The Cowboy's Bride Read online

  The Cowboy's Bride

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  The Cowboy’s Bride

  ©Copyright, Danielle Lee Zwissler

  2013

  Danielle Lee Zwissler

  Novella

  Firefly & Wisp Books

  Published By Smashwords

  The Cowboy’s Bride is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  The Cowboy’s Bride may not be used on any sites unless for purpose of a review. This book is not to be sold as a used ebook without the consent of the publisher.

  Copyright © 2013 by Danielle Lee Zwissler

  All rights reserved

  1st Edition Ebook (2013)

  Firefly & Wisp Publishing, LLC

  The Cowboy’s Bride

  Chapter 1

  Tessa opened her eyes to a bright ray coming directly into the window through a tiny peak of curtain. The curtains were an off white, which weren’t recognizable. Where am I?

  “Mmm… you’re finally awake. I’ve been waiting,” came a masculine voice. Chills went down Tessa’s arms as she winced, wondering who the stranger was behind her. Hands moved down her sides then wrapped around her, pulling her into an embrace and directly on to an impressive erection.

  Tessa moaned without realizing it and leaned her neck back and allowed her head to fall onto the man’s chest. “Good morning,” she said, hoping that she would regain her memory from the night before.

  “I had hoped you’d remembered,” the man said. “We were both a little, well…we weren’t exactly in the best shape last night.”

  Tessa groaned inwardly. How could she have done something like this? She had never even been with a man before, and go figure, her first time and she couldn’t even remember. At least the pressure was off. Tessa closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the feel of the man’s body pressing against her backside. His hands were large and were moving slowly over her body and up to her breasts, gently squeezing. His breath on her neck was warm and he smelled great—all man and outdoors. Sexy.

  A second later, Tessa turned and, for the first time that morning, saw the object of her affection and nearly fainted. Jake Anders her parent’s next door neighbor and the man that she had a crush on for nearly her entire life. Tessa’s eyes widened and she gasped.

  Jake looked deep into her eyes and knew right then that she didn’t remember a thing. “Oh my God, Tessa. You don’t remember, do you?”

  Tessa couldn’t think of what to do next; tears ran down her cheeks. She was relieved, but at the same time embarrassed.

  “How often do you do this sort of thing?” Jake asked.

  Heat crept up her body and her face flushed. “I don’t!”

  “You mean to tell me you didn’t know who I was and you let me touch you like that?” Jake asked disgusted.

  “Well, I—” Tessa bit her lip. “I just, well I figured, I…”

  Jake closed his eyes, nearly throwing up, courtesy of his leftover hangover. “I’ll be…”

  Jake ran into the bathroom and firmly shut the door. Tessa could hear the bile coming up and Jake’s groans. Great. This was truly a romantic morning. Nothing like a first time and then the man that you were in love with practically your entire life in the bathroom throwing up. Tessa went to stand and grabbed the sheet to wrap around herself. Locating her clothes, she pulled on her panties first as the door opened. She stood there bare-breasted with only her small, lacy-red panties on.

  Jake gasped. Tessa looked up and her eyes widened.

  “Damn’t, Tessa, you are so beautiful,” Jake whispered in awe.

  Tessa didn’t even make to cover herself, she waited to see what he would do and was pleased with the outcome. Jake moved slowly, steadily and she was soon in his arms.

  Tessa’s mouth opened as her tongue gently traced Jake’s, probing with her tongue. Jake’s tongue tangled with hers and she moaned. The taste of mint, reminded her that she hadn’t yet brushed her teeth.

  Her breasts felt tight against his chest and she could feel the hardened tips, as they were overly sensitive. She moaned, and Jake moved his mouth away from hers and down to her breasts. He pulled one sensitive tip into his mouth as he rolled the other with his thumb and forefinger. Tessa’s hands went to his head and pulled him in to her. His mouth was hot and very, very talented.

  Tessa moaned and could feel the wetness gather between her legs. Jake’s hands moved down as did his mouth. He was now on his knees in front of her, and he looked up into her eyes, asking permission. Tessa nodded and Jake’s mouth quirked up to the right. He stood up slowly, then hooked one arm around her and the other underneath her legs.

  “I want you so bad, Tessa… so bad. I ache.”

  “I ache, too,” Tessa whispered. She was grateful that last night happened without her knowledge, now she felt brave, ready for anything. She felt the mattress underneath her and the weight of Jake on top. It was hard to believe that Jake was the one. He was the one she had wanted all these years and he was the one she gave her virginity to. She was glad, proud that she waited, and so happy that it was Jake that took it.

  She pulled Jake down and gave him one long, luxurious kiss. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, but for some reason the thought stopped on her tongue. Jake’s hands were suddenly everywhere and she couldn’t get enough of him. She moved her hands down to his boxers and pushed them down with her hands and then her foot. She could feel his hardness between her legs, the wetness between her own and the heat coiling within. She wanted to feel him everywhere. She put her hands on him and gently stroked, up and then down, feeling the wetness on the tip. She licked her lips, needing him and wanting to taste every drop of him on her tongue. She went to move down, but he captured her quickly by the wrists and put them above her head, securing her with his right hand as he rubbed himself all over her.

