Warrior's Resolve (Iron Horse Legacy Book 5)

by Elle James

He flicked the tight bead with the tip of his tongue and swirled it around in his mouth.

  His groin tightened, and his cock hardened. He wanted to be inside her, but he wanted to please her first.

  Tasting the other nipple, he flicked and toyed with it until her fingers slipped through his hair and pulled gently.

  “Please,” she said.

  He chuckled. “Please what?”

  “More, please,” she said.

  Instead of teasing her nipples, he lowered her to her feet and lathered a bar of soap in his hands. With great care to touch every part of her body, he smoothed soap across her skin, over her shoulders, the mounds of her breasts and lower. His fingers slid over her ribs, along the curve of her waist and down to the juncture of her thighs.

  Molly captured his hand and pressed it over her sex. With her other hand, she gripped him in her palm and ran her fingers over the length of him.

  Parker thrust into her grip. “You tempt me.”

  “I hope I more than tempt you,” she whispered and raised her mouth for his kiss.

  He pressed his lips to hers, pushing his tongue past her teeth to taste hers. She was soft, yielding and more beautiful than he could have imagined. Under the tough cowgirl exterior was a soft, curvy woman who fit him perfectly.

  She took the soap from him and lathered her hands. Then she ran them over his entire body, taking her sweet time, making him so hard and so desperate to be inside her, he could hardly breathe.

  He stepped beneath the shower head, bringing her with him. When all the soap was rinsed away, he started his own exploration of her body with his mouth, kissing a path from her lips down her neck to first one, then the other breast.

  He wanted to take his time, but his body urged him to move it along, go a little faster, and get to the business of pleasing this woman. He dropped to his knees, water running over his head and shoulders as he kissed her belly and down to the tuft of hair over her sex.

  With his thumbs, he parted her folds and touched her there with his tongue.

  Molly moaned. Her fingers, buried in his hair, kneaded his scalp in frenetic circles. “Parker,” she said. “I can’t.”

  “Can’t?”

  “Can’t wait. Please, I want you inside me.”

  “Not yet. You’re not there.”

  “I’m so close,” she whispered.

  He flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue.

  Molly’s body jerked, her hips thrusting toward him.

  He flicked her again, his hands cupping the backs of her thighs to bring her closer.

  Her muscles tightened in his grip, and her body stiffened.

  Parker flicked again, swirling his tongue around that little strip of flesh, until she threw back her head and her fingers dug into his scalp. “Parker,” she cried softly.

  When she finally drew a breath, he released her and straightened to his full height. The water was cooling on his back. He turned it off, reached for a towel and dried her quickly.

  “Please, tell me it’s not over,” she said, her voice strained.

  “I hope not,” he said and handed her a dry towel.

  She dried him, taking her time to carefully dry him down there. When she was done, he slipped into his shorts and wrapped her robe around her beautiful body. Snagging the foil packets from the counter, he unlocked the door.

  A quick peek out into the hallway, and he turned to her. “All clear. Your room or mine?”

  She smiled. “Mine. Your room is my brother Angus’s. No. Not happening there.”

  He grinned, took her hand and hurried across the hall.

  Once they were inside her room, he closed the door, turned the lock and tugged the robe from her body. He slipped out of his shorts, lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed in the center of the room.

  He carefully laid her on the mattress and crawled up onto the bed between her legs.

  She parted her knees, bringing them up, her heels pressing into the comforter.

  Parker tossed one of the packets onto the pillow beside her and tore open the other with his teeth.

  She extracted the condom and rolled it down his shaft, and then positioned him at her entrance. “Now,” she said. “All the way. I need you to fill me all the way.”

  He nudged her slick entrance, testing how tight she was. When he slid into her, he did so a little at a time.

  Molly grabbed his ass and slammed him home.

  Parker sucked in a breath and held it, buried deep inside her tightness, his cock rejoicing, encased in her heat.

  Then he moved, sliding almost all the way out.

