Page 45 of Rancher's Heart

“No. None.” Another lie flowed off his lips as if it were the truth. Not that I minded, it’s not like I wanted him to admit that he’d been in a fight and we’d just been caught acting like horny teenagers on the side of the road.

“That shiner on your eye, tells me another story.” He looked between Griff, and the coat draped over my lap.

“Horse caught me with her head when I was breaking her today. She’s a little skittish.”

“Next time you stop, make sure to turn your hazards on, it’s dangerous to be parked on the side of the road at night without them.” He tapped the window and took a few steps back.

“Thanks Hal, hey next time you’re out by the ranch stop in for coffee.”

“Sounds good, have a nice night you two. Get home safely. Feel better, Elle.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

The sheriff walked away from the truck and Griff watched until the light went on in his cruiser. When I heard the door close I let out the breath I’d been holding. My lungs were screaming for air and I gulped my next breath in.

“I thought we were screwed.”

“You were, babe, and I need to get you home so I can do it again.” Griff laughed, and I slapped his bare chest. Realizing his shirt was still fully unbuttoned. His eyes followed my gaze and he grinned. “Guess we weren’t quite as sneaky as we thought.” He winked quickly and laughed.

“I can’t ever set foot in town again. This is so embarrassing.” I reached down and finally found my pants and pulled them on.

“You’re a bad influence on me, I’ve never had the cops make a random stop.” He shook his head and put the truck into gear.

“Me? I’ve never even been pulled over, much less basically get charged with public indecency.”

“There was nothing indecent about what we just did.” He turned to look at me, and grinned. God, this man was unlike anyone I’d ever met.

As he pulled back onto the road, he draped his arm over my shoulder, and I cuddled right up to his side. It had been so longsince I’d felt anything at all for a man, that I was overcome with what I felt for him and how different it was with him than it had been with anyone that came before.

I watched him as he drove, I cozied myself up to him even more, while my mind wrapped itself in daydreams.

With Griff, the possibilities were endless.

CHAPTER 25

GRIFF

Her warm body pressed against me, I held her tighter. Laying here with Elle in my arms, I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed in such a short amount of time.

I’d never met anyone who was so in control of every aspect of her life, but so willing to hand the control over during sex. But this wasn’t just sex, it hadn’t been at all with her.

She was the only woman I could see myself with beyond my bed—or porch in this case. I could see her, Parker and me being happy together. My only focus would be keeping the two of them safe and happy.

It scared me because, for years, I’d only had myself to think of. Now I had the two of them to worry about. Thankfully, I have had a great example in my parents. They love each other so much that I felt like the third wheel at times, but I knew they loved me. I wanted them to meet Elle, and Parker, and that was something I’d never even considered before. They would love her and my dad would do everything he could to make Parker feel comfortable, and mom would hover with a plate of cookies. My mind raced with the possibilities of what a future with her would be like.

“Why are we awake so early?” She groaned as she rolled over in my arms, breaking the thoughts I was having.

“Well, we slept outside and are kind of at the mercy of the sun, Puddin’.”

“Don’t call me that,” she said as she cuddled toward me, making the swing sway.

“Oh, but I love how much you hate it, so I think it’s sticking.” I chuckled and pressed my lips to hers. I controlled the kiss, moving my hand to the back of her head in the palm of my hand, my fingers wound in her hair.

Elle threw her leg over my hip. She shifted so she was pressed against me. I wanted her this close to me forever. “It’s not, I will cut you off if you keep calling me that.”

“Woman, it is.” I shifted, ran my hand up her neck, grabbed the back of her head and kissed her. Our tongues slid against one another, and I caught her lip between my teeth and gently bit on it. Her moan shot straight to my cock, and Elle shifted, tossed the blanket off us, and straddled me. God, I loved looking at this woman. Reaching up, I grabbed both her breasts in my hands, and she let her head fall back, her long hair tickling the tops of my thighs.

“If you aren’t going to take control, you better get off me,” I said, bucking my hips, making her bounce. Elle slid her hips and reached down, taking my cock in her hand.

---