Love Unspoken

Evernight Publishing www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2011 Delilah Hunt

ISBN: 978-1-926950-84-6

Cover Artist: LF Designs Editor: Caitlin Ray

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATIO' To all the authors who have inspired me from childhood and into adulthood, you have my undying gratitude, and for everyone who has taken the time to read my words and help bring life to these characters, I am ever thankful.

LOVE U'SPOKE' Delilah Hunt Copyright © 2011

Chapter One

“Is this going to take much longer?” Noelle drummed her finger against the counter, glancing down at her watch. Hands shaking, the sales clerk plucked the receipt from the register. “Not another minute, Miss Williams. Everything should be inside.” The nervous woman held out a bag. Noelle grabbed the paper bag from the clerk and hastened through the exit door. She was behaving awful, a new low for her. It wasn’t the cashier’s fault she was being used as an errand girl, picking up her mother’s purchases because she was out at lunch with her sister. She hadn’t received an invitation. No surprise there. Her sister, Aleah didn’t have a blemish across her name. Noelle did, one borne out of sheer selfishness and stupidity that she was still trying to make up for. A beeping sound jolted inside her leather handbag. Noelle reached into the bag and silenced the vibration of her cell phone. She frowned. Did her parents know her phone went off for every fucking thing on her schedule, just so she’d always be prompt and never have to hear a word of complaint? Doubtful. Cutting across the street to the parking lot, she pushed the button and unlocked her sports car. Feeds the image, she thought, as she bent low to enter the Corvette. Out of nowhere, a finger tapped lightly at her back. Noelle stiffened. Alarm bells tolled in her ears. The hell if she was going to take being approached from behind in broad daylight without a fight.

“Get your hands off me,” she whispered with dead calm, tilting her head to the side. Her gaze scoured upward… and upward. The warning bells rang a different tone, a melodious chiming. The kind that made her stomach flutter and made her want to smack herself across the face. It was Cole McKinney. Blood rushed into her face. Noelle took a deep breath. If she’d known who it was, she would have tried for a better reaction. “Yes?” She raised her eyebrows, awaiting some form of response. Whatever that might be for a person who couldn’t speak. More important, a ranch hand whose name shouldn’t be in her vocabulary. Despite her cold demeanor, his lips twitched into a semblance of a smile as if he’d found something amusing about her. Long thick fingers dug into the pocket of his jeans, which were hung low on his lean waist. The man reminded her of a bear. Thick brown hair, streaked with strands of gold, reflecting the sunlight. Eyes dark, like pools of ink. He wasn’t breathtakingly handsome…a bit on the rough side…but still, looking at the dark giant made her lower belly tingle. It was stupid. Cole had to be the tallest and biggest man in these parts, not someone any woman in her right mind would welcome into her bed without the fear of being manhandled and broken. Her eyes went to his biceps. His entire body was comprised of solid muscles more befitting a power lifter, than a cowboy in Copper Mesa, aka middle of nowhere, Colorado. He pulled out a plastic card she immediately recognized and handed it to her. Noelle took it from him, making sure to avoid contact. “How did you get it?” she asked, unable to keep the suspicion from her voice. Before he had a chance to answer her face heated. It was her mistake. In her haste, she’d forgotten to retrieve the credit card from the sales clerk. “I…um. I’m sorry.” She hated apologizing. A flaw that perhaps she should have worked on—perfected seven years ago. Cole lifted a brawny shoulder and waved his hand. Guess that means no big deal in Sign Language, Noelle thought. Not that she had any way of knowing for certainty. The only language she’d taken in the prestigious private school she’d attended was French and she couldn’t recall a lick of it.

Noelle darted her gaze around. Although they weren’t alone in the parking lot, she felt awkward standing there with him and it had nothing to do with his unending silence. She was afraid to look into his eyes. There was just something about those beautiful dark orbs that made her feel as if she could read into his mind. Noelle sighed inwardly. It was a ridiculous thought and she had no business noticing so much about him. Especially details she couldn’t blame on the proximity of her home to the ranch belonging to her neighbor Randy Somerset. “Did you park near by?” She needed to say something, anything to fracture the excruciating silence. If only she knew how one went about a conversation with a—a? She didn’t even know what to call him or his condition rather, because Cole had to be much more than his affliction. He shook his head and pointed ahead of her. Confused, Noelle nodded in pretense of understanding and mustered up a smile. His thick brows furrowed as he stared at her for a second longer. Reaching into his back pocket Cole pulled out a small notepad. Noelle watched, unsure what to make of him and the quick motion of his hand, scribbling on the paper. He tore off the sheet, handing it to her. “My truck. It’s at the shop. I left it there for a tune-up.” She mouthed the word Oh and looked around. It was June, the sun at it’s highest point of the day and blazing down on the small town. Today was one of those days when not even the cool crisp air of the Rocky Mountains could bring relief from the heat. Noelle itched to get inside her car under the cool breeze of the air conditioning. How long was he planning on waiting out here for his truck? Within an hour or two, the only driving the cowboy would be doing was inside an ambulance for heatstroke instead of his precious red pickup. I can’t believe I’m asking this. “How long is that going to take?” His eyes narrowed in confusion. Noelle pursed her lips and clarified. “This tune-up, how long do you have to wait for your truck before it’s ready?” He held up three fingers then a shrug, making her feel as if her concern was out of place. Whatever. She had enough to deal with on her conscience and a dead cowboy was not a welcomed addition.

“You plan on staying out here the entire time?” She’d failed to keep the shock from her voice. That had to be the only explanation for his reaction when he tilted back his head and laughed, or what she assumed was his version of a laugh. A small puff of air, barely audible, yet there nonetheless along with a wicked grin that was doing a number on her senses. Yeah, this isn’t gonna do. “Don’t you have to get back to work, whatever it is you do with those cows?” Another nod. He stuck a finger in the direction of the ranch and made a walking motion with two digits. He couldn’t be serious. It had to be over a hundred degrees and the ranch was at least two miles out of the way. Noelle propped her arm on the hood. “I had no idea life was that hard on the ranch for you to attempt suicide.” His lips spread into a wide grin. Weird. Didn’t he talk to his fellow workers? None of them had a smile for her. Not after the harsh rejections she threw out left and right from the cowboys desperate for any woman within a fifty-mile radius of the isolated cattle ranch. Noelle made an exaggerated point of checking her watch. She really did need to hurry back home and despite what Cole might think, she couldn’t leave him out there without a ride back to the prairie. If her father saw her with him or found out about her ‘generosity’ Noelle knew it would just be another tear, unraveling everything she’d worked for years on. With the heat scorching at her skin, she glanced backward at the man standing inches away from her small car. Nope. She wasn’t going to leave him out there. Easing into the driver’s seat, she turned to him. “Come on in. I’ll give you a ride back.” Cole blinked in apparent shock before lowering his gaze to his boots then back up. He shook his head, making no attempt to accept her offer. Noelle glared at him. “What’s wrong with my car?” He lifted an eyebrow, expression darkening as if he didn’t appreciate her outburst. Gripping a pen, he began to write on the little notepad. He handed it to her. I meant no offense, Ms. Williams. I don’t want to dirty your car.

The steam fizzled out of her. He was only being considerate. Noelle looked him up and down. He was wearing a deep red plaid button-down shirt, dusty blue jeans. His boots were smeared with red dirt and dust, more than a little worn. She gripped the steering wheel. “It’s fine, Cole. It’s just a few minutes ride. I doubt you’ll ruin the leather.” He gave her a long stare before opening the door to her right. Noelle cranked the engine into drive. Jesus Christ. Why had she invited him in? In the space now cramped by his impressive frame, she had a clear shot of his profile. Despite his rugged looks, she realized that he couldn’t be much older than her own twenty-five years. If she had to guess, he was just entering his thirties or almost there. She stole another glance through the corner of her eyes. Did she make him nervous? She couldn’t imagine anything ruffling such a large man, but he had referred to her as Miss. Somewhere inside him, there had to be some form of respect for her. That was good; after all it was the main thing she strived for. Noelle kept her eyes on the road. A minute passed, then the temptation proved too much. She shifted her head to the right. His eyes captured hers in the exact moment. The hand on the steering wheel slipped for a split second. She dragged her gaze away, focusing on the curved road ahead. Music. Her fingers scrambled for satellite radio button. An eighties song blared through the speakers, one she didn’t recognize but was ever thankful for. It dulled the echo of silence and misplaced longing that was threatening to surface in her heart. Eighties music was her best friend today. With the music on, her guilt in ignoring him was assuaged. She cranked up the bass and hit the gas. **** He was making her uncomfortable. And it wasn’t in the good way a woman felt when in the presence of a man she found attractive. That much about women he knew. Cole studied Noelle as she drove. His groin tightened with excitement. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Had to be the prettiest black girl he’d ever seen. His forehead creased. No, that wasn’t right. Noelle was the prettiest girl he’d ever laid eyes on. Her race had nothing to do with it, although he couldn’t help but admire the way her cinnamon colored skin glowed under the sunrays. It was silly and he’d never admit it to

anyone, but looking at her made him feel warm. His fingers ached to reach out and touch her skin to see if it felt as smooth and silky as it looked. He didn’t care where he touched her. Legs, arms, her stunning round face with those high, almost regal cheekbones, it didn’t matter. He curled his fingers into a fist to keep from doing just that and have her scream in holy terror. Best if I stop looking at her. He turned toward the window, still thinking of her. Aside from her appearance, he knew nothing about her, or at least anything that was the truth and not drunken tirades of a few angry cowboys, strapped for a woman to bed and cash to fill their pockets who thought of Noelle as an easy target. “Bitch looks like she hasn’t been laid in years,” he’d heard one of them mumble. Noelle had been on the ranch that day, performing one of her routine sales visits, wearing an expensive business attire, button nose up in the air and doe-shaped eyes straight ahead. That had been more than a year ago, however, and the first time he’d laid eyes on her. Naturally, she hadn’t noticed him working alongside the foreman to shoe the horses. He continued to watch her. Slender manicured fingers turned the steering wheel with a grace that was almost laughable, considering it was just a fucking car. But that was her. From what he’d seen of Noelle in the past year and a half of working on the land next to her family’s, she was utter perfection and out of the question for him, even if she wasn’t opposed to being with someone outside of her race. His friend Beau would have a better chance of being with her than anyone else. He curled his fists. Damn, he hated the thought of the ranch foreman or any other man pursuing Noelle when he’d already been deemed unfit to enter the competition. “I’m going to stop by the southern border, all right?” Her raspy voice brought him to the present. Cole jerked his head. The southern border was on the opposite end, hidden from her home, compromising mostly of brushes and trees. It was rare the days that anyone was sent to work on this portion of the ranch. Meaning, Noelle didn’t want anyone to see them together. The car rolled to a sleek stop parallel to a bank surrounded by barbed wire fencing, the same fencing that spanned the entire two thousand acres. He climbed out, fully expecting her to speed away before he had a chance to close the door. Instead, Noelle dipped her head to

look out at him. “Hey, cowboy. No more suicide attempts for the day, agreed?” He stared at her and she raised an eyebrow for emphasis then offered the faintest hint of a smile. Just barely… but those plump wide lips did move. Moments later she was speeding down the asphalt, particles of dust kicking up behind the yellow Corvette. What a way to turn the day around. Hell, his entire week. This morning he’d gotten up, annoyed and disappointed that his truck had decided to act out despite spending the few hours he had to spare working on it. Chalking it up to bad luck, he’d taken it in today and wrote the expense off, as a couple of hundred dollars less he had to send home to his parents. Cole scrubbed a hand to his jaw at the thought of the ranch his parents and brother were struggling to hold on to. If he hadn’t left and found work on Somerset Ranch, the homestead would have fallen apart by now and his family would no longer have a place to call home. He pushed those thoughts aside as best as he could. He was going home this weekend and would have the entire two days to worry about the future of the Tumbling Y. By the time he reached the tack room and pulled down his saddle and rope, a couple of the other hands were gathered outside unloading bags of feed from a truck. The foreman stepped through the arched doorway and stared at him in astonishment. “That was fast. I thought you said it was gonna take a few hours to get your pickup. Slow day at the shop?” Cole eyed his friend. The two of them had hit it off since his first day on the job. Beau Henderson was the only person in town who understood him. The foreman had a close relative who was also speech impaired. He and his entire family had learned sign language from an early age to communicate with the relative. “I left it there. It’s taking much longer than I thought.” Beau let out a whistle. “You must be fucking Speedy Gonzalez to make it back here so fast. I thought all the guys were too busy to give you a ride back.” Cole chuckled and shook his head. “)o. Someone gave me a lift.” No need to mention who it was. He could already see the little tigress pouncing all over him if he let it slip she’d given him a ride. Hmm, not that it would be such a bad thing come to think of it. If she

placed those soft hands on the right spots, gave him a few scratches, it might just be well worth it. His cock hardened inside his jeans before he forced himself to focus on his surroundings. He had no right getting hard for Noelle. Luckily, the foreman didn’t press the issue. “Since you weren’t here for the cattle drive, I used Bradford as point rider and had Langley take over his lead spot on the side.” Beau snorted. “Big mistake as you can imagine. We lost two of the yearlings, just a bit down the road from the Williams’ place.” The Williams’ place. Cole silently repeated the words to himself. When Beau grabbed his own saddle from against the wall and called out, “Saddle up. We’re riding out to find them before boss gets wind of it.” Cole was one step ahead wrangling his thoughts from straying toward the possibility of seeing Noelle again. Once on horseback, Cole rode alongside the foreman until he realized there was no way they were going to get a rein on where the yearlings went unless they headed into the bushes. He turned to the Beau and signed, “I’ll take over the western front.” He pointed his thumb in the direction of the sprawling terracotta painted three-story country house belonging to the only African-American family in Copper Mesa. Beau gave the official okay as Cole guided the stallion, Firebrand, toward the wire fence separating the two properties. Although not even half the size of the ranch, the bushes behind the house were a decent size for the animals to wander into danger. Jumping from his mount, Cole led the horse under the shade of a Ponderosa Pine, tying a jerk knot around the trunk. He’d never been on the property before but he knew the landscape well. There were far too many low lying branches that spelled hazard if he tried to scour the area on Firebrand. After he’d climbed the fence and was minutes underway into his search for the yearling bulls, Cole felt two distinct taps on his back. His brows furrowed. It reminded him of the way he had touched Noelle hours before in the parking lot. Cole glanced to the side and swallowed hard. Why was he always so happy to see her when judging by the fire in those deep brown eyes, she looked none to pleased by his presence? “I don’t have to tell you that you’re trespassing, do I?” He blinked in response. Was she serious?

She stared back at him with something akin to superiority in her eyes. Cole shrugged and kept on walking. For some dumbass reason, he hadn’t expected that from her. Behind him, footsteps quickened, followed by her insistent voice. “Just because you have free reign over at the ranch doesn’t mean you can have the same liberty here. I don’t know if it’s because I was decent enough to give you a —” Talk about misjudging a book by the cover. Cole stopped in his tracks, spun around and issued her a deadly look. He needed her to shut up so he could detect if one of the animals was in the nearby bushes and go on about his business. She opened her mouth to utter something else but he drew a finger to his lips hoping she would take the hint. Come on beauty, I know you can shut up for one minute. Her perfectly arched brows narrowed as she mouthed the words. “What is it?” Luckier than he thought. She was actually listening to him. Cole relaxed his posture. He didn’t want to frighten Noelle by having her believe a wild animal was on the cusp of attacking them. Or rather him, because as dubious as he felt about her in this moment, one thing was certain– he wouldn’t let anything hurt her. He crooked his finger, gesturing to her. Come with me. Arms folded, she shook her head fervently. “You go,” she mouthed, jabbing a finger toward the bushes. At least there’d be no mistaking her lack of concern for his wellbeing, Cole thought lifting the rope from his shoulder. He pushed away the shrubs. Sure enough the little guy was lying on its side, the Somerset brand visible on its hip. The cow appeared to be suffering, one of the hind legs red and swollen. Shit. It had to be a snakebite. His next thought centered on Noelle. Cole glanced backward, swinging his gaze to her long legs. Good. She had replaced the stylish black pumps from earlier today with a pair of tan suede boots that reached just above her calves. “What’s wrong with it?” She inched closer to him as if she was unsure her legs were doing as she commanded. Cole pointed to the snakebite and she immediately clamped a hand over her mouth and sprang backward. “What are you going to do?”

He lifted a brow. Was she concerned about the animal or herself? She tucked a strand of shiny dark hair behind her ear and let out a small breath. “I’m asking because I hope you don’t plan on leaving it here to die. Your boss will be getting a bill if my father has to dispose of it.” Disappointment rose within him. After the ride she had given him, he’d thought maybe there was more to her than what he heard from the other hands. He was wrong. And despite the fact that he had no reason to be disappointed in her, they were nothing, not even friends, he couldn’t help it. The loss of not getting to know the person he thought he’d caught a glimpse of left him hollow. Ignoring her, Cole hoisted the half limp yearling into his arms and turned in the opposite direction. He couldn’t believe he’d felt excitement at seeing her again. He kept on moving throughout the thicket, hurrying with the heavy weight in his arms. Still, he heard her quiet footsteps behind him. If she disliked him so much, why was she following him, when all he wanted was to get the fuck off her precious daddy’s property and return where he belonged? He paused and waited for whatever it was she had to say again. Noelle cleared her throat. “So um… Cole. Aren’t you worried your boss is going to fire you? You’re the one who usually rides point, correct? Shouldn’t it have been your duty to make sure the animals stay on course to wherever you guys take them?” His eyebrows shot up and his movement halted. It had nothing to do with being worried about his job. Somerset wasn’t going to fire him. No. What surprised him was Noelle’s reference to his work. Earlier he hadn’t expected her to know his name. That shock was lesser compared to her knowledge of his duties on the cattle drives. He wanted to say something, anything to know what was going through her mind when it came to him. But he couldn’t. She wouldn’t understand him and he had no wish to have her eye him and his attempts to communicate with scorn. He’d have to keep ignoring her. There was too much at stake for him and his family to get caught up in the world of Noelle Williams.

Chapter Two Noelle stared out of her bedroom window. She was looking over at that damn ranch again. Disgusted with her lack of self-control, she snatched the satin drapes together and pressed her head to the fabric. She hadn’t made a good impression on Cole last week after they’d found the injured animal. She should have just stayed hidden and continued on with her walk instead of approaching him. If only her stupid feet had listened to her brain instead of leading her to the last person she needed to be around. She’d done so well for the past year, keeping her distance from Cole, since she’d first caught sight of him shoeing horses as she spoke with Mr. Somerset. Noelle curled the edges of the drapes in her fist, unsure if her first memory of Cole was a cherished one or part nightmare. That day, over a year ago, she’d visited the ranch for the sake of her father’s business, but had been caught off guard by the sight of a man, kneeling on the ground. There hadn’t been anything special about him, except his massive frame, but her heart started to beat a mile a minute, waiting for him to lift his head. She was glad he hadn’t noticed her while performing his duty, because as Mr. Somerset spoke and Noelle felt her lips moving, her heart continued to beat fast, palms misting with nervousness she had never felt before. When Mr. Somerset paused and called out to the cowboy, asking him a question, Noelle learned two things that she would never forget. The ranch hand’s name was Cole and he couldn’t speak a word. By the time he looked up from his task, it was too late for her. She’d caught the briefest glimpse of his dark eyes and in that moment, Noelle wanted nothing more than to get the hell off the ranch and wipe the image of the cowboy from her mind. Cole disturbed her because not once since she’d turned her life around, had a man captured her attention or made her cunt pulse anxiously with untold desires as this silent ranch hand she knew nothing about. She had to stay away from him. “So stupid,” she mumbled, stepping away from the window and shoving aside the memory. She had failed at staying away from him as she’d promised herself and, to make it worse, she hadn’t even tried to present herself in a positive light. Hadn’t tried to be anything

other than what he expected from her. Then again, did she even know how to be different? She’d invested so many years in cultivating her image. Her looks, clothes, work ethic. Everything had to be perfect on the outside, more than enough to make up for the embarrassment she had caused herself and her family. Noelle blew out a shallow breath and drew open the wide closet doors. She was doing well for herself. She was no longer the wild seventeen year old bent on self-destruction and selfish to boot. Noelle Williams was an adult, desperately seeking the approval and thumbs up from her parents. In essence, she was a grown woman living at home and working for her parents as a gofer. Cole and everyone else had the image of her life she wanted them to have. The truth was, without the glimmer of her parent’s money and being blessed with a pretty face, there was nothing special about her. That is, nothing positive which made her stand out. “I don’t care what he thinks,” Noelle muttered. Cole McKinney was a ranch hand and a mute at that. His opinion didn’t make an ounce of difference in her life. She was in control. Complete control, she reminded herself. Noelle dressed, slipping into one of her many business suits, a crisp side pleated skirt that fell just above her knees. Today was like any other day of visiting her father’s clients and explaining to them the merits of using his supplemental feed for their herd. The fact that she was headed over to the ranch where Cole worked made no difference at all. Grabbing up the necessary paperwork, Noelle carefully laid them in her briefcase, arriving at the ranch minutes later. Please let that man be inside. The last thing she wanted was to go on a wild goose chase all over the ranch searching for Mr. Somerset because he had forgotten their appointment. Worse, she didn’t want to run into Cole, who would look at her as if all the misfortune in the world could be laid at her feet. Noelle pressed the pad of her finger against the doorbell. Smoothing the hem of her skirt, she ran a hand over her hair. The straightened strands were held together in a neat bun at the back of her head. Excellent. She waited another minute before ringing the bell again. No answer. Noelle turned and looked around. It was midday on the ranch. The workers were sure to be on every corner of the grassy land and

she doubted any of them would be of much help to her. People didn’t usually appreciate being talked down to, definitely not the hardworking cowboys around here and unfortunately it was a crime she was guilty of. In her search for the owner, Noelle strode past the opened barn. The invigorating aroma of hay, leather and horse floated through the air. To some the scent might seem offensive to the senses, but she loved it, ever since her visits to the riding stables as a child, despite her protests. Being here represented all the ways she had put her old life in the city behind her. At the same moment, a tall, dark haired man sporting a five o’clock shadow exited the room with a saddle slung over his shoulder. Foreman. Noelle straightened her spine and held on tighter to her small briefcase. The cowboy stopped in front of her. “You looking for the boss, Ms. Williams?” She nodded. Okay, maybe he would be of some help. “Is he nearby? I really don’t want to walk all the way across the ranch searching for him.” The man chuckled and scratched his chin while looking her up and down. “Nah, don’t s’pose you would.” He shifted his gaze to one of the horses grazing under a nearby tree. “Boss is over by the corral. If you want, I can give you a ride over there. It’s quite a walk.” “No thanks,” she replied tightly. The cowboy lifted his lean shoulders. “Suit yourself, ma’am.” Noelle shook her head and kept on walking. She stole a backward glance at the man. He was handsome and she must have seen him a dozen times before, probably even heard his name here and there. But for the life of her she couldn’t remember it, didn’t feel the warm stirring that only one quiet cowboy elicited from her even when he wasn’t around. She reached the gated area. Noelle could see the owner of the ranch standing beside a group of workers. Striding toward them, she felt their gazes on her, all but for one person. Cole gave a quick glance her way, a look of disinterest crossing his masculine face. She wasn’t surprised when he lowered his head and returned to tagging the ear of a calf. Noelle shifted her head, squashing the trace of anger and disappointment that she hadn’t captured his attention.

Clearing her throat, she issued a greeting to the gray haired man. “Good morning, Mr. Somerset.” Instead of returning her greeting, the man’s gaze dropped to her briefcase. “I thought your father was going to run those by me today.” Noelle forced herself to remain calm. This was an issue she experienced each and every time with Mr. Somerset. The sixty-four year old rancher was among those men who refused to accept that a woman had knowledge of the ranching industry outside of cooking for the cowboys. Perhaps it was the same thing her father experienced in the beginning of his career, except his gender hadn’t been the issue in question. “My father is occupied at the moment. If you’d rather wait another two weeks for his schedule to clear, that’s fine. I have a demonstration to make over at the Wayland ranch sometime today.” Mr. Somerset’s ears perked up and he quickly reached for her hand, staying her movement. “Hey, now just hold up, little lady. How about we go inside and you give me the run down.” Thank God. She wouldn’t have to spend another minute out here where a fucking cow ranked higher on the scale than her in Cole’s eyes. An hour later, after she’d extolled the virtues of the latest upgraded feed supplement her father’s company had developed, Noelle dashed into her car. She needed to get off the damn ranch and go home. In her room, specifically, where she could feel secure that Cole and everyone else couldn’t see beneath the surface, wasn’t able to look at her and know the kind of person she had been. The type that he’d probably only seen on television and felt pity, maybe disgust for. Cole might be the biggest and hardest looking man on the ranch, but there was an innocence and naiveté about him that unnerved and intrigued her. Noelle scoffed. What a joke it was spending so much time thinking about him. For that nice body he had, Cole probably had no idea what to do with a woman. If anything she should be the one pitying him. She just had to keep remind herself of that. Noelle twisted the key in the ignition, recoiling as the engine coughed and sputtered. Could the day get any worse? Annoyed, she yanked the key and pushed open the door. Not even a second out of the car and she spied a rider on horseback coming from behind the

thick trunk of one of the many Juniper trees towering along the side of the dirt road. Noelle squeezed her eyes and took a deep breath. When her eyes fluttered open, she shook her head at the identity of her companion. Great. The last person she wanted to see or needed around. She gritted her teeth and hedged toward the front of the car. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her defeated. Popping the hood, Noelle leaned over, pretending to study the machinery. If she ignored him, maybe he would go away and leave her in peace. She fiddled with the nearest engine part and sneaked a glance over her shoulder to see if he was still sitting on the horse observing her. How embarrassing. He was no doubt having a good laugh on the inside at her misfortune, not to mention that such an expensive car had failed her. She noticed he was no longer on the stallion. Noelle looked sideways to see where he had gone off to since the horse was standing in the same spot without its rider. Every nerve in her body went on high alert the instant she felt a hand pushing hers from the engine. Her heart thumped. Noelle snatched away her hand. “What are you doing?” He gazed at her from the corner of his eyes and made a sweeping motion with his hand over the entire engine. Noelle frowned. “You want to look at it?” He wanted to help her? Cole nodded and whipped out the tiny notepad from his back pocket. Can’t make any promises, but I’ll see if I can fix it. She gaped at him. He was serious. And then she felt it, the rush of shame seeping into her bones because of the insensitive way she had thought of him and treated him. Stepping aside, she allowed him room to work. Noelle watched as he braced forward, brows knotted in concentration. His face relaxed somewhat as he took out an iron object resembling a large screw. He held it out to her, waving it in the air and pointing. She bit back a smile at the triumph on his face, but her lips twitched in revolt. Eventually, she lost the battle and her smile won out. A look of surprise crossed his dark features. Noelle felt silly when his face closed up because she’d made the mistake of smiling.

He lowered his hand and placed the engine part on the ground then scribbled again on the notepad and showed it to her. Do you trust me to do it? Her smile faltered. It was such a simple question. Cole was asking about the damn car, yet it felt like he wanted to know so much more. Biting back a snide remark in retaliation for the way he was affecting her, Noelle lifted a shoulder. “Do your worst, cowboy.” He gave a curt nod, picked up the item and began whatever it was he assumed he could do. Noelle straightened, pretending to study the surrounding. If he had taken one look at her stranded on the roadside and galloped away on the horse, she might have felt more comfortable than having him here…helping her. It made no sense. Held in the grips of curiosity, Noelle sauntered beside him and asked, “Why are you helping me?” He didn’t stop at his task, scraping at the side of the iron with a silver pocketknife. His head shifted ever so slowly to the side. His eyes made contact with hers and Noelle felt the air sizzle. A tempest of dust whisked through the air, probably dirtying her shoes but she didn’t care. Couldn’t. That hardened gaze drifted downward and her heart pounded as he surveyed her entire frame for what felt like an eternity. Her pussy throbbed. Just when she thought she’d have to look away first, he turned his head fixing his attention on the engine, effectively ignoring her question. One minute passed and then another. On the brink of uttering a final curse at the car for breaking down, she heard the hood snap close. Cole turned to her and pointed to the steering wheel. Grasping his meaning, Noelle nodded and jumped into the car, turning the ignition. The engine purred to life. She didn’t have time to calculate her next move. He had fixed it. Noelle kicked open the door and stared at him in surprise. “You fixed it!” He wiped a hand along his faded jeans and shrugged. Was it so hard for him to sign, write something to her? Irritated and a tad bit hurt by his attitude, Noelle planted herself in front of him with her arms folded. “You never answered my question.”

