Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 Read online

  “Oh, Babe … please!”

  His lips closed around a nipple and he started sucking greedily immediately. Shannon moaned and rubbed harder against him. He swopped to the other breast, and he suckled it just as greedily.

  “You taste like heaven, doll face! Pure heaven!”

  Her constant grinding and rubbing against his dick drove him to near insanity. He grabbed her hips and lifted her. He positioned her over his dick and thrust his hips upwards at the same time he jerked her hips down on him.

  Shannon cried out and keened as he started to thrust uncontrollably into her, just as she lifted and thrashed against him. It was over within minutes. The moment Shannon shouted and stiffened above him he rammed upwards twice more and felt his release from all the way down his spine. He shouted as he bore his hips high and lifted Shannon clear out of the water with the strength of his release. She slumped on him and they struggled to find their breaths. Their climaxes so intense it stole all their energy and it took them a while to recover.

  Jarrod took the liquid soap Shannon favored and rubbed it on a sponge and started washing her. By the time he was finished she was moaning in need once again. She took the sponge from him and returned the favor. Amazingly, she once again managed to get his dick to rise to full arousal. Jarrod tightened his resolve and quickly got out of the tub, ignoring Shannon’s protests and dried himself quickly.

  “C’mon, doll face. Out you get. Rosa said dinner would be ready by six and it is probably six thirty already. My Dad and Monica is also havin’ dinner here.”

  “But, Babe …”

  “Besides, I’d rather wait until later and spend proper time on enjoyin’ you, than a quickie now. I doubt I have more than once in me tonight.”

  Shannon got out of the bath and moaned when Jarrod commenced to dry her. He turned her around and directed her to the walk-in cupboard. He gave her a sharp slap on her ass.

  “Ouch!”

  “Get dressed. I want to shave.”

  “No, don’t shave.”

  “Honey, I plan on really enjoyin’ and … tastin’ you tonight and tomorrow mornin’ … I don’t want to scratch you.”

  “With a promise like that … don’t you dare shave off that scruffy beard of yours. I happen to like the bit of a scratch.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. He still shaved his cheeks and neatened his slightly scruffy beard.

  He brushed his hair and left it hanging loose. He pulled on a pair of worn jeans and a light white button down shirt. He elected to go barefoot and smiled when he found Shannon dressed in a pair of denim shorts and a loose white shirt; also barefoot. He lifted the top and shook his head, knowing what he would find. The top three buttons of the shorts were unbuttoned to make space for her growing belly. He kissed her softly and drew her against his side and started walking to the door.

  “I think we better go and do some clothes shoppin’ for you this weekend. Just now these shorts fall off if you leave more buttons undone and then I’ll have all my time tryin’ to stay away from you!”

  “You’ll hear no complaints from me, love!”

  They took the stairs and Shannon said musingly.

  “We should start getting the baby room ready. I’ve not bought anything for them, but I wanted to wait until we knew what we’re having.”

  “That is a brilliant idea. We’ll start on the baby room this weekend!”

  “Babe, do you think Bennett will be able to fit us in tomorrow? We’ve missed our appointment.”

  “I’ll phone him right now. Er … honey, will you be okay with your mother here tonight?”

  “It’s getting easier every time I see her. Is Reed also going to be here?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’d like to thank him. We should get him something special.”

  “He was only doin’ his job, Shannon.”

  She scowled at him.

  “We will get him something special, Jarrod. If for no other reason than he kept you sane!”

  “In that, you are a hundred percent accurate. If not for him, I would have lost my mind.”

  They found everyone gathered on the porch facing the pool. Rosa shrieked when she noticed them and stormed towards them. She pulled Shannon against her and they both cried.

  “Oh, Nonnie! I was so worried! I am so happy all is well!”

  “Thank you, Rosa.”

  “Now my boy can get some shut eye, at last!”

  “I’ll make sure he does.”

  Dylan hugged her and she even allowed Monica a brief hug, yet she could not get herself to believe the tears gathered in her mother’s eyes. She walked to Reed and hugged him tight and said softly.

  “Thank you for everything you have done and most of all for looking after him.”

  “Always, Shannon. Here in Texas, family look out for each other and you are now family. He is very special to me too.”

  “Sorry to interrupt this tender moment, but if you want to use those arms to wrap it around another woman again, they better drop from around mine pretty damn quickly!”

  Reed opened his arms wide immediately and Shannon stepped back, smiling at Jarrod as she walked into his arms. Rosa ushered them all to the table and they shared a very pleasant dinner.

  “So cuz, any marriage plans yet? Has Shannon popped the question?”

  “She has yes and very … enticingly too. I could not say no. We still need to set the date, but suffice say, it will be within the next six weeks.”

  “Six weeks! No person can arrange a wedding in six weeks!”

  “You arranged a cookout party in less than a week. What more is there for a weddin’?”

  “A dress for one thing! I will not have a slapdash wedding, Jarrod Parker. Our kids will one day look at our wedding photos and dream of their wedding day being as perfect as ours.”

