Page 103 of Unleashed
I swallow. "Except the fact that the love of my life is engaged to someone else and she won't let me kill anyone."
She sits up, resting her hands on my chest.
"The engagement isn't real. Okay? You are the man I want. The one I've always wanted. I'm in your house. In your bed. Your tongue was just inside me." She smirks. "Yours. The engagement is nothing, and means nothing."
I rest my hands over hers. It does settle something inside me. Hearing her say it. But there are still a million other things in my head.
What happens when she's done with the case here? She was right when she left the first time—I would have hated life in LA. And now it's not even a possibility unless I want to get killed.
I just have to trust in us. Trust Harper Jones to make the right decision this time. Trust myself to show her how much I love her. That I can give her everything her heart desires, right here on Sterling Ranch.
"Ace, talk to me," she whispers, cupping either side of my face.
"I'm good, baby. Just thinkin'."
She smiles. "That's dangerous."
I press my nose against hers. "Yeah. For you it is. Because I'm thinkin' about how I can keep you here, right here, with me. Forever."
She bites her lip. "What's the plan so far?"
I kiss her. Hard. Trying to show her everything I want to say. That I love her more than I could ever love another person. More than I should.
"Making you smile so damn hard that you never leave me," I whisper against her lips.
"That won't be difficult. You are my happy place, Ace."
I brush her hair away from her face. "So when are you going back?"
"Tomorrow. Just for the night. I'll be back Saturday, first thing."
"So you're still coming to my rodeo?"
"You think I'd miss it?"
She kisses me, and I lay her down.
"Do I get to come now, Ace?"
I kiss my way down her neck, pushing down her dress so I can take her nipple in my mouth.
"Fuck yeah," I growl as she spreads her legs wider.
"Then, after, you wanna help me on the ranch? Take Penny and help the hands move the cattle? And then I promised Wyatt I'd take him for food after school. Wanna join?"
She always loved helping out here. And she was damn good at it. Wyatt will think she's great—especially if she gets him cake or ice cream. Though I'm slightly concerned Wyatt's going to be upset if Harper takes Penny back. I kinda let him have her after Harper left.
"Yes. Yes. Yes," she moans.
“Be a good girl. Loud as you can. Eyes on me. You know the rules,” I gruff, desperate to have her again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Harper
Just as we're getting ready to grab Wyatt from school, there's a knock at Ace's door.
He moves fast, grabbing the gun from the side table, tucking it into the back of his jeans, and opening the door. I stand in the living room, clutching my purse like it's a lifeline as my phone vibrates in there. I've promised my parents I'll see them tonight. I've hardly been home. I've been with Ace, and my mother's texts have gone from polite to passive-aggressive to just aggressive.
