At Wolf Ranch

by Jennifer Ryan

  Gabe must have felt the same way as she did about getting her hands on him. He grabbed hold of the bottom of her sweater and stopped kissing her long enough to yank it up and over her head. His eyes locked on her breasts and the heat in his eyes flared. She shook out her hair, fisted his shirt in her hand, and pulled him back close to keep her warm. His big hands spread over her back and down to her hips, pulling her close. She gasped when he touched the still healing bruises and her aching hipbone. Gabe mumbled, “Sorry,” against her lips and softly rubbed circles over her battered muscles and bones. The caress sent a shaft of heat to her core.

  Ella faltered on her tiptoes due to her sore ankle in the lighter hold Gabe kept on her. Frustrated his massive height kept her at a disadvantage to explore all she wanted, she gripped his shoulders and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Surprised, he immediately clamped his hands on her ass to hold her in place. She cupped his face and kissed him, sliding her tongue over his in a deep kiss she desperately needed. He backed her into the gate again. His hands came up to grip her rib cage and push her higher. His mouth trailed kisses down her throat to the edge of the lace bra. He swept his tongue over the swell of her breast, then clamped his mouth over her hard nipple despite the barrier. She sighed and arched her back, offering up her breasts for him to feast.

  Winnie stuck her head over the stall door and nibbled at the side of her head and hair, making her laugh.

  Gabe’s head came up and his gaze locked on her face. “Aw, God, Ella. This is not good.”

  “It will be in a few minutes.”

  Gabe leaned forward and rested his forehead on her chin. Winnie nudged her big head against hers, trying to get to Gabe. “I’m not making love to you in here.”

  “With a few less clothes, I’m pretty sure we can manage it.”

  “Damnit, this is the stables and you’re freezing. You’ve got goose bumps all over you.”

  “I’m hot for you.”

  Gabe’s head came up again, and he smiled and let out a soft laugh. “I want you in my bed where I can treat you right.”

  She grabbed the back of his jacket in both hands and pulled herself off the gate, away from Winnie, and Gabe followed her movement and moved back, taking her with him. He stood in the middle of the stables with her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist, and his hands gripping her thighs to hold her steady. He gave her the smile she liked so much and had grown accustomed to over the last few days whenever he tried to tease her out of her bad mood.

  “This is ridiculous, but God, I want you.” His admission came out on a gruff exhale.

  “Take me to bed, cowboy. Giddy-up.” She nudged him with her legs and he headed for the door without another word. The minute they left the stables, the sun hit her, but didn’t do anything to ward off the freezing cold. Gabe wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm, but she distracted herself by sliding her hands inside his jacket and over his strong, wide shoulders. She kissed him once, twice, and again.

  “Can’t see,” he muttered against her lips.

  She left his amazing mouth and kissed her way along his jaw to his ear, tracing the edge of it with her tongue. Gabe groaned and his fingers contracted on her bottom, bringing her closer. He used his strength to lift her a few inches, then let her slide down his hard shaft, creating a delicious friction against her core. She smiled against his neck a split second before she bit down on his skin, then soothed the small hurt with a lick of her tongue.

  His stride lengthened out and sped up. “The house is too damn far.”

  She smiled and licked him again, kissing her way down his throat, peeling away his shirt with her hand to kiss the muscles running along his shoulder. She slid her hand up his shoulder and into his thick, dark hair. The silky strands spread between her fingers, and she gripped them tight, kissing his neck and hoping he got them to the house faster.

  “Hurry. I need you,” she whispered in his ear, and sucked his earlobe.

  He took the steps up to the porch without slowing down. They went through the front door, and he kicked it shut with his foot without stopping and headed down the short hall.

  “My room’s closer.”

  “Condoms.” He passed her door and rushed through his. He walked straight to the bed, leaned down, and pressed her into the mattress, planting his mouth over hers and sinking into her once again. She pulled him even closer with her legs, and he grinded his hips to hers.

  “Too many clothes,” she mumbled as his lips left hers.

  His hands slipped around her back to unfasten her bra. He pulled it off her arms in one long fluid motion, his mouth clamping onto her breast. He sucked hard, and she arched off the bed for more, her hands going into his hair to hold him to her. He swept his hot tongue over her hard nipple and along the underside of her breast.

  “God, you taste so damn good. Even sweeter than you smell.”

  Her laugh turned into a heavy sigh when he paid equal attention to her other breast. She let him have his way, but wrestled his jacket off his arms and pulled his shirt over his head. Her hands slid down his bare back and up again. Gabe kissed his way down her belly, his hands sliding down her sides to her pants. He stood at the end of the bed and grabbed her knee, pulling her leg up so he could unlace her boot and pull it off. He did the same with the other, but never took his eyes off her. His heated gaze swept from her face to her breasts and back. Everything inside her went molten.

