by Lynda Chance
He slid to his feet and picked his beer up from the coffee table. Putting it to his lips, he took a long pull and turned to greet his hosts, trying to give them no indication of the inappropriate conversation that had just transpired.
Janie stopped in the doorway, looked between Raul and Elaina and slowly back again and then spoke in a stilted manner. “Steaks are ready.”
****
Raul forced himself to stay away from the Canton household the rest of the month. It wasn’t easy, but it was for the best. Or so he told himself. By the time New Year’s Eve dawned, he was itching for the damn party just so he could see her again.
When he finally arrived, his mood blackened when he saw the amount of people already gathered there. All he could think about was getting her to himself for awhile, and now he realized that wouldn’t be possible.
It was probably for the best, but that didn’t stop him from meandering through the house, nodding to people he knew, his purposeful strides taking him in her direction.
He found her in the arched doorway between the living room and the darkened hallway that led to the bedrooms. She was covered in a tiny red dress that ended only a couple of inches below the point where her thighs met. Her ankle had obviously had time to heal, and she was standing on impossibly high-heeled strappy gold sandals that emphasized the shape and contours of her legs.
The only physical effects he could see from her mishap were two pale spots on her knees where her injuries were healing and wouldn’t be noticeable to anyone that wasn’t looking for them. Her facial features were enhanced by the subtle use of make-up and her hair was silky smooth around her shoulders. She looked far too sophisticated for her young years. She was holding a glass of champagne in one hand and was surrounded by a group of young people that included Trevor.
Raul saw red as a jealous mist swam before his eyes.
He ruthlessly contained his rage and approached the group with a pleasant façade that he was far from feeling.
He had one thought only.
Containment.
****
Elaina stood in the circle of young people feeling so emotionally free and happy she was almost delirious with it. She had finally made up her mind to withdraw from nursing school, had gotten over the guilt, and had told her aunt what she planned to do. Much to her surprise, Janie had been one-hundred percent supportive. They had talked for nearly two hours, and Elaina was going to start looking for a job close to the ranch when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season was over.
Janie had well and truly convinced her that she and Brian wanted her to stay with them, and for as long as she wanted.
Elaina now stood, leaning slightly against the wall, feeling completely free and easy and enjoying the conversation around her and the slight buzz that half a glass of champagne had induced.
A small, happy smile on her face, she glanced across the room and her eyes tangled with the dark, intent stare of Raul Vega.
Butterflies hit her stomach, and she actually felt her knees get weak. Her smile slipped a bit, and she felt a full-blown blush spread across her cheeks and warm her face.
His gaze never left hers as he made his way across the room to where she was standing.
She was held enthralled as she watched him approach and briefly acknowledge the people around her, before he simply reached out a hand to her and said, “Come.”
Her blush deepening, she didn’t think to refuse him and put her hand in his, murmuring, “Excuse me,” to her circle of new friends.
Turning back the way he came, he pulled her with him into the privacy of the study. He shut the door, leaned back against it and crossed his arms over his chest.
She turned in a half circle to face him, her heart beating triple time as he stood silently observing her. The beat of the music from the other room bled through the thick wooden door making the enclosed area of the study seem even smaller, shut away from the rest of the party.
She couldn’t stop the trembling in her fingers, and the champagne glass wobbled precariously.
His eyes narrowed in on it. “You think you should be drinking that?”
She already had enough alcohol running through her system on an empty stomach, and the effort it was taking to hold the liquid still in the glass suddenly seemed more than her nerves could handle. She reached over and set it down on a side table. “Probably not,” she agreed mildly.
As she turned back, it occurred to her that he was suggesting she shouldn’t drink because of her youth, and not because of her nervous state.
Once again, she chose not to enlighten him.
He spoke, his voice rough but controlled, “You know sweetheart, I get that you’re young. Too young for me. But I think you’re old enough to know what you’re doing to me.” The look he gave her was speculative, thoughtful. “Are you doing it on purpose?”
The question caught her off guard and her breath snarled in her throat. “No.”
He continued as if she hadn’t answered, his voice turning feral, “I don’t think it’s escaped your notice that I’m jealous of Trevor. And I think you’re using it against me.”
She expelled a shallow pant of air. His disclosure sent an intoxicating blend of heady power and beguiling need through her veins. Her denial came quickly, “No, I’m not. I—”
“You need to have mercy on me, baby,” his tone turned slightly threatening, “before I snap.”
Her heart pounded in her ears and she swallowed with difficulty.
He took one step away from the door and her voice unfroze as she tried to explain. “I’ve told you before, I’m not interested in him that way. I’m not going to start something with him, he kissed me, yeah, but—”
He came to a jerky halt, his expression changing to lines of fury, steel inundating his spine.
“He kissed you?”
CHAPTER SIX
Elaina slammed her eyes closed as she realized what she had inadvertently revealed. Stupid. She kept her eyes closed for a few heartbeats until she felt him move right up next to her.
Her lashes came up slowly to find his eyes blazing down at her and his nostrils flaring.
