Chapter Fourteen
Aspyn
If I’m being honest, what I could really use right now is a long, hard nap wrapped up in Ranger’s arms, but that’s not the kind of guy I’m hanging out with.
Ranger is a doer. I’m not sure I’ve ever really seen him stop working. Back in the day when he was off shift at the police station, he would moonlight at my parents’ construction company. Everyone called him ‘ the ox’ because he could go longer and harder than anyone else on the team. It was an extra sad day when he left. The business struggled for sure. It took three men a week to cover the amount of work he could do in a few nights. But more than that, I missed his strong presence. His calm. The way he takes over a situation and makes everything better without question.
So then, napping isn’t really an option if I’m with Ranger. I’m going to have to keep moving and I guess the restaurant is where we’re headed.
“I know the guy that’s selling the place. He’ll throw in a credit for any repairs we need.”
His rough hand lands on my bare thigh as we ride toward the old restaurant on the corner.
Of course, he knows the guy selling the place. He knows everyone. “That’s nice of him, but why is he so desperate to sell?”
Ranger glares toward me. “Keep an open mind. We can fix a lot of things really easily and your food will sell itself.”
“I think you’re biased,” I adjust my dress and slide closer to him, snuggling into his thick bicep, “but that doesn’t mean I can afford any of it. I have nothing, Ranger. I mean… nothing .”
“We’ll figure that part out.” He spins the wheel to the left and turns into the vacant parking lot on the corner where the little, yellow café sits. Up close, the small building with a front porch needs more repair than I thought. The paint is chipping, the boards on the porch are rotting, and there’s a blown-out window that’s covered with plastic.
Ranger’s hand lands on my lower back. “A few two by fours and a new piece of glass. No big deal.” He punches the code into the combination lock, takes a key out, and pushes it into the front door. Inside, there’s a stale stench that isn’t at all inviting, though I can’t place what it is or where it’s coming from. Ranger opens the windows, letting in the fresh mountain air, which immediately improves the space.
I expected the place to be empty, but it’s not. Cute little oak style tables with heavy wood legs and ornate chairs sit rounded and scattered across the dining room as the sunset spills colors into the small space. For some reason, this makes me excited.
“Oh wow.” I brush my hand over the top of the wood, pushing dust away from the grain. “Seriously, why didn’t this work out before? It’s adorable.”
“The guy running it before made it a fish and chips place.”
“Fish and chips… in rural Tennessee?”
“Yeah.” Ranger wanders the space, quietly taking note of everything that needs to be upgraded. “We’ll need to replace some of this drywall. It’s pretty drenched from that cracked window, but that’s no big deal.” He pushes into the back room and I follow behind, trying not to let my imagination run wild with ideas for the future, but they’re bubbling out before I can stop them.
“I think this place would do best as a southern café. Something with big, bountiful brunches and a homey feel to the décor. You want people to feel comfortable, ya know?” I make my way to the industrial ovens and run my hand over the stainless-steel knobs. “Do you think this still works?”
“Maybe, but we’ll get something new in here. You need a fresh start. You’ll also need a new walk-in and…” He looks up at the vent system above the pantry. “We’ll get this cleaned up good.” I love watching him like this, in his element, problem solving in the most practical way. I more than love it. It straight up soaks me like a horny simpleton. An unevolved cave person desperate for this big, strong, rugged man to build me shelter and hunt down food.
Ranger glances toward me. “You want this, right?”
“What?”
“The restaurant.” He tucks his hands around my waist and pulls me close to his chest. His eyes stay focused on mine.
“Well, yeah. I mean, the whole place is incredible. At this point, I can only dream of having something I can call my own, plus cooking for people and all that, but there are so many things that don’t make sense.”
“Like what?”
“Well, like I don’t have enough money to buy it. I don’t have enough money to renovate it. I don’t have the capacity to run the books on my own. I have no idea how to hire help, or how to train help, or how to pay help. I only know how to cook, and even then, I’m not professionally trained. I only know what I’ve taught myself.” I sigh and Ranger weaves his fingers into mine. “Besides all that, I still don’t know that I can stay.”
Ranger looks away and brushes his hand down over his beard before pulling me in at the hip. His gaze is on mine as he says, “You’re not leaving. We already talked about that. And you don’t need professional training to be good at something. I’ve tasted your food. You should have a restaurant, which is why I’m buying this place.”
My mouth slacks and I move back slightly as my stomach tightens. “No. No. No. You can’t buy it for me.”
He lifts me up onto the silver prep table in the middle of the small kitchen. “You’re staying, and I’m buying this restaurant. Liam can help with the books.”
“Liam has enough going on already. He doesn’t have time to run the books for my brother’s massive company and also do mine. And how do you plan to fix everything? You don’t have time to do anything else. You’re already working on the farmhouse, running an entire town single-handedly at the police station, plus you have a ranch you want to start. This is crazy, Ranger. We should think about this.”
