Chapter 35
“What do you want to do today?” he asked Scarlett over breakfast.
“I want to have a picnic this afternoon and finish my book by the lake. I asked Hank this morning while you mucked out his stall, and he said he’s up to it,” she informed him, adding cranberries, almonds, and flaxseed to her oatmeal.
“Oh, you speak horse now?” he teased.
“Hank and I have a special bond. It explains why he always does what I tell him,” she said, sticking her nose up in the air. “Your mom wants to go to the lake and fish tomorrow. If you’re meeting the adjuster, may I take her with Hank?”
By the expression on her face, Ty knew she fully expected him to deny her request.
“I’ll saddle him up before I leave. Mama always likes a picnic out there. I’ll make lunch, and you can slip it inside the saddle bags.”
“Really?” she exclaimed.
“Yes, for you,” he emphasized.
“Oh Ty! Thank you.”
His mouth covered hers as she lingered showing him her appreciation. She touched his face, felt his grin. Her hands lingered as she felt his joy.
“I’m surprised you considered not opening the restaurant. You seem to enjoy cooking and everyone loves to eat there,” she said, waiting for his response.
“I do. But owning the place requires more work than cooking. Lots of nights, like the night of the fire, I’m there doing administrative work, planning the menus for the following week, dealing with employees, and ordering food for the next deliveries.
It doesn’t leave me time to enjoy the ranch.
My dad worked himself to the bone for this land only to lose it to the bank in the end.
I’m slowly purchasing it all back. If I continue at this pace, I’ll be doing exactly what he did. ”
“Why don’t you hire a manager? Someone who can keep the records, deal with the employees, and aid your sous chef with issues. No one likes a job they have to work. Do something you love and it’ll never feel like a chore to you,” she advised.
“Did you feel that way about your job?” he asked.
“Yes. I loved the planning and strategies, and the win came when all my brothers in arms returned to base unscathed,” she admitted softly. “I miss it.”
Ty took her hand and rubbed his thumb against her soft skin. “Will you stay if Leo offers you a job?”
“Yes. I think so,” she said cautiously. “I’ll have to break the news to my parents. Plus, there’s a guy in town I’m interested in.”
“Oh?” he asked, grinning as she bit her lip.
“Yeah. I love him, and I don’t know how to tell him because I can’t see his face.
You may not want to hear those words this soon, and I don’t want to ruin anything.
I don’t expect you to say it back, but I wanted to tell you.
Oh, and I don’t like you because I’m blind.
Rocker and Sledge say you’re ugly, but I don’t care. I see your heart and I…”
His mouth crushed hers as he swooped her up into his arms from the chair. She tasted like the fruity tea she drank and cranberries. He’d have to remember her love for them and make something special for her.
“You don’t need to worry. I think I fell in love with you from the moment I cared for your cuts at the restaurant.
Or maybe it’s the way your eyes roll to the back of your head when I introduce you to a new dessert.
I love you, Scarlett,” he announced softly.
“I didn’t want to say anything and pressure you into staying.
I like having you here in my home and talking to me while I muck out stalls.
Hell, I think Hank listens to you better than me,” he said, kissing her.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as he carried her down the hall.
He set her on the edge of the bed, and Scarlett wasted no time unbuttoning her shirt and throwing her tank to the floor.
Ty grabbed the ends of his shirt and drew it over his head.
She stood and shimmied out of her jeans and panties while he removed his.
Ty wrapped his arms around her and his tongue sought hers. Scarlett placed her hand on his chest. “Wait. Condoms, we need condoms and if you tell me you don’t have any, I’ll order Hank to take you to the store for a case of them,” she said saucily.
He grinned against her mouth. “I bought some when we placed the grocery order.”
“Thank goodness,” she said, cupping his face and running her hands through his hair while kissing him.
Ty guided her back to the edge of the bed and gently lowered her back among the pillows.
