It probably wasn’t something he even wanted to think about, if his set expression and the way he held his body stiff, tension rolling off of his wide shoulders, was any indication.
She placed her hand over his. Going on instinct, she lifted it, brought it to her lips and placed a gentle kiss in the palm.
“There’s nothing you can say that would make me think less of you, Shilah. Nothing,” she said softly.
He closed his eyes briefly.
“My uncle and I moved around a lot. Ran every scam known, hustled any and everybody, he didn’t care. As long as the money was good, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to find a way to get it. He was good-looking, mostly used the way he looked on women.” He stopped and shook his head. “Divorced, married, single, old and young, he didn’t care. They were all fair game.”
Quietly Ellie listened as he told her how as his uncle grew older, he’d brought Shilah into the game along with him.
“Finally he got caught by the feds. He got involved in a Medicare scam,” he said. “He didn’t know, but they’d been tracking him for a while, and set up a sting. He got busted, and I got sent to juvy and then to the boys’ home. You know the rest,” he said. Although he spoke matter-of-factly, Ellie read the shame in his eyes.
Ellie was quiet, digesting the information before she spoke. “Shilah, none of that was your fault,” she finally said.
“I was more than willing to go along with it, Ellie. Yeah, I was a kid, but I could have said something…told someone what he was doing. I knew the score, but I kept silent. I helped him scam hundreds of people, Ellie. But he was family. The only family I had.”
“Shilah, you were a child. There wasn’t anything you could have done about what he was doing!”
He was shaking his head as she spoke. “I didn’t have to go along with it, El. I knew right from wrong.”
“Listen. I get that. But right or wrong, like you said, he was family. The only family you had. And you were a child, baby.”
At her words, he swung his head around, staring at her so intently she grew uncomfortable.
“What?”
A slow smile crossed his sensual lips. “That’s the first time you’ve called me that.”
She frowned, thinking, and blushed when she realized what she’d called him. She’d never called a man baby before. As silly as it would probably sound if she confessed that aloud, the fact that she had called him baby brought a blush to her face.
“Well, yeah. Guess I did,” she said, and they stared across the table at each other, both with grins on their faces. Silly grins. “And, baby,” she said, elongated it to make him laugh. “Listen to me when I say you’re one of the finest men I know. And I don’t just mean the way you look,” she said, wiggling her brows up and down, pulling a startled bark of laughter from Shilah.
“You’re not that kid you were. And you have nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing.”
He reached across the small table and brought their lips together.
“You’re a special man, Shilah Wilde,” she whispered against his mouth, before he claimed her lips.
When he released her, she sat back in her chair, and smiled across at him.
“So…what exciting thing is next for you, Ellie? Now that you know my life story. What about you? Now that the investigation is over, are you going to stick around for a while? Help your dad at his practice?” Although the change of topic was abrupt, Ellie felt none of the anger she’d felt before, when she’d felt he was holding back from her.
She lifted her glass of wine to her lips, stalling for time, as she thought of how to answer his question.
She shrugged. “I guess a lot of that depends,” she said, after swallowing.
“Depends on what?” he asked, giving her that heart-stopping, nipple-beading smile of his that always made her insides turn straight to butter.
Taking a mental deep breath, she plunged in. “Depends on if I’m given another reason to stay.”
Chapter 20
As soon as she said it, Ellie wished to God she could retract the words. The thoughtful look on his face made a deep flush creep along her skin.
God, what had she been thinking, she wondered. What had she been thinking by putting herself out there like that?
“Ellie, baby, I—”
Whatever he’d been about to say, the waiter interrupted to clear their plates, and Ellie was more than happy for the reprieve.
When the DJ put on one of Ellie’s favorite songs, she bounced in her chair, placing fake enthusiasm into her voice, saying, “Ohh, I love this song!”
Shilah leaned back in his chair, a smile tugging the corners of his mouth. “Wanna give it a whirl?” he asked, nodding toward the dance floor.
“Oh God, no!” she said, her eyes flying to his.
Without a word, he rose and hauled her to her feet. He ignored her groaning protest and led her to the dance floor. Doing her best to “shake what her mama gave her,” as the song suggested, she giggled at Shilah as he danced along with her, grabbing her by the waist and twirling her around until she felt giddy. Breathless, she grinned up at him, the music and dancing easing away the tension.
When the music changed, the upbeat tempo of the last song ended and was replaced by a slower one. Ellie glanced up at Shilah, the laughter still in place.
“Where are you going? If I remember correctly, this used to be one of your favorite songs?” he both stated and asked.
“Yeah,” she said, slightly out of breath from dancing. “It was. But after that, I don’t think I have enough energy to keep on dancing—you wore me out!” She laughed.
“Don’t worry, El…I have enough energy for the both of us.” The smile eased from her mouth at the look in his piercing dark eyes, the hint of a smile that creased his lean cheeks.
“Dance with me, Ellie?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave and sending electric heat through her body.
One arm remained wrapped around her waist, the other moved lower, casually cupping her buttocks, bringing her flush against his long, hard frame.
