Authors: Terry Bolryder
H
e was attracted to her
.
Val hadn’t even considered the possibility. He was gorgeous. Tall, handsome, built, with nice clothes and an amazing ranch. She was just an employee, one who didn’t even really know what to do with makeup or her hair or even girly clothing.
He’d shaken her off because she made it hard to focus?
The thought was baffling. And hot.
For some reason, for once, it didn’t bother her to have a man attracted to her.
Maybe because she knew, unlike other men, Wyatt would never use that attraction to try and take advantage. In fact, even now, after a searing hot kiss, he seemed reluctant to do anything about the attraction sizzling between them.
But why?
As they drove, she rested against the window and thought about the fact that he’d come to save her. She’d never been rescued like that before, and it was an odd feeling. She’d always had to fight for herself, always had to be on guard.
So strange to think she wasn’t alone anymore.
And wouldn’t be for a while, since Wyatt feared Nate would have enough info to help her family find them.
She wasn’t sure. It all depended on if he could describe Wyatt well enough in the darkness for someone to know who he was talking about.
She shook her head. She wouldn’t think about that prospect. She’d think about the fact that she and Wyatt would be staying in the same living space tonight, which made her cheeks flame red.
“You okay over there?” he asked. “We’ll be home shortly, thanks to the lack of traffic on the road.”
“Sure,” she said. “Just resting.”
“I get it. You’re tired.” He scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out like we’d hoped. I wanted to take you to do fun fall stuff, and someone had to go ruin it.”
“It wasn’t ruined,” she said. “I mean, we still went, and I got to learn something about you I didn’t know… and I got to be rescued.”
“You shouldn’t have needed to be rescued,” he said. “I should have been there all along, but I was trying to give you space. Well, not anymore. Not until we deal with those who have tried to hurt you.”
“I know,” she said quietly.
“Listen, Val. I know we’ve been trying to handle this the peaceful way, but seeing what happened tonight made me think we can’t take any risks. We need to do something about the men who hurt you. We can’t just live the rest of our lives wondering when they’re coming.”
“I know,” she said. “I guess I’m ready.”
“Good,” he said. “You know I’ll protect you, right? No matter what happens?”
“But there’s only one of you,” she said. “And there’s more of them. And they’re shifters too.”
“I’m not alone out here,” Wyatt said. “There are others who would help me if I needed them.”
“I never see anyone around the ranch that fits that description,” she said. “Unless you count lazy John.”
“No,” Wyatt said. “Not on my ranch, but on the neighboring one. Bear Haven.”
“Right,” she said. “You’re friends with the owners of a neighboring ranch.”
“We get along well enough. We grew up together. And I’ve helped them out with their own mates a few times.”
“Mates,” she said. “That’s why they wanted me to be with that rich guy. What does that even really mean? Just like rights for mating for life?”
“No,” Wyatt said, shaking his head. “It means something deeper, or it’s supposed to. It means you’re only with the other person forever. You protect them with everything you have. Love them more than you will anyone or anything else.” He glanced over at her. “Though cats have been known to mate for different reasons than other shifters. Some feel cats could have fated mates, just like other shifters, but they’ve been ignoring the idea for so long that no one really knows.”
“Oh,” she said. “What’s a fated mate?”
“It means someone you just know is the one. Like they’re destined for you.” He chuckled. “I admit I find it a romantic prospect but have no idea if there’s any truth in it for cats. I’ve definitely seen it take hold in other shifters. Nonetheless, once a cat has claimed a mate, they are possessive as anything.”
“How do they claim one?”
Wyatt put up a hand, flexed it, and with a little metallic click, she saw claws glinting in the darkness, just for a moment. Then his hands were back to normal.
“Holy shit,” she said.
“It doesn’t hurt, though. I’ve seen the mark, however. On one of my friends.”
“One of your friends mated with a cat?”
“Yeah, even though he’s a bear. Actually, you’re going to meet him. I have questions about the two of you being connected.”
“How so?” she asked.
