For the Love of Dixie (6 page)

Echo

I rode with no particular destination in mind. The miles add up, and the sun begins to sink in the horizon. The needle drifts toward E, so I pull off on a highway exit and stop at the first gas station as I see. I pull in front of the pump and cut the engine. I glance down at my watch, and I’m shocked to see we’ve been driving for about four hours. I turn to face her. “How are you doing, D’Rose? You need a break?”

“Be nice to get something to eat,” she replies almost tentatively.

I want to know what’s going on inside that pretty head of hers. I lean forward and twist a soft curl around my finger.

Her lips quirk up. “Old habits die hard?” she asks.

“Happy you’re not slapping me for it. I didn’t dare try before,” I say honestly.

She glances away, and the awkwardness comes back.

I release the strand and step back. “I’ll fill up, and go check around for a place to bunk down for the night.”

“Sounds perfect.”

I climb off, fill up, and walk into the store, perusing the area. It’s a small town. A man nods at me, and I reciprocate the gesture. People are friendly here, Dixie Rose should be fine. It’s a habit to back the bike in so I have an exit, scan the area and know who’s around me. I walk inside the store and move toward the register where an older woman with a salt and pepper bun, flannel T-shirt, and friendly smile stands.

“I’m on pump two,” I say.

“Forty bucks, son.”

“Ma'am, can you tell me if there are any places to stay around here?” I ask, pulling out my wallet and handing over my credit card.

“Well, there’s a lovely bed and breakfast about two miles up. It’s the only thing we have here really. But it gets lots of attention. It’s one of those theme hotels, real popular with the newlyweds and couples looking to get away, if you know what I mean.”

Her sly tone makes me smile.
The old girl has still got some spunk.

“Normally, it’s booked up, but with it being a weekday, you may be able to get in.” She hands me back my card and slides the receipt to me.

“Thank you, ma’am,” I say, signing the slip.
Fate’s on my side today.
I take the nature of the hotel as approval from the universe. Finally, I’m catching a break.

“You find something?” Dixie asks.

“Yeah, only place around here is a bed and breakfast. Food and comfortable accommodations, can’t get better than that.”

“Good, I’m starving, and it’s been a while since I rode on a bike for so long.” She shifts her weight.

“I could help you with that if you want.”

“Shut it, Spencer,” she says with a small grin.

She’s warming to me.
I rev the engine and take off headed north. Five minutes later, the place comes into view. The massive building is reminiscent of an Old Victorian mansion with its high peaked roof, large windows, and pale blue coloring with white trim.

“It’s gorgeous. Weird name though, Sweetheart’s Inn.” She frowns.

“Yeah, weird. Let’s see if we can get a room,” I reply.

We get off the bike, and I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her to me. I can’t tell if she’s road weary or letting me in. Either way, I’ll take it. We step inside, and my attention is drawn to the massive fireplace across the room. A red old timey couch sits in front of it and on the opposite side, I see a wooden staircase.

A middle-aged woman in a crisp white button up and a severe ponytail pulled back from her oval face gives us a shaky smile. “Can I help you?” she asks.

I can see the unease in her large brown eyes. “Yes, we were looking to rent a room for the evening. We heard great things.”

“Oh, we happen to have one left. The Romeo and Juliette Suite.”

“What?” Dixie Rose mutters.

“We’ll take it.” I offer up the credit card.

She quickly gets us checked in. “Your room is the one on the very end. 512.” She slides over an old fashioned key. “If you need anything at all, my name is Anne. Dinner will be served in the dining room promptly at six o’clock, but there is a steak house about fifteen minutes up the road if you’re interested.”

“Thank you, Anne,” I say, guiding Dixie Rose away from the front desk.

“Where did you bring me?” she asks.

“I don’t know, but we’re about to find out together.”

“You swear you didn’t know about this place?”

“How could I?” I ask.

“Hmm.”

We climb the steep stairs and walk down a hallway with a red rug that runs the middle. They pay attention to details here. It’s like we stepped back in time.

“This place is nice,” she says.

“Agreed. Let’s hope it’s not haunted.”

“You would say that,” she dryly replies.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” I pull her closer.

Dixie shakes her head.

I want to see where our boundaries lie. She doesn’t protest, and I can’t help but feel like I’m one step closer to her surrender. We’re locked in a battle, and while I might lose a skirmish, I
have
to win the war.

“We never got to do things like this.”

When I open the door she exclaims, “Holy scarlet and gold!”

“Uh, yeah.” I take in the emblazoned tapestries on the wall, the massive four poster bed in the red and gold theme, along with the huge bathtub. It’s the nicest room I’ve ever seen in my life. I glance down at my cut and faded jeans, dusty from the road. I don’t fit in here. I look at the soft expression on her face and push my discomfort aside. I can be the man she needs. Who gives a shit if it’s my usual style or not, she’s not just any woman.

“We don’t have to stay here if you don’t want,” she says.

“You like it?”

She tilts her head back and peers up at me through long lashes. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“Then we’re staying,” I state firmly. I can see now how imbalanced our power was before. She was a kid, and I was a boy forced to be a man way before his time. Things had to be different this time. She’d been on her own too long. The brilliant flash of white as she grins makes me want to give her the entire world.

“Thank you.”

“I only want you happy,” I say, honestly.

Her expression becomes shuttered again.