  Shoes gone, he reached up to grab the sides of her pants and gently pulled them down her legs. Since she didn’t want to wear Lela’s underwear, she didn’t have any on. His eyes narrowed and a half smile tilted his mouth in the most adorable way. She raised an eyebrow, daring him to come to her. He worked off his boots and socks in seconds, but didn’t strip off his jeans. Instead, he came back to her and planted his knee between her thighs.

  “Scoot back, sweetheart.”

  She did as he asked and he pursued her up the bed, his hands planted on either side of her as he stared down at her from all fours. She expected him to lie on top of her, for the dance to start all over again, but he didn’t. He took his time, looking his fill at her laid out below him.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He leaned down to kiss the worst of the bruises on her hip and down her thigh. It didn’t hurt. Every soft kiss relaxed her, made her melt and fall under his spell. Soft afternoon light fell over them, highlighting the rich brown tones in his hair. She watched him loving her, sighed, and closed her eyes, letting herself just feel.

  He kissed his way up her entire right side, making her forget about her aches and pains and feel nothing but ripples of pure pleasure. One big hand cupped her breast and molded it to his palm. His tongue swept across her right breast and his mouth settled over her tight nipple, and he sucked softly, keeping to this new lazy pace. Everything in the stables had been hot and fast. This was relaxed and sweet. A slow burn that settled her, centered her, and drew her deeper into Gabe’s amazing spell.

  Gabe craved this woman. He wanted to take and devour, but something about the way she looked at him, sighed, and lay beneath him so trusting made him take his time. He didn’t need to rush. They had all the time in the world. Still, a part of him knew his time with her was ticking down, but still he touched and tasted and learned all the things that pleased her and made her sigh that way like he had forever.

  Her hands slid over his back and shoulders, down his arms, and up his chest. She never stopped touching him, even when he lay down by her side and stripped off his jeans and boxer briefs. She turned into him, mapping his taut stomach with her fingers, kissing his neck and down to his chest. Every flick of her tongue and press of her lips to his skin sent a spark of lightning through his veins. Her small hand smoothed over his belly and lower to his hard cock. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked down and up again. Her fingers went wide, her palm rubbed over his hard flesh, and she clamped her fingers over his balls. She worked her hand over him, making him groan.

 
Unable to take the sweet torture for long, he pulled her hand away and kissed her, long and deep. She held him close, and he pressed his aching cock into her thigh, sweeping his hand over her smooth skin, her belly, dipping his fingers between her thighs. She rocked her hips into his palm, and he slipped one finger into her slick core. Hot. Wet. Ready for him to love her. He slid his finger deep and pulled it free, rubbing against her soft folds and making her moan.

  “Gabe.”

  His name on her lips in that breathy voice made him want to do anything she asked. He knew exactly what she wanted, because he wanted it too.

  He grabbed the condom out of the bedside drawer, tore it open with his teeth, and sheathed himself. He shifted on top of her and she welcomed him into her arms, pulling him down for a searing kiss. His cock’s thick head pressed against her entrance and she shifted her hips to take him in. He sank into her in one long, slow, fluid motion, and with his whole body pressed to hers, something inside him shifted and aligned and felt so damn right he lost all thought, but to have her. Keep her.

  “Ella.”

  He kissed her and made love to her like he’d never get the chance to do it again. He needed to prove a point. What he wanted to show her, he didn’t know for sure, but he had to get her to understand what he couldn’t seem to think or say with any amount of clarity. His body knew what it wanted to say. He took possession and loved and caressed every inch of her.

  Her open response drove him on. He thrust deep, and she met him, holding him close, her hands sweeping over his heated skin to soothe and coax him on. He took his time loving her, soaking up the connection they shared and the feel of her against him. He needed only her. Lots more of her.

  Her fingers dug into his hips and pulled him closer. He grinded his hips to hers, and she bit her bottom lip and moved against him. He loved watching her expressive face. He pulled out and sank back into her again, making that same move. Her body contracted around his, and he did it again, this time thrusting faster and harder. She planted her heels in the bed, and he rocked against her. She tightened around his hard shaft, and he let himself go. Her nails bit into his skin, and she pressed her head into the pillow and exploded beneath him, taking him over the edge.

  He collapsed on top of her, lying in her arms, her fingers tracing circles on his back. He breathed heavily into her hair and neck and kissed her softly. Completely content to stay right here for the next fifty years of his life. She shifted under him, in pain from his weight pressing on her hip. He slid his hand down to her bottom, held her tight, and rolled to his back, taking her with him. Not exactly a smooth move, she settled mostly on top of him, her leg over his hips, her head on his chest. He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. She snuggled close like a contented cat, curling up for a nap. When she yawned, he remembered she’d barely slept last night at all.

  He brushed his fingers up and down her arm, hoping she drifted off to sleep. She never slept long or well. He wanted her to relax and sleep all she needed. Besides, it kept him from having to say anything. He didn’t know what to say after everything they shared.

  His fingers brushed up her arm to the soft skin between her shoulder and neck. She cocked her head and giggled at the light tickle. He did it again. She laughed harder and pushed against his side to get away. He held her close.

