The Rancher's Marriage Pact (11 page)

“Would you have changed your mind if you'd known?”

She had to think about that a few seconds. “Possibly, but it doesn't matter since we can't do anything about it now. Besides, we still have twelve months to figure out how we're going to end it.”

“Yeah, you're right, unless you can't tolerate me that long.”

She gave him a mock stern look. “That's a strong possibility if you don't finish those burgers. I'm suddenly so hungry I could eat the tablecloth.”

“No more slap and tickle?” he asked, clear disappointment in his tone.

She wanted to say definitely, but she hadn't quite digested the divorce issue. “Let's worry about dinner right now, okay?”

He stood and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Sure thing, sweetheart.”

Something suddenly occurred to her. “Since it is your birthday, I should have cooked for you.”

He studied her a long moment before speaking again. “You know what I'd really like from you to make this day special?”

“Does it start with an ‘s' and rhyme with vex?”

He shook his head. “No. I want you to tell me you believe that I didn't know the annulment wasn't going to work.”

“I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt.” And she hoped her faith wasn't misplaced again. “I only wish we'd had more time to think things through before we rushed into this arrangement.”

“Unfortunately time wasn't on our side. But I'll try to make it up to you after dinner.”

That could create more problems from an emotional standpoint if she succumbed to her strong desire for him. “How are you going to do that?”

“You'll have to wait and see.”

* * *

The sound of a sultry country ballad drew Paris from the kitchen back onto the deck. As the music filtered through the outdoor speakers, the sun had disappeared from the horizon, washing the sky in an orange glow, providing the perfect backdrop to the man leaning back against the railing. A cowboy knight wearing a crisp light blue shirt rolled up at the sleeves, slightly faded jeans and the usual boots, one substantial hand wrapped around a beer.

“Did you shower?” she asked as she approached Dallas, immediately catching a whiff of his clean-scented cologne.

“I wanted to get rid of the barbecue smells.”

“I really don't mind that at all.” And she didn't, though she still worried she'd made a mistake with their fake marriage. She worried she might make another if she didn't keep her wits about her.

“Thanks for cleaning up the mess,” he said.

“After those great veggie burgers, it was the least I could do.”

A few moments of silence ticked off as they stood there steeped in palpable tension. Dallas shifted his weight from one leg to the other before setting the bottle atop the nearby table. “Let's dance,” he said as he offered his hand to her.

Paris was plagued with a serious case of nerves. “I'm not very good. Not when it comes to country dancing.”

He pulled her gently into his arms. “You just have to hold on to me.”

And she did as they swayed in time to the tune, moving easily through the last of the song and onto the next, his palms roving softly over her back, her cheek resting against his shoulder.

She briefly wondered how many women had fallen under his spell. How many would have given anything to be in her shoes right now. That shouldn't matter. After all, they were married, at least for a year until it all came to an end.

Maybe they could take the time to learn more about each other. Perhaps she should spend the months finding herself, without getting lost in him. But she felt lost right then as they moved closer, held each other tighter.

When Dallas paused, Paris lifted her head and met his mesmerizing blue eyes. “Mind if I kiss you?” he asked.

She found that odd. “You've never needed my permission before.”

“Yeah, but I do now since I didn't keep my promise to you about the annulment.”

“It's done, Dallas. We can't go back and undo it. We can only move forward.”

“True. You didn't answer my question.”

She did, but not with words, despite the lack of wisdom. Instead, she wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him. A soft, almost quiet kiss that seemed strangely emotional. The way newlyweds who had entered a real union would kiss. A kiss that took a drastic turn toward mutual need in a matter of moments.

Dallas broke the contact first and sighed. “I wish I didn't want you so damn bad.”

In some ways she wished the same for herself. But life was short, and their time limited. She could reject his advances, or take another risk that would most definitely come with rewards. Foolish as it might be, she wanted to experience all that he had to offer, and suffer the possible consequences later. “Maybe we shouldn't overthink this too much.”

He frowned. “I'm not following you.”

“Do you know what this divorce requirement means?”

“Yeah. I'm going to be padding my lawyer's pockets even more.”

Evidently he was having a lapse in comprehension. “No. What it means for us.”

He grinned. “We don't have to stop with only slappin' and ticklin'?”

She did a little smiling, too. “Correct.”

His smile faded into a serious expression. “That's a big step, Paris.”

A step she hadn't planned to take, but... “As you've said, we're both consenting adults and we'll be spending a lot of time together. Since the consummation issue no longer exists, we have no reason not to let nature take its course.” And during the journey, she vowed to keep a good grip on her heart.

Taking her by the hand, he led her back to the table, claimed the bench across from her, folded his hands and gave her a somber look. “Are you sure you want to do this? I don't want you to feel like you're being pressured into something that makes you uncomfortable.”

Evidently he didn't get it. “Let me put it to you this way. For the first thirty years of my life, I walked a straight line. I ignorantly thought if I followed all the rules, did what was expected, didn't make waves, everything would be rosy. I learned a painful lesson when I realized that wasn't always the case two years ago.”

“After your divorce?”

She wanted so badly to tell him the whole truth, but only one person could verify that, and Peter wasn't talking. “The divorce turned out to be only the beginning. Once I lost my job, I recognized that no matter how well you walk the line, situations arise that steer you off your path. I determined then and there I would make my own decisions and guide my own future. As ridiculous as it seems, this agreement we made happened to be a step in the right direction. Otherwise, I would not have entered into it.”

He frowned. “You still haven't answered my concerns.”

“Actually, yes I have. If I want to be carefree and enjoy intimacy with my pseudohusband, then I'm going to do it. More importantly, I trust you, Dallas. I know you're going to treat me well and make me feel respected. So there.”

