by Erin Marsh
The thought of her brought another rush of adrenaline. He didn’t know exactly how she’d ended up at that box canyon, but he intended to find out. Had she meant to confront him? Or Forrester? Did her presence mean she’d trusted him enough to reconsider all the facts, or had she been trying to track him down to prove he was behind the wolf disappearances?
He knew one thing. He loved her—completely and utterly. Although his mind hadn’t processed that fact until now, his soul had realized it the moment he’d watched her skitter down the canyon wall. He couldn’t afford to lose her…even if in some sense he might have already. Because he couldn’t be with someone who could never fully trust him. He’d spent his whole life trying to seek people’s approval, and he couldn’t do that with Lacey.
Sucking in his breath, he gently tapped Midnight with his heels, and the gelding began to move. Although the day had been unseasonably warm, a night chill had descended over the desert. The cold gave him another infusion of energy, but it didn’t help his shaking muscles.
It took a good ten minutes before he spotted the shadowy outline of two riders headed in his direction. The smaller of the pair jumped off her horse after throwing the reins to the other. Clay dismounted, hoping it didn’t look as awkward as it felt. He didn’t mind showing weakness around Lacey, but he didn’t want to add evidence to her grandfather’s belief that he was nothing but a greenhorn.
She was in his arms in a second. He wrapped them tightly about her as he lifted her into the air. The heat from her body spread through him like a brilliant sunrise over the arid land. The cold permeating him finally lifted, burned off by her warmth. He buried his nose against her neck and breathed in her familiar scent.
“You could’ve gotten shot!” Lacey’s scolding tone managed to be both watery and steely at the same time. It wasn’t hard to detect the lingering panic tingeing her exclamation. Despite everything, he felt his lips curl upward at her fierceness. She was ever the protectress, his Lacey.
“And you could’ve tumbled down the cliff and then been hit with a bullet,” Clay countered.
She made a snorting sound as her hands clutched his T-shirt. “I know these canyons. I would’ve been fine.”
“You’re no more bulletproof than I am,” Clay pointed out as he kissed the side of her cheek.
“When Linus aimed his—”
“I know,” Clay said softly. “I got the same gut punch when you started to slip down the canyon wall.”
“I love you, Clay,” Lacey said. “It shouldn’t have taken me so long to say it, but I do love you. The forever, earth-shattering, this-is-the-one type of love.”
Emotion clobbered him. He couldn’t even speak for a moment. His grip on her tightened even more as he held her against him. Closing his eyes, he forced himself to find the willpower to talk.
“I love you too, Lace.”
She pulled back, tracing his face with her fingers. The last rays of light had vanished from the horizon, but the silvery light of the moon gave enough illumination. “You do such a better job of showing it. I’m sorry, so sorry for doubting you. I should’ve listened to you like Zach did.”
“Thanks,” Clay said.
“It’s no excuse, but I couldn’t think properly. It was so hot at June and Magnus’s wedding, and there was so much movement and sound. I felt like I was drowning from dizziness, and then Pete showed up with those pictures.”
Clay held himself still as he asked, “What made you realize it wasn’t me?” He felt like he was climbing the cliff again with two predators—one human and one canine—below.
“I ended up at the Prairie Dog after I fled the reception,” Lacey said. “All these emotions were pumping through me, and I didn’t know how to handle them. I collapsed into one of the booths and sobbed myself to sleep.”
Clay kissed her temple as he stroked her hair. “Pete Thompson is a bastard. He shouldn’t have sprung those pictures on you in public.”
“He wanted to hurt you, and I allowed him. I realized that as soon as I woke up, when I could think again. But I—I was still afraid to trust myself. Not you, Clay, myself.”
“I don’t understand.”
“With my concussion, it is so hard to process things when I’m upset.” Lacey hugged him tightly. “I knew you wouldn’t treat a dead animal like that…or hide something so important. But I didn’t know if I could believe my own brain. Then I talked through my conclusions with my mother and grandfather. At first, I thought it was Pete, but then I realized all the stuff that’s been bothering me about the alleged wolf sightings on your land.”
“And you figured out it was Forrester?” Clay asked as relief rushed through him.
“Yup.”
“And your family agreed?”
“They trusted me even when I didn’t,” Lacey said. “You’re a good man, Clay Stevens, and you belong here in Sagebrush Flats and on this land. I’m done with letting our histories interfere.”
He kissed her then—deep and hard. It was a kiss of homecoming with a promise of a future. It focused the frenetic energy bouncing inside him, making it strong and steady. He’d never felt so complete, so content. He would’ve made the embrace longer, but he hadn’t completely forgotten about the presence of her grandfather or the need to get back to Zach.
They broke apart, but Clay couldn’t let Lacey go completely. Snagging her hand, he wrapped his fingers about hers, resting his thumb against the pulse on her wrist.
“You kids done affirming you’re both alive?” Buck asked. “I’m getting tired of looking at the inside of my cowboy hat. Didn’t seem to be any other way to give you privacy. Moon’s damn bright tonight.”
“You can look now, Grandpa,” Lacey said. “And it’s a good thing we have this much illumination.”