Pausing, Noelle took a calming breath. She was coming on too strong with what had to look like some kind of angry black chick ruse. “Why are you helping me, Cole?” she repeated in a hushed tone. His brows arched and once more he pulled out the notepad and wrote. Payback. )ow we’re even. Noelle curled her lips at the words on the paper. Payback? All she had done was give him a ride to the ranch. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Didn’t people do things like that for each other every day? Of course they did, but it wasn’t expected of her. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach. If it had been anyone else, Cole wouldn’t have felt beholden for something as simple as a car ride. Crumpling the piece of paper inside her fist, she pushed past him. “That’s fine. I guess no thanks are needed for fixing my car since we’re even.” Not surprisingly she didn’t garner a reaction from him. Cole strode away and mounted his horse. From the seat of her car, Noelle watched his hand dip into his back pocket. His head lifted a fraction as he stared into the car, shaking his head while removing his hand from the pocket, devoid of the notepad she’d hoped he was going for. Once again, disappointment nipped at her heels. He didn’t even watch her drive off before turning the horse around in the direction of the ranch.

Chapter Three )oelle. For the past two weeks no matter how hard he tried, Cole found it impossible to get her out of his head. It didn’t make a difference if he worked himself to the bone, clocking in eighteen hours each day on the range. As soon as he hit the sack instead of sleep coming to him, he’d lay awake for hours wondering what the fuck it was about her that was causing him to make a fool of himself. He wasn’t blind and he wasn’t an idiot despite certain people wishing to believe that of him. Cole swallowed hard. He had a horrible feeling Noelle was amongst those who thought because he lacked speech, his manhood or intelligence was also in question. At home on the Tumbling Y in Elk Basin, a town as much isolated as Copper Mesa, he didn’t have to deal with that problem. No, his problem was trying to keep the ranch in the McKinney name and provide support for his mother, ailing father and younger brother. As much as he loved the Tumbling Y, it was in equal parts the bane of his existence and his saving grace—the only possession of value he had to hold on to. If he wanted a woman like Noelle, it wasn’t going to happen without anything to offer except a ride in his pickup…or being able to fix a busted spark plug. Exiting onto a stretch of road, barren save for the bales of hay lying on the shorn patches of grass. Cole felt the familiar stirrings of home. A herd of cattle, heads low to the low brown grass scavenged for nourishment. Cole sighed. Why hadn’t anyone moved them to higher grounds? He kicked himself mentally. Of course he knew the reason. They were strapped for cash, unable to hire more than a handful of part time workers. His younger brother was still in high school, completing his final year. Derek didn’t have the time to take on many of the duties to assist his ailing father and overworked mother. A half-mile down the road later, Cole could not fight the feeling of anger and dissatisfaction skidding to the forefront of his mind. The sign his father crafted for the ranch came into view. Rusted and muddied, the metal crooked to the side, swaying in the evening breeze. It wasn’t pretty. Nor was it a welcome sight in front of his home. The sign represented everything that was wrong with the ranch, everything that was on his shoulders to fix. His lips curved in disdain.

That fucking sign might as well represent him. Broken and lowdown with little appeal to anyone. )o appeal to her. After pulling up in the driveway, Cole leaned across the seat to grab his bag. The front door to their modest split-level home eased opened. His mother stood there holding the frame ajar, a kitchen towel clutched between her plump hands. “I didn’t know you were coming home this weekend,” she said as he climbed the porch steps. Her hands moved in unison to her words, although he had no difficulty hearing. “Your father is resting and your brother’s on his way home from school. They’ll be glad to see you.” Cole glanced in the hallway leading to his parent’s bedroom. “How is he?” Eight months ago his father suffered a mini stroke and although he had recovered from it, Jamison McKinney never regained the majority of his strength, not only that, but it seemed as if the incident left him prone to even more ailments. His father was a shadow of the hardworking rancher, who had placed all his hopes and dreams on this piece of land in southern Colorado. “He’s coming along. Your father tries his best, but…” She shook her head and laid the kitchen towel on the edge of the sofa. “Never mind that. You know I hate to burden you with more than you already take on. How has everything been in Copper Mesa? The internet’s been down so I’m not sure if you’ve sent us any emails or not.” “Same as always. All right.” What else did she expect him to say? It was what she wanted to hear, needed to hear and even if things hadn’t been going well, he would never let on. His mother was one of the hardest working people he knew and he damn sure wouldn’t be the one to lay more stress at her feet, not when it was his turn to do the brunt of the work and take care of them. Her features softened, however the fine lines around her puffy eyes remained the same. “That’s good. Your father is looking forward to having you back here with us.” Cole lifted an eyebrow. Back here? It sounded more permanent than his sporadic weekend visits. “Is there something I need to know?”

She flushed. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” Slowly, she eased onto the couch with shoulders slumped. “Mentioned what? I’m thirty years old, not a child. I expect to be informed when you or anyone else in this family think you can make a decision about my life without letting me in on it.” She lowered her head between her hands. “That’s not how it is,” she began, facing him. “You know your father and I don’t think you’re any less capable of managing your life than anyone else. If it wasn’t for you this ranch would have fallen to pieces, reverted back to the bank a long time ago.” Cole was fast losing his patience with her ridiculous acknowledgment of his contribution as if he could do any less. “You didn’t answer my question.” She avoided his gaze and toyed with the ring on her finger. In a low voice she answered, “Your father thinks it’s best if you returned to the Tumbling Y. He needs your help here.” She thought to just mention that and expect him to pack everything and return? “What about money?” He held out his hand, palm facing upward and tapped it with his other hand. “Wasn’t the point of me working someplace else to help offset the cost here?” “It was and it has helped. It might not show from the looks of this place, but we’re staying afloat. I hate having to tell you this, but the fact of the matter is, your father is not doing well and it’s just a matter of time before another stroke takes him from us.” Cole raked a hand through his hair. Why the hell did he get the feeling there was more to this than she was letting on? And so far, there had been no mention of his younger brother’s role in all of this. Surely he had to be of some help. “What about Derek? He’s old enough to contribute around here after he graduates. I can’t up and leave my job.” As if on cue, Noelle popped into his thoughts, her eyes flashing with the excitement he knew she would have rather kept hidden after he’d fixed her car. He wanted to see that again and again. Wanted to have her display it to him with open affection. He didn’t want to abandon the one place that kept him close to her. “Derek won’t be here.” She refused to meet his eyes. “Your brother received a full scholarship to Colorado State University.”

A fist rammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. An unwanted sense of anger, jealousy and disbelief settled in his gut. He didn’t begrudge his brother the achievement, but what about the opportunities he had to sacrifice as a teen to stay on at the ranch and help out? Even before he had graduated high school his parents had hinted that his presence was paramount. And now, they expected him to drop everything and return home so his brother could have the opportunities he was denied. Was it because they had higher expectations of Derek? He, Cole, was just big and silent, unable to amount to much in life. Was that how they viewed him? “I’m suppose to return here and take on his load in addition to everything else, is that right?” Her dark eyes widened. She quickly stretched out a hand to him. “Cole. It’s not like that. You know how your brother is. He doesn’t love this place as much as you and Derek’s always wanted to go—” He didn’t want to hear the rest of what she had to say. He needed to get away from the excuses that masked so many truths. Cole stalked out of the living room and outside to the small guesthouse he’d taken as his home for a few years as well. It never bothered him before the life he had chosen, living here and at the Somerset ranch, both places lonesome and devoid of any social life to speak of. He harbored no ill will toward his brother if he wanted out and wanted to experience life outside of cattle ranching. Heck, his mother was right about the love he had for ranching, but that was no excuse to assume the ranch was his entire life. That, although he would return to the Tumbling Y out of duty, there might not be someone else who needed him or that he might not have other obligations. Yeah right. Who was he kidding; he had nothing outside of maintaining the Tumbling Y. And he was thinking too much about Noelle again. Last night he’d ridden past the fence and caught a glimpse of the curtains drawn back, just barely. He looked up far too late, only to see the telltale swaying of the curtain. Noelle had been watching him and he had never been so tempted in his life to shake a woman. He wanted to drag the information out of her why she felt the need to watch him from afar. Then it hit him, whatever she was feeling, hatred or interest, he was equally as guilty. He was spending too much time going out of his way to watch her movements. For all

he knew, she was wondering the same and wishing to do nothing but slap him across the face.

Chapter Four Legs outstretched and her back against the trunk of a tree, Noelle raised her hand in a sweeping motion depicted in the book lying across her lap. In mid action, she dropped her hand to the blanket on the grass and snapped the book closed. “No point at all,” she chastised herself. No point except humiliating herself. Or perhaps, Cole wouldn’t even take her attempt to communicate with him seriously. Noelle slid the book inside her handbag and folded her arms behind her head. This was her spot, although it encroached on Mr. Somerset’s property. In the seven years she’d been coming here, she had yet to encounter another soul and was grateful for that small favor. It was here that the quiet rush of the river, the sunshine hitting through the branches of the Juniper and Cottonwood trees on those warm summer afternoons, after her family had first moved to Copper Mesa, helped to keep her sane. Not so much to prevent her from falling back into old habits, rather to get away from the constant lectures transfused with bouts of silence. It hadn’t changed much over the years, but she had gotten used to it. After all, her parents had given her all the opportunities other children could only pray for, they didn’t deserve to have a druggie as a daughter, regardless if she hadn’t made it as far into the addiction as some of the people she hung around with. Noelle grappled with the painful memories. She was not a drug user. She had gone through too much trying to shed that appalling label. Was still going through it, although no would look at her and suspect it. Definitely not Cole, her burly cowboy. God, she didn’t even want to ponder that train of thought. Thinking of Cole in such a personal way. And she didn’t have to. The sound of rustling bushes on the path leading from the ranch, grabbed her attention. Noelle straightened. Stretching on her tiptoes, she looked over the hedge. Cole. Her heartbeat quickened. She didn’t want to see him. Didn’t want him invading her private sanctuary. He strode toward the bank of the river, fingers pressed firm against his palm. She could see droplets of blood leaking from between the fingers.

What the hell happened to him? Her wretched feet took a step forward and then another. Noelle stopped and watched as he bent in front of the river, placing both hands beneath the clear shallow water. Her feet scuffled on the dirt. Noelle jumped then froze when a twig snapped beneath her sandals. Snapping his head to the side, Cole caught wind of her presence. The breath hitched in her throat and blood pounded in her ears when his head lifted and their gaze collided. She shifted her head and looked to the side. Noelle willed her feet to move and take her away from him. It was either that or going to him and asking if he was all right. Only catch was, he probably wouldn’t appreciate her concern or help, since that would mean he might be indebted to her or God forbid, require him to acknowledge her existence. So that led to the question, why was she headed mindlessly in his direction? She continued toward him. The soft chirping of a meadowlark perched high on a scraggly branch, coupled with the brisk scent of pine needles and the steady lull of the rolling water did nothing to soothe her nerves. Cole kept his gaze focused on the water, his large hands moving back and forth setting off tiny ripples. He’s pretending I’m not here. She stopped behind him. “Cole?” He withdrew his hands from the water and with an eerie slowness, turned to look at her, brows lifted and a definitive what-thefuck-do-you-want look in his black eyes. Shaken, Noelle retreated a step backwards. Did he give that look to every female? The man couldn’t talk but there was absolutely no reason to, not when he could get his point across with those eyes. Imagine how he could make her feel with a heated gaze to show he viewed her as a woman, the way the other cowboys did. “What are you doing here?” she asked, instantly regretting the censor in her tone. The anger on his face was all too apparent as he tied a bandanna around his palm. Wiping his uninjured hand on the side of his jeans, he rose to his feet. Noelle felt like kicking herself. She’d blown it again. Did she want him to dislike her? Because never in her life had she tried so hard to be cruel to someone before…well except herself.

She bit the inside of her cheek. She should have straight out asked what happened to his hand. At least then she wouldn’t have to watch him walk away in anger. He made it halfway past the blanket she’d spread out on the grass before coming to a sudden standstill. Her gaze followed his downward, landing on the quilt. Oh God. The book. It had fallen out of her bag and was laying face up so he could read every single humiliating incriminating word of the title. American Sign Language: For Beginners. How would she explain it? One way was to not cower in front of him and act as if she had committed a heinous crime. It was a free country and he didn’t control her reading material, even if he was the sole cause of her buying the book. As if in slow motion, Noelle watched with bated breath as he picked up the book, grasping it between his fingers. He held it out to her. She wasn’t dumb enough to try and take it. Cole wanted to know why she had such a book in her possession. Too bad. She wasn’t going to stick around and answer him. Noelle hurried past him and snatched up her handbag. He could keep the damn book if he wanted. It wasn’t like there’d be much use for the few signs she had learned anyway. “I don’t owe you any explanations.” His jaw clenched. “Why?” He pushed the book toward her, eyes maddened with fury. “What are you up to?” he signed rapidly. Noelle looked down at his hands. “If I were you, I’d have better things to worry about than what I’m doing.” He threw the book on the blanket, a sharp thud echoing around them. Noelle blinked in surprise. Fear raced up her spine. Her breath felt trapped somewhere in her throat at his unnerving stare. Damn. She shouldn’t have pushed him. Cole didn’t like her and if he wanted to hurt her out here in the bushes, there wasn’t a thing she could do to defend herself against him. He was too big and powerful; she’d be no match for him at all. “Why are you messing with me?” Noelle gulped, disturbed by what she saw beneath his stormy eyes. She reached down to pick up the book, then pushed it into her bag. “It was a mistake, Cole. Forget it.”

He shook his head and moved his hands rapidly, way faster than she could understand. She should walk away, but how could she? Because of her Cole was offended. In a quieter tone she answered, “I don’t understand you—the signs I mean.” His hands fell to his sides. Forehead creased, his hand delved into his pocket for the notepad. He scribbled quickly then pushed the paper into her hand without touching her. )oelle, why are you doing this? As if he didn’t know. It was the same reason she saw him at least once per day riding near the border between her parents’ home and the ranch. The reason, he’d spied her watching him from her bedroom window. Noelle lifted her shoulder, hoping she looked as haughty as she didn’t feel. “I was curious, that’s all.” Curious about what? How it feels to be lacking? Noelle blinked at the words on the paper. Cole thought he was lacking? She looked away and crossed to the edge of the water where he’d knelt previously. “I never said that. You always seem to take pleasure in imagining the worst of my intentions. I don’t see why this should be any different.” His footsteps mashed on the ground and Noelle felt her heart quiver and heat flooding between her thighs as he came to stand beside her. Do you care what I think? She ran her fingers over the note she’d just read. “I shouldn’t.” I really shouldn’t. He took a deep breath and nodded as if her words explained everything. Long, callused fingers worked quickly on the paper again, leaving her worried as to where the conversation was headed. But you do and you don’t like it? Am I right, )oelle? Noelle nodded. There was no use lying to him. “We’re very different people. You know that right?” She expected the question to upset him because of course he had to know what she was talking about and the difference in their skin color was the least of her concern. He looked over at the ranch then down at the ground before nodding and lifting his hand in a motion she remembered from the book. “I know.”

The silence grew dense between them until Noelle focused her attention on his hand. “What happened?” she asked, unsure if he would confide in her. He gave her a wry grin. Noelle waited for him to grab the pen and start scribbling again. He didn’t. Biting back the hurt, she lifted her gaze to the auburn sky. “Well the good thing is, I know nothing’s changed.” She brushed off her skirt. “As far as I’m concerned you can go on back to the ranch and keep on thinking of me as the bitch you want to avoid, because I probably am, cowboy.” Brows furrowed, he gave her a quick look before writing something on the paper. I was stupid. Let myself get distracted while tearing down a piece of barbed wire. She had seen some of the other cowboys removing sections of the wiring that must have been put in place over a century ago and was a deadly to animals if they became entangled in the fencing. “Do you think Mr. Somerset will allow you to keep working if he gets a look at that injury?” He chuckled. She assumed it was a chuckle because his eyes became lighter and his lips curved into a sensuous grin. He stared at her for another second before lowering his head and jotting something down. He will. )eeds all the men he can get. He was probably right. There weren’t a lot of men out there ready to give up their social life to rough it on a ranch in a backwoods town. Much less a skilled cowboy like Cole who actually knew what he was doing. Mr. Somerset wasn’t an idiot and would not risk losing him to another ranch. “All right. But just because your boss isn’t going to fire you, is not a good reason to not take care of that hand.” She pointed to the blue bandanna around his palm, stained with red. “You don’t think you need to tie that knot a little tighter? Or do cowboys have some kind of mystical healing power different than everyone else?” He arched an eyebrow at her then held out his hand, with the knot facing her. Her cunt moistened at the way he held out his palm expectantly, even though she’d made no mention of helping him. It was a silent command and, Heaven help her, she adored it.

Steadying her breathing, Noelle fingered the knot, untied it and drew it closer around his palm. “Is it too tight?” Was that her voice all soft and throaty? He shook his head and lowered his gaze to her hand beside his. She retied it and allowed her hand to fall. Reaching out, Cole brushed his fingertips to hers. Noelle pulled away her hand. It was wrong to allow him to believe this thing would go any further than what took place right here. Cole looked at her hands, clenched to her sides and gave his head a jerk as if he didn’t care one way or the other. Irritated with herself and him, Noelle blurted, “You’re not going to tell your friends about this are you?” The last thing she needed was her father finding out that she was making nice with a worker from one of his buyers. A ranch hand. Cole pounded past her and dropped a piece of paper on the blanket. In big letters she read: There’s not a damn thing to tell, is there, Ms. Williams? Her chest tightened. Noelle turned to say something to softened the sting of her words. She was met with his retreating frame. Noelle stared after him longingly. Thankfully, this time her feet heeded the command of her brain and remained still, winning against the urge to run after him and apologize. It was just as well. If Cole knew the real her, he would be disappointed anyway. No point in fanning the flames of their attraction.

Chapter Five Cole studied the scar in the middle of his hand. It was almost healed. Despite how he’d made it seem to Noelle a week ago, he was thankful the injury was a minor cut. Men like him couldn’t afford to lose the ability to work with their hands. He couldn’t afford it, not with everyone depending on him to get the work done here and then to take over at the ranch back home. Still, it was a stupid mistake that resulted in the injury. One of the regular line riders, whose duty was to make sure all the wired fences were in tact each day, was holed up in his room with the flu, so he’d stepped up and volunteered to show one of the newly hired hands, a tenderfoot, how to patch up the four wire barbed fencing used to keep the herd of cattle from straying. The guy made a stupid move, causing the sharpened blade to slide across his palm. Lesson learned, he’d never volunteer to teach fence mending to anyone. Cole ran a finger over the scar. Although he didn’t like how things ended with Noelle during their last encounter, he had to admit she was wreaking havoc on his nerves. He could still feel her hands on his. She’d felt so soft, he hadn’t been able to stop himself from touching her… until she’d withdrawn from him. Right now, she seemed hell bent on avoiding any connection to him and he knew he should be doing the same with her. Tonight he had the chance of doing just that, sampling another woman and clearing Noelle from his mind once and for all. It was one of those nights. Every month or so, some of the women from the neighboring towns would pass through on the ranch with thoughts of nothing more than hooking up with a cowboy. A few of the women had been married, some of them not caring enough to take off their wedding rings. He had never slept with any of the married ones, but not all the men were as discriminatory, because of the long bouts of celibacy. He wouldn’t be a hypocrite and pretend he minded the women who came, but that didn’t mean he wanted to indulge either. The last and only woman on the ranch, he’d slept with had been three months ago. The experience left a rancid taste in his mouth although he hadn’t been stupid enough to place his lips on hers or any other part of her body. It would have been too intimate. At the time, the pressure in his cock had been relieved, but that was just it, nothing more, nothing less. The way he’d heard the

other men describe it, it should have been way better than just releasing into the condom. And that went for both times he’d had sex. It probably would be if I hadn’t been half disgusted. He’d known that as soon as he and the woman finished she would jump into bed with another ranch hand and continue like that for the rest of night. That little tidbit alone had lessened his arousal. Yeah, he really wasn’t that desperate for a fuck tonight. He wanted…Noelle. Lovely, perfection that he wanted to claim. There had to be some part of her that wanted him too. Why else would she attempt to understand him, show concern for his injury? She was not as tough as she tried to portray herself and he wanted to be the one to wear her down, the one to lie on top of her each night, have her bear his weight with every thrust into her pussy. His cock pulsed with excitement and Cole lowered his hand, stroking it over his erection. Reluctantly, he lifted his hand and shook his head in defeat. He wasn’t going to spend another night bringing himself to come, spilling his seed for Noelle, a woman who he’d probably never get a chance in this lifetime to touch. He looked down at his cock and remembered how hard he came last night thinking of her and how badly he wanted to know what her cunt felt like. So much cum and such a fucking waste. He knew he wasn’t the only one who was attracted to Noelle. He knew for a fact a couple of the other hands had tried to come on to her to which she shot them down. He’d seen it happen once and actually stayed close by to make sure the man left her alone. Of course she hadn’t seen him and he hadn’t alerted her to his presence once he realized the worker wasn’t going to push the issue with her. Cole glanced at the small, rarely used alarm clock by his bed. What would be an even bigger waste was to spend the entire evening alone. He exited the room. The moment his feet hit the dirt, he could smell the stench of cheap liquor wafting off a cowboy with his hand up the skirt of a scantily clad woman sitting on his lap. “Isn’t this great, Cole? I was starting to get worried for a couple of weeks there. Didn’t think we’d come across any females willing to spread em’ for us.” Cole shook his head and ignored the boy. This was his first month on the job and Cole suspected the nineteen year old had never been with a woman but was trying to show off his machismo.

There wasn’t anything unique about the position of the tenderfoot Mike and the brunette sprawled across his lap. Some of the cowboys preferred privacy and some just plain didn’t care, like the one pumping into a blonde against the tree. Cole looked away, shifting his gaze to see Beau strolling in his direction. Like him, the foreman also took a quick glance at the couple by the tree and shook his head. “I thought you were gonna miss all the fun and chill inside your room.” “That was the plan.” “Not tonight. Sandy was asking for you.” Beau turned, looking around as if he was trying to spot the curvy woman. Cole shrugged. “I don’t give a shit.” Frowning, Beau looked at him strangely. “You left with her last time. What’s different now?” “It doesn’t mean I want a repeat experience. You can have her.” The foreman eyed him with suspicion. “No thanks. I do have to ask, this wouldn’t have anything to do with Williams’ daughter would it?” They both knew the man had two daughters but it was obvious which one anyone would be interested. That and the fact that the younger one was married. Regardless, it was a strange question…unless he’d accidentally let something slip to his friend. Cole had no memory of ever speaking to Beau about Noelle or any woman for that matter. There hadn’t been much information to relay. “Why would it? I don’t know his daughter.” It was the truth. He wanted to get to know her, but right now he was in a dismal darkness when it came to Noelle Williams. Beau lifted a shoulder. “No reason. Just asking, you know. Then of course there’s the little fact that I saw the two of you by Snake Trail River. You’re a decent guy, so I was apt to believe you weren’t harassing the girl. I didn’t think you’d harass her. If you weren’t doing that and she didn’t have a phone to her ears calling for help, what was going on?” The question stung. “Are you asking as a friend or my foreman?” “Both. I’d hate to see you waste your time on her.’”

Was Beau saying that because he disliked Noelle, or he didn’t think he had a fighting chance with her? “I don’t see how that has anything to do with you or my work here.” “Not your work.” Beau stared at him then snorted, “C’mon Cole. You wouldn’t exactly be her type, now would you?” It was all too clear. “She turned you down so, why would she talk to me, right?” The foreman’s face turned crimson. “That’s not what I meant and you fucking well know it.” What he knew was that deep inside it was always the same bullshit. When he’d first applied for the job he had to work harder, demonstrate that he knew how to rope and drag a steer and everything else his duties entailed, while the other men were being hired without having to prove anything except their identity. Even now he still felt like everyday he had to prove himself, despite the legwork and hours he put in. In the end, it didn’t matter how well he did the work. He couldn’t speak and that left some dumbasses thinking he was lacking in the intelligence area or that he had nothing to say. Now it turned out, someone he admired, his friend and boss, thought he didn’t stand a chance with Noelle or any woman deemed desirable by other men. He should be relegated to the Sandy’s of this world, women who spread their legs for anyone with a prick. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow, boss.” Beau shook his head. “Easy there, Cole. I didn’t mean to start shit with you.” The foreman looked around for a moment and said in a contrite tone. “Don’t take anything I said to you personal. You know how it is around here. It’s easy to get desperate for a woman when it’s a commodity. I just think you’re out of your league on this. You think Williams is gonna approve of his daughter getting involved with a saddle tramp? Take my advice and let it go, cowboy. Go have a beer and bang the shit out of Sandy. If you don’t some other man will.” Cole glanced over at the woman walking across the field, wearing a short dress that was far too tight for her round frame. He looked away, completely turned off. There was no way he’d be able to get it hard for her or any of the other cowboy chasing women. He wanted Noelle. Plain and simple. She didn’t want him, but that little bit of knowledge wasn’t doing anything to temper his desire for her.

Gazing up, he saw a light coming from one of the rooms in the neighboring house. Was Noelle staring out the window again, trying to get a glimpse of him? His lips curled. Bitch. No other female had made it as clear as her that he wasn’t worth shit. Angered, his vision sought out the redhead sidling up next to him. “Your friend over there wanted to take me in the tack room,” Sandy told him, failing at any hint of coyness. Cole stiffened. She smiled at him and rubbed her breasts against his arm and giggled. “I figured you’d want first dibs since it was so good last time. Maybe this time I can see if we can get a sound out of you.” Her lipstick smeared lips widened into a smile as if she had said something clever and cute. Cole peeled her arm from his. If there had been a slim chance in hell he could have gotten it up for her, her mention of the silence he tried so hard to maintain during intercourse killed all possibility. “Oh my God, you sounded like an animal dying.” Five years after losing his virginity and he could still hear the disgust in the girl’s voice. Get the fuck out of my way, Cole thought. As if he needed another reminder tonight of everything that was wrong with him. Glancing up at the window again, he saw that the light was still on. Cole dragged his gaze from the house. His foreman was correct. He hated to admit that it was over with Noelle before he ever had a chance. Hated to admit it hurt. He looked back at Sandy. Maybe if he drank a few cans of beer, he’d be able to fuck her. Prove to himself his manhood wasn’t destroyed because of a tease who had no interest in him. Would she even care if she saw him with another woman? He hoped so and a part of him hoped it would cause her pain. Like hell. Noelle had buckets of ice water tapped straight from the Rockies coursing through her veins. There were just some things a gorgeous face couldn’t make up for and he had a sickening feeling that dwelling on her was a lost cause. Bullshit, his mind screamed. He’d seen the glint in her eyes when she admitted her feelings. The way she’d carefully wrapped the bandanna around his hand. He still couldn’t believe she had done it. So, was that the reason his feet were taking him toward the river this late in the evening, hoping she would be there with thoughts of him? “Hey Cole, you ain’t sticking around for the pussy?” Mike yelled, taking a break from the woman’s breasts.

