At Wolf Ranch (17 page)

“So. They’re my brothers. That’s what you do for family.”

“No. That is what
you
do for family. Some of us aren’t so lucky to have that kind of bond. Some of us had it and lost it. You hold on to it, to them, because they are important to you. I look at the pictures in your house, hear the way you talk about your brothers and your parents, and I envy you.

“I think about what happens after I take down my uncle. What then? Everything I planned with Lela is gone. What am I doing all of this for? Yes, to see my uncle pay for killing my sister, but once that’s done, it’s just me.”

“You’ll run the company. You’ll go back to your friends in New York. You’ll have your life, and you’ll live it for you and Lela.”

“What if that isn’t the life I want? Not without her. I thought the next chapter of my life would be running the company with Lela. Now it seems like a lifetime of work and no fun. What would I be working for? The satisfaction of taking what my father started and making it more successful. Why? So I can have more money? For what? To buy more stuff I don’t need or want.”

“Ella, you’re not thinking straight. Once you finish this with your uncle, you’ll settle into your life again the way it is now.”

“Right. The way it is now.”

Her gaze went unfocused. She stared at nothing past his shoulder and he felt the weight of her loneliness. He didn’t know what to say, because she was right. She’d go back to New York, take over the company, and do it alone. Of course, she’d rise up out of her grief, her friends would circle around her, and eventually she’d start living her life and find someone to share it with her. The overwhelming urge to punch something, or whoever had the audacity to be with her when he wanted her this bad, stunned him. He’d never been a possessive man with any woman who came into his life. Probably why he let them go so easily. Letting go of Ella wouldn’t be easy. In fact, the longer he spent with her, the harder it got to think about his life, the next steps he needed to take without her.

This time, he did reach for her and wrap his arms around her and pull her close. He held her tight, so she felt how much he needed her close. He pressed his cheek to her head and gave her as much truth as he could speak aloud. “You are not alone. I will be with you every step of the way until your uncle is behind bars. I’m here as long as you want me.”

Her head came up and her expressive green eyes filled with a longing that matched his own. Her gaze dipped to his mouth and back up. He read the need in her eyes, but still tried to fight it. For her. For him. “Tell me to go and leave you alone.”

“I don’t want to be alone. I want to be with you.”

He wanted to ask her for how long, but stopped himself, because soon she’d leave and go back to that life she thought she’d outgrown, but would want back because it was familiar. She’d need it back to regain some of the normal from her past in her new life without her sister.

Way past saying anything, he let loose the reins on his need and pulled her close. He dipped his head, his gaze on her rosy lips. They parted on a sigh, and he pressed his mouth to hers for a deep kiss. He held nothing back this time and plunged in, giving everything and taking all she offered. His lips fit to hers, and she opened to him without reservation. He swept his tongue along hers, melding his mouth to hers. His fingers gripped her hips, let loose, and swept up inside her sweater and up her smooth spine. When his fingertips touched her skin, she sighed and pressed closer. He spread his fingers wide and smoothed them down her back and over her bottom, gripping tight, he pulled her up to her toes and pressed her hips to his, letting her know in blatant reality how much he wanted her. She rocked her hips against his hard cock, and he groaned, breaking the kiss to move down her throat and kiss that sweet spot between her neck and shoulder. “God, you always smell so damn good.”

Her head fell back, and he kissed his way back up her throat to her lips again for another searing kiss.

“Don’t stop,” she said against his mouth. “Don’t ever stop.”

“I’m just getting started.” To prove it, he sank his tongue deep in her mouth and tangled with hers in a sensual kiss that rocked him hard.

Ella gave herself over to Gabe. Everything in her mind disappeared except for one thought. She wanted him. When she was with him, she believed everything was going to be okay. When he kissed her, she felt a connection as deep as the one she’d shared with her sister. Different, but just as strong.

