by Erin Marsh
When he entered the nursery, he found Lacey on the floor with a rope toy. One of the pups pulled on it, shaking his head furiously, while the other bit down on a plushie. The little tykes had grown since he’d last seen them. Their ears no longer flopped against their heads, but the tips still curled over, giving them an adorable look that was both sleepy and perky at the same time. Their blue eyes were bright and alert.
They were definitely cute. He couldn’t deny that. Even given his history with the predator, he still wanted to get down and join their play. He’d never had a chance to interact with puppies. All the ranch dogs had been adult rescues, and his parents hadn’t liked animals in the house. When Lacey glanced in his direction, the brown in her topaz eyes stood out, making them seem softer than usual. “Hi, Clay.”
“Teaching them how to be killers, are you?” He kept his voice teasing so she didn’t take his words the wrong way.
She laughed and ruffled the nearest wolf’s fluffy fur. The pup rolled over and used his disproportionately large paws to bat at Lacey’s fingers. “This is a rare luxury. Normally, I only observe the lobos with binoculars. Even when I visit the wolf rescue and rehabilitation center, I can’t get this close.”
Clay crouched down beside her. “They’re just dogs with sharper teeth, aren’t they?”
She paused and then said very lightly, “Are you changing your mind?”
“Lace, just because I have a soft spot for canines doesn’t mean I want them killing my calves. I would feel the same about a pack of wild dogs—more so since they tend to kill just for pleasure. But I am glad you and Zach saved these two little guys.”
Lacey was silent for a moment, absorbing this. When she spoke, her voice was soft but serious. “I’m going to keep trying to change your mind.”
“I know,” Clay said simply. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. I offer no promises other than I’ll listen to you make your case without biting off your head.”
“Well, I suppose that’s an improvement.” The tips of her lips curled slightly, and he wanted to bend down and capture her amusement. Kissing Lacey had become his favorite pastime. But before he could act, she tossed one of the plushies into his lap. A wolf pup immediately followed, his warm little body squirming over Clay’s knees as the lobo tried to reach the stuffed chipmunk.
He squeaked the toy and dragged it across his thigh. The wolf clumsily lurched forward. The pup was just beginning to hone his skills. With a string of enthusiastic squeaks, he attempted to pounce, but his back paws gave him trouble.
“That’s Perseus,” Lacey said. “I’m playing with Theseus.”
“Pretty impressive names,” Clay said.
“They are all Zach’s doing. Abby let him perform the honors since he helped save them.”
Clay pushed the toy in Perseus’s direction. The little dude managed to sink his sharp puppy teeth into the fake fur. A happy trill followed. The pup gave the toy a vicious shake.
“Speaking of Zach,” Clay said slowly as he reached for the plushie, “he and I had an interesting talk last night.”
Lacey looked up from her game of tug-of-war with Theseus. “Did it go well?”
“Actually, yeah.” Clay wiggled the chipmunk in Perseus’s mouth. The wolf went wild. Using his three good legs, he tugged hard.
“We may have had a minor breakthrough,” Clay continued. “We still have a long way to go, but it’s a start.”
“I’m glad.” Lacey reached over and gave his free hand a squeeze.
Before she could withdraw it, he turned his palm over and laced their fingers together. “We also talked about us.”
“Us? As in you and me?” Lacey’s voice squeaked slightly, which he found adorable. He leaned over and brushed a kiss against her cheek.
“Yep. That would be the right us,” he confirmed. “I didn’t say much, but Zach promised he’d keep our secret…and he told me to invite you over. So I’m taking his advice. Would you like to join my nephew and me for dinner? I’ve got an attached garage, so none of the ranch hands should see you.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Lacey said.