  He could feel her hardened nipples against his chest, her wetness against his erection and then he moved her thighs apart gently with his knee.

  “I’m sorry, Tessa,” Jake breathed, “I can’t wait. I need you now. This first time will go fast, but I promise to take a lot longer the next.”

  Tessa barely heard what he was saying before he pushed his way through. The pain was a shock to her system and then turned into an intense hunger. Her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe that it would hurt like that a second time, and then realized that it wasn’t the second time when she saw the reaction on Jake’s face. Jake’s eyes darkened and she could feel him pulling away. She couldn’t bear that, so she put her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss. “I’m so glad it was you, Jake. Let’s finish what you’ve started.” Her voice was low and sultry and full of need. Jake closed his eyes as her tongue probed his mouth. His arms went around her and then he began a slower motion. Her heat wrapped around him like a glove… a tight, wet glove. It was Heaven. Jake could feel every tremble of her body, hear every little sound that she made and her sweet smell filled his nostrils with lust.

  “Tessa, you feel so good. So…good,” Jake said, searching her eyes for pain, hoping she felt as good as he did.

  “Mmm, Jake. I never knew…this feels,” she moaned. “This…”

  Jake could tell that she was close. He moved in more defined moves, his hands finding her breasts, lovingly teasing them into tight buds. He moved his mouth down and licked slowly, feeling her body tighten around him.


  “Oh, Jake,” she said, trembling.

  “Let go, Tessa. I want you to cum for me.”

  Jake looked down at her. “Open your eyes, Tessa.”

  Tessa trembled, embarrassed by his request, but could not deny him for the world. She never could. She opened them up, round dark shades of blue blinked back at him. Jake’s hand moved down and into the area between her legs. Tessa gasped, eyes rolling back.

  “Look at me,” Jake said as he felt tiny quakes from her body and then he heard her moan. Her very sexy moan. “That’s it, Tessa.”

  Jake felt his own climax coming and gave over to it with hard thrusts into her core. One right after the other, until he finally felt his seed spilling in to Tessa.

  Jake kissed Tessa’s forehead then rolled off and lay right next to her. “God, Tessa, that was…”

  “It was amazing,” Tessa finished.

  “Yes,” Jake said, breathing deeply. “About what happened…”

  Tessa interrupted, “Jake, I thought… Well, I thought when we woke up together, this morning, that we…”

  “Had already done it?” Jake asked.

  “Yes,” Tessa whispered.

  Jake closed his eyes to the pain. She had only been with him because she thought she had already done it. Jake stood up, “Well that’s just great, Tess.”

  At Jake’s alarmed tone, Tessa sat up. “What? What did I say?”

  “Oh, just that it was a big mistake, that’s all. You thought I would take advantage of you, being drunk last night! What the hell, Tessa?”

  “What was I suppose to think, Jake? I was naked in bed with you, you had your hands all over me… I could feel your… your…” Tessa’s face reddened. The blush took over her entire body. Jake couldn’t help but look.

  “How long have we known each other, Tessa?”

  “Exactly. We’ve known each other our entire lives, how would I have known that this would happen?”

  Jake looked down at his feet. His nakedness stood out in the room. He couldn’t find his boxers. The bed was all tangled up and Tessa stood two feet away, gloriously naked. Jake thought about the sex they just had and then stiffened. “Tell me you are on birth control.”

  Tessa swallowed as she looked into Jake’s eyes. “No, why would I be? I’ve never… you… Oh, my God!”

  Jake cradled his head in his hands then ran back into the bathroom. Tessa could hear the bile once again.

  Chapter 2

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Tessa asked. She could barely contain her anger. Jake was standing on the other side of her door with a lopsided grin. It pissed her off to no end, knowing that she slept with the idiot and then he just left, not acknowledging her for an entire week.

  “I’m waiting for you to invite me in,” he said smoothly.

  “You’ll be waiting for a long time then.” Tessa went to shut the door, but it caught at the last minute. One booted foot blocked the way. “Jake, I’m really not in the mood.”

  “That’s too bad, isn’t it? Because I am.”

  “Very funny,” Tessa said. Her face felt like it was on fire. “You want a little of round two then? Well, I hate to tell you, you can only de-flower a virgin once, make fun of her and then leave her.”

  Jake grimaced. Is that what she thought? “Is that what you think, Tessa?”

  Tessa scoffed. “What do you expect? You left right after! I feel like such a sl…”

  “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that, Tess. I am really sorry for how I left. I feel so…shit, I don’t regret anything, other than not taking more time… and being gentler.”

  “What are you trying to say, Jake?”

  “Tessa, I wanted you. I still want you. I just wish, I wish I knew that you were a virgin. God, you can’t imagine how I felt, how I feel, knowing that you gave me yourself. I could walk on water, Tess. I’ve lov….I’ve.”

  Tessa’s eyes widened at the almost declaration. “You’ve?”

  Jake pulled the door the rest of the way open and grabbed Tessa. “I love you, Tess. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to say it. I’ve loved you for a long time now.”

  Tessa smiled. Her lips quivered as her lips met his. “I love you, too, Jake.”

