Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 41869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
My years at finishing school hadn’t prepared me for the likes of him. I wouldn’t dare ever say this to him, but he reminds me of one of those old time western heroes that I used to hide and read about in the dark. Only my real life hero was ten times better and last night was proof of that.
He was hard and rugged with a touch of old world charm, even though he tries very hard, to hide that side of him from the rest of the world. I ran my hand over the place where he’d laid and felt warmth and envelope me.
I’ve never felt this safe and protected before. Never felt this loved and wanted. Even in the midst of his own personal hell, he’d shown me his heart. Yes indeed the day my dad almost beat me to death was the best day of my life. It had led me here, to him.
The only fly in my ointment, are the unattached women who roam the ranch. I see the way they all look at him. The way they’re always finding an excuse to run to him with every little thing. I keep meaning to have a word with him about that but something always comes up, or he has to run off somewhere to put out one fire or another.
I know his hands are full taking care of the men who’d killed his family. It was something we never talk about, a part of him that he keeps hidden from me. Just thinking about it makes me want to hang him. He treats me like a child. Except when we’re in bed. Then he treats me like a woman, his woman.
I limped out of bed and felt the delicious soreness that still lingered between my thighs. What had he done to me? Sweet mercy. My head ached just a little from my over imbibing the night before. That’s the last time I listen to the girls. I was obviously not cut out for anything more than a little punch.
Once in the shower I let the warm water wash over me and wished that he were here now to give me one of his special wash-ups. I felt a sweet tingling through the pain and let my hand drift. I looked down at the soreness on my breasts and my eyes widened at the black and blue love bites that covered my whole chest, my stomach, and even down to my...
Oh dear heaven. The night came back in flashes of Technicolor. Had I really said and done those things? The bruising between my thighs proved that maybe I had and it wasn’t just a dream. What must he think of me? I told him to…and then I… oh it was too much.
I hurried through the rest of my shower and tried to lock off my thoughts. I seem to remember talk last night when I was with the others about some kind of party today. Good, something to take my mind off of my slutty act of the night before.
I went through my recipe box for some ideas that would be perfect for an outdoor party and left the house in search of Melissa and the others. They were already gathered at Melissa’s, looked like I was the last holdout.
“Well look what the coyotes dragged in.” Ginger was the first to notice my entrance. I’d tried to hide some of the more visible marks on my neck and cleavage but from the way all eyes flew to them I guess I didn’t do a very good job.
“What have we here?” trust Melissa to ignore my embarrassment and bring attention to the very thing I was trying to avoid. She moved the hand I had clapped over my chest out of the way and grinned. “Looks like somebody had themselves a good old fashioned bed busting party.”
“It’s always the shy ones.” Ginger grinned. I looked to Illyana for help since she was usually the sane one of the bunch but she was looking a little green and just sat there with a winsome smile on her face.
“Don’t look at me, they’ve been at it all morning.”
“Didn’t I hear talk about a BBQ? What are we doing here? Let’s go get started on the food.” Anything to get the spotlight off of me. I guess they hadn’t noticed that I was walking bowlegged yet. That was bound to get them going again I’m sure.
“Um, about that. The other women have already taken that over.” I didn’t know what Melissa was talking about, what other women? As far as I was concerned we were the only women on the ranch unless she was talking about those loose women who were always fawning over our men. Today’s the day I’ll have that talk with Lawton about them. Let’s hope I don’t chicken out, he can be a bit scary when crossed. I didn’t think it was right for him to have them here with his wife and it was high time he knew it.