The Gunslinger's Gift (5 page)

“Only
after we collect your stuff. We can do that on the way back to our rooms. But
the rest of it, I’m all game for.” Smiling, he pressed a quick kiss to her
lips. “Grab something to drink, honey, and pick out a table for us. As long as
it doesn’t put my back to the door, I’m good with whatever you choose.”

“Good
point.” She liked the way that he thought. “I like the back wall. Near the
corner, okay?” Since the place was empty, they could do just about whatever
they wanted. “Come on, let’s go and have our meal, and then we’ll move me in
with you.” She laughed. “Sorry, I know that it’s silly, but I can’t believe
that I’m moving in with you. I love it, but it’s just so surreal.”

“Why is
it so surreal?” he asked, and then winced. “Okay, dumb question, sorry.” He
walked next to her to the table. Reaching it, he pulled a chair out for her and
smiled as she sat down. Settling in next to her, he tipped his head down for a
moment before crossing himself. “Old habits die hard,” he said, when she was
caught watching him.

“Because
before you, I was in a group for those that wanted to remain—well, for lack of
a better word—
pure
, until marriage.
Now, I can’t wait to, well, you know.” Sophia’s face was hot. “And I don’t even
expect a ring or anything, because I know that the commitment will be much
deeper than any piece of paper. Does that make sense?” She knew that a Guardian
and VV would never part. They would never stray. They were meant to be. Plain
and simple.

He
chuckled. “Yes, it makes total sense, honey. But I think I need you to clarify
one part of your little spiel. What exactly did you mean by ‘you know,’
Sophia?” She could tell he knew just what she meant, and yet, he seemed to want
her to actually say it.

She
glared at him. “I can’t wait to be skin to skin with you,” she stated bluntly,
each word making her wetter and wetter between her thighs. “I can’t wait to
have you sliding inside of me, showing me just how good that it can be between
us. I can’t wait to feel your hands on me. I can’t wait to know just how it
will feel to make love with you, James Hickok. That’s what ‘
you know’
means.”

“Well,
why didn’t you just say that, then?” he teased, with a laugh. “Come on, woman,
you don’t ever have to be shy with me about anything at all. If you want
something, just say it. Maybe not in public, but when we’re alone—speak your
mind. It makes life so much easier, honey.” He leaned in to bump his shoulder
to hers. “So you know…I can’t wait to feel your soft, wet heat wrapped around
my cock as I slide in and out of your sweet, little body.”

Sophia
dropped her fork and swallowed, hard. Then, she finally looked at him and
grinned. “I think that moving my things over and looking at the rooms near
yours can wait. What can’t wait is the need that I have to have you doing just
that.”
There, plain and blunt
. “I
need what only you could ever give me, James. I’ve waited all of my life just
for you.” Which was the truth. She had waited for Billy since the day she was
born, more or less.

“Oh,
now she’s all in a hurry.” He clicked his tongue at her. “We’ll collect your
items first, but we can put off looking at the space until later. I don’t want
to have to trek halfway across the compound to grab anything you might need
once I get you in my bed. Let’s get our priorities straight here, honey.”

“Once
I’m in your bed, the only thing I’ll need is you. Nothing else will matter at
that point, only you being with me. Only you loving me. I promise you on that
one.”

James
made a face at her and rolled his eyes. “We’re going to get your stuff. The
sooner we do, the quicker your sister will accept this. Then, we’ll lock
ourselves away from the world. Now, eat your breakfast. You’re going to need
every ounce of energy you can garner, honey. I fully plan on working through
all the paces with you over the next few days.”

“Oh,
sweet, merciful heavens,” Sophia whispered, and then did just as he instructed.
She was more than willing to work through anything and everything that he wanted.
“Perhaps we should take some snack bars and waters back to the room with us?”

“Likely
a good plan. Some juice as well. You’ll definitely need to recharge
occasionally. Though, we’ll go slow at first, because I can’t bear to even
think of hurting you. After we find our rhythm, we’ll get into the more
adventurous things, see what you like and what makes you hot.”

She
fanned herself. “Goodness. Well, one thing that does it for me is just thinking
of how good it’s going to be to have you loving me. Having you doing the things
to me that only you could do.” He would be her first and only in all things,
and she was very, very happy about that fact.

