I don’t know what I would have done without them growing up. They’d been my friends, my protectors, and my saviors.
And I’d do anything for them. Anything.
“I’m going to go away for a while,” Joel said. “I need to. But I can’t without knowing who’s looking after the ranch.”
“I can’t. I’ve only got another week of leave,” Van said. “I wasn’t made for ranching anyway.”
“Me neither,” Mac said quietly.
“Don’t look at me,” Caleb added. “I’m happy to help out. But I’ve got to work.”
“And I don’t?” Luke growled.
“You love it here,” Joel said. “I never really saw it before. But since you’ve been back, I’ve noticed how much you enjoy it, without the old man here. You like working the land. Admit it.”
I could see Luke thinking that over.
“You belong here. So does Ariana. Not saying you have to stay forever. I just need some time.” Joel turned to look at me. “And if I decide this is where I want to be, in five years’ time, Ariana can sign the ranch over to me. But I need to get away for a bit.”
“This is Ariana’s home,” Van said quietly.
Luke looked over at me. “Would you live in the city to be with me?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“That’s what I thought. But I’d be lying to us all if I said that was what was best for you. I don’t like the way people treat you around here, and I won’t put up with it. I’ll make that damn clear.” He turned to look at us all. Silence fell. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. Ariana and I will take over the ranch. For a year. That’s it. Then you come back, and we talk about what we’re gonna do.”
Joel nodded. “A year.”
“I’ll need to go back to Boston for a time. I’d rather do it while you’re all here to watch out for her.”
I ignored the part about needing to be watched over. I’d survived all these years without Luke. I could make it a few more days.
“I could come with you.” I offered.
“You could. But I’ll be busy sorting things out so it wouldn’t be much fun. I couldn’t show you around or spend much time with you.”
I nodded. Disappointment and relief mingled inside me.
“Sometimes I think I should have just sold this place to Alton Charles,” Joel muttered.
“What? He offered to buy the ranch?” Caleb asked, clearly surprised.
“Yeah. A few months after Dad was diagnosed. I don’t know whether he figured the old man had signed it over to me or what. Guess he thought since we’re neighbors he’d just join the ranches together.”
“Have you heard from Ashlynn?” Mac asked suddenly. “Will she leave with you?”
“Ashlynn? Leave Bear Ridge where she’s a big fish in a small pond?” Joel snorted. “Since I told her about the ranch, she hasn’t even answered my calls. It’s over.”
“You’re well rid of her,” Van told him.
“I’ll get some drinks for a toast,” Caleb said suddenly. Then he disappeared, coming back with five glasses of scotch. I took mine even though I hated the stuff. I could never understand choosing to drink something that burned your throat.
Caleb raised his glass. “To new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings,” we echoed.
Chapter Eleven
Ariana
Anticipation dashed through my body. I’d excused myself from the others early, wanting to give them some time on their own. But also, because I’d wanted to get ready before Luke returned home. I’d had a quick shower, slathering myself in the vanilla body gel I knew he loved. I’d even shaved my pussy.
I was kneeling in front of the door, my legs spread, my hands resting upturned on my thighs, my head lowered, and my heart racing so fast I worried I might faint. What if he was another hour? What if he didn’t come home alone?
No, he’d be alone.
I took a calming breath and let it out slowly, trying not to listen to the voices in my head telling me this was a damn stupid idea. I wasn’t a seductress. This wasn’t me.
But I wanted to do this. For Luke.
A key rattled in the door, and it opened. I forced myself to keep my head lowered, even though I longed to glance up.
“Holy hell,” Luke drawled.
I risked a quick glance up as he stared down at me, dumbfounded.
“Hello, Sir.”
“Hello, darlin’.” He just continued to stare at me.
“Umm, maybe you could shut the door?”
“What? Oh shit.”
I nearly giggled as he turned and slammed the door shut then locked it. When he turned back, there was a look of intense hunger on his face. “Damn. You could cause a man to lose his mind doing things like this.”