The blood slammed through her veins and a lick of heat stroked through her body landing in a pool of vicious need between her thighs. What was it about this man?
“He touched your lips?”
“Jesus Christ, Raul—”
He interrupted her, his voice a snarl. “Answer me.”
“Yes,” she puffed out.
His jaw hardened. “That’s not acceptable.” His hands came up and gripped her forearms in a hold that restrained her.
She expelled a sound of laughter that wasn’t in any way funny. “What are you going to do about it?” she asked him, smiling softly, licking her lips, challenging him to kiss her. The sane part of her mind knew that was what she was doing.
Even though he held her tightly, she felt in control. She was in her aunt and uncle’s home, and they weren’t far away. But deep inside, a trickle of anxiety washed through her. How would she feel right now if that wasn’t the case?
His eyes fell to her lips again. His hands became harder and leaned into hers with more pressure as he slowly began to lower his head over hers. “I’m going to wipe it from your memory.”
Elaina froze in his hold as anticipation melted her bones. Her breathing splintered as he slowly touched his lips to hers. Gently, his mouth moved against hers, in a caress that was the complete opposite of the fierce restraint his hands had on her. He kissed her softly, over again, moving his lips back and forth.
His head moved to her ear and brushed her hair aside with his face until his lips were open over her. He whispered, “Was it like that?”
Elaina moaned softly. No, it hadn’t been anything like that at all. Trevor’s kiss had been mildly pleasant, not something that set off fireworks inside of her and scrambled her brain to mush.
He took her earlobe between his teeth and grazed her softly. “Was it like that?”
He demanded an answer to his question.
“No,” she whispered.
Raul was hit with dual emotions; lust and arousal from holding her in his arms, and rage from thinking about that boy kissing her, tasting her with his tongue.
He needed to wipe it from her brain. Wipe it from her memory. Wipe it from existence.
With that exact intent, he bent back to her mouth, slanting his lips against hers, and as she took a deep gasping breath, he slipped his tongue inside. Oh, Jesus, she was sweet. Her tongue hesitated against his, her arms pushing against him until he freed her. He moved his hands to her head and lifted her mouth more fully into his.
Her fingers came up and clamped greedily to his scalp, her torso molding provocatively into his, and their kiss went wild. He drank from her lips, taking what he needed from her, holding her tightly against his body. Their tongues entwined, their breathing escalated as they fed from each other.
His arms stayed wrapped around her, clutching her to him. His mouth left hers and seared its way back to her ear, where he plunged his tongue inside and bit into her earlobe again. He growled deep from his diaphragm and made a demand. “No more fuckin’ kisses, understand me?”
She panted in his arms, her body liquid as he held her up. “Yes.”
“Say it.” His words were abrupt, succinct.
“No more.”
“No more what, Elaina?” He continued to beat out the demand that he needed to hear.
His mouth left her ear as they sucked in oxygen and stared at each other.
“No more Trevor.” Her voice was soft, hesitant, but sure that’s what he wanted to hear.
“That’s right,” he rasped out.
They stood, arms-length apart as he clenched her shoulders in his grasp. Her breath came in spiky inhalations as her eyes grew troubled. Swallowing deeply, she watched him intently for several long seconds.
His hand lifted to her hair and began to bring her to him again.
She broke free and pulled away from him.
He let her escape his hold and flee from the room. But later that night, he made damn sure he was standing beside her when the stroke of midnight neared. When the countdown began he stared Trevor down and straightened to his full height, his hands landing on Elaina’s shoulders. When the time came, in deference to her age and the crowd around them, he placed a quick, gentle kiss on her lips.
During the shouts of noise and laughter the new year brought, he looked at her with an intensity she wouldn’t be able to help but understand.
He was staking his claim.
****
As Elaina was getting ready for bed a few hours later, her aunt slipped into her room. The look on her face was more curious than troubled. “Is there something going on between you and Raul?”
Elaina was surprised by the question even though she shouldn’t have been. She answered honestly. “Probably, but I hope not.”
Janie shook her head and chuckled. “What kind of an answer is that?”
“The truth as I know it.”
“What’s going on, sweetie?”
Elaina moved to the bed and sat down, drawing her knees up to her chin. “There are definite sparks flying around, that’s for sure.”
“But?”
Elaina looked guilty. “I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m younger than I am.”
“How so?”
“He assumed when we met I was eighteen because I told him I was a freshman in college.”
“Ahh.”
“Yeah.”
“And you’ve let him go on assuming it?”
“It seemed the safest route,” Elaina responded.
“What do you mean by that?” her aunt asked.
“He’s Hispanic.” She stated the obvious.
Janie let out a delicate snort. “I hate to be the one to point it out to you, sweetie, but your last name is Ruiz.”
“I understand that. But mom was very meticulous in explaining how it works with Hispanic men. She was married to one, you know.”
“I know that. I also know she was madly in love with your father and he with her. What’s going on in that crazy head of yours?”