  She pulled him back in, setting the pace, moving his hips faster and faster until he took control and pumped in and out, harder and harder.

  Her feet dug into the mattress as she lifted up to meet him thrust for thrust. Then her body went rigid, and she dug her fingernails into his buttocks. Her eyes squeezed shut, her breathing ragged. “Yessss.”

  Parker shot to the stars. He pushed deep inside her and held still as his shaft pulsed his release.

  When at last his body relaxed, he sank down on top of her and lay for a moment before rolling to the side, taking her with him.

  Molly pressed her lips to his chest. “That was amazing.”

  “Yes, it was,” he said, just getting his breath back.

  “Can we do it again?” she asked flicking her tongue over his nipple.

  He laughed. “Right now?”

  “It doesn’t have to be right now. I just don’t want it to be the last time.”

  He gathered her close in his arms and held her to him. “I don’t want it to be the last either.”

  “I do believe I might be feeling the L word for you.”

  Parker laughed. “Lust.”

  “Definitely that,” she said and sucked at his nipple. “No, the other four-letter L word.”

  Something loosened inside Parker. If she was saying what he thought she was saying, she loved him.

  “I’m feeling that L word for you, as well.” He smoothed his hand over her riotous red hair, the damp wave curling around his fingers. “Definitely the lust word and the other four-letter L word.”

  “Mmm. I like that.” She yawned and snuggled close. “Will you still respect me tomorrow?”

  “Even more so, Molly. Even more so.” He kissed her forehead and settled into his pillow.

  Parker was exactly where he wanted to be. Lying naked with this woman who was brave, yet vulnerable, strong, yet gentle and more beautiful in her natural state than any beauty pageant winner.

  He hoped that their effort to flush out Mr. McKinnon’s captor didn’t go south. If all went well and they got Mr. McKinnon back alive, he wanted to tell Molly what L word he was feeling for her. Then he’d take an even riskier step and ask her father for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

  A lot was riding on the fundraiser for the Lucky Lady Lodge. He hoped it worked out the way they planned. And if they did manage to tempt the snake out of the grass, that he would be easy to identify and take down. More than that, he hoped they’d find Mr. McKinnon and bring him home alive.

  Chapter 12

  “The guys are going to flip when they see you,” Fiona said.

  Emily’s smile was so wide, Molly thought her face was going to split. “I can’t believe it’s you.”

  Bree grinned. “Fiona, that dress…”

  “I know, it’s perfect on her.” Fiona hugged Molly. “If you want it, it’s yours. I never looked that good in it.”

  Jenna sighed. “You’re like…I can’t even describe it.”

  “Cinderella?” Molly said as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The pale green gown complemented her auburn hair. The shimmery fabric fit her body like a second skin, following every curve and the swell of her breasts and hips like it was made for her. “I feel like my fairy godmother used her magic wand on me.” She frowned at herself. “Is that really me?”

  “It is. And you’re beautiful,” her moth
er said from the door.

  Molly turned.

  Her mother wore a long white gown that set off her beautiful salt and pepper hair and green eyes, which were so much like Molly’s.

  “Oh, Mom,” Molly hugged her gently. “Dad always loved that dress on you.”

  “I hope he gets to see it tonight when we find him.” She handed Molly the necklace Hank had given her with the simple gold pendant. “Will you? I shortened the chain so that it would lay better on my neckline.”

  Molly hooked the latch at the back of her mother’s neck and stood back. “I don’t know how you do it. I just hope that when I’m your age I look as good as you.”

  “You’re stunning. You’re going to shock your brothers and take the breath away from your young man.”

  Emily fussed with Molly’s hair that she’d affixed to the back of her head in a loose, messy bun that looked natural yet elegant. “So, are you and Parker officially a thing?”

  Jenna clapped her hands. “Please, say yes. You two are perfect together.”

  Molly shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Has he told you he loves you?” Fiona asked.

