Texas Lonestar (Texas Heroes Book 4) (16 page)

“Lower baby, please for God’s sake, lower.”

It took her a couple of seconds to realize what he was asking. Lennon was so turned-on she could’ve screamed. Never had she felt like this before, she couldn’t be still. Even her sex was clenching and unclenching in pure lust. “I’ve never done this before.”

Dallas shuddered with desperation. “You don’t have to…”

“I want to,” Lennon quickly corrected him. Sitting back a bit, she enclosed his sizeable erection in her trembling hands. She was surprised it actually throbbed in her palms. “So big and hard,” she muttered as she rubbed him up and down–long strokes, moving her palm over the large purple head, using the milky pearl beading on the end to ease her way. “I love this,” she said, using one hand to excitedly milk his dick with pulls and twists while she teased his balls with the other. “Is this right?”

“God, yes,” he groaned, sucking in his breath. The combination of her sexiness with her eager innocence drove him mad. His balls were big and tight. “I’ll be in your debt forever if you’ll put your mouth on me. Please.”

“Don’t beg, you never have to.” When she lowered her face, he clasped her head in both hands. For just a heartbeat, she pressed her mouth to the side of his shaft. He was so alive and he made her feel vibrant and necessary. “If I do something wrong, stop me.” Inhaling sharply, she set out to make him feel as good as she possibly could. With just the tip of her tongue, she licked off the fresh pearl of pre-cum, then she opened her mouth and slid it over the bulging glans of the head like she was sucking on a big purple plum. Oh, this was good, she thought. Using her mouth and tongue, she sucked on the mushroom shaped knob until he threw back his head and moaned loudly.

“More, God, deeper,” he growled and she tried to accommodate him. Tipping her head back, she gave him more room to work. He took advantage, pushing further down her throat. Having something so big in her mouth felt strange, and she instinctively swallowed, which caused him to bellow with pleasure. When she felt him grow rigid, Lennon knew he was about to cum. In her own excitement, she tightened her lips around him, sucking as hard as she could. His response was to pull her hair, which made her clit pulse. Moving her mouth up and down, she pumped his cock feverishly. Her reward came when he cried out her name, filling her mouth with his seed.

Dallas was overcome. “You’re so sweet, so responsive.” When she swallowed and licked her lips, he realized he was still as hard as a rock. “Lie back, Lennon. I’m not through.”

Panting, Lennon did as he asked, feeling more than a tad embarrassed. She didn’t know why, though. Even if she wasn’t, Dallas made her feel beautiful.  

“I love when you breathe hard, your tits jiggle. And the nipples…” He plumped her breasts together and rubbed his face over them.

Lennon didn’t know why she did it, but she poured out her heart. “I’ve always been embarrassed. They’re so small, and my nipples are huge…too big…” 

“Too perfect,” he murmured as he tweaked and milked the tender tips.

“At the dance, that one time–when they played that trick on me…Colin shouted in front of everyone that I had no boobs.”

Dallas shook his head. “They were stupid. Lord have mercy, just look at you. You have the sexiest breasts I’ve ever seen. I fantasize about them all the time.” Shivers of excitement rippled over her body as he covered the small globes with his hands. “I can’t keep my hands off of you.” With hands and lips, he worshiped her breasts.

Soon, even his touches and kisses weren’t enough. Lennon needed more. She arched her back, pushing her breasts into his face, wordlessly asking for something she couldn’t enunciate. To give Dallas credit, he was giving her attention–it just wasn’t the kind of attention she wanted. “Please…please…”

“Please what?” he asked, completely enamored of the woman beneath him.

Lennon bit her lip, unused to asking for what she wanted.

“Please what, Lennon?” Dallas pressed. “Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you if it’s in my power.

“Suck me, Dallas. Suck me hard.”

He smiled, a cocky grin, full of mischief. “See…that wasn’t so difficult.” Holding her gaze, he opened his mouth, then slowly lowered his head. When his lips closed over her nipple and he began that long smooth pull, her hips began dipping into the mattress with an erotic rhythm. Lennon grasped his head and began to massage his scalp, little grunts of pleasure bursting forth from her lips. Her noises of approval seemed to ignite something, and his tactic changed. Instead of just kissing, he grew wild–suckling at her breast, consuming, devouring, eating at her tender flesh until she flew apart, screaming his name. “Dallas, oh Dallas!”