“Good,” Clay said and then did what he’d wanted to do since he’d entered the nursery…he captured her soft lips with his. Her mouth instantly opened, welcoming him. He deepened the kiss, loving the way she went pliant against him. He’d never tasted anything so addictive as Lacey Montgomery. Something about her got into his bloodstream and circulated through his body, bringing waves of pleasure. She made a soft sound in the back of her throat, and his desire spiked. He swore his muscles even trembled from the force of his need. With a groan, he yanked away from her. Someone could walk in on them at any moment, especially with his senses swamped by her nearness. She made a sound of protest, and he leaned his forehead against hers.
“Tonight,” he whispered, not sure if he was giving her or himself a promise. “We’ll have tonight.” As soon as the words left his lips, he felt like some modern-day Romeo. But Lacey and he were star-crossed lovers, after all. He just hoped their relationship didn’t spell doom.
* * *
“That was delicious chili,” Lacey said as she put her spoon down. They were eating in the roomy kitchen Clay said his grandmother had insisted on adding to the back of the house. Unlike the rest of the stately old home with its high ceilings and impressive moldings and plasterwork, this room felt more akin to the style of Sagebrush Flats. The cabinets had been stained a warm hue that enhanced the natural grain. The same wood framed the large picture window above the sink and countertops. Pots and pans hung from the exposed beams in the ceiling, and what looked to be vintage turquoise Fiestaware lined the plate rack on the wall. Instead of a kitchen island, an old-fashioned table sat in the middle of the terra-cotta-tiled floor.
Clay shrugged as he rose from the table to carry dishes to the sink. Ace got up from his spot on the floor to pad after him. He looked up at the plates with soulful brown eyes. Clay pulled a treat off the counter and handed it to him instead. “When you’ve lived alone as long as I have, you find a specialty.”
Zach reached over and popped the last piece of garlic bread into his mouth. “Clay’s cooking doesn’t totally suck. It’s better than the guy who makes dinner for the ranch hands.”
“Hmm,” Lacey said. “Since you’re the master of the understatement, that sounds like high praise.”
Zach lifted both his shoulders and then dropped them.
Lacey leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table as she regarded both Stevenses. “Did you know that you two have the exact same shrug?”
The two men exchanged a startled glance. Clearly, they hadn’t. She wondered what other similarities they’d failed to notice. Zach not only looked like a younger clone of his uncle, they had the same mannerisms too. Even now, they’d turned in each other’s direction as if connected by a rope.
“Gross. Don’t tell me I’m going to age into him.” Zach jerked his thumb in his uncle’s direction.
Luckily, Clay didn’t take offense. “And that was the end of the compliments from Zach.”
“Your uncle isn’t the worst role model in the world.”
The teenager gave an exaggerated eye roll. “I think you may be biased.”
Lacey glanced over at Clay and purposely gave a dreamy smile. She spoke with a dramatic breathiness as she fluttered her eyes like a cartoon caricature. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Annnd that’s my cue to exit.” Zach headed toward the doorway. “Sayonara, folks. I’ll be upstairs in the attic playing computer games.”
“You might want to throw in some homework too,” Clay said casually.
Zach pulled another Stevens shrug. “That’s not really my thing.”
Lacey debated whether she should step in and support Clay, but he spoke before she could decide. “But pissing off people is what you do.”
Zach ar
ched a golden eyebrow. “How exactly would I annoy people if I finished my assignments?”
“Because you’re smart enough that even if you half-assed it, you could still pull As,” Clay replied.
The teen tried to school his features, but Lacey could tell that his uncle’s words both surprised and secretly pleased him. His tone, though, remained bored when he responded. “I’m still not seeing how this would irritate anyone.”
Clay’s smile stretched as wide as the Mississippi after heavy rains. “Just seeing a Stevens on the honor roll would tick off a lot of people. Imagine how irate they’d be if you actually were in the running for valedictorian.”
Zach scoffed, but Lacey didn’t miss the gleam of interest in his eyes. “Me, valedictorian? Maybe you’re the one with the brain injury instead of Ms. Montgomery.”
