Maverick (Star Valley Book 3) (23 page)

Dakota blew out a harsh breath and swiped her dark hair from her eyes. “If this doesn’t work, it’s over. I’m out of ideas.”

Cassidy said nothing but patted the girl on the arm.

Perhaps it wouldn’t work, Leah thought grimly and simultaneously felt bad for Dakota but happy that Austin wanted her, had invited her to Snake River. There was at least one person worse of than she, sad as it was.

“It’ll work, Dakota,” she said encouragingly from the back seat. And why not? Austin’s gambles always paid off. Maybe his luck was contagious. She absentmindedly rubbed her own belly, praying for that to be true.

In Jackson Hole, Cassidy took them to a wedding boutique not on the main street but on a side street and Leah could tell as they threaded their way through the town that it was not the most expensive shop. The dresses were still beautiful, though, at least they were to Leah who had few occasions to ever see any up close.

Cassidy picked one, disappeared into a changing room with the attendant, and emerged minutes later, causing everyone in the store to stop and look.

Leah gaped at the woman who looked like she should be on the cover of one of the magazines sitting on the nearby table. Cassidy Conroy was more than just the Lincoln County Fair Queen. Leah thought it was possible she might win the Miss America pageant, if she’d ever entered. “You look so beautiful,” she whispered, totally in awe.

Cassidy ran her fingers over the lacy edges of the bodice. “You know, I always thought I’d have a crazy expensive dress, invite the whole county, and have a cake taller than the Tetons,” said Cassidy, fingering the strap of her dress. “I don’t think a damn bit of it would’ve made me happy, though. Not like an off the rack dress and a ceremony in the back yard. You know, I don’t think I give a damn about this wedding. Not really. All that matters is Sawyer standing at the end of the aisle when I walk down it.”

“Well, there’s the honeymoon to think about,” said Dakota.

Cassidy’s grin widened. “True. Very true. We need lingerie,” she said, turning so Dakota could pull the zipper. “He’s seen everything I own and we need something that’ll knock his boots off.”

The search for show stopping underwear took longer than they expected and they didn’t return to Snake River until well after dark. Leah found Austin in bed already, but when she tried to creep into the bed without waking him, he gripped her hips, suddenly, surprising her. He rolled her to her back and pinned her there.

“I was about to come hunt you down,” he growled, dipping his head to her throat and kissing her collarbone. “You smell nice.”

“They had perfume samples,” Leah sighed, running her fingers through his hair.

“What else?”

“Awesome tacos. And an archway made of antlers, which was weird.”

“But what’d you get?” he demanded, crawling over her.

“Nothing,” she admitted.

He frowned. “Nothing? I told you to get something.”

Leah bit her lip and shrugged. “I…I didn’t think you were serious.”

“Hmmm,” he said, eyeing her closely. “I think you’re having me on.” He reached down to tug up the hem of her t-shirt.

“It’s true,” she said, pushing it back down and wrapping her arms around him, trying to make him forget about it.

He grinned. “I don’t believe you. I’m going to need to look for myself.” He tugged again and in a moment of panic, Leah seized the shirt and held it firmly.

“Austin, don’t!” she finally said.

He paused and scrutinizing her face a bit longer. That was fine, she decided. So long as he was looking at other parts of her. “Leah, we’re past the push up bra, I think. I’m not that shallow, trust me. We’re in bed. We’re alone. Let’s get naked and have some fun. We were apart all day and I missed you.”

“I can’t,” she told him. “I…just…I…” She let it fall flat not knowing what else to say. She had him now and she didn’t want to lose him.

His lips pressed together into a thin line until he finally said okay and tried to roll over, away from her.

Leah pulled him back. “I still want you. If you still want me.”

He laid his lips over hers and she sighed with relief.

*

The next day
they split up to do their respective chores, coming together only for lunch. While Leah was at the sink, Austin came up behind her and put his arms around her. “Would you go on a date with me?”

She paused and turned to look at him over her shoulder. “A date?”

He nodded.

Leah laughed and glanced meaningfully down at her belly. “I think you’re going about this in the wrong order.”

He laughed, too, and turned her around, keeping his hands around her waist. “I don’t care. There’re fireworks tonight, on the other edge of town. I’ll throw a blanket in the truck bed and we can go.”

“Okay. Sounds fun.”

“You have fireworks shows in Cody?”

“We do. At the reservoir.” Which was her favorite place. It seemed wrong to tell him that, though. Because no matter how much she loved fireworks at the dam, she wanted to be with him more.

“All right. We’ll head out at dusk.”

And they did, ending up outside the city limits on the south end of town. Austin pulled into a row of trucks and cars and helped her into the bed, which was softer than she would’ve guessed with the blanket spread out.

When the sun set and the night had grown full dark, the show started which seemed to cue Austin to start some fireworks of his own. His hand on her hip went down to her thigh, trailing her skin there and coming back up, this time underneath her dress.

“Austin!” she hissed, grabbing his hand. “There are people here! Everywhere!”

He grinned at her. “But they can’t see us, not when we’re laying down. Lift your dress, Leah.”

Her heart thrummed and her entire body felt like a sparkler, lit and blazing. He waited, quietly. It felt dangerous and wild and—surprisingly—
tempting
. To her own surprise, she complied, finding the hem and slowly dragging the skirt up. Around them, revelers were cheering about the bursts of color in the sky. Leah’s face was hot, imagining any one of them somehow seeing her and sounding the alarm to the gathered crowd.