Before she came down from her high, Dallas moved up her body enough that he could enter her in one smooth thrust, pushing his cock all the way to her womb. “Oh, my God!” she moaned, undulating with pleasure in his arms.

Dallas had never been wound so tight. He lifted her legs and spread her thighs wider, pumping in and out of her pussy. Riding her high, every time he entered her, his pelvis rubbed against her mound, stimulating her clit. He knew he was making Lennon feel good, her head thrashed from side to side and the sounds she was making just turned him inside out. Dallas tried to keep going, he wanted to. He wanted to give her every ounce of bliss he possibly could. Pistoning in and out of her, his eyes nearly crossed from the sheer ecstasy that being inside of her gave him. And then it hit him–his climax just crashed over him in a massive storm surge. “Come with me, Lennon. Come hard.”

His words, coupled with the loving, freed her and Lennon’s whole reality shimmered in wave after wave of spectacular pleasure. She clung to him, whispering over and over. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Dallas stiffened. He didn’t pull away. Her words shocked him. He didn’t know what to say. So instead of responding, he kissed her gently. He wasn’t even sure she knew she’d said them. Lennon was clinging to him with complete and utter trust. Dallas refused to do anything to take away from the perfection of the moment.

Lennon held him close, the thoughts going through her mind couldn’t be said out loud–not yet, anyway. She loved this man with her whole heart. And then it hit her–she’d forgotten again. “Oh no, Dallas.”

“What?” he asked, completely sated.

“I’m so sorry, but we forgot a condom. Again.”

“Condom?” Dallas said the word as if he’d never heard it before. For the second time, Lennon jerked the rug from beneath his feet.

Looking at him, guilt was written all over her face. “I’m not on the pill and I never said anything about it. Every time we came together, I just wanted you so much that I couldn’t think of anything else. I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Dallas backed up. Feelings of joy clashed with feelings of abject terror. On one hand, he needed to get a breath and on the other, he was fascinated watching different emotions flash across her face. “Uh…” Good Lord, he rubbed his hand over the top of his head. If he said that women always took care of this–what would that say about him? It wasn’t even really true in his case. He’d never dared leave something like this to chance. What was it about this woman? She’d not only stolen his breath; she’d robbed him of good sense. “This isn’t your fault–it’s mine.”

Fault? Lennon didn’t like to think of the possibility of a baby in those terms. 

“Is there a possibility that you’re pregnant?”

Lennon could tell that this question was important to him. Why wouldn’t it be? She sat up, put her feet to the ground and began gathering her clothes. While her hands were busy, her mind was counting. “Things have been so crazy. Let me think.” A lot of things had happened. How could she not notice something so relevant as her period? They’d never been heavy; Lennon had always been able to go about her daily life without everything coming to a screeching halt. “I think I’m okay.” Really, she said that to wipe the concern off of his face, not because she was convinced of any particular truth.

Dallas followed her example, redressing. He’d just had the most fantastic sex of his life and he wasn’t thinking clearly. “Okay. You’ll let me know, right?” What would she do if he told her the truth? Would she still want his baby or would she want to get rid of it like his wife had?

Let him know. Let him know. “Of course.” What he was saying was that he wouldn’t be around. For a few minutes, she couldn’t breathe. What were they doing? She’d read how certain moments in life crystallize and become bigger–giant bubbles of emotion that seem to drag endlessly so that seconds become hours, impressions become reality. Such was this. Lennon felt conflicted. She was so used to feeling less–feeling unworthy–that the idea of fighting for someone’s love was alien to her. But there would never be another Dallas. This was her chance. Her happiness hung in the balance.

At that moment, Lennon decided she would fight for the possibility of a future with the man she loved. “Don’t worry, we’ll use a condom next time.” Slipping on her shoes, she moved on to something else. “When you found me at the rodeo, were you coming to tell me something? Did you capture the person responsible?”

