Ropin' Hearts: The Boot Knockers Ranch, Book 4 (14 page)

“You like it,” she taunted.

He dipped his gaze to her mouth then back up. “There’s a time and place for that sort of play, and you chose wrong. Get off the ranch, Bree.”

She quivered. The uncertainty inside her snowballed into a monster. She clenched her fists.

“Go.” His tone was so final, so dead. Something broke inside her.

“Please,” she whispered. “I had to see you. I know you came looking for me at home. I thought…”

“You thought wrong.” He jabbed a finger toward the auditorium. “You could have just cost me my job.”

“It might be worth it.”

“No.”

She had to change his mind, to soften him and make him look at her the same way he had before…

Before she’d acted like an idiot. She dropped her gaze to her dusty boots.

“I screwed up. I shouldn’t have interfered with your work. I just lost my head a little when I thought you were going to have that woman in your bed.” Her voice trailed off until it was barely audible.

His chest rose and fell against hers, and his cinnamon-scented breath filled her with longing. “I oughta tie you up and spank you until you can’t sit down for a week.” His voice pitched low, fingers that teased her senses.

Her gaze locked on his and she saw it—that fire. The want. The absolute I’m-going-to-rule-you look that she couldn’t get enough of.

She jumped in his arms. He hitched her legs around his waist and slammed his mouth into hers. Dark want burrowed deep in her pussy, and her panties flooded. She angled her head and threw herself into kissing him as he started walking.

Her heart rejoiced. This was what she’d come here for—once again Ty had given her everything she needed.

“God, I missed you,” he growled as he paused. He shifted and wood banged—a door kicked open.

She scraped her teeth over his tongue, drawing a moan from him. His cock pressed against her pussy, rock-hard. She pushed against him.

“You’re gonna pay for this, Bree. Pay big.” He strode through the bunkhouse and tossed her on his cot. It creaked as he followed her down, cloaking her with his body.

Her mind and heart soared. Ty was hers, and he was about to prove it.

With a flick of his wrist he unbuckled his belt and yanked it free of the loops. When he folded it in half, Bree’s eyes widened.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“What I shoulda done weeks ago. I’m going to spank your ass and send you away.”

“You wouldn’t.” Her voice shivered.

Dammit, he should go through with his threat, but she was so fucking gorgeous and soft and
wanting
.

He grabbed her hip and flipped her onto her side. With her skintight jeans still covering her sensitive skin, he wouldn’t hurt her.

Much.

He smiled grimly. Then delivered two sound whacks with the belt. She arched but didn’t make a noise.

Damn her. There wasn’t an ounce of fight, only sweet, giving female.

He tossed his belt to the floor and flipped her onto her back again. When he crushed his lips to hers, she mewled. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, too aware of how damn much he’d missed her.

She grappled at his shirt buttons then slid her silky hands over his chest. As she tweaked his nipples, he shoved his cock against the V of her legs. The need to control was still there, but somehow she was controlling him just as much. When had it happened? She acted out, he reacted. She needed, he gave.

He stripped her hastily, plucking her ripe nipples with his teeth, punishing her in a brand-new way.

As she scraped her nails over his shoulders, he fought a condom on one-handedly. The instant it was in place, he drove into her clenching heat.

Rearing back, he roared with satisfaction. She’d stopped him from doing his job but he was getting so much more. He’d said she needed the personal connection in bed, but he craved it just as much.

She locked her ankles behind his back, and they began to move. Holding her gaze, he pulled his length through her tight walls. Her eyes were wide, her lips swollen and her jaw red from his day-old beard scruff.

“You came down here and interrupted me for this, isn’t that right, baby girl?” He panted between syllables.

She bucked upward, taking him deeper. They shared a groan. “I love you, Ty. I couldn’t let another woman have you.”

They stopped dead.

Had she just said the L-word? Jesus, he was a dead man because her words had burrowed into his soul.

He thrust hard and deep, shoving her up the cot until she had to hold on to the top to keep from falling off. Whatever they’d been doing together, it was so fucking perfect. Maybe not for everyone, but for them it was like finding the key that slid into a lock.

She loves me.
He’d worry about his mind’s war with his heart later. Right now he was going to make the woman that loved him scream with release.