“Or maybe he sees you more clearly than anyone else,” Lacey said quietly. Zach swallowed. For once, he didn’t have a comeback, so she added, “If you want to become a zoologist or ecologist, you’ll need to start studying sometime. You might as well begin now.”
“Maybe. I’ll see if I have time in my schedule,” Zach said with a practiced nonchalance, but he didn’t fool Lacey. She had a feeling the teen would open his textbooks tonight.
When he disappeared up the steps, an awkward silence descended. Clay cleared his throat as he started removing dishes. “Thanks for having my back with Zach.”
“Anytime.” Lacey rose to clean off the table. “You might be reaching him more than you think.”
Clay nodded as he turned on the water in the sink. “You might be right. He’s doing surprisingly well in the classes he has to take in connection with the diversion program. And like I mentioned at the zoo, we had a breakthrough of sorts after I gave him those books you recommended. Thanks for that.”
“You’re welcome.”
They worked together in silence with her clearing plates and him rinsing and placing them in the dishwasher. Ace observed them with great interest, clearly hoping something would fall. The two of them gave the simple task almost the same laser focus as the dog. They both knew Clay hadn’t asked her over for just a meal, and a new tension stretched between them. Energy zipped through the atmosphere, filling Lacey with a buoyant restlessness.
Wiping his hands on a towel, Clay turned to her, his smile both hesitant and undeniably charming. “I’d offer an after-dinner walk along the river, but…”
The words hung uncompleted, neither wanting to finish the sentence and admit to the difficulties surrounding their new relationship. Instead, Lacey reached for Clay’s hand, wrapping her fingers around his. “I don’t need moonlit strolls.”
His blue eyes softened into warm pools as he lifted their intertwined hands and kissed the back of her knuckles. He released her fingers, only to gently cup her face instead. “I’d still like to take you on them though.”
A burst of joy ricocheted through Lacey, settling in her heart. She ran her fingers through his hair, and his expression turned so intense that she swore she felt a tug deep in her soul.
“Then why don’t you tell me about it.” She paused a beat before adding, “In your bedroom.”
He kissed her, his lips hot and demanding. She met his hunger with her own. His hands slipped from her face, skimming lightly down her sides until they settled at her waist. He pulled her close, and her body, already liquid from the warm heat spreading through her, molded against his. The kiss deepened. The more they indulged, the more they craved.
Clay lifted his lips from hers. They stood under the overhead kitchen light, each breathing hard. This time, it was Clay who extended his hand. Lacey immediately took it and allowed him to lead her. Ace cocked his head as he watched them start up the stairs, but he didn’t follow.
“First, we’d walk through the scrub to get to the river,” Clay said, his voice low and soft. It seemed to have a current all its own, both peaceful and raging at the same time. “We’d hold hands just like this, and I’d rub my thumb over your skin.”
A shiver ran through Lacey at the gentle brush of flesh against flesh. “I like this stroll.”
He laughed, the sound a deep, rolling rumble. “So do I.”
They reached the first landing, and he paused by a window. Moonlight bathed them, and his blond hair almost appeared silver. He drew her close, his lips mere inches from hers. She could feel the puff of his breath, but he didn’t dip his head. Instead, he spoke in a husky whisper, this time using the present tense instead of what-ifs. “The water is below us now. It’s like a glowing ribbon cutting through the land.”
“I can hear it,” Lacey said. “A rushing babble breaking the night’s stillness.”
Clay’s mouth pressed against hers. A butterfly kiss. Then another. The next one landed on the corner of her mouth as he slowly worked his way across her cheek and jaw. When he reached her ear, he told her quietly, “We stop for a bit, enchanted by the beauty. But we don’t stay. We head for the grove of cottonwoods. Normally, we’d hear Steller’s jays scolding us, but they’re asleep at this hour.”
Clay stepped back and led her up the steps and down a hallway. They moved swiftly now, their breathing labored as if they’d actually taken a long hike. He paused at the end of the corridor. When he pushed open the door, Lacey said, “We startle a mountain cottontail.”