“I wasn’t sure when I should tell you this, because it’s just a crazy guess, but he’s got part cat in him. And I’m wondering if you might be related to the cat his dad bred with.”
“If they bred, weren’t they together?”
“Shifters can breed without claiming a mate if they aren’t full-blooded or they aren’t the same species. And even when a mate is claimed, if both parties don’t agree, that doesn’t mean they’ll stick together.”
“Oh,” she said. The whole idea made her nervous. Particularly the thought of her being involved in any of it. She just wanted a normal, quiet life with her horses. All this mating stuff seemed like too much trouble.
And she’d never let anyone think they could own her again.
All too soon, they pulled up at the ranch, and Wyatt got out and came around to help her down.
When his hand touched hers, electricity shot through her fingertips. She looked up and saw his gold eyes glinting in the darkness.
The chemistry between them was unreal, especially because she’d never been particularly attracted to a man before.
Was it just the friendship growing between them? Or something more? All she knew was the walls in her heart were falling, and deep inside, she wanted him.
He let go of her hand slowly and then turned to lead the way to the main house.
She followed, wrapping her arms around her, loving the feel of Wyatt’s soft fleece keeping her warm.
He led the way up the main stairs and down a long hallway. When they got to the end, they turned right, and there was a locked side door with a stairway they took up to the top level. When they went through the door there, Val let out a gasp.
It was beautiful. Clean and modern furnishings. Warm silver drapes and pillows on cream-colored couches and carpet. Wyatt put a hand out, and she pulled his fleece over her head and handed it to him.
It was wonderfully warm up here so she didn’t need it.
“Don’t want you overheating,” he said. “Do you need to go get anything tonight?” he asked. “I have spare toothbrushes, and you can borrow one of my shirts for sleeping.”
“Okay,” she said. “We can get my stuff tomorrow.”
“All right,” he said, taking a seat on one of the couches. She did the same, sitting on one that was perpendicular to him.
From his front window, there was an amazing view of the mountains, the wide sweeping land, and all the trees.
“It’s amazing up here,” she said. “If I were you, I’d never want to come down.”
“Well,” he said. “I have to if I want to keep the place running. I do love it here, though. I can look out at everything, but it’s quiet and peaceful.”
She sat for a moment, soaking up the space. It struck her how quiet everything was.
“A little lonely, though.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m an only child, unlike the brothers who run Bear Haven. I admit, sometimes I’m a little jealous. But I have great employees, even if they are always coming and going on a seasonal basis.”
“Don’t you get lonely in the winter?” she asked.
“A little,” he said, one corner of his mouth quirking in a smile. “But I get used to it. Besides, it’ll be a little less lonely this time, won’t it?”
She nodded.
“All right, I’m going to grab you some pajamas. Wait here.” Then he disappeared into a back room.
W
hen he came back
, he handed her a pair of silk button-up pajamas that looked way too big. “Through those doors is the master bedroom where you’ll be sleeping tonight. I’ll take the couch. You can go in there and change. There are toothbrushes and toothpaste in new packages under the right sink.”
She nodded, flushing as she took the pajamas and hurried off to the bathroom so she didn’t have to look at him anymore. The sight of his long body moving around the apartment with that fluid grace he always had was doing something to her insides.
Slowly, steadily, a need was building. It was unlike anything she’d felt before.
She ran to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. She pulled on the pajamas and tied the waist to the tightest setting. Then she rolled up the sleeves and the ankles so she wouldn’t trip. After finding the supplies he talked about, she brushed her teeth quickly, then used his face wash and a clean towel.
Then she turned around to look at the wide mirrors on the front of his large closet.
She almost didn’t recognize herself.
It was amazing what food, safety, and, yes, a little bit of happiness could do for your looks.
Her skin was glowy and healthy. Her hair, while still a plain sandy blond, was soft and thick, and her eyes were bright. No more bruises. No more wounds.
She looked lower, to her body. She was curvy, but she liked it. She had large, soft breasts, extra around the middle, and thick thighs.
