Saving Her (Her Protector Book 2)

by Katy Kaylee

  Jesus, she was sweet. So small and delicate but with a fire inside that could rage out of control at just a touch, just a kiss. I loved it. I loved–

  My brain pulled back from the thoughts running through it but I was barely aware. The only thing I could focus on was her, was Zoe.

  I used my fingers, testing and teasing, until she was arching against me, her hips firing like pistons against my fingers thrusting deep inside her. I bit back a groan at how wet she was. How ready she was for me. Only me. Just me.

  And then I was pushing inside her, all the way to the hilt, as deep as I could go and we both froze for a moment as waves of bliss shattered through my body. All the way down my spine and then back up again.

  We moved together like water and fire, a rhythmic dance that took us both up in flames. I gritted my teeth as I thrust inside her, angling her hips to hit that spot that had her crying out every time I sank deep.

  I could feel her spasm around me and it was all it took to have my own orgasm slamming into me so hard that it took my breath away. I clung to her as the last tides of pleasure slowly began to fade away before laying a soft kiss on her shoulder.

  She was…My mind was too hazy with satisfaction to even come up with a word big enough and good enough to describe her. But it filled my chest, constricting my lungs till I could breathe. All I could do was kiss her, drinking her in. Savoring all of her. Drawing her deep inside me.

  I barely had time to step back and get my jeans back into place before I heard the footsteps coming closer, just outside the barn. Zoe hastily pulled her shirt and bra down, righting herself a second before Westley came in to view.

  I knew the ranch manager, and I knew he could walk as quietly as a mouse, but he was stomping towards us with a knowing look on his face that had my own burning with a blush. Me! Blushing! I hadn’t blushed since I was a teenaged caught in the back of my old pick up truck with Patty Clarke in the twelfth grade.

  It made my voice even gruffer when I spoke.

  “Westley, what is it?” I moved my hands, using the few more signs that I had been picking up. Zoe had been helping me as we both learned.

  He made a sign with his hand that I didn’t understand, and I shook my head.

  “Jake, something’s wrong.” Zoe whispered behind me, her eyes on Westley as they spoke in sign language for a moment, too quick for me to comprehend.

  I had been so wrapped up in my own embarrassment that I didn’t notice Westley’s expression until then. It was grave. Deathly grave.

  “What is it?” I asked, then turned back to Zoe. “What is it? What’s going on?”

  She just shook her head, her eyes suddenly far too wide and fragile looking in her heart shaped face.

  “Something’s happened. In the south pasture. I…I don’t understand what else he’s saying.” Frustration edged her voice and I put one arm around her.

  “It’s okay. We’ll go check it out.” I held her close for one moment, wishing I could turn back time, go back to two minutes ago when I was alone with her, when I wasn’t worried about anything but pleasing her. “We’ll go see ourselves.”

  15

  Zoe

  “Maybe you should stay here. I don’t know what we’re going to find out there and it’s not exactly a short ride.”

  I rolled my eyes at Jake, but he didn’t see the exasperated expression on my face. He was too busy saddling up Blaze, a seven year old stud that Jake had trained himself as a foal. The horse was all black with a pure white diamond across his muzzle and at his hooves, making him look like he was wearing white socks.

  He was a feisty horse that I hadn’t spent as much time with and we both gave each other distrustful looks for a moment before he snorted, shaking his mane and looked away, ignoring me.

  “I am not going to stay here.” I said, again. It must have been the third or fourth time by now. “Whatever happened obviously has Westley upset and to be honest, your sign language isn’t…”

  I trailed off with a shrug when Jake looked at me over his shoulder.

  “It’s not great, I know you’re learning but–.”

  “I need you.” He said with a reluctant sigh.

  “Exactly, you need me.” I couldn’t deny the electric thrill that shot through me at his words. It brought me back to what we had been doing in this very barn just a little while ago. My body was still humming with pleasure, only slightly dimmed by nearly being walked in on. I made a note to myself to make sure the door was shut and latched the next time we decided to get carried away.

