Tough and Tamed (Moon Ranch Book 1)

by Em Petrova

  Without warning, he thrust two fingers into her pussy. She bucked, thighs trembling. The first wave of release hit, and she felt helpless now, rolling in a sea of bliss.

  She stifled her cries, and Zayden dragged more from her. When the slick sounds of her release on his fingers filled the room, she looked into his eyes.

  “Please.”

  He hovered over her and gave his cock a long stroke from root to tip. The purple head encased in latex swelled even more, and she wet her lips. “If I bind your ankles too?”

  A quiver of excitement struck. “Do it,” she whispered.

  He fished in his drawer again, coming out with more rope. The scratchy fibers against her bare skin only heightened her need, and soon she was writhing, bound hand and foot, at Zayden’s total mercy.

  She knew he’d die before he let anything happen to her, and that was what this moment came down to. He was showing her he loved her as much as she loved him.

  His gaze raked over her, head to foot and slowly back up. When he leaned over her, she bucked upward to capture his lips. The kiss lingered, a light brushing of mouths that said so much more.

  “I need you,” he grated out.

  “I’m yours to take.”

  He pinned her in his stare. “You have no idea what that does to me.”

  She wet her lips. “Show me then.”

  * * * * *

  In one hard thrust, he sank balls deep. The exquisite heat encompassed his whole body, and he could only think about getting deeper, closer, into her sweet body.

  When he took her bound wrists and wrapped them around the back of his neck, she gave a soft mewl against his throat. He began to move. Churning his hips, he brought another moan from her, and he answered with his own as he withdrew his cock.

  Each inch he sank into her, he lost himself more. All because the woman had been lost on the mountain and he’d been playing hero. What was it inside him that urged him to save people? First his family. Then hearing Esme was on the mountain, lost and alone, he hadn’t stopped to think of his actions, only gone up after her.

  What he’d come down with was a soft woman who had seen her share of heartache. But that was over now. She had him.

  Does that mean she won’t have more heartache?

  Not if you don’t break her heart, asshole. So don’t.

  He caught her lips in a long kiss, and their bodies moved in slow, sexy rhythm. He plunged into her again, feeling her walls tighten around his length. He couldn’t hold on much longer. The feel of the rope against his nape made his balls throb. She wasn’t the only one tethered—the little woman had his heart in her hands.

  She bit at his lower lip, and he growled at the sharp sting. He returned the favor, making her pussy clamp down hard on him.

  “More… oh God…” Her sweet cries fell on his ears.

  The need drove them on, and the moment she gave herself up to him again, he let go. A searing heat shot through his groin, and he exploded with jets of cum.

  She held onto him, riding out the waves as her own orgasm pulsated through her. He stared down at her, raking in the sight of the damp curls on her forehead, her swollen lips. God, she belonged to him, right here and now.

  A final shudder ran up his spine, and he collapsed. Breathing hard, he closed his eyes and buried his face against her fragrant neck. Moments passed, and he rolled to the side and began untying her hands. When the rope fell away, he massaged her wrists and looked into her eyes.

  “Okay?”

  She nodded.

  He did the same for her ankles, and then stretched out and pulled her flush against him, stroking her wild curls and thinking of all that had happened today. His brother coming, finding the cow about to birth and getting it home, the fury pounding through him at the sight of Dane’s truck being gone and finally, walking into the house to see Esme.

  “The best end to a calf birthing I’ve ever had,” he rumbled.

  She broke into giggles and slapped at his chest. “I hope so!”

  He caught her hand and enfolded it in his. “What made you come to the ranch in the first place?”

  She went still, and his stomach knotted.

  “Was it that asshole boss of yours?”

  She nodded against his chest. “I did what I set out to do.”

  “What was that?” He waited for her answer, with no idea which way this could go.

  “I turned down the job and his offer to ‘tutor’ me.”

  He didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath ‘til he let it out. “Good.”

