De La Fuente Family: Love in Montana Part 11

She tried to tug her hand free, but he held tight and met her gaze. She turned away and didn't want to make a scene. It was only a cell, right? Everybody had them, but when he tugged on her hand to pull her to him, she noticed the frown marring his brow.

"I'm sorry, I got distracted." He sighed. "My dad just sent me a text asking about my brother, Aiden. He went home for a break and Dad is worried about him. He must be to be messaging me. He never messages." He released her hand, but used his arm to wrap around her shoulders to pull her into the curve of his body.

Her arms slipped beneath his jacket and around his waist, as she rested her head on his chest. She heard his deep sigh as he held her close and kissed the top of her head. "Thank you."

Sylvia tilted her face up to look at him and softly smiled. "I haven't done anything."

"You're here with me, in my arms offering comfort. I like you this close." He dropped his cell into his jacket pocket. "I'll call my father later to find out what's going on."

"You can call him now if you need to. I don't mind."

"No. My father is obviously concerned because Aiden has always been the wild one. I just think Aiden needs a break after years of going after what he wanted, and always being on the road. He doesn't have anywhere permanent, and he's tired." He smiled at her rea.s.suringly, but Sylvia could see the worry in his eyes.

Until the past week, she always put Eric down as being a total bada.s.s, but in actual fact, he was a sweet guy. Not that she'd ever tell him her thoughts. Once he'd made up his mind to spend more time with her, his whole att.i.tude changed. And she loved how he just wanted her close all the time. She only hoped that he'd still want that once they were back in Lexington because it would break her heart otherwise.

"Our table's ready," he whispered, and loosened his hold around her.

Their hands entwined as the matre d' led them to a lovely booth set for two with a window behind them as they seated.

Once they were seated and their food had been ordered, Eric removed his jacket and laid it next to him in the booth. Sylvia loved the dark green, soft knit, long-sleeved s.h.i.+rt that he wore. It nearly matched his eyes. It was so soft to the touch that she found her hand wandering over his stomach. It quivered under her palm before a groan left his mouth.

"You need to watch where that hand is going," he mumbled, his voice husky as he covered her hand, and held it against him. "I always want you, Sylvia, but you make me hard as f.u.c.k when you touch me." He moved her hand lower and dragged her palm over his heavy erection.

She couldn't hold her gasp of surprise inside and tightened her fingers around his rapidly growing girth. Eric chuckled, but it ended on a hiss.

He placed her hand into her own lap and let out a heavy sigh. "The things you do to me, and the ideas you give me."

"Mmm, do tell."

He chuckled. "Not while we can't do any of them."

After they'd eaten, coffee and mints were brought to their table. She was relieved that their evening out together hadn't come to an end too early. Although, her fingers twitched to unzip his pants so that she could touch his naked flesh and finish what she started not too long ago, she enjoyed the quiet meal they'd eaten.

Those other thoughts, the ones of having him spread out on a bed for her to ravage, needed to stay buried while she was sitting in the restaurant. He was right, because the images in her head made her squirm where she sat. Her panties were wet with arousal. Sylvia was tempted to tease him and let him know just how much he aroused her, but thought better of it as his arousal would be seen by all.

"Are you really going to come to Thanksgiving dinner with me in Montana?" Eric asked, breaking into her naughty thoughts as an uncertain look crossed his face while he waited for her answer.

"If you really want me there."

He sighed. "Sylvia, I would love it if you came to Montana with me for Thanksgiving." He smiled. "That is your official invitation."

"I'd love too." She leaned in and met his lips for a soft kiss. "I can't wait to meet the rest of your family," she whispered against his lips.

Instead of tasting him again, she decided it was better to leave the touching and tasting until they were back at Dante's place. She stayed close though.

"My family is...boisterous for want of a better word, especially when we all get together. I love family time and over the years, I've missed more than my fair share of holiday meals, which is why I promised to be there this year." He leaned back and took her with him, so she could settle against his chest.

There was no decent place to put her hand so she settled for his belly as she snuggled closer.

With her belly full of food, and the candlelight flickering on the table, she felt ready for sleep. She loved sleeping with her head on Eric's chest, except in the restaurant they had too many clothes on.

"Tell me about your father. What does he do for a living?" she asked, trying to keep herself awake.

"Horses. He breeds, boards, trains, and anything else you might think of to do with a horse farm."

"So you know your way around horses then? They scare the bejesus outta me."

"There used to be one horse on the farm that kept everyone away, including my father."

