The Rancher Returns

by Brenda Jackson

  Gavin frowned. He was thinking like a love-struck puppy, and he refused to go there. Isn’t that what had happened to his father? He’d quickly fallen in love with a woman only to die of a broken heart in the end? Okay, it had been an enemy’s bullet that had taken him out, but Gavin of all people knew of his father’s heartache.

  Layla shifted her weight. Her leg, which rested between his, touched his groin. Immediately, he got hard. His erection had no problem coming to life. He glanced over at the clock. It was almost two in the morning. He should leave but the thought of waking up beside her in the morning had an appeal he couldn’t dismiss.

  And then there was the temptation to wake her now and make love to her all over again. Move between her legs and slide inside of her. Go deep until he couldn’t go anymore. Then he would thrust hard like he’d done before. Even harder since she was no longer a virgin. He even thought about how it would feel not to wear a condom. To blast off inside of her. Fill her with the very essence of him.

  Now that was taking his imagination a little too far. He was a man who played it safe so he would never be sorry. Babies of any kind were not in his immediate future. So why did the thought of a daughter who would be a mini-Layla appeal to him? Make his erection even harder?

  Gavin closed his eyes. He had to stop thinking with the wrong head. Doing so could get him in serious trouble. He couldn’t let sexual feelings take control of his common sense no matter how wrapped up he wanted to get with the woman beside him. No matter how much inhaling her arousing scent was getting to him.

  Shifting his body, he pulled Layla closer and let sleep overtake him.

  Thirteen

  The strong aroma of coffee woke Layla. She blinked, and then sluggishly realized where she was and what she’d done last night and with whom. If there had been any doubt in her mind about what had happened, all she had to do was tilt her head to gaze across the room to where a half-naked man lounged in the doorway holding a steaming cup of coffee.

  Gavin.

  She blinked. Okay, since he was wearing jeans, he wasn’t half-naked but half-dressed. Still, that was all he was wearing. And those jeans were riding low on his hips, making it pretty obvious just what a well-built body he had. His pose was picture perfect. He was the epitome of a sexy cowboy. A wealthy rancher. A scrumptious navy SEAL. How could one man exemplify all three and do it so well?

  Her gaze roamed over him, from the top of his head all the way down to his bare feet. She’d paused when she’d seen that his zipper was undone. He’d either dressed quickly and hadn’t bothered to zip up, or he had plans that included her so he’d figured why bother.

  Those tantalizing thoughts made her recall last night. Her first time. And she knew without a doubt it had been worth the wait. She couldn’t help it. Her gaze traveled the full length of him all over again. This time when her gaze settled on his midsection, she saw something she hadn’t seen before. A huge erection. She drew in a deep breath and swore that it got bigger as she stared at it.

  “Want some?”

  She snatched her gaze from his groin up to his face. The smile that touched his lips was priceless and way too sexy for words. “What are you offering?” she asked.

  “Whatever you want.”

  Reluctantly, she broke eye contact with him to glance outside the bedroom window. It was still dark but she knew it would be daybreak soon. Her team would be arriving from town within an hour or so. Her gaze returned to his. “I should take the coffee, get up, shower and get dressed.”

  “But...”

  How had he known there was a but in there? “But I much prefer taking the man holding the coffee.”

  His smile widened. “And the man holding the coffee doesn’t have a problem with you taking him.”

  Layla was only beginning to fully understand what heated lust was all about. “Did I tell you that last night I thought of myself as Viper Jr?”

  He lifted a brow. “Viper Jr?”

  “Yes. I set my sights on my target and went after what I wanted, and you, Gavin Blake, were my target.”

  A wry grin split his lips. “Was I?”

  She nodded. “I wanted you.”

  “And I wanted you.”

  Layla then saw a somewhat serious look appear in his eyes as he said, “How do you feel? I wanted you so much...because of that you’re probably sore. You sure you’re up to another ride this soon?”

  Ride? She inwardly chuckled. Yes, he’d definitely ridden her last night. And yes, she was sore from it. However, as far as she was concerned, he could ride the soreness away.

  “I’m sure.”

  “In that case.” Placing the coffee cup on a nearby table, he crossed the room to the bed. “But first I want to see something.” Before she could blink, he threw the bedcovers aside to expose her naked body.

  Surprised, she scrambled to get back under the covers but he tossed them aside again. “No. Don’t cover yourself. I just had to make sure I hadn’t imagined anything. That you were as beautiful and delectable as I remembered. My mind didn’t play tricks on me last night.”

  His words touched her. Made her feel wonderful. Made her feel like a real woman who had sexual feminine powers over a man. And when she watched him lick his lips with the tip of his tongue, she couldn’t help remembering just where that tongue had been and what it had done.

  Recalling that part of their lovemaking sparked an ache between her legs. As if he knew what sensations were enthralling her and where, he slowly eased his jeans down his strong, muscular thighs. Just as she’d thought. The jeans were the only thing he’d been wearing. He hadn’t bothered to put back on his briefs.

  “Now for this.”