  But that always seemed to happen with him. One look. One touch. One single kiss and I went up in flames, the rest of the world disappearing around me until it was only the two of us. It was dangerous, I knew. How he could eclipse my world, make me forget about everything and everyone else. But I reveled in those moments, when nothing else existed. When I had no past, and no future. No ex-fiancé. No monster. Just me, and Jake, and the intoxicating pleasure he gave me.

  “…it’s not an easy ride out to the south pasture,” Jake was saying and I shook my head, dragging my attention back to the present problem.

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll take it easy, but, have you ever been on a horse before?”

  “Well, not exactly. No, no I haven’t but how hard can it be? I just hold on to you and don’t let go, right?”

  Jake turned and looked at me, his grey eyes catching a stray ray of sunlight through the boards of the barn, turning them silver.

  “Exactly. Just don’t let go of me, Zoe.”

  There was something deep in his voice, something unspoken, but before I could decipher what it was, he was climbing up onto Blaze’s back. The horse knickered for a moment before settling down with another shake of his head.

  Jake held out one hand to me and I stepped close, eyeing the horse warily.

  “I’m going to climb on top of you now, okay, horsey?” I whispered in my most soothing voice. Blaze still shot be that distrustful look. Gently, I reached out one hand, scratching him gently behind the ears. His big, doe eyes rolled up in pleasure and in a minute he was nuzzling against me, the velvet soft fur making me laugh.

  “That’s it, boy. Such a good boy. You wouldn’t let me fall or get hurt, right?” I laughed again and the small whinny in protest at the thought.

  “Well, another one bites the dust,” Jake sighed. I glanced up at him in confusion but he just shook his head, a rueful expression shining in his eyes. “Come on. We better get going. Westley is already on his way and I don’t want him waiting too long.”

  At the reminder of the ranch manger, I saw his face once more as he’d stepped into the barn. His eyes full of worry, and there was an anger there too. I’d seen it in the tense line of his jaw and the terse, sharp way he’d signed.

  “Yeah, we better go.” I sighed, sliding my palm against Jake’s. As always, there was the shock of sparks at the feel of skin on skin. He pulled me up behind him in one smooth movement and I wrapped my arms as tight as I could around Jake’s waist as I adjusted to sudden height difference.

  “It’s a lot higher up here than I expected.” I swallowed down the bubble of panic as I looked down at the ground that was now much, much further away.

  “It’s okay. Blaze is in love with you now,” Jake said with a rueful laugh, “He won’t let anything happen to you. Just hold on, okay Zoe?”

  “Oh, I’m never letting you go.” I held him even tighter, missing his reply as Jake whistled the horse into an easy walk.

  We rode out, away from the barn, away from the stables, and after a few minutes even the old farmhouse disappeared from view behind the rolling, grassy hills that dotted the landscape. I knew we were riding towards something worrisome, but for that moment, as I clung to Jake, exhilaration filled me.

  The sky was endless and azure blue overhead and mountains jutted up from the horizon. All around me, Utah spread out in a rippling tapestry of blue and green and gold, the colors so bright in the sun it was like someo
ne had turned the saturation up on everything.

  I tasted pure freedom on the wind and when Jake whistled for Blaze to pick up his pace to a jangling trot I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my lips. I’d never been on a horse before. Hell, before coming to the Ranch, I’d never even seen a real live horse up close and in person before. Living in LA and travelling from city to city, I’d never had the chance.

  But in that moment, I fell in love, hard. And made a resolution to ask Jake to teach me how to ride as soon as we got back. I wanted more of this. Even at the steady clip that Blaze was jogging at, it felt like flying to me. Similar to the feeling I got when I played music. Pure joy. Pure freedom.

  All too soon, it was over. The sense of freedom started to fade as soon as Jake pulled on the reigns, making soothing noises to slow the horse back to an easy walk as we caught up with Westley.

  The freedom faded, and trepidation took its place. That sense of dread filled me, sitting like a weight in the pit of my stomach as I saw Westley’s, expression, just as tense and worried and angry as before.