“The guys and I played cards late last night, and I talked to them about the restaurant. We can fix this up easily and Liam was more than willing to help with the books.” He cups his hand against my face. “We want to help you, Aspyn. We want you to have your dreams.”
“Well, I want you to have yours too.” My lip quivers as I stare toward Ranger, unsure of what to say or how to feel. I’ve wanted a restaurant for as long as I can remember, but no one has ever believed in me like this before. “You can’t have your dreams if you’re busy chasing after mine.”
“You,” he brushes a strand of hair from my face, “are my dream, Aspyn.”
“What about everything else?”
“We’ll work it out… somehow. All I know,” he sighs, “is that I can’t take this anymore. None of us can. After what Ryan put you through with this whole phone thing and making you believe you killed your parents, I just… I don’t trust him. You need to be with me.” He groans as he clarifies, “With us.”
“That bothers you, doesn’t it?”
“What?”
“That I’d belong to all of you.”
“It,” he looks away then back again, “did bother me. It still does a little. It’s weird to share, but I don’t fuckin’ know. When I see how happy Jake makes you, and how good he is with all the feelings shit, it makes me glad that you have him. And Liam yesterday, the way he talked you down off that ledge, I know you need him too.”
I stare at Ranger, studying the lines next to his eyes and the hard shape of his shoulders. He’s so handsome.
“It’s not fair though, right? That I need all of you? I mean, there’s only one of me.”
“The guys are on board. We love you, Aspyn. Tell me you’ll stay, and we’ll make sure the rest falls into place.”
I suck in air and let it out slowly as my brain attempts to catch the words he’s saying. For so long now I’ve been running, living out of my car, eating scraps, torturing myself in a circle of guilt and remorse that I couldn’t escape from… until now.
Maybe I could stay. Maybe this could be my life. Maybe Ryan was lying. Maybe he preyed on my fear. Why, though? Why would he do that?
I’m not even sure I want to know.
“Stay here with me.” Ranger’s deep tone shakes me out of my thoughts and lands me back in the moment. His hand is on my cheek and his gaze sticks on mine. “We could ‘ what if’ all day long. What do you want?”
“But I have to think about the—”
He lifts my chin with his hand. “No, Aspyn. What do you want?”
In this space alone, with no witnesses, Ranger is surprisingly vulnerable. I like this side of him. It feels private, secluded, saved only for me.
“I want you,” I sigh. “I want you, Jake, and Liam. I want a family in that farmhouse you’re rebuilding. I want to watch you with our kids, working on the farm. I want to watch Jake make them laugh. I want to watch Liam teach them how to make spreadsheets about everything.” I laugh. “I want a life with all of us, happy and in love and—”
Ranger growls and crashes into my lips, kissing me hard. His rough beard brushes over my face and tickles my mouth, but I kiss him with relentless force, more and more desperate as each second passes.
His hands work their way down my throat, and I tug against his flannel shirt, tearing at the seam where the buttons close. The scent of the nearby pumpkin field wafts in through the open window, bringing with it a gentle cool, fall breeze. It’s nearly dark and there’s not much light in the small café, but Ranger touches my body as though he’s already mapped me out, like he’s thought about it for days, months, years… knowing right where to go to satisfy me.
His teeth scrape against my shoulder as he growls low.
I’m not going to make it.
A moment later, his hands are in my hair, tugging gently and his heat has moved to the strap of my dress.
With one slip, he pulls the tie down and my nipples are hard to the cool air, aching, desperate to be touched.
“Fucking hell, baby. I need you.”
The moments pass, and with each one, I’m further and further away from whatever kept me from this moment in the past.
He slides his hand over my breast and then his mouth, teasing his teeth across the sensitive flesh of my nipple as I squirm beneath his touch.
“Be a good little girl and show me that pussy again.” His tone is so deep and raspy that I nearly come just hearing the words. “You looked so good sucking everyone off earlier, baby.”
He wants to see my pussy. I don’t know why. It’s nothing special, but knowing he wants it makes me feel like I really am something special, like I’m something someone wants, maybe even something someone needs.
He pulls off his flannel, wipes the dust off the prep table, and lays me back until my legs are spread wide on the cool metal and my drenching wet panties are on display.
His thick fingers cross over the front. “Damn, you’re wet for me.”
I swallow hard and reach out for his cock, holding his long, hard length in my hand. It’s true what they say about big men. They have big cocks to match. “You’re pretty ready for me too.”
He groans and laughs under his breath. “I’ve been ready for you, baby. Lord, have I been ready for you.”
He leans in and buries his face against my soaking cotton panties, breathing me in deep, licking the sopping cloth with a growl so deep that I can only describe it as barbaric. His hands grip my thighs, and his teeth scrape the lips of my pussy as he bites against the fabric with another growl.
“I can’t wait any longer. I need to take your little pussy and make you mine.” He pulls me to the edge of the table and unbuttons his jeans. “Tell me to stop if you’re not ready.”