  His words grabbed her attention and she watched him slide a condom over his erection. And boy was it large. How had it gotten inside of her last night? But he’d managed it and she knew he would again. This was the first time she’d seen a man prepare himself for sex. From the way he was doing it, it was obvious he was used to doing it.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes.” She drew in a deep breath. The ache between her legs had made her nipples harden like tight buds.

  “We’re going to try something different this morning. It will be easier on you and help with your soreness.”

  In a way, she felt embarrassed engaging in such a conversation with him...about her body. But she pushed her discomfort aside. After last night—and all he’d done to her and how he’d done it—there was no room left for shame. “What?”

  He smiled as he moved back toward the bed. “I want you to ride me.”

  She swallowed. “Ride you?”

  “Yes. Do you know how to ride?”

  She nodded. “Yes. My parents own several horses.” And she’d ridden them often enough.

  “Good. So show me what you know,” he said, lying back on the bed beside her, then lifting her over him. Just like that. As if she was weightless.

  “I’ll do my best,” she said, sliding into position. The long, hard length of his erection was like a rod, standing straight up, ready for her to mount. So she did. Widening her legs, she took him into her body. The hot texture of his male organ seemed to blaze her insides as she took him fully inside of her.

  She watched his face, the same way she’d known he’d watched hers last night. Their gazes held. No words were spoken. This was all about feeling. And she felt him in each and every part of her body. Her muscles clenched around him. Holding tight. And then as if of one accord they shivered with a need they both felt.

  “Okay Viper Jr. Ride me, baby. Hard.”

  Gavin’s words incited her to move up and down. She felt him grip the sides of her hips—to hold on to her, to guide her. Then, as if something elemental had taken control, she threw her head back and rode him hard.

  What was happening to her
? It was as if she’d lost control of her mind and her body. Having sex with Gavin this way, with her on top, riding him, sent an exhilarated feeling through her, one she couldn’t explain.

  When he leaned up and whispered naughty words in her ear, sinfully erotic words, she went mad with lust. She heard the bedsprings as she continued to ride. Each time her body came down against him, his came up to meet her.

  Suddenly her quivering became uncontrollable and she felt her body explode into a thousand pieces. It was then that Gavin caught the back of her head with his hands and brought her mouth down to his, kissing her with a hunger that made her climax all over again.

  Once again he came with her. She felt it. As their tongues continued to mingle, she knew that she loved him with a passion she would never rid herself of, no matter the distance between them. While she was here on the Silver Spurs, she intended to make memories that would last her long after she returned to Seattle.

  * * *

  “Well, how did your dinner date with the handsome rancher go? Did the two of you do the nasty, Dr. Harris?”

  Layla didn’t immediately look up from studying the soil samples. Tammy was the last person she wanted to talk to, but to ignore her student would be rude. Yet no student had the right to inquire how their professor spent their evening. Layla had always maintained a distance between herself and her students. Because of her age, she took pains to ensure they never lost sight of the fact that she was their professor. As far as she was concerned, Tammy’s question was out of line and lacked respect.

  Layla raised her head from the microscope and met Tammy’s gaze. “I don’t think that should be your concern, Tammy. Did you finish your report?” Layla knew she hadn’t. Several students had brought it to her attention that Tammy was slacking. It seemed whenever there was hard work to do, Tammy had a tendency to disappear.

  Tammy scrunched up her features. “No. And why do I have to be the one to do that report? Donnell has a lot of free time.”

  “Only because Donnell has finished all his assignments. You haven’t.”

  A smile touched Tammy’s lips. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll still ace this class.”

  Layla frowned. “Not if you don’t do your share of the work. And if you’re not going to be a team player, I will have to replace you. There are several students who would love to be here.”

  “Doesn’t matter. They don’t have the connections I have,” Tammy bragged. “I’m on this team, Dr. Harris, whether you want me here or not. I thought you understood that.”

  Layla refused to get into a confrontation with a student. It was clear Tammy thought that being Dr. Clayburn’s occasional bed partner meant she could do whatever she wanted. Wrong. Not on Layla’s team. “The only thing I understand is that I expect you to carry your load. If you can’t, then you’re out of here.”

  Tammy tossed her hair as a smirk touched her lips. “Wrong. You’ll be out of here before I will. I’ll make sure Mark...I mean Dr. Clayburn knows I’m being harassed.” She then turned and sulked as she walked out the door.

  In frustration Layla rubbed her hand down her face. Tammy might be right. Layla wasn’t one of Dr. Clayburn’s favorite people and it was obvious the man was quite taken with Tammy. And Tammy knew it.

  “She’ll eventually hang herself and Dr. Clayburn. Don’t waste your time worrying about her, Dr. Harris.”

  Layla turned to find another one of her students, Donnell McGuire, standing in the doorway. Had he overheard her conversation with Tammy? Did he and the other students suspect something was going on between Tammy and Dr. Clayburn? The one thing Layla wouldn’t do was discuss one student with another, no matter how much she wanted to sound off to someone about Tammy’s atrocious attitude.

  Before she could say anything, Donnell added, “And don’t worry about that report Tammy hasn’t done. I’ll take care of it. I do have some free time.”