  Jake stopped the horse, threw one leg over and jumped down to the ground before helping me down. I wanted to stay there, like that. His hands wrapped around me. His big body, so much taller and broader than my own, blocking out all the bad things in the world. But I knew it was just a dream, and a foolish one at that. I knew what relying on someone else cost me. I wouldn’t make that mistake again, no matter how much I wanted to sink against him and not turn around and see what had upset Westley so much.

  What is it? I signed to Westley and he just lifted one hand and pointed. I had to look around Jake to see what it was, and when I did the breath caught painfully in the back of my throat.

  The red paint was still dripping from the fence. It was still wet, obviously just painted not long before we arrived.

  You’re all dead. Thief’s deserve to be put down like dogs. Watch your back. There were a few more words scrawled angrily in the red paint, mostly swear words. Towards the end the letters all ran together in an unintelligible mess. But it didn’t matter. I understood what it meant. I could see the threat as clear as daylight.

  My mind went blank for a moment as I read the words over and over. I felt him there, suddenly, my monster. Like a sudden chill in the middle of the warm, summers afternoon. A shadow that had just passed over me, making everything dark again.

  What if it was him? What if he was here? What if he had finally found me again? This could be meant for me. Fear shattered inside me like a broken glass, slashing and tearing at all the safety and security I’d worked so hard to build for myself over the past months.

  I wanted to run. It was my first instinct and it hit me so hard that I nearly took off then and there, but I knew I had to be smart. Smarter than my monster. Smarter than anyone else. I would run, and this time I wouldn’t stop. I would just run and run and run until no one could ever find me again.

  My thoughts circled crazily in my head so loud that I didn’t hear Jake’s words at first.

  “It was the Calhoun’s. I know it is.” The anger in Jake’s low, hard voice drew me out of the dark shadow of my mind. “They want this land, and now they’re resorting to juvenile threats to try and get their way because I’ve refused them so many times. Well it’s not going to fucking happen. I’m going over there right now to put an end to this…”

  Jake took a few steps towards Blaze but Westley stopped him, holding up one hand before signing earnestly.

  “I don’t understand, Westley,” he said, shaking his head.

  “He said you can’t go after the Calhoun’s without proof.” I offered tremulously. As soon as Jake had said it was the Calhoun’s that had left the threat, my shadow started to fade and relief flooded me. Of course, it was them. Jake had told me how they were after the land his ranch was on and the pranks and stupid tricks they’d pulled over the years to try and get it out from under him.

  The land used to belong to Howard Calhoun’s great grandfather and, even though he’d lost it to the bank, and Jake’s family and bought it fair and square, the Calhoun’s still believed that the Gallagher’s had somehow stolen the property.

  The whole thing was ridiculous in my opinion, and I’d thought fairly minor, silly really. But staring at the words, at the anger in them, I wasn’t so sure about that.

  “He’s right. You can’t go accusing them without proof.” I said, crossing my arms across my chest to ward off the sudden chill, “But you should call the police, have them photograph it for evidence in case something else happens. Maybe they could dust for fingerprints or something.”

  “You obviously aren’t familiar with Solace’s only deputy.” Jake said with a wry twist to his lips, “He’s not exactly an ace detective, you know? More of a Barney Fief if I’m being honest. But you’re right. I should call him and report it, just in case.” Jake sighed, as if it was the last thing he wanted to do.

  “Alright, don’t touch anything. We’ll head on back to the office and I’ll call Sheriff Cooper.” Jake held out his hands to me and I took them eagerly, reluctant to let them go even he pulled me up onto the waiting horse.

  “Don’t worry, Zoe. It’s okay. The Calhoun’s are assholes, and idiots. But they’d never hurt anyone.”

  I could hear the lie in his voice, but I didn’t say anything, just nodded against his back as he climbed up onto the saddle in front of me. I wrapped my arms around him tight enough to still some of the trembling in my body but not even the excitement of riding on Blaze was enough to drive the chill away.

