Page 30 of Cruelest Contract (Storm’s Eye Ranch)

Her soft sigh is packed with heartbreak. “I’ve been on my own for so long. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to live in a home with a family.”

“It took guts for you to leave. I admire that about you. But aren’t you tired of being all alone, honey?”

Her chin quivers and she squeezes her eyes shut for a few seconds. “Yes,” she whispers.

I cross over to her in silence and gently tip her chin up. She trembles when I run my thumb over her lower lip. “You don’t ever have to be all alone again. Marry me and I’ll give you the life you’ve always dreamed of.”

“I want to,” she says, still in a hushed whisper, like she’s making a secret wish.

“Then say yes.”

I drop my hand and lightly brush my knuckles over her breasts. Her soft moan practically unravels me.

“Say it,” I urge.

The tipping point is here. By the time she leaves this room the deal will be done.

Cecilia shuts her eyes. Opens them. “Yes.”

She melts the instant I claim her mouth.

My tongue takes the lead and tangles with hers.

She’s warm and eager, meeting me every step of the way, leaning in with another moan when she feels my cock through our clothes.

Her arms hook around my shoulders and my hand slides into her long hair, impatiently winding it into a rope around my fist. My other hand skims lower and easily lifts her up.

She cooperates and lets me carry her to bed.

This girl kisses like she’s starving. Everything about her is irresistible. Her legs are open for me and now I’m the one groaning as I lower my weight over her body.

There are dim warnings in the back of my mind. They demand to go slow with her for now. They order me to be disciplined instead of rough.

The warnings are silenced.

I want her too fucking badly. So fucking badly that I tear some buttons off her sweater when they won’t open fast enough to satisfy me.

She gasps but she also arches her back when I push the cup of her bra aside and put my mouth on her.

The nipple hardens under my tongue and her skin feels crazy good.

Her fingers thread through my damp hair while I suck one glorious breast and then the other.

Her bra, pink and lacy, gets wrecked when I tear at the hooks to get it open and toss it to the floor.

No problem. I’ll buy her a thousand more. I’ll buy her anything she wants.

Moving lower, I kiss her belly. I run my tongue over the inch of smooth skin above the waistband of her pants. She urges me on with breathless, sweet moans that threaten to shred all restraint.

My head dips between her legs and my mouth covers her pussy.

She whimpers her need, opening wider. I press my tongue to the hot, tender slit that’s just out of reach.

The taste of her is so tantalizingly close.

I need to feel her dissolve on my tongue, bucking her hips and panting for air when she comes.

Hooking my fingers into the elastic of her pants, I push them down with ease. They’re gone in seconds. All that’s left are her white cotton panties.

This is absolutely fucking happening. In a minute she’ll be mine, now and forever.

“Julian.”

Surprised, I raise my head and find Cecilia sitting up on her elbows. Her expression is pained. Apologetic. She looks at her left leg and sucks in her lower lip.

This is the first time I’m seeing her scars. I should have remembered how she’s so self-conscious that she never lets them show. There’s a four inch line of thick scar tissue beneath her knee and the area surrounding the scar is slightly misshapen and irregular.

Her scars are truly no big deal. But I think the sight of them bothers her so much because they are attached to such terrible memories. Now that I’m at close range and can see the physical evidence, a grinding sense of sorrow for all of her suffering tightens my throat.

“Cecilia.” I move up to her level and cup her chin in my hand. “You are so incredibly beautiful. Nothing can change that.”

She wrinkles her nose and winces. “I’m being ridiculous. I spoiled the moment.”

“You did no such thing.” I kiss her softly and she instantly submits, giving me her mouth, her tongue. She needs to understand what she does to me, how desirable she is. If I have to pump the brakes to prove it then I will.

The weather change has significantly cooled the air. My mouth is still on hers when I feel a shiver roll through her body.

I pull back, struck with inspiration. “Let’s go.”

She stares up at me with a shadow of confusion. “Where?”

“Just trust me.” I kiss her forehead.