Wyatt had said he was attracted to her, and she wondered if it was really true.
She ran her hands over her body, imagining how it would feel, how it would look if it were him, standing behind her, tall and thick and handsome, touching her like she was precious.
She slid her hand down between her legs, where it ached, and let out a small moan as she thought once again of his touch. “Wyatt.”
Apparently, she’d been louder than she thought, because she looked up and saw Wyatt standing at the bathroom entrance, completely stunned.
His normally tan face was red, and his eyes looked a combination of confused and terrified. “Sorry, I just… wanted to make sure you’d found everything okay. Then I heard you make a noise and…”
He scratched the back of his head and turned away from her, embarrassed. She knew she should feel embarrassed, should want to die of humiliation. But she was glad to see him there. Glad for him to know she wanted him.
Even if she didn’t really know what to do about it. But he would, right?
“Wyatt,” she said, putting one arm over the other nervously as she walked toward him.
He flipped around to face her and walked backward out of the bathroom until he hit the side of the bed and sat down on it, looking up at her.
He was so handsome, so flawless. And such a good man. Her heart ached for him. She wanted to share this with him.
“Yes?” he asked hesitantly.
“You said we would talk about this when we got back. About me wanting you. Or you wanting me.”
She walked closer, until she was standing between his legs, his thick, solid thighs on either side of her.
He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Of course I want you,” he said, staring up at her. “You’re a beautiful woman. And I’ve come to really admire you… as a friend.”
She swallowed. Was that the death knell for anything more happening between them?
“I don’t want you to get confused,” he said. “I’ve rescued you and taken care of you, and—”
She snorted. “I’m not a baby. Yes, I’ve worked for you. Yes, you’ve helped me out. But you don’t see me wanting to have sex with Wayne, do you? He helped me too.”
“Um, right,” Wyatt said. “So why do you want to with me, then?”
“Are you kidding?” she asked, folding her arms. “You’re hot. I thought you were gorgeous from the moment I saw you. And then every time you touch me, something happens, something that never happened before.”
“I see,” he said. “But I still can’t take advantage of you.” He shook his head. “We’re going to deal with the people in your way and then you’ll be free to do whatever you want. Go wherever you want. Who knows if you’ll want to stay on some second-rate dude ranch?”
She sighed. “It’s not second rate, and I love it here.”
He closed his eyes slowly and then opened them. “I’ll have to take a mate at some point. For the ranch. To keep it in the family.”
“I figured as much,” she said, though a slight pain went through her at the thought of it.
“Would you want that? To be my mate?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “I don’t want to belong to anyone.”
His expression darkened slightly. “Then I don’t see why we should do this.”
She tightened her small hands into fists. “Because I’ve never had something good like this. I get you’ll need to find the right woman. The one who stays with you forever. But I feel like maybe you could give me something that no one else could. Just a taste of what I’d have had if I hadn’t gotten so screwed up.”
“You aren’t screwed up,” he said, reaching up to touch her face.
She pulled back. “I’m not normal. With men, I mean. But tonight, I felt normal. I wanted to touch you. To hold you. Who knows when that will happen again? Do you think I don’t want to experience those things? That I don’t want to fall in love and have a torrid affair?”
“You’ve been reading those romance novels in the ranch library,” he said with a wry grin.
“I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on,” she said. “But I know what I want, and if you could give it to me, I promise I won’t ask for more.”
“So what is it you want, exactly?” he asked. “Sex with no strings attached?”
“What I want,” she said, “is for you to show me what I’ve been missing. How beautiful the world can be and how wonderful making love to someone can feel. That’s all. Nothing more.”
He looked like she’d just asked him to build the Eiffel Tower, but he gave a slow nod.
“If that’s really what you want, then I’ll do my best,” he said. “But we’re going to go slow, and you tell me anything you don’t like. And if you want to stop at any time, your wish is my command.”
“Okay,” she said, nodding, her body tingling with anticipation. “Deal.”