Wolf Ranch: Wild: Wolf Ranch - Book 2

by Renee Rose

Jackpot. This was something I could do with her. Without touching. We’d be separated by horses. In the open air. I’d be able to control myself.

  “Well, sweetness, you get that cake all prettied up, and we’ll carry it down to the bunk house fridge. Then we’ll go on a horseback ride.” I leaned in, swiped a bit of frosting off the spatula and whispered, “I like knowing this will be your first time.”

  She paused. “I’m not sure. I have to be back to help Audrey get ready.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get you back in time. Besides, you’re leaving soon to go back to LA for school.”

  Her eyes widened, and she swore under her breath.

  “What’s the matter?”

  She shook her head. “Nothing. You just reminded me I have to connect with my dad about the tuition. I’ll send him another text.”

  With her mind clearly back off that random tangent, I said, “You’ve got to ride a horse while you’re here.”

  She blushed, even though we’d done some pretty kinky shit and was far from innocent. “Okay.”

  I had no idea why taking her for a horseback ride was what I wanted to do with her. No, I did. I’d show her around the property, see what life could be like living here. With me. And we’d keep our clothes on.

  “Good girl.”

  13

  MARINA

  * * *

  I jogged down the stairs in my sneakers to meet Colton, breathless. I’d washed up and changed into a pair of jeggings so my bare thighs wouldn’t stick to the saddle and threw some sunscreen on. Audrey had warned me about the high-altitude sunburns, and that was the last thing I needed in wedding photos.

  I couldn’t wait to go horseback riding. Actually, I couldn’t wait to spend more time with Colton. Yeah, he’d made it clear he was done with the physical portion of our time together. I’d come right out and said it, and he hadn’t contradicted me. He hadn’t thrown me down on the counter to smear frosting all over my body and lick it off. But I would swear he’d wanted to. I’d thought women were the ones to give mixed signals. He’d pulled back, that was obvious, but the way he looked at me…

  I didn’t know what to think.

  It had taken a while to finish all the decorative flowers on the cake, but Colton had chatted with me, but mostly sat quietly while I worked. Just watching. Again, the whole looking thing. I wasn’t sure if he was naturally patient, or it was a skill honed after years in the military. Either way, I liked that the silence had been comfortable between us. I just liked his presence.

  It wasn’t that I’d never been the subject of male attention before. I had. Boys in high school. The engineering guys. Even some cute cowboys at the bar the night before. But I knew better than to get attached because guys left.

  My father left… or never came around. The guy from college had ditched me for my lab partner. Colton was leaving. I knew it. He hadn’t fed me lies to get in my pants. I’d been the one to be sneaky. I’d gotten into his pants under false pretenses.

  I shouldn’t be upset. I wasn’t. Okay, I was, but I couldn’t be at him. He’d done nothing wrong. In fact, he’d done exactly what I expected and maybe that was what hurt. I thought he was… more. Different. He was giving me everything I needed. Attention, devotion, ravenous affection, consideration. I had no idea I craved all of that, but now that I had it, I wasn’t going to be able to go back to less.

  Except I couldn’t rely on him. Not for the long run. I’d leave and keep an eye out for a man who wanted to stick. With me.

  Colton fit the profile of a real man more than any of them in the past. Only he wasn’t some trumped up fantasy to use with my vibrator. He was right here, very much in the flesh, and I’d thought he’d returned my interest. He did, but in a hands off, no sex sort of way.

  Fine. We’d ride horses. There was no way I could jump him if he were sitting on a different horse, right?

  When I arrived downstairs, he held my cake on the platter, examining it from every angle. “This truly is a work of art, Marina. Did you work in a bakery or something?”

  The pale pink and white flowers daintily circled the base of each layer, then spread like a garland up one side. At the top, two larger flowers were the centerpiece. It did look nice. A tad rustic without the smooth fondant often seen on some wedding cakes, but Audrey’s wedding was in a barn. I thought it matched well, and so did Colton.

