One to Take (Stuart & Mariska): Sexy Cowboy (One to Hold Book 8) (21 page)

“You always believed in me.”

“Belief, faith, love. It’s what makes a family a home.”

“I’m glad I have you.” I reach out and squeeze his shoulder.

Later that night as we settle into our bed, I think about my uncle’s words. Mariska is on her side feeding our little son. Her hair shines in the lamplight in shades of chestnut and caramel. I slide in behind her, wrapping my arm around her waist and kiss the side of her neck. The scent of jasmine envelops us.

It’s a beautiful moment, and even though time will pass, babies will grow into cowboys, and the activity will die down, I know this woman in my arms is my home. She eases my pain. She makes me laugh. She’s the only pair of arms I want to fall into when I’m in need.

“I love you,” I whisper softly, kissing her again. She smiles, and I know she feels the same. Come what may, we’ll be here, facing whatever storms arise, together.

I
f you enjoyed
One to Take
, please leave a short, sweet review wherever you purchased your copy. Reviews help your favorite authors so much. They also help new readers find my books.

Thank you for your help!

-
H
ear
some of the music that inspired
One to Take
on
Spotify
!

Playlist includes:

“Who I Am with You,” Chris Young

“God Made Girls,” RaeLynn

“Cowboy, Take Me Away,” Dixie Chicks

“I Will Never Let You Know,”
Nashville
Cast

“I Will Wait,” Mumford & Sons

“Let Him Fly,” Dixie Chicks

“Suffering,” The War on Drugs

“Believe,” Mumford & Sons

“You & I,” One Direction

“Love is War,” American Young

“Tenerife Sea,” Ed Sheeran

-
S
ee
the images that inspired
One to Take
on
Pinterest
!

-“
R
unaway” is the
FREE
, specially packaged SUPERHOT Prequel to
One to Chase
(Marcus & Amy).

Get it
FREE
as an ebook on
Amazon
|
iTunes
|
Kobo
|
Google Play
|
Barnes & Noble
|
ARe

Order a Signed Copy FREE (+shipping) in my online store (link)!

-
J
oin “Tia’s Books
& Babes” on Facebook
and chat about the books, post images of your favorite characters, get EARLY exclusive sneak peeks, and MORE (
link
)!

-
K
eep
up with the guys on their Facebook Page:
The Alexander-Knight Files (link)!

(
S
tuart
& Mariska)

© TLM Productions, 2014

If you asked where this sudden surge of bravery came from, I’d have to be honest. I had no fucking idea. Stuart rode into the barn looking like sex on two legs… very tired sex on two legs, but sex on two legs all the same, and I made up my mind. After the way he kissed me yesterday, I didn’t care what type of bullshit line he tried to spin, Stuart Knight was in the same space as me. He was fighting hard, but he wanted this.

Now I was in his bedroom ordering him around, and he was actually allowing it. Humoring me, more like it. Not for one minute was I suffering from the delusion that this man took orders from anyone. Still, for whatever reason, exhaustion or simple curiosity, he let me take the lead.

Once his shirt was off, I couldn’t hide the hitch in my breath at the site of his lined torso. Ridges crossed his abdomen, lines stretched across his broad shoulders and down his arms. He lay on his stomach across the mattress, and it was all I could do not to run my tongue over every inch of his beautiful body. Instead, I quickly took off my boots, and for increased mobility (yes, that was my excuse), I removed my denim shorts.

Lightly I smoothed my palm across his lower back, trying to remember the touches I’d learned in the few massage therapy classes I’d taken.
Why hadn’t I taken more?
Kneading a little harder, I knew I had to get lower, down into the pelvic area to give him relief.

“Do you mind if I remove your boxers?” My voice was breathless and trembling. Those snug, dark briefs didn’t hide much, but I knew once I saw that ass, I’d be a goner.

“No.”

One word. He’d sounded almost as cautious as me when he said it. Closing my eyes, I shook myself. Now was the time. This was my man. If I was going to make it happen, if I was going to make any of this make sense, from the day I left Bayville to this moment, I had to go for it. Fate had dropped this opportunity straight in my lap.

Inhaling a quiet breath, I gently pulled the waistband out and lowered it down his legs. I knew what was on the other side, pressed between his pelvis and the mattress, and I didn’t want to hurt him. Miraculously, I got his underwear off, and

Oh.

My.

God.

Square and tight, with palm-sized indentations on each side… For a moment, I could only stare at his backside. Perfect and golden as the rest of him.

Climbing back onto my knees, I took the quietest deep breath in the history of recorded time. It trembled going in, and my hand trembled reaching out. I touched him. He seemed to breathe at that exact moment as well—almost as if he’d been holding his breath, too.

Pressing with my palms and circling with my thumbs, I kneaded the tightness out of his left side. Moving down that perfect curve of muscle, I went to his hamstring and repeated the process moving back up. Thumbs circling, palms pressing, more circling, more kneading, and I moved to the other leg to repeat the process, down then slowly working my way back up to that perfect ass.

He let out a few quiet groans throughout, and after ten minutes that felt like a mixture of ten seconds and ten hours, I’d done all I could do. I was finished.

Sitting back on the bed, I looked at the sculptured physique lying before me.

“You should take an ibuprofen to head off any pain tonight. Massage releases lactic acid, and you might actually feel worse at first. It’ll be a lot better in the morning.”