Happiness filled me. The anxiety, the fretting, had all been worth it just to surprise him like this.
“Look up at me.”
I raised my gaze to his.
“You look stunning. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Sir.”
“Luke. I’ve gotten used to you calling me Luke.” I liked calling him Luke rather than Sir. It made it more intimate somehow.
“I wanted to do something for you, something to show you how much I appreciate you.” Love you. I didn’t want to say it. Not yet. In case it was too soon.
“And I appreciate it.” He studied me, his gaze drawn down to my pussy. “You shaved.”
I blushed. “Yes. Do you like it?”
“Darlin’, I love your pussy. I love your sweet scent, your delicious dew, the way you squeal and cry as I eat you. The fact that none of you is hidden from me now is just icing on the cake.” He walked forward, clasping my cheek with his hand. “You ready for a lesson on giving a blowjob?”
My breath caught. Yes. No. Hell. I’d been waiting for this. For the past week, Luke had teased me, tormented me. He’d introduced me to all sorts of things I’d only read about before. But we hadn’t done this yet.
“Yes, Luke.”
“Good, because I need your mouth around my cock so bad.” He ran his hand over my hair. “Undo my jeans.”
With shaking hands, I clumsily undid the buttons on his jeans, then drew them down. “No boxers?”
He grinned. “I showered at the main house, but all my clean underwear is here.”
I smiled back at him. I loved having his stuff here. He’d taken over a couple of my drawers, and his toothbrush was in the bathroom.
I turned my gaze to his cock. It stood up proudly, the head engorged. I had no idea where to begin.
“Grab hold of the shaft, at the base,” he instructed. “Harder. Don’t be scared to be a bit rough. You won’t hurt me.”
Hell, I hoped not.
“Relax, darlin’, you’re not studying for a test. I’m not going to grade you afterward. I want you to have fun too.”
I wasn’t sure I could manage that, but I wanted to do this for him.
“Lick the head, that’s it, all the way around. Good girl.”
Warmth filled me at his words as I licked the head. He had a slightly salty taste, but nothing unpleasant.
“Now take the head into your mouth. That’s it. Suck on it. Take as much of it as you can.” He placed a hand on the back of my head, not exerting any pressure, just guiding me gently as I bobbed my head up and down.
“That’s it, move quickly as you go up then slowly as you take me inside your mouth. You have no idea how good that feels.”
I was surprised to feel myself growing aroused. Just sucking him off had my clit throbbing, and my pussy pulsing with the need to be filled.
“Good. Watch your teeth. That’s more pain than I’m into,” he warned. “Use your tongue to press against me. Faster now. Use your other hand to rub my cock. Fuck yeah.”
His voice had grown husky, and he was now thrusting slightly into my mouth. I moved the hand surrounding his shaft up and down, meeting my lips as I couldn’t get his full length into my mouth. His groans grew lo
uder.
“Cup my balls, darlin’. Give them a light squeeze.”
Shit. I grabbed his balls gently, giving them the slightest squeeze. Last thing I wanted was to hurt him, and I knew men were extra sensitive there.
“Harder. I won’t break.”
I squeezed harder.
“Yes! I’m going to come, Ari. Pull away if you need to.”
Pull away? Was he nuts? I sucked him harder as he moaned loudly, coming in my mouth. The taste was odd but interesting. I swallowed it down, then gave his cock long, lingering licks.
“Enough,” he finally said, pulling back. He looked down at me. “Damn, you’re amazing.”
I blushed. “No, I’m not.”
“Hush, I don’t want you doing that.”
“What?”
“Brushing off compliments like they’re not true. I never say anything I don’t mean. You’re amazing, beautiful, sweet, and kind. Say, ‘yes Luke.’”
“Yes, Luke.”
“Good. Now get on the bed. Lie on your back, legs spread. It’s my turn.”