Her back hit the stable gate. He lifted her leg and held it against his hip, sliding his hand up the length of the outside of her thigh to her hip, dipping low over her ass. He pressed his hard shaft to her lower belly. She angled her hips and rubbed against him. His mouth blazed a trail up her throat to her mouth. She opened for him, meeting every thrust of his tongue with her own. She gripped his jacket in her hands, held on while they went at each other in a frenzy. Too much separated her from him, so she slid her hands between their bodies and unzipped his jacket. He barely gave her enough room to do that before her hands went around his back and up under his thermal shirt and slid over the strong muscles in his back, up his spine, and back down again. His warm skin slid against her palms. She brought them around his sides, spread her fingers wide, and mapped his stomach up to his chest. Nothing but a wide expanse of tight muscles and warmth she wanted to sink into and hold on to forever.

Gabe must have felt the same way as she did about getting her hands on him. He grabbed hold of the bottom of her sweater and stopped kissing her long enough to yank it up and over her head. His eyes locked on her breasts and the heat in his eyes flared. She shook out her hair, fisted his shirt in her hand, and pulled him back close to keep her warm. His big hands spread over her back and down to her hips, pulling her close. She gasped when he touched the still healing bruises and her aching hipbone. Gabe mumbled, “Sorry,” against her lips and softly rubbed circles over her battered muscles and bones. The caress sent a shaft of heat to her core.

Ella faltered on her tiptoes due to her sore ankle in the lighter hold Gabe kept on her. Frustrated his massive height kept her at a disadvantage to explore all she wanted, she gripped his shoulders and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Surprised, he immediately clamped his hands on her ass to hold her in place. She cupped his face and kissed him, sliding her tongue over his in a deep kiss she desperately needed. He backed her into the gate again. His hands came up to grip her rib cage and push her higher. His mouth trailed kisses down her throat to the edge of the lace bra. He swept his tongue over the swell of her breast, then clamped his mouth over her hard nipple despite the barrier. She sighed and arched her back, offering up her breasts for him to feast.

Winnie stuck her head over the stall door and nibbled at the side of her head and hair, making her laugh.

Gabe’s head came up and his gaze locked on her face. “Aw, God, Ella. This is not good.”

“It will be in a few minutes.”

Gabe leaned forward and rested his forehead on her chin. Winnie nudged her big head against hers, trying to get to Gabe. “I’m not making love to you in here.”

“With a few less clothes, I’m pretty sure we can manage it.”

“Damnit, this is the stables and you’re freezing. You’ve got goose bumps all over you.”

“I’m hot for you.”

Gabe’s head came up again, and he smiled and let out a soft laugh. “I want you in my bed where I can treat you right.”

She grabbed the back of his jacket in both hands and pulled herself off the gate, away from Winnie, and Gabe followed her movement and moved back, taking her with him. He stood in the middle of the stables with her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist, and his hands gripping her thighs to hold her steady. He gave her the smile she liked so much and had grown accustomed to over the last few days whenever he tried to tease her out of her bad mood.

“This is ridiculous, but God, I want you.” His admission came out on a gruff exhale.

“Take me to bed, cowboy. Giddy-up.” She nudged him with her legs and he headed for the door without another word. The minute they left the stables, the sun hit her, but didn’t do anything to ward off the freezing cold. Gabe wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm, but she distracted herself by sliding her hands inside his jacket and over his strong, wide shoulders. She kissed him once, twice, and again.

“Can’t see,” he muttered against her lips.

She left his amazing mouth and kissed her way along his jaw to his ear, tracing the edge of it with her tongue. Gabe groaned and his fingers contracted on her bottom, bringing her closer. He used his strength to lift her a few inches, then let her slide down his hard shaft, creating a delicious friction against her core. She smiled against his neck a split second before she bit down on his skin, then soothed the small hurt with a lick of her tongue.

His stride lengthened out and sped up. “The house is too damn far.”

She smiled and licked him again, kissing her way down his throat, peeling away his shirt with her hand to kiss the muscles running along his shoulder. She slid her hand up his shoulder and into his thick, dark hair. The silky strands spread between her fingers, and she gripped them tight, kissing his neck and hoping he got them to the house faster.

“Hurry. I need you,” she whispered in his ear, and sucked his earlobe.

