Chapter 17

Rock Creek, Nebraska 1872

As the sun sank below the horizon, Buck and Lara rode back to his house in a deafening silence, their minds swirling with emotions. The day's conversations had exposed raw vulnerabilities and sparked intense desires, fueling a whirlwind of longing between them.

Upstairs, Lara hastily changed into one of Buck's nightshirts, her mind consumed by thoughts of the man who had unexpectedly claimed her heart. From her window, she watched as he tended to the horses with practiced ease, his silhouette aglow in the dim light of lanterns from the barn. A surge of yearning flooded her body as she craved for his touch.

Lost in her reverie, Lara was jolted back to reality when Buck materialized at her doorway, his voice shattering the stillness.

"Lara?" he called out softly, his gaze radiating warmth and tenderness as it met hers.

"Yes?" she replied breathlessly, her heart thundering against her chest at the sight of him standing before her.

Buck hesitated for a moment, struggling to articulate his thoughts. "I don't want this day to end," he confessed in a hushed tone.

Buck's mind raced as he struggled to keep his composure, but the sight of Lara lying before him, her nightshirt hiked up and her eyes filled with desire, threatened to consume him. With every fiber of his being screaming for release, Buck tore himself away from her, only to be stopped by Lara's strong grasp on his sleeve. His heart hammered against his ribcage as he fought the urge to give in to her tempting advances.

"Lara, we can't," he managed to choke out, his voice barely a whisper.

But Lara's voice was like a warm caress against his skin as she replied, "Why not?" Her lips brushed against his in an agonizingly slow gesture of longing. "Don't you love me?"

A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over Buck as he struggled to find the right words to say. "You know I do," he finally confessed, his voice cracking with emotion. "But it's not that simple."

Lara's fingers trembled slightly as she continued to unbutton his shirt, her gaze never leaving his. "I love you too," she whispered, her eyes full of love and longing.

But Buck couldn't ignore the elephant in the room any longer. "What about Joaquin?" he asked, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.

Lara looked up at him with surprise and confusion etched on her face, and then understanding dawned on her. She knew now what had been holding him back.

"I see the way he looks at you," Buck continued, unable to stop himself from confessing everything that had been weighing on his heart. "He's in love with you."

There was a moment of silence between them before Lara spoke again, her voice quiet but unwavering.

"I know," she said simply.

"And you?" Buck swallowed hard, his heart twisting painfully in his chest as he awaited her response.

"I love him," she admitted, her voice filled with unwavering honesty. "But he will always be my brother."

His heart thudded in his chest as he took in her beauty. Her willowy form was dressed in one of his nightshirts, revealing just enough to make him ache for more. Her long blonde hair loose, tumbled down her shoulders.

Their eyes locked in a heated gaze. She took a step closer, the fabric of his nightshirt brushing against her bare thighs. His hands trembled as he reached out to touch her, his fingers tracing the curve of her jawline. Without a word, she pressed her lips against his, igniting a fire that had been smoldering between them for far too long. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in each other.

Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss, letting out a small moan that resonated through him. The sound of their breathing became ragged and labored as their bodies pressed tightly together. He could feel her heart Racing against his chest and he knew that she felt it too. The smell of fresh hay and horses filled the air around them mixed with the scent of lavender from her hair.

Lara's fingers danced over his chest, tracing the ridges of his muscles as he leaned into her touch. His mouth trailed down her jawline, nipping gently on her earlobe before trailing more slowly down to her neck, kissing each spot that he encountered along the way. She moaned again, arching into him as he found a sweet spot just below her ear. His other hand roamed lower, cupping her buttocks possessively before sliding upwards to her lower back, pulling her against him even tighter.

He pulled back slightly from their kiss to look into her eyes, his breath coming in pants. "Lara," he murmured huskily, "I don't think I can resist you anymore." He pressed his lips back to hers with renewed intensity. Their tongues dancing against each other as if they had been waiting for this moment for an eternity. Slowly but surely, Buck began to unbutton the rest of Lara's nightshirt, revealing more of her pale skin to the warmth of his touch. Her breasts were small and perfect in his hands as he cupped them gently.

As Lara's nightshirt fell away, exposing her to his touch, Buck felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of her naked flesh against his palms. Her skin was soft and smooth, like warm silk brushing against his calloused hands. He ran his thumbs over her nipples, eliciting a gasp from her lips as they parted even wider in surprise.

With one swift move, Buck picked Lara up and carried her towards the bed, their bodies pressed tightly together. He laid her down gently on the soft covers and followed after her. They could feel the heat between them, a pulsing energy that threatened to consume them whole. The scent of sweat and desire filled the air as they ground against each other's bodies with growing urgency.

Lara ran her fingers through Buck's hair, pulling him closer as he moved lower down her body, kissing her stomach, the small curve between her breasts and then tracing his tongue around her belly button. His lips trailed towards her thighs where he kissed softly, causing Lara to gasp at the unexpected touch. His tongue licked and teased, driving her wild with need.

As he entered her slowly yet steadily, she let out a moan that echoed through the room. Their hips moved together in perfect rhythm, lost in the moment. Their breathing became ragged and loud as they pushed each other harder towards ecstasy. Lara's fingertips dug into his shoulders as she held on for dear life while Buck bit down on his lip to stifle his cries of pleasure.

The pace increased rapidly; their bodies crashing against each other until finally - together - they climaxed with loud cries echoing off the walls of Buck's bedroom. Collapsing onto his side beside her panting heavily, he couldn't help but reach out and trace his fingers over her soft skin once more before letting himself fall into a deep sleep next to hers.