by Taylor Lee
He leaned back, resting on his forearms. He wanted to reach over and massage the tight muscles that were straining against her neck, the ones on her shoulders he was sure were knotted, tense. But he resisted. He wanted her to make the first move. He needed to know if she trusted him, if she would turn to him.
After a long silence, she stopped swinging her legs and glanced at him over her shoulder. Her eyes were dark, troubled. Her lips trembled and she bit down to still them.
She turned back to the water and asked in a soft voice, “You know, don’t you? You know about the notes.”
He knew that he owed her the truth, no matter how painful.
“Yeah, Princess. I do.”
“My father told you?”
“Yes, he did. He’s worried about you, Ana. About you and Kai.”
She snorted. “He should be worried about himself. He’s the one they’re after.”
He nodded. Damn, she was smart. A man who underestimated this small beautiful woman did so at his peril. He needed to know how much she knew. If there were other notes, clues, ones she hadn’t shared with her father.
He probed carefully. “Is that what they said in the other notes you got?”
“Yes, they were all about him. They were ugly. Disgusting. They said terrible things about him. About my mother.”
“Do you have the notes?
She nodded.
“I need to see them.”
She shook her head violently.
“No! Never. They are horrible. I am going to destroy them.”
He rested his hand on her shoulder, his grip firm. “Don’t do that, Ana. I need to see them if I am going to help you.”
She tried to pull away. She reached up to push his hand off of her, but he kept his hand in place.
Her voice was firm, but her strain cracked through.
“I…I don’t want your help. Somehow, Kai and I will figure this out.”
“I understand how you feel, Princess. But this is way beyond Kai, you, or your father.”
When she scooted away, putting more distance between them, he sat up and moved next to her. He reached over and circled his hand around her neck. She jumped at his touch. Slowly, then more firmly as her resistance lessened, he began to massage, rub the tight muscles in her back and shoulders.
He waited for several moments until he felt her tension lessening somewhat.
“This is what I do, Princess. I protect people that need protecting. This is the kind of work I’ve done for your father in the past, what I do for other men who are threatened in some way. And it’s not just me, Ana. I work with a team of men. And, hell, every one of them, especially my partners, are as badasses as I am.
“Can you protect my father?”
“Yeah, honey, I can. And I also can protect Kai and you.”
She was quiet for a moment, then she turned on him with a frown.
“They…Jake and Marty…they called you Angel.”
He covered his surprise at her unexpected question.
“Yeah, they did.”
“Are you that Angel?”
“Who is that angel, Princess?”
“The poker player. The one they call the Ace? The Ace Angel?”
She thought to herself, who hadn’t heard of Angel. Anyone who had so much as picked up a deck of cards had heard of the Ace Angel. He was a legend, admired and feared. Now that she had met him she understood the other part of the legendary skills. The part about his reputation with women from Wyoming to Texas and every state in between. It was as infamous as his poker playing.
She tried not to think about it. It hurt too much.
~~
Chapter 14
Gabe grinned at her. “I gotta ask, Princess. How does a sheltered little girl like you who hides out in canyons hear about “that” Angel?”
She tossed her head and glared at him.
“I don’t hide out in canyons and I am not sheltered!”
He put up his hands and tried not to laugh.
“Whoa, Princess. Settle down. It’s a natural question. I didn’t mean to insult you. I’m just curious, that’s all.”
She scooted as far as away from him as she could get without falling in the pool. She tossed her head with a dismissive jerk. “It’s not as though that is such a great thing, something to be proud of.”
“I see. And you would know about that, how?”
Her voice was crisp, cool. “I play poker. It is quite a simple game, you know.”
Gabe struggled to keep from laughing. He was glad to see the color rising in her cheeks. And, damn, if the reemerging signs of her sauciness wasn’t having an effect on his libido. He had been so furious, so enraged by what had happened with Jake and Marty that his incipient erection felt good, damn good.
“Hmm. Who taught you to play? Kai?”
“No. I taught him. My father taught me when I was ten years old.”
She sniffed dismissively. “Poker is really no more than a computation of mathematical equations.”
Gabe’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t say? Hmm, Princess, we’ll have to play sometime. I’ll bet a guy could get turned on just watching all those computations rattling around in that pretty little head of yours.”
“You don’t have to be disparaging. I am quite good. I’m confident I can beat you,”
“Now, Princess, if I really am “that’ Angel, you might want to think twice before throwing down a challenge like that.”
She scowled. “What? I should be afraid of you. Afraid of challenging the mighty Angel? That’s ridiculous. I can assure you, I will take your money any time, quite easily.”
Gabe studied her for a long moment. A wicked grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. Her cheeks flushed in response. They warmed to a warm rosy pink that had his dick sitting up and taking notice.
He leaned over and ran his finger over the pulse at her throat that was beating ferociously. He winked at her.
“Ah, Princess, you can keep your money. If I decide to play with you, the stakes won’t be money.”
Ana gasped and jumped back. Dismay flooded her. Just like that, one seductive touch and she was right back where she had been last night. Wanting him. Wanting him to touch her. Touch her in ways she had never been touched. Now that she knew who he was, who he really was, she was infuriated with herself.