Cole waved a hand, brushing off the question before striding in the direction of the thick stretch of overgrown trees. A swim would help and then he’d turn in for the night. **** She knew what was going on at the ranch, had driven by and seen the cars parked along the roadside. Noelle wasn’t surprised that there were women chasing down the cowboys. In a way she envied them. Those women might only be in it for the sex, but at least they were brave enough to go after what they wanted. They were stronger than her and didn’t have to worry about what anyone would think of them. Like if Cole or anyone in Copper Mesa knew the reason her family moved to the town was to save her father’s business and the Williams’ family reputation before her behavior and heroin use cost them everything they held dear. Is Cole with one of them right now? Anger tore through her as she made her way to the river. Were those powerful muscles on his back bunching and rippling as he pounded into some strange woman? Were his hands holding on to soft feminine flesh not belonging to her? Maybe he would even place his lips on this mystery woman’s. Stop it, )oelle. What that cowboy does is none of your business. And yet it was. Sighing, Noelle glanced up at the night’s sky. Overhead a silver moon hung low, illuminating the dark, its sole companion a single star. She laughed to herself. Even the moon wasn’t alone…and neither was she, it seemed. Someone was in the river. The person was neck deep in the water. She could see the wet hair that fell to the sides of his face. His hands moved in a fluid motion. In the dim of night she could see the way his muscles flexed from the simple motion of pushing the strands from his face. He was amazing. Her pussy tightened. Noelle drew her legs together to relieve the ache. Cole was here and not lying between the thighs of a cowboy chaser. Her heart leapt and rejoiced. Thank God. He hadn’t noticed her, however. With bated breath she stood by the riverbank, anticipating the moment he would turn and regard her presence. A shift of the head and her wish came true. Whatever tranquility Cole was experiencing left him the moment he saw her.

The same hands that had pushed away the strands of damp locks with such grace became rough and impatient as he swam toward the shore, stopping with the water above his waist. Oh God. She looked over at a log and saw his clothes laying there, a pair of dark blue boxers beside his jeans. Modesty entreated her to turn and head in the opposite direction. Modesty was not her best friend. Noelle strutted over to the log and stood beside his discarded clothes. Heaven only knew why she insisted on pushing the man time and again. Midnight shaded eyes connected with hers. Crooking his fingers, Cole beckoned her to him. Everything felt like a dream. A delirious vision of Cole stepping out the river, his naked body dripping with water played before her eyes. “Look away, look away,” she chanted quietly. Impossible. She wanted so badly to see him and her pussy was moist and aching so much from his proximity. Her clit felt swollen. She glided in front of him, her gaze traveling from his feet to sculpted thighs. Noelle paused and swiped her tongue across her lips. Nerves and excitement tightened its reins on her. Look higher. She couldn’t, could she? She did. His cock jutted out, long and thick, semi hard. She lifted her gaze and saw him watching her, a dark fire blazing in his eyes. Unable to resist, Noelle looked down again, biting her lips to stifle a cry. His cock was completely hard now and swollen, sticking out from a patch of brown hair. The bulbous tip broader than imaginable, was tinged with the most beautiful shade of red she’d ever seen. Beneath the trunk-like shaft, she could see his balls, heavy and drawn up with his arousal. “Cole…” His eyes closed for a second then opened as he widened his legs. He was looking at her with anticipation… dear God, even a look of desperation. “This isn’t right,” she whispered. Noelle moved a step closer to him, stopping short before touching him. His cock was so big, almost too big. She loved it. Loved the way the tip glistened with his fluids. Absolutely divine. Moist heat pooled in her panties as blood rushed into her clitoris. What she wouldn’t give to feel his penis moving inside her, to lay beneath him and let him know that deep down she didn’t care

about their differences. How sweet would it be, to let Cole take from her what she had denied herself for too many years— what shame and self- preservation kept her from experiencing once more. His wide chest rose. Noelle watched the anger flicker across his features before his hand went to his meaty cock. He did want her to look at him. He looked up at her, eyes questioning and thick brows drawn together. Cole wanted to know if he pleased her. Fireflies danced in her stomach, heating her lower belly. He cared… Flattening her palm against his barrel chest, she told him, “You please me, Cole. More than I ever thought possible.” Under the moonlight, she could see his nostrils flared. Holding her hand, he guided it lower to the dark line of hair leading to his groin. Noelle shook her head but made no effort to extricate her hands. His fingers left hers to slide along her thighs. A large hand closed over her sex, cupping it and stroking through the soft jeans. Eyes wide she writhed against the pleasure and thought about pushing him away. Cole lowered his lids dangerously and shook his head. “Don’t” At once his fingers found her zipper, peeled it down then placed his hand over her pussy, rubbing his thumb along her slit through the sheer lace fabric of her panties. Noelle moaned, unsure if his name fell from her lips like a prayer. Ever so slowly, he pushed a callused finger inside her sex. Noelle squirmed against the invasion, and rolled her hips for more. His forehead knotted in concentration as he withdrew and stared down at himself, his large cock held within his large fist. Noelle panicked. Was he going to try and fuck her? Her cunt tightened and her mind spun. However, he made no move to climb between her legs. Thumbing her chin, he held her gaze, his dark eyes searing into hers. Noelle followed his lead as he looked downward at his fingers then back at her and finally his vision landed on his engorged cock. Her lids lowered in understanding. He was comparing the two. She caressed his hand. “I know you’re big.” Placing her other hand to his chest, she added softly, “It’s so beautiful, Cole. I like it.”

His featured softened and the harsh lines in his face smoothed. Cole covered a hand over hers, cradling her to his chest. He stared at her again and the same knot appeared in his forehead. Whatever it was he had to say, she didn’t want him to move his hands from her body to sign. By the looks of it, neither did he. He drew her closer and circled an arm around her back. His thumb brushed along her pussy, petting her slickened folds with the possessive touch of a lover. Noelle parted her lips on a breathy sigh and leaned into him. Eyes closed, she allowed him liberties she was probably going to regret in an hour’s time. All too soon, she opened her eyes, biting her lips to keep the whimper at bay as Cole slowly withdrew his fingers from between her legs. He was giving her that worried look again, except this time he pointed at her pussy then his shaft. Ohhh. Noelle blinked. He was worried about being too big for her. She stared at him in silence. Warmth spread through her. His concern stroked something deep and sacred within her. “You…you wouldn’t hurt me.” She paused realizing her answer might lead him to believe she was acquiescing to sex tonight, or any other time with him. Say something )oelle, anything to make him go away. She couldn’t afford to fall for Cole. Her heart would not be able to handle disappointing another person she cared about. She opened her mouth, preparing for the fallout from whatever she would say to him. She couldn’t. Cole was gazing at her with those penetrating black eyes, searing into her soul. She wanted Cole, but was too weak to go after him. Too afraid of what her family would say and terrified of how he would look at her if he knew of her past. Noelle placed her hand on his flat stomach, tracing circles over the rippling muscles. She trailed her fingers lower and caressed the back of her fingers along his remarkable length. She didn’t have to look up to know he watching her. Every nerve, cell in her body tingled. She moved her hand over the base, exploring this wonderful man. Velvet over steel. Everything about him was magnificent. Her eyes held the tip, wet with his arousal, the faint scent of his arousal heightening her desire. Noelle fought desperately against the need to fall to her knees and know once and for all what that strapping, bear of a man tasted like.

“I wonder what it would be like…having sex with you,” she mused, unable to stop the words that fell from her lips. He remained still, giving no hint to the effect her words had on him except for the single twitch she felt from his cock beneath her fingers. She pressed her face to his, lost in the fantasy. “I love it that you’re so huge, every part of you.” Noelle cupped the back of his head and swept her lips across his jaw. “It’s almost like I can feel you inside me.” Her pussy throbbed with want. Through lowered lids, she gazed up at him. “Would you like to touch me again?” Her desire blossomed. Cole shook his head and stroked her cheek. Noelle looked at him in confusion before shifting her gaze to his cock. Heaven help her, it was even more enticing in her need. So, why did he shake his head? His solid chest rose and fell. Noelle watched as he grasped his penis and held it out toward her center, barely touching her. Slowly, she looked up at him. His smoldering eyes met hers and with a jerk of his head, she knew what he wanted to say. Ask me for it. “Please, Cole. Can you touch me again?” Noelle lay on the ground and raised her hips as Cole knelt between her legs. He pulled the jeans below her ankles. Rising on her elbows, she pleaded, “Just touch me. I need you to make me feel good. Let me pretend I can feel you so deep inside me.”

Chapter Six Cole thought about leaving her right then and there. He knew her pussy was aching… and so was his cock. Hard and straining, with so much pre-cum spilling from the swollen tip, he would give anything to sink into her until there was no distance between them, but she didn’t want that. She didn’t care. The only thing that kept him from abandoning her was his need to be close to her, to soothe the pain in Noelle’s voice. She was hurting and right now he was the only one who could alleviate her ache. Cole pushed away his own hurt that she wasn’t about to welcome him inside her beautiful cunt. He pushed both hands in the opposite direction motioning for her to widen her legs. She did, without the slightest bit of hesitation. His cock swelled and hardened at the sight that greeted him. She was almost bare down there except for the faintest trace of ebony curls that he was already imagining wet with his sperm. Although it was dark, he was happy for the light of the moon shining directly over Noelle’s clit. The bundle of nerves looked full and juicy, so damn ripe. Her folds were puffy and swollen, damp with wetness for him. She nibbled at her full lips and looked up at him. Cole felt his chest tighten. No matter what Noelle might say, he knew without a doubt she was his woman. He took a deep breath and focused on the sheen between her labia. There was not a fucking drop of ice in her blood, just tantalizing warmth he was about to get a taste of. He held his penis and pressed it against her pussy, holding it there and watching as her eyelids closed. Her back arched and her legs, brown and long, spread even wider to accommodate his large frame. “More,” she whispered. God help him, Noelle had no idea what she was asking of him. To touch her so intimately and not expect him to thrust inside her exquisite cunt and fuck until they were both breathless and spent? She was killing him. But Cole knew he would do whatever she wanted. Anything to please her and show her how much he wanted her, deserved a chance with her more than anyone else. He held her hand and brought it to his face. Her lips parted on a luxuriant sigh and ended on a sensuous smile as she touched her hand to his face in a gentle caress.

He stroked the cockhead along her entrance and over her clitoris, plump with wanton need. A tiny moan escaped her before he moved his hand and pushed her backward in the soft grass. Holding his gaze, she began removing the buttons to her shirt, pushing it open to expose her round, pert little tits in the lacy bra. He placed a hand over a dusky nipple and covered the entire breast. Perfection. Cole squeezed and fondled the mound, delighted in the shape and size. He was happy her breasts weren’t overly large like both women he had slept with before, but big enough to bounce under the firm thrusts he wanted so badly to give her pussy. The idea of Noelle beneath him, tits bouncing and yielding to his desire sent him reeling. Cole guided his cock faster along her glistening slit. He could feel the drops of pre-cum flowing liberally from his cock, wetting her pussy with every stroke. Underneath him, her body quivered and he didn’t miss the way she sank her teeth into her lips. “I didn’t know it would feel like this.” She tilted her hips, seeking more from him. He pulled back and surged forward, until the broad head went fully inside her. Her eyes widened as she tried to sit up. Cole shook his head and pushed her backward on the grass. “D-d- don’t,” she begged, as she splayed her thighs wider and a small moan escaped her lips. He closed his eyes and pumped slowly. God, he wished he could talk. Then he’d be able to tell her she had nothing to worry about from him. That he wouldn’t fuck her if she didn’t want him to. And if she did want to let him fuck, he would rather cut off his arm than cause her unnecessary pain because of his size. She doesn’t want you to fuck her, a voice inside his head mocked. Gritting his teeth, he forced the truth away and stroked the curve of her hips with his knuckles. He felt the tension in her wan at the same time her cunt tightened over his cockhead, gripping him like a vise. He pushed aside the bra and rolled a nipple between his fingers. Noelle shivered and raised her hips. “Feels so good.” So, she liked what he was doing. Cole strengthened his grip on the swollen base to prevent from sinking to the hilt within her. Let me in, beauty. Let me give you more.

She gripped his shoulder and whimpered. “I’ve thought about you so much, Cole. All the time, I kept thinking how it would be between us. How it would it would feel to have you…” She paused, parted her lips on a sigh and scratched her fingernails against his shoulder. “You’re so big.” She ran her fingers along the muscles on his back. “I don’t know if we’ll fit, but I think I’d want nothing more than to lie beneath you and feel you on top of me, your cock moving inside me so damn hard.” He held himself still, deep within her entrance. He hadn’t expected such an explicit confession from her tonight. Not only did her words cause his chest to swell with pride, but it made the pressure in his balls tenfold, demanding release. Cole laced his arm around her waist, held her tight and flexed his hips, fucking her with the tip in firm, shallow strokes. Her chest rose and fell with each thrust and once again her hand touched his face, gently stroking. “Cole,” she whispered on a breathy moan. “If I let you, how would you fuck me?” Her eyelids lowered then closed as she continued. “Would you fuck me deep, give all of it to me?” Would he? Cole ran his hand over her belly. He’d fuck her so deep and give her his entire length she’d have no choice but to feel it all the way up to her little belly. She cried out after realizing his meaning. “Would you...” He pumped again and her words died on a sigh. “Would you come inside me too?” He nodded and pushed his hand into her hair. Cole bent his head to nuzzle the side of her face. )oelle. I’d come so hard inside your cunt; you wouldn’t have any doubt who you belonged to. He smiled to himself as her pussy clenched around him. His hand went up to her lips tracing his fingers across them. Her mouth opened to capture his forefinger. She curled her tongue around it. God in Heaven. To see those lips closing over his cock. He shut his eyes and pounded at her entrance. If only she would let him in deeper. But he wouldn’t take consent away from her. Never. Noelle knew what he wanted. He just needed her to give it to him, let him fill her until there was no space between them. She suckled hard on the finger and Cole felt her body become taut. He pushed another finger between her lips, his gut tightening at the sweet tugging sensation.

She was about to climax. He’d seen that look in a woman’s eyes before. He was going to make her come and he was the one responsible for the tiny tremors wracking her gorgeous frame. His cock twitched and his balls felt like it weighed a ton of lead. Didn’t say I could come inside her. Quickly, he pulled out and pressed his aching cock against her flat belly. Cole tilted back his head, making sure to keep that horrible sound at bay as his cum spewed out onto her stomach in milky ropes. He lifted his head and saw the stunned expression on her face. She stared at him then cast her gaze to the satiny skin above her bellybutton, wet and shiny with semen. Cole rose from between her legs, unable to look away from her stomach. I should have released in her, he thought, fully aware of the anger and hurt working its way in his heart, clouding his reasoning. He should have kept his cock between her labia, at least then she’d still have a part of him inside her and the look of regret sweeping across her features would be warranted. He waited for her to say something to let him it was all right between them. That something had changed for the better. He was met with nothing but a blank stare before her gaze darted toward the now starry sky. He shook his head. Noelle was Noelle. A lost cause as he’d suspected. He shoved into his clothes. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw her carefully pull her jeans over those lace panties and above her lush hips. She had her back to him as if he didn’t know every inch of her body. Cole turned, openly watching her. She smoothed back the hair falling across her face. Her shoulders lifted a notch before she spun to face him full on. So he waited again. The silence stretched between them. Unable to bear it for a second longer, Cole knew he had to leave. She held out her hand and tapped his arm as he brushed past her. “You won’t repeat what we…” A deep breath. “You won’t repeat what happened here to anyone, will you?” That’s all she has to say to me? He stared at her and kept his expression schooled. It seemed he would have been better off accepting the previous offer from tonight. At least then he wouldn’t have to live with the memory of how good it felt to be so close to her.

He kept on walking. Let the bitch worry if he’d spread it all over the Somerset Ranch, how desperate she was for someone to touch her, how much she appreciated the attention of a big cock at her convenience. **** You won’t repeat what happened here to anyone, will you? Noelle replayed the words in her mind. How callous she must have sounded. She had wanted to say something else to him, but once again she’d turn coward as soon as Cole turned his back to her. He hadn’t seemed too thrilled about what they’d done, or so she thought, until he left in anger. Being with Cole, having his body pressed against hers had felt like her own slice of heaven. She had wanted nothing more than to feel him all the way inside her, but she wasn’t going to risk it. Not so much the fear of pregnancy. If she welcomed him all the way inside her, it would open the floodgates to her heart and she couldn’t afford to do that. Her parents still held her under a watchful eye, despite being an adult and most days she felt as if she was on a probation period to see when she’d be worthy of being called their daughter or having their love. If they knew she was fooling around with their neighbor’s employee, it would be like her teen years all over again. Noelle sleeping with men her parents deemed an embarrassment to their name. All the feelings she had suppressed during the years, her childhood, of not being the type of person they hoped she would be, able to please like her sister Aleah, would come knocking at her front door. She didn’t want to deal with it again. Didn’t ever want to stick another heroin-filled needle in her arm. That wasn’t an option. It was a harrowing experience she’d rather die than repeat. And really what did it matter? Even if Cole returned her feelings, he was such a nice guy that he deserved someone better than her, someone stronger who wouldn’t be afraid to let the world know her feelings for him. Maybe a farm girl who knew as much about ranching as he and didn’t leave a stench of disappointment to everyone around. Heck, even someone like her sister, who, at the moment, was bending over a bed of flowers. “So are you up for it?” Noelle gave her a blank stare.

“You weren’t listening were you?” “What did you ask?” Aleah snorted and shook her head. “Jason, my husband, wanted to know if you’d be interested in going out for coffee with one of his co-workers.” Noelle bit her tongue. She hated the way her sister always made a point of emphasizing that she was married. “Why would I want to do that?” Aleah rose from the flowerbed and stared at her as if she had grown two heads. “You really need to ask that?’ Yes, she did. Noelle stiffened. “I don’t need your help with my life and I didn’t ask any favors from you or your husband. So no, I don’t want to go out with any of his friends.” Maybe if she thought her sister was sincere in her endeavor instead of another way to lord it over her about their differences she would have actually considered. But, of course there was Cole, the only man she wanted to spend time with. Aleah shrugged. “My mistake. I forgot who I was talking to. Would you change your mind if he got you a date with the officer janitor?” Blood rushed through her veins, fueling her anger. She hadn’t expected her sister to make a jab at the ‘poorer’ type of guys she dated as a teen. “I would if I didn’t know you’d all pounce on me within a minute and remind me how low I’ve set my sights.” “Well it’s the truth isn’t it? But you’ve never cared how hard mom and dad worked to gain respect in the business. No, Noelle just has to be different, instead of appreciating everything you had, you had to go whining with your selfish friends and getting into shit you had no business trying out. You learned the hard way didn’t you? Those dumbass friends of yours could shoot up in front of the cops and walk scotch free, but you… Well I’m not gonna go there because you already know how it is. You got caught and all of us had to suffer the consequences. And for the record yes, I’m still bitter about it after all these years. You’re not the only one who had a life in Denver.” Vicious tears burned at the back of her lids. If she had known the day would turn out like this, a reminder of her mistakes, she would have hung up the damn phone on Aleah this morning. Still, she wasn’t going to take the bait and get into an argument. What was the point? Her sister was right any way, the only

difference was, no one wanted to acknowledge the woman she was today. The fact that day in and day out, she busted her ass for the company and had no life outside of whatever her parents needed to get done. “Don’t you have a husband and child inside waiting for you?” Aleah removed the gardening gloves. “As a matter of fact I do, Noelle. That’s the reason I was trying to help you. You’re my sister and regardless of what you think, I’ve never disliked you. Do I think you can be a selfish bitch? Yes, but I do love you. I know I haven’t said that to you in a long time, okay really long time. You’ve never said it to me either. I don’t have your looks, but I’m doing well for myself by treating people the way they should be treated. I know I’m younger than you, but I do want you to be happy. I want you to find your peace, someone to love and someone you can love in return. It’s not impossible if you find a decent man, set your sights a lot higher than the fools you ran around with back in the days.” “Are you finished?” Noelle asked softly. She hadn’t expected to hear that from her sister, not when the woman had stopped talking to her after they made the move from Denver to Copper Mesa. It was just recently they started talking on the phone or seeing each other every couple of months although Aleah came by the house often. “I don’t hate you and I’ve already apologized a dozen times over for how my actions affected you and everyone else. I get it, we were one of the few black families in our circle and I screwed it up by having everyone look down on us. I love you too and I’m sorry I haven’t shown it. It’s just hard to show emotions sometimes when I feel like I’m walking on eggshells all the time with mom and dad just waiting for me to screw up again.” Noelle lifted a shoulder. “Plus, I know they’re a step away from disinheriting me.” She didn’t care about money but it was the simple act of having solid proof she was no longer valued in their eyes that hurt. Aleah nodded and looked away uncomfortably. It didn’t surprise Noelle; Aleah was privy to everything her parents did. “You’re exaggerating.” Noelle decided to shut up. She wasn’t trying to seem like a whiner as her sister had described and it was evident Aleah didn’t want to discuss the issue further. Not that she could blame her for wanting to stay on the winning side.

As she said her goodbye, Noelle couldn’t help but think the same of Cole. She had been horrible to him and there was no way she’d be able to blame him either if he wanted to knock her down a peg and spread every detail about her on the ranch. He didn’t seem like the type to willfully hurt someone but she feared this time she had pushed him too far and her plea for his ‘silence’ might have incited him to humiliate her. There was nothing embarrassing about being with Cole, if she was his woman she’d want to shout it from the rooftops. He was like a dream and it made her feel all the more despicable. She had used him for her pleasure and given nothing in return, all because of the fear of unraveling the tattered thread holding her to her family. On the other hand, if she chose to see where this thing with Cole was headed, the loss might be worth it. She would gain someone who accepted her fully. Noelle bit her lips. That wasn’t right either. Cole would be accepting only what he knew about her, since she hadn’t told him everything about herself. And that was terrifying if he chose not to accept her because of it.

Chapter Seven “Find someone else to do it,” Cole signed. “Can’t. Apart from me, you’re the only one Somerset trusts. I’m on delivery duty in town today, it’s out of the question for me.” Cole reached for the ashen-shaded branding iron and applied the Somerset brand above the bull’s hindquarters. He smote out the wood fire as Beau pulled apart the ropes restraining the bull. “Why can’t Williams drop it off?” He knew sooner or later he was going to have to face Noelle. He’d just hope it was later or never. “He’s busy. Called and said to come over.” Beau gave him a pointed look. “He said his daughter will take care of it.” Something burned inside him like the hot brand at his feet. Why did it seem as if Noelle was always the one taking care of things whenever her old man was too busy? Weren’t there other workers to do those things? “Yeah, all right,” he signed, annoyed at the way his cock sprang to attention at the thought of seeing her again. Minutes later, Cole parked his pickup on the side of the graveled road and made his way up the cobblestone driveway. He rang the doorbell. The house had to be at least three times the size of the main house on the Tumbling Y. Another minute passed and he rang the bell again. Didn’t they have a helper to open the door for them? Then again, perhaps rich black people weren’t into the whole hired help thing. He really had no idea and hoped he’d never come off as ignorant to Noelle. Despite everything and his anger toward her, he still cared what she thought. When the door opened, Cole was stunned to see Noelle’s father standing at the doorway, his thick jet-black mustache twitching to reflect his annoyance. Surprisingly, the man reached for his hand. “Sorry about that. I told my daughter to open the door but I guess she got lost somewhere around here.” The man chuckled to himself and gestured inside. All right, so far, Mr. Williams seemed reasonable. However, he didn’t like the way the man alluded to Noelle doing everything for him. “I’ve already told your boss, Randy, that I had some things to do, so whatever you need Noelle will help you with it.” Cole nodded and the man stared at him for a second, his brows creasing then relaxing like when someone resolved a puzzle.

“Ahh, so you’re that cowboy who doesn’t speak. I heard about Randy hiring a new hand a while back, didn’t realize it was you. Must be hard huh?” What was hard about it? And if a while back meant almost two years and numerous other hires in between, then yes, but hard, simply because he couldn’t talk? Cole brushed it off. He wasn’t going to bother and write out something to the man. Mr. Williams nodded as if he didn’t expect more from him. No surprise there. “Well, you sure look like you could handle the entire place by yourself.” Cole kept his face a mask of coldness. Mr. Williams coughed and clapped his hands together. “Have a seat and I’ll get Noelle on top of this.” He looked at Cole and asked. “She’s been the one handling all of my dealings over at the ranch. There haven’t been any issues with her has there?” Cole clenched his jaw. What the fuck was the man getting at? He lifted his hand to tell the man exactly what he thought of his question then dropped it. Pointless. This was one of those times he felt helpless and had to wonder why he was born without a simple thing such as speech. Mr. Williams waved his hand in an offhand manner. “Never mind. I’m sure everything is fine. Wait here and I’ll see where that girl is.” Cole stood watching as the man pivoted around a corner. From his position he assumed Noelle had appeared because of the raised tones. Mr. Williams wasn’t trying to disguise his irritation with her or censor her in private. “What did you have to do that was so important you couldn’t open the door for the gentleman?” Noelle gave him a furtive glance then averted her gaze. “I apologize to have kept you waiting.” He felt embarrassed that she was forced to apologize to him in front of her father. Hoping the man would take a hint and leave them alone to handle business, Cole glanced at his watch. Mr. Williams gave him a wry grin as if he was embarrassed by Noelle. “I think Noelle sometimes forget that she’s just like any other employee, except she’s living under my roof.”

Cole stiffened upon hearing the man’s statement. His heart ached for the way Noelle’s eyes widened before she straightened her shoulders as if she hadn’t heard the slight. She did that a lot and he was starting to understand why. The older man placed his arm around her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I’ll be in my office. Make sure you give him everything Randy ordered.” “Yes, sir.” Her eyes looked straight ahead. Once Mr. Williams was out of the room, Cole stared at Noelle. She lifted her gaze to his, quickly looked away as if she had been stripped bare, more intimate than he’d seen her laid out naked on the grass beneath him. “The supplies are this way.” She crossed a passageway and Cole followed determined to confront her. He wasn’t going to let her maintain the pretense that nothing happened between them, or her father hadn’t injured her heart and ego. They entered a room, barren save for the bags of the feed on the floor and a scale mounted against the wall. She kept her focus on the bags while speaking to him. “I’ll help you take these outside. We’ve added a new ingredient. I’m not sure if my father mentioned it to you or your boss, but it should help keep them healthier during the winter when they lose the most weight. She wouldn’t look at him. Fed up, Cole jotted down a quick message to her. He didn’t dare assume she’d continued with the sign language lessons from her book and if by some miracle she cared enough to, he wouldn’t get her attention as long she spoke at him, not to him. You know why. Noelle was scared and embarrassed. He heard it in the tremor of her voice. She was admitting defeat and he was partially to blame. She reached for a bag, bending low to heft it onto the scale when Cole leaned forward and placed his hand above hers, stilling her movement. One, he didn’t want her lifting the heavy weight and two— they really needed to clear the air. She glanced up at him and Cole handed her the note. )oelle. I didn’t tell anyone. You don’t have to worry. Cole watched as her eyes scanned the words. She lifted her face, gazing at him in surprise. Her stunning ethnic features softened

slowly. Noelle tilted her head, staring as if she’d never seen him before. “I don’t understand. I’ve been horrible to you. This was your chance to punish me.” She thought he wanted to punish her? And in the worst way possible, by revealing intimate details about her. Cole knelt beside her and brushed the back of his hand along her soft cheek. His heart melted when she leaned her face into his hand, nuzzling against him like a kitten starved for affection. Tipping her chin, he moved his hand in front of her. “Can you understand me?” He sent a quick prayer to anyone listening that Noelle had kept up with the lessons. “I understand you.” His chest felt lighter. Cole buried his face in the curve of her neck, holding it there and inhaling her delectable scent. He did mean something to her. “I’m so sorry,” she said quietly. He shook his head and pressed his mouth to hers, seizing her lips between his. They felt so damn smooth and tempting. His heart sped a mile a minute as Noelle parted her lips to deepen the kiss. Heaven in all its splendid glory. He wanted to spend the rest of his life tasting those lips. Suddenly, she broke the spell. “Not here.” She glanced at the door while caressing his jaw. “I don’t want to kiss you in here where I feel like my every move is being watched.” Cole helped her to rise. He highly doubted her father was concerned about the two of them being alone. The man viewed him as simple and it was apparent he thought Noelle’s heart and body was safe from the likes of him. “Why do you think that?” She gave him a rueful smile. “It’s the truth. I tried too hard to ignore it.” Cole narrowed his brows. He always assumed Noelle was a prized jewel in her family. This was unexpected and it didn’t make any sense. She was perfection, how could her own father not see that? Maybe in time she would explain it to him after he got it through to her that he wanted no secrets between them. “You will tell me the reason?” he asked, issuing her a pointed stare.