"Why do I get the feeling you got up to no good?" she asked as she slid her fingers over the soft knit of the s.h.i.+rt. She loved touching him.

"You obviously know me well."

"I know you like compet.i.tion. You probably had to fight tooth and nail while growing up with all your brothers."

"Maybe, but let me get back to my story."

"Okay." She smoothed her hand over his stomach and let it rest against his hip.

"So, this horse would watch everyone approach and knew we were either there to feed him or ride him. On this particular day there was a lot of distraction with a large delivery of hay, so I took the opportunity to sneak away. I must have been about ten at the time. Anyway, I approached the horse and was surprised when he didn't flinch or start to react like he normally would. So that gave me courage to get closer, and closer still. Eventually, I was standing beside him stroking his neck, and rubbing his nose and head. He allowed me to hand feed him some apples."

Sylvia stayed quiet and waited, wanting to know what happened to the horse he'd obviously made friends with.

"Unbeknown to me, my father had realized I was missing and knew exactly where I'd gone, and he watched me from behind a tree. After I'd given the horse another piece of apple he sensed my father, which is when I spotted him. The horse started to make a lot of noise and ran. For the next twelve years, I was the only one who could go near him, or ride him."

She sensed Eric's sadness now that he'd told her his childhood memory. Although if he was ten and he looked after the horse for twelve years, he'd have been a young man when it all ended. At least, she presumed it ended. "What happened to him?" She needed to know the full story.

"He got sick, and there was nothing the vet could do. He'd had a good life with me, and although it broke my heart to have him leave me, I knew he'd no longer suffer. He was old for a horse, thirty-one, and he'd lived a hard neglected life before my father brought him home. At least those last twelve years had been good ones."

She smiled against his chest, fighting back tears. "What did you name him?"

"Devil," he whispered.

They stayed quiet, both lost in thought for a few minutes, before Eric stated, "Way to kill the mood, huh?"

Sylvia sat up and cupped his face, letting him see the tears swimming in her eyes. "Oh no! Don't say that. I'm touched that you told me about him. You obviously loved him very much. So, thank you." She kissed him.

"I haven't thought about him in a while. I will when I take you home with me, because there are pictures of him up all over the house."

"So you haven't been kicked out of your bedroom at your father's house yet, huh? How old are you again?" she teased.

"Too old for you, but I don't give a s.h.i.+t about that. You'll just have to deal with it."

"Age doesn't bother me."

"Mmm, and yes, I still have my own s.p.a.ce at the farm. We all do. Lucia and my father had three extra bedrooms built onto their home many years ago now. They wanted room to entertain and for my father's business a.s.sociates to stay over, and neither of them would hear anything about using our rooms. I appreciate their sentiment, but don't understand it really. Until I received my discharge from the Marines, I hadn't been home for a few years."

"I think it's sweet that they want to keep your bedrooms there for you if you ever need them. It's to let you know that there will always be a place for you whenever you need it."

Eric looked thoughtful for a few minutes. "I haven't looked at it like that before. But I haven't really given it a lot of thought until now. "

Collecting her purse, Eric gave her a quizzical look. "You had enough talking." He offered her a s.e.xy, take-your-panties-off, grin.

"I think they're wanting to close up for the night."

She watched him glance around and enjoyed looking at him.

His strong jaw that gave her so much pleasure, his eyes that looked at her like no one else ever had, as though she was his world, and just the man himself. His rough and tumble voice gave her goose b.u.mps and made her want a lot more than they currently had together.

Chapter Nineteen.

Eric had been sad to say goodbye to his brother and sister, but he knew he'd be seeing them again soon. He'd started to look forward to going home more than he normally would have done because Sylvia had agreed to go with him.

His relations.h.i.+p with Sylvia had taken him by surprise, but he'd already decided to just go with it instead of running scared. He wanted to be caught, and it made all the difference to his outlook with her.

Which is why he had doubts about working for Sebastian McKenzie in the same building as Sylvia. He didn't want to do anything to jeopardize their relations.h.i.+p by being around her most of the time while they were at work. Sure, it wasn't like he was in the same office, but he would see her off and on all day. So far, albeit day one, she'd seemed excited for him to be there with her.

He was glad, and on his way up to her floor for a meeting with Sebastian, he couldn't wait to see her. She always made his heart ache and even just a smile could make it skip a beat. Her smile would light her whole face and made him feel ten feet tall.

Slipping into her office while she talked on the telephone, he casually leaned against the wall with his ankles crossed, and watched her.

