Marked By Fire

by Meg Ripley

  “Sorry, Ava. But I guarantee you they're going to come barging in here in about a minute and a half,” he smiled ruefully all the while his hands itched to touch her again, to explore all the areas he'd yet to discover.

  She nodded, looking around for another exit. Finding none, she looked up at Noah quizzically.

  “I don't suppose there's a secret door hiding in one of these stalls?” she mused aloud.

  “Sorry. Only one way out of here, but it'll be fine,” he assured her, having no doubt that every ranch hand knew of his no-fraternizing-with-the-vacationers policy.

  Nearly one and a half minutes later on the dot, the big stable door opened as four men of various ages walked in. They came to an abrupt halt, most of them eyeing her appreciatively while the eldest of the group turned a quizzical eye toward Noah. It was obvious that none of them had been expecting to find anyone inside with Noah, but he was already leading her toward the now-open exit. He stopped when he reached the group, casually telling Ava how to get back to the cabins before turning his attention to the group, talking quietly as she continued on outside.

  Ava padded back to the cabin, tiptoeing up the steps of the front porch. The last thing she wanted was to have to explain herself to Christie. She entered the cabin, opting for a night on the living room sofa rather than disturbing her friend in the shared bedroom. Every inch of her body was revved up, still sensitive even to the brush of the sofa's canvas-like fabric. The rub, so different from the feel of the fingers that had grazed over her skin just moments before, reminded her of the whip Noah had wielded. God, that was naughty. She'd never been much of a whips and chains kind of gal, but the way he had teased her with it—that was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.

  Breathing deep, she tried to cool down, knowing she wasn't getting a moment's sleep in her current state. She contemplated taking matters into her own hands, letting her fingers graze along her thighs, but it wasn't her own hands she wanted to feel touching her body, and so it only served to intensify her frustration. She debated sneaking back out to the barn to pick up where they had left off, but she figured she'd just come off as the desperate, sex-starved city girl. Besides, the guy probably had a whole flock of women at his beck and call; Ava had just been within convenient proximity at the time. By now, he was probably long gone, crawling into bed with one of his eager followers.

  “Arghhh!” she fumed, shifting to try to find a more comfortable position on the sofa.

  It wasn't that Ava was a glutton for sex; she had resignedly accepted that her studies didn't provide her with a whole lot of time for a romantic life outside of the occasional weekend fling. It was the damn, sexy cowboy that was throwing her hormones out of whack. Burying her head beneath one of the sofa's throw cushions, she squeezed her eyes shut, forcing pictures of the latest runway designs to fill her mind and drown out the images of the too-hot wrangler. Finally, sometime before the sun began to lighten the sky, Ava's body succumbed to sleep. In slumber, though, she lost command over her thoughts as wild and wanton fantasies filled her dreams, making the night about as restful as a marathon.

  She awoke before Christie the next morning; she'd forgotten that her friend could sleep eight hours through an earthquake and still squeeze in a nap during the aftershocks.

  “That girl sure loves her sleep,” Ava mused silently as she rubbed her shoulders trying to ease the tension that had built over night from her heated dreams and the makeshift bed.

  She tiptoed to the bathroom, not wanting to risk even the slightest chance of facing Christie just yet, she started the shower and hopped in, letting the cold water cascade down her body and cool her overheated flesh. Wrapped in a towel ten minutes later and hoping her luck would hold, she grabbed her suitcase from the bedroom quietly, bringing it out to the living room. Pulling out one of her favorite dresses, she slipped it on the near-replica of the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress. It was a white, halter-style with a tight-fitting bodice that plunged low, revealing ample cleavage. The ruffled skirt fell to her knees and made her feel like a movie star every time it blew in the wind. Sure, it wasn't the most practical choice for a day on the ranch, but it was just Ava's style, whether she was sketching her newest idea or walking around training pens with the sexy as hell Noah.

  She'd just finished brushing out her long locks when Christie sauntered out into the living room. She had to hand it to her friend; she hadn't seen her wearing a smile before noon since Michael Duncan waved at her in the gym at a senior year pep rally in high school. She really did love it here on the ranch.