She appeared to mull it over. Ever so slowly, she lifted those long black lashes and nodded. “I’ll tell you one day. Let’s just get these bags out of here. I don’t want my father to hold anything against you.” He rolled his eyes. Williams held no power over him. He didn’t give a rat’s ass what the man thought of him. But if it made Noelle feel better to leave the room, then so be it. “Come outside with me.” He drew her up alongside him. Noelle followed and Cole was pleasantly surprised by her adorable yet weak efforts to help him load the truck. He was glad no one was around to witness the fiasco of a man his stature being aided by a stubborn little female in high heels, who refused to listen to his pleas for no help. The entire episode pleased him beyond measure. She was now his stubborn female.

Chapter Eight After Cole left two days ago and Noelle realized how forgiving he was, it made the decision to follow her heart even easier. The way her father spoke down to her in front of Cole had been a humiliating experience that unexpectedly became one of the best moments of her life. Cole had all the reasons to let her simmer and drown in her own anguish, but instead he chose to give comfort, reassurance. Noelle sighed. Would she ever stop feeling this elated? She hoped not. If anything it would only get better today. She was halfway to the bungalows where Cole and the other cowboys resided on the ranch. Miles above the landscape, the sun stretched over the horizon in a dusky copper and violet splendor. Beyond the meadow, she could see the three small houses, constructed side by side, which Mr. Somerset divided into apartments for the workers. Noelle slipped by two of the trees and hastened in the direction of the first house, shared by Cole and three other cowboys. Noelle looked over her shoulder. A sliver of guilt slashed into her like a poisonous blade. Despite telling herself it didn’t matter if her parents found out about Cole, the fear remained nonetheless of their reaction to her choice of lover. They were going to view her relationship with Cole as a step backward. Dating the same type of men ‘without any future’. Her fists tightened. She wanted to strangle anyone who thought of Cole in such a demeaning way. He was the only person to show her what kindness meant and it sickened her to think of anyone judging him based on his outward appearance and job. The sharp squeak of a well pump captured her attention. Noelle turned and her heartbeat sped. She loved the way there would never be any mistaking her man in a crowd. The thick muscles of his back bunched and corded with each downward stroke of the bronze handle. She couldn’t take her eyes off him, not even when he turned toward the tree she was leaned against and caught her gaze. Blood rushed between her thighs into her pulsating clitoris. Cole was doing a number on her and the desire coursed rampant into her cunt. In a similar fashion as he’d done at the river, he crooked his fingers to her. Noelle felt her feet move before realizing she had

crossed more than half the distance to him. In that moment nothing else in the world mattered, existed, except her and the strapping cowboy headed toward her. Cole circled his thick arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground, her feet dangling over the emerald grass. He dropped a kiss to her neck before placing her on the ground. “You’re early. I was going to meet you out by the road. Did anyone see you? Bother you?” Noelle shook her head, deeply touched by his concern and the possessive glint flaring in his dark eyes. “No one saw me.” She looked at her watch and realized Cole was right. She was about fifteen minutes early from the time he’d told her he would be finished tonight. At seven-thirty, it was at least three hours earlier than the usual hours he worked until each day. “I didn’t realize,” she began. “Do you want me to wait somewhere else if you have work to complete?” He laughed and quickly shook his head. God, she loved that sound. It was just tiny whispers of breath, but unmistakable as laughter from the look of happiness on his face. “)o. I have you here. Don’t leave.” “Afraid I might not come back?” she joked. The smile on his face vanished. “I didn’t think you’d come.” She hadn’t either to be honest. It had taken her a good ten minutes to come to terms with the fact that she was yearning inside her body and heart to see where this would lead. She needed to see him as much as she needed the clean mountain air. “I wasn’t sure if I would,” she admitted carefully, “but I had to. I wanted to see you.” Cole looked her right in the eyes. “See where I live?” She nodded and stroked the hard line of his jaw. “I don’t care how the place looks. If I did, I wouldn’t be here.” Noelle lightened her tone. “Are we going inside or not?” His lips curved upward. Her face heated. How demanding she must sound. To her relief, his lips widened into a full on smile. “It’s okay, beauty.” Her insides melted, exhilaration fluttered through her as he signed the word for her special nickname. He reached for her hand and hesitantly Noelle closed her fingers over his. Once she stepped inside his room there would be no

going back. Nothing her father or anyone said would entice her to turn her back on him. Cole held the door opened, his large hand bracing the wood frame. Noelle felt him watching her as she scanned the spartan room. A bed with a simple square headboard took center stage in the middle of the room. It was neatly spread with maroon-colored linen. A single dresser stood in the front, lacking a mirror except for a small hand held that rested near the edge it. She knew the ranch hands didn’t live in luxury, but it still came as a surprise. This unappealing room was where he lived, came home to after working those endless hours. “Are you comfortable here?” She didn’t want to lie and say it looked nice. His gaze flickered about the room. Nodding, he answered, “It’s not very different than my home.” Noelle pursed her lips. His family never crossed her mind. She hadn’t thought of what his life was like elsewhere. If things developed as she hoped it would, would his family accept her? What sort of people were they? “Do you miss your family?” Or maybe he didn’t have a family. Just a home somewhere with no relatives awaiting his return. Her fate, most likely, after her relationship with Cole came to light. He rubbed a crease in his forehead, deep in thought. “Yes and no.” Noelle tilted her head to the side and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but that’s no answer, Cole.” She really wanted to know. He grinned at the expression on her face. “I’ll tell you another time. Come beside me.” Noelle sat next to him, feeling her nerves for the first time as realization dawned on her. She was sitting on his bed, here in the bedroom of the cowboy she had been thinking about for longer than she’d ever admit. She should bolt. Apologize to him and say she never meant to lead him on. She didn’t want him to find out about her past addiction. It was humiliating and no one wanted their girlfriend to be a former drug user, definitely not a proud man like Cole. He would never understand. A few of strands of hair fell out of her ponytail holder. Noelle blinked in surprise when he grasped the locks and tenderly pushed the

strands under the thick rubber band. It was such a simple gesture yet it went straight to her heart. Noelle faced him. “That day at the river. Why were you there? Was it to take a swim, or because…” She allowed her voice to trail off hesitant to voice the actual question. “Because what?” He lifted a brow then tapped a finger to his head. “I don’t want to be a mind reader with you.” To soften his words, she felt his hand upon her cheek, gently stroking. “Always talk to me. Don’t ever shut me out.” Easing away from her, Cole gave a curt nod as if he was giving her permission to tell him everything now. If those moments of dominance weren’t making her pussy positively drip for him, then surely the sun would never rise. The fact that he held so much power without having to say a word caused her knees to shudder. It was scary and satisfying the impact he had on her and her body absolutely craved it after all the years alone. “Did you go there hoping you would see me?” I went there to see you, she wanted to tell him. Cole searched her eyes. His massive chest rose heavily. “I did. So much of what I do is because of you.” He took her hand, watching her reaction as he lowered it over his erection. “Because of this, too. I wanted you to know what you do to me.” Noelle nibbled her bottom lip. Her gaze flickered to the front of his pants. He was so hard. Her panties moistened recalling how big he was and how amazing it felt just having him partially inside her. Noelle traced her fingers over the bulge straining inside his jeans. To think, Cole had wanted her even after they’d parted so horribly that day when he’d found the snake-bitten yearling. So much, that he had gone looking for her. Her heart clenched at the memory. He’d sought her out, but she hadn’t given him what he needed, wanted. Instead she had allowed her needs to become paramount. Noelle closed her eyes and ran her fingers over his cock. There would be no climaxing on her stomach this time, not unless Cole wanted to. “You wanted to come inside me, didn’t you?” she murmured, pressing a hand to his stomach. Cole circled his hand around her wrist. “I wanted to be inside you.” He continued to sign something to her, but Noelle didn’t understand. He looked away in frustration. Her heart twisted for him.

She brushed her lips to his shoulder, loving the feel of his solid hardness. There was not an ounce of fat anywhere on Cole, just sinewy cords of lean muscles from the ungodly hours he worked each day. Her legs shook, imagining his powerful body above her pumping hard deep inside her cunt. All the way up to my belly. Her legs went jelly. A sensual heat pulsed between her thighs. “Tell me,” she beseeched. “I want to know everything you’re thinking. Write it down and show me, Cole. You have to know how I much I loved having you inside me. I want to know how you feel. I want to feel what you feel.” Noelle went to the floor, kneeling before him. Brushing her lips to his stomach, she kissed along the rippling muscles, uncaring if someone were to come through the door and witness her display of affection for him. Noelle paused in her kisses. She glanced up from between his thighs as Cole reached into his back pocket. He returned her look with a deep penetration gaze. She was certain he was gifted with those eyes to make up for his lack of speech. Flipping the paper over she noted that he started with her name. She smiled. He did that all the time. She supposed it was his way of getting over not being able to repeat it to her. )oelle. I love being with you, but I never expected something that intimate from you. I never want you to give more or allow more than you’re comfortable with. She wet her lips. He wrote one thing, but his eyes told a different story. She peeked at him and bit back a lusty whimper. Cole looked as if he was getting ready to eat her alive. “Don’t say that,” she told him quietly. “I was selfish with you. You should have expected more. You should always expect more.” Embolden by his concern and tenderness, Noelle rose from her position on the hardwood floor and crushed her lips to his. This could never, would never be wrong, she reminded herself. His lips covered hers as Cole moved backward to the bed, drawing her down onto his lap, his arms entwined around her waist. His roughened hand traveled beneath her shirt, closing over both breasts. Noelle arched into his thrilling touch. Rough fingers pinched her sensitive nipples. His hands fell to her hips, stroking the curves. Noelle gasped when suddenly he lifted her from his lap, practically throwing her on

the bed. His eyes held hers and she knew he was pleading for understanding and everything else she had to give. Cole dipped his head to her stomach. Noelle in turn raised her face, closing her eyes in blissful surrender. His lips traveled below her bellybutton, planting warm kisses that promised wicked delight. Noelle felt his hands on her jeans, tugging them below her feet. Once the jeans came off, he gazed into her eyes while tracing his fingers over her panties. Heat burrowed into her belly and her cheeks blazed when he arched an eyebrow, a smile on his lips as he touched the wet spot in the center of her underwear. He lowered his head to the blatant evidence of her arousal, affectionately rubbing his face against the wetness. But Cole wanted more. Slipping his hand into the cotton waistband, he removed her panties. He held her legs open at the knees and delved his tongue between her slickened folds. Noelle moaned. She wanted him to lick her so much. )ot tonight, )oelle, she told herself. You can’t be selfish to him. Curling her fingers around a lock of chestnut hair, she tugged slightly. It was going to be hard denying herself the feel of Cole’s tongue caressing her tingling flesh. “No,” she managed to cry out. He lifted his head and stared at her in confusion. “You don’t want my mouth on you?” Yes. God yes. She wanted him to lick her pussy and tell her how sweet she tasted…but she wanted to please him also. “I want that so much, but I want to,” she lowered her gaze to his cock, protruding from his jeans. Saliva pooled in her mouth. “I want to suck your penis. I want to make you feel how you made me feel that day by the river.” She inhaled a deep breath, watching his hand stroke his erection. Cole swung his gaze to the ceiling, eyes closed, his massive chest rising heavily. After a spell, he opened his eyes and signed to her. “You want this?” He peeled down the zipper and withdrew the heavy shaft, fisting it in front of her. Noelle nodded and stretched out her hand to touch him. Her eyes rolled backward. She was no virgin, but not once had she felt the desire to actually take a man between her lips. Her lack of experience in that area, however, hadn’t stopped her from fantasizing over the

years. God help her, she desperately wanted to know what it felt like to bring Cole to pleasure with nothing but her tongue and mouth. “I want it.” Callused fingers stroked her cheek as Cole brought the bulbous tip to her lips, tapping lightly. Noelle drew him between her lips, encircling the thick rim. She curled her fingers partway, as far as it could go, around the massive cock. Lids lowered, Noelle chanced a peek at him. She was rewarded by the expression of sheer pleasure and agony on his face with each pull of her mouth on the dripping cockhead, lapping up the salty fluids. Cole was ever so silent except for the few breaths of air that escaped his lips as she suckled hard, drawing out copious amount of pre-cum from the dilated opening. When his fingers suddenly twisted in her hair, lifting her from his enticing shaft, Noelle cried out. “Why?” A lazy smile spread across his rugged features. Noelle blushed, realizing how petulant she might have sounded, like her favorite treat was being denied. In answer, he pushed her backward on the mattress. His fingers went to her pussy, lazily caressing her soaked vulva. Cole pressed his lips on her swollen and pulsating clitoris. “Do you know what I want?” She hoped so and thankfully he didn’t keep her guessing. Noelle turned on her side as Cole held her legs open, staring at her exposed cunt like a thing of beauty. He laid beside her, his powerful legs facing downward, hips ever so close to her face, and buried his head between her thighs. Noelle groaned in anticipation and gazed lovingly at the cock thrusting toward her face. Wrapping her hands around his waist, she felt the first divine flicker of his tongue on her sex. Noelle darted out her tongue and licked along the base of his shaft. Clear fluids trickled from the tip, coursing down the astounding length. So damn beautiful. It sent her spiraling. His cock was swollen, the broad head a deep shade of red and thick veins visible on the base. Using the edge of her tongue, Noelle licked away the salty drops as they fell from the engorged head. At the same time, his mouth closed over her clitoris. Noelle buried her face into his groin unable to help herself. The juicy cockhead tasted so good, a thousand

times better than her fantasies. How she loved it. Dark brown hair tickled her nose and the heady scent of his arousal wracked her body with wanton desire. The tugging sensation on her clit made her belly coil with heat and her womb tighten. Noelle closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation. Heaven help her, Cole was suckling her clit and she never wanted it to end. “Cole!” To her absolute joy, he tightened his hold around her waist and continued sucking to his heart’s content. Her cunt watered. Greedily, Noelle closed her mouth over his penis, sucking hard. Oh God. He tasted more delicious than a minute ago. She would never get enough of him. Noelle rocked her hips into his face, rubbing her pussy on his mouth, lips stretched taut around his huge cock. The small room was silent save for the creaking of the bed as their bodies moved together in a slow rhythm. Swirling her tongue around the cock hitting the back of her throat, Noelle gazed out of the corner of her eyes. All she could see was a mass of brown hair between her thighs. Cole had his face pressed so close to her pussy, indulging in the taste of her. When his tongue dipped into her moist center, Noelle moaned and pushed her pussy even more into his face. Sweet mercy, if she could hold his head there and have him lick her for hours…Her mouth fell open on the thought. Her jaws slackened around his penis. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.” He flexed his hips and pushed his cock deeper into her mouth. Noelle mewled and gripped his shaft, tonguing the underside then the entire length down to his large testicles. Flicking her tongue against the delicate skin she squeezed gently. “Do you like it when I do this?” She felt his subtle nod against her cunt and Noelle lowered her head until his sac was above her mouth. She drew the first testicle between her lips. His cock bobbed above her head, tiny drops of precum splashed onto her face with each pull of her mouth on his balls. Cole’s mouth remained on her until Noelle felt her legs tremble. His grip on her leg tightened and she was thankful for it, grateful he continued the delightful strokes. Pleasure wracked her entire frame as Noelle opened her mouth over his prick, sucking hard. Inside her head, Noelle cried out her passion. She fastened her hold on his length, stroking what was

impossible to fit entirely in her mouth. The engorged tip was pressed exquisitely against the palate of her throat. Her heart filled with bliss. It could get no better than this—Cole’s delicious cock so deep inside her mouth, his tongue lashing across her folds. And then she felt it. What she had been waiting for, craving from him for so long. His prick jerked inside her mouth. Anticipation and hunger sent her blood boiling. Yet, so cruelly, Noelle felt him pulling away, although his tongue remained on her cunt, laving in her juices. Mewling in protest, Noelle slid her lips along his cock swaying heavily in front of her face. A splotch of cum fell onto her lips. His body tense and his mouth stilled on her pussy. “It’s all right,” she whispered, stroking his lower back and stunned that she still held the ability to talk. Her heart ached, knowing he was worried she wouldn’t accept his seed inside her mouth. His fingers dug into the flesh on her bottom, holding her to his mouth as Noelle closed her lips over him once again, taking as much of him as she could. His cock pulsed above her tongue and Noelle felt her toes curls as her orgasm ripped through her. Hot, thick ejaculate poured into her mouth and down her throat. She wanted to weep from the pleasure of it. Below her, a harsh sound more like a wounded animal split through the air. Noelle froze for an instant before her heart thundered and her eyes moistened. That horrid yet guileless sound came from Cole groaning his orgasm. She wanted to hear it a million times over and God help her, she would.

Chapter 'ine Cole raised his head from between Noelle’s thighs. He had made that embarrassing sound. The one thing he’d tried so hard to keep from not happening with her. It felt like a fucking curse. Of all the tones he could produce, it was only at the height of ecstasy that his fucked up voice box was able to function. And now Noelle was probably terrified and disgusted with him. He looked down at her. Damp, strands of jet-black hair spilled across her face. Her pretty lips were still locked snug around his prick. Noelle was so damn sweet. He knew she had tried to take his entire cock inside her mouth, but couldn’t. Fuck, if she didn’t make him proud. Her pussy was like the sweetest chocolate and he was glad he had never tasted another woman before her. )oelle, he called to her silently. Cole touched her cheek, coaxing her to look at him. Her head lifted and those delectable lips parted as he pulled his softened prick from her mouth. Those lovely brown eyes gazing back at him, made Cole swallow hard. She had heard him, that awful sound he’d tried so hard to avoid making in front of her. Taking a hold of her arm, he hauled her beside him. “I’m sorry,” he signed. “I didn’t want you to hear that. It was ugly. I know.” The best moment of his life, having Noelle in here, pleasuring and receiving pleasure from him, was about to go up in smoke before his eyes. Her brows narrowed. “But, Cole, you made a sound.” She tilted her lips into a half smile. “It wasn’t pretty, but still. Can you make more? Have you tried it?” Only a million times. Why else did he have that stupid mirror on his dresser, because even after so many years and numerous failed attempts, he’d still held out hope that whatever was wrong with him, would one day fix itself without rhyme or reason. He pointed to the mirror and watched as the excitement on her beautiful face wilted with disappointment. “Oh, so you’ve tried.” He turned to her. “You expected more.” She drew back and stared at him. “If you believe that then you must think I’m a selfish person.”

If anyone was selfish it was he. He was withholding information from her. Hadn’t mentioned to her that he would be leaving at the end of summer. For Noelle, this room might be excusable because it was just a place on the ranch for the hands, but if she got a glimpse of his actual home, the main house and the small guest house he used as his own, she’d probably do what any other woman accustomed to luxury would do. Turn her nose up and scurry for the fastest way off the property and out of Elk Basin. He wouldn’t be able to blame her. What right did he —a lowdown, speech impaired, white cowboy have to dream of a woman like Noelle taking up residence with him in some country-ass town, worse than Copper Mesa, where she’d probably feel and look out of place. “Is that what you think of me, Cole, that I’m disappointed you’re unable to speak?” She brought her legs together and he noticed the subtle way she placed both hands over her tits, shielding herself from his view. He wanted to pull her hands away and roll her onto her back with her legs splayed wide for his viewing, but he couldn’t. The only way he could get her to understand was to reach onto the damn night table for the pen and paper he’d learn to carry with him at all times. He did so and began scribbling. He disliked doing this, each time he had to pull out the paper and separate himself from everyone else. A woman like Noelle needed someone strong. Sure he had the physical attributes more than covered, but she also needed a voice. Someone who would stand up for her, and let people like her father know it was unacceptable to treat her the way she was being treated. It pissed him off to no end, the way her father had spoken to her and how she accepted it as if she had it coming to her. He hadn’t expected that from her and to be honest, he sure as hell didn’t want to see her putting up with taking shit from anyone. She was a thousand times better than that and deserved the best, not just from her father, but from him too. The knowledge that there was only so much he could do for her was painful to admit. Cole ripped off the piece of paper and handed it to her. Her eyes scanned the words.

)oelle. This is a big thing between us. )o, I don’t think you’re selfish, beauty. Just look, instead of holding you in my arms and talking to you, I had to separate myself. If you stay the night and the lights are off, there won’t be any quiet talking or laughing with me. )ever. He had drawn a line below the word ‘never’ to emphasis his point. I can’t stand up for you sometimes like I would prefer. I’d never allow anyone to harm you, but I can’t give you a voice, beauty. She lifted her gaze to his and smiled softly. “I don’t need you to stand up for me. You or anyone.” Noelle tried to widen her smile but he could see the pain behind her eyes. “Even if your friends who don’t like me tried to hogtie and haul me off the property if they found out about us.” Cole knew she was grossly exaggerating yet he couldn’t help but shoot her a deadpan look. If anyone dared so much as lay a hand on her, he knew he would go insane and cause bodily harm to the fool. She moved away and lay on her back. “Do you have a problem with me being black?” Cole frowned. If he did, would she be in his bed with him thinking of nothing but ways to make her happy and stay with him? She smiled at his reaction. “I can’t change that and I wouldn’t want to. You can’t change who…how you are either, it’s you. Cole. That’s all there is to it.” She made it sound so simple. Could it really be that simple? The way she put it. Not for once did he see the color of her skin as a slight against her. He only saw her as Noelle, the woman he cared for. Could it be that easy for her to deal with his shortcomings? Cole felt her hand on his stomach. He twined his fingers with her before signing, “What is this?” “What is what?” He pointed between them. “Us. Is there an us?” Noelle looked away for a second, then said. “You’re the first person in seven years to see me naked. The only person that I’ve allowed to get this close to me.” She swept her hand across his fingers. “You’re mine and you have to know by now that I want to be yours.” The sweetest words in the world. Nothing else, none of the worries could compare to the way her words made him feel.

He kissed her forehead and his chest tightened even more when she said. “Cowboy, you know what? I think Mr. Somerset might have splurged a bit on this mattress.” Cole grinned and lifted an eyebrow. Noelle leaned into him. “It’s starting to feel really comfortable. Making me sleepy.” His heartbeat sped. She wanted to stay with him. He’d never spent the night in bed with anyone before. Noelle being his first made it all the more worthwhile and special. He tugged on her hand and brought her up beside him onto the pillows. “You look good in my bed.” “It feels good.” She scooted closer, cuddling into his arms. By the time Cole glanced down at her again, she was fast asleep. Lying in bed, he was content to simply watch her. She’d said no one had seen her naked except for him in years and innocent as her words were, he had to bite back his hatred for whoever the man or men were. He hated to think of Noelle curled up in someone else’s arms. Someone who her parents probably approved of and could provide her with the life he’d never be able to, even if he managed to bring the Tumbling Y up to snuff. Just have to work twice as hard then. Cole placed a kiss on her forehead and flicked off the light. Noelle was his reason for everything. Sooner or later, he was going to do right by her.

Chapter Ten “I thought you said this wasn’t a race,” Noelle shouted. She tugged on the reins of the mare. Riding atop Firebrand, Cole looked back at her and winked before urging his mount into a gallop over a hill scattered with wildflowers just below the pasture. That’s what I get for bragging about my skills, she thought, smiling to herself. Being out here with him was another sobering lesson on all the things she had taken for granted that her parents had provided. Horseback riding. Lessons she rebelled against because yet again it was seen as them trying to mold her into someone she wasn’t, someone they wanted to brag about like they did with her younger sister. It all seemed so ridiculous now that she had removed the blinders of youth. They had been doing what any normal parents would do, trying to give their children the best of life. A tinge of sadness gripped her. At least back then, they wanted the best for her, unlike now, when they assumed she still required saving from herself. But… all that was in the past. It couldn’t be changed. From now on she had Cole, although the damn cowboy seemed hell bent on showing her she was no match for him on horseback. Noelle dug her heels into the horse, riding close on Firebrand’s thick shiny tail. Not in a million years would she have imagined herself awake at four in the morning with the wind zipping by her face and galloping on a mare named Agnes to check on her neighbor’s cattle. Oh, and doing so with Cole McKinney, the silent ranch hand. She threw hear head back and laughed. The very act she would have scoffed at was actually bringing her joy. She was out here in the refreshing summer’s morning with nary a soul around but her and Cole. It felt amazing. As wonderful as it felt to wake up in his arms, knowing that he’d welcomed her into his bed without putting on the pressure to have sex. By the time they came to a stop on the flatland, the sunrise was still low on the horizon. “You do this every morning, so early?” He shook his head and looked toward the herd of Hereford bulls. After a minute he turned to her. “Earlier. I don’t mind it.”

Her eyes opened. Was he serious? When she’d awoken, she assumed he was going to stay in her arms and cuddle some more. She was shocked when he climbed out of bed and shrugged into a flannel shirt, insisting she go back to sleep. No way. She’d made it clear that she wanted to spend every free moment she had with him. Noelle recognized the moment he accepted it as the truth, slowly nodding when she asked him to tag along. She was pleased he agreed to her company. “Do you like it out here?” Cole asked, minutes later after he had deemed everything in order with the cattle. No signs of theft or injuries to the animals. Noelle hesitated. She liked being with him. What she didn’t like was the feeling they were sneaking around. Meeting in the shroud of twilight and now the only way to spend a morning together in the opening, was hours before the crack of dawn to which she’d have to hurry back to the house before her parents assumed she had been out gallivanting and losing control again. They didn’t trust her and it was wearing thin. Noelle looked over at Cole, noting the way he studied her in seriousness. She felt guilty. He must have thought she’d snubbed his question out of a genuine dislike for this lifestyle. Lifting his hand, he stopped in mid action of signing to her. Cole reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his wallet, handing a photograph to her. Noelle took the picture, registering the faces that already seemed familiar. A woman with the same dark eyes, an older man, looked to be in his late fifties and a younger boy close in resemblance to Cole but without the height and build, stood in front of a house. “These are your parents and brother?” He nodded. Noelle studied the picture. “Do you guys have a farm or something?” Cole smiled ruefully and Noelle opened her mouth in surprise. There was so much she didn’t know about him. If Cole’s family owned a ranch, why would he work those backbreaking hours on someone else’s ranch? “Why aren’t you there? I thought most ranches were run by families.” “Our ranch isn’t big. )ot even half the size of this place.”

Okay, but that confused her even more. She didn’t understand why he would choose not to help his family on their ranch. “I work here so we can keep the ranch. It’s nothing compared to this.” This time he kept his eyes trained on her, the same unreadable expression on his face as if he was expecting her to hightail it the other way from him. “Your family is very lucky to have you on their side.” She was lucky to have him. This man who was so much more than what met the eyes. He made her yearn for so much more, including the courage to stand up for herself. He nodded and pointed over the horizon as the sun climbed higher. The sun was coming up, which meant the other ranch hands would be making their way to the pasture to work another group of cattle. “Are you going to join them?” She despised the thought of leaving him so early. His gaze went in the direction of her parent’s home, the red shingle rooftop visible across the distance. Noelle swallowed and raised her chin. “Ask me, Cole.” She knew what he was thinking after mentioning his family and ranch. She also needed to clear the air between them. “Do you want to go home or stay with me?” “You mean after letting me know you’re poorer than I assumed?” He lifted a shoulder and stared at her as if he was actually waiting for her to make a decision. Dear God. He actually thought it made a tremendous difference to her. Noelle lowered her lashes, grabbed the reins on the horse and whispered quietly. “Let’s go back.” His nostrils flared, anticipation simmered in his eyes. Noelle felt her stomach flutter before giving a curt nod and guided the mare into a turn. She’d seen that look in his eyes before. Her pussy clenched. Noelle licked her lips. They were going to have sex. She stole a glance at Cole who was inches behind her. Their gazes locked. She was going to feel him inside her. All the way, as he’d promised. Her heart leapt when he blinked and gave her a curt nod as if he knew what she was thinking. Both urging the horses into a gallop, Noelle knew that right now that little bedroom was the only place she wanted to be.