Her blonde hair was pinned to the top of her head in a sleek bun, which made her look professional. The navy blue skirt fit her like a glove, and left nothing of her shape to the imagination. She'd paired this with a pale blue silk s.h.i.+rt, and matching navy high heels.

She finished on the phone as Eric, said, "Beautiful," the word he thought described her best.

Her head turned and there was her smile. She made his knees weak.

"How long have you been standing there? I didn't hear you come in." She moved slowly toward him, and he met her halfway with a hesitant kiss to her cheek.

He had no idea whether or not she'd welcome any intimate contact because it was their place of work, but her smile never faltered.

"I arrived when you were on the telephone, so I waited, and watched you. You are breathtaking."

"You say the sweetest things." She turned on her heel, and indicated with her hand to join her at her desk.

He dropped his b.u.t.t in the chair opposite. "Sebastian is expecting me, but I'd rather sit out here with you."

She smiled. "I doubt either of us would get any work done if you did."

"Work's highly overrated."

She sat back in her chair and watched him, her smile slipping. "Are you really okay working here, Eric? I don't mean because of our relations.h.i.+p, I mean because of what you used to do."

Eric leaned forward and rested his arms loosely on his thighs with his hands clenched into fists on his knees. "I hated it when I received an honorable discharge on medical grounds. I'm still not sure what direction I want to go in, but you make it easier for me to get out of bed every day. You give me purpose and I know, before long, I'll have started something new. Something that I want to do until I retire." Agitated, he got to his feet and crossed to the large window. He felt Sylvia come up behind him as he gazed out over some of the Lexington skyline.

"Oh Eric, I'm sorry. I had no idea you were so torn." She placed her hand on his back.

He turned to face her. "There's no reason why you would? I'm okay, really, and I'm lucky that I don't have to make an immediate decision. If Sebastian wasn't family, then I'm not sure I would have accepted, even though it's only temporary."

"Well, you have me to help you. I hope you know that."

"I do."

"My brother, Kane," Sylvia started, "he was wounded overseas while serving with the Marines, and he came back a different man than when he left home after receiving a medical discharge. He was trained to fight and didn't know how to do anything else. It took him awhile, but he eventually applied to the police force, and then the SWAT team. He's happily married, and they've given me a beautiful niece...I'm telling you this because you might be feeling lost right now, but I want you to know there's something out there for you."

"Thank you." He pulled her into his arms for a hug.

Sylvia moved out of his arms after a quick kiss, and sat back behind her desk. He had really wanted to keep her with him in his arms. He knew that couldn't happen while they were at work. Didn't stop his mind from going there, though. He'd been left with blue b.a.l.l.s that morning after they woken and realized they'd overslept. It had been a mad dash to get out the door.

"Everything okay out here?" Sebastian asked.

Eric swung his attention to his cousin, having forgotten the reason he'd come up to the office to begin with.

"It's fine."

"Sylvia?" Sebastian queried, still glancing between them.

"Everything is fine, just go and have your meeting." She smiled.

Two hours after his meeting finished with Sebastian, and he was still hard as f.u.c.k. His libido had relaxed when he was having the meeting, but afterwards, Sylvia had played havoc on him. He'd walked out of his cousin's office to find Sylvia bent over the front of her desk as she reached for a bunch of paperwork. Her skirt had been pulled over her curvy a.s.s like a second skin, and his mind had gone straight to f.u.c.king her just like that with her skirt shoved up around her waist. So yeah, he was h.o.r.n.y as h.e.l.l with that image and it had plagued him all afternoon.

He'd battled with calling her, but eventually his frustration had won out, and he'd called.

She was on her way down thinking that he needed to ask her something face-to-face. Little did she know that he planned to grab her the minute she walked through his office door, and f.u.c.k the life out of her over his desk.

The more he thought about it, the harder he got to the point that his d.i.c.k was ready to punch through his pants. He needed to control the urge for a few more minutes until she stood before him, just in case someone else walked in. That last thought snapped his eyes open as they landed on the lock at the door. It would be bolted. He sure as h.e.l.l wasn't going to chance anyone using a key to get in once he'd locked the f.u.c.ker.

His attention snagged on the click of heels that he could hear as the woman walked toward his office, the noise getting louder the closer they got. There was a tentative knock on his door before her beautiful blonde head popped around the corner.

Eric wasted no time as he tugged her into his office and slid the bolt shut with a satisfying click...no one was going to interrupt his enjoyment of this woman. Her gasp of surprise was caught in his mouth as he sealed them together with near desperation.