“It’s settled then. I’ll call Andrew and have him confine his search to within a reasonable distance.”
She could stand a commute, but she didn’t want to be so far away that they’d only have weekends to see each other.
“I have a better idea. Call Andrew and tell him you won’t be needing his services any longer. Come work with me at the ranch.”
He flexed his hand and she took the hint to ease her grip. His fingers fluttered down her stomach and flipped open the button of her shorts.
Her breath caught. “You’re offering me a job? I don’t know the first thing about cattle.”
“You’re a quick study.” He licked the sensitive spot behind her ear, then trailed hot kisses down her neck. “Besides, I’m prepared to offer you a helluva benefits package.” He lowered her zipper and slipped his hand inside her panties. He growled deep in his chest as his fingers slid along her folds. “Fuck, Lauren. How am I supposed to think when you’re so wet?”
She opened her mouth to tell him not to think and his mouth was there, insistent and hot. He jerked his hand from her panties, his lips left hers long enough to turn her so he could grab her ass and lift her against him.
Locking her legs around him, Lauren peeled his shirt from his shoulders. She broke away from his kiss and trailed her lips across his jaw, delighting in the scruff that would redden her skin.
Before she realized it, her back pressed into the bed. Talk about being lost. From the moment Gavin had kissed her, all she’d been aware of was him.
“Almost didn’t make it to the bed. Jesus, Lauren, one touch and I’m crazy to get inside you. Get those clothes off, baby doll.”
She laughed, breathless, as he stepped away to strip off his jeans. She pulled her shirt over her head and quickly got rid of her bra. She’d just begun to shimmy out of her shorts and panties when he was back to help her finish the job.
Before he could stop her, she sank to her knees and wrapped her hand around his thick length. She wanted to taste him, feel the strength in his thighs as he pumped into her mouth.
“Jesus, you’re so beautiful.” His hand joined hers, guiding her as she stroked him. She leaned in and swiped her tongue over the red, swollen head of his erection.
Gavin tightened his grip. “Open up, sweetheart. I want to see those pretty lips wrapped around my cock.”
Moisture seeped from her body as she teased her tongue over him, flicking the sensitive skin below the head before sucking him in. She braced a hand against his leg, her other hand trapped under his around his shaft.
He cursed and fisted his fingers in her hair. He showed her the pace he wanted, with his hands and the thrusts of his hips.
“Goddamn, I don’t want to stop. Your mouth is pure heaven,” he panted.
Lauren tightened her grip as she sucked him deep, taking him as far into her throat as she could. She didn’t want him to stop. Giving him pleasure was an addiction. She’d get one throaty groan and need another and another, until she was drunk with the satisfaction she’d given him that. Only her.
She could get herself off while he fed her his pleasure. She was close. Probably closer than he was. She reached between her legs and Gavin’s fingers tightened in her hair. “No,” he ground out. “Stop.” His face scrunched up as if it were painful to pull from her lips.
“What are you doing?” she asked as he pulled her to her feet.
He spun her toward the bed. “Claiming what’s mine. Bend over.”
Lauren’s pulse pounded in her ears as he reached for the condom he’d tossed on the bed.
Claiming what was his? Yes. God, yes. She leaned over, and Gavin stepped between her spread thighs.
“I love you.” He entered her with one, hard thrust.
She screamed in pleasure as he stretched her, filled her body and her heart. She’d never get enough of this, of him.
“I love you,” she breathed.
He didn’t start slow, didn’t wait for her to adjust—and she didn’t care. Filled with the same primal need that seemed to be driving him, she wanted him to take her. Hard. Fast. Greedy.
She pushed back to meet his thrusts and perspiration began to build on her skin, the heat from his cock melting her from the inside out.
“Gavin,” she pleaded and dug her nails into the bed.
He slowed only enough to reach around and press a finger to her clit. “Say you’re mine,” he demanded and thrummed against the sensitive bundle of nerves.
“Yours!” she cried and her body erupted.