Just then, Clay heard the sound of four-wheelers. Lacey’s fingers dug into his hand as another burst of adrenaline pumped through him. Quickly, he jumped on his horse and then hoisted Lacey up behind him. He set off in the direction of Buck, who’d started moving toward them. When they reached each other, they positioned their horses to protect Lacey as she dismounted and got on her bay.
Buck extended his rifle to Clay, the glow from the moon highlighting the worried creases in his already leathery face. “You good with a firearm, son? My eyesight isn’t what it used to be in the dark.”
“I’m not as good as Lacey,” Clay said as he accepted the gun, “but I can hold my own.”
The buzz of engines drew closer, and it dawned on Clay that the noise came not from Forrester’s property but his own. Lights appeared on one of the ridges to his land, and a voice called out through the darkness.
“Is that you, Clay?” It was his new foreman’s voice.
“Yeah, Rick. I’m here with Lacey and Buck Montgomery,” Clay hollered back.
“Your nephew was worried you might be in trouble. He said you didn’t want to call the police without proof, but we figured we better lend you a hand just in case.”
“Thanks,” Clay shouted back as the three of them started riding again. “The situation is under control, but I appreciate the assist.” The would-be rescue party waited on the ridge, clearly not wanting to enter the national park unless necessary. A strange feeling swept over Clay as he approached the line of men, and not just because it felt like an updated version of an old-fashioned Western. He hadn’t expected anyone to believe his wild theory against Forrester, even with the trouble on the ranch. But his men had come for him. They wouldn’t have known Buck and Lacey had also decided to investigate. For the first time since he’d inherited the property, he didn’t feel at odds with his ranch hands. Maybe with Pete gone and Hernandez in charge, they’d finally form a real team.
“How’s it feel to have a bunch of people concerned about your safety?” Lacey asked quietly.
“Like I might finally start to belong.”
He
could hear the smile in her voice when she spoke. “You already do. We just all needed to stop being so doggone stubborn and realize it. And, Clay?”
“What?”
“We’re a clannish bunch here in Sagebrush Flats.”
He snorted. “I’m well aware of that.”
“But once we claim you as ours, we don’t let go.”
“I’m counting on that.” Clay wished he could pull her onto his horse again and just hold her tightly. “Especially with one resident in particular.”
* * *
It was close to midnight before Lacey finally collapsed onto Clay’s bed. Once they’d all made it back to his ranch and Lacey had contacted her boss about the Forresters’ illegal animal trade, everyone had wanted to hear their story. Buck had relished every minute of it. He’d beamed from ear to ear, and the embellishments grew with each retelling. Her mother had driven out to check on the three of them. She’d even hugged Clay. It had been an awkward embrace but a start. The police arrived and took statements from everyone. The Forresters had tried to flee the area, but county law enforcement had spotted their truck and arrested them. Animal control had found one of the missing male wolves on Tim’s property and had a solid lead on the whereabouts of the second. The recovered animal was thankfully in good health.
Lacey felt the bed dip, and Clay settled down beside her. They’d left the drapes open, and the silvery light of the moon filtered through the curtains. Memories of their first night together drifted through her mind like a familiar song as she snuggled against him. He gently kissed her cheek before drawing her even closer.
“I love you.” She relished saying the words. They came easily, bringing a buoyant joy.
He pressed his lips against the back of her ear and gave her lobe a little nibble before whispering, “Same here, Lace.”
She turned in his arms, needing to see his face. They’d spoken about this already, but they’d been high on adrenaline, their bodies still prepped for a danger that no longer existed. But the charged energy had drained away, leaving nothing but raw honesty.
“I’m sorry I doubted you,” she said again. “I let my old prejudices define you.”
Clay traced her shoulder lightly with his finger. He hadn’t stopped touching her since they’d dismounted from their horses. She’d also needed the constant connection. Watching Clay challenge the Forresters with an angry wolf at his back hadn’t been easy, and she needed physical reassurance that she hadn’t lost him.
“You believed me in the end,” Clay said. “There’s nothing to forgive. You’re human, Lace. Those pictures were damning, and your head was throbbing. I just…I just need to know that deep down, you see me as worthy.”
“Oh, Clay!” She cupped his face in both her hands as his word choice caused a sizzle of pain deep inside her. It spoke of the loneliness he’d faced during the years—the hopelessness of never quite fitting in. “You are worthy. More than worthy.”
He kissed her, his lips soft. Liquid pleasure pooled through her, her limbs going deliciously lax at the slow, sweet assault. He lifted his head a few inches, his eyes glittering with intensity in the low light. “I’ve never felt so right as I do with you, Lacey.”
She pushed her hands under his soft cotton T-shirt so she could spread her fingers over his warm skin. In this moment, she needed to feel him with no barrier. “It’s the same for me, Clay. After my dad’s and brother’s deaths, I shut part of myself off. I was afraid to love and lose again.”
“And now?” he asked, his husky voice catching ever so slightly. She could see a nervous flicker in his eyes.
“I think,” she said significantly, “that in the end, it’s much worse living an armored existence. It’s a half life, and I don’t want that anymore.”