  “Good morning, Sunshine,” Ava chirped, trying to join in on Christie's good mood.

  “Morning Marilyn,” Christie teased, looking over Ava's outfit. “I didn't think you'd be up already. I figured you'd be sleeping through every minute you could,” she smiled.

  “Nonsense. I've come to find a thing or two here that makes getting out of bed worthwhile.”

  “Oh? And does that thing happen to be the hot guy who was checking you out yesterday?” Christie asked with a grin.

  “What would make you say that? Couldn't I just be happy to be here with you?” Ava feigned exasperation.

  “Sure, you could. But if he had been checking me out, I'd be a hell of a lot happier getting his attention than yours,” she smiled in jest.

  “Ha!” Ava dismissed the subject. “How about you get dressed so we can go get some breakfast?”

  Five minutes later, the two headed out the cabin's front door, Ava stealing a surreptitious glance around in search of a certain cowboy. Seeing no sign of him, she turned her attention back toward the house, watching as Will opened the door, already anticipating their arrival.

  “Good morning ladies. Sleep well?” he asked them cheerfully.

  Ava just nodded, smiling as Christie filled him in on her opinion that the country air served to provide a better night's sleep.

  “Funny,” Ava thought. “I guess the two of us weren't breathing the same air last night,” she mused silently, remembering all the time she spent tossing and turning.

  Once seated, the same woman wheeled in a cart laden with breakfast foods, everything from biscuits and fruit to bacon and fried eggs, and arranged them on the table. The small group conversed amicably while they ate, but not five minutes before the meal was through, Noah walked in through the far entrance, a devilish smile briefly crossing his features as he met Ava's gaze.

  “Morning, Noah,” Will greeted him easily. “You know, I was hoping to show Christie the new extension we've been working on behind the stable. Why don't you give Ava an inside tour of the property?” Will suggested casually, though she could easily spy the twinkle in the matchmaker's eye.

  Noah nodded, but there was something less than pleased in his disposition; not angry or disappointed, but rather like he felt uncomfortable with the arrangement somehow. Ava tried to think of an excuse quickly to let him off the hook, but Will was already getting to his feet and Noah was there, offering his hand.

  “Ready for a behind-the-scenes look at running a ranch?” he queried with a boyish grin, mock enthusiasm in his tone.

  “As long as 'behind-the-scenes' doesn't mean mucking out stalls or chasing chickens,” she remarked in good humor.

  Noah smiled, waving to Will and Christie as he lead Ava out of the house, down the front steps and toward the training pen he'd had Maggie in last night. It wasn't that he didn't relish the idea of a few hours with Ava—he could think of a thing or two, or a dozen, he'd love to do with her—but he really did have work to do and that meant there wasn't opportunity for anything but conversation with her right now, and the chance to run into at least a dozen other workers who could give his secret away.

  “So, Noah...if you have things you have to do, you don't have to keep me in tow all morning,” Ava interjected into his silent worry.

  Good. He was off the hook. He could send her on her way to go catch up with Will and her friend right then.

  “It's about time you se
e what ranch life is all about, don't you think?” “What the hell was that?” he wondered silently. So much for off the hook. She'd given him an easy out and he'd been poised to take it, so why the hell didn't he? Because she was enthusiastic, feisty and brave...and God how he wanted to touch her...to loosen the knot of fabric securing her dress behind her neck and watch it fall away from her breasts...to slide his hand up her thigh, pulling the skirt's fabric up as he went, revealing inch after inch of her soft flesh...

  “So, you've really never spent any time in the country?” he inquired, trying to steer his thoughts elsewhere.

  “Nope. I went from an apartment in Dayton, Ohio to an apartment in Providence, Rhode Island, and nowhere else in between. That's it,” she replied simply.

  “Not much for travel, are you?”

  “Actually, I love it. I'd spend half my life in an airplane if I could. It was just never in the cards, that's all. When I'm finished with school, it'll be different. At least, that's the plan,” she smiled easily. “What about you? Ever spend any time in the city?”