  “I love it when you laugh.”

  She laid her chin on his chest, staring up at him, her eyes bright with mirth. A pretty smile on her face that withered with the sheen of tears filling her eyes.

  “What is it, sweetheart?”

  “I feel so guilty for being this happy.”

  “Ah, honey, you have nothing to feel guilty about. Your sister loved you. She wouldn’t want you to give yourself over to grief and never find any happiness for yourself.”

  “I’m supposed to be finding the evidence, not falling into bed with you.”

  He shifted away, feeling like all they’d shared hadn’t meant half as much to her as it did to him if she thought it was just a distraction from her real purpose here. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands braced at his sides. He gripped the mattress and stared down at his feet.

  He tried to stand, but she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and locked her hands together at his chest, holding him down. Her chin settled on his shoulder, her breasts pressed to his back. Warm. Soft. Her flowery scent wrapped around him. Damn if he didn’t inhale her scent and feel that much more connected to her. But she didn’t feel the same.

  “Wait. Don’t go. I’m sorry that came out wrong. What I meant is, you make my heart feel so full, but at the same time, it’s still so empty.

  “Everyone I’ve ever loved is gone. Taken away from me far too soon. I watched him kill my sister. He swore he’d see me dead too. What if he makes that happen and there’s nothing I can do to stop him? What if he finds me here? I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you because of me.”

  And there was the real truth. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I will not let anything happen to you. Don’t you get it? I can’t imagine a world without you in it.”

  “Then you know how I feel about you.”

  Her forehead pressed to his, and he reached up and cupped her face in his palm, her tears wet against his fingers.

  “I am so afraid that what I feel for you will only lead to something terrible.”

  Meaning her uncle might hurt him to hurt her. “You know me. I hold on. I’m holding on to you.”

  “For how long?”

  He laid her back onto the bed, their foreheads still pressed together, his body covering hers. “I’ll hold on as long as you want me.”

  “I do want you.”

  The depth of emotion in her eyes told him just how hard that admission was for her to make. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to hear—he wanted more—but he’d take it for now. They had something worth keeping, and he’d hold on to it, and her. Forever, if she let him.

  Chapter 20

  “How the hell is she sending emails when she isn’t even here? Why can’t you trace her?” Phillip demanded of the head of the IT department. He’d forgotten the guy’s name, but remembered Ella and Lela had promoted him after Ella worked in that department for some months, until she got bored.

  “Mr. Wolf, I can assure you the police and our team have checked the system and at this time are unable to determine her location. It changes from server to server all over the world. She’s purposely concealing her location.”

  “How is that possible?”

  “She’s savvy, or she’s hired someone who is to help her do it. It isn’t difficult if you know what you’re doing.”

  Phillip had a feeling this man was hiding something, like he might be the one helping Ella get into their systems. Why? What did she have planned?

  He didn’t know, and the not knowing was driving him crazy.

  “Has she opened the email that has the tracking program the police gave you?”

  “No.”

  “How is that possible? You concealed it as an ordinary file, right?”

  “I did, but unless she opens the file, or clicks on the link, there is nothing else I can do.”

  “So she knows it’s a trap.”

  The IT man didn’t answer the implied question, telling him without words their ploy to find her wouldn’t work. He also didn’t say he’d tipped her off.

  “You’re still working with the police forensic team?”

  “Detective Robbins asked them to stay and go through all our systems, but the legal department stopped them. Unless and until they present a warrant, I’ll provide them with information regarding Ella’s email account and her access to the company system, but that is all.”

  “That is not all. You will give them access to everything so they can find her.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but the legal department determined that access is too broad. We are a privately held company. Our records are proprietary and contain information that could be leaked to our comp
etitors. Legally, without a warrant, we don’t have to tell them anything.”

  “I want you to tell them everything you find out about her interactions with the company.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, I’m following the legal team’s advice. If she’s done something illegal and there is documentation of that in the system, you don’t want to open the company to a lawsuit.”

  Phillip considered that, wondering if that warning was for him specifically. The longer this went unresolved, the more paranoid he became that everyone was working against him, and at any moment this could all fall apart, and he’d end up in jail. He couldn’t let that happen.

  “Keep at it. Find a way to track her down.”

  “We’re doing our best, sir.”

  Yes, but was he doing his best to find Ella, or hide her?

  Chapter 21

  Ella slept beside him. Gabe indulged his need to stay close, brushing his fingers through her long hair, feeling her skin pressed to his as she lay down his side, her leg thrown over his, and her face snuggled in the crook of his shoulder and neck.

  Like most every time she slept, she had a nightmare. Her body went rigid and still beside him, her breath caught and stopped, and she let out a distressed sound and suppressed scream. Her hand curled in a ball on his chest, and she mumbled incoherently. The only word he recognized was Lela’s name. He wished he understood the rest, so he could find a way to help her cope.