Page 19 of Unexpected Sweetheart
I look at my hands as I speak. “Turns out, he was always proud. I just wish he’d told me that when he was alive.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t accept the praise now. And you can still be close to him. His spirit is here, right?”
“Yeah.” A smile kicks up the corner of my mouth as I turn to face her. “I half reckon his spirit has been turning the buyers away. He wanted me to stay here long enough to fall in love.”
Her eyes lower before they lift to mine again. “Is it just the ranch you’ve fallen in love with?”
That’s when it happens.
Our eyes lock. And I can’t turn away. I can’t keep fighting because the only thing I really want, the only thing that makes sense right now, is standing right in front of me. Beautiful. Pure. And entirely mine.
Leaning in, I press my forehead to hers, closing my eyes as I just breathe her in for a moment, knowing there’s no turning back if I let myself move past this point. But I’m powerless to stop it. I want her. And as selfish as it is, I’m taking her.
“No.” I crash my mouth against hers and finally taste what I’ve been craving. She’s sweet as honey and responds with timid yet fervent movements.
But my innocent girl is a fast learner, and is quickly mimicking my hunger as her hands slide over my shoulders and into my hair. She makes these tiny little whimpering noises that have my dick responding, pressing hard against her belly as my hands roam, unable to keep this even slightly PG.
“I need to have you,” I growl against her mouth.
The little minx nips at my bottom lip. “Then take me. I’m yours. You know I’m yours.”
Despite the exhaustion in my body, I lift her up and carry her to the house, kissing her the entire way, suddenly incapable of removing my mouth from hers.
“Tell me you meant what you said,” I demand as we burst through the front door. “Tell me you want this life, that you want to stay on the ranch with me. Because I can’t, Lorelei, I can’t let myself do this if I know I have to let you go.”
With her legs wrapped around my middle, she shifts back slightly and places her hands on either side of my face. “I want this. I want you. And you couldn’t make me leave if you tried.”
“Fuck,” I groan, my mouth landing on hers again. “You know I’m gonna hold you to that.”
“Good. I expect you to.”
I pull back for a moment and stare into her dark, soulful eyes in wonder. “How’d I get lucky enough to deserve you?”
“Lucky? From what I hear, I’m quite the handful. My father had to send me to a ranch to teach me how to behave, you know.”
“Is that so?” I reach my bedroom and take her straight over to the bed. “And what did you learn at this ranch?” I ask, lowering her onto the mattress, my weight pressing over her.
“I learned that I have a weakness for a certain bossy cowboy.”
“Bossy? Is that what you think of me?” I grin wickedly as I lean to the side and work the buttons of her shirt open.
“You’re very bossy.” She gasps as my fingers brush over the swell of her breasts. “But I also learned that I love being bossed around. Almost as much as I love you.”
I still my movement and lock eyes with hers. “I’m in love with you too, heiress. Obsessively, so.”
Taking a deep breath, she gives me a sweet smile and touches my face, her fingers trailing along my jaw to my lips before I bite her pointer then suck it into my mouth. She moans.
“You might have to quit calling me ‘heiress’ once my father learns of my plans. He’ll lock down my trust fund and disinherit me.”
“I already know how to live without. Does that upset you?” I pay attention to each of her fingers before moving my mouth to her wrist.
“No. I haven’t had money this whole time, and I couldn’t be happier. I love this place, I love you, and I want to work with you to save it. We can make it wonderful again, together.”
“We can fill it with children. Our children. I want you pregnant and growing my babies as soon as possible.”
She grins, a delighted laugh bouncing out of her. “Yes, Ryan. I couldn’t think of anything more wonderful than having kids with you. We’ll raise them far better than we were, knowing without a doubt how important and how loved they are.”
I lower my head to hers and breathe in deep, the scent of my future filling my nose. “Then I guess we’d better get started,” I say, kissing her as I slide my hand to her waist and down to her ass. “I want to be gentle this first time. But I’m worried that once I get past these layers of clothing, I won’t be able to stop myself from taking you hard the way I have in my dreams.”
