Under the Cowboy's Control

At lunch the next day, Travis ate slowly and watched Selena pick at her food and blush every few seconds. She had acted differently at breakfast, also. Sneaking peaks at him and trembling slightly.

He knew she was thinking of the episode in the barn, and wondered what tomorrow would bring. Because of what had happened between them, he knew she wasn't dreading it. Far from it, she was with him a hundred percent.

"I'm sorry I couldn't take the time away from the ranch right now for us to go on a honeymoon, Selena."

She put her fork down. The idea of a honeymoon hadn't even occurred to her. "It's okay, Travis. I like it here."

"When things settle down, we'll drive to San Antonio and check into a hotel. I'll take you to the Riverwalk. You'll like that." His voice was deep.

She had no idea what the Riverwalk was. She didn't care. He could take her anywhere he wanted. "Yes, that sounds wonderful." Her eyes broke contact with his and she looked down at her plate.

Travis studied her. He wanted some time alone with her now. Alone and naked, or as near as naked as they could get until tomorrow. His mind supplied images of yesterday in the darkened barn. He wanted it again. Soon. It had taken every bit of his willpower to leave her in the bed this morning.

"Why don't you skip the dishes, and go throw on a bathing suit, and I'll take you up to the pond? It's hot enough today, and the water will feel good."

An arrow of excitement shot through Selena. He coached it as a question, but his words were an order. They were going to the pond, and she needed to go get ready. Now. She held his eyes. "Yes, okay."

He pushed back from his chair, and lifted her from hers. "Let's go."

Thirty minutes later, after a quick bath and change of clothes, Selena jumped up into the old farm truck beside Travis. It had an old-fashioned bench seat, and he put her in the middle, right next to him. His hand went to her thigh and held her there as he drove down the dirt farm road.

Selena watched the scenery go by with a heightened sense of anticipation curling through her tummy. "I thought we would ride the h-horse."

Travis briefly took his eyes off the road and glanced down at her. "Yeah, I thought of that." He paused and looked back at the road. "But let's just say I don't want to take any chances with you getting sore."

Selena registered the provocative meaning of his words and a barrage of images hit her brain. She put her hand on top of the one gently caressing her thigh, and touched him sensuously.

Lust slammed through Travis at the delicate touch of her hand, and he wondered how he was even able to keep driving. They were in the middle of nowhere, and he badly wanted to pull over and take her in his arms. He gritted his teeth and kept driving.

Five minutes later, they pulled into a shady copse of mesquite trees, overlooking a pond that sparkled as clear as glass. The floor was rocky, and Selena could see parts of the pond all the way to the bottom. A small flowing stream emptied into it.

Selena was enchanted. "It's beautiful," she said with awe in her voice.

Travis watched her, as she looked at the pond. "Yes, beautiful." His voice was almost hoarse.

Selena turned to him. He was speaking of her and not the pond. She lifted her hand to his face and turned in his arms. "You are beautiful, Travis." Her words were low, and after she said them, shyness consumed her. She couldn't hold his gaze and her eyes dropped from his.

Travis felt her magic all the way to his soul. At that moment, he knew he was roped and tied. Serenity engulfed him, and he lifted her hand and placed a kiss of approval and thanksgiving on her palm.

He turned her hand in his and tugged her from the truck.

A few minutes later, they were sitting on a blanket spread out in the shade, with a small ice chest full of drinks and snacks beside them.

"Let's go swimming." His voice was rough, but he was dying to find out which swimsuit she had on under her shorts and top. He had bought her three, in different styles. A one piece, a two-piece, and a string bikini so tiny his hands had literally shaken when he had clicked on the add to cart button.

He was wearing cut offs already, and pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground. Selena glanced at the half naked man watching her and waiting. His hands were clenching and unclenching at his sides, his biceps bulging. Her insides trembled.

She moved to one side of the blanket and delicately turned her back to him. She toed the Converse off her feet, and lifted her blouse from her head.

Travis sucked in his breath when he saw the little red string tied behind her back.

Surely God couldn't be this good to him. What had he ever done in his godforsaken life that he now deserved this manna from heaven?

His guts clenched in need when she wriggled out of her shorts. He walked up behind her, put his hands on her shoulders, and turned her in his arms. She fit so perfectly, the top of her head coming a few inches below his chin. She was so tiny, and felt so good. His hands moved from her shoulders to her butt and squeezed.

She shivered in his arms.

"Baby, you are so fine. I don't know what the hell I did to deserve you, but I'm not going to argue." His voice was low and modulated. He tilted her face and kissed her softly on the lips, then pushed her a little away from him so he could see her in the string bikini. She was pure feminine curves and sweetness, and he looked his fill, his hands holding her in a possessive grip.