He finally sent her that wonderful smile again. “Okay then. You've convinced me you're ready.”

She wondered if maybe he was experiencing a little hesitation. “Are you ready?”

“Darlin' that is not a question you should have to ask.”

Paris felt a disclaimer coming on. “We can do this as long as we go inside and turn off the lights since I assume I'm going to be completely naked.”

He stood, rounded the table and held out his hand to help her up. “Inside is okay and we're both going to be naked. Besides, I've already seen a lot of your body, and I want to see it all, so I won't promise I'll turn off lights.”

“Dallas—”

He cut off her protest with a quick kiss. “If you really trust me, then let me show you the benefits of seeing all the details.”

Exactly what she wanted to avoid. But maybe the time had come to shed her self-consciousness in earnest. Maybe she could actually take charge of the situation and finally relax.

Mulling that over, Paris followed Dallas inside, expecting to be led into the bedroom. Instead, he went to the opposite end of the house and past the kitchen to an all-glass sun porch with rustic, wide, cushioned chaises and plush, rug-covered slate floors. Through the wall of windows, she glimpsed a small creek and two deer foraging in the grassy area in the last remnants of daylight. “Why have I never seen this place?”

“Because you haven't been here long enough to explore,” he said. “During the day, you get sun. At night, you can see all the stars. If you notice, there aren't any light fixtures.”

She looked around to confirm that fact. She also noted the room was illuminated enough to view all those details she preferred he not see. “Is this where you bring all your dates?”

He didn't appear too pleased over the question. “This is where I come to wind down.”

“It's a good place to do it. Unwind, I mean.”

He cupped her cheek with his palm. “It's a good place for us to get to know each other in every way.”

They stood there face-to-face, as if neither knew what to do next. Dallas broke the standoff by taking her back into his arms and holding her for a long moment. He pulled away and searched her eyes. “If you change your mind at any point, let me know. I want you to be totally comfortable.”

She very much appreciated his consideration. She also felt confident he would show her great care, and probably a very good time. “I'm not going to change my mind.”

He sent her a soft smile. “Good. I've been waiting all night to see you undress for me.”

Oh, mercy. “Are you going to watch?”

He flashed a grin and a dimple. “Do politicians lie?”

“All right. I suppose I can do that. As you pointed out, you've seen almost all of me anyway.” And now he would see it all—from head to toe and too-wide hips in between.

You're too uptight, Paris.

The ghost of that chunky, awkward girl came back to haunt her, along with the voice of her ex criticizing her butt and in his opinion, inadequate breasts. She lowered her eyes to avoid Dallas's scrutiny. “I'm not sure I can do this while you're staring at me.”

He came to her then, tipped up her chin with his fingertips and kissed her softly. “Yeah, you can. Don't forget the boat.”

“That was different. I had on a bikini until you took the top off me. And that was only the top.”

She could tell by his expression that his patience was waning. “You're a beautiful woman, Paris. All of you. Now we can talk about this all night, or we can act on this all-fire need between us.”

“Okay, I admit there is a tad bit of chemistry.”

“You know we've both been hot for each other since we met. You can keep denying it, but you know I'm right. I figured that out in the kitchen this morning when you dropped the robe. If that wasn't a hint, then I don't know what is.”

She couldn't be shocked when she'd intentionally been transparent. She'd also allowed him a peek of her backside, and he hadn't run away yet. “Okay, I'll make a deal with you. Since you've already seen more of me than I care to admit, it's only fair you go first.”

Without hesitating, he stepped back and lowered his fly. “Just so you know, something's come up. It's been up for days.”

She managed a smile. “Nothing I haven't seen before.”

After stripping out of his clothes and underwear, he looked no less proud. Every inch of him. And frankly, her very limited sexual experience had not included such an absolutely impressive...man.

“It's your turn, sweetheart.”

Okay, she could do this. She'd been pretty gutsy this morning. Why not carry that over to this moment?

Following a deep breath, Paris shimmied out of the dress and let it fall to her feet, then shoved her panties down and kicked them aside. And there she stood, totally nude in the middle of a dimly-lit, glass-walled room with a fantasy man raking his gaze over her, clear approval in his eyes.

He inclined his head and pointed at her. “Lady, if I had my choice, you'd never wear a thing again when you're with me.”

She released an anxious laugh. “Something tells me that could be awkward with both the mothers darting in and out all the time.”

“True. Now come here and let me give you the time of your life.”

Paris felt much less ill at ease and very ready to be in his arms. “Gladly.”

Dallas grabbed a pillow from one chaise, set it down on the largest rug, then signaled her to join him on the floor. He laid her back and hovered above her a few moments as he stroked her cheek. They kissed for a long while as if they didn't have a worry in the world. She did find it strange that he hadn't exactly ravished her, and very curious when he said, “I need to get something.”

When Dallas left her embrace, Paris felt bereft. “Hope you hurry back.”

“Darlin', you won't even know I'm gone.”

Perhaps he wasn't quite that quick, but he did return in less than two minutes, carrying that “something” in his hand. She sat up and braced on bent arms. “Just so you know, I am on the pill.”

“Doesn't matter,” he said as he stretched out next to her on his side. “No birth control is fail proof so having both is better. Nothing wrong with a double bucket, as we say in the horse world.”

The seriousness in his tone told Paris he truly didn't want a child, and she found that sad. However, getting pregnant in this situation would be completely inadvisable and cause for great concern. “I totally agree with using both. Besides, in this day and time, safety should also come into play.”

“I'm safe, just don't want to be sorry.”

After Dallas tossed the condom aside, he kissed his way down her throat, pausing to pay special attention to her breasts, barring all thoughts or concerns from her brain. But he didn't linger very long before sending his talented mouth down her torso, lower and lower, causing Paris to shift with anticipation.