Scarlet (3 page)

His eyes burned with warning. It was so intense, so raw, and so demanding. He knew he’d won. He had me in his grasp, and I had no choice but to surrender.
 

I shook my head as I held his gaze. “Yes,” I whispered softly into the night, embarrassed by my need for him.

His nostrils flared at my words, and I instantly knew it was what he’d wanted to hear. His eyes darted up and down my body beneath him before he shook his head. “If you were mine, I wouldn’t let you out of the house in this flimsy shit.” He pulled the strap of my dress down and attacked my shoulder with his lips and tongue, nipping and kissing and tracing invisible lines with carnal sensuality. His teeth caressed my skin almost like a warning and making my body and mind ache for him. He hadn’t known it then, but the moment his hands first made contact with my body, I was his.
 

“So sweet. Every inch of you drives me insane.” He yanked down the neckline of my dress, releasing just enough of my breast to drive me wild without even exposing a nipple. His hands groped at my skin, his tongue lapping at the creamy flesh of my breast before he nipped, sending a delightful shiver coursing through me. He rolled my peaked nipple between his fingers over the thin cotton of my dress before his other hand trailed between my trembling thighs for the first time.
 

I felt the press of his hand on my mound, and I sighed, feeling like a goddess beneath his intoxicating touch. He slipped one finger beneath the elastic of my panties and made contact with my scorching hot flesh. Arousal pumped through my body as I arched, desperate for more. “I love that I do this to you. So wet for me,” he chuckled, before one long finger slid through the seam of my pussy and stroked the sensitive nerves. I arched and moaned into the night as my orgasm began another slow build under his attentions.
 

“No.” I shook my head hastily, desperate for more touching and less talking.
 

“Ah, sweet girl. I bet you taste even sweeter than you look,” were his last words before he buried his head between my thighs, the warmth of his breath against the cotton of my underwear. He pulled the elastic of one leg aside, exposing my hot core to the cool night air, before I felt one long, slow lick from his tongue. My hips bucked, and I would have tumbled if it hadn’t been for his powerful hands locked at my thighs and holding me in place beneath him.
 

I couldn’t move. I was subject to his every whim, helpless to the pleasure he was giving me, and still, it was the only place on earth I wanted to be. My mind fogged with lust as his fingers teased at my entrance, his tongue fucking my clit in slow, torturous circles. “I want to go home with your scent on me. Cum on my face, sweetheart.” He flicked fiercely at the little nub before sucking it into his mouth, taking long pulls like he was nursing from a bottle of sweet wine. Fire burned through my body as release pummeled through my system and sent a tidal wave of sensations crashing through every single nerve. My thighs shook beneath his hands, and my toes curled behind his back. Shallow, satiated breaths beat up my chest like I was desperate for oxygen. Something about Beau stole all the air from my lungs and left me needy and desperate for more of his particular brand of sweet torment.

“Look how pretty you are after you cum.” His thready voice brought me back to reality, and his lips pressed against mine, his tongue thrusting into my mouth. I tasted the musky-sweet nectar that glistened on his lips, the dark stubble smattering his jaw covered in my scent just like he’d wanted.
 

“I’ve never done that before. I’ve never been with a man,” I whispered softly, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
 

Beau’s eyes softened, and he kissed me slowly, his hands in my hair, his lips taking their time, his tongue tracing the bow and nipping at the corner before he plundered my mouth again. I felt like a decadent dessert he wanted to savor as we kissed for what seemed like hours, losing track of time. I felt the press of his thick erection against my pelvis with every breath, but he never tried for more. He seemed content to please me with his tongue, then kiss me until I was blue in the face.
 

It was magical.

FOUR

Beau

I’d walked her back to the house, my palm pressed at her back, thinking for the first time in more than thirty years, I was taken away by a woman. If you’d asked me a month ago if I thought soul mates, true love, and fate were a thing I would have said
hell no
, but after meeting my
petite
rouge
, I’d argue the point with any man. Love at first sight was real, and Scarlet had socked me in the balls with it.
 