“Everything
we do together will be me loving you, Sophia. Never think otherwise, honey.
Now, eat your breakfast, please. Otherwise, we’ll be here talking all day about
getting you hot and bothered, instead of doing. And quite frankly, I really
want to be hands-on.” He grinned.

“Same
here. What about you? Shouldn’t you have more than coffee?” She paused to take
another drink of her juice. “Or are you waiting to eat the meat when I’m not
looking?” She scrunched her nose. “Bleck.” She was teasing him, her smirk
giving way before her giggles did.

“I was
trying to be considerate to your delicate nature,” he said. “But if you’re
going to make fun of me, then I’m going to hack into this sucker. Eat your
rabbit food, honey, and I’ll eat my cow.”

She
bumped her shoulder to his this time and laughed. “Deal.” She picked her fork
back up and started to eat once more, pausing from time to time to let him know
just how much she was loving her food.

“There’s
no way you should be making such noises when eating fruit. Now, if you were
chowing down on a prime cut of beef, maybe, but not melon. That is just so many
ways of wrong. Especially since all it does is make me wonder if you’ll make
the same noises in our bed when I get you there.”

Sophia
looked at him and frowned. “I honestly don’t know what noises, if any, that
I’ll make when we are in bed together. Should I know?” She had never even
brought herself to climax, had never wanted to even try.

“Oh,
honey.” He shook his head. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he drew her
close to kiss her cheek. “I’ll explain it all to you, if necessary, after we’re
together the first time. I have a feeling I won’t need to, though. I think
you’ll figure it out for yourself rather quickly.” Drawing back, he rubbed his
thumb to her lower lip before licking it clean and winking at her. “You about
done?” he asked, tossing his napkin onto his empty plate.

She
shivered. “Yep, almost.” She took another bite of the watermelon and then
pushed it away. “Now, all done.”

James
grinned. He stood and held her chair for her as she got to her feet. Stacking
their plates, he carried most of their dishes while she followed with her
glass.

After
they’d collected some snacks, they went to the rooms she’d been given, quickly
gathering up everything there. Most of it had been packed up anyway. She’d been
planning on leaving, after all. James had become very quiet when he’d seen her
bags all ready to go and hadn’t said much of anything as they walked to his
suite at the other end of the compound.

When
they were inside, Sophia turned to look at him and frowned. “You knew I was
leaving, right? You had asked me to leave you alone, and it hurt too much to be
here and think that you might be seeing others. I felt it would have been
better for us both if I were to leave.”

After
setting her bags down, he locked the door and came to her, his hands in his
pockets. “I know,” he said, softly. “But knowing it and seeing the proof is
entirely different. Seeing your bags packed and ready to go was a kick to the
gut. I was so close to losing you.” He reached out to touch her cheek gently.
“I can’t lose you, Sophia,” he whispered in a choked voice.

“And
you won’t.” She stepped into his arms, her hands on his chest and moving up and
around his neck. “I’m here now, and there’s no way in the world that you’re
ever getting rid of me. I need you in my life too much to ever let you go.” Her
fingers dipped into his hair, and she felt the heat of the medallion there. She
dropped her hands quickly. “I’m so sorry. That didn’t hurt you, did it?” The
last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt him.

“Gods,
no,” he said. “The medallion heats up when you’re close.” Taking her hand, he
lifted it to his head and pressed her fingers to the back. “It won’t hurt you,
either. According to the others, it’ll lessen after the first time we’re
together. It will still heat, but the key here is that it won’t be rattling my
head around anymore. Which, at least in my book, is a huge plus.”

“Yes,
that’s a huge plus for me, as well. I don’t want you hurting. I hate that you
hurt because of me. Even if you had no idea why.” She knew now, thanks to him,
that it was because of him pushing her away, but it didn’t make it any better.
At all. “But that’s all in the past. This is the present, and the start of our
future together, right?”

His
eyes drifted shut as she stroked her thumb over the hot spot. Nodding, he
opened them a little. “Neither of us knew you were hurting me. Really you
weren’t, not directly. In reality, it was the medallion trying to get my
attention. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t react the same as anyone else’s. And
I have a hard head too. Medical opinion from our docs.” Leaning in closer to
her, he wrapped his arms around her body, his cheek to hers, and held her
close. “Keep doing what you’re doing. At least for a few more minutes, please.
It’s so damn relaxing.” He groaned.