  I shrugged, but I felt my cheeks heat from his praise. My girlfriends always raved about the cakes I made for their birthdays, but this was the first wedding cake I’d done. Somehow, Colton’s words meant more to me than anyone else’s. Besides Audrey’s, since this cake was for her and Boyd.

  “Nope. I’m self-taught. I’ve always loved to bake.”

  He studied it for another moment, rotating it in a circle, so he could see it from all sides. “It really is a talent. Let’s get it in the fridge before it melts or slides off the plate or something.”

  He carried the cake with as much or more care and reverence as I would out of the house and down the drive. I walked beside him, opening doors, so he didn’t have to do anything but carry the cake. God, if it dropped now...

  Once we’d safely stowed the cake in the bunkhouse refrigerator—and told Johnny and the other guys not to touch it or deal with Audrey—Colton took me out to the stables and introduced me to a pretty pinto mare. “This is Lucy. She’s a doll. She’ll be perfect for you.”

  I knew nothing about stables, but I guessed this one held twenty or so horses based on the number of stall doors. The space was long with open doors on both ends to let in the natural light and fresh air. While the pungent scent of horses was unmistakable, the space was clean and clearly well-maintained.

  I came up to the animal’s nose, and I had no idea how I was going to get on top of her. “Oh, she’s beautiful. May I pet her?” I looked to Colton who was watching me. He nodded and gave me a smile. He set his hand on her flank first, stroked her soft coat.

  “Sure.” Colton took my hand and placed it on her neck. “Nice and easy, like this. Are you nervous?”

  “No,” I lied. I was, but I didn’t want to be. “Horses are so big. And she’s watching me.”

  “She knows a pretty girl when she sees one.”

  The mare shifted and chuffed, and I tried to tug my hand away, but Colton held it in place.

  “She won’t hurt you, but she can pick up on your nerves. The truth is, horses are telepathic. She hasn’t seen me in years, but she’s comfortable because I’m letting her know I’m in charge here. I’m in control, and she doesn’t have to be afraid. I don’t hide my energy from her, or who I am.”

  I looked up at Colton. “Like with me,” I murmured.

  His dark gaze held mine, dropped to my lips. “That’s right. I’m in charge.”

  A ripple of energy ran between us, but the sexual charge was laced with pain for me because he’d backed off. We weren’t having sex any more, apparently. I wanted to dare him, to say, show me, Sergeant Major. Maybe tease him into using one of those riding crops on me or something kinky, but I’d lost my nerve with him.

  Instead, I returned to his earlier statement. “Do you think I’m hiding?”

  “It’s hard to explain. You have to sort of let Lucy feel your energy. Try this. Tell her telepathically that you’re going to ride her, and you love her.”

  It surprised me to hear Mr. Military Cowboy talking about energy, but I loved it. I followed his guidance and closed my eyes to project my thoughts to the horse. She whinnied, and when I opened my eyes, she nuzzled me. “It worked!” I exclaimed.

  Colton grinned at me as he opened the stall door and fit a muzzle on Lucy. “See? You’re a natural.”

  “But I’m not in charge of her. I think she might be in charge of me,” I said.

  “Nah, she knows what’s up. Don’t worry, little girl. I’ll be here. We’ll make a cowgirl out of you yet.”

  A cowgirl. I liked that. I pictured myself riding on a horse in braids and a cowgirl hat like Leigh fr
om last night, and it made me smile. I looked down at my sneakers. “I think I need to start with some boots.”

  “Sure, sweetness. You ride Lucy and show me how you can be a good cowgirl, I’ll get you the boots.”

  Okay, maybe he was still into me. I couldn't be misinterpreting his attention, could I? Or the way he looked at my body? With heat smoldering behind those dark brown eyes.

  He was probably into me but didn’t want to get too deep in this thing, since we were both leaving at the end of the week. I understood. I’d worried about the same thing.

  I beamed at him because I had no idea how much I wanted a pair of dang boots. Or how much I like the way Colton was smiling at me. And we had our clothes on.