I can feel her pull away. “What are you afraid of?” I ask.

“Doing this again and having my heart ripped out. You damn near annihilated me.”

I open my mouth to respond.

Dixie holds up her hand. “Yeah, I understand why now, and logically, it makes a difference, but here,” she thumps her fist over her heart, “it still feels the same. It took me years to put myself back together. I’d ask myself every day what I did wrong. Why I wasn’t enough. I picked myself apart, holding every flaw up to the light. When I wasn’t doing that, I told myself I was nothing more than a joke. A toy you played with because you could. I imagined your whole family laughing at the little black girl who thought she could land herself a white man.”

The words rip at my soul. “Never. Don’t you know all I see is you? Not color?” I cup her face in my hands. “I don’t give a fuck what my family thinks. They’re wrong. I won’t give you up a second time.”

“I’m not an object to be had.”

“No, but you are mine. Always have been…always will be.”

“You’re so sure.” Her eyes fill with sadness. “I wish I felt that way.”

“Deep down, you do. I wouldn’t be here with you if you didn’t. It’s still there, baby. You want me to earn your trust again, I’ll do that. But we both know once I make my claim public, everything is going to change. You want to sit here and tell me you’re going to be okay with some King Chaser pushing up on me?”

Her eyes flash with anger.

“Exactly.” I nod at her.

She releases a heavy sigh. “Can we not talk about this right now? I’m starving, sore, and dusty from the road.”

“Tell me, when are you going to deal with it?” I push.

“When I’m ready.”

“And if you never are? We got two days until church.”

“You think I don’t know that?” she snaps, pushing me away.

I grab her wrists. “You’re avoiding it. I’m done doing that. I’m laying all my shit on the line. My reputation, shit with my family, and my relationship with the brothers. Who knows what they’ll think about this shit. You know we don’t do secrets. You expect to stay safe and unscathed.”

“You’re the one who wants to reveal it.” She struggles against my hold.

Her words ignite a fuse, and I blow. I force her back to the wall and slam her body against it. “I’m trying to fucking show you the proper respect and bring you home, girl. Don’t you get that? Once this is out, you’ll be untouchable. That shit my dad and his stupid ass friends pull will have to stop. You think you don’t ask me when you look at me with want in your eyes? You need me to make you see how much you’re still into this?”

Her eyes dilate and her gaze is full of lust.

I can practically smell her arousal. I glance down and see her nipples straining against the worn material of the old tank. Her breathing is ragged. Her defiance gets under my skin, and I snap. “I tried to play the gentleman card, but I don’t think that’s what you need. You were gone too long and forgot the way this shit is supposed to work. So, I’m going to remind you.” I lean forward until I’m drowning in her eyes and our lips brush. “For better or worse, I’m your man. It’s time we both start acting like it.” I capture her lips and moan; they are smooth and pliant.

She’s feeling this, too.

I slip my tongue inside of her mouth—her sweet flavor hits me and rushes to my head like champagne bubbles. There’s something inherently good about her. Her tongue brushes up against mine, and I growl. I pull her body to me and grip her thighs, lifting her up against the wall. She wraps her legs around me and digs her nails into my shoulders. Our tongues battle for dominance and I tilt my head to deepen the connection of our mouths. I’m hard as a rock and leaking pre-come like a teenager having a wet dream. I grind into her center, wanting inside. She gasps and I swallow the sound down. I want every part of her. When she rolls her hips my dick twitches.

We part for air.

“I need to feel that tight little pussy wrapped around my cock, babe.”

“Yes, please,” she whimpers.

I walk us to the bed, turning to take the brunt of the fall. She straddles my hips, and I see something come alive in her.

She’s wild and deliciously sexy with her hair tumbling about her face, a wicked spark in her eyes. The chocolate brown darkens to almost black. She grinds her hips into me. Mentally, she may be conflicted, but right now she’s all in and committed.

“You playing games, girl?” I ask.

“Isn’t this what you want?” she asks, increasing the friction. Denim rubs against the silky material of her pants.

“You’re playing with fire.” I grip her hips and force her into my rhythm.

She moans and throws her head back.

I could come like this. The heat spreading across her crotch tells me she could, too. I roll us over and place her hands above her head. “You asked for it and now you’re going to get it.” I grip her wrists in one hand as I fumble with my belt. It comes undone, and I pull it free from my pants.

Her chests heaves, and her lips part.

“You still love it, don’t you?” I ask as I tie her hands together.

“Yes,” she whimpers. Her lower lip trembles.

I nip it, push her tank up, and yank her bra down. Her full breasts pop free, and I bend over, flicking the hardened brown points with my tongue. She arches her back, and I suck one into my mouth, rolling its twin between two fingers.

“Oh, yes,” she moans.

Her legs open and I fall between them, smirking around the mouthful of heaven I’m manipulating.

“More, Echo.”

I place a kiss between her breasts and yank down her pants, then her panties. “There’s my pussy,” I whisper, running my finger down the glistening slit of her neatly trimmed thatch. She shudders, and I kiss my way down to her belly, inhaling her sweet musk. “You smell so good, I have to get a taste.” I flick her clit, and she bucks. “Patience.” As I grip her thighs, pinning her down, she grunts. “Let me show you I know how to take care of you.” I glance up, and our gazes meet. “You look at me while I eat you.”