Page 35 of Savage Rancher
We’re just about done when Luke leans back in his chair. “Em, any idea what Turner wanted to do with your land?”
The sudden change of subject surprises me speechless for a couple of beats. Then I shake my head. “He said expansion of his herd, but I didn’t believe it.”
The men share a long look.
Mason pushes his plate forward and props his forearms on the table. “Was he bugging your dad too?”
“Yes.” I wrinkle my nose. “Dad said Eli was getting more and more pushy.”
Jake takes my hand. “Did he have trouble at the ranch?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. And Jim hasn’t said anything, but to be fair, I’ve been in a haze since dad died.”
The men exchanged another look.
I frowned at all three. “Is that some sort of secret language for badasses? Because you’re communicating, but I have no idea what you’re saying.”
Jake kisses my temple. “We’re just agreeing that no one is going to threaten you ever again.”
Mason nods. “We got you, Em.”
Just like that? Jake, I can understand, but his two friends don’t know me from Adam. I sit back, staring at these guys.
Kissing my temple, Jake gets up to clear the table, putting everything in the dishwasher. I listen to Luke and Mason discuss horses, like they hadn’t just blown my mind.
Wiping his hands on a dish towel, Jake turns to me. "Shower?"
The word is casual, but the heat in his eyes is anything but.
"Yeah." I’ll think about everything later. I stand, my pulse quickening. "I could use a shower."
Luke mutters, "Jesus Christ," and Mason just shakes his head, but neither of them says anything as Jake takes my hand and leads me out of the kitchen. At the stairs, I hear Luke say, “Thank fuck the last owners soundproofed the rooms. The contact hard-on I have just from the pheromones they’re emitting is bad enough.”
My cheeks burn as we go upstairs. Jake mumbles, “Idiot,” but he sounds more amused than annoyed.
In his bathroom, Jake turns on the shower and adjusts the temperature until steam fills the room. He strips off his jeans, and I pull his T-shirt over my head, feeling his gaze tracking over my naked body like a caress.
"Get in," he orders, and I step under the spray.
The hot water feels incredible on my sore muscles, and I tip my head back, letting it soak my hair. Jake steps in behind me, his hands sliding around my waist, pulling me back against his chest.
"You're so fucking beautiful," he murmurs against my ear, his hands roaming over my wet skin.
I turn in his arms, pressing my body against his, and kiss him. It's slow and deep, our tongues tangling as the watercascades over us. His cock is hard against my stomach, and I reach down, wrapping my hand around him.
Then I sink to my knees on the tile.
36
JAKE
It’s like what I imagined, come to life.
Better, even.
My cock is already hard, already aching for her mouth. Her hair is plastered to her shoulders, soaked dark.
But it’s those fucking green eyes, looking up at me with complete surrender that grab—that make my chest tight.