  “I have no doubt about that, my love, but it will still be within six, actually … no, make that four weeks!’

  “Four weeks! Pops, talk to this man! He can’t be serious!”

  “Now son, four weeks is a little tight.”

  Jarrod glared at his Dad.

  “Since when have you changed sides?”

  “I have no idea what you are talkin’ about, son. What type of weddin’ did you have in mind, Nonnie?”

  “Yeah, Shannon. Remember this is Texas. A cookout weddin’ will be a blast!” Reed added his share to the pot.

  She noticed the glitter in Jarrod’s eyes when they met Reed’s at the prospect of a cookout wedding and she sighed.

  “Why am I not surprised that it is what you would want too, Babe?”

  “Well, a cookout is always a success. Let’s face it, doll face. Weddin’s tend to be borin’ and no one really enjoy themselves.”

  She sighed and threw her hands up in the air. She looked at Rosa.

  “I guess we could combine my ideas with a cookout. Create our own wedding cookout so to speak!”

  “That’s agreed then. Four weeks from now, on Saturday.”

  “You said six weeks!”

  “Four and it is not negotiable!”

  “Tsk … you are still so … so bossy!”

  But you love every inch of his bossy ass.

  That I do.

  So, when are you planning on telling him?

  Why do I always have to be the one to do everything first in this relationship?

  Awh please! I keep telling you its 2014!

  Jarrod piloted his chopper himself into Houston the following day, with Reed and Shannon as company. Reed had to get back to work and they said goodbye at the private airfield, where Jarrod had an arrangement.

  “Let us know what happened after they took that bastard in. Who was he, so by the way?”

  “You’re not goin’ to believe it, Cuz. Remember Darrel Scott? He was in school with you up to senior year and first year Varsity.”

  “Vaguely, but I barely knew the guy!”

  “Well, he turned into a hacking crook and that is how he became aw
are of your developments. He saw his opportunity to make big bucks and … the rest you know. I had the money re-deposited for you.”

  “Thanks, Cuz.”

  “What money?”

  “No more of this dreary stuff. Le …”

  “What money, Babe?”

  “He added a cash demand on top of the software.”

  “How much?”

  “Shannon. We are goin …”

  “Jarrod, answer me!”

  “Twenty million.”

  Shannon started to hyperventilate. Realizing for the first time just how well off her future husband was.

  “Twenty million! And you just happened to have that much lying around?”

  “What are you on about now, honey? I got the money back.”

  “I … I can’t marry you?”

  You can’t? Why the hell not?

  Reed chuckled and with a wave sauntered away. Jarrod froze and glared at her. He took Shannon by her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

  “And why all of a sudden not?”

  “Because … because I’m … I am nowhere in your league!”

  “My league? And what exactly is my league, pray tell?”

  His voice was dangerously soft; his eyes nearly black in his rising anger.

  “Jarrod, you … you’re rich and I am … in

  comparison poor!”

  “Well, seeing as you want to dissect it like that, let me set the record straight. I am not rich, doll face … I am a billionaire. I am past being rich! And I have never flaunted that fact around. It is something I am and it is not goin’ to change … hopefully. And why the hell is that a problem now?”

  “I guess I just never gave it too much thought.”

  “So stop givin’ it so much thought. It is irrelevant. You asked me to marry you and I accepted. I will not allow you to renege on the promise you made that day at the creek! Now let’s go. We’re late already!”

  He spun around and was so angry he left her to follow him to the waiting car. She scowled after him and followed him with reluctant steps.

  No wonder he is so bossy and arrogant!

  But you love him still.

  Oh, butt out! Since when has your loyalties changed!

  Only looking out for you doll face!

  Jarrod waited for her, holding the passenger door open. His annoyance was clear on his face.

  “Is this goin’ to take very lon’, Shannon?”

  She tsk’ed and walked faster. He watched her climbing in the SUV and waited until she had the seatbelt clicked in before he leaned in and glared into her eyes, his nose nearly touching hers.

  “You, woman, drive me crazy!”

  His mouth swooped in for a quick and hard kiss on her surprised lips. Warming her immediately.

  They were only five minutes late, but Bennett was also running over on his appointments, so at least he did not wait for them. He looked at them and smiled.

  “Everythin’ sorted with those hooligans, Buddy?”

  “Yeah, they’re in jail and Reed said they will be charged today. Because they endangered Shannon and the babies, they will not get bail until the hearin’.”

  “And how are our babies doing?”

  “Fine, they started kicking.”

  “Well, go and change and let’s take a look.”

  A while later, Bennett nodded his head after a quick examination and stats check.

  “Everything is still fine, although your blood pressure is slightly high. Probably from the stress over the past two weeks. You need to relax and lie down for an hour every day. I’d like to see you next week again, just to make sure it is back to normal.”

  Shannon nodded and knew with Jarrod and Rosa around, she would probably be kept in bed the whole day for a week.

  “Let’s move to the next room. We’ll do the 3D scan there. Hopefully they are willing to share their gender with us today.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “It depends on their position and if their legs are crossed or intertwined … sometimes with twins that happens. Let’s hold thumbs.”