  I was still shaking when we got back to the ranch to see Beth’s jeep parked in the drive. She was leaning against it, obviously waiting impatiently.

  “What, you don’t answer a phone call from your own sister?” She joked as we rode nearer. She caught sight of Jake’s expression first, and then mine. Her own smile faded as she looked back and forth between us. “What’s going on? Everything okay? Did something happen?”

  “It was the Calhoun’s. They painted one of the south fences with a bunch of threats.”

  “Wi– Are you sure it was them?” Beth asked, and Jake nodded.

  “Yeah, it was pretty specifically aimed at ‘thieves’ and you know how they feel about us, and this land.” Jake signed again, wiping his hand over his face and suddenly he looked exhausted.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry you had to see that,” Beth said, noticing my distant expression, the trembling. She could see there was something else, something that I couldn’t talk about in front of Jake. Hell, I didn’t think I could talk about it in front of anyone. Not yet. Maybe not ever. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. It’s the end of the day anyway. Why don’t we go out for a girl’s night? A few drinks will chase this whole nasty business right out of your head and besides, it would be nice to hang out with another woman for a change.”

  Beth smiled expectantly at me. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but maybe she was right. Maybe a night out was just what I needed to banish the rest of the chill. I glanced questioningly at Jake and he just nodded his head.

  “Might as well. I have to call the Sherriff and report this. Who knows how long that’s going to take. Go on and enjoy yourself. You earned it.”

  “Great. There’s only one bar in Solace but it’s better than drinking alone, that’s what I always say,” Beth leaned close, her voice lowering to a whisper that could be heard a mile away, “Actually, that’s a lie. It’s a total dive, but it’s fun and it really is the only bar in town so, beggars can’t be choosers, right?”

  “Okay. I’ll get changed really quick and then we can go.” I said before I could change my mind. Jake was already heading towards the barn to stable Blaze before calling the sheriff and Beth was looking at me expectantly. There was nothing else for it.

  I hurried inside, threw on the only dress I had and let my hair down from the ponytail so that it flowed down my back in one long wave. At the last minute I grabbed my tube of red lipstick and then I was out the door, in the
passenger’s seat of Beth’s jeep as she blasted music, and drove us into town.

  16

  Beth

  I looked around Solace’s only bar and grimaced. The floors were sticky, the beer was warm, and the whole place smelled of fried food. Better than nothing, I thought to myself, my gaze scanning the bar once more.

  Zoe had gone to the bathroom, and I’d watched more than one set of eyes follow her appreciatively. I hope Jake knew what he was getting into dating a woman like her. She was like an exotic flower here in Solace, bound to draw attention. The thought made me chuckle. Good, he needed to be shaken up a little.

  Especially after what had happened with his ex, Valerie. He hadn’t deserved that. Hell, no one deserved that, but especially not Jake. He had the best heart of anyone that I knew. I glanced around the bar, surprised I didn’t see Val scoping out a new man. This was one of her favorite hunting grounds. A big reason why Jake never came here. Well, that and he didn’t have a life.

  He’d dedicated all of his time to the ranch after dad died, like his life had just stopped and all that existed was the ranch. Zoe was good for him. I could see that from a mile away even if he couldn’t.

  And Jake was good for her. Zoe might not have noticed, but she didn’t have nearly as many shadows in her eyes these days. She didn’t flinch at any sudden sound, she didn’t hunch her shoulders and try and disappear when someone looked at her.

  She was finally emerging. The real her. The one that I had glimpsed buried underneath all the fear and panic she’d been carrying around with her.

  I felt a surge of satisfaction at the part I’d played for both of them. My brother, and my new friend. I raised my beer to my lips in a little salute to myself.

  “What’s that smug look for?”

  The deep, masculine voice shook me to my core, like it always did. Like it had since I was just a teenaged girl with my first crush. It was just a shame for both of us that my first crush had been the very man standing next to me. The last man in the world I should want, but damn if that helped one tiny, little bit.