The abrupt change of subject almost threw Dallas. He was still hung up on the word ‘pregnant’ and the earthquake of ramifications it introduced. “Uh…” He’d been saying that a lot lately. Taking a deep breath, he dry-scrubbed his face. “Howard Keel, the deputy, he didn’t work alone. I can’t be certain who his accomplice was. My theory about Daniels seems to be wrong, at least I haven’t been able to substantiate it yet. Keel is still being interrogated. We’re getting court orders to find out what the geology reports say about your land. I still think this is about more than cattle. When we find out that fact, maybe we can figure out who’s putting the pressure on you.”

“Keel…” She shook her head. “He works for Colin.” She didn’t say anything more than that. Lennon didn’t know any more than that–all she knew was that Colin had hated her for years. Did he hate her enough to kill her?

“I promise you that we’ll get to the bottom of this.” Thank God, they were some distance from the ranch. The drive would give him time to think.

Lennon’s head hurt. She hadn’t slept, she couldn’t rest. When she and Dallas parted, she’d explained to him that she wouldn’t be going home–not yet. “I’m going to the sale barn and watch the auction. I left my trailer there yesterday. My sheep should sell early. I’ll either get a room or sleep in the truck outside the sale barn.”

“Get a room,” he said sternly. When she nodded mutely, he continued. “I guess you’ll be heading to the bank after that to make the payment.”

He was concerned, she could tell. As the thought popped in her head, another notion came to mind that she was being silly. “I’m going to drop by First Bank and Trust and give them what I have, but it won’t be enough. I didn’t hang around long enough last night to get paid - obviously.” Lennon didn’t meet his gaze. “The rodeo association will have to mail a check to me. I have another gig in a few days, then I can pay the rest. Hopefully, they’ll understand.”

“No.” Slicing his hand through the air. “I don’t want you to risk yourself. It’s stupid.”

Lennon didn’t argue with him. There was no use. She didn’t have a choice. She told Dallas she’d see him at the ranch when she was finished. He tried to talk her into riding with him, leaving her vehicle and them getting it later. “I need my truck and you need yours. I’ll be fine.” He’d pulled her close and kissed her. Lennon had squeezed him, wishing she had the courage to tell him how she felt.

Parking in front of the small brick building that housed the branch bank, she got out to eat humble pie. At the entrance, she stopped to straighten her clothes, wishing she’d worn a dress. Catching a glimpse of herself in the glass doors, she frowned. She looked a mess. Even from the outside she could see the women–some of them clerks, some secretaries, some loan officers, a few customers–many of them she’d known in school. All of them looking chic, sharp and attractive. And she looked like a hayseed.

“Oh, well. Here goes.” With a deep breath, she pushed open the heavy glass door and entered. Lennon stood there a moment before someone noticed her. Even then, they made her wait, shifting from one foot to the other. Finally– “Miss Haley, Mr. Hartman will see you now.”

Lennon followed the pretty lady to a corner office and took the seat offered. The man behind the desk was scribbling on a piece of paper. He finished before he raised his eyes to meet hers. “Ah, Miss Haley, how may I help you?”

Lennon would’ve thought that was obvious. Surely they didn’t have so many customers that they couldn’t remember the dun letters they’d sent out when someone was behind on a loan. “I’ve come to make a payment, a partial payment.” Mr. Hartman frowned. Lennon wondered why he looked confused. She dug in her pocket and brought out the check from the auction barn. “I have a check here to give you part of the money I owe. I don’t have it all, but this will help.” She laid the check in front of him.

He picked it up, glanced at it, then handed it back. “I’m sorry. I can certainly accept this toward your next payment which is due in…” Mr. Hartman glanced at the calendar, “three weeks, but right now your note is up to date.”

“How?” She couldn’t imagine. “There must be some mistake.”

“No.” He shook his head. “A Mr. Dallas McClain came in and made full payment first thing this morning.”

After she was back on the road, Lennon couldn’t remember what she’d said to the banker. She couldn’t even remember walking to her truck. Dallas had paid her note? She didn’t know whether to be thrilled or angry.

Lennon settled on angry. He wasn’t playing fair.

As she drove underneath the Apache Springs sign, Lennon could see several vehicles. One of them belonged to Dallas and two she didn’t recognize. She’d phoned Marge Glover first thing this morning to check on Sally. Oh, how she missed that little girl! She couldn’t wait until things got back to normal and whoever was messing with her life was behind bars. The only hitch–and it was a huge one–was whether she’d ever see Dallas McClain again. Lennon was betting heavily that she would–the risk she was running could break her heart.

