He traced his fingers lightly over her bruised forehead, around the curve of her brow, and then down the sweet tilt of her nose. She crinkled her face and opened her eyes just a flutter. She squinted at him, and then smiled.
“Hi,” she said, her voice still sleep laden. “I’m still here.”
“Yes, you are. Where are you, darlin’?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, slid her fingers into his hair, and pulled him close to her before pressing her lips to his. “I’m right where I belong, in your house, in your bed, and in your arms.”
“You seem perfectly lucid to me,” Ryder said with a laugh before capturing her mouth with his in a deep, tongue-sweeping kiss. Suddenly, he pulled back. “How sore are you?”
Kelsey grimaced, pulled away, stretching her arms above her head, and pushing her legs toward the bottom of the bed. She moaned a little and then smiled. “A little stiff but nothing some exercise won’t remedy.” She waggled her eyebrows at him. “And why am I still dressed?”
“Good question, unless you feel the need to go somewhere?” Ryder teased her.
“Hell no, I’m not going anywhere, and I won’t let you make me this time.”
Ryder pulled her back into his arms, and put his forehead to hers careful not to hit her bump.
“The only way I’ll ever let you go again is if you ask me to and tell me you don’t love me anymore.”
“Wow, that long, huh?” Kelsey smiled up at him.
“I’ll never hurt you, Kelsey. I promise you.” Then suddenly, he grinned at her wickedly. “Unless I have to turn you over my knee, of course.”
She laughed up at him. “Oh, are you into that?”
He burst out laughing. She always was good at giving it right back.
“No.” He sobered. “I’d never even do that to you.”
“I know. I know.” She kissed him and he believed her. She trusted him. “I need you, Ryder. I need to feel you inside me, please.”
He growled low in his throat. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”
“Yes, I am and I know you are…up to it.” She said with a sly grin as she slid her hand down to cup his already eager cock.
“It does seem to have a mind of its own, and it wants you.”
Ryder quickly helped her undress and had her moaning because every inch of skin he uncovered, he kissed, nuzzled, and licked until she was squirming and begging him to take her. He pulled her over on top him so she straddled his hips. He figured he was less likely to put any bruises on top of her bruises if she were on top.
She surprised him by reaching past him, one of her pink tipped breasts falling so near his mouth that he couldn’t resist suckling it and pulling a soft moan from her as she retrieved a condom from the nightstand.
She ran her hand along his jaw. “Someday, I hope to convince you to stop using these.”
“One step at a time, Kelsey, let me get used to idea of having someone as wonderful as you love me first.” She nodded, and rolled the condom onto him before lifting her hips and slowly, and teasingly lowering herself on him until he was completely sheathed inside her.
“Of course, if you’re really serious about kids, I figure we might have to get started soon if we’re going to have ten or twelve.”
She squealed. “What?”
He laughed and she bounced on his cock. He loved her so much that if she wanted that many, he’d give them to her. She raked her nails gently down his chest and he pretended it hurt. “When the time comes, I’ll do my best to be the best kind of dad.”
Kelsey gasped, and slid forward, her hands wrapping around his head, pulling his hair. “Can we talk about this later?”
Ryder chuckled. “Yeah, I have other things on my mind right now too.” He grabbed her hips and rocked her against as he kissed her.
Kelsey groaned and tore her mouth from his. “Ryder…”
“I’m with you, baby,” he groaned in her ear.
She screamed out his name as her orgasm hit her hard. Ryder bent his knees as she ground her hips against his until he growled low in his throat and then groaned out her name as he came. He felt her body react again and her insides clench and throb as she came again. She collapsed on his chest, her breathing fast and hot against his skin.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. God, that was fantastic,” she said in a breathless voice.
“I think more rest is in order then, don’t you?”
“I’m all for that.”
Ryder pulled the covers up over their quickly cooling bodies, slid his arms underneath, and cradled her against him. They slept until noon, and then made love again.
Chapter Fourteen
Life was good and it was about to get even better. It was Valentine’s Day and Ryder had it all planned out. He’d ordered dinner from the restaurant where she’d driven him nuts and they hadn’t finished their meal. He thought it was appropriate for tonight. He laughed softly thinking about the surprises, he had lined up for Kelsey. He knew she’d been hinting around for the last few weeks about him making a commitment to her. He’d needed time and he was ready but he wanted to do it right.
He patted the pocket of his jacket where the beautiful diamond ring he’d sent to Butte for rested in its velvet box. He thought about the cedar rocking chair he’d originally handcrafted for a client but when he saw how beautiful it was when it was finished, he could only imagine Kelsey sitting in it rocking their child. He promised his client, he’d make another for him.
The sun was shining for a change, the big sky was blue, almost as blue as Kelsey’s eyes, Ryder thought with a smile. There hadn’t been any snow for the past week so the roads were finally clear and the trip to Hartland and back hadn’t taken nearly as long as he’d expected. He planned to fix a nice bath for Kelsey while he set up dinner, brought in the chair, and hopefully, didn’t lose his nerve before asking him to be his wife.