  “And I…I might have blackmailed him a little.”

  He jerked. Catching her chin in his fingers, he drew her face up to meet her gaze. “What did you do? The loan?”

  She laughed again. “I only asked for something in return for not turning him into HR.”

  He groaned.

  “I asked him to quit putting off your loan application and look at it again.”

  God, she was perfect. “You didn’t do that for me, did you?”

  “Yup.”

  “You could have been fired on the spot. Esme—”

  She put a fingertip over his lips, ending his sentence. “I told you—I love you. And I didn’t ask him to approve you on my behalf. It’s only right that he looks at the loan application. My guess is he was just being a dick, ignoring you because he was on some power trip. I put a stop to that.”

  He shook his head. “You have guts, woman. I knew it from the first time I saw you, but you keep surprising me every day.”

  “Did I surprise you today?”

  His brows shot up. “Hell yeah. You stood up to that fuckhead and then came looking for me.”

  “I hate to break it to you, Z, but looking for you isn’t very scary. You don’t frighten me, even with all the growls and glares in your arsenal. You—”

  “What did you call me?” He stared at her.

  A pink glow hit her cheeks. “Uh…Z. Mimi called you that. If you don’t want me to, I won’t.”

  His heart flexed. The nickname was one of the fonder memories he had of being on the Moon Ranch. His brothers teasing him, Mimi calling him home for supper and the warmth the four of them created as a makeshift and somewhat wounded family while his father was passed out drunk in parts unknown.

  He squeezed her hand. “Z is fine, sweetheart. And maybe it’s time I admit something to you, since you’ve been nothing but open with me.”

  “And I did let you tie me up,” she added with a twinkle in her eyes.

  His lips tipped up. “You did. And I hope you’ll let me again. But that isn’t what I was going to tell you. I wanted to say…” Now that the moment was on him, the admission paused on his lips, and he wasn’t able to say the words. Could he?

  He sighed. She waited while he struggled.

  “Not many are close to me. Almost no one,” he said.

  She nodded. “I know.”

  “But you are. I wasn’t looking for it, but you curled yourself up in my arms and it didn’t take long for me to start lovin’ you.”

  She blinked rapidly as tears hit her eyes. “Zayden…”

  “I love you, sweetheart. You deserve better, but… Well, from this day on, I’ll try my best to be a better man for you.”

  “I…I can’t believe you’re telling me this.”

  “You deserve to hear it. I love you, Esme.” He tipped her face up to his and kissed her. The soft kiss turned to more, and soon she was sliding a condom on his hard length and sinking over him nice and slow.

  * * * * *

  Come morning, she was gone. He woke to the scents of frying sausage and knew Mimi had breakfast cooking and that Esme had left while it was still dark to head back home and get ready for work.

  He sat up, saw the rope laying on the floor and burned for her.

  His words to her the previous night hadn’t all been true. He did love her—wanted her bad. But having a relationship was out of the question.

  He got up and dressed, trying
to ignore the scent of her on his skin. Then he slipped out to the barn before Mimi could call him into the kitchen for breakfast. Morning had dawned brighter, with more warmth in the air, and he inhaled deeply as he crossed the yard to the barn.

  The calf was on its feet, nursing from its momma, and he issued a sigh of relief at the sight. Neither had died during the night, and things would probably work out—for the animals, at least.

  Esme was another story.

  What had possessed him to say those things to her? To make promises he couldn’t keep? Hell, he couldn’t be a better man if he tried. He bore the name of Moon—bad enough—but now he was saddled with a failing ranch and no life to speak of to share with her.

  Doing his chores sank him into a deeper rut of a bad mood, and by the time he stomped back to the house, he ground his teeth too.

  Mimi poked her head into the living room as he entered. “Where’s that woman of yours? Did you lose her already?”

  The teasing tone rubbed him totally wrong. “She’s not my woman and she went home to change and go to work today.”

