It's In His Forever (A Red River Valley Novel Book 5) Read online

  A powerful orgasm barreled through her, and she shattered into a million little pieces. “Oh, God,” she breathed out as she soared above the clouds. Her insides convulsed around his fingers as she fought to draw air into her locked lungs. “How…” she panted out. “How do you do that to me?”

  When the last trembles of bliss subsided, he wrapped her up in his arms. “It’s just the way it’s always been between us, don’t you think? So good that there is no rational explanation.”

  She nodded, her breathing still rushed and irregular. Her pulse still racing like mad.

  “After all these years, it’s how I know we’re meant to be. If we weren’t, the magic, as you put it, would’ve worn off already.” He placed a kiss in her hair.

  A whine came from the door.

  “Hey there, Zeus,” she greeted the gigantic dog, and he trotted to the tub.

  “I think he’s glad to see me.” She scratched behind his ear, and he licked warm water off her forearm.

  “Mine, Zeus.” Langston brought her wrist to his lips and feathered kisses along the inside.

  Desire sprang to life again and shimmied through her.

  “Zeus,” Langston said between kisses. “Laundry room. Now, boy.”

  Zeus whined and trotted out of the bathroom.

  “Good boy.” Sandra turned in Langston’s arms, giving him a naughty smile. “And I’m not talking about the dog.” She trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down his neck, over his collarbone, and across his hard pecs to the water’s edge. She straddled him, his hard length pulsing at her entrance. “You deserve a treat.”

  His greedy stare cut through the water’s misty steam, and he molded both palms over her breasts. “You already owe me for breaking up with me.” Raising up, his hot mouth closed around a nipple and he suckled it into a hard mound.

  She cried out.

  “Now I’ve earned a treat, too?” He chuckled against her nipple, then circled the tip with his tongue. “Your list of debts is growing.” He moved to the other breast and did the same.

  She was lost in the pleasure. “Then we better get started.” With one fluid movement, she sank onto him, encasing his silky steel like a sheath.

  He bit off a curse word, his jaw twitching.

  She braced her palms against his chest, slowly, lifted until she was at his tip, circled her hips, then plunged down on him again.

  That time he couldn’t hold back the words. “That’s so damn good, babe.”

  He filled her so completely, so perfectly, that her breathing grew ragged as she did the same thing once, twice. Over and over, finding a rhythm that made every nerve ending hum with electricity.

  His fingers dug into the cheeks of her ass, the sting so sweet that it made her want to weep, as he guided her up and down his length.

  As she made love to him and clutched at his shoulders, his muscled chest moved under her touch. Shifting and tensing, his skin hot and sleek with moisture. Droplets of water starred his beautiful lashes.

  “Oh,” she whimpered. “I’m close, Langston.”

  “That’s it, babe.” One set of fingers dug deeper into her butt and the other found her clit and rubbed. He increased the speed of their rhythm, water sloshing over the sides of the tub.

  He was so big, so skilled that it didn’t take long for another explosive orgasm to overtake her. He took her mouth with his in a white-hot kiss as he found his release, too, his flesh pulsing inside of her until she thought she’d scream.

  She wrapped her arms around his head and buried her face in his hair.

  They stayed like that for a long time. Sandra wasn’t sure how long. Minutes? Hours? All she knew is that she wanted to spend a lifetime with him, just like this, in his arms.

  In his forever.

  Finally, Langston had to be the one to break the spell. “The water’s getting cold.” His fingers caressed up and down her spine, making it tingle.

  She leaned back and brushed a damp curl off his forehead. “How about we get in bed, and I’ll pay off another debt on my list?”

  With quick, powerful movements that had water splashing out of the tub, Langston stood up and hauled her with him, sweeping her up into his arms. He stepped out of the tub. “Best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”

  Without drying off, they went to bed, and she gave him that treat. Then he rode her fast and hard until they both were satiated and complete.

  Afterwards, he flipped onto his back and pulled her against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her cheek was the most wonderful thing she’d ever felt. Sure, they’d slept in that position many, many times. But today. Today was the start of something special. The beginning of something much better than they’d had in the past.

  She didn’t have to hide her feelings for him anymore. Didn’t have to pretend to be interested in other men, just to distract others from the truth.

  He stroked her hair. “I knew you really didn’t mean it when you said you didn’t love me, didn’t want me.”

  Her mouth turned to cotton, and her throat closed against the pain she’d caused him. Caused both of them. She nodded against his chest, unable to speak.

  He folded an arm under his head, and kept stroking her hair from the top all the way to the ends of her long wavy locks.

  Each stroke lulled her deeper and deeper into a dreamy state of bliss. She traced the lines of his firm stomach with the tip of an index finger.

  He placed a soft, loving kiss on the top of her head. “After all the years I’ve waited, I knew you wouldn’t stab me in the heart.” He snorted. “I’m embarrassed to admit it, but when you broke up with me, I had visions of you skipping town. Leaving me flat, like your father did you.”

  Her lungs stopped working, and her hand stilled against his chest.

