After the Dawn (33 page)

Stepping away, he gathered fistfuls of the flared skirt of her sundress and drew it over her head. Air stalled in his lungs. He'd thought she'd be perfect. She was so much more. The rose peaks of her breasts tempted him through the sheer bra. Her slightly rounded stomach, her woman's softness, long legs he couldn't wait to feel around him. “You're even more beautiful than I'd imagined.”

“Let's see if I can say the same.” She pulled his polo shirt over his head, then unsnapped his pants and shoved them over his hips.

Roman hardened even more as her hungry gaze ran over him, her hand following, cupping him. Air whistled through his teeth. He moved her hand away. “I'm too near the edge.”

She wound her arms around his neck. A shudder racked her body. “I almost lost you.”

“You didn't.” His mouth went to the tempting peak of her breast, suckled, delighted in her long moan. He released the bra, letting it fall, then placed her in bed with him over her.

He took the peak again, his hand kneading the other breast before sliding downward. He found her wet and hot.

She twisted beneath him at the twin assaults. Her body was on fire, the need building as his mouth moved to the other breast. Then his mouth slid downward, teasing, kissing as he went. Helplessly she twisted as he pleasured her.

He moved back up, his mouth and hands on her body gentle and demanding, passionate and restrained. She welcomed each new sensation rippling through her.

She realized that she had never known this gentleness in intimacy—demanding, yes; gentle, never. If she'd had any lingering doubts about him, they slipped away as he loved her.

Every nerve screaming for release, she dragged his head back up and their lips fused, hot and urgent. With greedy urgency, she ran her hands over the heated muscles that flexed and rippled.

“Please. Now.”

Lifting her hips, he joined their bodies with one sure stroke. Moans of pure delight rippled from their lips. Her hands clutching his shoulders, her legs wrapped tightly around him, she yielded to the desire burning out of control.

He was on top of her, inside of her, surrounding her, possessing her. He stroked her, gliding in and out with increased power. She felt her body coil and tightened her arms around his neck.

They shattered together. His breathing as ragged as hers, he buried his face against her throat, brushed his lips there. It was a long time before either could speak.

“Finally, you're mine.” Roman pulled her closer. “I love you, Marlene. I'll never stop.”

Her hand cupped one side of his face. “I know that now. If you don't mind, I think I'd like a short engagement. I've spent enough nights without you.”

“You read my mind.”

*   *   *

Dillon was holding Sam's hand when dawn broke the next morning. Bowing his head, he gave thanks that they had a chance to watch countless dawns together.

“Dillon.”

Instantly alert, he came to his feet and leaned down to her. “You all right? You need something?”

She moistened her lips. “I dreamed…” Her voice faltered.

His frown deepened as his hand tightened. “You're gonna be all right. Cade is the best.”

“Then he was here?”

Finally understanding, he kissed her lips. “That he was, and as soon as the nurse checks on you again, I'm signing you out and taking you home. I know women like big weddings that take a lot of planning, but I'm hop— Honey, don't cry. What is it?”

Sam blinked back tears. “I thought I dreamed you asking me to marry you.”

He grinned and kissed her. “You're not backing out. You're mine, and as soon as you feel like it we're heading to the jewelry store to find you a ring.”

“I love you so much,” she said.

“And I love you right back.” He leaned over to whisper in her ear, “As soon as Cade gives the okay, I'll be sharing the bed with you.”

“You think you can call him now?”

Dillon lifted his head and gazed into Sam's serious eyes. His chest tightened with love and thankfulness. “I love you, Sam, now and forever.” He brushed his lips across hers. “Cade had surgery this morning. I'll call him around noon.”

 

Epilogue

Brothers. He had two brothers. Dillon still found it hard to believe that Cade and Zachary were his brothers.

“Are you all right?” Sam asked from beside him.

“As long as you're by my side I am.” His finger ran over the five-carat diamond engagement ring he had insisted she get. He planned to spoil and love her every chance he got.

“I feel the same way,” she whispered.