As Shilah held her close, Ellie felt that nervous jitter return, the same one she’d felt at the beginning of the date, and took deep breaths, to quell her nervous anticipation. She had put it on the back burner, but now it returned to blazing life as they moved together, as one, in small swaying motions.
Their bodies moved together as though that’s what they’d been created for. She loved everything about the evening, from the way he’d shared a piece of his past with her, to the sensuality of the song, the feel of his body and the way he moved her—it was all magic.
A magic that had been building for the last three weeks since she’d been home. A magic she didn’t want to end.
She was made for him.
Shilah felt his heartbeat ricocheting around his chest as he held Ellie close.
After a few moments, he felt the tension leave her limbs and her body mold to his, as though they’d danced a thousand times together.
When he felt her head come to rest on his chest, he laid his head lightly against the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. A light, sweet smell, mixed with her own womanly scent, one that was as uniquely intoxicating and beautiful as she herself.
Just like her, it was perfect.
When a particularly energetic couple bumped into them, he deftly moved her, pressing their bodies closer together, loving the way her slight curves felt against his body. As they danced their bodies moved together effortlessly, as one.
Although he’d been surprised at her earlier reticence, the fact that she was obviously nervous about their evening together had made Shilah realize that she was as excited about their being together as he.
It had been so easy to talk to her, easy to share things with her that he hadn’t shared with another. With Ellie, it seemed as though there wasn’t anything he couldn’t talk to her about, share with her.
He thought back to the look that had crossed her face w
hen he’d asked her what her plans were after the investigation. His heart had crashed against his chest at her response. He’d been about to ask her if he would be reason enough for her to stay when the waiter’s ill-timed arrival had prevented it.
Immediately he felt her embarrassment, her need to change the subject, and allowed her a reprieve. For the moment.
He’d hidden his grin, the knowledge that she cared for him as much as he did for her making his steps lighter as he led her to the dance floor.
Since her return home, she’d managed to carve an even deeper wedge in his heart than before. He wasn’t ready for what they had…what they could have, to come to an end.
She shifted, her body sliding against his and, glancing down at her, he pulled away enough so that he could see her beautiful face.
Without thought to who was watching, or where they were, he cupped her face, leaned down and captured her full lips with his, hoping that in his kiss she knew the answer to her question.
He had no intention of allowing the magic of what they had to end, anytime soon.
After he released her, she stared up at him, her lids low, droopy, her mouth swollen from his kisses.
She placed her head on his chest, her hand over his heart, as they again moved as one to the searing lyrics.
As the song ended, Ellie reluctantly lifted her head from Shilah’s chest, her body trembling.
When she would have pulled away, he moved her closer, lifting her hand, kissing the palm in the familiar caress, one that did all the right things for her.
He lowered his head and softly ran his nose against the curve of her cheek. The hand at her waist moved lower, until he lightly held her butt, bringing their bodies flush, and lightly grinding her against the steely length of his erection.
“I need you,” he whispered, his voice deep, gruff with need.
A need that mirrored hers.
Ellie nodded her head, licking her tongue across lips gone dry.
“I—I just need to call home and let my folks know I’m not coming home tonight.”
Her heart seemed to jump from her chest when she saw the wicked gleam enter his eyes, as he took her hand in his and led her away from the dance floor.
After paying the bill, they were leaving the restaurant when Ellie heard her cell phone ring. She would have ignored it, but the special ringtone she’d assigned to her parents had her digging inside her purse to pull the phone out.
With an apologetic shrug, she pressed the small indention on the phone and lifted it to her ear.
“Ellie, honey, I hate to disturb you, but I need you at the Wilde Ranch,” her father said, and Ellie frowned.
“What is it, Dad? Is everything okay?”
Her father hastened to assure her that it was, but that he needed her to help him in the unexpected twin birth of foals that was proving to be a difficult delivery.
“With this kind of birth, the boys usually are pretty well able to help, but all of them are out, and Jake took the weekend off to visit his folks,” he said, mentioning the foreman. “Baby, I hate to ask you—”
“No, Dad, that’s fine! I’m with Shilah now. We’ll be there in twenty minutes,” she said, and after a quick farewell ended the call.
“Dad needs me,” she began, hoping he wouldn’t be upset. But the strain in her father’s voice and his need for her overrode anything else.
“I know. I heard. I can get us there in ten minutes,” he said with a wink, and Ellie smiled at him gratefully as he ushered her out of the restaurant.
Chapter 21
“You look good wearing my robe.”
Ellie turned around at the sound of Shilah’s voice, grasping the lapels of his robe tighter around her body.
As promised, Shilah had cut the twenty-minute drive in half. As they’d arrived at the ranch, she’d quickly saddled up and ridden the short distance to where her father was in the difficult process of delivering the second of two breech-birth foals.
With Ellie’s professional help, the second foal’s birth had been less traumatic, and the delivery had gone much faster.
When she began helping her father with the cleanup, he stopped her, saying, “I think the boys can handle it from here. Why don’t you go back to your date?” He cast her a knowing glance, which made her blush.