“Hispanic men are more—more—just more. More everything. More in control. More macho. More possessive.”
Janie had a dreamy look on her face. “And my sister told you that’s a bad thing?” Her voice sounded incredulous.
“Not exactly. But I guess I took it that way.”
“Elaina, all of that may be true in a general sense. And I would think, certainly true when it comes to Raul. But your parents were deeply in love. They had a wonderful relationship. They were equals in every way. Your mom never fully recovered from losing your dad. I don’t think she was so much warning you, as she was just telling you as she saw it. I know for a fact she never regretted her choice and she loved everything about your father. Baby, you must have misunderstood.”
Elaina thought about it in contemplative silence for a moment. “You don’t think he’s intense?”
“Raul? Absolutely, I think he’s intense. But he’s also a great guy. I haven’t known him very long, but Brian trusts him. Trusts him and respects him. They have a solid friendship, and I know my husband well enough to know he doesn’t give his friendship to just anyone.”
“So you’re saying you think I should what—go for it?”
“That’s for you to decide. I was mostly just curious. But I do think he’s a good man and he’d never mistreat you. Ever.”
Elaina bit her lip and stared thoughtfully at her aunt.
Janie continued, “And with your birthday coming up, and the fact that I’m in full party mode, I don’t know how you’re going to be able to keep your age under wraps for much longer.”
****
Two weeks passed as Elaina tried to come to terms with her feelings for Raul. If only she could talk to her mother one last time. She trusted Aunt Janie, but she desperately needed one last conversation with her mom.
Obviously, she wasn’t going to get it.
She searched her soul, trying to understand her own self. With an inborn woman’s intuition, she knew if she started something with Raul it was going to be something serious. She felt like she had control in that respect, at least for awhile. As long as he was unaware of her age, she knew he would continue to try to keep his distance. If and when she gave him the green light, she figured he’d jump on it.
Trevor called and asked her out, and she turned him down. She wasn’t interested in him the same way he was interested in her, and she didn’t want to give him the wrong idea. In the back of her mind, she wondered if she was trying to please Raul. No doubt he would be pleased that she stayed away from Trevor, and anyway, the last thing she was thinking about was starting something with somebody else. All she could think about was Raul Vega. She didn’t need anything or anyone else clouding her confused brain anymore than it already was.
She spent her days going over job prospects in the small town. There was an opening for a teller at the bank, and she applied for it. The interview went well, and she thought she had a shot at the job. She waited to hear.
One day led into the next, and she couldn’t believe how difficult it was to stay away from Raul. She thought about driving to his house more times than she could count, and the knowledge that his number was programmed in her cell phone was a temptation that was hard to ignore.
But she persevered, and in the end, managed not to call or text him at all.
****
The day of Elaina’s birthday party, Raul had trouble with a mare in foal. The breech birth had been rough and ended up costing him. He had to call a veterinarian out and by that time it was too late. He lost both animals. Losing an animal in the birthing process was never easy.
He was in a savage, black mood.
It had been two weeks since he’d seen her. Two weeks in which he’d done his damndest to stay away from her. If he could just make it through until she went back to school, he could breathe ea
sier and his damn conscience could shut the fuck up for awhile.
Every day felt like pissing nails, his guts ached for her so badly.
He arrived late to the party, after ten, and it was in full swing. He grabbed a beer from the cooler on the front porch and pushed his way into the house. Janie had pulled out all the stops for Elaina’s party, and the house and yard were decorated in hundreds of lights and lanterns. The evening was frosty but mild with no wind, and guests circulated from the house, to the yard, and back again.
He popped the top and took a swig and tried to contain the ferocious heat running through his blood. Experiencing death first hand sucked, and he needed something soft and sweet to knock the dark memory from his brain and force life back into his veins. He needed her.
He’d managed to stay away from her for two aggravating weeks, and now as he searched for Elaina, he had to stop time and time again to speak to people he knew. The guest list was varied. Older married couples interspersed with middle-aged singles. Dotted around in groups were teenagers and young twenty-somethings. He imagined Janie had invited them for Elaina. He glanced around as casually as he could and tried to break free from a neighbor who had heard from the vet about the loss of his animals. Word travelled quickly. It was the last thing he wanted to talk about, and he pulled away as quickly as he could.
Still, it was forty-five minutes after he arrived before he found her. And when he did, his mood turned even more black and ugly. The fire in his gut smoldered with feral jealousy as his tortured gaze saw her and the animal inside of him tried to break free.
She was outside in the gazebo, holding a glass of champagne, surrounded by a group of young people, both men and women.
That wasn’t the part that made him see red.
Trevor stood beside her with his hand playfully twirling in her hair. He wasn’t touching her anywhere else, but it was enough to send rage and jealousy spinning through Raul.
He stood on the pebbled pathway, downed half his beer, and tried like shit to gain some fucking control. He wasn’t going to jump. Trevor was basically a good kid and Raul absolutely couldn’t go over there and kill the little prick. His feet took two steps toward the gazebo and he froze.
