Chapter 46
“ W hat are you doing?”
She let out a squeal and moved her arm behind her although it was a bit late.
“Were you doing your exercises?” Hayes demanded.
They were meant to be getting bad weather tomorrow and he’d been outside stacking up some more firewood on the back porch.
“Um. Yes?”
“Yes? We’ve already done your exercises for the day,” he said. “What are you doing more for?”
“Um. Well. I figured that doing more would be better, you know?”
It had been over two and a half weeks since she’d woken up in the hospital and she was frustrated. Her movement in her hand was limited. She was weak. The muscles needed time to repair, but how much time?
She’d seen the physical therapist three times since she’d gotten here and he seemed to think she was making great progress.
But she just didn’t see it.
Hayes walked over and crouched in front of her. “You cannot overdo it, Devi. If you do, you are going to hurt yourself. Do you understand? Doing too much will set you back, not help you get better.”
Darn it. He was right.
“I know,” she said. “I just . . . I’m so frustrated by it all. And I just want to be able to do what I used to be able to. I miss . . . I miss working with clay. Making things. It was my happy place. Not that I’m not happy. I am. Happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I get it, baby. It’s all right. I know it’s frustrating and you just want it to be better. But you have to give it time.”
“Yeah. I know.” Her shoulders slumped as she stared down at her hand.
“And no hiding things from me,” he said in a stern voice.
Oops.
She grimaced. “Am I in trouble? You’re not getting the beads out, are you?”
He actually grinned. “I can see they were a good choice of punishment.”
“No, no, they weren’t!” she cried.
A low chuckle left him. But then his face grew serious. “You aren’t getting the beads this time. But if you hide anything from me again, you’ll be in big trouble. The sort of trouble where you won’t sit comfortably for a week.”
She sighed, grateful that he’d let her off with a warning. But why had he? There was something in his face . . .
“Are you keeping something from me?”
He sighed and settled on the coffee table in front of her. “I might have something to confess.”
“What?”
“I arranged with Michelle to pay the transportation costs for your pieces. The exhibition is still going ahead. And they’re fine with you being short a few pieces.”
Devi gaped at him as those words penetrated. And then she burst into tears. He sat next to her, pulling her onto his lap, of his thick, firm arms surrounding her, of the note of panic in his voice.
But she couldn’t seem to stop crying. What was wrong with her?
Finally, he grew silent and just rocked her. She grasped hold of his shirt with her good hand, holding it close to her nose as she sucked on her thumb.
She didn’t know why, but she’d discovered the other day that she liked scrunching up his shirt in her hand while sucking her thumb. Hayes had tried to get her to suck her pacifier instead.
But it just wasn’t the same.
“I’m sorry, baby. I made a mistake, didn’t I?”
She took in a deep breath and forced herself to let him go, leaning back. He was ready with a tissue, wiping her face and holding it up so she could blow her nose.
Devi still thought that a bit gross. But she blew and he threw the tissue away, brushing back her hair.
“I thought you shouldn’t make a big decision while in the hospital. So I went to Michelle in secret. Didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m not upset.” Then she grimaced. “I mean, I’m not crying because you did that without telling me. Although you shouldn’t do that.” She shook a finger at him and he gently nipped it.
Rude.
Now she couldn’t remember her train of thought. Oh, right.
“I was crying because . . . I’ve been upset with myself for giving up so easily on the exhibition. For not trying to figure out a way to get the money. And you . . . you and Michelle . . . I get my exhibition?”
“Yes, baby. We’ll have to go back to Angel a few days before the exhibition, but Michelle seems to have it all under control.”
She buried her face back into his chest. “Thank you, Hayes. Thank you so much.”
He hugged her tight. “Anything for my girl.”
Devi was sitting on Hayes’ lap on the front porch with a blanket over her when she saw movement between the trees.
Hayes sighed as she stiffened.
“Is someone there?” she asked.
Truthfully, she thought someone would have visited before now. Well, other than Kent and Eden who had returned a few times.
Maybe they didn’t want to meet her?
“Yes, a naughty little someone. Daisy, is that you?” he called out.
It was getting rather cold. The storm was close and they’d come out to watch it as they drank hot cocoa. Well, she was. Apparently, Hayes didn’t drink hot cocoa. So weird.
“Yep, it’s me!” A woman with brown hair stepped out. She gave them a shy smile. “Sorry, I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding,” Devi told her, wanting to put her at ease. She had her hands clenched together as she shifted from foot to foot.
“Is there something wrong?” Hayes asked.
“I, um, wanted to come and say hi! Jed said we had to leave you alone for a while because Devi was recovering. But I didn’t want you to think we were being rude by not coming over.”
“Oh. I thought . . . it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to meet you.” Devi tried to get off Hayes’ lap, but he just held her there.
“You too! We’ve been trying to plan a Welcome to Sanctuary party for you. Once you’re feeling better,” Daisy added.
“Really?” she asked, happiness filling her. “That sounds really nice.”
“It will be. Charlie and Ellie are busy organizing it. But we don’t want to overwhelm you.” Daisy’s gaze shot to Hayes.
“That’s so kind,” Devi told her. “I would like to meet everyone.”
“All right! We’ll go ahead with it. Maybe this Saturday?” Daisy looked from her to Hayes.
Devi turned to look at Hayes who was frowning slightly. “It’s probably too soon. You still get tired easily.”
“It’s not too soon!” she protested. “I’ve been here for ages. I want to meet everyone. Please.”
Hayes sighed, then nodded reluctantly.