  “But I knew you didn’t have it in you to be so cruel. That’s not who you are.” His arms circled her, and he held her close. “I guess I was just scared. My life has worked out pretty well so far, except for not being able to have a normal relationship with you. Deep down, I didn’t want to believe that this…” He waggled a finger back and forth between them, then went back to holding her. “This was what I wanted most in life, but it might be the one thing that wouldn’t work out for me. I was scared to face the heartbreak. I’m a dude. We’re not good with that sort of thing. I’m so sorry I doubted you, Sans.”

  Oh. Dear Lord. What had she done? Skipping town was exactly what she’d planned. Sure, for the right reasons, unlike her father. Her plan was to help Langston by leaving Red River, not to throw him under the bus.

  For the first time, she let herself fully see the situation through his eyes.

  It wasn’t pretty. What he’d just revealed, told her that her plan to leave town…leave him, was going to hurt him even more than she’d thought. It had been unfair. Unwise.

  Unforgiveable.

  She squeezed her eyes shut to block out the truth.

  Unfortunately, she’d proven herself right. He deserved better than her. He just didn’t see it yet. He would, though, as soon as she found the right time to tell him everything.

  Chapter Seven

  Later that afternoon, they stepped into Cotton Eyed Joe’s. Since it was between the lunch rush and dinner hour, the place wasn’t crowded, but the tables and booths that were filled with customers stilled. Stared.

  And Sandra stiffened into a plank of wood at his side.

  Langston knew right away the customers were mostly locals. Wasn’t hard to spot the tourists. In the winter, they were either on the slopes or walking along Main Street in full-on ski or snowboarding gear. Plus, in a town the size of Red River, everybody knew one another.

  He placed a hand at the small of Sandra’s back and followed the hostess. Besides the peanut shells crunching under their all-weather boots, the place was silent. Which was why the whispers that started as they crossed the room were so much more noticeable than he’d ever remembered.

  Sandra tensed under the palm of his
hand, but kept her chin lifted. Only the slight quiver of her bottom lip gave away the anxiety that must’ve been racing through her.

  For the first time, he realized just how awful it must’ve been for Sandra for so many years. The pressure. The shame. Sure, he’d always known she’d had a rough road to travel after her father let her take the blame for his addiction and all the bad things he’d done to support his drug problem. But this? This was different than he’d imagined. The stares and whispers had him wanting to pull at his collar and go hide in a corner.

  Which was the reason he had to put a stop to it once and for all.

  The coldness of guilt and regret slid through his veins, turning him to ice.

  No more.

  It ended today, and anyone who had a problem with Sandra could speak to him personally. Anyone who wanted to hurt her with words or actions could answer to him personally, too.

  He increased the pressure at the small of her back to offer some comfort as they followed the hostess.

  Sandra shot a nervous glance at him, and he nodded to communicate his support. She wasn’t going to be alone in life ever again. He would always be there for her, no matter what.

  The hostess led them past the tables and booths that lined the wall, heading toward the back of the large room.

  Depending on the day and hour, the town’s famed watering hole was more of a restaurant slash saloon slash dance hall, where everybody gathered to eat, drink, and catch up on gossip. Gossip was common in small towns. Hell, it was common among humans regardless of the community’s population, but in a close-knit place like Red River, gossip was practically an art.

  Langston needed to make sure Sandra was no longer the topic of negative conversation.

  The hostess led them to a booth against the far wall, putting distance between them and most of the other patrons.

  “Actually…” He pulled his phone from his pocket and pretended to read a text. “Others are joining us. Can we sit over there?” He pointed to a table for eight in the center of the room, where everyone could see them. Where they’d be the center of attention.

  Sandra’s eyes rounded.

  He gave her a reassuring wink. “Let me get a headcount.” He fired off an emergency text to all of his friends with very little explanation. Not much was needed. His friends would be there for him, with no questions asked, so his message simply said SOS, meet me and my girl Sandra Edwards at Joe’s. Need to stop the wagging tongues. They’d probably be just as surprised as the rest of Red River, but they wouldn’t show it. He was sure of that much. “That table should work for us, but if we need more seats, we can push two tables together.” He stuffed the phone into his pocket and grinned at the hostess, sending a clear message that his request was non-negotiable.

  The hostess seated them and left menus around the table.

  “Who’s coming?” Sandra whispered.

  Langston leaned over so his lips were a breath from hers. “I don’t know exactly, but there’s power in numbers. When people in my inner circle show their support, it will scare off the gossipers.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. Mainly to show the world that she was his, but also because he was so damn relieved they weren’t hiding anymore.

  When he broke the kiss and looked over her shoulder, more heads had turned, and more murmurs had rounded the room.

  “I don’t know who you texted or what you said to them, but are you sure they’ll show if you’re with me?” Her eyes darted around the room, and she fidgeted with her napkin.

  He let out a sigh that was laced with sadness. Sadness for all she’d obviously suffered without him fully realizing how bad it must’ve been for her. “I’m certain of it.” Gently, he grasped a lock of her beautiful hair and fingered it. It was so soft against his callused fingertips. Just like her. Yet she’d always had to be so tough, so thick skinned just to survive. “You’re one of us now. You should’ve been from the beginning, but I let the charade continue far too long. Now that we’re out in the open as a couple, my friends won’t let you down. They’ll put their support behind us.”