She’d fallen into my arms and stolen every beat of my heart. I didn’t understand it, and I’d tried to fight the feelings raging through my system, tried everything in my power. But it’s taken barely any time with the sassy little redhead in my life to realize I was powerless to fight. My mind was obsessed with her, my body even more so. I wondered if she was settling in okay, if Ms. Fair was treating her well, where she’d come from and even what her parents were like. I wanted to claim Scarlet Fair for myself, but I wanted to know her, too. And I was sure that electrical charge that pulsed through my blood whenever she was nearby wasn’t felt by me alone. I saw the way her eyes sparkled with interest when I spoke.
 

I wasn’t a man who minced words, I wore my heart on my sleeve and didn’t do well with secrets and games. What would she think if I told her exactly what I was feeling about her? That her wild, fiery hair haunted me at night, her effortless giggle and high-beam smile through the day. I couldn’t get her off my mind.

Tonight we’d crossed a line, and I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. I wanted her so badly I could taste the desire in my mouth. I had a burning desire to take care of her, dote on her, protect her from the big, bad world. I’d throw myself in front of a truck to save her life, drop to my knees and beg for her love and attention. I didn’t know what would happen if she didn’t feel the same way, didn’t want the same things. I would sacrifice everything to have her in my arms, and my heart would split in half if she decided I wasn’t the man for her.
 

I walked down the path bordering the woods to where my little cabin was tucked away. More than a half mile from the main house, I sucked in great lungfuls of air and swore I could still smell her on me. The sweet scent of her pussy clinging to the course whiskers of my beard made my pulse pound painfully through my cock. I slid my hand across my face, relishing the scent of her on me. I was as good as claimed by Scarlet as she was by me.

My heart swelled with protective pride when she’d told me she was a virgin. I was the only one to lay hands on her, the only one to know her taste and the feel of her pressed against my lips, and I damn sure planned on keeping it that way. Owning her with my tongue and my fingers, I'd barely been able to control myself from taking her, but my only concern was doing it right for her. Every woman deserved to be loved and cherished, and tonight I made it my own personal mission to serve her, in my bed and out.
 

I shook my head and stomped up the steps of my cabin, headed for the kitchen and grabbing a beer before settling on the front porch. My eyes looked out over the horizon, down the pathway I’d just come, past the cherry orchards and the big house in the distance beyond.
 

I knew for a fact Scarlet couldn’t see my little home tucked into the woods, but I was suddenly very glad I had a view of her window. My beautiful
petite
rouge
. She deserved someone who would give her the moon and be willing to go all the way there and back to take care of her, and I would damn well make sure I was going to be that man.
 

Early the next morning I woke with a raging hard-on and a memory of Scarlet so powerful I swore she was in bed with me. I pulled myself from the sheets and walked across the dark wooden floors to the master bathroom. Catching a glance of myself in the mirror, I tried to see myself through Scarlet’s eyes. Broad, trim physique, sun-kissed skin from years of outdoor work, a slightly unkempt beard, and short dark hair in contrast to golden flesh. I ran a hand through my hair as I wondered if I should go to her today. I needed to make sure she was okay, that we were okay after everything that had happened last night.
 

I jumped under the hot spray of the shower as thoughts of my sweet Scarlet swallowed my time. I scrubbed shampoo through my hair, enjoying the feel of the hot water lashing my skin, before I rinsed and wrapped a towel around my waist. I was headed for the kitchen when I spotted a vision walking down my narrow driveway.
 

“Scarlet?” I swung open my front door and called.
 

Her gaze darted up, the sun casting a halo of light around her thick red hair. “Oh! I didn’t know you lived here. I was just out for a walk.” She paused and tilted her palms together.
 

A smile pulled at my lips. “Well, ya found me.” I sauntered down the steps and snagged her elbow. “Good morning.”
 

I pulled her to me, our bodies bumping together just close enough to heighten the static energy already vibrating between us. “Shoulda brought you home with me last night.” I placed a kiss on her nose. “Christ, I missed you.”

Scarlet’s eyes widened for a breath before she pulled away and touched the pad of her thumb to the bow of her lips. “You missed me?”
 