Parking alongside the truck that belonged to Dallas, she gathered her things and climbed from the cab. For a few seconds she just stood there, her eyes surveying the horizon, straining to see any sign of trouble. Was Dallas right? Did Keel have an accomplice? Was it Colin? What possible motive could he have?

Shivering a little bit at the possibilities, she walked the few steps to the lodge door. When she pulled it open, she could hear men talking excitedly.

“If this is true, it could change everything!” George was shouting.

“Look at the report, it’s in black and white.” Dallas said calmly.

“Why wasn’t she told?”

Lennon moved closer. The last question was asked by one of the other rangers. She strained to hear the answer Dallas would give.

“I don’t know. The clerk at the courthouse said the report was on file. Apparently someone decided to hide the truth from Lennon.”

“What truth?” she asked entering the room.

All of the men stopped to look at her. A shadow passed over Dallas’ face. Lennon couldn’t help but wonder if it were because of the possibility she’d found out about the bank note or maybe it was the possibility she might be pregnant.

He cleared his throat and handed her a piece of paper. “You told me about the man from the university who came to take soil samples.” Lennon nodded. “These are the results.” He pointed at a column of figures and a typewritten paragraph. “There are minerals on your land. The same minerals that are on Round Top, only your land contains a higher concentration of them.”

“Are they valuable?” She said the words slowly.

“Extremely.”

Lennon had to find a place to sit down.

“Do you feel well? Do you need a drink of water? Are you nauseous?”

Dallas fired questions at her so fast that she became dizzier than she was already. “I’m fine, just stunned. Do you know any more about who helped Keel? Who shot at us?” 

“No, but we did find some spent shells and a pair of wire cutters. We’re running them for fingerprints. We should have word soon.” This answer was given by Chance. Dallas had left and was only now returning with water for her.

“Thank you.” She accepted the glass and took a sip. Holding his gaze, she spoke quietly. “Could I speak to you, in private?”

“Of course. Just one moment.” He held up a finger to indicate he wouldn’t be long. Conferring for a moment with the other rangers, they left to take up their posts.

“I’d like to talk to you, Lennon.” George inserted. “When you have time, that is.”

“I won’t be but a minute.” She gave her elderly friend a quick hug.

“I spoke to Sally this morning. She misses you.” George said, in an almost accusing tone.

Lennon frowned at him. “Is something wrong?”

“I’ll wait.” He raised his hand and waved to indicate she should carry on with her affairs.

“All right.” She glanced at Dallas and started toward her room, knowing he would follow. As soon as they were behind closed doors, she put her hands on her hips and stared at him. “You paid my note. Why? I told you I had it under control.”

Dallas pressed his lips together in a straight line. He took off his hat and held it, the fingers of his other hand stroking the gray felt. “Yes, I did. I couldn’t stand the thought of you putting yourself in danger with those damn bulls again.”

“I appreciate your concern,” she grabbed his hand, holding it in hers, “but I’m not your responsibility.” Lennon was almost daring him to argue with her. “Am I?”

Dallas felt as if all the oxygen was being sucked out of the room. “I’m not trying to make you my responsibility. I was trying to help. You are my…friend.”

Lennon had never hated the word friend before. “Okay. Yes, you’ve certainly been a friend.” God, she wished she were brave. “I’ll pay you back as soon as possible.”

“Hell,” Dallas waved his hat in the air, “you’re going to have enough money to do whatever you want to.”

Lennon wasn’t sure about that fact. “I don’t know anything about this. I don’t want to let some mining company come onto my land and dig it up until its unrecognizable.”

“I’m sure there are ways around that,” Dallas muttered. “You need to get some expert advice.”

“I will,” she assured him, wishing he would help her. She really just wished he loved her. If he did, nothing in the world would ever worry her again. “I’m appreciative, truly.” Lennon stepped closer until she was near enough to press a gentle kiss to his cheek.

“Are you going to take a pregnancy test?” Dallas couldn’t help but ask. Thoughts of Carly and their little boy had been bombarding his mind. If Lennon were pregnant…that would change everything.