  “Some. My parents retired in Florida, and my brother's in New York. I get down to see them when I can.”

  “I guess Will keeps you pretty busy?”

  “I guess you could say that,” Noah replied, but that same discomfort she'd sensed back at the house crept into his tone once again.

  Ava didn't know why, but she searched her mind for a different topic, hoping to keep up the casual conversation. It was comfortable. As much as her body was revved up, arousal coursing through her veins over the close proximity, dying to yank every stitch of clothing off Noah's muscular body, at the same time, she was actually enjoying talking to him. “It must be something in the country air,” she thought wryly.

  “So, how long have you been working with horses? It seems you have quite the talent.” Ava's tone changed as she remembered back to the exchange the night prior, making the double innuendo in her statement clear.

  “As far back as I can remember. And what about you? What are you going to school for?”

  “Fashion design,” she replied, knowing she sounded far more like the typical city girl in that moment than she would have liked. She wanted to explain further. “I love fashion, it's true, but, I loved it just as much when I was younger, too. But, when your parents spend more time shopping at the second-hand thrift shop than at Bloomingdale's, it's hard for a young girl to keep up. I want to change that; I want anyone with a flair for fashion to be able to delve right in. It's a kind of artistic expression, in my opinion,” she finished, the passion that fueled her for so long flaring in her eyes as she spoke.

  Noah's eyes were locked on hers, his gaze intense, and she felt a light blush creep into her cheeks. He didn't speak and her expression turned quizzical, wondering what he was thinking.

  “You're captivating,” he whispered harshly just seconds before his lips descended on hers.

  Not expecting it, she was thrown off guard and without thinking her lips parted for him. Suddenly, his hands were on her waist, pulling her hard against him, and the arousal that she'd sought to keep at bay flooded through Ava, her hands twining in the hair at the back of his neck.

  The stable door opened behind them and Ava jumped back, smoothing her hair as one of the men she'd seen in the stable last night came walking out.

  “Hey Noah. You get that thing sorted out last night?” the man asked.

  “Yeah. Everything was fine, thanks.” He looked uncomfortable again, but he quickly moved on, putting an end to whatever they had started just a moment before.

  “OK, Ava. Are you ready to learn a thing or two about what we do here?” He asked, a devilish gleam lighting his eyes once again.

  She nodded nervously, not certain she liked the sounds of that. “How about we go find ourselves a private spot to pick up where we left off,” she wanted to say aloud. Instead, Noah led her into the stable, returning to Maggie and the wall of naughty torture tools. He launched into an explanation of the care their animals receive and what a typical day was like depending on the season. By the time Noah was finished, she couldn't believe it, but she was fascinated. It all had seemed so simple before—riding around on horses and such–but there was more to running a ranch than she ever could have imagined. And a great deal of it intrigued her far more than she felt comfortable admitting.

  The day went by in a flash as Ava learned to help out with one task after another, though her favorite was certainly the time they'd spent with the horses. “Great, I'm turning into Christie,” she'd mused silently at one point. It was hard not to feel that enthusiasm, watching Noah work; it looked effortless, natural. With bated breath, she'd watched as he worked with the black beast she'd seen him with last night, breathing a sigh only when it had calmed and let Noah approach him. She was still awed by the way he seemed able to communicate with the animal.

  Evening approached and he didn't seem in any hurry to run screaming from the inexperienced city girl, joining them for dinner at Will's, and conversing easily with the group. Though, all the while the conversation carried on, she could feel Noah's eyes on her, and what tedious hold she had left nearly gave out right there at the table. She wanted him naked, panting above her now, and the look in his eyes told her he'd be more than happy to oblige. She'd kept her hormones on a tight leash all day, but now that there wasn't work to keep her distracted, she was losing her grip fast.