My grin turned deeper as I locked her hand in mine, pulling her against my body. “’Course I did. Were you thinkin’ about me, too?” A cocky grin stretched my face. “You were, weren’t you,
petite
rouge
?” I ran a palm up her thigh. Her pretty lips parted and she responded.
 

“I couldn't stop thinking about you.”
 

“That’s a girl. I like being on your mind.” My hands cupped the curvy swell of her beautiful ass. “I like knowing I obsess you as much as you do me.”
 

Her eyes widened with my words.
 

“I can feel your heartbeat, little one.” I placed a flat palm over her chest and savored the physical reactions I wrung from her body. “Do I scare you?”
 

Scarlet’s eyes darted up at my words, then she glanced down at her hands again. “Yes,” she said with some bravado, before her eyes softened and the smallest of smiles twitched at her lips. “But you excite me, too.”
 

I nearly lost my mind at her small admission. “Aw, Scarlet. You do so much more than excite me.” My eyes traced the petite features of her face before landing on her lips. “I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”
 

“What does that mean?” she laughed sweetly.
 

“It means I can’t stop thinking about you. Everything about you possesses my mind until the only thing I see is you, the only thing I think about is you, the only thing I dream about,” I paused to run a lock of her hair through my fingers, “is you.”

“Beau,” she breathed, and I pressed my lips against hers in a demanding kiss.
 

“You’re mine,
petite
rouge
, and I’ll spend every day of the rest of my life proving it to you.”

“Yours?” Scarlet’s eyes burned with supercharged emotion.

“Think I’d taste you like I did last night and not call you mine?” I wrapped one hand around her neck and pulled her to me, taking her in a kiss and thrusting my aching cock against her pelvis. “If my words aren’t enough, I’m happy to show you just how
mine
you are.” I held her face in my palm and delved past her lips again.

Her slow, languid kisses consumed me as I gave myself over to her. She could have everything, everything I’d ever worked for, my home, my life. I’d lay it at her feet if she promised to let me in.

“I put my tongue on you. You’re mine just as much as if you wore my brand.” I murmured at the shell of her ear. A slow shiver crawled down her neck, her elegant throat working for a moment before she replied.
 

“Beau, I really just came here for a walk. I swear I wasn’t looking for you or chasing you after last night or something weird like that.” Her words came out in a cute little ramble.
 

“Sure, Scarlet,” I teased and pulled her knuckles to mine for a reverent kiss. “I’ve got to get to the greenhouse ’fore the guys give me shit.” I shoved my nose deep into her hair, taking my fill of her lavender scent before I had to release her. “I’ll come for you later.”
 

“Later?” Her eyes shone with excitement. “Okay, I can’t wait.” She pressed up on her toes to reach my lips, her feather-light kiss nearly bursting my heart with happiness.
 

“Christ.” I pulled her forehead to mine and kissed and nibbled at her lips. “What are you doing to me?”
 

Her soft laugh fell in the wind. “You said that already.”

“I mean it more every time. I’m not sure if you’re the best thing for me or the worst, but damned if I can’t help but find out.”

She shook her head with a laugh before letting go of my hand and backing down the driveway. “Have a good day at work,
Mr. Loup
!”
 

I almost chased her down like a dog and punished her for her
Mr. Loup
taunt. Instead, I shook my head, a cheesy grin pulling at my cheeks as I adjusted my cock while I watched her go, the outline of her shapely little body in the thin fabric not leaving much to my overactive imagination.
 

“Change that dress!” I called after her.
 

She giggled, and I knew her face had turned that bright shade of pink.
 

Scarlet Fair may very well be the death of me.

FIVE

Scarlet

Beau dropped by Gran’s house later that afternoon to update her on the progress of the greenhouse. I’d bitten my lip and listened patiently as they spoke, enjoying the stretch and pull of his muscles as he gestured and explained things to her. He was rough around the edges, all man, incredibly intimidating with his wide stance and crossed arms, but the warmth in his dark eyes drew me in. The cut of his jaw hidden beneath that dark beard haunted the backs of my eyelids. The memory of his sandpaper fingertips tracing across my body was so distracting I thought about excusing myself.