  His words told Layla he had overheard her conversation with Tammy. “That assignment was given to Tammy, Donnell, and I expect her to do it. Besides, I have something else for you to do. I just got a call that the last of our supplies arrived at the post office in town. I need you to go pick them up. If everything looks good, we’ll start digging by the end of the week.”

  A huge smile touched Donnell’s face. “Alright! I can’t wait.” The young man rushed off to tell the others.

  Layla chuckled at his enthusiasm. She would give anything for more students like Donnell who took being a team player seriously. He was a hard worker. Most of the students on this team were. Although being an archaeologist was Donnell’s first love, she knew he was also good with a camera and had won a number of photo contests. At twenty-two he would be graduating in the spring with a major in archaeology and a minor in photography.

  She refused to let Tammy put a damper on her day, especially when it had started off with the promise of being wonderful. She’d had such a wonderful night with Gavin. Then this morning, before the crack of dawn, she’d proven just what a great horsewoman she could be. Memories of what they’d shared still sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t help but blush. Being intimate with a man had never been anything she’d thought about until now...

  She glanced at her watch. She had a full day planned here on-site and then Gavin had invited her to dinner again. This time he would be the one cooking. He claimed he wasn’t bad in the kitchen. Tonight she intended to see if that was true.

  * * *

  Gavin had always prided himself on being a man in control. As a SEAL, he couldn’t be any other way. The success of any mission called for it. There was no time to let your guard down. Weakness of any kind wasn’t acceptable. Then why did he lose control every time he entered Layla’s body? Why did overpowering weakness overtake him whenever they made love?

  He had prepared dinner for her tonight at the party house. He’d fed her well. Surprised the hell out of her with his culinary skills. At the moment, he contemplated impressing her with another skill. One of seduction. When he’d arrived at the party house with his arms filled with groceries, Layla had opened the door wearing an outfit that only made him think of filling her.

  She’d tempted him the entire time he was in the kitchen. There was no doubt in his mind that she’d known exactly what she was doing as she’d sat at the breakfast bar watching him. She had known each and every time she crossed and uncrossed her legs that she was showing him a portion of her thigh and exactly what that did to him. How he had managed to finish cooking and then sit across from her and eat was a testament to his control.

  Now it was payback time.

  “So how was your day, Gavin?”

  He’d cleared off the table and was loading up the dishwasher as he fought to retain control. “It was the usual day in the life of a rancher. The cows are finally settled in for the winter, which is good since forecasters predict a cold wave coming through first of next week.”

  “I heard. I’m hoping bad weather won’t delay the completion of the dig. Our goal is to start later this week.”

  He closed the dishwasher door, then turned around and watched her gaze shift from his face to his midsection. She saw the evidence of his desire for her. That couldn’t be helped when she was sitting there looking as sexy as any woman had a right to look. “Did I tell you how much I like your outfit?”

  She chuckled and the sound made his erection thicken even more. “Yes, you told me. I figured you would like it since I understand men like to see skin.”

  She understood right. Men liked touching and tasting skin as well, which was something he’d shown her last night. Her short dress showed a lot of her thighs since the hem barely covered them. And the top had a neckline that showed a lot of cleavage, reminding him of how much he enjoyed her breasts. He wanted her bad. He wanted her right here. Right now.

  He slowly crossed the room toward her. Any other wom
an would have run after seeing the predatory look in his eyes. But Layla stood her ground. That was fine with him. When he reached her, he removed her dress with a flick of his wrist and a little muscle power, leaving her totally naked. Like he’d suspected, she hadn’t had a stitch of clothing on underneath that dress. He knew he had surprised the hell out of her with how quickly he’d undressed her.

  He smiled at her shocked look. “A SEAL pays attention to detail. While sitting across from you at dinner I studied the design of your dress and figured out the best way to take it off without ripping it to shreds. I like the dress too much to tear it.”

  He stepped back. “Now to remove my clothes.”

  Gavin undressed quickly. And then he picked her up and spread her across the same table he’d cleared just moments ago. “Open your legs for me, Layla.”

  He intended to bury himself inside of her as deeply as he could go. He was certain the hot and hungry look in his eyes said as much. But he knew all this was still new to her and he wanted her to be comfortable with everything they did together.

  She lay there, on his table, with her legs spread. For a minute he just stood and looked at her. Remembering her taste, he couldn’t help but lick his lips. Tasting her would have to come later. Right now he needed to come. Quickly putting on a condom, he settled his body between her thighs. She held his gaze when he entered her, filling her completely. Being inside her, feeling her muscles clench around him, felt so damn good. Her muscles were trying to pull everything out of him and the sensation was driving him insane.

  Gavin held tight to her hips as he moved in and out. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking him inside of her. He wanted her to feel every stroke, the same way he was feeling it. On and on, each thrust was hard and precise. Back and forth, he rocked inside of her. Steady, with meaningful precision. He thrust hard, creating pleasure that spread like molten heat throughout both of their bodies. The sound of Layla’s moans only increased his desire to please her. When he felt her body explode, his explosion soon followed.