**** Cole couldn’t believe Noelle returned with him. He leaned against the door, drinking her in. She was sitting on his bed and all he could do was stand there and stare like a lovesick fool. Not good. He wished he had more experience with women, decent women so he would know the right way to pleasure her. He wanted to hear her scream his name in reckless abandon. He didn’t want their first joining to end with horrible memories for her. “Cole?” His cock hardened painfully inside his jeans. If Noelle said his name like that one more time, he’d probably come before he had a chance to slide to the hilt inside her wanton cunt. He stepped in front of her and touched the side of her face. Her skin felt like silk beneath his craggy fingertips. Much too delicate for the likes of a rough ranch hand. Cole brushed the pad of his thumb over her plump lips. His cock twitched, swelling in response to the only part of her luscious body, he’d been able to release in. His breath hitched with the tantalizing memory. Noelle had swallowed his cum, a fantasy he’d entertained but would never have expected her to perform in reality. But she had done it, and found pleasure in it as much as he’d enjoyed sampling her tasty pussy. His prick hardened even more. Cole blushed. He hoped she’d take him between her lips again. Sometime soon. And God help him for selfishness, but he wanted to watch her inviting mouth fill with his semen. Noelle brought her lips to his thumb giving it a soft kiss. His lips curved upward. She was so fucking adorable. He suppressed a grin, fully aware that Noelle would probably be annoyed being thought of as adorable. “I want to feel you inside me.” She lifted her face to his. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. For her to say that to him… She couldn’t have any idea how much he actually wanted her, was dying to push her back and sink every unforgiving inch into her cunt. Cole took her shirt between his hands, freeing each button. His knuckles brushed over the tips of her breasts. Her nipples were so full, pert delicate buds peeking out through the shirt and beckoning to him. He glanced up at her lovely face. Her lips were slightly parted and he felt her legs brush against his as she widened them.

“Oh, Cole, look at what you do to me.” She placed his hand between her thighs. “It feels so hot down there.” Sweet Jesus. Cole ran his finger over her pussy. So wet for me. “I want to see you. I love how you look naked. The way your cock stands out so proudly and I know it’s because of me. Because of how much you want to fuck me. That is what you want, isn’t it?” Her eyes pleaded with him. Cole stood, his breathing harsh. She wasn’t afraid of him. Here she was begging him to use her completely. He shook his head. Perhaps she needed a reminder of what she was asking for. He stroked his hand across the entire length of his cock, from the spot right above his testicles to the head, swollen and dripping with so much pre-cum it would make any other man ashamed to have a woman see how desperate he was for her. How much power she had over him. He lifted a brow and slid his hand over her naked little pussy. Soon to be his pussy, if he gave her what she was asking for her. Because after he got started with Noelle tonight and every other night if she was willing to spread her legs for him again, her pussy was going to mold around his prick and he doubted she’d ever be able to enjoy another man smaller than him. Not that he had any intention of allowing her to stray. Right or wrong, deserving or not, Noelle was his and it would remain that way. Her eyes fixed on the hand sliding over his cock; Noelle gazed up at him with brown eyes full of worship and nibbled her pouty bottom lip. “I love it, Cole, and I’ve been thinking about what you said.” She paused, looking him straight in the eyes as she splayed her thighs wider and arched her back. Cole stifled a groan, but allowed his gaze to center on her wet, glistening display. His chest tightened with love. Noelle was shameless in her passion and desire for him to see her needy cunt. Damn, he loved her and was selfishly happy she hadn’t been with another man for such a long time to make her this vulnerable and willing to take him on. She let out a small breath and lifted her hand to his stomach, continuing her speech. “That day when I asked you how deep inside me you would come, you touched my stomach. I know what you meant and I want it so much. I don’t want you to hold back with me.” She released a breathy moan. “Cole. I’ve thought about nothing else since then. Just the need to be taken, have someone else in control for once so I don’t have to think beyond what you’re doing to me. I don’t

care if it hurts. I want to feel you so deep inside my pussy until you’re almost touching my heart.” Cole pushed his pants and briefs past his hips. He heard another sensual moan escape from her lips and it went straight to him, as he stood before her, his cock and sac completely visible to her. He liked her sultry eyes on him and loved the way she admired his prick. It felt so much different than the other women he had been with it. Their interest had extended to his appendage and nothing else. While he could tell Noelle was already half in love with his cock; he knew she also cared about him. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he told her. There was only so much restraint and control he could maintain once he got inside her with more than just the enflamed tip. She lowered her head and licked away a bead of pre-cum that spilled from the narrow opening. “I want you, cowboy. Every single part of you,” she murmured. “You won’t break me. Trust me, you won’t.” Cole swallowed down a lump in his throat. She might not be the one to break, but once they made love, he knew it would be impossible to ever let go of her, even if she asked him to. “Stand up.” A slight frown marred her beautiful face. Noelle gaped at him in confusion. “I thought…” Cole took her hand, forcing her to stand before him. Bringing her down on his lap, he circled his arms around her slender, curvy frame. He wanted her to take as much as she could handle for now. He wouldn’t chance being on top of her and losing control their first time together. She looked between them and Cole was glad when her face softened with understanding. “You want me to ride you?” she asked softly. He stroked the curve above her provocative ass and nodded. Leaning back on the bed with his knees bent, Cole held her to him, hands on her silky thighs. Noelle flattened her palms to his chest. Ever so slowly, she lowered her pussy on his hard cock. Her lips parted on a luxurious sigh. His eyes closed in unbelievable pleasure. Noelle was sitting astride him, her tight cunt sinking deeper on his shaft. It felt like a fucking dream.

His hands tightened on her thighs as she worked herself on him, rolling her hips and riding his cock hard. Her mouth opened and a look of utter bliss crossed her features. Cole groaned inside his head when she leaned forward, meshing her lips to his for a penetrating kiss. Tearing her mouth from his, Noelle ground herself in a slow rhythm back and forth on him. Cole tried so hard to keep silent, but the moment he felt her hips flex and raised he knew what she had in mind. A harsh groan bubbled in his throat. Cole reached up and drew a perfect thick distended nipple between his lips. Whimpering, Noelle arched her back and impaled herself on him over and over again. “Cole,” she panted, burying her face in the crook of his neck. “Help me.” Her cunt contracted around him, trying desperately to stretch and receive his full length and girth. Cole grabbed her hips and lifted her from him, slowly bringing her back down until she picked up a sensual pace. Her cute little tits bounced, slapping gently against her chest. “I’m taking all of you,” she murmured against his lips, her features glowing with excitement. “Oh Cole, it feels so good. Please tell me you love it as much as I do. Tell me I’m making you feel good.” She couldn’t be serious. If he didn’t know any better he would have thought in those few minutes he had died and gone to Heaven in the form of a pretty brown skinned girl riding hard on his prick. I love it, )oelle. Wish I could keep you like this and you’d never have to go home, he thought. She lifted her hips and came completely off his cock, only to lean her head back, biting her adorable bottom lip as she sank all the way down to his balls. Cole groaned in silence and widened his eyes. God in heaven, his girl could take all of him. Eyes closes in wild abandon, Noelle bounced on top of him, her wet cunt squeezing him like a vise. Noelle looked so natural. He could see the two of them together well into old age, each and every day fucking her until they were both sated and unable to walk. He gazed at her. She looked more stunning than ever. Her forehead was matted with sheen of sweat and tiny strands of dark hair clung to the side her lovely face. Her breasts

bobbing up and down spelled his undoing. Cole held her firm and flipped her onto her back, her pussy still on his length. He was going to fuck Noelle the way he’d wanted for months. Like he should have done that day by the river, when all he wanted was to know how it felt to be inside her and have her tell him it was okay to release his cum inside her alluring body. She hadn’t and God help him, he was going to make up for it, right now. He eased out of her and drew her legs up to the sides. Cole stared between her thighs. Her labia was puffy and swollen. Her cunt… Cole groaned inside his head, his cock growing impossibly hard at the sight. It was damp and gaping open from taking all of him. She was exquisite. He felt so proud of her, just like when she’d tried to suckle his entire shaft. He looked down at his beautiful girl. “It feels empty.” Noelle gazed at him through lowered eyelids and stroked between her folds. Sliding a finger inside, she keened, “See how much I want you?” She moved to add another finger but Cole grabbed her hand and shoved it away from her pussy. She felt empty. He could definitely remedy that situation. He grasped the base of his shaft, surprised that he had lasted for so long after being inside such a tight little pussy that could barely take him. But take him she did, sweeter than in his wildest dreams “Fuck me, Cole.” He didn’t need a second invitation. Cole thrust his cock into her, pausing when her warm heat enveloped the enflamed head. He stared at her meaningful, hoping she would remember the last time they did this. He flexed his hips. Her eyes widened. Not missing a beat, Cole plunged his entire length within her. He was fucking Noelle. Beautiful, sexy, Noelle Williams was in his ugly bedroom, with his cock all the way inside her enticing cunt. And she was loving it. Crying out his name with every thrust. His name never sounded so good. Clasping her arms to the sides, trapping her movement. Cole went wild inside her, fucking her with every ounce of his strength, his cock slamming against her cervix. Her body trembled, but Cole showed no mercy. Come on, beauty take some more. Show me, )oelle. Show me how much you care for me.

Her body went bowstring taut. A tiny cry left her throat as she thrashed her head to the side, deep in throes. “Don’t stop. I need you to come inside me, Cole, make me feel like I’m needed.” He groaned. She couldn’t believe that was all he needed her for. He wanted to be close to her, breathe her in. Let Noelle know without words how much he wanted and cared about her. But her sensuous cries were driving him into a frenzy, making it hard to see beyond fucking her. He grabbed her legs and in one brutal thrust, he spilled inside her. Cole felt the cum roll up his shaft and rip through him. Hot and thick. He wedged his face between her shoulder and neck, a bead of sweat touching his lips and her earthy fragrance filling his nostrils. There wasn’t even a fucking word for what he felt for Noelle. One thing was for sure. He had to do a lot better so Noelle would be pleased to have him by her side.

Chapter Eleven Noelle closed the door behind her, the smile she had carried on her face for hours, dying on her lips. The happiest she’d felt in years and she was unable to share it with anyone apart from the man she was falling head over heels in love with. Instead of the admirable man she saw each and every time she looked at him, her family was bound to take notice of his rugged build, his lack of speech and lack of wealth. She released a sigh. Perhaps it didn’t matter in the long run. She’d already made up her mind to tell them about her relationship with Cole. If they wanted to miss out and judge him right off the bat then it was their loss and if they wished to go ahead and formally dismiss her from the family, then heartbreaking as it was, she would accept it. There wasn’t anything to be done about her feelings for him. They were there. Delicate, yet indestructible threads woven into her heart and no one was going to take that away from her. She entered the living room on the other side of the foyer. Her mother, seated on the sofa, looked up from a stack paperwork, a pair of reading glasses low on her nose. Noelle prepared herself for the sorrow that dwelled inside her mother’s eyes every time she looked at her. Teresa Williams had aged so much in the past couple of years. Noelle felt the familiar pang of guilt. She was the cause of it. “I thought you said you didn’t feel well,” she asked, nodding toward the papers. “I’m fine,” her mother answered, closing the folder. “This is nothing I can’t handle, although I understand why you’d assume so.” Noelle frowned. Was the woman going to misinterpret her words? “I take it you don’t want my help?” She lifted her brows, a part of her hoping her service would be needed and the other praying for a refusal of help so she could hurry up and begin her apartment hunt online. “That’s not what I meant, Noni.” Her faint southern accent from a childhood in Tennessee could be heard. Noelle froze, realizing what her mother said. It was ages since her mother called her by the nickname she hated with a passion and missed hearing so much. She felt like a little girl who wanted to sit beside her mother. Keeping her feet in place, Noelle remained beside the side table. She

had to stay detached. A moment passed before she opened her mouth to ask about the paperwork again, but all that came out was, “I didn’t think you remembered that name.” Stupid. Should have kept my mouth shut. Now her mother was going to know she’d had it on her mind. Her mother pinched the bridge of her nose and smiled as if the memory pleased her as well. “I remember a lot of things. More than you realize.” Noelle instantly regretted engaging the woman in conversation. She knew where it was headed. When was the last time she had a reminder from one of them about her misgivings? Oh wait, that was two months ago. She felt a finger in her hair brushing it back. “You used to hate it when you had to sit down and get your hair plaited. I remember that.” She laughed and continued to stroke her hair. Noelle smiled at the memory, recalling how annoyed she would get at the bigger plaits. It was such a silly memory yet the fact that her mom pointed it out meant so much. Teresa Williams still thought of her as a daughter. Maybe when all was revealed she would still have a parent. Her mother smiled and pinched her chin in a loving gesture. “If anyone here needs to feel ashamed about anything, it’s me. Not you, baby.” Noelle looked away, she hadn’t expected an emotional talk. “Your father and I haven’t made it easy for you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed or appreciated all the hard work you’ve been doing. I’m sorry I haven’t said anything to you, but I’m proud of the way you’ve changed and I can only hope it stays like that for you.” Noelle shrugged. “It’s just my job.” In the beginning her father had called it busy work to keep her on her toes and her mind on the right track. Except, no matter how hard she worked, it didn’t make a difference, only served to have everyone on the outside think she was a cherished daughter. What Cole thought until the day he’d heard her father speak to her. “You’re not an employee living here,” her mother assured. “You’re our daughter. That’s a big difference.” Noelle wasn’t buying it, at least not from her father’s angle. She stood and straightened her shirt. The little talk was affecting her. It could only signal danger to allow her hopes to rise after so many

years that she would stop being the proverbial black sheep. Worst part was, even if the change was about to come, her future declaration of love for Cole was going to make everything return the way it was. “I’m going upstairs. Let me know if you need anything.” It was just easier to remind herself of her place. Her mother chuckled and reopened the folder in her lap. “Go to sleep. I’m not going to call you down for anything.” Noelle made her way up the stairs when her mother lifted her head from the stack of papers. “Oh, I almost forgot, your father was worried. Said he tried to call you a couple of times and got no answer.” She rolled her eyes and smiled. “You know how he gets. He should be in his office.” Yeah, the same way every father who’s checking up on his twenty-five year old daughter gets. She hadn’t forgiven or gotten over the humiliating way he had spoken to her in front of Cole. In light of how Cole described his own family it made the hurt deepen. Noelle stepped into her room. Whatever her father had to say would have to wait until she was good and ready. Starting tonight, she was on her way to finding a place of her own and a new job, one that didn’t require the sacrifice of her dignity. Thankfully, despite being a lower level employee and with a salary to match it, she was grateful she hadn’t been required to pay rent over the years, allowing her to save up a good portion of money. However, even the amount she had in the bank was nowhere close to being able to afford the type of luxurious living everyone in Copper Mesa expected of her. She only hoped it didn’t make her seem less desirable in Cole’s eyes now that there wasn’t anything special to make her stand out. Just a normal, average black female with a past that did nothing to further the image so many people in their elite Denver society had of minorities. That was probably the only good thing to come out of her troubles, not having to be around the fakeness of it all. Clicking the screen of her laptop, Noelle bookmarked yet another site for apartments. The door creaked open. She spun around in her seat, lips drawn together. In all the years since they had moved into the house, one of the few things her father had allowed was her privacy. So why would he all of a sudden decide it was okay to enter her room without knocking?

“Did I forget to pay your cell phone bill?” he asked from the doorway. Noelle clicked out of the website and closed the laptop. “No. I believe I’m in charge of making sure everything is paid. Everything was paid this month, by the way.” “Don’t get smart with me, Noelle.” He strode into the room and glared at her laptop. “You don’t have to hide from me. Apartment searching now, are we?” She pursed her lips. He didn’t seem surprised. “It’s time for me to move out. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I don’t look forward to hitting thirty and still living at home.” “Are you moving into your own place or were you planning on taking up residence over at the ranch?” Noelle ground her teeth. “Is Mr. Somerset renting rooms now? I thought the ranch was doing quite well.” Her father shoved his hands into his pockets and shot her a dark look. “I’m not going to let you embarrass your mother and I again, Noelle. I won’t. We moved out here to get away from your mess, allow you to have a fresh start without a stigma attached to your name and now you’re ready to start that foolishness all over again.” “Start what foolishness? Please tell me what exactly is it that you think I’m doing except for everything I’ve been told for the last seven years.” Her strode into the room. “That boy. The one who can’t talk. What’s his name, Clay? I’m not stupid and Randy Somerset sees more than you know on his ranch and talks more than he should.” Her heart slammed inside her chest. It never occurred to her that anyone noticed her entering Cole’s room in the late hours in the evening. Most nights he wasn’t finished with duties until after nine, sometimes ten. She’d wait for him inside his room, lying in bed, anticipating the moment he would come through the doorway. It wasn’t every night that they made love. Some nights Cole would admit he was too exhausted after an eighteen-hour day and they’d just lay there in silence holding each other or she would give him a massage before they fell asleep together. At first she tried not to stay too long to rouse her parents suspicions, but after a while she had stopped caring, leaving only when Cole woke up hours before the crack of dawn to begin the day all over again. The house was so large she never thought anyone would notice her late hours.

Now her father was going to stand there as if he knew anything and everything about them. What was it, had even called him Clay. Noelle bristled. “His name isn’t Clay, it’s Cole,” she bit out. And I don’t appreciate you calling him a boy. Cole could probably bench press him with one hand. “His name is unimportant. There are too many similarities for me not to be concerned. I thought you were out of this stage, attempting to punish your mother and I for only trying to do right by you and your sister. You’re a grown woman, Noelle, and you’re intent on ruining your life. Take your sister for example. We’ve never had to worry about her. Aleah is no dummy. Her husband is a respectable attorney, why can’t you—?” Noelle shook her head and held up a hand. She knew where this was headed and damn sure was about to nip it in the bud. “Respectable?” She placed a hand on her hip. “Is that code word for black, daddy?” “Now wait a minute. I have nothing against this man because he’s white. Don’t start putting words in my mouth.” “What else am I supposed to think? Why isn’t Cole respectable? He works hard, harder than anyone else I know.” Including you. Her father nodded. “I don’t disbelieve that, but like I stated I don’t have a grudge against this young man. It’s my family I’m concerned about. The family that had to live through everyone in Denver knowing our teenage daughter was hospitalized for almost overdosing on heroin and running around with anyone you thought would upset your mother and I.” Noelle flinched. The way he described her made her seem unfit for human company, undeserving of someone as sweet and gentle as Cole, although he made it seem as if she was the one who needed protection from the love of her life. “I’m not that person anymore. I thought you might have picked up on that sometime during the years.” “I know you’ve become a dedicated worker. I’m proud of you for turning things around Noelle, but when I see that you’re about to backtrack instead of moving forward, there’s no way I can keep my mouth shut. Especially not when it affects all of us.”

Noelle narrowed her brows. “So you think Cole is going lead me down the wrong path or am I going to be the one doing the leading?” “It means I don’t want you to issue him an invitation into the house and it also means I want to see you do some serious thinking on your future. You can’t keep running around with these young men who can barely help themselves.” Noelle pushed back her chair. “Do you dole out this advice to all of your employees? You’ve made it clear I’m just an employee living here. I don’t think you have a say in anything I do.” Her father sighed and went to the door. “You’re still the same self indulgent young woman you’ve always been. You’ve never wanted to realize how lucky you are, never appreciated how much your mom and I sacrificed to give you a better life than the one we had growing up.” He pinned her with a stare. “Well, this is it. No one is going to pick up after your mess this time and you won’t be able to claim the title of employee in this company or family. You hear me?” He didn’t wait for an answer. Noelle watched the door close behind him. Sighing, she thought, one step forward, two steps back. Her father was more than likely on his way downstairs to repeat everything to her mother, marking the end of the timid reconciliation between the two women. Noelle sank onto the mattress. Her father thought this was the same as her previous relationships, but it wasn’t. Nothing about this was the same except for the fact Cole was hired help and poor. She hadn’t imagined the gentle way he treated her or the tender affection he displayed for her alone. Unlike the men in her past, Cole wanted the best for her and for the first time in years she was going to be selfish and forsake everyone who disagreed with her relationship with Cole.

Chapter Twelve “Hey Cole, is it true?” Cole gritted his teeth and turned in the direction of the tenderfoots he was leading to round up the herd of cattle for inspection. He disliked it when they tried to engage him in conversation and had purposely separated himself from them each day, apart from using the various signals to help them learn the ropes when the foreman left him in charge. Hat low on his face and bandanna covering his mouth from the dry Colorado dust, Cole glared at the man giving him a better-notfuck-with-me look. He’d cultivated the look years ago to make up for what he couldn’t verbally express. The twenty-year old, Leewood looked over at the others, his eyes glinting nervously and chuckled. “Aw, come on man, lighten up. The trail is shit boring, just tryna’ have some fun. I heard the foreman nearly had a heart attack when he saw that hot black chick coming out of your room.” He swung his gaze ahead, not wishing for those idiots to see any reaction from him. He had no idea anyone knew of Noelle’s visits to his room. He’d spoken to Beau at least twice since the day started and not once had the man hinted at the knowledge. Now it seemed to be common knowledge that he and Noelle were sleeping together. Cole frowned. Was that the reason Beau had been assigning him the less desirable tasks all week, including having to oversee the laziest set of cowpokes he’d ever come across? In any case, that was the least of it. He hoped to God word hadn’t reached Noelle’s father yet. Not that he feared the man, but he doubted Noelle had any idea they were the subject of gossip for anyone looking to add some excitement to the staid ranch life. “For real, Cole. You’re like my idol, dude. You’re the biggest guy on the ranch, I’ve been pumping iron and I doubt I’ll get halfway close to your size and to top it off, you’re laying Noelle Williams.” The others laughed in agreement, spurring the idiot on. “We know you can’t give details, but damn, is she any good?” Another one near the back yelled out. Cole recognized the voice to be Mike, the wannabe ladies man. “I just wanna know, what’s it like fucking a black chick? Think that’s my next territory to explore.”

Next territory. Like he was some fucking Casanova. Cole clenched his jaw and glanced backward to let them know he didn’t find a damn thing amusing about the conversation as another shouted out. “Hey Cole, when you’re finished with the little filly, just send her on over this way. Might be able to show her a few tricks with the ropes.” Loud raucous laughter erupted and the buffoon leaned over his mare high fiving his friend. White-hot fire flashed before his eyes and steam coursed through his veins. Reining in his temper, Cole swallowed the urge to jump down and yank the fuckers off their horses and pound them into the red dusty earth. Instead he took a deep breath. No surprise, not a single one of them wore their chaps. Probably thought it was cooler to go without. Cole looked ahead at the path toward the range then switched his gaze to the shadowed grove on the left, a path no longer used because of the many varieties of wild bushes and thorn. A nightmare for any cowboy without a pair of chaps to rely on against the abrasive plants, able to cut through the jeans. Too fucking bad for them. Without further acknowledging the men, he waved his arm toward the right and kicked his spurs into the horse. A few minutes into the prickly trail and his sex life with Noelle would be the last thing on their minds. **** Hours later when he returned to the ranch, Cole hung up his saddle and gave the horse a pat on the rump before closing the stall and heading out to dining hall. He didn’t have much of an appetite tonight. The thought of his relationship with Noelle being aired out in the open for everyone to dissect made his stomach turn. Cole waited outside the hall. He needed to have a talk with the foreman. As Beau exited the building, Cole took note of the hesitancy in the older man’s stride toward him. Guilty conscience. “How did the drive go?” Beau asked, coming to a stand beside him. It didn’t go beyond his notice that Beau refrained from signing along with speaking the sentence as he’d always done before. “Fine, but you already know that. I suppose you know just about everything that goes on around here.”

Beau pulled off his hat and hit it against his leg. “What’s the hostility about?” “You don’t have enough to do around here without watching what I’m doing?” The foreman shook his head, jaw set. “Oh. This is about you managing to get the Williams girl in the sack with you?” Managing. He made it sound like he roped the girl and dragged Noelle into his bed. If only the man knew how sweetly and willing she came to him each and every night, so much that it made his chest swell with pride. “Why do you care so much?” He didn’t even know why he bothered to ask. It was evident Beau was jealous and could not understand why Noelle would choose him over everyone else. He didn’t doubt for a minute that sentiment was echoed throughout the ranch. “It’s no sweat off my back. I just wonder how long you think it’s gonna last, if you think Williams is gonna accept you being with his daughter.” Cole frowned. Whatever respect he had for Noelle’s father, disappeared the day he heard the man berating her. Although, if Noelle cared about the man, then deep down a part of him did want Mr. Williams’ acceptance if only for the sake of her. “You think if it was you it would make a difference?” Again he already knew the answer. Because of his lack of speech, on some level most people automatically, regardless if they wanted to admit it or not, felt inherently higher than him. Beau shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not in love with the girl, like I said, I was just surprised by the two of you and let it slip. My bad. No harm meant, no harm done. Get over it, cowboy.” Cole shook his head. )o harm. He didn’t expect that from his foreman. Ever since he came on the ranch the man had shown him nothing but respect and praising his skills, but all that meant shit when it came to a woman. He wasn’t supposed to be the one who got the pretty girl. Afterward, Cole returned to the living areas and swung open the door to his room, stopping short when he saw a figure curled up in his bed. Noelle. He could see a few strands of her shiny dark hair sticking out from under the sheet. He closed the door lightly not

wishing to rouse her from sleep. Damn. What he wouldn’t give to come home to her every evening in a place of their own. The figure shifted and Cole moved closer to her as she sat up in the bed. Bright red, tear- streaked eyes shone back at him. His heart hammered. “What’s wrong?” He hoped her father hadn’t hurt her. She shook her head and slipped her arms around his neck. “Nothing,” she choked out. “Everything… everything is wrong except this.” Cole pulled back and stared at her, searching her watery eyes. He hadn’t wanted to rush her into confiding in him, but he was still worried about why she chose to remain living with her parents when they, at least her father had no respect for her. It made no sense. Not for an intelligent, confident woman like her. He kissed her forehead, then signed. “Tell me, beauty. )othing can be that bad to have you curled up in my bed, crying.” She shook her head. “I want to Cole. I swear to God I want to tell you, but I can’t. Not right now.” Her voice broke as she continued. “I know it doesn’t seem fair and you’ve been so good to me. More than I could ever deserve. You have to understand that I don’t want to…” She stopped, choosing instead to burrow her face in his neck, tear spiked lashes wetting his skin as she dropped kisses on his shoulder. Cole tilted her chin and brought his lips to her soft warm mouth. He couldn’t help it. Noelle was like a drug to him. The moment he came in and saw her on the bed, his cock sprang to life with thoughts of tearing away the sheet and pushing her legs apart while she slept flickering through his mind. He wanted to see her reaction as she came, awakened crying out her orgasm and feeling his cum heating her womb. “You need me, don’t you?” Cole slid his hand beneath the covers and cupped her sex, slipping his fingers between her soft folds, moisture greeting his touch. She bit her lips and raised her hips. “I always need you. Will always crave the way you make me feel with your shaft.” Her words caressed his heart. How the fuck did he get so lucky to have her? If Noelle didn’t want to talk and sought comfort from having his cock sliding into her needy cunt, then so be it.