Once revealed, Austin’s fingertips danced over her thighs making her shiver despite the heat of the summer night. He touched her everywhere, her thighs, hips, and lower belly, everywhere but that apex between her legs that was now tingling with anticipation. Austin seemed to be in no hurry to get to it, tracing one finger along the waistline of her underwear and causing Leah’s hips to jerk up off the blanket, in silent, uncontrollable encouragement.

“Getting skittish there, rabbit,” he drawled in her ear.

Leah didn’t respond—couldn’t—because she didn’t trust herself to make a single sound. What she would attempt as a whisper would come out as a loud demand, or a frustrated grunt, that no doubt would be heard over the continuous crackle and boom overhead.

“Take your panties off.”

It felt more like a dare than an order, like he was testing her. Or teasing her. She closed her eyes and her list flashed in her mind. Absolutely nothing like this was anywhere on it. Perhaps because it seemed so crazy, so unlike her.

“If you want me to touch your pussy, Leah, you’ve got to give me access. Take your panties off and spread your legs.”

Stars burst behind her eyes and she had trouble catching her breath. Her heart pounded away furiously in her chest and she realized she had two choices: end it or obey. Not wanting to lose that slow, gentle touch that prickled her skin and set fire to her nerve endings, she hooked her thumbs into to the waistband at her hips and lifted herself off the blanket. Silently she pushed them down. The hot, summer breeze tickled her bare skin and had her clit standing at attention.

Austin’s hand worked its magic while his mouth cast a spell all on its own. He licked her lips and the tip of his tongue dipped into her mouth. It felt pornographic, almost obscene, because it reminded her of his mouth on her pussy that night in the hay barn. No one had ever used their mouth on her and while a few boys had gotten a hand into her pants over the years, none of them worked her body like a finely tuned instrument, pressing, rubbing, pinching, and penetrating in a symphony of sensation urging her higher and higher.

Austin dipped in again, this time all the way, taking her deep. When he withdrew his finger she cried out from the loss of his touch. Thankfully the animal sound was lost in his own mouth as he pressed their lips together. He brought up his hand and coated her lips with his slicked finger before she could object, bent his head again, and sealed his mouth once more over hers. He sucked and licked at her until her lips felt swollen and bruised. She was panting hard when he finally tore himself away. “You knew I was going to taste you,” he growled. “One way or another.”

“Austin!” she whispered hoarsely while squeezing her thighs together furiously. The friction only increased the heat pooling between her legs. It did nothing to relieve her suffering.

“I’ve got you, baby,” he crooned, finding her mound again rubbing her swollen, neediest parts. “Open up, let me in. I’ll get you there.”

Leah spread her legs, desperate to have him—any part of him—inside her again. Austin stretched her wide with one finger, then two, thrusting forcefully. Her hips rose to meet him with every stroke and when finally pressed his thumb to her aching clit and she exploded, just like the burst of fireworks that filled the inky black sky above them.

“Happy Independence Day, Leah,” he whispered.

‡

A
ustin waited for
Leah at the bottom of the stairs on the day of Sawyer and Cassidy’s wedding. He’d expected her to look nice (she always did) but was pleasantly surprised to see her appear in a light pink dress and a pair of silver sandals. She had silver clips in her hair and the braided copper necklace he’d seen her making. “You finally finished it,” he said, taking her hand as she reached the last step.

Her hand fluttered to it and she nodded. “I feel weird, though,” she told him. “In this dress and these shoes.”

“You look great,” he assured her and patted her hand. “Don’t fidget. No one here knows you, Leah. You can be anyone you want to be. You can be the most beautiful guest at the wedding. Who’s to know you don’t dolly up like this to go to the grocery store every week?”

She laughed and he squeezed her hand as he led her out the door.

They’d rented a white tent to keep the baking sun off them and people were already gathered under it. Court was the best man, which made sense considering how much time they’d spent together traveling for the rodeo. Walker gave Cassidy away since her family was most definitely
not invited
and went to sit in the front row with the rest of the family, including Dakota and her date.

Dakota had brought along Daniel Washington, forever known as Wash since his high school days. Austin was certain some blood would be shed but he hoped it’d hold out until the ceremony was over.

Austin sat beside Leah and held her hand while his brother and Cassidy exchanged rings, and vows, and wet sloppy kisses that had Cassidy glaring at Sawyer for being the joker he was, but when she started to complain loudly, he swept her into his arms, dipped her in front of the guests, and landed a kiss that had every woman under the age of 65 squirming in their seats.

And hell, maybe a few of the blue haired ladies from church as well.

The band kicked up and the chairs were cleared to make way for a wooden platform large enough to hold two dozen people. The mood was light and the joy was contagious. At one point the lead singer lifted the mic and asked, “Anyone want to come up and give us a song?”

Several people laughed and hooted. No one had the nerve to do it. Austin looked at Leah and wagged his eyebrows at her.

She wrinkled her nose. “Trust me, no one wants to hear me sing.”

“Well, I do. And can’t the baby hear you?”

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

He shrugged. “Good practice, then.”

Leah looked up at the stage dubiously.

“I’d offer you some liquid courage but there’s the baby to consider. You’re going to have to dig deep, Leah, and do this one all on your own. If it’s any consolation, most of
them
are drunk, so they’re not going to care.”