Clay chuckled. “I can just make out a faint rustle as he hops away.”
They entered his bedroom. He’d pulled the curtain nearly shut, but he’d left a big enough gap to allow bright moonlight to seep into the room. They walked inside, still hand in hand. The old wooden floorboards creaked beneath their feet.
“There’s the splash of an otter fishing in the creek,” Lacey said.
Clay stopped at the foot of the bed. “I lay out one of the old family quilts for us.”
This time, their narration wasn’t completely make-believe. A coverlet with a log-cabin design adorned the massive, mission-style bed. The room itself was bigger than most bedrooms for the time period of the house, but it had been designed after an English manor. It made for a cavernous space. Aside from a rope rug and basic furniture, Clay hadn’t done much decorating. Nothing hung on the walls, except for a single, unembellished mirror and a couple of photos of the ranch, which she assumed he’d taken. The emptiness momentarily sucked away some of Lacey’s joy, but she hid it. Clay hadn’t brought her into his private space for sympathy, and offering any would do more harm than good.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him long and deep. He groaned against her mouth, the sound guttural. He picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his torso. Without breaking their embrace, he carried her over to the bed. They tumbled onto the mattress, their lips locked, their limbs tangled. A desperate, urgent edge now drove their lovemaking. Lacey’s blood thundered through her like a galloping mustang, wild and unfettered. She reached for Clay’s Western shirt, her fingers fumbling at the buttons. His mouth moved from hers, trailing across her chin and then down her throat. When he hit a sensitive spot, she gasped. He paused, applying a gentle suction before his tongue darted out. Intense pleasure shot through her. She arched, yanking on the button still between her fingers. It ripped loose, and she felt his lips curve against her flesh.
“Why, Miss Montgomery, are you tearing off my clothes?”
“I’ll sew it back on,” she promised.
“I have more shirts. Feel free to continue. I want your hands on me. All of me.”
A landslide of need collided in her. Without taking time to think, Lacey bunched the fabric in both hands and pulled sharply. The buttons flew off with satisfying pops.
Clay lifted his head to stare down at her. The moonlight glinted off the golden strands in his arched brow. “You are surprisingly good at that.”
She smiled and ran her fingers over his defined pecs. “Beginner’s luck and plenty of motivation. I’
ve been wanting to touch you for weeks.”
Clay responded with a long, hard kiss. Even with their jeans both still on, she could feel the heat of him against her. She pressed into the hard ridge, wanting, needing, craving more. He groaned, low and deep. “You’re making it very hard to take it slow.”
“Sorry,” she said with a surprising giggle. Even as a teenager, she’d rarely tittered. If she was going to laugh, it was going to be a full one. But now. In this moment. The lighthearted sound seemed right, a delightful echo of the buoyancy Clay made her feel.
His fingers grazed the bottom of her T-shirt. “May I?”
She nodded. “I’ve been fantasizing about that too.”
He chuckled, the sound a little raw. “Not nearly as much as I have.”
Unlike her, he took his time dragging the shirt up. Then, he slowly unhooked her bra and slid the straps down her arms with one finger. His calluses gently brushed against Lacey’s skin, triggering another eruption of delicious shivers.
Clay’s eyes glinted in the silvery light, and Lacey had no trouble seeing his appreciation. His head lowered, and he took the tip of her breast into his mouth. Pure pleasure zipped through her like a shooting star. His tongue played against her flesh until she felt herself tremble. Unable to stop, she whimpered as she rubbed against him.
Her hands reached for the fly of his jeans. He shifted to accommodate her, but his mouth never left her body. She managed to get the zipper down, and she reached inside and felt his warm length. He paused, a harsh sound rushing from his lips. She felt his exhale against the moistened skin of her breast, and want speared her, sharp and beautifully incandescent.
“I need you,” she whispered.