CHAPTER 29
I watch that tear slip from the corner of her eye, disappearing into her hairline, and immediately, I stop.
I pull from her, wincing with the loss, but immediately tug my pants back up and reach for the knot keeping her restrained.
I free her, rubbing over the red marks left on her skin and then climb off the bed, reaching for her, my arms slipping beneath her limp and sweaty body.
Her head falls against my shoulder, muscles still quivering.
She clings to me as I walk us into the bathroom and help her sit on the countertop before turning on the shower. That wasn’t for me; that was for her, so I don’t give a shit that I didn’t finish. I wasn’t trying to, but I’m wondering if I pushed too far.
She just fucks me up. Every time. All the time.
I reach for the shirt I didn’t even remove and undress her completely, her body still limp, and then help her into the shower, letting her have a moment while I take my clothes off so I can join her.
She turns her face to the water, eyes closed, the water running down her skin, wetting her hair back. I climb in behind her, circling my arms around her waist. She falls back onto me, her head thumping onto my shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Hellion,” I whisper.
She turns her face into me, water catching in those thick, dark lashes of hers.
I let her use my strength, and several long minutes pass before she moves, turning to face me fully.
There’s a fire in her eyes, a flame that dances behind the swirling grey storm.
She lifts a hand and cups my chin, nails biting in just a little as she shoves my head up and to the side.
I allow her it, letting her manhandle me into whatever position she wants, and then she’s lifting onto her tiptoes and her teeth bite into my throat.
She sucks my skin into her mouth, bruising me, marking me, a twin brand to the mark she left on the other side.
“Maybe that’ll get my point across,” She rasps, her voice still raw from her cries, “You’re mine.”
A rumble of a groan leaves my throat as her tongue slides over the mark she’s just left behind, and when I look down at her, there’s a smirk on her face.
I curl my finger beneath her chin. “You.” I growl.
“What about me?”
“I only want you. You’re the first woman in a very fucking long time I’ve even dreamed about. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up and the only thing I want when I go to sleep.”
“Does that mean I can shoot her?” She flutters her lashes. “Speaking of shooting. Where the fuck is my gun?”
Her moment of being vulnerable is gone. I shouldn’t be surprised.
“No, Elena,” I mutter, “You cannot shoot Everly.”
“If this were the city, I would have put a bullet between her eyes the moment she called me a whore.”
My spine stiffens. “She did what!?”
“Keep up, cowboy.” She reaches for the shampoo and lathers it in her hair. “But seriously, where is my gun?”
“You think I’m just going to arm you when you’re this fucking trigger-happy?” I scoff.
“The gun is for ease,” She washes out her hair, “I don’t need a trigger, it just makes it less messy.”
“You’re not murdering Everly,” I tell her sternly.
She plucks up the conditioner and starts running it through her hair, “We’ll see.”
“That’s it,” I whistle. “Last of them loaded.”
Chase pulls his horse to a stop beside the second trailer, the cattle loaded and ready to be transported three towns over. I got a good price for them; it’ll settle the debt I have with Tessa for Elena’s new wardrobe and keep the ranch going for another few weeks.
I lift my eyes to the house, seeing Elena leaning against the porch railing, her arms crossed, my shirt hanging from her shoulders, hitting about mid-thigh.
“You look after her,” I tell Chase, voice full of gravel.
He rolls his eyes, “You act as if you’ll be gone weeks and not the day turn around it’ll take.”
“I’m serious, Chase.”
“I’ll look after her,” He promises.
I dip my chin in a nod and then make my way toward her, watching her push away from the railing to meet me.
Her hands crawl up my chest, and then she’s on her tiptoes, her fingers holding my chin as she tugs me in for a kiss.
I ignore the hollers of the guys behind me and lose myself to her, feeling the most free I have in a long time. I told myself I’d never lose myself to a woman, but here she is, stealing every part of me.
She really is the devil in lace. She didn’t need to ask twice before I sold my soul to her.
“Behave,” I break the kiss.
“I’ll be as good as gold,” She flutters her lashes. Behind her, Judge ambles out the open door and sits his ass down on the top step, watching us, his wiry grey fur all out of sorts. He needs grooming or something because that hair is getting out of control.
“I don’t believe you.” I kiss the corner of her mouth. “Just stay out of trouble.”
“How much trouble can I get in here?”
I laugh, “Too much.”
She flutters her lashes and gives me a sultry grin. “I won’t go looking for trouble.” She promises.
“And stay away from Ralph.”
She snaps her head back as if I just physically assaulted her, “Fuck no.”
“He’s dangerous.”
“He is not,” She gasps. “He’s misunderstood. And he loves a little kiss on his nose. Maybe I should get a ball or something? I saw a video online once where this cow was playing with one, and honestly, it just looked like a puppy.”
I shake my head, “See you soon, Hellion.”
“I’ll be waiting, cowboy.” She kisses me again and then steps back, her hand falling to Judge’s head where she then scratches behind his ear.
My boots kick up dust as I make it back to the trailer, the cattle moving around inside. Chase dips his head, and I climb into the cab, starting the engine.
Unease knots in my stomach as I make my way down the long drive, the ranch house getting smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. I can no longer make out Elena on the porch, and when I crest the hill, she and the house disappear.
I’ll only be gone one day; I’ll be back by this evening at the latest.
What’s the worst that can happen?