“Good.” He pressed his lips against hers for a quick kiss. “Because I don’t want just part of you, Lacey. I want it all. The ugly, the beauty, the pain, the joy, the dark, and the light.”
Tears burned in her eyes from the sheer intensity of the moment. She blinked, and when she spoke, her voice sounded hoarse. “And I’m planning to give it to you, Clay. Because I want to, need to. I could build a million walls between us, and I swear you could dynamite each of them down without even trying. What I feel for you, the connection between us, it’s that powerful. You’re an incredible man, Clay Stevens, and so easy to love.”
“Lace.” His rough voice injected her name with layer and layer of meaning. He crushed her to him, his mouth hungry and demanding on hers. Power rippled through both of them. They’d come together in a blaze of passion before, but this…this eclipsed anything she’d ever felt. It didn’t consume her, it fueled her. Every cell inside her felt energized.
He rolled her under him, and she thrilled at the press of his body. Despite propping himself up on his elbows, he managed to frame her face with his hands as his lips slid hungrily against hers. For a long while, they did nothing but explore each other’s mouths. Slowly. Thoroughly. Completely.
His fingers moved first, trailing down her sides, stopping to sweep over her breasts and then skimming down to grip the hem of her shirt. His mouth headed downward, his lips and tongue tasting each bit of skin he exposed. He watched her as he did so, his eyes gleaming in the low light.
Need tightened her chest, momentarily trapping her breath. She felt wonderfully powerful and cherished. Love swamped her as she reached up to bury her hands in his soft locks. His gaze never left hers as his mouth closed over her nipple. She gasped, her back arching. He used the opportunity to pull her shirt up to her shoulders. Then he lifted her, his lips still around her breast. Supporting her back with one hand, he pulled the shirt over her head with the other. She wanted to remove his, but then his tongue started doing wicked things to her already-sensitized body. He blew gently across her wet skin, the sensation causing her to shiver. His whiskers scraped against her flesh as he moved to the right, his free hand now massaging where he’d kissed. Unable to stop herself, she pressed against him, heedless of the layers between them.
Listening to her unspoken command, he gently laid her down on the bed. He pulled off her loose pants. He kissed the back of each knee before gazing down at her, the expression in his eyes just as enticing as the weight of his body. “You’re so beautiful, Lace.”
She smiled, finally gathering enough sense to tug his T-shirt over his head. He obliged, shifting his body. The moonlight washed over him, once again making his blond hair appear almost silver and his skin marble. She felt the corners of his lips turn up as she skimmed her fingertips over his chest. He certainly didn’t feel cold. His heat permeated her as she reached lower. Dipping her hand into his boxers, she watched as his eyes fluttered shut. She stroked him as pleasure washed over his face. He held nothing back as the emotions freely played over his features. His lips parted ever so slightly as he groaned softly. Leaning forward, she pushed his underwear down and kissed his tip. His eyes opened, searing hers.
Gently, he lifted her, bringing her mouth back up to his. Together, they managed to undress him while still maintaining contact. This time, he lay down on his back, her legs straddling him, her torso flat against his. His hands brushed down her spine, sending sparks everywhere. She wiggled her hips, and his moan poured through her.
“Did you like that?” she asked against his mouth.
“Hell yes.” His fingers gripped her rear, positioning her. Then he framed her face, his eyes earnest. “I don’t want anything between us anymore. Can you trust me?”
She understood instantly what he wanted. Just as he’d given her all his emotions, he wanted the same. This was as much about mental nakedness as it was about the physical.
She smiled and nodded. He gently stroked her breasts, and she gasped at the whisper of contact.
“You know what I’ve always admired about you, Lace?” he asked, his voice tight.
She shook her head helplessly a
s his calluses swept along her sensitive skin. Her body had begun to glide against his, unable to withstand the sweet pressure building inside her.
“Your energy,” he said. “You’re like a star, burning and spinning so brightly you have your own gravitational pull. And I’ve been helpless against it from the beginning.”
She moaned as he thrust deep inside her.
“Can you shine for me, Lace?”
She smiled at him, somehow finding her voice despite the love swamping her. He understood her so well. How could she not feel hopelessly entangled with him?
“I think that can be arranged,” she told him, her voice low, “since you make me feel like I could glow forever.”
And then, smiling down at him with all the affection bubbling up in her, she began to move.
* * *
Clay almost lost control when he saw the golden sparkle in Lacey’s topaz eyes. But he held on, determined not to miss out on watching her. She rested her hands against his temples as she stared down at him, her lips curled into a magical grin. Then, with their gazes firmly locked, she began to slide slowly up and then slowly down. Lust clouded her brown irises, but her eyelids didn’t flutter down. Neither did his despite the urgent need rushing through him.
He held himself still, allowing her to set the pace—to take her pleasure first. Her lips slowly parted as the rest of her muscles tensed. Her breathing changed, becoming more and more unsteady. She moved faster, need and pleasure flitting across her face, permitting him to see and feel everything she experienced. This, this was the vulnerability he’d asked for, and it practically undid him.
When she came, her eyes finally drifted closed. He lifted his hips, prolonging her climax as long as he could. Her eyes opened, lazy and satisfied.