Reaching between their bodies, he found her straining nubbin. He rocked it side to side under his fingertip. Her pussy contracted once, and he knew she was so close.

“Don’t come until I tell you to, Bree. From now on, you don’t do anything without thinking what I want first. You got it?”

Hell, she was getting off on his words. Her pupils were blown wide, her breathing coming fast and rough.

He flicked her clit, watching her face spasm with pleasure. His orgasm wasn’t far away, and he couldn’t afford to toy with her long. He’d blow it if he teased her much more.

Leaning over her, he took her mouth in a tongue-dueling kiss that snapped the last thread of his control. He plowed into her, taking, giving, a push and pull of power that sent him spurting with a roar.

She came apart around him, twitching in his hold. Her tongue tasting of tears and greed.

“Baby girl,” he rasped almost in prayer.

Bree held herself rigidly in Ty’s embrace. He was still panting after almost shoving her off the cot with every sexy, bone-melting thrust. He’d been out of control—and she’d loved every minute.

Except now she felt like the dumbest, silliest little girl ever. She’d told a man who had sex for a living that she loved him. How many others must have told him that after a week of experiencing his talents?

Rowena’s words came to mind.
Body match.
He fucked lots of women, and lust probably fueled him as much as his duty to the ranch. He’d come to Bree for a different reason—she annoyed him. He’d probably slept with her to shut her up and in hopes that she’d eventually get her fill and go away.

And she’d just told him she loved him.

She pulled herself from under his big body and rolled off the cot. He cocked an eye open as she bent to gather her clothes. One of her boots was in plain sight but the other had gone missing. She searched for a long minute before she found it under the neighboring bunk.

“Where are you going?” His words sounded slurred. Each one lured her back.

But no, she had to get out of there. This time she wouldn’t come back. At least she had Royal and could be off the ranch in a hurry.

“Got work to do. Going home.” She tugged on her jeans and fastened them. Her shirt followed. By the time she was dressed, he was sitting up, reaching for her.

“Don’t go.” He slipped his arms around her hips and dropped his head to her chest. Love swallowed her and for a moment she couldn’t speak around the knot in her throat.

Everything about him was right. From his mussed hair to his long, bare feet.
This is gonna hurt.

Stepping back, she hardened herself. “You’re right, Ty. I don’t belong here.”

He stared at her, confusion etched on his rugged features. She couldn’t shake the feeling he knew why she was going but waited for her to say it. He knew how to make her do and say things she didn’t think possible. Well, he couldn’t make her say she loved him a second time—or admit how stupid it was of her to have said it in the first place.

“I’ve gotta go.”

“Bree.”

“No, Ty.” Words hung unsaid between them. Ty was smart and funny and he knew just how to anchor her when she was feeling adrift. All of those things had made her fall for him, but she’d get over it. He wasn’t going to leave his job for her.

She spun and walked outside.

He followed, buck-ass naked, catching her arm. She looked at him in all his glory, that lost-little-boy look on his face, and almost threw her arms around him again.

No. She had to be the first to walk away. He’d inevitably deny her love and send her away for good. Then she’d crumble. Right now she was strong enough to do this.

He didn’t even respond when I said I love him.

That hurt most. She’d said it and he hadn’t even given her a man grunt.

Her cheeks heated and she yanked her arm away. “Hope you’re not in too much trouble, Ty.”

With that, she took off running, tearing around buildings, ignoring the cowboys walking through the grounds with their women of the week. As she approached Royal, her horse’s whinny was balm to her aching soul. She untied the horse and launched onto her back.

Angling up the ridge toward home, she refused to let a single tear fall. She was strong and she hadn’t come here for an attachment anyway. She was too young to settle down, but it sucked that her first love was completely unavailable.

What the hell just happened? Ty sat on his bunk for what felt like hours, his head in his hands. He was still reeling from Bree getting on that stage and demanding his time. He was also stunned by his own passion—a tornado force he’d never expected.

Especially after she’d admitted her feelings.

Tenderness rose inside him, a warm pool around his heart. He scuffed his hands over his face, making a rasping noise.