A groan tore from Gavin’s throat as her inner muscles convulsed around him, drawing him deeper into her body with every pulse of her orgasm.
Her name burst from his lips and she knew the power of his release. Knew she’d never be alone again.
Knew she was loved.
* * *
Gavin watched Lauren get dressed and felt the final piece of his life click into place. Whatever came next, he had no doubt they’d handle it together. “I was serious about that job.” He didn’t bother with his shirt and rooted around until he found a clean pair of shorts to put on.
The look she shot him said she believed he was patronizing her. “I’m sure Andrew can come up with something.”
Gavin hid his grin. “No doubt, but I need you. Remember the Nelson ranch?”
“You mean the one that almost got Tom killed for mentioning?”
Gavin cringed at the reminder. “That’s the one. I want to buy it, and Tom has been taking a look at the financials for me. Nelson ran a successful outfit, and it could mean huge returns for Shadow Maverick Ranch if we move quickly.”
“Why the urgency?”
“He left the ranch to his niece, his only living relative apparently. She’s young and inexperienced. If we wait too long, there might not be anything left to buy. We’ll meet with my family this weekend and hash out what we are willing to do. It’ll be a heavy load for my brothers to handle until we get the right people, people we choose, in place.”
Ah, there was the smile he knew. He had her.
“You talk as though it’s a done deal. It sounds to me it’s anything but.”
He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. “See why I need your help? You keep me grounded.”
She hopped up onto the counter while he rummaged through the fridge for something quick to eat. “I don’t know about that, but I can see there’d be certain benefits to working together.”
Gavin grabbed a bowl of grapes and stuff to make sandwiches. He set everything beside her on the counter. “Were you just checkin’ out my ass?”
She popped a grape in her mouth and grinned. He poked at her ribs and she cried out with laughter. “I was! I was!”
He shoved her knees apart and took the kiss he’d never tire of. She responded immediately, wrapping her legs around him and using her feet to pull him closer.
They’d worked together for twelve years, but he felt as if he’d waited his whole life for her. She’d been worth every fucking minute.
He eased out of the kiss. Her happy smile sucker-punched him. It humbled him, stole his breath. “You know, I always thought my heart lived here. With my family, with Shadow Maverick Ranch.”
She rested a hand against his chest. “It doesn’t? You aren’t happy that you came home?”
He ducked his chin to look at her, wanting her to understand the depth of what he was about to say.
“I’ve never been happier, sweetheart. For the first time in my career, I’ll be working to ensure my family’s future. Just as my dad did, and my grandfather before him. I get to be a part of that now. For my nieces and nephews and who knows? Maybe for our own kids, one day. That’s heady stuff.”
Her cheeks flushed at the mention of kids. “See? Your heart is here, Gavin. It�
�s obvious how much being here means to you.”
“I might belong here, but my heart…” He hugged her close to his chest, loving her so much it hurt. “Lauren, my heart lives with you.”
Parker Kincade is the award-winning erotic romance author of The Martin Family Series. Her first novel, One Night Stand, won the 2013 Reader’s Crown Award for Best First Book, the category of Best Erotic Romance in the Celtic Hearts Romance Writers Golden Claddagh contest and was named finalist in the Romance Writers of America/Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest.
Parker lives in the southern United States with her husband, children and beloved boxer sidekick. She loves reading, playing golf, spending time with her family and friends, ice cream from the ice cream truck, taking her dog to the park and watching old musicals.
Stay in touch with Parker Kincade!
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Books by Parker Kincade
Romantic Suspense:
The Martin Family Series:
One Night Stand
Shadow of Sin
Contemporary Sports Romance:
Game On Series:
Spring Training
Southern Heat - COMING SOON
Contemporary Western Romance:
Shadow Maverick Ranch Novella Series:
White Collar Cowboy
Borrowed Cowboy - COMING SOON
Cowboy Redeemed - COMING SOON
FREE Erotic Romance Anthologies:
Lucky’s Charms
Love in the Cards
White Collar Cowboy Page 9
