Page 77 of Wrangled Up

Confusion settled over her features.

He traced the outline of her mouth with his thumb. “And in the stable that houses my soul, I’ve hung my silver.” With his other hand, he flicked his lip stud.

Understanding flashed in her dark eyes, quicksilver bright. A soft sound broke from her, and she lurched onto her tiptoes at the same moment he claimed her mouth.

Desire coated his nerves, numbing him to anything but this woman. Claire, beautiful girl who deserved a better man than him. But maybe between him and Christian, they could fulfill her every need.

Tucker drove his tongue into her mouth, gathering her flavors. He started to harden, lengthen, and clamped down on it immediately.

When he withdrew, she followed him. He groaned and grasped her shoulders, holdingher steady while he told her the reality of the situation—the reason that his family would probably try to put him in the grave if he refused to sign those papers on the wall.

“Baby, I have to tell you about Leon and Dale.”

“Yes?” Her voice was a breathless whisper. He glided his finger along her collarbone, feeling her tripping pulse.

“They want me to sign those papers because it’s worth millions of dollars to them.”

“Chris and I figured it was something along those lines.”

“And it affects me quite a bit too. If I sign, I lose my clean water for my stock and the ranch is a worthless wasteland.”

She nodded, a little curl bouncing on her brow.

“But if I don’t sign, I lose out too.”

“How so?”

“I lose two million dollars that could be added to my already sizable fortune.”

Her breath hitched as if he’d run a finger over her slick seam. Damn, he wanted to. “Sizable…fortune?”

“Yeah, I’m sitting on an egg here, as is Leon. I want you to quit your job at the diner, baby. Let me take care of you. We need you on the ranch.”

She started and blinked at him for a moment. Finally, the tension flowed out of her shoulders. “I don’t know if I can do that. I’ve taken care of myself forever—well, with Letty’s help. I’ll have to think about it. I do love being on the ranch rather than listening to people talk my ear off. But I wouldn’t accept your offer without working for it.”

He glided a hand down her side, giving her the eye.

“Not that. I’ll be in charge of the alpacas.” Her tone was so solemn, he searched her face for signs of emotion, afraid she’d be angry that he’d kept this information about his fortune from her, after two months of dating. Hell, he’d never even bought her the trinkets of a typical beau—flowers, charm bracelets.

After a long minute, she looked him fully in the eyes. “So I’ve been fucking a millionaire all this time?”

He couldn’t stop himself from smiling at her question. “Yeah, I guess.”

“That’s good.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah, you can use your money for things.”

Unease threaded through him. He didn’t peg her as a money-grubber, but…

“Like what?”

She lifted her wrists. Each wore a little pink circlet where the rope from the previous day had chafed her white skin. “I know you boys are fond of your ropes, but could we please get something a little softer? Silk? Satin?”

A huff of laughter and relief burst from him as he yanked her into his arms. He dangled her inches off the wooden floor and with her lips dangerously close to his. Leaning in, he captured her mouth in a long, tongue-tangling kiss that left her gasping and him as hard as a fucking telephone pole.

“Silk it is, baby.” He whirled her to the wall, pressed her back against it and proceeded to maul her mouth, breasts and finally dropped to his knees and worshipped her pussy until she was a puddle of sweet female.

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