that long?"
I shake my head. "Well, no."
"How long you need?"
I tilt my head, thinking about it, but don't get far before he starts laughing deeply. He tosses the blanket on top of the picnic basket a second before his arms are around me. The light peppering of hair against his rock-hard chest tickles my palms and I regret getting dressed before we ate when my nipples harden. I love the feel of his chest hair against my skin as he takes me.
"Linney?"
"Hmm?" I answer, rubbing my hands over him.
"How long do you need?"
"For what?" I lick my lips when I feel him grow harder, the length of him no match for the denim covering it.
"Baby." He laughs.
I blink, looking from his chest to his face. "Don't laugh at me, mister."
"You loved me hard, Linney, then you still let me take you slow. My cock shouldn't have anything left, but with you lookin' at me like that it damn sure does. How about you answer me and I can get you home, in our bed, with my cock buried deep."
I feel his words dance through my body, lighting a fire of need in their path, wetness dampening my panties.
"I forgot the question," I tell him honestly, breathless for him.
"How much time," he starts, pressing his mouth to mine quickly, lifting his head to smile down at me, "do you need to plan our weddin'?"
"None," I hum, pressing myself closer and shifting m
y hands to glide over his skin until I've got a palm against each side of his neck and my face tipped up to look into his. "I don't need any time, Clayton. I just need you."
"Baby," he responds thickly.
"I don't want anything big, Clayton," I say. "Your family, Lucy and Luke. That's it, honey. I don't want to wait weeks, months, years. We've both wasted too much time in our lives while we dealt with our ugly in order to find our beauty. I don't need to continue to waste time now that it's even more precious. I just want you. You and me and whatever blessings we find together."
"You sure you don't want somethin' big?"
"Why, Clayton? You have your brother and sister, their families, and I have Lucy and Luke. There aren't grandparents; my parents and yours didn't have siblings. I don't want the town turnin' our weddin' into somethin' crazy because they're just nosy. All we need is a small ceremony, our family together, and us."
He drops his forehead to mine, smiling. "I like that, Linney."
"I don't want to wait," I reiterate.
"Then don't. I wouldn't have asked you to be my wife if I wasn't ready to make that happen. You aren't the only one not wantin' to wait, darlin'. I don't want you lookin' back and wishin' you had some big weddin' though either."
"I would never."
"Then, Caroline, don't wait."
"The whole town's goin' to think you knocked me up. They went crazy when news got out about us livin' together, I can only imagine what they'll think when they hear about us bein' engaged."
His eyes flash, something I don't quite understand flickering there for only a second before vanishing. I feel his heart thundering against my chest as the silence continues. His throat bobbles when he swallows.