  Molly thought about what they’d said to each other the night before after making love. He hadn’t actually said it outright. Did it count? “No. Not yet.”

  “That boy needs to get on it. A girl needs to know where she stands,” Bree said.

  “It’ll happen,” her mother said. She took her daughter’s hand. “You can see it in his eyes. He loves you.”

  “And you can see it in Molly’s eyes that she loves him.” Jenna sighed. “I love a good romance.”

  “Me, too,” Emily said.

  “Are we ready, ladies?” Molly’s mother asked. “Everyone have on their jewelry?”

  All five young women nodded, fingering the necklaces Swede had given them.

  “Then let’s go find the bastard who turned our lives upside down.” Molly’s mother marched from the room, looking elegant and deadly.

  “Stay back,” Jenna said to Molly. “Let us all go down first, and then make your entrance. I want to see their faces when the guys see you.”

  Molly frowned but hung back while the others descended to the bottom of the staircase where the men waited in the foyer.

  When they were all on the ground floor, Molly sucked in a fortifying breath and started down the stairs, one step at a time, concentrating on not falling in the pretty silver heels Emily had loaned her.

  “Holy shit,” Bastian called out. “Is that you, Molls?”

  “What happened to our little sister?” Colin asked Emily. “Was she your science experiment?”

  Emily grinned. “She looks amazing, doesn’t she? I did her hair.”

  “Amazing barely expresses it,” Duncan said, holding Caity in his arms. “You look good, Molly.”

  Molly heard all of what her brothers were saying, but Parker was the only person she saw.

  He stood there in a black suit with a black tie and a crisp white shirt. His hair was slicked back and his chin clean-shaven. He was so handsome he took her breath away.

  Parker’s eyes flared when he saw her, and he followed her progress all the way down the stairs, moving to meet her at the bottom. “Molly.”

  “Parker.”

  “Have you two met?” Bastian teased.

  Molly nodded her head. “We have.”

  “Good, because we need to get going.” Bastian opened the front door and held it for everyone as they left the house.

  Three trucks lined the drive, clean and sparkling.

  “We’re riding with Angus and Bree,” Parker said. “Colin and Emily are riding with Bastian and Jenna.”

  “Who are you riding with, Mom?” Molly asked.

  “I’m riding with Duncan, Fiona and Caity. We’re going by Hank’s to drop Caity with Chuck, Sadie and Daphne. We’ll meet up with you at the lodge.”

  Molly frowned. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  Her mother nodded. “We’ll be fine. Kujo is meeting us at the gate and will follow us to Hank’s. All of Hank’s guys will escort us to the lodge.”

  Molly smiled. “Good. You can’t have too many bodyguards.”

  “True,” her mother said. “Now, go. It’s going to be an eventful night.”

  Parker cupped her elbow, led her out to Angus’s truck and settled her into the back seat.

  Soon, they were on the road to the Lucky Lady Lodge, where they hoped to lure the bad guys out into the open.

  She scooted close to Parker, drawing on his strength for what might come later. Molly hoped the night didn’t end in tragedy. It was time for the McKinnons to claim a happily ever after.

  She loved that she looked good in the dress Fiona had loaned her, and the look on Parker’s face when he’d seen her coming down the steps had been worth the primping and the gallon of hairspray Emily had applied to tame her curls. But if shit hit the fan, Molly would rather have been wearing jeans and her worn but comfortable cowboy boots. A good pair of boots could provide a lot more protection than a flimsy set of high heels.

  Molly pushed back her shoulders and lifted her chin. No matter what she was wearing, if anyone tried to hurt her family, she was going to kick some serious ass.

  Parker wished he’d driven his own vehicle. Sitting in the back seat of Angus’s truck made him anxious. Behind the wheel of his own truck, at least he felt like he had some control over the situation.

  Going into the Lucky Lady Lodge this night was like walking into a pit full of rattlesnakes. He felt certain someone would strike, but he didn’t know who. The uncertainty had his gut in a knot and his fists permanently clenched.