“I want you, Scarlett,” he whispered, trailing kisses down her jawline to her shoulder and neck.
“Really? I couldn’t tell,” Scarlett reached for his shaft.
Her warm hand enclosed around it and squeezed gently before going lower and raking his sensitive sack with her nails.
She tilted her head to kiss him when they bumped noses, causing her to giggle.
“Maybe Rocker told me the truth, you do have a big nose.”
“Oh, you think so?” Ty tickled her ribs, making her twist away while she laughed. “Take it back, Scarlett. Say the magic words,” he insisted.
“All right, Pinocchio,” she squealed as he went for her underarms.
His arm protectively shot out to keep her from rolling off the bed.
Scarlett pounced, sending him to his back.
She ran her hands down her shoulders, exploring his defined arms, before her fingers traced along his abs, slightly paying him back for his attack.
Scarlett’s hand moved upward, and her thumb brushed against his hardened nipples.
She leaned down, licking her newfound treasure.
Ty’s hand wrapped around her neck as he hummed his enjoyment. “You amaze me,” he murmured.
“Because I found your nipple?” she teased, grinning.
“All right, I see how you got your name,” Ty concluded.
She stopped smiling. Thinking he said something wrong, he brushed the hair away from her face to kiss away the hurt.
“It fit me then, but I like your name for me better,” she admitted, shyly.
“I like you,” he whispered against her lips.
Scarlett cupped his face, and her tongue demanded entrance to his mouth as she lay her body against his, seeking the security of his arms wrapped around her.
Ty held her tightly, lightly stroking her back and bottom. The soft caresses sent tingles down her spine. Scarlett sighed, enjoying the intimate touches as his hands brushed against the sides of her breasts and her waist.
Gently rolling her beneath him, Ty spread kisses along her body, avoiding the sensitive areas where her body ached for his touch.
“Please, Ty, don’t stop. I want more,” she begged.
His finger stroked between her legs, gliding in and out of her center.
From the sounds and the warmth coming deep from her belly, Scarlett knew her juices covered his hand.
His playfulness grew serious as he added another and curled upward.
She clenched around him as the pressure built inside of her.
Ty growled and sat up, spreading her legs wide. “I’ve wanted to see you like this ever since we made love the first time. You have such creamy white skin, and in the center, you’re dusky pink. The wild red curls on your mound remind me of your spirit,” he said huskily.
“I hope it’s telling you, I’m ready. I want you now,” she breathed.
“You’re not meant to be devoured. You’re like the finest bottle of wine. You need to breathe. In your case, panting’s acceptable. I’ve made you all those luscious desserts, certainly, you won’t deny me mine,” he coaxed, spreading her wider.
“Hmmm,” she moaned as he found her center and dived in, searching for her special spot. Scarlett raised her hips to the rhythm of his hand. “Don’t make me wait, Ty. I need your cock now,” she begged.
He slid a second finger inside of her, watching her eyes widen and she sucked her lower lip into her mouth. He lowered his head and tasted her. She closed her eyes and her hips raised to his mouth while his tongue explored. His finger curled, and Scarlett threw her head back.
“You’re beautiful. I love the way you respond to me,” Ty whispered, his hands gliding up her thighs.
“I’ll respond more if you give it to me,” she growled out, making him chuckle as he kissed her stomach.
“Oh, I plan to give it to you,” he said darkly. “But I want to hear you scream.”
He held her thighs as he feasted on her center. Scarlett whimpered and struggled against his hold, getting him to graze her sensitive nub lightly. Her hands curled into the quilt as she fought against the tide of emotions hitting her all at once.
“Tell me you love me, Scarlett,” he demanded against her silky skin.
“I love you, Ty,” she chanted.
His mouth covered the sensitive spot and he sucked while his fingers slid inside her warmth.
Her hips moved frantically against his grasp.
Even with her sight, Scarlett never felt like she did when Ty touched her.
His hands held her firmly, making her feel safe.