With a shiver, I jumped up and raced into the bedroom where I eagerly laid back on the bed and waited. When he walked into the bedroom, my heart went into overdrive. He undressed slowly. Damn him, I hated when he made me wait. Still, I knew better than to try and hurry him up. That might just make him move more slowly. Or spank me, not that a spanking was necessarily a bad thing.
He turned to the closet and drew out his black bag. Oh, hell. I’d learned to love and hate that black bag. It held all sorts of instruments of pleasure and torture.
When he turned back to the bed, he was carrying handcuffs, which he quickly used to fasten my hands to the headboard. The leather restraints were soft against my wrists. He’d used them before, and I loved the feeling of being secured.
“Know what these are, darlin’?” He held up a long, thin chain. Attached to each end of it were nipple clamps.
Fuck. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I knew if I truly didn’t want to try them I only had to say so. He wouldn’t use anything on me that scared me. I trusted Luke fully. And even though we’d discussed limits, I hadn’t given him many hard ones, knowing that he’d never do anything to harm me. Still, I’d made it clear that extreme pain and blood play were out. Anything with a knife was not a turn-on for me at all. And whips terrified the shit out of me.
But nipple clamps. Maybe I should have mentioned them as well.
“I can tell from the look on your face that you’re not too sure,” he said with a raised eyebrow.
I licked my lips. I didn’t want to tell him the story, but I kind of had to. “I tried them on myself once. As research for a book. They hurt so badly I actually cried.”
He shook his head. “You know that from now on any research for your books is going to be done with me, right?”
That went without saying. He’d already provided a lot of new material for my books.
“If you truly don’t want to try them, we won’t. But I know how to use these properly. I’d like you to give them a shot.”
I nodded. “O-okay.”
“Okay, what?” he asked sternly.
“Okay, Luke.”
He strode back to the black bag. “Played with one of these before?” He held up a Hitachi wand.
I shook my head. No. But I wanted to.
He grinned. “We’re going to have some fun then, aren’t we?” He grabbed a scarf and returned to me. “I’m going to blindfold you.”
He’d blindfolded me before. I loved being completely at his mercy. Although tonight with nipple clamps on the table, I was a little more unsure.
“Lean up.” He secured the scarf behind my head. Then something soft went around my ankle. I tugged at it and found I couldn’t move my leg more than a few inches. He did the same with the other ankle. When he finished, I could scarcely move. I was spread-eagled on the bed and completely vulnerable.
And didn’t that just send my arousal surging higher.
Luke brushed a kiss over my lips, which quickly deepened. His tongue caressed mine, he teased and tempted until my breathing was coming in harsh pants, my body limp against the mattress.
“Better,” he told me. “Remember if you want to stop at any time just tell me so.”
I nodded. He sucked on one nipple, and my pussy throbbed in reaction as he tugged on the nipple with his teeth, pulling at it gently. The mix of pleasure-pain had me groaning loudly.
Without warning cool metal surrounded my nipple. I stiffened slightly, but there was no pain, just a slight pressure. Luke continued to play with my other nipple until I was writhing on the bed, wanting more, needing it. He tugged on my nipple with his teeth then settled the clamp around it.
Then I felt him kissing my stomach, the underside of my breasts, and my neck. Kissing me everywhere but the place I wanted most. He tightened the clamp on my right nipple slightly. There was a slight pinch but nothing more. I sucked in a breath as he did the same to the other nipple.
It was too much.
“Breathe through it. That’s right. Give it a moment, the pleasure will come.” His voice was filled with certainty and reassurance. Something wet teased my right nipple then my left. His tongue. He moved back and forth, and pleasure swamped me.
Then he drew back, and I whimpered, feeling bereft. “Don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere, darlin’,” he soothed. A buzzing noise filled the room, and I stiffened.
The Hitachi wand. Oh, heaven help me. The head buzzed against my clit and I screeched, nearly coming then and there.
“No coming until I give you permission,” he told me.
No, no, no.
It was too intense. Too much. I wouldn’t last.