  Mimi narrowed her eyes at his snapping tone. “What did you do, Zayden Moon?”

  He winced at both the tone and the reminder of who he was. “I didn’t do anything. I just realized…”

  For the first time in forever, he felt like a child under Mimi’s scrutiny. No one dared to question him in so long that he was nudged off balance. But it was still his life, and he was in control, goddammit.

  He headed past her into the kitchen, and she stepped aside, but as soon as he poured his coffee, she got in his face again.

  “You feel something for her, and you’re going to push her away.”

  “I can’t be saddled with more to take care of.”

  “Seems like she can handle herself, and you’re just the frosting on the cake.”

  He averted his gaze from the woman who felt close enough to him to even bring up the topic and face his wrath if things went south during the discussion. He took a sip of coffee, not tasting it at all.

  “I can’t be responsible for her too. I’ve spent my life being there for everyone around me.”

  Mimi planted a hand on her narrow hip and gave him that straight-shooter glare that not one Moon boy wanted back in the day. “Weren’t you off for the past decade satisfying your own whims, Zayden? Or have you got a wife and kids hidden somewhere I don’t know about?”

  “You know I don’t.” He set aside his mug a little too hard, and coffee sloshed over the top onto the counter.

  Mimi went on. “You picked her. I saw the way you walked across the yard after birthin’ that calf too.”

  He jerked, jarred that she had looked out the window at them and seen something he didn’t want to admit to now.

  “She’s in love with you.” Mimi went to the stove and flipped French toast onto a plate for him, and then she held it out like she wanted to do him bodily harm.

  He sighed and took the plate. Not remotely hungry, he still made a stab at the fluffy toast and tried to appease Mimi.

  She leaned against the counter, staring at him without pause. “You tell her you love her too?”

  He almost bit through the tines of his fork. Sending her a glare, he grumbled, “Yeah, I did. But I can still take it back. There’s time for her to get away from me.”

  Mimi barked out a laugh that sounded much larger than her slight frame. “You can take something like that back, can you? You’re the last person I’d ever believe could scoff off love, Z. For a boy who had little and a man who’s had none, you sure—”

  He slammed down his fork and jumped to his feet. “Stop riding me, woman!”

  “Woman? That’s right, go on with your sassy mouth and tell me how you feel about me while you’re at it—or take it all back, why don’t you? Tell me that I wasn’t really needed here on the ranch all those years. That you never needed a soft word or kindness because you’re a no-good, hard-headed, rotten-souled Moon.”

  “Don’t. Mimi—”

  “If you won’t deny your terrible parentage, then at least don’t deny the good that’s in you too, boy.” She stepped up to him and smacked him square in the chest. He rocked on his boots from shock, not from her strength. The woman barely reached his shoulder, but she was an Ute and had the strength of character of a warrior.

  Her blue eyes burned into him. “Tell me that you don’t love her and want a life with her. Then I’ll hold up a mirror to your face and call you a liar!”

  “Fine! I love her. I fucking want her—by my side and in my life.”

  “But you won’t fight for her. You want to give her up.”

  “No, dammit, I don’t want to give her up. She’s one of two people who loved me despite who I am.”

  “Who’s the other?” she pressed.

  “You.” He bit off the word and added a glare at her.

  “Maybe neither of us love you despite who you are—we love you for who you are. Time for that mirror.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him across the kitchen to a small mirror on the wall, one of the few things that his old man hadn’t smashed over the years in a drunken rage.

  She towed him up in front of it. “Look at your reflection.”

  The command made him sag at the knees to see his whole face. God, he felt stupid right this minute, but he couldn’t deny the only person who had been there for him, had picked right up where they left off the moment he set foot on this ranch.

  He peered at his own face. Some of his ma, some of his pa. A few lines around his eyes and a scar on his cheekbone from a sucker punch he’d taken in an alley one night. The guy hadn’t walked away with only one scar, he was certain of that.