Her fingers went to his shirt and Cole smiled to himself. He loved how Noelle was always so enthusiastic for his touch, ready to accept him inside her body. Once his clothes were removed, Cole pushed back the sheet and saw that she was naked beneath the covers. His cock throbbed. Simply heaven, coming home to a naked Noelle ready and waiting for him after a hard day. The thought of how he would shove into her and fuck until all the damn stress was gone and he didn’t have to think about anything save for how good Noelle looked with his cock inside her was almost enough to make him come inside his pants. Placing his legs on either side of Noelle, Cole straddled her, careful not to place his full weight on her delicate frame. With one hand fisting a lock of hair, the other closed over her left breast, kneading the supple flesh. She let out a soft sigh as he stroked a fingertip over a thick dark nipple. Her tits were so damn pretty and full. He released her hair, closed his hands over the side of her breasts and squeezed them together. God in heaven, the valley between them looked so tight, he could see it gripping his prick almost as sweet as her cunt. His cock hardened and the need for her intensified. Damn, he could already feel the sperm churning in his balls for her. He leaned over and kissed each breast. What he wouldn’t do for a chance to fuck her like this. He prayed Noelle could see the need in his eyes and let him take her this way. “Cole,” she moaned, watching as he reached below and lifted his shaft toward her breasts. Using the tip, he brushed it against her nipples, tenderly caressing while stroking the back of his hand against the curve of her right breast. “You want to fuck me there, don’t you?” His eyes closed in relief at her question. He didn’t think there was anyone on earth able to read him like his Noelle. She pushed her breasts together and stared at him, anticipation and want reflecting in those vibrant chocolate orbs. That’s my girl, he thought. Unabashed and beautiful in her need for his cock. Gonna fuck you so good, beauty. Then afterward he was going to flip her over and fuck her all over again deep inside her welcoming cunt.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Cole lifted his penis and thrust between her breasts. He held himself there and glanced at Noelle. Eyelids lowered, her thick dark lashes fanned against her cheek. Man, he hoped she loved the way they looked together as much as he did. Her dark skin was so beautiful around his cock. He gave another thrust, deep inside the inviting valley, so turned on at the differences between them. And not just the skin color. She was his. The most attractive woman he’d ever laid eyes on, soft and pliant beneath him, gazing with adoration at his penis cradled between her breasts. She was all his and the knowledge shook him to his very soul. He looked down at her as she lifted her gaze to meet his. Her lips were slightly parted. Cole didn’t need to touch her pussy to know she was hot and dripping. He pumped slowly, his cock sliding in and out of the tight passage she created for him with her tits. Noelle lifted her head, and placed a hand on his stomach, stroking right above the dark trail of hair. “I love having you on top of me,” she whispered thickly, her eyes darting between his shaft fucking her tits and his face strained with the effort not to drive her down into the mattress with each thrust. Her breath came in shallow pants. How she loved every bit of it. Rearing back, he dug his fingers in her hair and pumped again. Her soft sighs tore through him and Cole growled, as Noelle dipped her chin seeking out his prick. With each thrust, she darted out her tongue to lick the engorged head. Dear God. She was hungry again for his cock in her mouth. If he let her keep that up he was gonna come all over her pretty face the next time she licked him. He pushed her head back in order to keep his sanity. “No,” she whimpered, trying to reach up and suckle the tip into her mouth. “Please, Cole let me taste it.” His breathing harshened but he kept pumping between her breasts. It was so fucking hard to deny her. Noelle was spoiled to the core for his cock. And he loved it. Loved the way her lips pouted ever so slightly as he’d pushed away her face. Flexing his hips, Cole surged forward and back, fucking her ripe breasts. Jesus, it felt good. He closed his eyes on the verge of giving a final thrust when his gaze lowered to see Noelle slide her tongue across her lips, her fingers clutching the edge of the sheet. She was so

fucking sweet, the best thing to ever happen to him and he wanted to give her the world. Sliding from between her breasts, he kept his focus on her brown lips, luscious and inviting, calling to him. Knees spread to get a better access; Cole grasped his cock, brushing the swollen head against her lips. If he wasn’t so horny and aching to get inside her mouth, he would have blushed at the sight of his cock so close to her lips. Her tongue darted out and flickered over the fluid glistening on his shaft. Cole blinked. He pushed his cock closer to her, watching as she licked beneath the rim and slid her warm tongue over the head. “You like it when I suck your cock, don’t you?” she asked, dropping a kiss on the tip. Like. Love. He wanted it every hour of the day. In answer, he thrust his cock into her mouth before he shamed himself and came all over her face. Cole groaned inwardly. What a sight that would make—his cum on her gorgeous face. He thrust harder into her mouth. The thought didn’t even bear thinking about if he wanted to last. Her hands went to the sides of his thighs, gripping him as Cole sank his fingers into her hair and pulled back, thrusting with force. He didn’t want to be rough with Noelle, but her mouth and tongue felt like heaven on earth. Warm and snug, there was no helping it. Cole pumped his hips once, then twice, picking up a feral rhythm. Noelle scraped her fingernails across his thighs, keening softly. So, she liked having him on top of her. His large cock stuffed inside her mouth. His movements quickened and intensified. He couldn’t stop himself, with Noelle’s hands going around his waist, urging him on and pulling him closer. Cole wrapped his hand around her hair and began fucking and fucking, thrusting his penis as far as it could go along the passage of her throat. Her body trembled beneath him on the squeaking bed. Cole glanced at Noelle, her eyes were teary but gleaming with the look of lust, uncaring as his balls slapped against her chin with each thrust. From the sound of her sweet little moans, she was enjoying this as much as he was. His beautiful perfect girl liked

having her mouth fucked and stretched full by his thick flesh. His cock. Only his. His balls drew up and Cole growled, no longer ashamed of the sound he emitted. Noelle’s eyes widened then her lids lowered sensuously. If he didn’t know any better he’d think the horrible sound aroused her. That glossy gaze softened on him and her lips cinched lasciviously around his penis, suckling hard. Gentling his pace, Cole gave a long thrust, paused, allowing her greedy mouth to suckle from the tip. Panting hard, he pulled back and plunged hard hitting the delicate palate of her throat. He threw his head back, seizing her to him as the first drop of cum squeezed from the tip and slid down her throat. He drew back just a bit and allowed his cock to slide along her moist tongue, savoring the feeling of just being inside her mouth. It was a privilege he would never take for granted, not even if they did this a thousand times over. Above her tongue, his cock swelled and jerked. Coming. Cole groaned inside his head, pumping gently in her face as ejaculate spurted from his heavy shaft into her waiting mouth. Deep in throes, he curled his fist around her hair and kneaded a supple breast, slowly dying at the feel of Noelle milking his seed. When the last of his orgasm ripped through him, reluctantly he withdrew his cock, half hard and softening from the pleasure she had wrung from him. Glancing down at himself, he tilted his head and moaned inwardly. Warm spurts of clear semen spilled from the slit. God in heaven, hadn’t he just given her a thick load? And he was still coming. He lowered his gaze at Noelle and blushed, feeling like a boy unable to control himself. Then he felt her smooth fingers on him. He chanced meeting her eyes. Through lowered eyelids, she returned his gaze, her eyes slanted with passion and the knowledge of a woman who knew she could bring a man to his knees. With the back of her hand she stroked his length. Her eyes remained fastened, riveted to his prick as if she were silently pleading with him to climax for her again. Just like that, his cock twitched, not wishing to displease her. When the final shot of cum trickled out, Noelle leaned her head forward, lush dark strand falling across her face as she lapped at the clear fluid like a starving kitty.

She was killing him. With every lick of her warm tongue over his cockhead and along the length, Cole thought he was going to die of pleasure. )o more. He needed to regain control. Taking a deep breath, Cole pushed away her hand and shook his head. He was going to have to fuck her proper now that she had gotten him hard again. He climbed off her chest and flipped her over onto her stomach. “What are you doing?” She lifted her head, trying to look back at him. Cole pushed her legs apart and leaned over her back. Holding his cock, he locked eyes with her and thrust home, seating himself to the hilt. “Ohhh,” Noelle screamed, the sound echoing across the thin walls. Bracing one hand on the bed and the other in her hair, Cole fucked her hard, ramming the entire length of his cock into her sopping cunt. She was gripping him so damn tight. Her pussy clenching around his shaft, spurred him to fuck her with all his strength. She needed this as much as he needed to give it to her, he told himself as the mattress protested and her body shuddered beneath his large frame. “Oh God, Cole. More. Fuck me harder. Your cock feels so good.” He wanted to answer her so badly. Love your pussy, )oelle. Love you so damn much it hurts. Cole grabbed her hair and lifted her head to press his lips to her nape. She rubbed her ass against him and her cunt felt like heaven, pulsating around his cock. Her pussy was still so small yet she fit him like a glove, molding perfectly around his cock from the amount of times he’d fucked her in the past weeks. Cole pressed his lips to her slender neck and closed his eyes. He wasn’t going to last. He pumped harder just the way she liked it, rough with a big cock slapping inside her. Come on, beauty, come with me. He heard a muffled cry and felt her legs quiver. She was pressing her face into the pillow to stifle her screams. Cole lifted his head and in one forceful thrust, he slammed home hitting the walls of her cervix. Burying his face in the hollow of her neck, his muscles lagged as hot semen rolled up his prick and ejaculated into her. He

thanked God with every fiber of his being that he hadn’t orgasmed before her. Noelle’s pleasure meant more to him than his own, than anything else in this world. Afterward, when the pounding in his chest settled to a faint lull, he climbed beside her and slid his arms around her waist, drawing her to his side. “Did I hurt you?” Cole signed, after reluctantly moving his hand from her hips. She cuddled into him, throwing her arms around his shoulders. “You could never hurt me. I love everything we do together. I…” She broke off and gave him a small smile then kissed his lips instead of finishing what she was about to say. What he hoped she was on the verge of revealing. He wouldn’t rush her about this or anything else. Not when he hadn’t offered up any words of love or commitment. How could he, when he feared the possibility of running her off because he had nothing else to offer? Worse, he still hadn’t informed her that he would be leaving in a few weeks. He would have to do so soon, but he hated that in telling her, it would make the impending separation all the more real. His chest tightened with guilt as she leaned her head on his shoulders. He really needed to do better. He was bone tired but he no longer felt it. Being with Noelle just made him want to work even harder. He wanted to fix up the ranch and make it a place she’d be proud to visit or, dare he hope, live with him one day.

Chapter Thirteen Another day of house hunting. Sighing, Noelle climbed into her car and turned the engine. She had hoped to find maybe a small house to rent, since there were virtually no decent apartment buildings until the next town almost forty-five minutes away. That was out of the question. The distance was too far from Copper Mesa. She would be too far from Cole. Unacceptable. For so many years she only had herself to think about, throughout all the wrongs and then it was about her seeking forgiveness and allowing herself to become lost in the process of trying to please her parents. But now, she had someone else to think about. Cole. Not just him, their relationship…and what it would mean when she told him the real reason her father had a lack of respect for her. Cole was bound to be disappointed and shocked. The only thing that gave her hope was his incredible treatment of her. Always caring and tender as if she was the most precious thing on earth. Cole would understand and Noelle knew he would be able to get over it and not make her feel dirty and disgusting. Noelle tilted her wrist and glanced at her watch. Time was catching up on her today. She still had to finish up on work, first a stop over at the Wayland Ranch, a couple miles from her home and then on to Mr. Somerset’s place. Minutes later, Noelle arrived across town on the second largest cattle ranch in southern Colorado. Mr. Wayland, the widower and owner of the ranch, always took these visits as an invitation to sit down to tea and coffee, when all she wished to do was retake the man’s order for cattle feed. Normally, she’d indulge the old man for the sake of her job and keeping up appearances but today she wasn’t about to put up with it. In and out then over to the Somerset ranch. Maybe if she was brave enough and in the mood she would finally tell Cole the truth of why she was getting the cold shoulder. After all, the worst was over. She’d weathered the storm so to speak. Her father, mother, everyone on the ranch knew about her relationship with Cole and she was thrilled about it, proud that they all knew she belonged to him and he to her. So what if her father hadn’t spoken to her beyond reminding her of her duties to the company and the family? Fine by her. If he

wanted to continue seeing her as his druggie daughter who doesn’t know how to run her own life, there wasn’t anything she could do about it, except try to find happiness away from him with someone who wouldn’t judge or make her feel like a piece of shit for falling off the tracks. After making her way up the grassy path of the Wayland Ranch, Noelle knocked on the front door of the two-story brick house. The door opened right away, revealing the smiling, albeit weathered face, of Mr. Wayland. The old man ushered her into the house, his wrinkled hands gesturing toward the living room. He was saying something to her in that shaky voice of his but all Noelle could see was drinks and cake centered on the coffee table. She groaned inwardly. Hell no. “Mr. Wayland,” she began. Surely he had to understand that her visits weren’t social. It was her fucking job, one that she was enjoying less and less each day. Noelle closed her mouth in midsentence and placed her briefcase in front of the doorway and sighed. In a way, Mr. Wayland was just like her. For more times than she could count over the years she had wanted someone to sit down and talk with yet no one bothered. Even her own sister had avoided her. She plastered on a smile. “What’s going on, Mr. Wayland?” The door closed behind her with a resonating thud. Noelle gave another quick checked of her watch. It was going to be a long half an hour. **** Cole wiped the smatterings of dust from his hands on his jeans. He had just returned from retrieving some goods in town when he caught sight of one of the tenderfoots, the same idiot Leewood, who had tried to pry into his business during the cattle drive last week. The kid was trying to drag one of the calves out of the pen. Of course he was doing a shit job of it. The only thing being accomplished was Leewood getting his ass handed to him by a three hundred pound Black Angus calf. Amused at the scene playing out in front of the corral, Cole kept his silence and watched the show. He had to give the boy some credit this time; the idiot had worn his chaps to protect against the kicking. Seemed the only way to teach some of the tenderfoots a lesson was to have them return to the ranch, barely walking from the sting of the cuts and bruises.

Pushing down his annoyance at the kid, Cole ambled over, intending only to help the save the animal from incompetence. A few skilled holds and the calf was ready to be examined. Cole pinned Leewood with a stare. Hopefully next time the tenderfoot would know what to do. Knowledge was one thing he didn’t begrudge any of them no matter how annoying they could be. Good help was a rare commodity around these parts. Many of the younger cowboys were heading to the feedlots for work instead of the open range, which was probably one of the reason his family’s ranch was failing miserably, a lack of money and good hired help. Damn. He hated to think about leaving Noelle behind. His mood darkened, souring at the thought. When the time came to return to Elk Basin, he wasn’t going to have much time for himself or to see Noelle. Speaking over the telephone was impossible, although it warmed his heart each and every time she left a message on his cell phone for him to read or listen to. Luckily, he could rely on text messages to let her know he was thinking of her each waking moment. Flipping the hat on his head, Cole kept the brim low over his face, offsetting the glare of the afternoon sunlight. The sun was riding low over the prairie and he still had a dozen or so Herefords to brand before sunset. Might as well get started. A quick trip into the tack room to retrieve his chaps and he was caught up in work, so much that when a pair of footsteps resonated behind him, Cole didn’t look up. Was probably just Beau making sure everything was running smoothly. The person spoke, a deep baritone garnering his attention. Cole carefully placed the branding iron on the dirt. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Of course Mr. Williams would seek him out sooner or later. That had to explain why he was the one here dealing with Somerset instead of Noelle. “You remember me, son?” Here we fucking go again. Did the man think he was that simple to have forgotten who he was? Cole didn’t even bother to look at the man; instead he dug into his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled. I’m not brain dead. If you came here to talk to me man to man, try again.

Mr. Williams stared at the paper for a minute longer, touched his moustache then folded the paper and nodded. “That’s a fair demand. I apologize for the offense.” Cole blinked, surprised that Noelle’s father had conceded and acknowledged his fault. Mr. Williams took a sweeping look around the ranch before his gaze landed on the cool branding iron. “Nothing wrong with a bit of hard work is there?” He smiled at Cole. “I know you don’t think highly of me. Probably think I look my nose down at you because I have money.” Cole shrugged. Yeah he did, but what Williams thought of him wasn’t going to make or break him or his relationship with Noelle. Mr. Williams leaned his head to the side, one hand shoved inside the pocket of his slacks. “You care about Noelle don’t you?” )one of your business. “All right. You don’t have to answer that I suppose,” Mr. Williams let out a small chuckle before sobering. “My daughter is a special case isn’t she? Beautiful girl who just can’t seem to get her life together. Listen here. Regardless of what you might think of me, I care about my daughter. I’ve always cared about both of my children. Why else do you think we move out here subjecting ourselves to being the only black family for miles around?” Yes, why? It was something he’d wondered about for awhile. Williams could run his business from anywhere, live outside of Denver and have employees make the visits for him. They didn’t need to live neck deep in isolation. And what the hell did he mean in reference to Noelle not having her life together. Noelle was perfect. He didn’t know of any other woman who was as organized and hard working as Noelle save for his own mother. “Why are you telling me this?” Cole signed furiously. The man gave him a blank stare. Of course. Cole shook his head. Sometimes it was too easy to forget not everyone would understand him. “I don’t know what Noelle has been telling you about our family. My guess is whatever she’s told you hasn’t been the truth.” Cole saw red. Unbelievable. Now the man was going to try and spew his bullshit about Noelle. He wasn’t going to listen to it. Cole turned, determined to finish branding the rest of the cattle.

“Hear me out. This is for your own good if you decide to continue this relationship with my daughter.” Mr. Williams moved in front of him. Cole glared at the man. Why the hell wasn’t he able to take a hint and shut the fuck up so he could get back to work and not have to hear another disparaging word about Noelle? “I have another daughter. However, I’m not sure if Noelle’s ever mentioned her. Maybe not. Those two never meshed well.” Mr. Williams jammed his hands even deeper into his pockets. “You know how it is, Noelle got the looks, Aleah the brains. Noelle’s always had it in for us, I suppose. Never appreciated anything we did for her. She even claimed to despise the money we had, until it started serving her purposes.” Cole lifted his eyebrows. He shouldn’t be indulging the man. Nevertheless, there was that part of him who wanted to know everything about Noelle. Maybe he’d be able to help her get past the moments of sadness he saw in her eyes that she always tried to hide. Mr. Williams’ eyes filled with sadness. “You know, Cole, one day you’ll understand. Some things are just a parent’s worst nightmare. More so when you think you’re doing all the right things and come to find out everything has been occurring right under your nose. Own roof, in fact. I found out a lot of things when it was too late. Noelle had quit going to school for a couple of months before her mother and I got wind of it. By the time we found out what was going on with her, just about the entire town did too. Our teenage daughter was strung out on heroin most days, shooting up with her friends and latest boyfriend. I wanted to die when I found out. I hold nothing against you, Cole. I can see you’re a decent guy, but Noelle needs a change in her life. She needs to socialize more with someone…” Mr. Williams paused as if it caused him distress to speak. “My daughter needs to think about her future and stop behaving like a teenager. You’re not the first guy Noelle’s attached herself to so she could rebel against her mother and I. You won’t be the last.” The muscles in his body went taut. His mind reeled against the disgusting accusation. Williams had to be lying. Had to be. Noelle was smart…decent. He couldn’t imagine her pushing a needle into her vein like some careless addict. “Now I’m not saying Noelle is doing those things anymore. I’ll give her credit. She—”

Cole lifted his hand. He didn’t want to hear anything else about Noelle, the men she had been with or her drug use. It sickened him to imagine her jamming a needle into her body, defiling herself. Had any of them been dirty, tainted? For a second his mind ran to all the times they’d made love without protection. His body shuddered with guilt and shame at the turn of his thoughts. It all made sense why she hadn’t said anything to him. She had to have anticipated his reaction. The normal reaction of any man finding out his girlfriend was a drug addict. His lips curled. He hated even thinking the term. It was embarrassing and shameful. Cole rose to his feet intent on letting the man know he’d said enough. Mr. Williams opened his mouth and Cole kept his hands clenched to his sides. “I love her, son. If I didn’t, her mother and I wouldn’t have worked so hard to get Noelle the help she needed. I just want the best for my daughter, never mind the fact she still hasn’t earned back all the trust that was lost because of her lying and stealing.” Cole shook his head. The sad part was, he’d bet an entire month’s pay Williams wasn’t trying to be an asshole. If anything the man would know Noelle better than he did. Or thought he did. Never in a million years would he have assumed what Mr. Williams just told him about Noelle. Cole clamped his eyelids against an image of Noelle pushing a needle into those beautiful slender arms. After Williams said his piece and left, Cole struggled to get through with branding the rest of the cattle. He wanted to see Noelle, but he knew if he saw her now it would be too soon. Wrong as it had been for him to build her up in his head, he couldn’t shake the disappointment. Disappointment and anger slithered through him, tainting his opinion of her. Drug addict. And all because she wanted to rebel and spite her family. He couldn’t imagine the sort of person who would do that. Certainly not Noelle. Had she worn the same look of despair, sunken cheeks and track marks that he assumed they all wore? What a mistake he’d made. He never should have thought of Noelle as perfect, for one. Two, he never should have believed anyone who was perfect would belong to him. Finally, his biggest mistake had been trusting her to be honest with him. If Mr. Williams hadn’t felt the need to enlighten him, how long would he have remained in the dark? Up until she

started using it again, because there was always that risk with addicts, right? He shoved a hand through his hair. He wished he knew more about the subject, knew more about what the fuck she had been thinking and why he’d gotten involved with her in the first place when there was no clear future in it for them. Worse, her father’s word kept ringing in his ears. Noelle only dated men she felt were beneath her. Cole snorted. He deserved it for actually believing she had chosen to be with him out of all the men she could have. Turns out she was with him exactly because he was so different. He wondered if she had ever planned on saying anything to him. Chances were she did and thought because of his disability he’d accept anything from her. He had acted like such a damn fool fawning all over her like a lovesick boy, of course she would think so. That had to explain why she had chosen him over someone like Beau, the foreman who had more potential and who her father would have had an easier time accepting. Her family. That was another issue. Sure the drug use left a repugnant taste in his mouth, but that wasn’t the deal breaker. If her family for all their wealth tried so hard to please her and failed, where the heck would he stand? How soon would it be before Noelle got tired and turned to something else, or someone else to give her what he couldn’t? The worry rolled over and settled in his mind as he strode down the path to the houses. Cole reached his room and for the first time since he’d given a key to Noelle, he hoped to God she wouldn’t be waiting for him in his bed.

Chapter Fourteen Something was wrong. Noelle could feel it in her bones. Not once since the day started did she hear the gentle chiming of her phone that sent her heart leaping with joy. Not a single text from Cole. Noelle pressed the button, closing the screen of her cell phone. Throughout the day she had sent Cole a number of texts to which he normally replied within minutes no matter how busy he was. After the fourth message, she’d given up and decided to stop by the ranch in the evening. Truth be told, she was terrified. Her father’s demeanor remained static but there was just something about the way he avoided her eyes last night when she’d returned from Wayland Ranch after he had called to let her know he’d already visited the Somerset Ranch. Noelle swallowed a painful lump in her throat. Cole knew the truth about her. That had to be the reason for his lack of communication. She wasn’t stupid enough to think her father had left without stirring the pot. Of course he’d seize the opportunity to tell Cole. Noelle bit her lips. Cole had to be feeling disappointed and betrayed by her because of the way she had portrayed herself. Shame lanced into her. Unable to do anything less, Noelle glanced down at her arms. The memory of what she used to do made her knees go weak with nausea. She slid a hand into her handbag and pulled out the key, before shoving it back inside the bag. She knew better than to think Cole would welcome her letting herself into his place. The knowledge pained her, but there it was. She had to accept it and wait. Noelle pressed the back of her head against the wall. The deep breaths she was taking were not doing the trick. She checked her watch. Jesus, what was taking him so long? A fleeting thought of the cars she had seen parked along the roadside spun a web inside her head. Was Cole having sex this time with one of those women as she waited for him? Pain lanced through her heart. Noelle squeezed her eyes against the tears pooling at the back of her eyelids. No. She wouldn’t allow her thoughts to stray in that disgusting direction. Cole was hers. She was the one who loved

him. Above anyone else. Noelle sighed. How she regretted not telling him days, weeks ago. Another five minutes passed. Her worry increased tenfold. She wanted to storm across the prairie, find him and rip the hair out of any woman within an inch of him. She hung her head, distraught at her loss of control. She had no idea if Cole wanted anything to do with her much less to run around the ranch hunting him down like a neglected wife. Her heart turned. Would that ever be in the cards for them—a future that included marriage? She’d never entertained the idea before of a lifelong commitment to anyone, now it seemed like the natural direction of their relationship. Her heart, mind, body and soul were already in it for the long run with Cole. Hopefully he felt the same. She needed to see him. Noelle opened and closed her eyes. Thank God she didn’t have to add another heart-wrenching second to her wait. The faint jingling of spurs had her emotions on high alert. It felt like an eternity instead of one day that had gone by since she’d last seen him. Ever so slowly, she lifted her head. Her stomach quivered in fear of what she might read in his eyes. Those peaceful eyes that told her everything he lacked the ability to vocalize. The instant their gazes connected she felt it right down to her toes. )ot good. Noelle flinched at the lackluster cloud in his dark eyes. God help her, it was that bad. As she watched him walk down the path toward the small doorstep, each long stride seemed to take forever and a day. Noelle couldn’t wait a moment longer. She bounded over the concrete step, stopping in front of him. His gaze lingered on her face then lowered toward her arms, before looking away. Embarrassment and shame welled inside her. She felt eighteen all over again, experiencing the utter despair after the high had worn off. Had he been wondering if she carried any track marks he hadn’t noticed? She tugged on her sleeve. Why hadn’t she worn a long sleeve shirt? At least she wouldn’t feel so naked and aware of her arms, what she used to do with them. “Don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, annoyed at herself for letting his reaction get to her so much. Cole looked her in the eyes and arched an eyebrow as if he hadn’t expected her to cut to the chase.

“My father spoke with you, didn’t he?” He nodded. “Your father said a lot of things.” “Things that bother you? That you hadn’t expected to hear?” His lips curved with a sardonic tilt. “Yes.” He shook his head at her, as if she was guilty of committing a heinous crime. His eyes went to her arms again and in a furious motion, he pointed at them and made a jabbing motion then curled his lips in obvious disgust. Noelle blanched when he began signing quickly, words she didn’t understand, could only tell they attested to his anger. She wanted to cry. A grown woman and she wanted to fall to the concrete and sob because the one person she loved with all her heart was about to turn his back on her. Her worst fear. She held it together, tightening her fist for added strength. “Cole. I’m not proud of what I did. I wish I hadn’t made those mistakes, becoming involved with some of the people I did and…” She took a deep breath. She hated voicing it out loud that she had been stupid enough to get involved with illegal drugs. “I was spoiled, selfish and didn’t give a shit about what happened to myself one way or the other. The person who didn’t care about herself and anyone around doesn’t exist anymore. It’s my past. You can’t be angry about that.” Noelle held out her hands. “You didn’t know me back then, Cole. You have no right to be upset with me for that.” The harsh lines on his face deepened. Cole made no effort to communicate with her. Frustrated and hurt Noelle lashed out. She knew exactly what his problem was. He placed her on a goddamn pedestal that was now kicked out from under her and he couldn’t deal with it. Couldn’t handle her being less than the perfect woman he’d conjured to soothe his male ego. She cocked her head to the side. “Let’s have the truth, Cole. You’re embarrassed, aren’t you? Are you scared about what everyone will think if they find out your girlfriend knows what the inside of a rehab looked like? That I can give a personal account of withdrawal symptoms? Not the typical things you cowboys discuss, is it?” She laughed without mirth. “You think I haven’t heard it all? Ooh, Noelle, such a fucking disgrace to her parents, making the rest of us look bad.” She waved a hand in the air, feeling the old hurt rising. “I’ve dealt with it and I’m not about to take another trip down that road of guilt. I’m tired of it. Tired of feeling ashamed of myself for something

I’ve worked so hard to overcome and most of all, I’m tired of not living up to unrealistic expectations from everyone around me.” If she thought her words would have any effect on him, she relinquished that idea. Noelle gazed into his eyes hoping for some clue to see if anything had changed at all. Nothing. He had closed himself off from her. Hurt and anger forged into mindless fury. “Nice isn’t it, Cole, to use your disability as an excuse to block me out. You’re being such a fucking hypocrite. I never pretended my feelings for you. Yes, I kept some things about myself from you, but now it’s in the open, get over it and let’s move on. I’ve always known the truth about you, accepted you as you are. While you might want to think of me in terms of my past, I hope you take a damn good look in the mirror. You’re no catch yourself, Cole. You think I can’t do better than a ranch hand without a penny to his name and who can’t even talk?” The moment the words fell from her lips she wanted to take them back. She was getting carried away, allowing her anger to cloud her thoughts and further the carnage. Taking a deep breath she stared at him, expecting, hoping to see a righteous anger on his part. A muscle ticked in his jaw. Both hands were clenched at his sides. Good. At least she had something to work with. Noelle willed her nerves calm. She reached for his hand, pulling back when he took a step backward. Her heart sank. She was his woman. Did he no longer care? She folded her arms to keep from reaching out to him again. “I’m just me. Noelle. The woman standing in front of you. The truth is, I’m not rich and my life has been anything but glamorous, despite how hard I tried to make it appear that way. My parents are rich, not me. I don’t care about money and I don’t care that you can’t speak. All I care about is you. Us.” The tension in his muscles held firm. Cole looked as if he hadn’t heard a word she had said. Or didn’t care. Features harsh, he stuck out his hand and pointed in the other direction. “Go.” Noelle blinked. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. She straightened her shoulder and lifted her head. How easy it was for him to let her go as if she was one of those women who threw themselves at the cowboys with no expectation in return.