She willingly circles her legs around my waist and wraps her arms around my neck, allowing me to carry her to the bathroom.

Her eagerness to cooperate is fucking delightful. I get dizzy thinking about all the ways I’m going to use this feature.

Most luxury accessories are foolish but a top-of-the-line shower head is an exception. I set Cecilia down and reach inside the walk-in shower to flip the nozzle on, selecting the gentle rain setting. The water burbling out of the overhead spout will take a moment to heat up.

Cecilia waits in her panties, her arms crossed over her breasts as she awkwardly stands beside the closed door.

She’s a goddess with her hair hanging loose and her gorgeous body ready to be defiled.

A little bit of shy reluctance is cute for now but she’ll quickly learn to lose those inhibitions.

My wife will have no reason to hide anything from me.

As I walk over to her, I drop my shorts. Her eyes dart to my cock and I casually stroke the long shaft for emphasis, rolling my thumb over the sensitive tip.

I don’t like to brag. But if I did then I’d have plenty to fucking brag about.

Clearly, Cecilia agrees. She can’t stop staring. She’s so captivated that her tightly crossed arms loosen and she wets her lips.

“We’ll save something for our wedding night,” I say while stroking my cock. “But I think we should get to know each other a little better.”

She manages to lift her eyes to my face. “Okay.”

“We both want to come right now. You’re going to be my wife and I need to practice being good to you. Will you let me?”

She swallows. Nods.

“Next question.” I take my hand off my cock and trace the outline of her panties with my forefinger. “Do I have a lot of work to do or are you wet for me already?”

“I’m ready,” she whimpers as I lightly tease her.

“Just what I wanted to hear.” I drag open a drawer under the sink and pull out a small pair of scissors. “Now tell me that you trust me.”

She flinches when I touch the sharp tip of the scissors to her belly. I allow the metal to glide over her skin, careful not to apply pressure or leave a mark.

A few seconds of hesitation pass before she moves her hands to my shoulders and looks me in the eye. “I trust you, Julian.”

“That’s my good girl.” I reward her with a tender kiss. Then with two savage snips I cut her panties off.

She gasps. A scrap of wrecked white cotton falls to the tile floor. I toss the scissors into the sink.

Light steam clouds are now drifting from the shower. The water is nice and hot.

Cecilia swiftly recovers from her shock. She’s so aroused that her legs wobble as I lead her to the shower.

Her body is perfection, all gentle curves and soft skin. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Cecilia makes the next move, pulling on my neck to bring my mouth closer to hers. Our tongues collide and a heavy groan vibrates in my throat. We stand just outside the falling water with her back against the smooth stone wall and my hands roaming everywhere.

She didn’t lie. Her pussy practically liquifies in my hand when I slip a finger inside her. She must be aching to get off.

Cecilia breaks the kiss and buries her face in my neck. “Oh my god,” she moans when I add another finger, exploring her, stretching her.

I’m sure there’s a demonic smirk of triumph on my face. It’s probably better that she can’t see it. Instead, I kiss her shoulder, her neck, and trail my lips back to her mouth.

I’ve just discovered there’s more than one downside to being celibate for a year. My neglected dick surges against her belly, demanding priority. I grit my teeth to keep the tidal wave at bay.

Meanwhile, I pump my fingers into her, teasing and testing to find out what makes her feel good. The deeper I go, the more she quivers. She’s tight and slippery. The ideal combination.

But I’ve got one last demand before I’ll let her come. “I need to hear you say that you’ll be my wife, Cecilia. Together, we’ll build a dynasty.”

“Julian,” she pants as she fucks my hand. “I already said yes.”

I pull my fingers out and taste them, making sure she opens those pretty brown eyes wide enough to see. “Say it again. All the words. Give me what I need and I’ll give you what you need. That’s the kind of marriage we’ll have.”

“I’ll be your wife.” She clutches me. Trembling. Moaning. Nearly in tears over having her orgasm interrupted. “I want to be your wife. Please.”

Fuck, look at her. She’s ready to fall down and follow any order I give. I couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect bride.