  Despite the mixed signals from my military cowboy, Montana was soothing to my body and soul. Not just Colton, but this place. It was nothing like LA. When I pictured myself staying here, my whole body hummed with possibility. Kind of like some people pictured themselves on a beach to relax. Or by a waterfall.

  For me, it was this. The open range. The broad blue sky. The majestic mountains. I felt like I was… home.

  Add to that my very own military cowboy riding beside me—even though I was silly to think he was mine—and it was perfection.

  I watched as Colton put a saddle on Lucy and led her outside, then readied a big brown mare with a black mane for himself. “This is Cinnamon. She’s got a little more spirit in her than Lucy, but she’s been well-trained.”

  “Who trains the horses?” I asked as Colton beckoned me over to the fence and helped me climb it.

  “Rob and all of the ranch hands. You met Johnny, Levi and Clint. Now Boyd, since he quit the rodeo. We breed horses here. Tame wild ones, too.”

  “So it’s a horse ranch?” I felt stupid for not even knowing how the ranch made money.

  “We have cattle, too.” He pointed to the fields in the distance where I saw black cows dotting the landscape. We’ve got bulls we stud and sell free-range beef.”

  I noted that he still said, “we,” even though he hadn’t been here in a dozen years. That boded well for him moving back.

  “The ranch is huge.”

  “Sure is. Been in the family for generations.”

  I studied him. “You’re proud of it.”

  He frowned. “Damn straight.”

  “Then why do you stay away so long? I mean, you could work here with your brothers, right?”

  He nodded as he held my hand to steady me as I swung a leg over Lucy, then adjusted my stirrups and handed me the reins.

  “It wasn’t the right time,” he said, then helped me onto Lucy.

  But now it might be? Why was I rooting for that outcome? Did I have a horse in this race? No. He’d never said what we were, but it was clear now it had just been a little fun. No one just quit the military, certainly not for me. I’d heard of people being AWOL. He had to go back. There were procedures, surely. Our time was limited, but it was hard to think that on a pretty day as I was about to go for a horseback ride with the hottest guy on the planet.

  Yes. I wanted him to leave the military and settle here because unlike the east coast, I would be sure to see him again. I’d visit Audrey for Christmas and soon after, have to visit my new niece or nephew.

  Or maybe…

  Maybe he’d give me a different reason to visit.

  No. God, it felt dangerous to even entertain that thought. I was falling hard for this guy, the guy who’d kissed me on the forehead and pushed me into a separate bedroom the night before. That screamed I’m done.

  Maybe he’d decided I was too young after all. I wracked my brain, trying to think if I’d done anything particularly immature last night. I hadn’t been too tipsy at the bar. Or made a college-girl scene. But he’d been hands-off before we went out. I’d gotten the disgruntled vibe from him during dinner.

  I patted Lucy’s neck, more for my comfort than hers.

  I was getting my hopes up about us turning into a long-term thing. It was totally foolish and unrealistic. I had a year left of school, and long distance relationships were difficult at best. I knew because I’d watched my freshman roommate try to navigate one with her high school sweetheart. It had fallen apart about six months into the game. And it hadn’t been pretty.

  Colton wasn’t an eighteen-year-old college freshman. He was thirty and a Green Beret. He’d head back to North Carolina and forget about me and our fling. He was already putting distance between us now. And once he left, I couldn’t compete with other women, especially with out of sight, out of mind.

  Colton mounted his mare with far more grace than I would expect from a guy his size, and he clicked his tongue, urging both our horses forward. “You okay, sweetness?” he asked, adjusting his hat low on his head to block the sun. With that, he was an official cowboy. Panty melting.

  When my horse lurched into motion, I squealed. I’d think about leaving later. Right now, I wanted to just have some fun.

  “Never been better!” I called out as I held the reins and let Lucy take me wherever it was we were going. And it was true. Colton was beside me. I was trusting him in this just like everything else since we first met. I liked it. No, I loved it, and him, too. Despite my attempts to keep it from engaging, my heart was already soaring above us, basking in the warm fingers of the sun and the morning breeze. The smell of earth and grass and leather. Glowing with pleasure at the delicious male attention that kept coming my way.

