Unconditional Love (Journey of Love #1)(50)
Author: Kelly Elliott

“Shit,” Lark said as he made his way out to the dance floor to rescue Ryn.

Ten minutes later, we were in Lark’s truck and heading back to the ranch. I heard Ryn once attempt to hold back a sob. I turned and she shook her head and looked out the window.

When we got to the ranch house Tristan’s truck wasn’t there. Ryn jumped out of Lark’s truck and practically ran into the house. I got out and went after her as Lark called out for me.

“Give me just a couple minutes!” I called over my shoulder. By the time I got to Tristan’s bedroom, Ryn was grabbing all her things and throwing them into her bag. The tears were streaming down her face. One look from me and she lost it as she sat down on the edge of the bed and buried her face in her hands.

“I knew I shouldn’t have come. I knew it. I had a feeling he was seeing someone else, but I ignored it. I shouldn’t have come here. I thought maybe things would be different.”

I sat down next to her and put my arm around her as she dropped her head onto my shoulder. “Don’t say that, Ryn. Joyce and Peter love you and I think Tristan’s just scared of his feelings for you.”

She let out a laugh as she wiped the tears from her face. “Azurdee, you’re sweet, but let’s be honest here. He’s been texting another girl all day today and I’m not going to stand by like some pathetic woman who needs a man in her life.”

I looked down and said, “I don’t think of you that way.”

Ryn stood up and grabbed a few more things and closed her suitcase. “I know you don’t. I’m really glad we met. Let’s keep in touch, okay?”

I stood up and hugged her. “Where are you going? How are you going to get home, Ryn?”

The tears began to build in her eyes as she dropped the suitcase and stood there. “I…I don’t…I don’t know.”

Lark cleared his throat from behind me and I turned around to see him standing there with a slight smile on his face.

“Ryn, why don’t you stay in the guest room tonight. Azurdee and I are leaving in the morning and heading to South Padre. I can take you to the airport.”

Ryn swallowed hard and nodded her head. She picked up her suitcase and followed Lark to the guest room.

After getting Ryn settled in, I went back to Lark’s room and began packing. When Lark walked in he wrapped his arms around me and whispered, “I want you.”

I smiled and turned around. “May I ask you something?”

He moved back and ran his hand through his hair and nodded his head. “Sure you can.”

“Your mom…she’s been acting…different since yesterday.”

The smile that spread across his face caused me to squeeze my legs together and long for his touch. I couldn’t help but smile back. “Why is she acting different?”

He slowly pulled his T-shirt up and over his head. I licked my lips and just took in his upper body. When he moved his hands down and began to unbutton his pants, I put my hand up and said, “Oh no. I want you to tell me what’s going on before I agree to do anything with you, Mr. Williams.”

He kicked his pants away and stood in front of me in a pair of boxer briefs looking all hot and shit. My mind was beginning to go places it shouldn’t, and I swear I felt dizzy.

He took a few steps toward me as he said, “I simply told my mother I loved you, mi amor.”

My heart did that weird little dip thing and it felt like a million butterflies took off in my stomach. Hearing that from his lips again made my knees weak and left me wanting him like never before.

“Lark,” I whispered. He walked up to me and began undressing me. I let myself completely go as he whispered against my skin, “I love you, Azurdee.”

When I finally felt him slide into me I was completely and utterly lost to him. I would forever be lost to his voice, his touch, and his heavenly smell. Lark Williams had me, body and soul. I was sure I would never be able to breathe again without his love.

I rolled away from Lark to see it was five in the morning. I swore I heard a car, but the harder I listened to it the harder it was to make it out. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. Dreaming of nothing but green eyes piercing mine as Lark whispered how much he loved me.

I glanced over to see Azurdee looking at her cell phone again. “You’re not going to get a signal way out here. Just wait until we get to South Padre.”

She let out a sigh and tossed her phone down into her purse. “Are you not worried? I mean, she just disappeared in the middle of the night, Lark. She left and she doesn’t have a car. I mean, your parents’ house is in the middle of nowhere.”

I reached over for her hand and pulled it to my lips. “She’s a smart girl. I’m sure she is not going to do something stupid.”

She dropped her head back and said, “The only good thing about this is the fact that Tristan is freaking out.”

I laughed and said, “That’s mean.”

“He deserves it. Leaving her like that and going off and doing God knows what.”

I nodded my head. “Well, my father laid into him pretty good so I’m sure he won’t be doing that again.”

Azurdee’s phone pinged and she quickly reached for it.

“It’s Ryn!” she yelled out.

“I told you she would get in touch with you,” I said as I pulled into a gas station. We were only a few hours away from my parents’ beach house, and I couldn’t wait to get there and fuck the living shit out of Azurdee in each room and on every surface. I couldn’t stop thinking about it ever since she brought up us on the bike.

“She called the cowboy! Oh. My. God. What in the hell was she thinking? He’s taking her to Austin. She’s driving to Austin with a complete stranger. What if he kills her?”

“He’s not going to kill her,” I said. “Wow, I’m shocked this guy is driving her all the way home. Ryn must be one hell of a dancer.”

Azurdee hit me on the shoulder and said, “No, she asked him to drive her to a town where she could get a rental car and he offered to drive her. Oh gosh Lark, that’s not very safe for her.”

Azurdee typed something quickly and began biting on her thumbnail. When her phone pinged a few minutes later, she looked at her phone and said, “She sent me a picture of the guy’s license. He lives in Austin and was visiting family, so he had to head back to Austin anyway. Okay, I feel better now.”

I shrugged my shoulders and laughed. “Will you call and let my parents know you heard from her and that she is okay?”