“Sorry. I didn’t know anyone was in here.” The familiar voice brought Ty out of his haze. He stood to face Elliot.

Elliot dipped his gaze over Ty, obviously noting he only wore jeans and hadn’t bothered to buckle his belt after Bree left.

“You aren’t interrupting me if that’s what you’re thinking,” Ty said quietly.

Elliot’s gaze skittered away. “We were all in the auditorium, man. You took Bree out on your shoulder.”

“Yeah, well…she isn’t here now.”

“What’s going on with her, really?” Elliot set a hand low on his hip.

Ty chanced a look at him. At least he wasn’t wearing his emotions. Ty wouldn’t be able to face his hurt, knowing he’d put it there. “I don’t know what’s going on with her.”

Elliot nodded. “Fair enough.”

“She had nothing to do with us, Elliot.”

Elliot met his gaze and nodded. “That’s partly why I’m here. To apologize for treating you like shit when you didn’t return my feelings.”

“I’m sorry. For all of it. I didn’t mean to toy with you. I thought it was casual.”

Elliot wore his concern. “I’m also here as your friend. You can talk to me about Bree if you want.”

“I… Thanks. I’m not sure what to even think about her.”

“Well, when you figure it out, I’m here for you.”

Ty took a few steps toward him. Outstretching his hand, he grasped Elliot’s.

Time to move on to another chapter of our friendship.

“Forgiven?” Ty ducked his head to catch Elliot’s gaze.

A begrudging smile teased the corner of Elliot’s lips. “You probably think I’m an idiot, falling for Jack then you.”

“No. I think you want more of a connection than you get on a daily basis here.”

“I’d better stop looking for it, I guess.” He tapped the floor with a boot, as if stamping the idea into his own head.

“Don’t lose who you are.” Ty took a chance and put his arms around Elliot. Their embrace was strong, healing the gulley between them. When Ty released him, Elliot looked a fraction stronger.

“Hugh said if I ran into you, I was supposed to tell you it’s your week off. He didn’t sound too happy,” Elliot said.

“I can imagine.”

Just what he didn’t want—to be the unreliable Boot Knocker. He was slipping—bad. All because of Bree.

Feeling better about his situation with Elliot at least, Ty got dressed and left the bunkhouse. Elliot moved toward the bungalows and his waiting female. As Ty watched Elliot’s long legs carry him away, he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad that he’d lost his chance to work this week after carrying Bree offstage.

Damn her. She was a pain in the ass. One that had reached into his chest and tugged his heartstrings with her confession.

Somehow he’d had two people fall for him in a short time. It boggled him. One person he’d let go, and Bree…she’d fled.

Pushing out a breath, Ty grabbed a shovel and headed toward the manure pile. What he needed was manual labor and there was always shit to shovel. He dug in and worked until the pile was lower and the wagon was full. Then he jumped on the tractor, hooked it to the full wagon and headed up the hill with it. Then he shoveled some more, spreading it over a plot of ground as fertilizer.

The sun beat down. Sweat beaded and he stripped off his shirt. Biceps burning, he set the point of his shovel into the earth and leaned on it. When he swiped away some sweat with his forearm, he focused on his tattoo. The ace of spades. Once his winning card. He’d played the game of life and ended up on the Boot Knockers Ranch because of a poker game. Winning hand, he was taking the position Hugh had offered. Losing and he’d become a professor to satisfy his mother.

Then he’d turned over the ace of spades. He’d never looked back.

Until now.

He pivoted and looked up the ridge toward the Roberts ranch. Bree’s leaving was no good. Not because he didn’t want her to go—it was about time the little vixen realized she didn’t belong here.

She’d gone without a sass or a backward glance. She’d told him she loved him then climbed out of his bed. Why?

He tore into the manure wagon again. His mouth was parched, but he ignored his needs as he tried to figure out what the hell Bree had really needed. He should know—he’d worked with countless females, and it wasn’t all about sex. He talked to them, learned their hopes and fears. Listened to their stories that eventually gave him insights as to how to help them.

For a while he’d believed he’d figured out Ms. “Feisty Pants” Roberts. She needed to be sweet and giving for the right man. Ty had broken down some wall and she’d let him in—into her heart.