He took the steps up to the porch without slowing down. They went through the front door, and he kicked it shut with his foot without stopping and headed down the short hall.

“My room’s closer.”

“Condoms.” He passed her door and rushed through his. He walked straight to the bed, leaned down, and pressed her into the mattress, planting his mouth over hers and sinking into her once again. She pulled him even closer with her legs, and he grinded his hips to hers.

“Too many clothes,” she mumbled as his lips left hers.

His hands slipped around her back to unfasten her bra. He pulled it off her arms in one long fluid motion, his mouth clamping onto her breast. He sucked hard, and she arched off the bed for more, her hands going into his hair to hold him to her. He swept his hot tongue over her hard nipple and along the underside of her breast.

“God, you taste so damn good. Even sweeter than you smell.”

Her laugh turned into a heavy sigh when he paid equal attention to her other breast. She let him have his way, but wrestled his jacket off his arms and pulled his shirt over his head. Her hands slid down his bare back and up again. Gabe kissed his way down her belly, his hands sliding down her sides to her pants. He stood at the end of the bed and grabbed her knee, pulling her leg up so he could unlace her boot and pull it off. He did the same with the other, but never took his eyes off her. His heated gaze swept from her face to her breasts and back. Everything inside her went molten.

Shoes gone, he reached up to grab the sides of her pants and gently pulled them down her legs. Since she didn’t want to wear Lela’s underwear, she didn’t have any on. His eyes narrowed and a half smile tilted his mouth in the most adorable way. She raised an eyebrow, daring him to come to her. He worked off his boots and socks in seconds, but didn’t strip off his jeans. Instead, he came back to her and planted his knee between her thighs.

“Scoot back, sweetheart.”

She did as he asked and he pursued her up the bed, his hands planted on either side of her as he stared down at her from all fours. She expected him to lie on top of her, for the dance to start all over again, but he didn’t. He took his time, looking his fill at her laid out below him.

“You’re so beautiful.” He leaned down to kiss the worst of the bruises on her hip and down her thigh. It didn’t hurt. Every soft kiss relaxed her, made her melt and fall under his spell. Soft afternoon light fell over them, highlighting the rich brown tones in his hair. She watched him loving her, sighed, and closed her eyes, letting herself just feel.

He kissed his way up her entire right side, making her forget about her aches and pains and feel nothing but ripples of pure pleasure. One big hand cupped her breast and molded it to his palm. His tongue swept across her right breast and his mouth settled over her tight nipple, and he sucked softly, keeping to this new lazy pace. Everything in the stables had been hot and fast. This was relaxed and sweet. A slow burn that settled her, centered her, and drew her deeper into Gabe’s amazing spell.

Gabe craved this woman. He wanted to take and devour, but something about the way she looked at him, sighed, and lay beneath him so trusting made him take his time. He didn’t need to rush. They had all the time in the world. Still, a part of him knew his time with her was ticking down, but still he touched and tasted and learned all the things that pleased her and made her sigh that way like he had forever.

Her hands slid over his back and shoulders, down his arms, and up his chest. She never stopped touching him, even when he lay down by her side and stripped off his jeans and boxer briefs. She turned into him, mapping his taut stomach with her fingers, kissing his neck and down to his chest. Every flick of her tongue and press of her lips to his skin sent a spark of lightning through his veins. Her small hand smoothed over his belly and lower to his hard cock. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked down and up again. Her fingers went wide, her palm rubbed over his hard flesh, and she clamped her fingers over his balls. She worked her hand over him, making him groan.

Unable to take the sweet torture for long, he pulled her hand away and kissed her, long and deep. She held him close, and he pressed his aching cock into her thigh, sweeping his hand over her smooth skin, her belly, dipping his fingers between her thighs. She rocked her hips into his palm, and he slipped one finger into her slick core. Hot. Wet. Ready for him to love her. He slid his finger deep and pulled it free, rubbing against her soft folds and making her moan.

“Gabe.”

His name on her lips in that breathy voice made him want to do anything she asked. He knew exactly what she wanted, because he wanted it too.