His head turned, and smoky hazel eyes blinked under thick lashes. He was tired, but he was still so handsome. “That felt really good.” Husky voice. The man was pure sex. “Thanks.”

Dropping my chin, I looked at my hands. “Glad to help.”

Neither of us spoke. He didn’t move. My work was done, and it was time for me to go. I had to go.

My insides twisted, and my stomach cramped at the thought of walking away from him, at the prospect that he might not follow. Still, I knew Stuart Knight, and I couldn’t be easy. He had to decide what he wanted. He had to come after me.

Clearing my throat, I turned and slid off the bed, scooping my shorts from the floor. “I hope you feel better,” I said before heading to the door where my boots lay next to the jack.

He didn’t speak, and from what I could tell, he hadn’t moved. He was letting me go. Heat blurred my vision, my stomach ached, and I started moving faster. I would
not
cry—at least not here. I’d run all the way to the other side of the house, to my room, before I lost it.

Reaching for the door, I’d just turned the knob and started to pull when it flew from my fingertips and slammed shut. The noise made me jump, and a boot dropped from my arms, hitting the floor with a loud
thump
. Stuart’s arm was over my head. He’d pushed the door closed, and my bottom lip sucked between my teeth when his hand slid slowly down to turn the lock.

Lined stomach, broad chest, strong arms, he was naked before me. I wanted to look lower, but instead I cautiously blinked up to his eyes. They were hot and angry and desperate and hungry, and my heart ricocheted all around inside my chest. He was losing the fight this time.

“Stay.” His voice rumbled low, and my arms went slack.

I dropped my other boot, my shorts, and stood in front of him waiting, ready for whatever was coming.

(
K
enny + Slayde
)

© TLM Productions LLC, 2014

“
D
rop every fear
.”

Kenny

T
he pier posts
extended above the wooden planks, and I leaned my cheek against one thinking about what had brought me here. All the events leading up to this moment, from my drive to Wilmington to my disastrous night with Mariska to meeting Slayde in the gym to last night to this morning…

“Hey.” His low voice snapped me out of my reflections. I turned and stood straight to face him, energy surging through my stomach.

He exhaled a low, “Wow.”

Suddenly self-conscious, I looked down, taking in the filmy red dress, my tall shoes. I was pretty fancy compared to him in the same faded jeans and a white tee.

“I’ve been waiting for a reason to wear this,” I said, apologetically. “It’s been hanging in my closet forever.”

He was barefoot in the sand, but he stepped up onto the pier and quickly took both my hands. His eyes shone, and I could hardly look at them.

“Why do you do that?” He caught my chin and turned my face back to his. I could’ve gazed all night at his dark hair moving in the constant breeze, his square jaw shaded by the faint scruff of a beard, and that sexy line down his chin—if it hadn’t been for those ice-blue eyes.

My voice was quiet. “People always say I have beautiful eyes.”

“You do.” His answer was quick.

“But so do you. I look in them, and I feel like I can’t breathe.”

He stepped forward and cupped my cheek in one hand before closing his lips against mine. It was a gentle kiss. No tongue, but full of warmth. I felt his breath whisper across my cheek when he leaned back and looked straight into my soul.

“I’m so glad this dress was hanging in your closet forever. You’re beautiful.”

“You keep saying that,” I laughed, turning my face to the side. “You’re the beautiful one.”

“Come with me.” He pulled, and I stumbled after him. At the edge of the pier he stopped. “Sit.”

I followed orders, and his large, warm hands circled my ankles. “I love these shoes.” He turned my foot side to side. “God, I hate to do this.” In one quick motion, he slid the ankle strap down, and it was off. Then he did the same with the other. “Walk on the beach with me, but hang onto those. We might put them back on later.”

A little charge raced through my core at the prospect of how that might go. I didn’t have time to dwell on it because he pulled me to his side, and his muscled arm wrapped around me, holding me close as we walked north along the shoreline.

He looked forward into the breeze. “How is it possible I came here thinking I’d fade away, and I found you?”

Entranced by the sight of him holding me so close, I was sure he felt my heartbeat, and I found myself being utterly truthful. “I was so messed up. Everything about me was wrong until you appeared.”

“I don’t believe it.” A laugh was in his breath. He was so amazing, confident, determined, impenetrable, and yet vulnerable at the most unexpected times.

He stopped walking, and for the space of two heartbeats, I stood there, wrapped in his arms, his fingers laced with mine at my back, our mouths a breath apart. Then the breath was gone. He kissed me with so much emotion, my legs grew weak. Lips parted, tongues curled together, I struggled to get my hands out of his.

At first he wouldn’t release them, and feeling his strength, the sense of being trapped by him was intensely erotic. His grip loosened, and I pushed my arms around his neck. I loved the way he lifted me, holding my waist, our mouths never parting, only moving in time—open, closed, tasting—until he pulled back with a start.

“Shit! We’ve got to get back!” He lowered me quickly to the sand.

It was so unexpected I had to laugh. “What?”

“Come on.” He held my hand and took off fast in the direction we’d come.

“Slayde!” I couldn’t breathe as he picked up the pace. His legs were a bit longer than mine, and I was gasping before we were even halfway there.

He stopped abruptly, and I ran into him. “Oh!” I cried.

Catching my face, he kissed me fast on the mouth. “Hop on my back.”

He turned so his back was to me. Lifting my hand, I placed it on his corded shoulder. “I can honestly say I never expected this to happen.”

“Hurry, our dinner is on the line.”