“If it’s that easy for you to give up on us, then I’m wasting my time here. You want perfection, Cole. You want some dream woman, go find it in one of your little farm girls back home. I can’t give you that.” Noelle turned and held her breath. Please let him follow me. She needed to hear his heavy footsteps behind her. Needed to feel him take a hold of her hand, wrap her in his big arms then apologize for making her believe for even a second that he no longer cared about their relationship. No such luck. Cole slung on his hat and strode toward the door as if she didn’t exist. Noelle fought back the tears and gripped her chest. It hurt so much to breathe and she was trying so hard not to break down. The sad thing was, as much as Cole’s inability to accept her past hurt, not for a split second did she regret their time together. How could she? He had been so good to her and despite the fact that he considered her undeserving of his attention and emotion, Cole did show her for a time how it felt to be with someone who valued her, cared for her. Just because he no longer wanted her, it didn’t mean someone else wouldn’t be able to look beyond and care about her. Her heart clenched at the very notion. Her stomach roiled at the thought of touching another man, being touched or caressed by anyone other than Cole. Noelle heaved a sigh. She didn’t want anyone else and somehow, someway she was going to make him understand that they belonged together.

Chapter Fifteen Cole washed the remaining dirt off his boots. He pushed the empty bucket aside and glanced toward the barn. At least the horses would have nothing to complain about for the next couple of days. Lucky bastards. He reached for his hat, pushing it low over his face, in spite of the cloudy September skies. The wind bristled and wailed heralding the first signal of the brutal winter that loomed ahead. A winter he still had a shitload of work to prepare for if they wanted to hold on to the ranch for another spring. If he was to have any chance of winning her back. )oelle. Cole braced his hand against a tree, a piece of bark falling to his foot. Would there ever come a time when his mind didn’t turn to her, his heart didn’t beat a little faster at the thought of seeing her again, holding her close and smelling the fragrance from whatever the hell it was she used in her hair. Damn, he could almost feel those lovely strands on his fingertips, his hand fisted in her hair guiding her mouth on his cock. He pressed his hand firm against the tree trunk, feeling his shaft swelling at the memory of Noelle on her knees before him, her luscious lips stretched around his penis, the night before he’d learned about her past. Cole grimaced. He knew Noelle thought his dismissal of her had to do strictly with her past and while it did affect him, it also gave him the reason he’d been looking for to end it before she said the words he knew were bound to come one day—that he wasn’t good enough for her. A bit of provoking and she’d said exactly what he knew was coming and now realized was the plain truth. Noelle deserved someone who wouldn’t have blinked an eye at her indiscretion, someone who would have exalted her and remind her of the strength it must have taken to beat an addiction. He’d done none of those things, instead he had turned his nose up at her, in the same fashion others had done to him his entire life and focused on his selfish need for perfection in someone else because he’d never be able to come close to it. What an impossible and heartbreaking task he had assigned her.

He had let down the one person who meant the most to him. His loving, beautiful Noelle, who had done nothing more than treat him like the man he always wanted to be treated as. She didn’t see him as a big dumb mute. She had looked past his imperfections and wanted him with a passion he never thought to experience in this lifetime. And fuckhead that he was, he hadn’t been willing to extend that courtesy to her. Hadn’t even sought her out and given Noelle the courtesy of a goodbye after he realized he’d have to return to Elk Basin much earlier than his plan for the end of summer. He was going to make it up to her. It wasn’t going to happen overnight, but he was going to do everything humanly possible to make the ranch successful. If she saw how hard he worked to make the ranch a success, then maybe it would be easier to win her back. Noelle deserved nothing less than the best and he was going to be the man to give it to her. He had to. There was simply no way he could show up in Copper Mesa at her parent’s house and expect that an apology would set things right. He couldn’t believe that Noelle would give a shit if he told her he could barely sleep at night because of the way he had hurt her when she needed his reassurance the most. No. He’d have to go after his beauty with something much stronger. She needed to know he’d always be there for her and that he’d be able to take care of her the way any man should for his woman. Christ, he despised himself. Cole shook his head and slammed his fist against the tree. He hated remembering the look of dismay on her face when he’d told her to go. He couldn’t believe he’d treated her like that. Noelle, who had lain in his arms, held him to her as he released inside her. His cock swelled. How he missed returning to that little bedroom after a long day on the range and seeing Noelle sprawled out in the bed, the linen hugging her satiny brown skin as she waited for him to join her and slide his cock inside her warm cunt. Cole lifted his head, catching sight of milky twilight above. Another reminder of her and the night by the river, the first time he got a sample of what was in store for him between her thighs. And of course the stars scattered across sky also meant he’d lost track of the time again. It made no difference. What was another hour or two working if sleep was intent on evading him? Cole guessed it was well after ten o’clock. He looked toward the main house, knowing his parents were in there, hopefully sound

asleep and their mind eased somewhat that he’d taken over the duties. They had probably assumed he’d quit working hours ago. He couldn’t. There was too much at stake, too many people depending on him. Ready to turn in for the night, Cole stopped as a figure, huddled under a thick sweater, made his way from the house. His father. He thought the man would be in bed resting. “Cole, why don’t you go on in? Your mother’s awake and inside worried and I’m terrified you’re going to end up like me, a broken down cowboy way before your time.” Too late for that. “I’m fine. You’re the one who shouldn’t be out here.” “Neither should you. It’s not good for a young man to spend every waking minute working.” Cole lifted an eyebrow. He’d been working since before the crack of dawn ever since he’d left school. It was the only thing he knew. If he didn’t put in the hours who else would? “I have to.” His father coughed, the hacking force shaking his fragile body. “You don’t have to, Cole. Your mother, brother and I appreciate everything you’ve been doing to keep us afloat.” His father looked up at the moon. “I guess what I’m trying to say, son, is that maybe it’s better if we sell the place. Your mom and I can move into a smaller place, you’d be free to do something for yourself and not be tied down to the land taking care of us.” Cole stiffened. His father couldn’t be serious. All the years of work he…they’d put into this place and now he wanted to get rid of it. If that happened, he wouldn’t be able to lay claim to a single thing in this world. He’d already lost Noelle, he couldn’t bear to lose the ranch, not when it was so important in getting her back. To show her that he would be able to take care of her. He shook his head. “That’s not an option. This is important to me.” His father sighed, brows furrowed. “Sometimes I regret buying this place. I had such high hopes about our life here. Wanted to give your mother a good life, you and your brother too. Sometime things just don’t turn out the way we planned it, huh?” “Derek will be fine. He won’t have to worry about this place.”

A hand went around his shoulders as his father spoke. “I’m sorry about that Cole. I mean your mother and I. It wasn’t fair that you never had the same opportunities.” Cole shrugged. It didn’t matter anymore. “Can’t change the past, dad. I just really need this to work out.” His father sighed. “What if we never get the ranch up and running again, Cole? I’m worried about you. You’ve been doing this for weeks now, it’s gonna take a toll on you after a while, believe me. I’m pissed at myself for not being able to help you as much as I should. How long are you going to keep this up —working yourself into the ground?” Cole ran a hand through his hair. For as long as it takes before )oelle forgets me. “I can’t stop. It’s not just about me.” Cole paused and thought for a moment if he should even mention Noelle to his father. He did. He needed to talk about her. “I have someone else to think about.” His father’s eyes widened. Understanding reflected slowly in his murky eyes. “Well. hell. I didn’t know you were seeing anyone. Is she from around here?” A smile spread across his lips. “Are you insane?” he asked, thankful for the shift to humor. The last time he’d seen a woman within five miles of the ranch under the age of fifty had been five years ago. And he didn’t like remembering that episode. His father laughed. “Heck, you never know.” He looked at him in seriousness. “Almost had me worried there. So who is this young lady? Someone who works at Somerset’s ranch?” He shook his head. “)o. She lives next door.” A look of excitement crossed his father’s face. He knew the man was expecting to hear how well everything was between him and her. Cole quickly jumped on it. “There’s not much to tell anymore. I messed things up with her. Hurt her.” His father waved a hand and let out a whoosh of air. “You’re not the first man to make a mistake with the woman he cares about. Always remember that. Are we going to meet her sometime?” Good question. He would like nothing more than to introduce Noelle to them, have her as a member of his family in spite of what little they had to offer.

“I hope so.” Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He flipped through several pictures until he came across one of Noelle that he had taken with her astride Firebrand. Reddish blond eyebrows shot upward. Cole ignored it. There wasn’t a racist bone in his father’s body, but he understood the man’s surprise that Noelle was black. His father whistled low and straightened. “She’s a beautiful girl. Does her family know about you?” Hands at his sides, Cole nodded. He didn’t want to rehash the details of her father’s disapproval. A thin arm rested on his shoulder for a second. “Just focus on yourself and your young lady. I’m sure whatever happened between the two of you can be worked out. This is life, Cole. Gotta grab it by its horns. Don’t allow what you want to slip away. You’ll end up alone, tired and bitter.” Cole lowered his head. His father made it seem too easy. Nothing was ever that simple, not when came to convincing a woman who had nothing to gain by being with him. “I can’t go back to her unless I have a future to offer. Something better than what she’s seen so far. I just can’t. I love her too much.” The man gazed at him with skepticism yet Cole was thankful he remained quiet. He didn’t need a lecture, definitely not tonight when he was starting to realize time was not on his side. He looked up at the moon and the stars overhead. Have to keep working. He hadn’t seen Noelle in a month and each and every day was spent worrying if she had found someone else to move on with. If she hadn’t, it would only be a matter of time. The temptation to go to her was overwhelming, but he had to stay steadfast and stick to his plans for the ranch. With the ache in his muscles forgotten, Cole rubbed his hands together against the chill in the night air as he headed toward the barn.

Chapter Sixteen Noelle pushed her apartment keys into her handbag. Three weeks of living in the new place and it felt as much a home as the tack room she’d gone into a couple of times on Mr. Somerset’s ranch. It hurt to think of that place, so much that for a week after her argument with Cole she’d returned to Snake River each day waiting, hoping to see him appear from behind one of the big maple trees. In her fantasy, he would kiss and hold her so damn tight to let her know he wasn’t disgusted. That he wasn’t ashamed of her. Hurt and angered, she’d decided to give it one final attempt before giving up on him. It was Mr. Somerset who had seen her on the way to ranch housing and stopped her. Puzzled, he’d asked if she had forgotten that Cole moved back to his home earlier than planned. It was three months later and she still felt the jolt of electricity that ran through her heart when Mr. Somerset related those words. At no time, had Cole mentioned to her that he wouldn’t be staying on at the Somerset Ranch. Apparently, she hadn’t been the only one keeping secrets and Cole hadn’t felt their relationship was important enough to let her know they’d soon be separated. Noelle hated to count the days, but today marked yet another day that drifted by without a message from him. And now, guilt ridden, she couldn’t believe she was returning home from a date. For an hour she’d sat across from another man, talking and feigning bouts of feminine laughter to pretend her heart hadn’t been ripped asunder. But she had to do it. She needed to prove to herself and to her mother and sister, who encouraged her to keep her heart open. Noelle sighed as she turned the key into the doorknob. One good thing came to fruition out of this debacle of her love life; she was closer to her mother than she had been in years. The two of them had even decorated her apartment together. To Noelle’s bittersweet delight, once Aleah found out about her broken heart she had reached out and for the first time in years, Noelle had someone beside Cole to confide in. Grateful as she was, it did nothing to dull the ache of missing him. She would have been satisfied if he had been her only confidant for the rest of eternity. Her date was the coworker her sister had months earlier suggested Noelle to go out with. The attorney was a quiet man in his

thirties, African American, which left her wondering if deep down her family was rooting for their date to go well because of that minor detail. While the conversation was pleasant and she found herself grudgingly admiring how well put together the man was, she knew that date was as far as it would ever get. There was nothing, not even a fraction of the emotions she felt the first moment she laid eyes on Cole, the confusion and longing the cowboy elicited in her. Noelle entered her apartment and was greeted by the shrill ringing of her telephone. It was her mother checking up on her. Noelle knew the woman was trying to overcompensate for her father’s refusal to speak with her after Noelle told him she didn’t appreciate his interference in her private life. “How was the dinner?” Noelle clutched the phone to her ear and pulled off her stilettos. “It was all right, Momma. Nothing special. He talked a bit much, I suppose.” Her mother went silent for a minute then spoke, “You mean as opposed to not saying anything?” Noelle sank back into the couch and let out a small breath. “It was never like that. Cole had a lot to say. We understood each other despite the blocks in front of us. I just thought that after everything we meant to each other, Cole would have taken the time to listen and understand my side of things.” “Noelle, I know you don’t want to hear this, however, it needs to be said. Perhaps your father did you a favor. I’m very sorry, baby. You know I want the best for you and your sister —you especially because of everything you’ve been through, but if you try to look at it from another perspective you have to realize that you and Cole are just so different. I’ve spoken to Randy Somerset and from what he’s told me, Cole has his hands filled with responsibilities at his home.” Her heart stopped. Her mother had spoke to Cole’s former boss? “When did you speak to him and why would you do that? Why would you snoop into my affairs, going around trying to find out information about Cole like we’re a pair of naughty teenagers?” “I’ve never met him, Noni. I only wanted to know what type of person he was for you to feel this strongly about him.” Noelle gulped. “But what did Mr. Somerset say? I need to know if Cole is all right.” “He’s fine.”

Her mother refused say more. Noelle bit her lips to keep from yelling and demanding to know more details about her beloved. She sighed. He was fine, her mother had said. There had to be some comfort in that statement, although it would do nothing to help her sleep better at nights without him. **** For the first time in months, things were looking up. Cole felt a smile tug at the corners of his lips. How he relished being able to acknowledge those words. The October sale of the two largest bulls had brought in enough money to take them out of the red. Once they made it through with the rest of the sales the Tumbling Y would be in the clear until the next fall. Most important, he had promised himself as soon as the ranch gained momentum, he would return to Copper Mesa and claim Noelle… after he cradled her to his chest, begged and pleaded for understanding and let her know in no uncertain terms how much he loved and adored her. Cole sighed and pressed his head against the pillow. Tonight was a first for him in months, hitting the sack before midnight. He relished the sleep to come, but in the meantime, his mind kept messing with him about Noelle. What if he had waited too long and Noelle no longer had space in her heart for him? The last time he had seen her was in August, she was so fucking beautiful and sweet. Noelle was bound to have found some else. Some bastard who could communicate with her, without her having to study each night to learn new words in sign language. Damn. Cole felt his chest tighten with worry. Had Noelle been with anyone since him? His stomach churned and violence surged inside him. He wouldn’t be able to bear knowing she had allowed another man to lie on top of her and plunge into her wanton cunt. He could still hear her needy cries, whimpering to him that her pussy belonged to him alone. His cock swelled painfully inside his briefs. Cole couldn’t help but touch his shaft. God help him, he was a goner for her. Truth was, even if Noelle had lain with someone else in the time they were separated he’d still want her. He would fuck her so good, and hard, wiping away the memory of anyone but him. He would become her entire world, the way she was his.

Regret slashed inside him with a vicious stroke. He never should have kept her in the dark about his feelings. )ever should have turned away from her. It ate at him, because Noelle was the only person in this world who made him feel whole. Around her he didn’t feel as if he was lacking. She accomplished what not even his parents had been able to do his entire life as hard as they tried. Noelle, all she had to do was look at him, touch him and everything felt right. As if they were made for each other. They were. She was made for him. That had to be the only explanation for how well they fit together. Noelle Williams had been created just for him. Every inch of her lovely frame was molded to please him, right down to the achingly sweet spot between her thighs. When he thought he wouldn’t bear it a second longer, the pressure in his groin, the fullness of his balls seething with cum, Cole slid his fingers over the tip of his cock. Eyes closed, he sank deeper into the pillow, his breathing shallow. All that was missing was his Noelle lowering her head and gliding her tongue over his flesh. She knew how much he enjoyed the warmth at the back of her throat His throat felt dry. He missed her so much. He brushed the back of his hand against his sac, stroking them exactly as he remembered Noelle would do it. Her soft hands cupping him and murmuring how good he felt. Then, she’d dart out her tongue, lift her long lashes and tease him until he squirmed beneath her mouth. His little vixen would grin and slide her tongue across him, gently hold his cock between her hands and lick it like he had offered her the tastiest treat. He jerked his hips and gripped his cock, pumping hard. After a hard day’s work what he wouldn’t give to unleash some of that tension on Noelle. To feel her hands smoothing the muscles on his back, soothing him as he emptied inside her. His cock went impossibly hard. Slickened wetness spilled onto his fingers. He stroked harder. Could almost see himself sliding into her hot pussy. Was Noelle petting her juicy clit at this very moment, on fire for a taste of him? He hoped so. He was burning for her too. Needed to feel her fingertips caressing the sweat-dampened skin on his back. Was desperate to her hear begging him to ease up because he was fucking her too hard and in the next breath pleading for more.

God help him and her. The next time he saw Noelle, he’d waste no time in pushing her thighs apart and sinking balls deep inside her. Fucking and fucking her hot little cunt until every fiber of his being was embedded in Noelle and outside her womb. He would ride her until her knees gave out with pleasure and she realized they were meant solely for each other. Cole shut his eyes at the feel of his cock twitching, sending a thick spurt of cum flooding onto his stomach. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d masturbated and came so hard. It had to be because he was so close to finding Noelle again, Cole thought as his breathing leveled and sleep overtook him.

Chapter Seventeen Noelle was pissed…and worried. After months of not receiving a single message or email from Cole, out of the blue a week ago a SMS from him popped up. Stunned to the core, Noelle had assumed he’d deleted her number and moved on before summer ended. )oelle. I’d like to speak with you. See you. She’d texted him back of course, and although the cold keypads beneath her fingertips made it real, it felt like something out of the hundred or so dreams she had of him. To finally know that he remembered she existed…just when she was trying so hard to erase him from her mind. Because she hated herself for getting her hopes up, Noelle replied the only way she knew how. When? A single word. She didn’t trust herself to write more and reveal how much she still cared about him or to let him know how much he hurt her and still had the power to do so. Her ploy failed. Once again, Cole trampled on her hopes. The swift reply she had expected never came. It was killing her. And now, left without a choice, but to see and put to rest their relationship, she was on her way, miles away from Copper Mesa armed with nothing but an address Mr. Somerset had given her. Noelle glanced at the GPS, her brows knotting when it led her onto a dirt road, indicating she had arrived at her destination. It was a ranch. That much she could decipher. A dozen head of cattle grazed in an open field strewn with fresh sprinkling of snow on the golden orange grass. A black metallic sign that read ‘Tumbling Y Ranch’, hung gracefully from three wooden poles. Behind the welcoming sign, a small one story house, resembling a log cabin stood out with it’s zinc roofing. Noelle’s heart skipped a beat. This was the house she had seen in Cole’s photograph. She looked around the narrow driveway. No sign of Cole’s red pickup. Disappointment tinged with heart pounding anticipation caused Noelle to slow her car. She took another look at the house and contemplated turning around, going home. She was risking so much by putting her heart on the line to be assured Cole was all right. Killing the engine, Noelle went to the entrance door. Finger on the doorbell, she paused as an older, slightly plump woman turned the

corner, a basket of eggs in her right hand. Her round face appeared worn, tired, as if she hadn’t slept in days. Noelle blinked. Oh sweet Jesus. The woman had the same piercing black eyes she had grown so used to staring into. Noelle shifted her feet. Had Cole mentioned her to the woman? If so, what had he revealed? Cole’s mother pushed a limp strand of gray hair from her pink cheeks. “Can I help you?” Noelle stepped back from the doorway. “I’m here to see Cole McKinney. Is he here?” Dark eyes stabbed into hers before the woman placed her basket of eggs on the ground. “You’re Noelle, aren’t you?” His mother’s tone conveyed no attitude or censor toward. Noelle felt relief rush into her face. Cole must not have mentioned everything about her. “I’m Noelle.” Two plump arms swung out and wrapped around her shoulders. Taken off guard, Noelle stiffened for a few seconds then relaxed somewhat into the hug. The woman pulled back and smiled, revealing the wrinkles around her puffy eyes. “Forgive me. I didn’t think we’d ever get the chance to meet.” Noelle’s eyes widened. Did she know all about their relationship? “Cole told you about me?” she finally asked. Mrs. McKinney blushed. “Not outright, but I’ve heard enough about you from what he’s told his father. I’m so happy to meet you, Noelle.” She was? Noelle swallowed hard. “It’s nice to meet you too, Ma’am.” “Now that we know each other, I have to tell you, my son isn’t here right not. No worries, however. He should be back anytime now.” Her face closed up. “My husband, Cole’s father is in the hospital. Fell ill with a bout of pneumonia last week. Cole went to visit him, does so every chance he gets.” “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Will he be all right?” Mrs. McKinney’s lips tilted upward. She lifted a round shoulder. “We certainly hope so. He’s a tough one. So is Cole. I don’t know what I would do without either of them, especially with my other son away at Colorado State.” The woman shook her head and

smiled. “Mercy but look at us out here. Come inside and wait, Noelle. I just know Cole will be delighted to see you.” Noelle was beginning to doubt that. If Cole was fine, he had to have a reason for not contacting her after that first message. She should leave, return to Copper Mesa and wipe him from her heart and mind. Noelle followed Mrs. McKinney inside the house and into the cozy living room. She wasn’t ready to leave yet. Good or bad, she needed to see him. Every cell inside her body yearned to look upon his rugged face and gaze into those obsidian eyes. Seated on the sofa, Noelle felt uncomfortable despite Mrs. McKinney warmth and easy-going nature. Underneath the chatter, Noelle sensed a worry and anxiety in her tone that transcended her husband’s illness. It was the same tension she had felt too many times, emanating from Cole. They both seemed to be carrying the weight of the world. In the middle of their conversation, both women paused at the sound of an engine pulling up in the driveway. Cole. The older woman glanced at the window. Noelle didn’t fail to see the way she wrung her hands together, avoiding her gaze. “Noelle, would you mind waiting here for a minute? I want to hear from Cole how things went at the hospital.” Noelle nodded. She wasn’t born yesterday. In her heart of hearts, Cole’s mother was unsure how her son would react at her presence and wanted to spare all of them the embarrassment. Without another word the woman sprang out of her seat. Noelle shook her head and pressed a hand to her face, watching as the front door opened and closed. Mrs. McKinney greeted her son. Her eyes darted to the cloth curtains surrounding the windows. Eavesdropping was wrong. She didn’t care. She had to see him, had to know if he felt any degree of pleasure by her visit. Noelle sneaked behind the curtains. Mrs. McKinney signed while she spoke to Cole whose forehead creased with each word the woman uttered. A scowl settled on his face, a face which much harsher and angular than she remembered. His entire frame looked thicker, more muscular if that was even possible. Noelle shivered with longing. Everything about him seemed harder, unyielding… and she wanted him more than ever.

She continued to watch, her heartbeat quickening with each frantic and harried movement of his hands. He wasn’t happy. But not just that, Cole looked downright worried. Mrs. McKinney’s frantic voice ripped through her reverie. “But she came here to see you. That has to mean something.” Noelle struggled to keep up with his furious hand movements, from her spot behind the folds of curtains. She watched as Cole made an exaggerated gesture toward the ranch. “I don’t want her here.” “You don’t mean that. I’ve spoken with her. She seems like such a sweet young lady.” His jaw clenched. “I don’t care. There’s nothing between us. It has to stay that way.” Noelle didn’t want to witness anymore or hear Mrs. McKinney defend her against the man who once cherished and cared about her. She opened the door and stared at him, the flames of betrayal burning all the way down to her soul. “Noelle, he doesn’t mean—” She snorted and turned on the well-meaning woman. “With all due respect. I really don’t give a fuck what your son intended. Cole can speak for himself. He doesn’t need anyone to twist or try to soften his meaning.” Wiping away the hot tears threatening to complete her shame, Noelle shoved past both of them. Fucking tears. Her body trembled under the weight of her heartbreak. It felt like an invisible force had sucked the air out of her lungs. Her knees wobbled, threatening to give out and her stomach lurched. She wanted to fall to the ground and vomit, purge him from her system. Noelle pressed her hand against a tree for support. Lashes spiked with tears, she could barely see, couldn’t think beyond the pain. In that moment, she hated him. Noelle hung her head and scrubbed at the offending tears, wetting her cheeks. She lifted her head to see Cole pounding toward her. Noelle quickened her steps and took off racing, no direction in mind except to get away from him. She glanced over her shoulder. Cole stood, no longer following, just shaking his head as if he too was in a state of upheaval and confusion. She was done with him. Noelle spun on her heel and screamed. “I hate you!” She didn’t care that he could see the disgusting tears coursing down her face. Stupid tears that ignored her

pleas not to fall. Her heart was shattered, would never be whole and he was responsible for it. She clutched her stomach to not keel over in anguish. Cole knew she’d come to see him and for him to not want to see her. As if she had meant nothing, even if it was just as a girl who gave him sex. That had to count for something, maybe five minutes of his time. At least she deserved an explanation why he was so hell bent on hurting her. His face lost color and Noelle jumped on it, yelling more words of hatred to him. She wanted to curse, rail at him forever but her voice cracked from exertion. He held up a large hand in warning. Noelle shook her head and took off running. She had to get back to her car. Had to get off the ranch and leave Cole McKinney behind and in the past. Heavy footsteps sounded behind her. Her heartbeat sped. A tremor of fear stirred to life in her. She didn’t know this person anymore, didn’t understand why he wanted her gone, yet wouldn’t leave her alone. Noelle quickened her pace and grabbed a hold of the barn door. Closing it, she raced toward a stack of hay, laying low on the ground between the dried grass. The door flung open. A heavy gust of wind swept through the enclosed space. Cole stood in the doorway, his large frame taking up the entire space, wisps of brown hair falling across his face. Noelle crawled backward, biting her lips to keep a cry of alarm from escaping her. His wide chest rose and fell as he stared her down at her. Furious, his eyes flashed with emotions she couldn’t discern, he reminded her of an angry warrior on the warpath. And God help her, as much as she hated him, she wanted him with every breath in her body. The thought of it made her weep in silence. That strong, raw depiction of masculinity standing in front of her, no longer belonged to her. Entranced, Noelle jumped as the door slammed shut with Cole’s long powerful legs eating away the distance between them in two strides. She straightened, preparing to run again. His strong arms gripped her shoulders firm. He held her as she struggled against him. “Don’t touch me.”

Cole did just that, grazing his coarse knuckles over her face so tenderly she wanted to cry all over again. Eyes closed, he lowered his head. Her breath stopped when his lips brushed against hers. Noelle broke away and tore her mouth from his. It was too much. “Never again,” she managed. “Don’t ever try to kiss me or touch me again.” He wasn’t listening. His lips sought her face, kissing her cheeks, eyes, and everywhere else he could touch. Noelle heard the soft intake of his breath as he inhaled the scent of her hair. His face lowered, the prickly hairs along his jawline rubbed against the thin fabric of her shirt, heightening the sensation of his face caressing her breast. His large hand closed over the neglected breast, kneading gently. Her nipple beaded with want. Unable to help herself, Noelle parted her lips on a sigh. It had been so long since they were together. She could feel his erection prodding against her sex. Her heart thundered and her womb clenched. How would she go on without ever holding him close, feel his large cock moving within her, the warmth of his seed spilling into her. How she would miss the sight of his mouth curled around her nipples sucking hard, his head between her legs licking her folds. She would go insane without hearing that harsh cry she’d wrung from him each and every time he ejaculated in her mouth. She adored the sound and it had become a symphony to her ears. His hands went to her shoulders, pushing her to the ground, sprinklings of sawdust rising in the air. She didn’t fight him. With the crisp hay scratching at her back, she turned her gaze from the prying eyes of the two horses secured in their stalls. Noelle felt the tears she wanted so badly to keep hidden, race down her face. Cole brushed the back of his hand across her cheeks. “Don’t cry. Please, beauty. Don’t cry.” She shook her head and tried to push him away but he held her firm. “I’ll make it better. I’ll make you feel good,” he signed, his lips trailing along her nape. Jerking her legs wide, Cole knelt between them. He reached for the buckle on his belt, quickly pulling it part before shoving his jeans past his hips. “I don’t want you,” she whispered. It sounded weak to her ears. “Don’t make me want you, Cole. Please don’t.”

