Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Ben suggested a tree house celebration the next day.
All hands had lunch after a productive morning, continuing the construction begun the day before.
Under Knox’s supervision, Cooper was having lunch with the Prentice boys and giggling so hard at Dylan hamming it up that he kept falling backward.
Tank barked every time he did. She couldn’t help but grin.
Everyone was happy, and the happy sounds of hammering and saws only added to the rough melody of progress—real, tangible progress.
“I wish I could ask them to hang around and build your school next.” He sent her a playful wink after checking on Cooper one last time. “Except I have plans I need your help drawing up and then more official stuff out the wazoo.”
My very own school! She laced her fingers through his as they walked to the barn. “We’ll get there, cowboy.”
Barney had their horses saddled when they arrived and she practically flew over to Flame. They were friends again, thank God. She hugged her, feeling her heart swell as her horse nuzzled her back. “See. Isn’t this better?”
A horse snort was her answer, making her laugh. She pulled away to see Ben talking to Hudson, who moments later rode off on another horse, sending her a quick wave. She returned it and watched as Ben took the picnic basket Barney handed him and strapped it to his saddle. “Ready?”
Her belly tightened. Was she ever? She couldn’t get enough of him, and no surprise, he was the same. Their alone time together was precious. He was precious. She loved showing him how much every chance they had.
His hands squeezed her waist with a promise she knew he meant to make good on before lifting her into the saddle. “Race you there.” They both knew they didn’t have much time.
The heat blazing in his slumberous eyes had her knocking his cowboy hat off playfully, and then she was off.
She had to take it slow from a trot to a canter until they reached the open space leading to the woods on the north face of Wild Mountain, so she heard him behind her.
Craning in her saddle, she looked back to see him watching her. Oh, the thrill.
He’s already imagining what he’s going to do to me, and I can’t wait.
Spurring Flame into a gallop, she gave a loud call and charged ahead. She barely reached the tree house before he did, her blood already racing and perspiration beading between her breasts. She felt alive and free and so very much in love.
Turning toward him, she watched him lead Orion over. His stride was purposeful, determined. There was no way they were going to picnic. They’d be lucky to shove some food in their mouths before they needed to head back. Ask her if she cared.
After tying Flame’s reins to a nearby branch, she climbed the ladder and waited for him to join her.
She savored the fast beating of her heart in anticipation and the way her breath was beginning to grow more shallow from wanting him.
Her body was tight with longing. The picnic basket appeared first, and moments later, he appeared.
Tall, strong, and all man. Standing before her, he met her gaze head-on, his heavy-lidded with desire.
“You can’t know how much I want you right now.”
She could feel a wide smile crest over her lips as she flicked the first button on her shirt open. “I can’t wait for you to show me.”
He ripped open his shirt, the snaps popping. “You’re going too slow.”
The husky intimacy of his voice was sexy as hell.
Driving him mad with a playfully, flirtatious pace had always thrilled her and made him extra lusty.
She continued the slow unbuttoning of her shirt as he threw his to the floor and started undoing his belt.
He undressed with the haste of a man with a deep thirst, cursing when his cowboy boots took longer to yank off.
When they thudded to the floor, she ran her eyes over his naked body.
All mine.
His chest was wider now and lined with muscles that rippled down his washboard stomach. The arousal he had for her was obvious, and she grew more heated as she continued her lazy sweep of his body. Strong thighs and calves, ones she hadn’t given enough attention to, she decided.
Walking toward him, she left her shirt open but made no move to undress further. He must have known her plans because his eyes fired. “Have mercy, woman,” he said in a deeply guttural voice.
She fell to her knees before him and looked up. “Don’t worry. You can take it, cowboy.”
And he did, both of them enjoying his pleasure. When he’d finally loosened his hold on her head, he lifted her swiftly to her feet. “Your turn.”
After giving her a white-hot kiss that had her clutching him to her, he swung her up in his arms. Carrying her to the bed, he stripped her clothes off with quick, economical movements. “Now, you’re going to take everything I give you.”
He was a thorough man, a man of his word. By the time his mouth had traveled from her lips to her core, she was a moaning mass of sensation, and when she came, she reared up, seeking more of the pleasure only he could give her.
When she finally opened her eyes, he was there, waiting for her. Opening her legs wider, she made room for his body and welcomed the first deep thrust. He paused, holding still as their hearts throbbed in time with each other.
“God, I love you,” he rasped, dropping his forehead onto her shoulder. “I hope you know how much.”
She drew him closer, knowing this was when he was the most vulnerable, racked with so much love and want that it sometimes made you fear you were breaking apart. “I love you too. Now move.”
That had him lifting his head and giving her a sexy grin. “Yes, ma’am.”
He surged into her, watching her reaction, increasing his pace until he made her moan.
She wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on.
Rolling onto his back, he let her set the pace.
Her head dropped back as he gripped her hips.
She rode him with love, like she could never get enough of him, and then she took him home.
His hoarse shout had her smiling as he came, and then she let the waves of his release free her to another level of ecstasy.