She
couldn’t deny him anything, ever. Her fingers stroked his head, her thumbs
gently massaging him. “Well, I’m glad that you have a hard head because it’ll
help to keep your medallion safe from destruction, thank you very much.”

She
stretched up and brushed her lips to the underside of his chin. “How about we
settle on the couch or the bed? That way, I don’t have to go up on my toes to
try to kiss you.” With him being just a couple inches over six feet tall,
compared to her five foot, it was a strain sometimes. But it was worth it when
he wrapped his big arms around her and kissed her right back again.

Chapter
Three

Groaning,
James cupped Sophia’s bottom and lifted her off her feet as he straightened.
“The bed, because I want you there, anyway. This way, it’s two birds with one
stone. You can get naked. I can get naked. We can get comfortable, and I can
hold you while you do some more of that awesome thing you’re doing with your
fingers. Gods, it feels good to have you touching me.”

“I’m
glad.” She wrapped her legs around his hips and moved so that she was closer to
him. “God, I love how strong you are, how you can just pick me up like I’m
nothing.” She nuzzled against the side of his neck, her fingers never stopping.
“Naked,” she whispered with her mouth against his ear, lightly nipping his
earlobe as she did so. “I like how that sounds.”

“You
weigh nothing at all, Sophia. Hell, you’re just an adorable little bit.” His
hands squeezed her butt every time she nipped at his ear. “Woman, you keep that
up, and I’ll tear off your clothes, hogtie you, and have my wicked way with
you. Which we can do, eventually, just not for your first time. So behave, at
least a little.”

“And if
I don’t want to?” She couldn’t help herself. Each time that he squeezed, she
got hotter, needier, and wanted to do nothing more than strip him naked as
well. “I wouldn’t argue with you ripping my clothes off at all. It would get me
naked faster. Just saying.”

“Another
night, perhaps.” He let her slide down his body until her feet hit the floor.
“Get naked, woman, now.” Stepping back, he moved to a chair and sat to pull off
his boots, his eyes never leaving her. Once he had them off, he stood and
tugged his shirt over his head.

Sophia
licked her lips.
Holy crap, I love the
way he looks at me
. As quickly as she could, she had her shirt and pants
off, standing before him in only her bra and panties, a matching set that her
sister had bought her for Christmas the year before. The little black, silk
number with bows at the corners always made her smile. “Pants?” She moved closer
to him so she could place her hand on his chest. “Goodness, I love how hot you
are,” she whispered honestly.

“You’re
the one getting my temperature rising. Holy shit, where in the love of all the
gods did you get these?” he asked, running a light finger along the curve of
the bra cup. “They’re way too pretty to ever rip off you. If you want me
shredding your clothing, you’d better make sure there’s nothing underneath you
want to keep, honey.”

“Vivian
gave them to me last Christmas. After she got me these, I went and splurged on
a whole lot of underwear and lingerie. I found that I don’t do the whole shoe
or purse thing that most women do, but I love buying and wearing pretty
underthings.” She undid her bra, letting it slide down her arms, and pushed at her
panties, stepping out of them as she did so. She bit her lip and added, “Oh,
Viv also got me hooked on Brazilians. But if you don’t like it, I’ll stop
going, promise.”

Stepping
back, he crossed himself again and pressed his hand to his chest. “Honey, I most
definitely like. You can keep doing the Brazilians as long as you want. Holy
mother, that is hot,” he groaned out. “It’s a damn good thing I have a
medallion, otherwise, my seriously old heart would have just stopped. Damn
woman, you have no idea how sexy you are.” Getting rid of his jeans quickly, he
walked to her and scooped her into his arms, taking her to the bed and laying
her down gently.

She
gaped at him.
The man doesn’t wear
underwear!
She looked up at him with a grin on her face. “Goodness, you,
wow.” She was stunned and couldn’t think in that moment. He had fried her
brain. To know that he was naked under his jeans did something inside of her
and made her shift once more with an ache in her lower stomach of pure need.