Her plea went unanswered. Calloused fingers delved under her wool skirt and plucked down her underwear in one sweep. The cold air kissed between her thighs, licking the moist heat centered in her sex. Moaning, Noelle pressed her back against a barrel of hay as Cole shoved inside her pussy in one long stroke. He held her knees apart, a blanket of sheer determination written on his handsome features. Noelle scraped her hands to the hay-strewn floor. It dug into her opened palms but she didn’t care. Her body jerked, bouncing with each thrust of his massive build slamming into her. Noelle cried out, passion and heartache overtaking her emotions. Cole was fucking her so hard as if he was trying to exorcise her from his mind. Unacceptable. “Y-You can’t forget me, can you?” she asked, teeth chattering. Noelle closed her hand over his massive shoulder. “Were you thinking of this, Cole, how good we are together? Did you want someone to fuck? Tell me, damn you, is that why you contacted me?” His eyes flashed. Palpable pain skidded across his features. Staring up at the wooden beams high on the ceiling, Cole withdrew then drove into her with savage force. Noelle whimpered in pleasure pain. Lifting her hips, she matched him thrust for every primitive thrust he gave her. “You will never forget me, cowboy. No matter how hard you try, you’ll always remember me because I won’t forget you.” He leaned forward and circled his arms around her shuddering frame, bringing her closer, his cock pummeling at her walls. Noelle bit her trembling lips. She loved him so much it hurt. With her arms around his muscular back, she rested her head on his shoulder. “What am I going to do without this?” she murmured, feeling her pussy clench around his thick shaft. What will I do without you? She dreaded the thought of living the rest of her life without him. To run the chance of never seeing him again. It was unimaginable. Unthinkable. But after she left today she would have no reason, no excuse to return. She didn’t want to grow old without having lived a life with him. Noelle wanted to scream in anguish.

Against her control, a sob tore from her throat. Cole stroked the back of her hair with aching tenderness as the head of his cock pounded at the entrance of her cervix. She wasn’t going to last much longer. Like a coil, Noelle felt herself wounding tighter and tighter the faster Cole plowed inside her. She knew him and knew her man was going to climax soon. He was going to come deep inside her. The thought alone was enough to spiral her over the edge. She was on the pill so there’d be no chance of getting pregnant. God knew she wouldn’t have minded. She wasn’t overly fond of children, but with him, she would have wanted one. She would have wanted everyone to know she’d taken a part of Cole inside her body and something beautiful had sprung from it. Because their love was beautiful despite what anyone thought. Yes, she would have done so proudly. When her orgasm hit, Noelle felt her legs shake and her entire body quiver. His warm lips were everywhere on her, his hands touching all over. When his fingers landed on her belly, caressing the area below her navel, Noelle cried out in joy. “Come for me, Cole.” He pressed his forehead to hers. Taking hold of a handful of her hair, he surged deep, holding himself still. Wetness flooded into her, hot and thick. Noelle stroked his back, savoring the feel of his semen coating the tiny bruises inside her cunt. “Promise me you won’t hold anyone else like this.” Promise you won’t have sex with anyone else. He lowered his face and brushed his lips across hers. For once Noelle wished he could speak, to demand an answer from him. It was all too easy for him to ignore her questions, regardless of the absurdity of her request to someone who claimed not to want any part of a relationship with her. Cole slid his cock from her drenched sex and Noelle felt her sanity return. Realizing where they were, it hit her hard what she allowed to happen. Minutes earlier at his house, Cole admitted he didn’t want her on the property and like a fool she was laying on her back in a barn mid afternoon, her pussy wet and dripping with his cum, so much that it trickled to her inner thighs, which were splayed wide for his viewing. His hands worked fast to right his jeans and buckle the large black belt he had been so quick to open. Shakily, Noelle drew her legs

together and reached for her underwear, raising it over her ankles. She sneaked a peek at him. No surprise, he avoided her gaze. Pain squeezed around her heart. “We just had sex, Cole. I think it’s a bit late to try and act modest, pretend like it didn’t happen.” His shoulders squared. “You wouldn’t understand.” “How can I understand? You shut me out. You won’t tell me anything.” Cole jabbed a finger, gesturing outside one of the opened windows. “Look around. You have eyes. This place is falling apart. It’s hard not to notice isn’t it?” Noelle gasped. “Cole, I didn’t—” He held up a hand then signed, “I’m up to my neck in work. There’s too much. You. My family. The ranch. It won’t work.” Her heart fell for him and herself. Cole had too much on his shoulders and now he viewed her as a burden he had to lose. “I didn’t realize it was hard for you to be with me. If I’d known, I would have ended things myself before I got caught up in our relationship.” “)o. )ever like that. I care about you, but I knew it wouldn’t work out. I can’t take care of you like you deserve.” “I’ve never set out to give you the impression I needed to be taken care of. I don’t care about what you have or don’t have.” Noelle took a deep breath. She was going to chance it one last time. “I want to be here, with you,” she told him softly. He bent low and grasped the handle of a broom. When he lifted his head to look at her, Noelle flinched at the harsh bleakness in his eyes. “Go home, )oelle. There’s nothing here for you.” The breath left her body. Her last card had failed. “Well, can’t say I didn’t try.” She bit her lips, hoping to see a reaction from him. “It was nice while it lasted and I definitely can’t say I regretted the sex. At least that you can give me, right?” Bitterness laced each word, but it didn’t matter. If he could be so callous then so would she. How else could she mask some of the hurt to not look like a complete fool? “Goodbye, Cole.” A muscle in his jaw ticked. The hand on the handle of the broom tightened. She wondered for a second if it would snap under his grip. Unrelenting, Cole maintained his distance. Noelle gave a

nod. Never again would she shed a tear for him if he thought she gave a fuck about his lack of finances. She had chosen him over her family. His family hadn’t tormented and harangued him to make a choice. He chose to go out of his way and sacrifice her. No one forced him to. Noelle crossed her arms around her middle. One person didn’t make a relationship. Cole made his decision. She had to accept the fact that whether he spoke the truth or not, the interest was gone. Had to stop thinking about ‘Cole and Noelle’. It was her alone from here on out. And she was not going to return to the Tumbling Y to upset him or his family. Not when she was an expert at that with her own.

Chapter Eighteen Things weren’t getting any better. Sure his father was out of the hospital, the bout of pneumonia treated and cleared. Cole was thankful for his father’s recovery, but it didn’t make things any easier for him. He was worse off than he could have ever imagined. The deep bristling cold of winter was out in full force, making him contemplate things he never imagined. Defeat was a hard pill to swallow. The success he had in fall with the sale of a quarter the herd of Angus bulls hadn’t been enough to make up for the costs associated with his father’s rising medical care and equipment needing to be replaced or fix. It was just as he told Noelle months ago. It was too much. No one could deny he’d done his best to save the place and keep his family secured. At the expense of Noelle. Not a day went by he didn’t think of her. The pathetic thing was, after sending her away, he’d still held on to hope of making the ranch a success…for her. He wasn’t doing it for his family, as much as he loved them. The one driving force that kept him out there until well after midnight seven days a week, taking on the duties of the workers he couldn’t afford to keep. He knew it was selfish of him, fixating her on when she could do a hundred times better than him. Only snag in that line of thinking was his love for her. He loved her and wanted her back. The intensity of his need for her shook him to the core. Noelle was the only woman for him and he was the only man for her. He was the only man who could love her as she deserved. He hoped to God, she had meant what she said about not caring about his lack of money and status. Yep. He was a selfish bastard, trying to condemn the woman he loved to a life with him, without the luxuries another man could provide her. “Are you sure about this?” his father asked. What other choice did he have? At the moment it was a oneman show that was failing miserably. “I’m sure.” Snow flurries fell from the sky landing on the snowcapped earth. Cole sighed. Another night spent without his woman in his arms. Yet another day went by without Noelle knowing how fucking hard he tried to make this work for them.

Through the corner of his eyes, Cole glanced at his parents. His father, despite his failing health, had his arm around his mother’s shoulder offering comfort in light of their situation. Jealousy gnawed at him. Even in the worst times, his parents had each other. That in itself had to lessen the blow of losing the ranch; having someone there to talk to, get comfort and reassurances from, however false they might be. Slinging his hat lower over his head, Cole issued a curt nod, allowing them privacy. The same privacy he would have wanted with Noelle. He wondered how she had dealt with his rejection a second time. Had she received comfort from her family? Was Mr. Williams treating her better now that he was out of the picture? He damn well better be. Or maybe Noelle hadn’t needed a shoulder to cry on. Perhaps, whatever tenderness she carried for him melded into a deep-seated anger and hatred. Either way, he would find out tomorrow. **** The Williams house appeared smaller, less imposing than he remembered. Nothing felt the same this instance as he pressed his finger to silver doorbell. The door opened and Cole stepped backward, half expecting to see the face of an annoyed Mr. Williams, thick mustache and all. Instead, a dark skinned black woman around the same height as Noelle answered the door. Cole had seen her before, but he doubted the woman knew who he was. Mrs. Williams craned her neck, looking him up and down. Her apparent shock at his size worn off, she smiled at him from behind the door. Her high cheekbones reminded him so much of Noelle. “Good afternoon.” Cole stared at her knowing he had to do something. Removing his hat, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the notepad and scribbled. The poor woman, he didn’t want her to think she had a psycho at her doorway. Good afternoon Ma’am. My name is Cole McKinney. I used to work over on Mr. Somerset’s ranch. I’m here to see your daughter )oelle. Is she here? The older woman’s eyebrows shot up. Her mouth opened and closed. Before she could give him an answer, another voice sounded

at the doorway. Disappointment settled in him. The voice lacked the hint of huskiness to Noelle’s tone. “Who is it, Momma?” He assumed the woman was Noelle’s sister, based on the high cheekbones identical to Noelle and Mrs. Williams. She stopped beside her mother and stared at Cole. Recognition flickered in her eyes. “You’re that guy who broke my sister’s heart, aren’t you?” Cole clenched his jaw. Damn, he hadn’t expected an outright attack. But the girl was correct. He ignored her and looked toward Mrs. Williams. After telling her daughter to hush, Noelle’s mother turned to him. “I’m afraid both my girls were born with an attitude I have no control over.” Her smooth face revealed their tiny wrinkles as she smiled. “You mentioned Noelle. I take it you have no idea where she is.” Cole nodded at woman staring at him expectantly. He had a feeling these women knew too much about his guilt in dealing with Noelle. Notepad in hand, he wrote to her. I’m sure you know everything that happened. I’d like to apologize to your daughter and ask her forgiveness. Please tell me if she’s here or not. Would they be cruel and keep him from her? Mrs. Williams seemed reasonable enough. The other one…he didn’t know. She had her arms folded and looked as if she wanted to stab him. He liked her already and would thank her if he could for being on Noelle’s side. “Noelle moved out a long time ago,” the sister blurted, a look of triumph on her face. “I doubt she even remembers your name.” Ouch. The spitfire was out for blood. He hoped she was a liar, too. “Aleah’s right, Cole. Noelle no longer lives here. I’m sorry you came here expecting to see her.” Sorry? Like hell he was going to walk away without finding out where his woman lived. )othing to be sorry about Ma’am. It’s been a pleasure talking to you, but I came here to see )oelle and I’d appreciate your help to at least let her hear me out and decide for herself. Aleah stood on her tiptoes glancing over Mrs. Williams’ shoulder as the woman read his note. He could see the outrage forming on the girl’s face.

“No way. You come here expecting us to help you break my sister’s heart again. You must be out of your mind. Noelle would be better off dating a—” Mrs. Williams spun on her daughter so fast Cole almost missed it. “Will you be quiet? You’re doing a bit too much talking for Noelle.” She looked at Cole and gave him a tiny smile. “Talking too much is another problem I have with my girls. Aleah is right though, I’m not sure it’s the best thing to give you an opening back into Noelle’s life. She was extremely hurt after her visit with you. I’m sorry, Cole.” Fuck. Leaving Copper Mesa without seeing Noelle wasn’t an option. They had been separated far too long because of his stupidity. Cole gazed at Mrs. Williams, placed his hand over his heart and tapped it. Dammit, the woman had to understand that he loved her daughter. I love )oelle. I just want to try and make her happy. He handed the piece of paper to the woman standing in front of him, ignoring the open stare of Noelle’s sister. “I want to do right by my daughter, Cole. You have to understand the position I’m in. Right now, I don’t think it’s best to give you her address. I’m sorry. It was nice to finally meet you, however. I can see how my daughter would fall for you.” She drew the door to a close. Cole stood there in shock. Why hadn’t he suspected she would have moved out? He turned toward the driveway when the door slowly pushed open. Mrs. Williams’ head popped out of the doorway. Cole clenched his fist. She was probably about to warn him from trying to find Noelle. “Foxhead Trail might seem like the best place for someone in your position to sit and contemplate if a life with my daughter is what you truly want.” Foxhead Trail? Cole nodded then waved at the woman before taking off in his truck. Mrs. Williams looked to be in her early fifties. He didn’t expect her to start going crazy so soon. There was only one trail around these parts and it wasn’t called Foxhead. She had to be hinting at something else and if it led him to Noelle, he was damn sure going to find out what the woman meant.

Chapter 'ineteen Noelle stepped out of her car and turned the corner of the icy entryway to her apartment. The spikes of ice jutting from the rooftop and pavement marked this season as one of the harshest winters she had experienced since moving to southern Colorado in her teens. She’d spoken with Mr. Somerset a few days ago during a visit with her parents. The rancher had declared the frigid cold hell on his cattle. When he’d said those words, her mind drifted to Cole and his family. She wondered how the winter was treating their herd of cattle. All thoughts of Cole she had, she kept it to herself, not wanting anyone to know the burly cowboy was still on her mind. She hadn’t made it to the staircase leading to the entrance before she saw him. Like something out a dream, he stood there against the railing, hat in hand, thumbing the curved brim. He was wearing a thick fleece jacket. His brown hair seemed darker than ever, without the glint of the sunrays hitting it. His strong jawline was covered with a thin layer of dark hair. Noelle smiled to herself. He looked good. The facial hair fitted him, especially in wintertime. She almost let loose a full-blown smile that would have given away her emotions. Now he really looked the cuddly bear she’d secretly thought of him, but never would have voiced in a hundred years. Noelle sighed. Those thoughts reflected when they were on good terms, when she and Cole had a relationship and were not just two people drifting about the world in separate directions. Noelle straightened her shoulders and stepped forward. This should be interesting to see what he has to say. “Should I be flattered or terrified that you found me?” She stopped below the staircase, gazing up at him before climbing the distance to meet him. He gave a crooked smile. Noelle pursed her lips and arched a brow. She needed answers, not smiles meant to placate her. “What are you doing here?” His eyes coursed over her entire frame, concealed in the wool coat. “Nothing’s changed, Cole. I still look the same and act the same. Same shitty past. Nothing’s changed. So I ask again, why are you standing in front of my apartment?”

“I’m sorry, beauty. I’m so sorry.” He stretched out a cold hand, touching her face. Noelle flinched and pulled away from him. His hand fell to his sides, then he lifted them and signed, “Do you hate me?” “Yes and no. I hate how easily it was for you to get rid of me. I hate that you were bothered by my past when you should have been able to look past it within a split second if you cared about me. I hate that I don’t know what you feel for me. But do I hate you as a person? No. I don’t hate anyone,” she added, to make her words appear neutral. He nodded slowly, a slight look of embarrassment cutting across his face. “Can I write to you?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the notepad and a pen. “I have more to say. Things I need to have you understand.” Her anger waned somewhat. She had forgotten how vulnerable he could be sometimes underneath all that masculinity. “Of course you can write to me.” Like a lightning bolt, the pen flashed across the notepad as he jotted down each word. Finally he handed the paper to her. Noelle read each word, a hand on her throat, smoothing the clog from her heart that was bounding upward. )oelle. He wrote her name again. )oelle. I wish I could say your name. I’d say it every chance I got to remind you how sorry I am for ruining what we had. I’d say it everyday when I get up to work, reminding myself of my reason for living. I know it’s not an excuse, but I was trying to save you from me. I love you so fucking much )oelle, my beauty. So much that I didn’t want you to be stuck with a no good cowboy, barely holding on to his livelihood and a family to support. You deserve better. I told you to go because I thought I was sparing you from all the struggles we’d have to go through. It was never about your past…not in the long run. I was an idiot for my reaction and it makes me feel ashamed knowing how badly I hurt you. If you read this far, without throwing the paper in the snow, I want you to know I still don’t have much to offer in terms of money, but I will work my ass off to keep you warm and comfortable. I’m not asking for you to say you love me in return; I only want you to know that whether or not you decide to open your heart to me again, I’ll always love you. I can’t stop. I wouldn’t know how to stop, beauty.

Noelle wiped away a tear before the next one fell, completely wetting the spot where he signed his name. She should hate him. Slap him across the face for rejecting her love, but how could she? Not once had she ever told him ‘I love you’. She had lain with him, scorned him, railed at him and shouted her hatred, but the three most important words she should have said went unspoken. Noelle glanced at him. She saw the uncertainty and fear in his eyes. Her heart blossomed with love. He was no longer closed off from her. She could read into those gorgeous dark eyes and see into her man’s soul. “You love me?” She wanted to see it in his eye when he answered. He unzipped his jacket, held her gloved hands between his big palms and brought it to his chest, over his heart. I. Love. You, he mouthed. A tear rolled down her cheek at his silent declaration. She knew he must have practiced how to form each word in his mirror. Wiping away the wetness, Noelle pressed her head to his solid chest and held it there, his large hands smoothing along her back. She loved him so much and by some miracle she had him again. Noelle raised her head, stood on her tiptoes and brought her lips to his. How she missed his taste on her tongue. She wanted more of him, but in this moment, out in open, a kiss was the ultimate gift. When the kiss ended, Noelle took his hands and placed it above her heart, in the same fashion he had done. “I love you.” She held up her right hand and signed the words as well. His chest rose and his eyes closed then open, blazing with intensity. Suddenly the winter didn’t seem so frigid. “I never thought I’d hear those words from you. Thank you, beauty.” Noelle held his hands and brushed her lips across his knuckles. “Don’t ever thank me for loving you. My heart belongs to you and now I know you belong to me. I can’t do anything but love you, Cole. I had about as much choice in it, as needing air to breathe. When I thought I’d never see you again, I made up my mind to live as best as I could without you.” Noelle swallowed, so thankful she no longer had to be without him. “I didn’t like it, and I thought about you every single day. I always hoped you hadn’t forgotten me. That you hadn’t fallen for the sweet little farm girl I taunted you about. It feels like a

dream with you here. That’s what we should be thankful for. Our second chance. I won’t ever turn my back on you, Cole, not for my family, not for anyone or anything in this world. Can you promise me the same?” “I promise you that and more. I’ll always be on your side. You will be the only woman in my heart.” He lifted his hands to sign something else. Thought better of it and whipped out the notepad once more. His fingers lingered on the paper before handing it to her. )oelle, I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me. Noelle grinned, folded the paper, and put it in her pocket. Amazing how she felt so much lighter as if she would flutter away with joy because of him. She never wanted her happiness to be dependent on anyone else, but it was and she knew it was the same for him. They were each half of a whole, needing the other with the same intensity and splendid passion. Reaching for her keys, Noelle smiled while looking up at him. “No less than sixty years, cowboy. Anything below that and I’ll consider it a breaking of your promise.” His arms came around her waist as soon as they entered the apartment, his large boot kicking the front door closed. Sighing in bliss, Noelle leaned into him cherishing the feel of his warm lips on her neck, the woodsy scent of him she had missed so much. This she could definitely get used to for the rest of their lives.

Epilogue Noelle still hated to count the days, but today was different. It was exactly seven months to the day that they were married in the small church ceremony, nine months and five days since she had moved onto the Tumbling Y Ranch inside the guesthouse that was currently being remodeled and extended. While she was elated by the many blessings that came her way over the past two years, Noelle was overjoyed for Cole even more. Today marked the day the Tumbling Y, belonged solely and without a cent of debt to Cole. After their reunion in January, they’d spent the next two days locked inside her apartment making love until her legs became numb and she lost count of the numerous orgasms. Cole hadn’t minded in the least of her dilemma, insisting the bed was the best place for her anyway. When they’d finally decide to rejoin the rest of humanity, Cole returned to his family’s ranch out of necessity and Noelle made a visit to her parents’ home informing them of her relationship with Cole and that this time it was forever, regardless of what they thought. It came as no surprise that her mother supported the union. The biggest shock had been her father’s quiet acceptance, simply stating that he wished her happiness and perhaps she just might find it with the ‘ranch hand’. She knew he hadn’t meant it in a derogatory way, but nevertheless it irked her to no end. In the months leading up to their wedding, her father’s attitude toward their relationship shifted. Perhaps he saw and felt the love Cole had for her. She didn’t know, didn’t really care. It was nice to have him treat Cole with the respect he deserved. A few weeks before the wedding, her mother showed up at the ranch unexpectedly, a stack of papers in hand. For a second Noelle wondered if things were falling into reverse and her mother wanted to use her as an assistant once more. Naturally Noelle had been stunned when her mom broke down and explained what the paper work was, the same ones she’d seen her working on that night a year ago. Money they had set aside for each daughter to be available after reaching the age of twenty-one. Her mother confessed that Aleah had received hers years ago, while they had been on the fence about handing over such a large sum of money to their eldest. Noelle looked at the manila envelope in her hand. Her first instinct had been to refuse the money but she thought of all the good

that would come out of it, swallowing her resentment for the sake of Cole and their future. At the time he’d been making preparations along with his parents to sell the ranch because of the loss of profit. The money was a substantial amount, but not enough to cancel all the McKinney debt. The money gave them the boost and desire needed to give it one more shot and with Cole’s unwavering hard work, the Tumbling Y would be home to all future generation of McKinney’s. Well, she hoped so at least. Noelle looked down at her stomach. There wasn’t a child growing within her. With each passing day and her love for Cole ever mounting, she wanted to feel his child inside her. Noelle glanced out the window. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Her heart stirred. Above all else, she wanted Cole, her silent cowboy and the only man she would devote her love and life to. His head dipped, lowering to meet her eyes from the kitchen window. Noelle blushed. Damn. He always knew when she was watching him, no matter the distance. His gaze lingered on her breasts then lifted. Her cunt watered with anticipation She knew that look in his eyes. When the door opened, Noelle bit back a squeal. Her husband was magnificent. If she didn’t know how sweet and gentle he could be, she’d be running for cover at the thought of that letting such a giant of a man anywhere near her body, much less between her thighs. “The Release of Lien came.” She held up the envelope, ignoring the slow heat spreading across her lower belly. Cole nodded without the slightest interest in the paper. His gaze centered on her face. “Put it down.” She laid it on the countertop. “What do you want?” she asked softly. His big hand lifted to capture a lock of hair she had recently braided. His other hand went to her breasts, fondling the tingling flesh beneath her t-shirt. Noelle bit her lips. His erection was straining against his jeans. She looked over at the clock. His mother wouldn’t arrive for another thirty minutes to have their weekly lunch. She caressed the front of his pants. “You left before I woke up this morning.” He tilted his head back and pushed his cock into her hands. “I did.”

She opened the zipper and slid her fingers into the flap of his briefs, stroking her fingertip along the length. Her hand delved deeper, teasing his testicles. She traced her lips across his chest. “Show me what you want, sweetheart. I’ll do anything for you.” Cole closed a hand over her shoulder and urged her down between his legs. Kneeling before him, Noelle watched, her eyes moist and pussy throbbing as Cole reached into his underwear, not bothering to remove his clothes. His cock bobbed free, the broad bulbous tip shiny with pre-cum. His cock rose proudly in front of her face. Noelle let out a small moan when he adjusted the opening and lifted his sac, releasing them from their confine. Noelle arched her back and straightened her neck to gain added height as Cole fisted his shaft and slid the slickened head across her lips. Smiling down at her, he pulled back an inch and lightly slapped it across her cheek. Noelle felt her cunt tighten as he took hold of a handful of her braids and brought her head forward, pushing his prick between her lips. Noelle remained still, allowing him to control the movement. She didn’t mind. Her husband loved being inside her mouth and she knew how much he enjoyed simply fucking her mouth. He had been shy to admit the preference, fearing she’d take it to mean he no longer wished to feel her lips drawing and suckling on his penis. Noelle gripped his rock hard thighs and moaned low in her throat as the tip hit the back of her throat before he withdrew, thrusting in and out, using her mouth. She glanced up at him, noted the way his nostrils flared and is chest heaved with his each powerful jerk of his hips toward her face. He looked down at her, eyes flashing and wound the hair tighter about his fist, allowing her no movement except to take what he gave. She was positively dripping. Noelle could feel the juices sliding down her inner thighs. Oh God, she was coming. Noelle mewled in the back of throat. Cole, triggered by the sound, tugged on her hair and pumped faster into her mouth, shoving his prick into the turn of her throat. And then she felt it. He held her face to his groin, the pubic hairs grazing the skin on her face, but she loved it. Loved the power he had over her during this act. He kept fucking, slowing his thrusts to match each spurt of cum that spewed from the head into her parched throat. When the last burst of semen trickled from the tip,

he withdrew and held the shaft in his hands, staring at his twitching member. “There’s more?” He nodded and wrapped his hand below the rim, giving her access to the luscious cockhead, red and glistening with milky splotches of semen trickling from the slit. Noelle stuck out her tongue and licked it off before it slid onto his hand. She pulled the cockhead into her mouth and sucked hard, her fingers stroking his testicles, suckling the last drops of cum. Cole helped her off the ground. Noelle eyes his cock with a tinge of regret. With only minutes to spare she had to clean up and meet his mother. There was no time for him to climb on top of her and fuck. She wouldn’t have the pleasure of spending the day wet with his seed, wondering if it would take root. “What’s wrong?” Noelle shook her head, feeling silly and childish. “I wanted us to make love,” she admitted. A shadow fell across his face. “I shouldn’t have—” She instantly cut him off. “No. I wanted that. I mean, I love doing that with you. I just wanted…” They had discussed it and agreed to her stopping the pill, but he didn’t know how badly the thought of carrying his child was burrowing its way into her heart. “Talk to me, beauty. What do you want?” “I want us to have a child together. Soon.” His eyes widened and Noelle regretted opening her mouth. It was obvious he hadn’t taken it seriously when they discussed it a month ago. “You really want to have my child? Are you sure about this? What if the kid is like me, unable to speak?” Noelle flattened her palm to his chest. “I won’t care. I’ll love any child we have together.” “You don’t think they’ll be embarrassed about their father? I’m terrified of that, beauty.” “They won’t care. Not when they’ll be too busy admiring you.” She swallowed hard and kissed his neck. “The way I admire everything about you, husband.” His arms tightened about her and before Noelle knew what was happening, she felt herself being lifted. Cole scooped her up in his arms and strode into the living room. His lips touched her throat as

he brought her down on his rampant cock. I love you, he mouthed, ever silent. Noelle locked her arms around his neck and repeated the words. His eyes seared into hers. Her back arched and Noelle cried out her need, cleaving to her husband as the minutes ticked away. Everything beyond her husband could wait. He was her life, her everything… and she would deny him nothing.

The End

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Other Books by Delilah Hunt: Tempting Mr. Parker Indecent Encounters Riding the Storm

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