Leaning over, he kissed her on top of her head, then drew her closer to him, his gaze trained on the street in front of his mother's house. In the back, she and Roman were grilling and probably doing some kissing of their own.

Their wedding was only six weeks away. He'd heard from more than one source that the women of Elms Fork had almost come to blows on who was giving her a shower. They'd finally settled on four with different themes. Like Roman said, the town loved his mother, and with Roman by her side, she realized that now.

Luckily for his sanity, he and Sam were getting married in three months. Carson's mother had been invaluable in helping acquire the Mansion on Turtle Creek for their garden wedding and reception.

“I can't wait to meet them. Our children will have loving aunts and uncles, cousins,” Sam said. “They'll have what we didn't have.”

Dillon's head snapped around. She laughed. “No, I'm not pregnant. I'm talking in future tense.”

A black truck turned the corner, followed by a Lamborghini. He, Cade, and Zachary had spoken on the phone twice, but this would be the first time they'd seen each other since Dillon found out a week ago they were related.

The truck and car stopped in the drive. Men piled out the passenger's side as the women got out of the driver's side.

“I'm going to like my future sisters-in-law.” Sam started for the small group. A little girl of about five ran to meet her, followed by a grinning male toddler.

“Are you my auntie?” the little girl asked, smiling up at Samantha.

Sam squatted down to eye level. “That I am.”

Both squealed and hugged her.

Dillon grinned, imagined Samantha with their own children. The women hung back as he met the men on the walkway. “Now I know why you were staring at me. Mama says I look like him.”

“But you're nothing like him.” Zachary pulled out his wallet and flipped it over to his driver's license.

Cade did the same. “So far I'm the youngest.”

Dillon produced his license. Grinned. “I'm the youngest. That means I get to drive your cars, and since I promised Sam she could have keys to my rides, that means yours.”

Zachary and Cade shared a look, then grinned back. They had another brother. “Fair enough,” Zachary said.

“You got it,” Cade said, reaching out for Dillon and Zachary with his long arms. “Welcome to the family.”

 

ALSO BY FRANCIS RAY

A FAMILY AFFAIR

When Morning Comes

AGAINST THE ODDS SERIES

Trouble Don't Last Always

Somebody's Knocking at My Door

INVINCIBLE WOMEN SERIES

Like the First Time

Any Rich Man Will Do

In Another Man's Bed

Not Even if You Begged

And Mistress Makes Three

If You Were My Man

THE GRAYSONS OF NEW MEXICO SERIES

Until There Was You

You and No Other

Dreaming of You

Irresistible You

Only You

GRAYSON FRIENDS SERIES

The Way You Love Me

Nobody but You

One Night with You

It Had to Be You

A Seductive Kiss

With Just One Kiss

A Dangerous Kiss

SINGLE TITLES

Someone to Love Me

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Rockin' Around That Christmas Tree

ANTHOLOGIES

Rosie's Curl and Weave

Della's House of Style

Welcome to Leo's

Going to the Chapel

Gettin' Merry

Let's Get It On

Twice the Temptation

 

About the Author

Francis Ray is a
New York
Times
bestselling author and a native Texan. She is a graduate of Texas Woman's University and has a degree in nursing. Currently, she has more than forty books in print. You can visit her at
www.francisray.com
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiouslly.

AFTER THE DAWN
. Copyright © 2013 by Francis Ray. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover design by Danielle Fiorella

Cover photographs: bench in an outdoor room © Victoria Pearson/Getty Images; lemonade © Africa Studio/
Shuttershock.com
; blue bonnets © Lori Martin/
Shuttershock.com
; cowboy hat © 24Novembers/
Shuttershock.com
; ranch house © rSnapshotPhotos/
Shuttershock.com

ISBN 978-0-312-68163-0 (trade paperback)

ISBN 978-1-250-02481-7 (e-book)

First Edition: June 2013

New York Times
bestselling author

FRANCIS RAY

really knows how to heat things up!

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