“Shh.” I brush my lips over hers. “You did good, baby. I’ll take care of you now.”

My fingers plunge into her and my thumb finds her clit.

She’s convulsing within seconds, wave after wave of sweet pleasure wracking her body as she clings to my neck.

My free hand unlocks her right arm and guides her palm to my cock.

She’s still shaking when I erupt so hard that I see actual fucking stars while spurting all over her hand, her forearm and her belly.

And it’s not enough.

A wild, possessive instinct takes over and I rub my hand through the hot mess I just made. The two fingers I just fucked her with are still wet and now also soaked with my own cum.

I push them back inside her. Deep. Deliberate.

She saw. She knows.

And she fucking loves it.

She moves her hips to ride my hand until a second cataclysmic wave of pleasure destroys her.

Now that she’s limp in my arms, barely able to stand, gripping my shoulders and trying to hang on, I have everything I want.

Cecilia is all mine.

We made a deal. I’ll keep my promises and I’ll always take care of her.

Cecilia has no objection when I place her under the gentle spray of water. I get a lot of satisfaction from using my favorite shower gel on her body, like rubbing her with my scent is another means of marking my territory.

After we’ve lathered up and rinsed off together, I wrap her in a bath towel and tenderly dry her off, not caring that I’m naked and dripping water all over the bathroom tile.

She’s bound to feel cold once we leave all the tropical steam. My solution is to dress her in one of my warm flannel shirts. The red and black checked pattern suits her, even if the sleeves cover her hands and the hem reaches past her knees.

Cecilia sits on the edge of the bed with her hands folded in her lap and watches me pull on a worn pair of jeans. Her eyes are bright and her cheeks are flushed. There’s a new dreamy contentment on her face. Back to back orgasms are obviously good for her health.

I wink at her and then zip my jeans. “What kind of ring do you want?”

She looks down at her hand. “I don’t know. I’ve never given it any thought.”

“Give it some thought. We’ll drive into the city tomorrow and pick one out.”

“Okay.” Cecilia responds with a happy smile that threatens to thaw out some inactive piece of my soul. I need to have her in my bed and all to myself every night.

Once I’ve thrown on a shirt, I reach out a hand to help her up. She hugs the wreckage of her clothes in the crook of her elbow and accepts my hand.

“What do we do about a wedding?” she asks with a flicker of concern.

“We’ll do whatever you want.” I wrap my arms around her. A wedding is bound to be a touchy subject given her history. “We can fly to Vegas or we can drive to the county courthouse. Your call.”

She tilts her head back to look up at me. “Can we get married here?” she asks. “Nothing fancy. Just family and close friends. I want to invite Alice. And Gabe of course.” She makes a face and sighs. “I suppose I’ll need to invite Angelo and my grandfather too.”

“Like I said, whatever you want.” I dip my head to kiss her lips. “And the sooner the better.”

She nods. She’s smiling again.

Then she hugs me. Really hugs me, putting her whole body into it. She squeezes my waist and rests her cheek on my chest. I breathe in the scent of her damp hair and rub her back.

In truth, I’d gladly remain right where I am, holding this girl until darkness falls. But there are things to be done.

She’s in a terrific mood as I escort her back to her room. She’s already making lists out loud. She has phone calls to make. Engagement news to share.

Leaving her to her lists after stealing one more kiss, I head downstairs. Mel needs to know that there’s going to be a wedding at Storm’s Eye Ranch in the very near future. She’ll be thrilled.

Before I go spreading the good news far and wide, I close myself into my father’s study and take a seat behind his mammoth desk. My mother’s painting stares down at me from the opposite wall while I place a call.

“Is it settled?” my father’s deep voice asks when he picks up.

“All according to plan,” I reply.

He’s glad to hear it. “Congratulations, son. She’ll be a credit to you and to the family.”

I can hear the smile in his voice as he asks about the wedding date.

Meanwhile, my mother’s immortal painted smile remains fixed in place on the wall.

Never changing, never fading. Just frozen in time.