Page 15 of Rancher's Heart

Hopping off the counter, I leaned down and grabbed the t-shirt that I’d dropped to the floor and took one last look down the hallway. My room was on the opposite side of the house. I couldn’t even pretend to wander into his room by accident. Not that I would have; that’s an invasion of privacy, and no matter how much aching I had between my legs for the touch of Griffin Harp, I wouldn’t ever do that.

My door made a soft thud as I closed it, and I looked at the luxurious sleigh bed with crisp white sheets, the chandelier light above the bed sending out a warm, welcoming glow and the sense of safety that this house had given me in a matter of thirty minutes.

The fluffy white carpet under my feet was a stark contrast to the masculine feel of the entire house. It was like he’d had this room designed with something softer in mind. The furniture was dark, but the rest of the room was bright and welcoming, right down to the oversized chair in the corner of the room, with a reading light behind it.

Walking into the bathroom, I looked at the large clawfoot tub and longed to sink down into it, but that could wait for another day. Tonight, I just wanted to sleep. Pulling off my clothes, I slipped into Griff’s shirt, and the cedar, orange and cinnamon scent of him wrapped around me just like his arms had been. Flipping the sheets back, I sank into the deliciously soft bed and lifted the hem of the shirt, gliding my hand over my bare mound, and thought of the man whose shirt I was wearing.

CHAPTER 9

GRIFF

Fuck, I told her this would happen. I didn’t think it would happen tonight, but I wasn’t surprised one of the Hays boys would try it. The fear in her eyes when I opened the door was enough to make me want to find that son of a bitch and bury him in the mountains where nobody would find him.

And I might still do that.

Pacing the width of my room, I ran my hand through my hair. God, I would have killed him if he’d laid a hand on her. The feel of her beautiful, soft body that melted against mine was something I wouldn’t be forgetting any time soon. She fit perfectly against me, like we were the opposite parts of the missing puzzle pieces in my life.

The place where she’d pressed her hand on my chest felt like it had been burned, and I wanted her to touch me again. Making her go to bed alone was the single hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Glancing at my bed, I wondered what she’d look like, lying on the rumpled sheets, waiting for me to climb in beside her. She’d be naked, of course; there’s no need to hide that beautiful form, and clothing in bed was basically torture.

My cock sprang to life in my boxer briefs, and I groaned as I ran my hand over it. God I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anyone in my life. Pulling my underwear off, I walked to the window and looked out at the moonlight shining across the lake, letting my mind drift to the woman who was on the opposite side of my home.

Wrapping my hand around myself, I closed my eyes and pictured the woman who sat on my counter and opened her legs for me to stand between them without hesitation. I could get drunk off her kisses and lose days exploring her body while making her moan my name.

My mind wandered to what she was doing. Had she fallen asleep exhausted after what she’d just been through? Was she thinking about our kiss? Moving my hand up and down my shaft, I groaned as I squeezed it gently. What would she feel like? Moving faster, I felt the familiar slow building of pleasure throughout my body, warming me all over. Nothing else in the world mattered except the images I had in my head and my hand.

Every muscle in my body wanted to tense, but I didn’t want this over just yet, so I fought the urge to give in, slowing down my movements and trying to breathe in a steady rhythm. Intense pleasure rolled through me as my heart raced. The want to keep going, lost to the need to come, and I reach for the shirt I’d discarded before I went to bed. A guttural groan escapes from deep within me as a bolt of energy floods my body, and I come into the shirt wrapped around me.

Pressing my hand to the wall, I gulp for breaths as my heart rate slows and my senses return to their normal function. Fuck I haven’t come that fast since I was a teenager. Using the shirt to wipe myself up, I toss it in the hamper when I walk into my bathroom.

Staring at myself in the mirror, I should be ashamed for using her to get off, but I can’t even feel bad about it.

Ear-piercing ringing woke me up from a dead sleep, and I reached around to shut off the fucking noise. Grabbing my phone, I yanked it off the charging cord and hit the silence button on the side. I didn’t get enough sleep last night, but as I rolled over, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about why.

Kicking the sheet off myself, I grabbed a clean pair of jeans out of the drawer, and underwear, quickly getting ready for the day. I needed to get chores done first so I could move Elle before anything happened to her stuff.

Pulling open my door, I was greeted with the warm aroma of coffee and something sweet. As the kitchen came into view, I smiled at the woman with her back to me. Her long, toned, bare legs, my shirt falling to her mid-thigh, and that mop of blonde hair piled high on her head as she shimmied to whatever she was listening to. I didn’t want this view to end, so I stood silently for a moment watching the scene before me.

She reached out for the coffee pot as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard beside her making the shirt ride up, and my hand itched to run my hand up her leg and explore the area still hidden by my shirt. “You might as well drink some coffee if you’re going to stare at my ass.” She turned and set the coffee on the spot where I’d placed her last night.

“Well, the view is pretty spectacular,” I said, grinning at her as I took a seat.

Elle set down a plate of still steaming sweet baked dough, cinnamon, and brown sugar that infiltrated my nose. “Here, Ididn’t know what you eat for breakfast, but who says no to cinnamon rolls. You really need to get more baking supplies.” She frowned as she turned to grab a plate.

“Usually, I eat nothing. I down my coffee and run out the door. How did you sleep?” I asked as I reached for my mug.

“Do you have any idea how amazing that bed is?” She said as she came around the island and sat next to me.

“Well, it’s the same as mine, so yes, I do.” I couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you for letting me stay here. I really appreciate it.” She played with her mug as awkward silence started to fill the space around us.

“Are you okay? I don’t know if I asked you that last night.”

“No, you were a little busy shoving your tongue down my throat.” She grinned.

“I didn’t hear you complaining.”

“And I wouldn’t complain if it happened again.” She arched her eyebrow and smirked at me.

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