Page 48 of Rancher's Heart

His footsteps changed, and we were back on the dock, but he still hadn’t said a word. “No Griff, please don’t throw me in. I can’t swim. Please.” I squealed and wrapped my arms around him. If I was going in, so was he, again.

“You really can’t swim?” He asked as he stood at the end of the dock. I hesitated to answer and that was the wrong move. He effortlessly threw me off his shoulder and the cool water cocooned around me.

Getting my bearings I did a forward flip and swam effortlessly to the shoreline. “Thought you couldn’t swim?”

“I was a competitive swimmer for ten years,” I said as I looked over my shoulder and walked away from him.

“You lied to me.” He’d walked to where I stood on the bank wringing my hair out.

“Yeah I did.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t want to get all wet.” I shrugged.

“I don’t mind when you’re wet.” His eyes trailed down my body. My shirt clung to me, and his gaze lingered on my breasts. “Are you wet other places too?” He took a step toward me and popped open the button on my jeans with very little effort, even though the denim was soaked.

“No.” I snarled.

“But now I know you don’t always tell me the truth so maybe I should check for myself?” He pulled the zipper of my pants down and reached for the waistband of my panties. His hand feltwarm on my cold, damp skin, and if I wasn’t wet before, I would be for sure now.

Locking my eyes on him, I silently dared him to dip his fingers between my legs. I ached for his touch and I'd never felt this animalistic desire before. Every part of me wanted his hands all over me. If he told me to kneel, I’d drop to my knees without question, and that thought terrified me slightly, but I loved the power he had over me when he wanted it.

“Griffin, are you here,” a woman’s voice called out.

“He’s probably over at the other ranch Gwen,” a man’s voice said a moment later.

“Fuck.” Was the only word out of Griff’s mouth, as he pulled his hand out of my pants like he’d been stung by a bee.

I fumbled with the zipper because my fingers were cold, and when the couple crested the top of the slight hill, my button slid into the hole, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Griff pulled me in front of him and I frowned as I turned to look up at him. He rocked his hips, and his rock-hard cock pressed into my back. “Fuck,” I whispered.

“There you are.” The woman beamed as she looked over me to Griff. “Son, why are you both sopping wet?” And there it was, the answer to who these people were. Griff’s parents were here.

“Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?” His voice was less than enthusiastic.

“We just wanted to check in on you. You never call, or come home, so we came to you.”

“Looks like he’s doing just fine.” Griff’s father smirked.

“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Elle Greggory. My girlfriend.” I turned and looked up at Griff and scrunched up my face. I was far too old to be a girlfriend. “Partner?” He asked, and I shook my head. “Lady friend,” he said firmly and I rolled my eyes.

“Girlfriend is fine,” I said, wanting to push him back in the lake.

“Elle, these are my parents.” Griff let out a sigh of relief when the introductions were over.

“It’s nice to meet you both.” I shook their hands and took my place back in front of Griff. “I should go get ready for work. Excuse me.”

Showering, I dried my hair and got in my scrubs. I heard voices, so I stopped and hesitated at my door before walking out into their discussion.

“She seems lovely.” Gwen’s voice carried down the hallway.

“You have no idea Mom. She’s amazing.”

“And her son is deaf?” My stomach rolled and I felt the world spin in the opposite direction. This was Troy’s family all over again. I wasn’t about to let a stranger bad mouth my son. I didn’t care whose mother she was. “Having kids isn’t something you’ve ever wanted. In fact you’ve been adamantly against it in the past, and this isn’t just you’re average child.” His mother’s voice dropped a little lower.

“Mom, you’re right. I never wanted kids before, but people change, and Parker is amazing,” Griff’s words made me stop halfway down the hallway. “I’m so lucky to have him and Elle in my life.”

Griff stood when I walked into the room, and I headed straight for him, wrapping my arms around him. I didn’t care who was in the room, I kissed him like we were alone. When I pulled away, I smiled up at him. “See you in the morning. I’ll be late, I have to pick up Parker.”

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