Slumping onto his chest, she felt him gather her to his hot skin, wrapping her up as they trembled and pulsed in the aftermath. Nothing needed to be said. The moment was enough. It always was. This deep and powerful call of man and woman coming together in love.
“You alive?” he finally asked, tickling the side of her neck.
She swatted at him, moaning a little when her body moved against his in a way that sent another wave of desire through her. “More than. Ready for another round.”
He snorted. “Food first. I need all the fuel I can get with you. Hannah, it’s never been hotter.”
She slapped his beautiful behind as he lifted her and rolled off the bed for the picnic basket. They ate quickly before tangling up again, this time with Ben behind her calling the shots. She reveled in every second.
“I wish we had longer,” he said quietly after, kissing her neck. “Stolen moments aren’t enough. I want to give you more—”
“You do.” She turned in his arms and linked her arms around his neck. “Don’t you know? Every moment with you is my slice of heaven.”
He kissed her slowly, cradling her face in his hands, filling her with all the love and tenderness in his heart as she did the same. When he edged back, he traced her cheek. “Think that will do for now?”
She knew when he needed a little lightness. Sometimes the journey of sharing body and soul took you outside your normal self. “I don’t know, cowboy. Ask me in an hour.”
A choked laugh was his reaction, and he kissed her swiftly in thanks. “I will. Now hustle on over to your corner and dress while I hustle over to mine.”
He packed up their leftovers and cleaned up before dressing swiftly as she did the same. “You peeking?” she teased.
“No, ma’am.” He smacked his lips. “Too much temptation. What about you?”
“I watched every inch of you.”
His groan had her sashaying across the small room. “All right, that’s all I can take right now. You keep your hands to yourself.”
She lifted a brow. “Me? Ben, I’m the soul of propriety.”
He muffled his laughter, although there was an amused gleam in his eyes. “Uh-huh. Come on. Let’s head back. Later, we’ll see about meeting up in the hayloft tonight.”
“Maybe the extra help can renovate the root cellar,” she teased as he descended the ladder with the picnic basket in one hand.
She was aware of him below her, making sure she didn’t misplace a foot. Ben McAllister was always going to be protective. When she reached the ground, he put his arm around her waist as they walked to the horses.
“I’m glad we had this time.” He kissed the top of her head. “I felt a little guilty about being away with everyone over to help, but I told myself Cooper was having the time of his life and Will was in charge, not me. Sometimes I worry about casting too big a shadow.”
As she looked at him in the dappled sunlight, her heart swelled in her chest. That he understood how he had that power and wanted to make sure Will had his own place to be his own man… “You’re one of the good ones, Ben McAllister.”
He lifted a shoulder, clearly embarrassed. “Get on your horse, sweet pea.”
She gave a happy wiggle. “Am I being cute?”
Cupping her behind playfully, he laughed. “What do you think?”
Orion and Flame spooked, and she jumped at their agitation as Ben tensed and swung his head around. A shiver passed over her a moment before she heard the voice.
“You son of a bitch.”
She froze as Owen appeared from around the trunk of a nearby tree. He had a gun, and blood trickled down the side of his face. But it was the look in his eyes…
Ben shoved her behind him quickly. My God. He’s here to kill us. Heart rapping in her chest, she heard herself start to breathe loudly.
“Don’t be stupid, Kincaid,” Ben said in a calm voice. “There are two hundred people on the spread today. They’ll hear a gunshot. You won’t get away.”
“I got around your ‘guard.’” He staggered closer. “Sure, he took down two of my guys before I put him down, but it might be better this way. I kill you. Plant the gun. My guys take the fall.”
His voice sounded slurred to her. Was he drunk or hurt? She peeked around Ben’s shoulder.
“A gun is for cowards,” Ben ground out in a frightening voice. “Why don’t you put it down and fight me like a man?”
Owen’s laugh sounded evil. “Fight you? You really do think I’m stupid? I’m going to kill you, McAllister, because that puts Cooper back with Amber. And since my dad gave the ranch to your brat, we need him to have what’s ours. You shouldn’t have taken the Flying K from me.”
Oh my God, he was crazy. She looked around for a rock or anything to use to distract him. They needed to get out of here.
“I die, my family raises Cooper,” Ben said flatly. “You accomplish nothing.”
“We’ll see.” His dark eyes flattened. “Taft is on our side now, and he’s got plans. You’ve left us with nothing. Nothing! Now, stop hiding little old Hannah, ’cause I’ve got plans for her. After I kill you, I’m going to do what I’ve wanted to for a long time.”
That sent a sheer bolt of terror through her. Kill Ben and then rape her? She gripped Ben’s arms.
Ben stared him down, his voice steady but with an edge. “You’ll have to kill me before I let you get to her.”
“Fine.”
A shot exploded. She jerked with a shriek as Ben’s body slammed into her and took her down to the ground, lying partially on top of her.
The wind knocked out of her, so she could only clutch his arms and gasp. “Ben.”