  Their kiss lasted for a few minutes before Jake broke away. “Listen, I’m glad you’re home. I can’t stop thinking about the other night.”

  “Oh, so you did want round two?” Tessa laughed at the look on Jake’s face.

  “No, that’s not it, although a second round would feel good. I’m here because, well, I was wondering if you’ve found out yet.”

  Tessa looked at him as if he were nuts. “Found out about what?”

  “Well, if you’ve… well, are you?”

  “Am I what?”

  “Pregnant?”

  Instantly, Tessa was pissed. Jake could tell the moment her eyes blazed like fire and she backed up from him. “Get out, Jake Anders, get out!”

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “You! You just get out of my house! Get out!”

  Jake backed up, startled. His Stetson fell off his head and crashed to the floor. Jake went to pick it up, but she was having none of that. “Get out!”

  As Jake stumbled out the door onto his ass, Tessa’s mom and dad were walking up the drive.

  “And don’t even think of coming back!” Tessa yelled, then slammed the door. Jake’s boot didn’t make contact with the door that time. It seemed the door rattled in its frame. She was royally pissed.

  “What the hell did you say to her?” Tessa’s dad, William Jons, asked.

  “I…well, sir, I…”

  “William, it’s none of our business what was said. Obviously this isn’t a good time,” Mary Jane Jons said. Mary Jane was always the sensible one in the Jons family, and Jake was grateful that she was there to run interference.

  “Thank you, Mary,” Jake said as he stood up, Stetsonless.

  “I’m not sticking up for you, Jake. Obviously Tessa is upset and if you do anything to hurt my daughter I will make you my personal project, if you know what I mean.” Her tone wasn’t menacing and that’s what scared Jake. Jake swallowed and nodded.

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  William walked past Jake and pushed the doorbell, waiting for his daughter to answer.

  Jake could hear Tessa’s cursing from the other side of the door.

  “I swear to God, Jake Anders, you will rue the day that you slept with me!” she screamed as she opened the door wider. “I would not sleep with you again if you were the last person on this Earth! This universe. And if there is a baby, you better hope it doesn’t look like you, because I will come down to your place and beat the living shit out of you with a shovel!”

  Tessa stopped at the two faces on the other side of the door, then promptly fainted, falling back, crashing to the floor.

  Jake was quick with his strides, pushing William and Mary out of the way.

  “Tessa?” Jake pleaded. “Tessa?”

  William and Mary stood frozen at the site of their daughter and their neighbor. Mary hid a slight grin, but William was not pleased at all. “Baby?”

  Jake closed his eyes. “Yes.”

  “How could my daughter be pregnant when she isn’t even married?”

  Jake didn’t feel like explaining the obvious to the old man so he kept his mouth shut. Besides, holding Tessa in his arms would keep him from getting the shit kicked out of him by her old man.

  “I’ll go get her some water and some aspirin,” Mary Jane said, stepping into the house and walking toward the bathroom. Apparently she knew where things were kept. Yet another thing Jake had to be embarrassed about. He couldn’t even go get her something. Hell, he didn’t even know where her bedroom was.

  “You don’t even know anything about babies!” William yelled, lecturing Jake.

  “Will, I’ve lived on a farm my entire life. I know about babies!”

  “That’s rich coming from you, Jake! My daughter! You c
heapen my daughter by not even gracing her with a ring! And now she’s pregnant!”

  “I’m not…”

  “What? Now you’re going to… I swear to all that’s holy, young man, you better have a good reason for this.”

  Jake didn’t think horniness was a good reason, so he kept his mouth shut. William looked into his eyes and scoffed.

  “God only knows why she slept with you.”

  “Will!” Mary Jane reprimanded. “Now, you just stop.”

  “Mary, I…”

  “Oh, my head!” Tessa said, wincing. Jake, Will and Mary all looked down. “What?” she said, then her eyes rounded. “Oh my God!”

  “So, our daughter is pregnant?” William asked Tessa.

  Tessa winced. It had only been a week. How in the hell did she get into this predicament. First of all, there was no way she could know if she was pregnant yet or not and now the entire world knew that she had slept with Jake. Tessa rolled her eyes and went to stand up. Jake was still cradling her head in his lap. His fingers were gently massaging her temple. It was relaxing.

  “Dad, I don’t know if…”

  “We want to wait any longer, right, Tess?” Jake finished her sentence. Tessa looked at him as if he grew another head. “She’s mad at me because I want to marry her, and she didn’t think it was because I really loved her. She thought I just asked because of the baby. I didn’t, Tess. I want to marry you…for you. For us. Marry me, Tess.”

  Tess swallowed deeply. Three sets of eyes were trained on her. Her mother was smiling hopelessly, her father was … pissed… and Jake—he really looked as if he was in love. Everything was happening so fast that Tess could barely think.

  “What’ll it be, Tess?” Jake asked. “Will you marry me?”

  “Of course she won’t!” William answered for her. Mary swatted at his chest. “Shut up, Will!”

  “Yes.”

  Jake’s heart threatened to stop as he looked into Tessa’s eyes. He could see tears pooling in them, nearly releasing onto her cheeks. “You will?”