  He also saw the beard stubble that Esme loved searing across her inner thighs and the thick hair she tangled her fingers in to bring him down for a kiss. It might not be a face a mother could love, but it was a face that a woman did.

  Mimi saw the moment the realization dawned on him, and she released his arm and stepped back with a nod of her head.

  “Dammit. Don’t look so smug. And I’m sorry for callin’ you woman. I know how you hated that disrespect.” He turned to her, feeling thirteen again. He hadn’t taken to being parented at that time of his life either, but now he was old enough to see she meant the best for him.

  “If you love her, don’t let her go for all the wrong reasons. You aren’t your daddy or even your brothers, and it pains me to say that, but neither of them stuck around for you, did they? Now, what I see before me is a strong and resourceful man who doesn’t always go about things the conventional way, but you get things done and if someone’s on your good side, well then they get the heart of gold.” She punched his chest again.

  This time he laughed. “Damn, Mimi, your knuckles have gotten bonier over the years.”

  “Nah, I’m just stronger now. Either sit and finish your breakfast or take yourself off and see to that woman and this ranch. You hear?”

  He nodded.

  She started to turn away, but he caught her back and put his arms around her. She squeezed him in return and he heard her sniff, but when he released her, there wasn’t a tear in sight. Who was the toughest of them all now?

  The French toast had grown cold, so he scraped it into the trash and carefully rinsed his plate and placed it in the sink. He threw a glance at Mimi, who had settled with her coffee and a book as if she hadn’t just chewed his ass from here to Sunday. Just another day at the Moon Ranch.

  His lips quirked up on the corner as he walked over to drop a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be home for supper.”

  She reached up and patted the side of his face. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  As he took care of Mimi’s two chickens, he considered all that had been exchanged just now. He guessed he’d needed a good wakeup call, and Mimi had given it to him. But he still wasn’t sure that Esme didn’t deserve someone who could give her more than a stack of bills and a bleak future.

>   * * * * *

  Just as he was headed to his truck, his phone rang. He pulled it out and stared at the screen a moment before putting it to his ear. “Moon.”

  “Didn’t know if I had the right number. That batty woman you have up there on the ranch gave me your cell number, but I had no idea if she was speaking gibberish.”

  Fury coated his tongue, heavy and thick. “Who the fuck’s this and what do you want?”

  That someone would speak about Mimi that way took him beyond fury—he was already clenching his fists and looking for faces to ruin.

  “Jefferson—up the road a few miles.”

  “I know the name. You were a rotten son of a bitch when I was a kid and it sounds like you got stupider. What the fuck do you want?”

  “You never knew when to shut up, did ya, kid?”

  He pictured the man, once tall and strong stock from ranchin’. But the man had to be pushin’ his seventies by now, and Zayden could have taken him at seventeen.

  “Why the hell are you calling me?” he barked into the phone.

  “Your brother’s here, passed out drunk on my lawn.”

  It wasn’t the warmest of days. How long had he been there?

  “You sure he’s drunk?”

  “Yeah, I know the smell of booze on a man. I remember your father well.” Another dig. People like this made living in Stokes miserable—and also the reason he would never outrun hatred for the name Moon.

  “I’ll be up.” Without waiting for a response, Zayden ended the call and jumped into his truck. He shot a look at the house, thinking of Mimi and what the woman might have endured while speaking to that asshole on the phone.

  He glared out the window. Zayden would make him take back his words, nice and remorseful-like. He clamped his hands on the wheel, thinking of Jefferson’s neck.

  Squinting into the sun as he headed down the road, he tugged his hat low to shield his eyes. How had his brother ended up at the Jefferson place? He could only assume it was Dane—that he’d left the ranch and gone on a bender, driven drunk up to the wrong ranch and passed out on his way into the wrong house.

  Lying in the cold Colorado weather wouldn’t help out the brain cells he’d already burned through with alcohol. When Zayden got hold of him… Well, things wouldn’t get any easier for his brother.