She whirled on him.
“Don’t call me that! I am not a princess and I think it is inappropriate for you to call me anything but Ana or Miss Li.”
Gabe roared. “Oh, baby, we’re a little past Miss Li, doncha think?” Wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, he leaned over and stroked her cheek. When she shoved his hand away and sat up, her back ramrod straight, he laughed even harder.
“Look at you! You aren’t a princess? Oh, honey, you are the epitome of a princess. You are haughty, imperial. You love to give orders and expect to be obeyed. And God help anyone who crosses you. You pin them with that regal stare and they start checking their manhood to make sure it’s still there.”
At her gasp, he sat up as straight as she was and pulled her toward him.
His voice melted to a husky rumble. “Except for me, of course. I know that even princesses have secret layers that can be explored, examined. I’ve already uncovered some of the secrets the dirty little urchin in the barn thought no one knew.”
When she struggled to get a breath and tried to push him away, he shook his head and smiled. “Now I’m working on uncovering the woman that started to show herself last night.”
She held her hands against him, putting space between them,
She jerked her chin in the air, not understanding how the haughty gesture proved his point.
“You…you are arrogant, despicable. And you are mistaken! It’s up to me what part of myself I reveal to you or anyone else. And I choose NOT to reveal myself to you!”
He released her and stood up. She scooted back, trying not to be intimidated by the huge man towering over her.
Before she could respond, to her shock, he unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off. She swallowed her gasp at the sight of his broad shoulders. His chest and arms rippled with tight ridged muscles. She almost shielded her eyes at the sight of the curly black hairs on his chest that arrowed down over his flat stomach to a place below his belt. Seeing the swell of his erection, she choked. She tried to sound indignant, but her question came out as a shaky squeak.
“What…what in God’s name are you doing now?’ She scuttled back, glaring up at him forcing her eyes from his groin to his face.
He smiled at her. “Relax, sweetheart. I’m being a gentleman. There are no towels here so I’m offering my shirt to dry off your feet.”
She grabbed her stockings and boots and jumped back. “I... I don’t need it. Please put your shirt back on!”
He laughed softly when she turned her back on him and moved a good ten feet away. She bent over, trying to pull on her stockings and boots without falling, hopping from one foot to the other. When she saw him grinning at her, she almost tumbled.
He winked at her. “Need help, Princess?”
“No! And if I did, I wouldn’t ask for it from you.”
He finished buttoning his shirt, then walked over to her. Ignoring her resistance, he picked her up and sat her down on her butt.
He took one stocking and used it to dry off her leg and foot. When he finished he put on her boot and reached for the other stocking. Running his fingers over the bruised ankle, he nodded, as if pleased.
“We were smart to keep that ankle in the cold water, Princess. There is almost no swelling, but you are going to have to keep it elevated as much as possible for a couple of days. Here, let me put this on you.” As he was drying off her leg, then putting on her stocking and her boot, he continued.
“I need to go away for a while, Princess. Five or six days at the most. I’ll be back on Friday or Saturday at the latest.”
His calm assertion, his presumption that it mattered to her what he did, infuriated her. She leapt up, her face heating from the exertion and backed away from him. She hugged her arms across her chest, clenched her hands in tight fists. She bit her lips to stop them from trembling.
She forced her voice to be firm, harsh, determined to ignore his slight smile and questioning frown. And especially that gleam in his dark green eyes. “Why should I care if you go or if you stay? Or if you go and never come back?” Angry tears pricked the back of her eyelids. Horrified that she might cry, she turned and ran to where her horse was waiting quietly by the tree.
He caught up with her from behind. He pulled her against him, pressing the hard front of his body against her backside. Ignoring her outraged shrieks, he lifted her up. Her feet scrambled for the ground to no avail. He bent her forward, resting her bottom between his strong thighs. She squirmed, fighting to free herself, but her movements only served to press her soft cheeks tighter against him.
He leaned down, his lips close to her ear. His voice was a husky whisper.
“Why should you care, Princess? Maybe because of this?”
He caught the lobe of her ear and bit down on the tender flesh. She jerked in response, stunned at how quickly the sharp pain turned to stings of pleasure. He ran his tongue over the sensitive swirls of her of ear and blew a puff of air on the damp flesh, sending violent shivers racing to her core.
“Or this,” he whispered. He wrapped one large arm around her just under her breasts and anchored her against him. With his other hand he stroked her breasts, chuckling at her shocked gasp.
“Oh, my God, Gabe. You mustn’t. I…I can’t! I…” her protest trailed into a low passionate moan.
His wicked fingers traced feathery patterns over her lush mounds. She wanted him to stop. She knew she had to make him stop. But the teasing strokes made her squirm and struggle for a firmer touch. When he rolled one tight hard nipple between his finger and thumb, she cried out, a wave of sensation coursing through her body. Her heated flesh strained against her silky chemise, intensifying the sensations. To her horror, she found herself reaching for his hands, pressing his clever fingers around the beaded throbbing tips. She wanted more! She wasn’t sure of what; she only knew her body was screaming for more.