She’d stood up on tiptoe and kissed her father’s cheek and left, riding back to the house. When she’d arrived, she’d met up with Yasmine in the kitchen and was told that Shilah was out with his brothers, on an emergency.
Yasmine had nonchalantly suggested Ellie use Shilah’s bathroom to clean up, looking at the blood and dirt covering her from head to toe.
She’d just finished bathing and, looking around for something to wear, had donned his robe.
“I’m a mess. I—I thought I’d take a quick shower before going home. The birth was pretty messy. I didn’t think you were here. Dad mentioned that you and your brothers had an emergency of your own,” Ellie said, knowing she was babbling, as doubt came over her. “I’ll just get my clothes on and get out of here,” she mumbled, gathering her ruined dress and shoes. His next words stopped her.
“You’re beautiful.”
Ellie suppressed the shiver that ran through her at the scalding-hot look in his eyes. Flustered, she turned away, clutching her dress in one hand and hooking the straps of her heels with the other.
“Is everything okay? I went by to check up on you and your dad. By the time I got there, your dad had already left. The guys told me everything went well.”
“Yes, actually the birth went fairly fast after we got the first foal out. Both mama and babies are doing well.”
As he advanced toward her, she took an involuntary step back, looking around the room.
“I’ll just uh, go and get dressed and get out of your way. I’m sure you want to use the bathroom.” She was so flustered she dropped her clothes, and as she bent to retrieve them, his hand covered hers.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind. In fact I kinda like you being here,” he said, his eyes hooded as his glance slid over her.
“Why don’t we take one, together?” he asked, and her eyes flew to his.
“Take one, what?” she asked, although she knew exactly what he was referring to. The thought of taking a bath with Shilah was as exciting as it was intimidating.
His wicked grin almost brought her to her knees. “Let me wash you, Ellie.”
He pushed away from the wall, advancing toward her, stopping when he was less than a foot away from her.
“I, uh…already washed up. Anyway, I don’t think that would be a good idea.” She stuttered the words, backing up until her back was flush against the wall.
She had no problems with her body, and the scars on her knees were nothing more than reminders of what she’d survived. But the thought of bathing with him…of him washing her… She closed her eyes tight as though to force away the image of him doing something so intimate to her.
“Has anyone ever told you that you think too much?” he asked, his warm breath fanning the side of her face.
“Shilah…” she whispered.
Her breath escaped in a long hiss of pleasure when he continued to nuzzle her neck, licking a scalding path from beneath the lobe of her ear, down the side, his talented, wicked tongue finding the hollow of her throat to place an open-mouthed kiss.
She felt one of his big hands move aside his robe, and his hand, hot, hard, move inside the thick terry cloth and grasp her breast.
She moaned, her body arching when his other hand reached down lower and moved back and forth over the springing hairs of her mound.
When his fingers found her clit, lightly pinching the nubbin until it beaded, filling with blood, Ellie’s body arched sharply, her back pressing against the door as his fingers pressed inside her moist opening, deeper.
“Tell me you want me, Ellie. Tell me you need me.” He breathed the demanding words against her face.
Ellie moved her head to the side,
allowing his tongue to slide and glide over her throat, his teeth to nip and caress the hollow of her throat.
She shouldn’t want him with a need that was growing out of control. One kiss. One touch…one look. That was all it took.
He slanted his mouth over hers, his tongue coming out to play and mate with hers, promising what he wanted their bodies to do.
When he pulled away, both of their breaths were ragged. He stared down at her with an intensity in his eyes that showed, vividly, his need.
A feeling that resonated deep inside Ellie. A need she never knew she’d had, until she’d come back home.
Since she’d returned to Shilah.
Instead of the thought frightening her, this overwhelming need she had for him, instead it felt…right.
He said nothing more, yet in his eyes she knew what he wanted her to say, what he was demanding she say, before he would end the ache inside her.
She closed her eyes and bowed her head, her mind, her emotions scattered.
She raised her head, meeting his gaze. In his gaze she saw uncertainty…and love. A love so strong it nearly staggered her in its intensity.
“I—I don’t just want you, Shilah,” she said, drawing in a deep breath before plunging in. “I—I love you.” No sooner had the words escaped than he was lifting her in his arms, slashing his mouth over hers as he backed her against the wall, lifting her legs to straddle his waist.
“God…I love you too, Ellie.” His voice shook with deep emotion as he pulled his mouth from hers, his busy hands gliding over her naked body, as he ran scalding kisses over her face.
Ellie moaned, softly his chest warm against her breasts, as he pressed her back into the cold wall, the steely length of his cock pressed against her vagina.
She hissed, her body bowing away from the wall when his hand moved down between their bodies, his knuckles pressing against her stomach as he fisted his shaft.
She hissed when she felt the tip of his shaft between her wet folds, rubbing back and forth between the seam of her lips.
“Tell me I’m the only man you want…that you’ll ever want,” he demanded, pressing the tip of his shaft, just the tip, inside her body.
To Desire a Wilde Page 13