  Having Molly sitting beside him didn’t make the situation any better. She’d been attacked three times. Would tonight be the attackers’ lucky night? Would they finally succeed in capturing Molly or her mother? And if they did, would the McKinnon clan and Hank’s team get to her fast enough to save her life?

  If Parker had been driving his own truck, he would be turning around and taking Molly back to the ranch where he could keep her safe.

  All too soon, they arrived at the front entrance of the lodge. Angus stopped long enough to let his passengers out of the vehicle. Then he drove around to park the truck.

  Parker stood with Bree and Molly until Angus rejoined them.

  As they stepped into the lodge lobby, they were greeted by Lewis Griffith and his wife, Traci.

  “Welcome to the Lucky Lady Lodge,” Lewis boomed. “You don’t know how delighted I am that the entire McKinnon family bought tickets to the dinner and the ball. Thank you. Your donations to the lodge will help to keep the old place in business.”

  Traci held out her hand to Angus. “Angus, glad you could make it to the fundraiser. Every donation counts toward keeping this old place functioning and up to code.”

  “Thank you for inviting us,” Angus said. “We’re always glad to help the community and local businesses. I’m curious, though. I thought the Lucky Lady was doing well. It always seems to have a crowd during the summer.”

  Lewis sighed. “We’ve been here a long time. Expenses continue to rise, what with having to bring old electrical and plumbing systems into the new century. But we’ve kept our prices steady, encouraging people to return year after year. It covers the daily operating expenses, but not the upgrades.”

  “I hope this event gets the funds you need to make those upgrades.”

  “Me too, or we’ll be forced to close and sell.”

  “Oh, we’re not selling,” Traci said. “We’ll find another way to keep the place, but we’re not selling.”

  Lewis smiled at his wife. “For someone who didn’t like the lodge and the history it stands for, my wife has done a complete about face about the place. She’s the one who suggested the fundraiser and did all the marketing and soliciting for donations from individuals and local businesses.” He slipped his arm around his wife’s waist. “She’s amazing when she sets her mind to do something.” The l
odge owner looked past Angus and Molly. “Where’s your mother? I thought she was coming.’

  “She’ll be here soon enough.”

  “Is it too soon for her to be out after the car accident?” Lewis asked.

  “Wild horses couldn’t keep her away,” Angus replied.

  Colin and Bastian arrived and joined the crowd gathering around Lewis and his wife.

  Angus, Bree, Parker and Molly entered the lodge and stood in the lobby where members of the community greeted each other like long lost friends, not people they saw every day.

  Molly introduced Parker to the owner of the diner, Jenna’s boss, the head of her real estate firm and one of the local lawyers. He wouldn’t remember their names by the end of the evening, and he didn’t really care. He was with Molly and she was his only concern for the night.

  By the time they’d made their rounds through the room, shaking hands with more people than Parker had interacted with in a year, Molly’s mother arrived with Duncan and Fiona.

  “Comm check,” Hank’s voice came into the earbud Parker wore. Swede had equipped all the men with communications devices, since they were the ones carrying weapons beneath their jackets.

  “Parker here,” he responded.

  One by one each man checked in.

  A person dressed as a chef tapped a knife against a crystal goblet and announced that dinner was served.

  The dinner guests were escorted to the second floor dining room where place cards identified who was sitting where.

  The McKinnons were spread out all over the vast dining room. At least, the couples were assigned to the same table.

  Mrs. M. was the odd man out, assigned to a table near the front and far enough away from her children that Parker wasn’t happy.

  Molly wasn’t pleased either, if her frown was any indication. “I don’t like that she’s so far away from any of us.”

  “Please, take your seat,” Lewis Griffith said, speaking into a microphone. “The Lucky Lady’s chef has created a wonderful meal for your pleasure tonight. Please…enjoy.”

  Waitstaff carried huge trays of covered plates, laying them out on the tables in front of the guests.

  Molly sat sideways in her seat, her gaze on her mother.