His chuckle was soft, seductive, his voice a siren’s song.
“Oh, yeah, Princess. See if this makes you care if I come back.”
He drove one strong thigh between her legs and rested her soft folds against his hard erection. She whimpered helplessly at the erotic sensations rocking her core, whispering his name over and over, a passionate supplication.
Just when she thought she would never breathe again if she couldn’t get more of him, be closer to him, he stepped back. He turned her toward him and wrapped his arms around her. His lips nuzzled her ear; his voice was low, gruff. “I’m not going to take you here, Princess. Not like this. Not now.”
He tipped her head back, forcing her to meet his eyes. They were stormy green waves in a wild angry ocean. His lips were close to hers. She longed to touch them, to feel the hungry moist fullness against hers.
He shook his head. “Uh, uh. Not like this, Princess.”
To her dismay, he set her back a few inches. He straightened her shirt with firm fingers, smiling at her uncontrolled shivers.
He reached down and lifted her chin so she couldn’t look away.
“I’m glad, Princess. I’m glad that you care. It’s good to know that it matters.” He chuckled. “That it matters a hell of a lot to you if I come or go.”
To her surprise, he turned her toward her roan. Before she could resist, he boosted her up in the saddle. He adjusted her stirrup and ran his fingers over her knee and thigh, grinning when she trembled. He led her horse back through the brush to where his stallion waited. In one easy motion, he mounted the enormous animal, then came up beside her. She was shaking so hard that she didn’t know how she could possibly ride her horse. He led the way down the steep twisting path. As angry, as upset as she was, she was mesmerized by the sight of his tight ass, his strong thighs moving in a seductive rhythm in sync with the horse’s flanks.
~~
Chapter 15
A tight huddle of worried looking men stood in the courtyard as they rode up. Chao Li stepped forward, his stern face rigid, his dark eyes flashing, the strain on his face apparent.
Gabe leapt off his horse. He handed the reins to Clem, who stood at an anxious distance. Ignoring her protest, Gabe reached up and lifted Ana off her horse. She twisted free and rushed to her father’s arms with a sob. Gabe’s stomach clenched at the tears on Chao’s face. The dignified man who rarely showed emotion was trembling as he tried to comfort his daughter.
“Chao, if you and Ana want to be alone, I can come back later.” When Chao shook his head, Gabe nodded in agreement. “Let me ask Clem a couple of questions and then you and I can talk.”
He turned to Clem. “I presume your ranch hands returned, in a somewhat compromised condition?”
Clem reared up, incensed. “Goddamnit, don’t you be calling those pieces of horseshit “my” men, McKenna.”
Gabe held up his hand to stop the certain barrage. “No insult intended, Clem. But, damn, man, we do need to determine how they came to this ranch. Most important, we need to find out who the hell they’re working for.”
Seeing the foreman was as concerned as he was angry, Gabe softened his tone.
“Look, Clem. Give me some time with Chao and then you and I can talk.”
Clem grunted and turned to go back to the barn, muttering a stream of curses the likes of which surprised even Gabe.
“One thing, Clem, before you go. Where are they? I take it they made it back here alive.”
“Yeah, they did, although they were damned near dead when they got here. Smitty found them up the trail clingin’ to
their horses like they was their pathway to heaven. Seein’ the way you trussed ‘em up, McKenna, it’s a goddamned miracle they made it up the road, much less down that windin’ trail.”
Gabe wasn’t interested in hearing about any pain the two cowards had experienced. He met Clem’s hard gaze with his own.”
“Where are they?”
Clem shook his head in disbelief. “Hell, they were here about ten minutes. We barely got ‘em unhooked from that rawhide you used when a damn big Swede and an Injun guy came roarin’ up. Guess from the look on your face, you do know them. They swore they worked with you and insisted they was gonna take those fuckers off our hands. I figured it would take ten of us to stop those two and since they said you was their partner….
Clem’s voice trailed off.
Gabe gave him a reassuring nod. “No, you did the right thing, Clem.” He flashed the worried man a smile. “Knowing what I know about my partners, they didn’t give you much choice. I’m glad they got here when they did. In case they didn’t introduce themselves, the blond haired lover boy is Gunnar, and the large rather frightening looking man is Lucas. We call him Eagle for reasons that make him the best and scariest partner a man could have.”
Clem jerked his head toward the road.
“They insisted they was gonna take ‘em to town. Asked if we had a jail in our piss poor community. Like a lot of people who come through here thinkin’ they know a lot more than us natives.” He condemned Gabe with a glare and snorted, “I guess they think we’re a bunch of backward heathens.”
“I’m sure they didn’t mean to insult you, Clem. How about you and I meet up in the barn after I have a chance to go over things with Chao?”
Gabe dismissed Clem and the others with a peremptory jerk of his head. Clem’s hard face darkened, then with a nod seemed to acknowledge Gabe’s concern for Ana and her father.
Clem and his men turned to leave, but not without throwing a series of anxious stares at Ana. Neither Chao nor Ana had spoken, but both were obviously listening closely to the discussion between Gabe and Clem.