“What
has you all flustered, Sophia? You’re blushing, you’re breathing is all
erratic, and your eyes are dilated. Talk to me, honey.”

“Goodness
gravy, I think that it’s sexy as hell that you don’t wear underwear. The
thought of just having to put my hands inside of the waistband of your pants.
Mercy.” She swallowed, hard. “You are a beautiful, drop dead sexy, man.”

“Modern
underwear annoys me. I didn’t even like undergarments back in my day. I’ve
always preferred not to be bothered with them.” Leaning in, he pressed a kiss
to her shoulder and smiled against her skin. “I happen to think
you’re
the sexy one in this room. So
much more than I could ever be.”

She
blushed again. Thankfully, she was naturally tanned, so she hoped it didn’t
show too much. “I like it a lot, and from here on out, I’ll let you help me
choose which underthings to wear, so that all day long you’re thinking of what
I have under my clothes.”
So, I might be
just a bit naughty
.

Brushing
a kiss to her cheek, he stroked his fingers up and down her arm lightly. “You
have such soft skin, Sophia. I think I could spend hours just touching and
stroking you. Not today, but definitely soon. And I want to kiss every single
part of you, lick every single inch of your body.”

“I use
sugar scrub and moisturizers every day,” she heard herself saying while arching
up and into him. “You can help me tomorrow.” The thought of his large hands
rubbing cream all over her body made her wetter and wetter with each moment.
“Touch me, please,” she begged and opened her legs to him.

Lifting
his head, he shot her a grin. “I love how eager you are.” His hand drifted over
her chest, slowly moving lower through the valley between her breasts, down her
stomach, and then stopping on her mound. Catching her lips in a gentle kiss, he
teased her to open up, his tongue lightly sliding over hers.

Sophia
kissed James back, her hands fisting in his hair and holding him close. She
moaned, her hips shifting and lifting, seeking his touch. Her teeth nipped at
his lower lip, her tongue teasing and mating with his.

Slowly,
his hand slid down some more, his fingers parting her folds and stroking
through the wetness there. His low growl vibrated through her body as he rubbed
a digit over and around her clit, teasing the tight bud gently.

Sophia’s
eyes went wide. She was shocked, but that quickly dissipated as she felt
intense pleasure rolling through her. She whimpered, one foot bracing on the
bed and lifting herself closer to him in a completely automatic movement.
“James.” She groaned his name aloud, desperate for him to touch her and show
her more.

He was
pressing kisses along her throat, and then lower, over her chest. “Yes,
Sophia?” he asked. His finger was still lazily teasing her clit as he closed
his mouth around her nipple and sucked hard.

“Oh
God.” She completely lost her mind. When his teeth nipped her, she yelped in
pleasure. “Please.” She had no idea what she was begging him for, had no idea
what she had been going to say earlier, simply needed him to take her and show
her what she needed and had been missing all her life.

His
dark chuckle sent chills over her skin. Flicking his tongue to her nipple, he
shifted around and began to kiss down her belly, getting lower and lower. When
he moved between her legs, his mouth against her mound, she stilled. James slid
his finger down and circled the opening as he flicked his tongue out to her
clit.

Sophia’s
hands were in his hair. She had allowed her legs to fall wide open for him. She
licked her lips and shuddered, crying out in shock. She closed her eyes and arched
her neck. “Please, don’t stop.” She shifted to pull him closer, holding him to
her as she did so. She was desperate for him, needed more and wanted more. She
was melting, and he was the only thing holding her together.

James’s
free hand wrapped around her hip, holding her as he sucked her sensitive nub
between his lips. His finger was pushing slowly into her body, over and over
again, pressing deeper each time. Then, she felt fuller, and realized he’d slid
in a second finger. He spread them apart within her as he withdrew.

Her
hands tugged on his blond curls. She shuddered, and when he spread his fingers
apart and slid them deeper once again, she cried out his name. She was wiggling
under him, her whole being on fire, and she knew that she needed and wanted
more from him. “James, more, please.” She began to move with him, finding the
rhythm.

The
suction on her clit became stronger, along with a soft rubbing. It had been his
tongue, she realized, that was rubbing against her clit. His fingers were
pressing deep inside of her, stroking over a spot that was sending shock waves
through her body.

