“You might all be my sons, but you’re all unique. Over the years you’ve brought different things to this family, both good and bad to be honest, but I’m glad of it all. It’s made us have to band together, and it’s made us learn. And now that there are others than just blood joining us, each of them brings something special with them as well. Things that can make this family stronger and richer because of who they are.”
Vicki kept her chin in place as Mike met her eyes. She refused to turn away, hardly daring to think what it sounded like was true. That he was asking his family to give her a break.
That she was welcome in their midst…
“So as the head of this part of the Colemans, I’m going to give thanks for us all this year.” Mike raised his glass and everyone scrambled to copy him. “To family. Whatever that looks like. Constantly growing, constantly changing, let’s celebrate our strong roots even as the branches reach in new directions.”
Vicki raised her glass, adding her “to family” more hesitantly than the others around her. Clinking glasses with Joel, with Beth. Turning to the other side and connecting with Travis and others farther down the table.
It was the strangest sensation ever. Like she’d stepped into a warm embrace when she’d expected to be slapped. Joel rested his hand on her thigh and squeezed softly, and her throat tightened a little with the sheer flood of emotion washing over her.
God, what she wouldn’t give for her and Joel to be real. Guilt at pulling a fast one should have shaken her to her core, but all she could think of was how good it felt to experience this at least once in her goddamn life.
Fuck doing the right thing; she ached to have this kind of acceptance.
When she glanced at the head of the table and caught Mike smiling at her, she wasn’t sure what to do. He lifted his glass and nodded briefly, then turned to his right and kissed his wife before loudly announcing it was time for dessert.
Vicki put her glass down and snuck her fingers into Joel’s. His bright smile had a shot of surprise in it, but he didn’t let go until they had to have two hands to deal with the plates of pie being passed along.
What a topsy-turvy day it had been.
Chapter Twelve
It had been two weeks since they’d set up their little deal, and the few times they’d gotten together Joel had made sure they hit the tack room for more practice in the saddle. Between her job and the rush of fall chores, there hadn’t been any more date-dates since the family dinner.
Joel stood at the railing and waited. Vicki examined the currently empty corral as if she expected horses to magically sprout from the ground and overwhelm her.
“If you put one foot in front of the other and keep moving, it works better,” he teased.
Vicki flashed him her middle finger, but she obeyed, stepping to his side. Her reluctant motion gave him plenty of time to look her over, which gave more than enough time for his body to tighten with need.
She still didn’t have proper boots, but the rest of her wardrobe made that detail slip. Her jeans fit just right, low on her hips and tight enough he wanted to lay a hand on her and stroke until she whimpered with pleasure. She’d found a ladies-cut jean jacket somewhere, and the swell of her breasts pressing the material made him happy for things to come. For when he could get more up close and personal with her.
While they had time for the getting-to-like-horses part, Joel was eager to step up the physical side of the equation. Not just because she was sexy enough to melt his brain, but he liked her. Stubborn, feisty—what was there not to like?
He held out his hand and Vicki accepted it, tucking up against his body.
She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. “Hmm, okay, see you should have told me you were starting with this kind of thing. I would have been over here a lot faster.”
“You need to trust me, remember?” He leaned down and kissed her, just because he could.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and responded eagerly, their tongues tangling as a rush of lust poured through his limbs. Her lips were soft under his, but she gave willingly as he demanded more, taking the kiss deeper, a little rougher. Her enthusiastic response, that strange blend of inexperience and fiery passion Vicki seemed to bring to everything she did, set his body on fire.
Joel grabbed her around the ass and lifted her, dragging their bodies together and swallowing her low groan of pleasure.
When he set her on the top railing and moved back a space, she sighed. “Damn, I like kissing you.”
He tugged her forward until she was perched on the rail, more held by his body than anything else. “Good. Because today you get your reward first.”
She eyed their surroundings. “We’re gonna fool around right out in the open? You’re just daring your family to catch us going at something, aren’t you?”
Joel shrugged. “After last Sunday, I don’t think any of them are going to give us shit whatever we do. My dad was pretty plain about that. But honestly, there’s no one around. Everyone said they had things to do in town, so we’re safe.”
Vicki stared at their bodies, at the intimate position with him stepped up close between her spread thighs. “If you say so, but damn if this doesn’t look like a compromising situation.”
She had no idea. “Lift your head up, darling, and let me at those sweet lips.”
Desire rushed between them, and while he longed for skin on skin, this wasn’t a bad place to be. The late-fall sun tried its best, but mainly body heat kept them warm. Vicki opened her mouth as he caught her by the back of the neck. She slipped her tongue along his lower lip then put her teeth to it gently. All the little things he’d done to her the last times they’d kissed, she proved she’d learned damn well.
It was fun, but not where he was going with this lesson. Joel dragged his lips from hers and worked to calm his breathing. “You’re too tempting. Now turn around and stand on the second railing.”
Vicki frowned but with his help squirmed her way into position. “What are you up to, Joel Coleman?”
“Hmmm, you’ll see.” He lowered his hand to her ass and squeezed. “Damn, I guessed right. You’re the perfect height now.”
Her words came out a touch breathless. “Perfect height for what?”
Joel stepped in closer, meshing their bodies together. “A little exploration.”
He took off his hat and hung it on the post next to them. When he tucked his head down along her neckline he didn’t have to concentrate on anything but her. On the way his cock pressed tight to her legs, on the taste of her skin as he licked her neck.
She shivered. “Okay, so far this lesson is going fine.”
“This isn’t the lesson.” He nipped her ear lobe and she squeaked. “Here’s the lesson. You tell me what’s in front of you while I distract you.”
“It’s a contest?” She wiggled her ass, and he was the one to groan in frustration. “I like contests. Love winning even more.”
“Don’t count your chickens ahead of time, darling.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder, their mouths only inches away. “I have to describe what I see? Not very challenging.”
“Best out of three tries,” Joel whispered. “You ready?”
“Do it.” Vicki planted a quick kiss on his cheek before straightening and grabbing the top railing with both hands. She turned to the barn and started. “There’s a fence around a dirt area. I’m standing on the railing, and the ends of the fence are attached to the north and south barn walls.”
“Doing great. Keep going.” Joel took a deep breath. Planted his hands on her hips and moved in for some fun.