He drew the wand away, and I took deep, gulping breaths, grateful for the reprieve. I’d been so close to coming, I didn’t think I’d have been able to hold back even a minute longer. Something cool was pushed into my passage. “Just a small vibrator.”
Oh, fuck. Was he trying to kill me?
The wand buzzed again, and it was all I could do to hold my orgasm back. It surged forward. The small vibrator inside me only added to the overwhelming pleasure.
“Please, please,” I cried out.
“Please what?”
“Please l-let me come, Luke.” I wouldn’t last. I couldn’t.
“You may come.”
With a sob of relief, I came in thunderous waves. Each one smashing through me, pounding at me until I was wrung dry.
Luke switched off the wand and removed the vibrator. Then he was inside me in one deep, full thrust.
“Luke. Luke.”
“God, you don’t know how gorgeous you are when you come. I want to make you come over and over just so I can watch you. But this time I couldn’t wait. I need you.” He drove himself in and out. My pussy pulsed around him, clamping down each time he thrust inside me until he came with one deep, last surge.
Chapter Twelve
Ariana
“Ariana!” I looked around in surprise to find Alton Charles striding towards me. I’d been out checking on one of the horses who’d gotten a graze on his leg yesterday.
“Mr. Charles, hello.” Alton had never been rude or mean to me. But then he was one of the few who hadn’t invested money with my father. Still, he’d never gone out of his way to defend me either. “Do you have business with Joel? I’ll go find him for you.”
“No. No, don’t do that. It’s nothing important.” He looked almost nervous as he came closer. “Actually, I have something to ask you.”
“Really? What?”
“I’ve heard that you’re the new owner of Baton Ranch.”
“Yes,” I said cautiously. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but I still wasn’t keen on letting everyone know. As far as I was concerned it was still Joel’s ranch. Luke and I were just going to take care of it for a while. I wasn’t entirely certain how that was going to go. Was I going to move into the main house with him? W
ould I stay in the cottage while he lived in the house? Were we moving in together? Was I ready for that?
All I really knew was I didn’t want to lose him. I loved him. It might be moving too fast, but I wanted to be with him wherever he was. Although I was thankful I didn’t have to move to the city. At least not yet.
“Congratulations.” He smiled widely. He seemed a bit too cheerful. And I kind of thought congratulating me was in bad taste. Everyone knew this was Joel’s ranch. “It’s a big ranch for a little girl to take care of.”
“I have help.” Little girl? Patronizing bastard. Where was he going with this?
“Of course. Of course. Heard Van was back. Is he staying for long?”
“A bit longer.” I don’t know why I didn’t want to reveal too much. Maybe it was the way he was acting like my friend all of a sudden. Or the slight desperation in his gaze. There was something weird going on.
“While Jared and I didn’t always see eye to eye, I wouldn’t like to see the ranch run down or poorly managed.”
Okay, now he was just being insulting.
“Please excuse my rudeness, Mr. Charles, but what can I help you with?”
His gaze narrowed and I thought I saw a flash of distaste cross his face. He folded his arms over his wide chest. At one time, he’d been a handsome man. My aunt had told me he’d been the most eligible bachelor in Bear Ridge when they were young. But any muscle he’d had had turned to fat. His hair was thinning and receding, and deep wrinkles lined his fat face.
It was hard to picture anyone thinking him handsome now.
“Actually, girlie, I’ve come here to do you a favor. I want to offer you a fair price for the ranch.”
“You want to b-buy Baton Ranch? Why?” I stared at him in surprise.
What would he want with the ranch? Though I recalled Joel saying Alton had offered to buy the ranch from him a while ago.
“I’ve been looking to expand my ranch. Baton Ranch seems a good investment. I’d be happy to negotiate a price with you. Shall I have my lawyer contact yours?”
“No.”
His eyes widened. Whoops, that might have been a bit abrupt.
“Baton Ranch isn’t for sale.”
Luke (Bad Boys of WildeSide Book 3) Page 12
