S I L A S
The creaking of the barn doors shutting brought such a sense of contentment. I owed Nate and Ryke huge thanks for covering me after Mirabelle had been hurt, so when they mentioned something about a band playing in town, I’d urged them to enjoy a night off. The evening chores were a big job for one person, but I’d never minded hard work. Truthfully, it gave me the much needed quiet to get my head back where it needed to be. Exhaustion dogged me, but it was exactly what I needed.
After lounging around for several days, a restless Mirabelle had gotten mad when I’d told her she shouldn’t be in the barn. She ended up in the paddock with Snickers, and I figured I’d better keep my mouth shut, knowing that every one of us on the ranch would feel the same way if someone said we couldn’t be around the horses. Although she excelled in stubbornness, she didn’t do lazy well, that was for sure.
The air was damp and cool, smelling of fresh hay and rain. The trees and shrubs stood silhouetted in the darkening sky, shadows twice as long with the light of the moon. I strolled slowly to the main house, enjoying the tranquil sounds around me. Peace resonated through the ranch at night. It was a special place. From the moment I’d set foot on it as a kid, it had been like coming home. There had never been any doubt this was where I belonged, and now, with Mirabelle home, my life was complete.
The main house was still and silent. As I locked up and turned out the lights, memories of Dalton and me doing this same thing every night hit me out of nowhere. Mirabelle’s presence filled a huge void left when we’d lost Dalton, but some things would never be the same. He would forever be missed.
The small lamp cast a soft glow around my bedroom. Dark curls tumbled from beneath the comforter where Mirabelle slept, filling my heart with warmth. As I walked into the bathroom, I caught the reflection of my goofy smile.
Shrugging out of my work clothes, I stepped into the shower, gasping at the cold water. With Mirabelle in my bed, waiting for the water to warm took too much time. By the time I rinsed my hair, steam filled the bathroom. The hot water beating my sore muscles soothed the aches as it washed the soap off my skin. Perfection.
As I walked to the dresser while wrapping a towel around my waist, flickering light broke through the tired haze in my brain. I froze, and no matter how much I blinked, nothing changed.
Candles covered several surfaces, filling the room with soft light. Mirabelle sat in the middle of the bed in a cream-colored lace top and matching panties, her dark curls falling over her breasts.
Was I dreaming? God, I really hoped not. The towel I wore was nowhere near large enough to hide how hard I was.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
“I hope so.” Her mouth curved into a smile
Days of nothing but soft kisses weren’t exactly easy on me, but Mirabelle had needed time to heal. The thought of hurting her had stopped me. A couple of times, she’d tried to push me further, but I’d managed to convince her we should wait. From the looks of things, avoiding sexual contact had been challenging for her, too. It was easy to guess the waiting was over.
“Come here.” She quirked her finger at me.
Without hesitation, my feet moved on their own accord. Denying her again was not an option. I needed to be buried deep inside her as much as I needed my next breath.
When my knees touched the comforter, I stopped, anxious to see where she was going to take this. She rose to her knees, running her hands over my chest before leaning in and brushing her soft lips against my nipples. Goosebumps covered my skin as her tongue darted out just enough to tease each one.
Her tongue trailed a heated path down my abs, like matches stroking my skin with flames. She stopped just above the base of my cock. Her warm breath made me twitch in anticipation, and my breath grew shaky. Gathering her long curls in one hand, I lifted them out of the way so I could watch her every move.
Eyes locked on mine, she traced the underside of my engorged arousal, tasting and probing, then teasing the head. The warmth of her mouth, sucking hard as she lowered all the way before pulling back, made my heart thunder in my ears. The grin on her face when she let me go with a loud pop, was too much for me.
With care not to hurt her, I eased her back until her head was on the pillows, and her knees bent and spread. Starting at her ankles, I grazed my fingers up her legs, pausing when I got to her upper thighs. She threw her head back and moaned when I flicked my finger over her clit.
“Oh, Silas, please,” she begged.
I lowered between her thighs and dragged my fingers through her arousal before plunging my tongue inside her. Her taste flooded my senses, driving me to give her more pleasure. When her legs were shaking and her thighs trembling, I moved to her clit, swirling, sucking, and stroking until she shuddered her release.
“I need you, Silas.” Desperation coated her voice, and her hands reached for me.
The hot intensity of her gaze made my arms shaky as I settled my body between her legs. The head of my cock nestled against her opening.
“I don’t want anything between us, Mirabelle. I’ve always been safe. Please tell me you’re on the pill.” My voice was frantic. Barely able to hang on, I needed her now.
“I am.”
Those two words were all I needed to hear. I buried my length in her sweet warmth. Her hooded eyes glued to mine, I glided in and out of her. Thoughts of the past and future were pushed away. I was only in the present, our connection so fierce, I was sure nothing would ever even come close. Never had something ever felt more fucking perfect than her walls gripping me with each thrust.
“God, baby!” I grunted. My movements quickened as I closed in on my climax. Refusing to go without her, I found her sensitive bud and firmly rolled it between my fingers.
“Silas!”
Watching her in the throes of a trembling orgasm—back arched, chest heaving, skin flushed—was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Her walls clenching around me sent me tumbling over the edge. I emptied into her, shuddering, unable to get close enough to her.
I rolled my weight off her, holding her hand between us as we fought to catch our breath.
“Wow.” Mirabelle was the first to speak, making me chuckle.
“My thoughts exactly.” Gathering her into my arms, I placed a tender kiss on the bandage covering her stitches.
“I love you, Silas.” Her voice softened as she nuzzled closer.
“I love you, too, Mirabelle. So fucking much.”