He didn’t notice her disability. Ty saw her.
He saw all the raw, ugly parts and still accepted her.
Scarlett gave up on having a relationship the moment she woke up in the dark. But Ty brought in the light.
“Ty,” she screamed as the orgasm rushed forward.
“What the fuck,” Rocker growled, coming around the corner.
Ty moved like lightning, covering her. Scarlett shrieked as she glared in his direction.
“My eyes, I can’t unsee it,” he railed. “Damn it, Sassy P, you can’t be in danger and scream at the top of your lungs. You nearly gave me a heart attack. I’ll never get the sight of you out of my head.”
“You damn well better try,” Ty said in his most deadly voice. “Don’t you believe in knocking?”
“I did. Then I heard Scarlett screaming,” Rocker said, making his way down the hall. “Geez, I never want to see that again,” he said, slamming the door.
Scarlett and Ty sat for a moment in complete silence before they cracked up laughing.
“I bet you ten bucks he’s outside bitching to Sledge about what he saw,” Scarlett laughed. “Did he see much?”
“No. As soon as I heard him round the corner, I threw the blanket over you. I imagine it feels like he caught his little sister in the act and can’t erase the memory from his brain,” Ty assured her while kicking himself for not checking the door.
Staying by himself made him lax about security.
With Scarlett here, he couldn’t afford to take chances with her.
Rocker’s appearance ruined the mood. He let her shower first. Putting his clothes on, Ty went in search of Rocker.
Ty found him inside the barn talking to Hank. The horse lifted his head in agreement over whatever Rocker said. When the man noticed him, he hung his head.
“Man, I apologize. I wanted to let you know I returned, if you need to run any errands. I rang the doorbell, and no one came. Then I knocked and heard her scream,” he explained.
“No harm done,” Ty assured him. “I’m taking her to the lake today, and I’ll give you fair warning not to show up there, too.”
“Do you love her?” Rocker asked, his voice going serious.
“Yes, I do,” Ty admitted.
“Does she know?”
“Yeah. I’ve made my feelings for her clear,” Ty assured him.
“You seem like a good man. Scarlett…she’s different than other women.
She has several personalities. The one who works with a bunch of men, who leer at her until she’s proven her worth.
I’ve watched them give her shit, and she ignored them, and slowly she changed their minds, and they saw how brilliant she is.
She’s fragile, like a bomb sometimes. Then, she can be tough as nails.
” Rocker’s gaze fell to his hands. “Scarlett doesn’t recall everything from the attack.
The head injury made her blackout. I’ll never forget her screams as I pulled her from the wreckage.
At one point, an insurgent jumped me as I pulled her to safety.
I don’t know how she did it, but she grabbed her gun and shot him.
It didn’t kill him, but it maimed him enough to give me the upper hand.
When I glanced back at her, the gun lay beside her, and she held out her hands.
I don’t know if she actually saw anything, but I’ll never forget the vulnerability in her eyes, thinking she killed someone.
It’s different when you watch on a computer screen and order air support.
I haven’t spoken to her about it because I don’t want to trigger the memory,” Rocker explained as he raised his head to stare at Ty.
His eyes narrowed, indicating the importance of his next statement.
“But she’s one of ours, and if you hurt her… ”
“She’s mine,” he growled. “I understand you’re her brother in arms and you feel a duty to protect her.
She’s not weak. I see her different sides and love them all.
I can’t wait to discover more of them. You see her blindness as a weakness.
It’s a part of her, and I accept her as she is.
It’s time you and Sledge stop babysitting Scarlett and thinking of her as handicapped. ”
“Maybe you’re right. But she led us through the dark and all we had was Scarlett’s voice to guide us into the light. We refuse to leave her there,” Rocker said softly, but Ty caught the firm promise in his words.
“What makes you think she’s there? She has changed if you haven’t figured it out. You might want to ask her if she still feels like she’s in the dark,” Ty said before walking away.