  Her mouth curved into a reluctant smile that said she wasn’t entirely convinced. “I’ve given most of them a reason to dislike me at some point or another.”

  Langston nodded. “I know.” She’d flirted with all of his friends before they married, just for show. To throw people off so her relationship with Langston could stay off the grid. If they only knew, he was the only person she’d ever been with. “Doesn’t matter. We’re together, and the past is in the past.” He knew his friends would agree because each one of them had faced their own demons and had come out on the other side stronger. Happier.

  Most importantly, they’d each found love in the process, so he was certain they’d offer their acceptance of Sandra without reservation because he’d done the same for them.

  The front door swung open, and in walked Doc Holloway and his wife, Angelique—Red River’s brilliant legal mind who attracted business from all over the state. Angelique gave Sandra a peck on the cheek, as though they were long lost friends, before they took seats across the table.

  At the friendly greeting, Sandra seemed to relax a little.

  “I don’t know if you texted Coop and Ella, but they’re out of town,” Angelique said, placing a napkin in her lap.

  Langston nodded. He’d been able to slide into the safety officer’s position, spend more time with Sandra, and chip away at her stubbornness because of Cooper Wells’ accident.

  Doc Holloway spoke up. While his nickname made him sound like a little old man, Blake Holloway was about the same age as the rest of the group. “There isn’t an orthopedic surgeon in this area who can handle a break as bad as Coop’s. It’s going to be a long road to recovery.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Sandra said, her voice wavering.

  “Thanks for coming,” Langston said. The Holloways and the Wells hadn’t grown up in Red River, but they were trusted friends all the same.

  “Sure thing.” Angelique winked.

  “Any time,” Doc Holloway said. “I’m going to get my order to go, though.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got a patient in twenty minutes.”

  With another swing of the door, Talmadge Oaks—hometown kid who grew up to become a leader in green architecture—and his wife, Miranda, walked in and marched straight over to Sandra to give her a hug.

  “I’m starved,” said Miranda as she claimed a seat, her volume turned up unusually high. High enough for most of the other customers to hear. “I missed lunch because the phone at the inn hasn’t stopped ringing, thanks to Sandra. The snowboarding championship is bringing so much extra tourism to town this season, it’s going to be the best year I’ve had since I bought the Bea in the Bonnet Inn.” Miranda perused the menu.

  Langston knew the second Sandra figured out that his text message to his friends hadn’t just been a casual invitation to lunch. It was meant to send a message to the entire town.

  Her head slowly turned, and her eyes looked into his. Those beautiful big eyes glistened with moisture under the overhead lights.

  With an arm still draped around the back of her chair, he smiled back and caressed her shoulder with his fingertips. “It’s what we do,” he whispered with a shrug. It was called friendship. And another pang of regret pierced his chest, as though someone was stabbing him in the heart with an icepick. Sandra didn’t have real friends, except him, because she’d kept everyone else at a distance.

  The last couple to walk through the front door was his sister, Lorenda, and her husband, Mitchell. Lorenda hugged Sandra and tousled Langston’s hair like he was a kid, then she and Mitchell occupied the last two vacant chairs.

  Miranda didn’t look up from her menu. “The key is to not let them win,” she said low enough so only their table could hear. “Show them who’s boss, and they’ll respect you for it.”

  And that was why he loved this group of people. They didn’t know the details, and they didn’t care to know. All
they cared about was helping each other the way true friends should.

  The old saying that when a person gets to the end of their days, they’re lucky if they have a handful of tried and true friends who’ve stuck with them through the shitstorm called life…

  Well, this was Langston’s handful of friends, and now they were obviously Sandra’s, too.

  “I…” Sandra looked around, as though she was making sure no one was listening. In a low voice, she said, “I’ve been trying to earn my way back into their good graces for years by working hard. Hasn’t worked so far.”

  Langston was determined to change that, especially now that they could actually have a real relationship out in the open. A real future together as a couple.

  Angelique studied her menu, too. “Without breaking client-attorney privilege, want to know what I’ve learned by practicing law in a small town?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Everybody has a secret. Small towns are like soap operas.”

  Mitchell nodded. “True. You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff I’ve seen since I became deputy sheriff.”

  Lorenda spoke up. “You can’t make up some of the stuff that’s gone down in this town.” She cuddled into Mitchell’s side. “I should know. I married the town bad boy, but it worked out well for me. And ask me if I care what anyone else thinks.”

  The server interrupted them long enough to take their orders.

  When they were alone again, Langston said, “I think what they’re trying to say is, take charge of your life. Stop giving others power over you.” His fingers tightened around her shoulder. He wanted Sandra to finally stop living in the shadows, but more importantly, he wanted her to want that for herself. For them as a couple. He’d been trying to tell her as much for a long time. Now that he’d outed them, maybe she’d finally listen. “People are the same, no matter where you go or where you live.”

  Tension rippled through her, and she let out a small gasp.