  Colton was going to get a crick in his neck if he kept looking over his shoulder at me, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Because every time he looked at me with such indulgence, such fondness, I melted a little more.

  14

  COLTON

  * * *

  I took Marina out into the open fields and showed her how to take Lucy into a gallop. She whooped and laughed with the joy of it, her face shining with life. She was so fucking beautiful with her blonde hair bouncing off her shoulders, her eyes alight. And that smile. Fuck, it made my wolf happy, and it hit me square in the heart.

  I’d had women, appreciated even more, but her smile ruined me. All that and on the back of a horse like the cowgirl-in-training she was. I was a goner because she took to it like a natural. I was surprised when anyone hadn’t ridden a horse before, but I’d pretty much grown up on one. Watching her though, made it better for me. I was sharing something of myself, something I loved, without any words.

  Not just the riding—the land. It was the best way to see it, on the back of a horse. I took her closer to the mountains, followed a stream for a bit, but the views… fuck, I’d forgotten how pretty it was here. Peaceful. Quiet. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I was back.

  In the past, I’d been fine driving away once leave was over. I never thought twice about heading back to base. But now, with hindsight and all, I had to wonder why I was so eager for a deployment, for living in a sandbox with the enemy for months when I had this. Sure, I was proud to serve my country, but had that been the reason I’d enlisted in the first place? Had I been eighteen and eager to get the fuck out of Montana?

  Yes.

  I wasn’t eighteen anymore.

  I stopped when we crossed over onto Old Man Shefield’s place. The view was to the east side of the valley. Pretty as a picture.

  I leaned on the pommel and pointed. “This is our neighbor’s ranch, but he died this past year.”

  She looked my way. “Oh. Is it okay that we’re over here?”

  “Of course. We were close with Shefield. We’ve been looking after his place for him since he broke a hip a few years back, and he had to go stay in Billings.”

  “Who owns it now?”

  “Well, according to Rob, some niece of his inherited the place, but she hasn’t been around yet to claim it. It’s no matter because we’ll look after the property for her.”

  Well, my brothers would. But I was already starting to think of myself as living here again. Staying. Getting involved in the daily operations. I had t
o figure out where my little niche would be. Maybe I’d settle into one of the smaller cabins in the hills just like Boyd had. I looked to Marina, wondering if she’d like that. Montana in the winter was for the hardy and a cabin almost off the grid wasn’t for the weak.

  She was strong, and I sure as fuck would keep her warm.

  “Isn’t there some hot spring and waterfall here?” Marina asked.

  “You know about that?”

  “Audrey told me Boyd took her there. Sounded like fun. A secret spot.” She sighed.

  “Of course, he did.” I chuckled. It was the perfect place to take a date. In high school, we used to sneak over there at night with girls from the pack. Never when the moon was full, though. We knew better than to fuck around with raging hormones, she-wolves and the full moon. It was a good way to mark a female who wasn’t your mate, and then you’d be saddled with her for the rest of your life.

  The full moon was tonight, and in the broad daylight, I could feel the madness creeping in once again. My mind was filled with animalistic visions of tugging Marina off her horse and onto the ground. Settling her beneath me in the soft grass, fucking her mercilessly while I bared my teeth, ready for the mating bite. Came deep in her pussy as she screamed her pleasure, only to mark her neck for the world to see.

  Fuck. I might not make it through the full moon without losing my shit.

  I wouldn’t be able to go back to base like this, especially after she went back to LA. I’d have to retire. I couldn’t live with moon madness and stay in the military. It was too dangerous. I would be too dangerous. If I remained here on the ranch, at least the others would understand. I could shift. Run. Survive.

  Maybe if I could keep up with her when she was back in LA, it would keep me from going insane. It was long distance or… death. Which meant we needed to get to know each other better. Out of bed. She’d quizzed me this morning about my life. I needed to do the same. I trotted my horse beside hers.

  “So what kind of engineer are you? I never asked.”