  A few moments later both Shannon and Jarrod’s eyes were glued to the monitor. The tiny little bodies were clearly discernible on the small screen. Bennett moved the scanner around and they could see their faces. Shannon groped for Jarrod’s hand and he took hers in his, lifting it and kissing her fingers.

  “Look at their tiny face and little fingers, Babe! Oh … the one on the left … it’s a … is it a boy?”

  Bennett peered closer and smiled.

  “Yip, it’s a boy. Now let’s see if his twin will share with us too … yes! It’s a girl! You’re going to have a pigeon pair!”

  Shannon could not keep the tears from rolling down her face and then she gasped and felt Jarrod’s hand tighten painfully around her fingers.

  “Oh my god! They’re holding hands! Just look at that!”

  She looked at Jarrod and even he had moisture in his eyes. He leaned closer and placed his head next to Shannon, still staring at the monitor.

  “Now that is really something special. I have never in all my years of practice seen twins holding hands.”

  Bennett wiped the gel from Shannon’s belly and walked out of the room. Jarrod took her in his arms and just held her, allowing the tears to overflow on his cheeks. He swallowed hard. He never expected to be so deeply touched seeing his babies. It nearly crippled him. His heart was so full, it was on the verge of bursting. Pride swelling his chest and now he knew why men always walked broad shouldered when they talked about their pregnant wives. The thought of being part in their creation too much for him to bear at that moment. He buried his face in her hair and tightened his hold on her.

  Shannon wrapped her arms around his back and held on. Her own emotions swirling through her and she closed her eyes. The little growing persons inside her only now becoming a reality after seeing them herself.

  “We’re going to be good parents, Babe. You and I. We are going to be the best parents ever!”

  Jarrod bore back and looked into her eyes, seeing a flicker of fear in their depths. He took her face between his hands and shook his head.

  “Don’t even think those thoughts, honey. You are not like your mother at all! You are goin’ to be the best mother any child could ever wish for!”

  “Promise me you will not allow me to favor the one over the other! Please Jarrod! Promise me!”

  “We will not favor either, my love. You, whether you know it or not, will be a natural mother. You are goin’ to rock their little worlds! Just like you have rocked mine!”

  They started arguing about names and it took all the way back to the ranch for them to agree on the names of their twins. Tristan and Amber.

  Shannon was adamant that the launch be rescheduled and would not take no for an answer.

  “Everything is already in place, Babe. All we have to do is set the date and arrange for the caterers and voila!”

  “You’re not goin’ to take no for an answer, are you?”

  He shook his head and conceded, with the provision that it is done on Monday, so they could concentrate on their wedding.

  Everything fell into place automatically. The launch was a huge success. Every large and small Architectural Corporation was there, with an enormous amount of investors. The fact that someone tried to steal the software, testimony to its value.

  The majority of the large Corporations placed immediate orders, the investors eager to secure an investment and the small to medium groups were ecstatic that there was a version for them. The competition launched had the most impact. Everyone was excited to see what designs it would encourage the Architects to deliver.

  All in all, Jarrod made name globally as the creator of a new era in Architecture. Shannon could not have been more proud.

  Chapter Twenty

  Jarrod and Reed tried their utmost to keep Shannon out of the courtroom during the court case, but she had to give her testimony. It was quite trying for her t
o be faced with her kidnappers once again, especially without their masks. She got tears in her eyes when she saw Black was a middle aged man that did not appear to be able to hurt a fly and she was relatively sure he couldn’t. He treated her with respect all the time, brought her treats and sat chatting to her when she became lonely.

  Green on the other hand had a hard glitter in his eyes and she was not so sure about him. The man that was in charge of the whole operation wore a red mask and she only saw him briefly on the day Jarrod came to rescue her. His arrogance during the court case was astounding and Shannon simmered with anger. Things could so easily have turned out differently. She could have lost their babies for one!

  The case stretched out for three weeks and they were all in court when judgment was given. Black and Green both received ten years for kid napping and aiding in the felony and $10000 fine. Red cap’s mouth has been compressed in a thin line since the guilty sentence was laid down. As the mastermind he was given the third degree by the judge. The judge clearly explained why he was charged with first degree kidnapping and extortion.

  The Judge’s deep voice droned through the room as he explained in detail.

  “As per the statute, Tex. Penal Code § 20.04, a person commits kidnapping in the first degree if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person with intend to hold him or her for ransom or reward, or use him or her as a shield or hostage, or facilitate the commission of a felony or the flight after the attempt or commission of a felony, or inflict bodily injury on the person abducted or abuse him or her sexually, or terrorize him or a third person, or interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function.”

  He looked over his glasses at Darrel Scott, his eyes hard.

  “You are guilty of at least three of those listed, further, Tex. Penal Code § 20.04, states that a person commits first degree kidnapping if the person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during kidnapping which by testimony was the case.”

  His gaze touched around the court room and briefly on Jarrod, Shannon and then Darrel Scott.