She shook her head. “I didn’t think to stop and get one. I will, soon,” she promised. The look on his face reminded her of what he’d been through. “Don’t worry. I would never harm my baby.” Lennon couldn’t tell if her words brought him comfort or not, for he hurriedly took his leave.

“I’ll check back in after a while,” he said on the way out the door.

Lennon didn’t get a breather. As soon as he was gone, George tapped on the door.

“Come in.” She smiled, but her greeting wasn’t returned. “What’s wrong?”

George took off his striped cap. “I’m moving out,” he stated flatly.

“You’re what?” Lennon gasped. “Why? I don’t want you to move out!”

He tapped his cane impatiently against the floor. “I can’t stand by and watch you get your heart broken. That man is going to walk away from you…and you’ve…” He cut off the words as if they were distasteful.

“Are you upset because I slept with him?” Lennon asked with disbelief. “George, I’m twenty-six years old. What prospects do I have? Where am I going? Do you resent me having even a little bit of happiness?” She did not want to talk sex with this man. She loved him, but she just couldn’t do it.

“No, I’m not upset. You’re like a daughter to me,” he spoke low, just above a whisper. “With me here, you’ll never leave. You won’t walk away from the ranch. You could marry Dallas, take Sally and go live with him.”

“Dallas hasn’t asked me to marry him, George. I don’t think he will. I’m not exactly the kind of woman men want to give up their freedom for,” she answered as honestly as she could. “And if he did, who’s to say we wouldn’t live here?”

“You’re a catch in anybody’s book, even without the ranch. But I’m not going to argue with you, I’m in the way, and that’s that,” he turned. “I’ve already called Shady Hills and they have a room waiting for me. I’m headed over to the house to pack my gear.”

“Wait!” she demanded. There was no way she was going to let George leave their home. “I’m not through talking.”

Buzz! Buzz!

“Dammit!” Lennon reached for her phone. “George, wait!” she called, even as she lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Ms. Haley?”

“Yes.”

“This is Rooster Daniels. Do you remember me?”

Lennon didn’t have time for this. “Yes, I do. I still don’t want to sell my land. I know about the minerals, Mr. Daniels.”

Rooster laughed. “I heard the Ranger got his hands on the report,” he sighed. “Ah well, all’s fair in love, war and business. That’s my motto. But since you know, I’m changing my offer. I want to go into business with you. Partners.”

The number he whispered in Lennon’s ear was astronomical. She swayed on her feet. “Are you serious?”

“I am. When can we talk?”

Lennon felt herself begin to tremble. “I don’t know. I’m in the middle of some things.”

“That’s fine. Do you have my number?”

“I have caller ID,” she said, still unsteady on her feet.

“Good. I’ll be waiting for your call. I think we can come to some mutually agreeable terms.”

As she ended the call, Lennon was flabbergasted. She still couldn’t believe the amount of money he had offered. Oh well–she had more important things to worry about.

George.

Throwing her phone down, she ran out to follow him. Her mind was so full of everything that had happened, she wasn’t paying close attention. A noise in front of her–a crackling–made her look up. When she did, she saw Colin Ferguson coming out the front door of her house with a gas can in his hand. “Oh, no!” she screamed. “George!”

When she yelled, Colin saw her. Instead of running away, a look of hatred came over his face and he ran right at her. The same rush of adrenaline swept over her as when the bulls would charge. The only difference was that the animals were scared and this man was undoubtedly crazy. “Lennon Haley, you’re an ugly little bitch. If I can’t run you off your land, I’ll just kill you. My uncle is on the Board at the bank. After you’re dead, the land will revert to the bank and then I get it.”

“You know about the minerals,” she said simply. “You’ve known about them all along.”  He grabbed Lennon by the hair of the head, dragging her toward the house. The nearer they drew, the more distinctly she could smell smoke. “You set my house on fire! George!” she screamed as loudly as she could.

“Yes, I knew. The geologist at the university is a friend of mine. I also want to get my hands on those springs. They’re wasted with you; you don’t know how to handle a ranch like this. I’ll make something of this place. Everyone will think you set it on fire for the insurance.”