  Soon after the meal was done, Christie and Will were still deep in conversation, Noah stood, offering to walk Ava back to her cabin on his way home. Doing her best to conceal her enthusiasm—and failing miserably at it—she was on her feet in seconds. The two barely made it out the front door when Noah turned, pressing her back against the brick wall. His mouth swooped down on hers and she met him eagerly. Ava had no idea if anyone could see them, and when she felt Noah's hands on her waist, pulling her hard against him, her soft curves molding to his hard body, she wouldn't have cared if every worker on the ranch was there watching the spectacle—kind of kinky if she thought about it. Her fingers reached for the open collar of his shirt, fumbling with the buttons to expose more of the hard, sinewy muscle she'd been desperate to touch all day. She'd barely revealed more than an inch or two when the older man who had walked into the barn last night came around the corner from the front of the house.

  Noah released her begrudgingly, but it was too late. The man sauntered over to them, a big grin on his face.

  “So, Noah. It looks like you're breaking your own rule, huh?” the man said in a teasing tone.

  Ava didn't know what the man was talking about, but she was busy trying to regain her composure, not paying much attention.

  “What can I do for you, Robert?” Noah asked the old man, obviously trying to hide his frustration.

  “That same horse of yours is giving your guys a problem tonight. Broke one of the fences,” Robert answered, an apologetic look on his face now.

  Breathing a rugged sigh of resignation and frustration, Noah nodded, “I'll be there in a few minutes.”

  As Robert left them alone, Noah turned back to Ava, gritting his teeth against the arousal he still felt coursing through his veins. “Responsibility always seems to call at the worst time, doesn't it,” he mused wryly, but he couldn't resist leaning down, his lips covering hers one more time.

  Three minutes and an apologetic goodbye later Ava was walking back to her cabin. “Damn, damn, damn!” she cursed under her breath, foreseeing another restless night. And she was right, tossing and turning until the early morning hours, she finally abandoned her hope for more than an hour's sleep at a time.

  The day passed uneventfully; Christie headed off early to some activity or another while Ava opted to hang out in the cabin for a while, figuring a soothing soak in the hot tub had to beat early morning chores. An hour later, the water in the tub cooling to an uncomfortable temperature, she hopped out, wrapping a towel around her and stepping out into the living room to retrieve her suitcase. A knock sounded at
the door before she could open her luggage. She walked over, opening the door a moment later to find Noah on the other side.

  “Good morning,” he greeted her as his eyes took in her scantily clad form.

  OK, Ava wasn't generally the overtly forward type, but given the number of times circumstance had thwarted her in the past days, she didn't mind stepping out of character for a while. Without saying a word, she grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into the cabin. Reaching up on tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around him and covered his mouth with hers, her tongue plying against his lips instantly. She could feel his warmth radiating from his body and her skin tingled everywhere he came in contact with her. Her hands gripping his shirt, she was the one to pull him in hard against her this time as his hands roamed down her back, over her hips. He groaned as she ran her fingers down his abdomen, coming to a halt where the waist of his jeans hindered her descent. Reaching down, he lifted her up in one, smooth motion, and then he started through the living room toward the bedroom beyond. Noah had taken two steps when they heard footsteps on the porch's front steps, and he stopped, lowering Ava's feet to the floor.

  He didn't know if it was Christie returning to the room, Will or one of the ranch hands in search of him...All he knew was so long as he was on the ranch, there'd be one interruption after another, but he happened to know of a place they could go where no one would disturb them...

  Noah contemplated the thought for a moment, wondering if it was wise to so thoroughly break his rule, but he knew his gut hadn't been wrong. And hell, he wanted Ava enough he really didn't care if he was wrong; he'd deal with the repercussions later.

  “Go get dressed,” he whispered to her, smiling conspiratorially, before the unwelcome visitor opened the front door.

  Ava didn't know what Noah had in mind, but if there was some chance it would put an end to the incessant interruptions, she didn't care where he was taking her...as long as he intended to take her. The double innuendo made Ava smile as she slipped into another one of her favorite dresses, this time a strapless, fiery orange creation with see-through flames licking up the entire length of her torso. Somehow, the dress seemed fitting. Trying to appear as calm as she could, she walked back out into the living room to find Noah and Will conversing quietly, a bright smile on Will's face.