She saw
stars behind her closed eyelids. She whimpered, and when he slid in a third
finger, she yelled, the climax coming suddenly and without any type of prelude.
She came hard, her muscles clenching and a sob tearing from her throat.
“James!” She cried out his name on the end of the scream that tore loose from
her.

Still,
he sucked her nub, his fingers rubbing that spot deep inside, and then let up
as she shuddered. Lifting his head, he moved up and over her slowly, his
fingers gently sliding from her body. “Breathe, Sophia. Come on, honey, you
need to get some air into your lungs. Nice, slow breaths.”

His
kiss seemed to ground her, his body against hers giving her a focal point. When
he pulled back, she smiled at him and licked her lips. “Amazing,” she whispered
in complete awe. “I never dreamed that would feel so good. Amazing.” She was
repeating herself, but he had fried her brain. “We aren’t finished, right?” Her
body was still humming. She was aching and wanted more. God help her, but she
needed
more.

“Not
even close,” he said. “But I need to warn you that this next part may hurt. Not
every woman feels the pain of losing their virginity, but some do. I want you
to wrap your legs around my hips, nice and high. I’m going to slide into you
slowly. We’ll only go as far as you want, at any given time, until you take all
of me. And your body will take me. It’s made for me. So, believe that, honey.”

“I do.”
She smiled. “I love you, James.” She had actually spent a great deal of time
with him, and if she was honest with herself, she had fallen in love with him
that night they spent before the fire on the Island.

Stroking
a finger over her cheek, he pressed another kiss to her lips. Sucking on the
bottom one, he ran his hand down her side and up her leg, lifting it higher on
his waist. She felt the head of his cock sliding through her folds. “Keep
breathing, Sophia. You hold your breath, and you’ll turn blue, and then everyone
will be damn upset with me.” He slowly pressed deeper.

She bit
her lower lip, whimpered, and shifted against him. “You’re too big. This isn’t
going to work.” This was all new to her, and she was afraid of the sensations.

Instantly,
he stopped pushing forward. Instead, he began to rock in and out slowly. “It’ll
work. I swear to you. Take a nice, slow breath and focus on feeling. We were
made for one another, Sophia. No other woman could fit me like you do. Trust
me.” Nibbling on her jaw, he kept rocking his hips, his cock sliding in and out
that little bit, but never going farther.

Sophia
relaxed. She felt her muscles loosen, and once more, the moisture began to pool
between her legs. Her fingers tightened on James’s arms, and she shuddered with
a gasp of air, arching up against him as she did so. “Goodness gracious, yes.”
She moaned and whimpered when he slid in just a bit more and finally opened her
eyes to look at him. “I trust you.” She did, she trusted him with every single
part of her. “Love me.”

“Always,”
he whispered, gently. When he pressed another kiss to her lips, she felt him
smile against her. “I’m going to have to push through, sweetheart. This might
hurt. Hold on tight to me, and relax as much as you can.”

Sophia
nodded. “I’m ready. I want to be yours, completely.” She grinned. “So, bring it
on, big boy. Just remember that you have to kiss it and make it all better
later.”

“I will
kiss you absolutely anywhere you want.” Doing just that, he wrapped his arms
around her in a hug, rocking his hips in shallow thrusts. As she became lost to
the kiss, she relaxed. When she did, he jerked his hips forward to fill her and
stilled when she tensed.

Sophia
cried out, the sound lost in his mouth. She clenched him tightly with her arms
and felt her legs tighten around him, as well. She was panting. “Goodness” was
all she could say in that moment, because it felt so amazing that she simply
couldn’t think.

James
brushed the backs of his fingers to her cheek. “Slow your breathing down,
Sophia. You’re not allowed to pass out at this point in the proceedings. Later,
sure, but not now. Talk to me. How do you feel? Any pain?”

“Not
anymore. Please, do that again?” She wanted him to move and give them both
pleasure once more.

His
face creased as he smiled and gave a nod. Slowly, he slid out and then pushed
back in. He never once looked away from her as he did it again, and again.
“Better?” he asked softly, his fingers still stroking her jaw.

“Oh
God, yes. That feels so good. Please, again.” It was a demand, pure and simple.
There were no two ways about it. She needed more from him.