“Yay!” Daisy said, clapping her hands. “And if you want to come visit me anytime, you can. I don’t live that far away.”
“Where is Jed?” Hayes suddenly asked. “Does he know you’re here?”
“What? Yes, of course.” Daisy took a step back. “But I should probably be going now . . .”
Suddenly, a large man appeared behind her and Devi let out a small scream. Hayes kept hold of Devi as Daisy bumped into him and turned with a cry.
“Jed!” she cried out. “You scared me.”
The huge man just crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at the smaller woman.
Yikes. He was terrifying.
“Don’t worry,” Hayes said. “He would never harm her.”
“You left.”
“I was coming back!” Daisy told him. “I just came to see Devi and tell her about the party.”
“Without permission.”
“I don’t think I need permission to leave the house.”
“When a storm is coming, you do. You’re supposed to be at home.”
Suddenly, he picked Daisy up, flinging her over his shoulder.
“Jed! Put me down!”
Smack!
His hand landed on Daisy’s ass and she went still and quiet.
Then, to Devi’s shock, Jed winked at her. Why did people keep winking at her? Then he left just as quietly as he’d arrived.
“Did that . . . did that really just happen?” Devi asked.
“Yes, that was Daisy and Jed.”
“He’s terrifying.”
“He would never harm you or any woman on the ranch. If you need anything and I’m not around, you can go to him.”
Right. She’d have to be brave to ask that man for anything.
“You sure you’re okay about the party, baby?” He cupped her chin, tilting her head back.
Shit. Was she?
She’d gotten excited at the idea but now . . . it sounded daunting. And then there was her face. Her hand moved up to her cheek, but he drew it away with a frown.
“You are beautiful. Scar or not. And everyone will love you.”
“Why? Because you’re going to tell them to?” she joked.
But he was serious as he nodded. “I will.”
“Hayes! You can’t do that!” she cried as a roar of thunder hit. She jumped in fright.
“Why not?”
“B-because that’s not the way things work. You can’t make people like me.”
He just raised his eyebrows. Oh, he was terrible.
“It won’t mean anything if they’re made to like me. I just want them to like me for me.”
His face softened. “Of course they’ll like you for you. It would be impossible not to.”
Devi turned so she was straddling his lap.
She could hear the rain against the roof of the porch, but she was cozy and comfortable where she was.
She cupped his face with her hand. She wasn’t very experienced with sex and had yet to initiate anything with him.
She’d let him make all the moves. But right now, she wanted to kiss him. Badly.
So she leaned in and brushed her lips against his. A soft moan escaped her and she ran her tongue over his lips. It didn’t take long for him to kiss her back, to take over.
But she didn’t mind. She liked when he seized control. During sex, anyway.
Other times, she needed to find a way to get him to ease up a bit.
He cupped her breast. She wasn’t wearing a bra. They were too much of a nuisance with her hand. He then pushed his hand under her top and toyed with her nipple as his other hand squeezed the back of her neck.
“What’s this then?” he asked. “Does my baby girl need me?”
“Always.”
He moved and she let out a small noise of protest as she realized he was going to carry her inside. “Out here. Please.”
His gaze narrowed. “It’s too cold for you.”
“You’ll keep me warm.”
She thought he was going to protest, but his face softened. “You’re right. I will.”
He cupped her face, kissing her. This time his kiss was filled with hunger. Another moan escaped her and she found herself moving against him, trying to find some friction against her clit.
“My baby wants to come doesn’t she?” he murmured.
“Yes,” she murmured. “I do.”
He lifted her off his lap and she let out a protest. Reaching out, he put a finger against her lips. “I don’t have anything on me for protection.”
A noise of frustration hit her. “I want to go on birth control.” So then he could take her wherever and whenever.
“We can do that. But right now, I need to go and get something. Stay right here.”
He wrapped the blanket around her and walked inside. Hmm, now she was wondering if this was a good idea. What if someone else walked up to their cabin?
Although it was now raining more heavily and had grown quite dark so that seemed unlikely.
Hayes quickly returned and drew her into his arms, kissing her deeply before he pulled off her sweater and the t-shirt underneath.
Then he crouched and stripped off her pants and panties.
Now, she was naked except for the blanket wrapped around her.
He stripped off his own clothes, setting a condom down on top of the pile before he sat back and drew her onto his lap.
And then she was straddling him, rubbing herself against his firm cock.
“Please, please,” she begged as he cupped her breast.
“You are so fucking beautiful, aren’t you?” he murmured. “Such a gorgeous, sexy girl. And all mine.” He moved his hand lower, cupping her mound. Then one finger slid between her slick lips. She moaned at the feeling. He drove his finger in deep, adding a second one and thrusting.
“Oh. Oh.”
“My girl is so turned on. She needs to be fucked, doesn’t she?”
“Yes, yes, please,” she begged.
The blanket was wrapped around her back, protecting her from the cold. Not that she’d likely feel anything. All she could focus on was the feel of him against her.
Reaching down, he grabbed the condom and slid it on his dick. Her breathing grew faster and then he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her onto him, driving himself deep inside her.
And she rode him. Gently at first, then faster, firmer. As the storm raged around them, her heart raced, her need grew. He used his thumb to toy with her clit, seeming to know just what she needed to push her over the edge and into bliss.
Throwing her head back, she screamed as she came. His own roar joined hers as she clamped down around his firm dick. As the last of the shudders of pleasure left her, she slumped forward, leaning against him.
“That’s my good girl. My precious, sweet girl.” He continued to whisper words of praise to her as she sat there, unable to believe that this was her life now.
That this man was hers.
Forever.