I would never in a million years tell this man to stop. I don’t care what happens after this. I want to walk away with a pain in my stomach because he’s just fucked me so hard. I want his big, rough, ferocious hands all over me. I want his moan in my ear, his cock spreading me wide, and his heart beating against mine.
“Fuck me hard,” I pant. “Make me yours.”
His jeans have barely hit the floor when he tugs my panties to the side and sweeps the head of his cock against my smooth lips. “Good girl. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes on me.”
My heart hammers against my chest in harmony with my clit as Ranger inches in slowly. The second he spreads me, I know it’s going to hurt in the best possible way.
“Fuck, you’re soaked for me, and still filled with Liam’s come.”
For some reason, hearing him say that, sends my brain into oblivion. Does it get him off knowing I’ve been fucked so hard by his friend? Does it get him off, fucking me afterward, taking my pussy while I still drip with Liam’s seed?
“Yeah,” I pant, “and I need yours too.” My eyes never leave his.
“Yeah, you do. Take my cock like a good little girl.” He pushes in further before gripping my hip with one hand and my throat with the other.
I reach up and ring my fingers through the hair on his chest as I slide against the cold steel of the shaking table.
Thrust after thrust, he dives deeper inside of me, grunting and moaning as his rough hand holds me in place.
“Tell me you’re staying. Tell me you’re where you belong.” He thumps harder against me as my legs rest on his strong shoulders.
“I belong at the farmhouse with you.” I swallow hard and grip his wrist, holding myself steady as he beats his cock into me harder and harder.
“What else?”
“I… I’m going to come.” Breathless and harsh, words are sliding from my lips.
“Tell me you’re staying permanently, baby.”
My muscles tighten and my breathing is erratic. I want his cock and his come, but I’m not in the right frame of mind to decide whether I’m staying or not.
“I don’t know,” I pant. “I—”
“Tell me what you want, baby girl. Tell me you want to stay.”
“I want to stay… I’ll stay! I’ll stay! I’ll stay!” Tears roll down my cheeks as I pant the truth.
“Good… fucking… girl.” Ranger pounds into me harder and harder as I convulse and come all over his dick. “Good Lord, I love that.” His deep voice is low and winded as he slams against me and the squish from my pleasure sounds loud and wet with his movement.
I love these moments with each of the men pulsing inside of me, throbbing, then flooding my womb with their pleasure. I love being their field to fertilize.
I love focusing on each of their individual faces as they come hard, and I love knowing how possessive Ranger is, how desperate his need has become despite his reluctance to share.
He holds tight and leans forward, looking me deep in the eye as he thrusts harder and harder.
“Lord, baby. I’m gonna fill you up.”
“Do it! Come for me, Ranger! I need it!” There’s a desperation in my tone that’s changed its frequency to one I’ve never heard before. It’s deeper and soulful, fierce and breathless. I need his come, and I need it now.
He rocks into me a few final times before his face contorts, his muscles tense, and he comes in a bellowing grunt that sends my toes into a curl against his shoulder.
Moments go by and Ranger stays put, pulling me up against his chest with his massive cock still inside of me. He brushes back my hot, sticky hair and kisses my forehead gently. “You felt so good, baby.” His breath is warm and has the scent of the beer he’d started back at the house.
I hum and lean against his burly chest. “You did too.” I kiss his shoulder and wrap my arms around his giant frame as my legs dangle off the edge of the prep table. “I’m so thankful for you, Ranger. I… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” He wraps my hair to one side and holds me tight against his chest. “I love you, baby, and I don’t say that shit without thought.”
Ranger doesn’t like being emotionally vulnerable. I’ve known that about him forever. And while I can see the flaws, I also think it’s kind of cute the way he stumbles around to find the right words.
I bite back a smile and lean into his lips. “I love you, too.”
“Good.” He clears his throat and kisses my head again and again. “I wouldn’t have let you go, regardless.”
I laugh and lean into his chest, breathing in the pine and musk that lingers on his skin. “I heard your phone buzzing at some point. Do you think the guys are okay?”
Ranger groans under his breath. “I should check, but I don’t want to let you go.”
“Then don’t.” I hold him tighter. “Don’t ever let me go, Ranger. I feel so safe with you.”
He staggers in a deep breath. “You know you’re not getting away now, right? I’m not fucking around. You’re mine. I mean, ours. ”
His phone buzzes again in his pocket. With one hand on me and the other reaching for the denim pooled on the dark floor, he pulls his phone from his pocket and pushes at the screen until his brows turn down.
Ranger is a pretty stoic, reserved guy. He doesn’t react emotionally to nearly anything, so when he has any sort of outward response, people take notice. Right now, I’m taking notice.
His nostrils are flaring slightly, and his jaw is tight.
My hand lands on the back of his. “What’s wrong? Are the guys okay?”
He brushes his hand down over his beard and glances toward me. “Yeah, the guys are fine, but we’ve got a problem.”