As he made the turn into the driveway, he stopped the truck. The gate was open when he knew he’d shut it when he left. He drove slowly up the drive and stopped again when he saw an unfamiliar car parked by the back door. He swore when he saw Utah plates on the car. He pulled out his cell phone and made a call.
“Sheriff Garrett,” Sam answered.
“Sam, it’s Ryder. I think my…parents are here at my ranch. There’s a car here with Utah plates and that’s where they were last time I heard from them. Kelsey’s inside.”
“I’m on my way with Brody. We’ll come in silent. Be careful.”
Ryder hung up and after taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out. He walked passed their car, up the steps, and entered the kitchen.
“Kelsey?” he called out. He’d let the dogs out when he left but now wished he hadn’t.
“Come in here, son. We’re waiting for you.” He recognized his old man’s voice.
Son of a bitch! Ryder walked into the living room and came to a halt when he saw his father holding a gun to Kelsey’s head.
“Royce, you seriously need to let her go,” Ryder growled, anger fueled adrenaline surging through him. He wanted to rip the bastards head off for even touching Kelsey.
“I will. When you give me what I want,” Royce Wolfe replied.
“I’m not giving you a fucking thing. Let her go—now.”
“Aren’t you going to say hello to your mother, son?”
“I am not your son and she,” Ryder said, pointing at Heather Wolfe, “is not my mother.”
Royce laughed. “She brought you into this world.”
“And you tried to take me out of it, how many times, old man? Get off my ranch or I’m calling the sheriff.”
“Your friend, Sam, he’s the sheriff, isn’t he?” Heather Wolfe finally spoke.
Ryder glared at her and then swung his gaze back to Royce. “I’m not going to tell you again. Let her go.”
“How much is she worth to you, Ryder? Tell me that.”
Ryder didn’t say a word. He continued to glare at Ro
yce. His eyes shifted to Kelsey. She looked pale and scared. She had to believe he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. When he saw a tear roll down her cheek, he wanted to tear Royce Wolfe apart with his bare hands.
“Has he hurt you?” he asked Kelsey.
She shook her head and gasped when Royce’s arm tightened around her neck. Ryder clenched his jaw.
“I want a hundred thousand dollars. Now!”
Ryder laughed without humor. “Do you really think I’d have that here?”
“If you don’t, then it looks like your mom and I are spending the night until you get to the bank. Or I will kill this little woman of yours. It would be a pity. I have to say, son, you do have great taste in women. She’s a real looker.” Royce pulled her back against him. Kelsey whimpered.
“You hurt one hair on her head, you’re a dead man,” Ryder said taking a step closer.
“Then get me the fucking money,” Royce shouted waving the gun at him before pressing it back against Kelsey’s head.
Clenching his fists, Ryder glared at the man who sired him before nodding. He stepped backward before starting down the hall.
“Hold up. You’re not leaving my sight.” Royce followed him, dragging Kelsey behind him.
Ryder entered his bedroom and opened the closet doors. He walked to the back wall, reached above the shelf located about halfway down, and pressed a button. The lower part of the wall slid open to show a safe.
Royce laughed.
“Open it,” he told Ryder waving the gun at him again.
Ryder squatted down and entered the combination. The safe door clicked open. Royce Wolfe gasped, and Ryder slowly came to his feet.
“Holy shit! How much is in there?”
“I’ll give you what you asked for—”
“Oh no. You’re going to give me everything in that safe. Heather, get a bag.”
“Where?”
“Jesus Christ, woman. Tell her where she can get a bag, son.”
“In the pantry, and quit calling me son. I am not your son. I was never your son. I was a fucking punching bag to you. How about we see if you can hit me now?”
“Ryder, don’t give them your money,” Kelsey choked out, only to have the arm against her throat cut off her words.
“The money doesn’t matter, Kelsey. Only you do.”
“How sweet,” Heather said entering the bedroom with a cloth bag.
“Give the bag to Ryder. Fill it up…son.” Royce laughed.
Ryder squatted down again and started to fill the bag but slowly. He knew he needed to give Sam and Brody time to get here. He pulled stacks of money out of the safe and dropped it into the bag.
“There has to be over a million dollars in there,” Heather said in awe.
“Yeah, and our son never wanted to help us out. He’s so fucking rich, that he keeps a few mil in his own safe.”
“Fuck you, old man,” Ryder growled.
“I’d be nice if I were you, I have a gun to your woman’s head.”
“And you’re going to drop that gun or I’ll drop you,” Sam said from the doorway. Ryder let out a sigh of relief.
“I’ll kill her, Garrett,” Royce shouted over his shoulder.
“I don’t think you will,” Brody said from behind him. He’d entered through the French doors.
Royce spun around dragging Kelsey with him. “Damn it. Heather, why weren’t you watching?”
“How was I supposed to know someone would come in the damn patio doors?”
“Lower your weapon. Now,” Sam demanded as he held his weapon in front of him pointed at Royce’s head.
“Son of a bitch,” Royce said as he lowered the gun and released Kelsey who pushed away from him and ran straight to Ryder, where he caught her and wrapped his arms around her.
Ryder watched over Kelsey’s head as Brody stepped up behind Royce and yanked his arms back before putting handcuffs on him. Meanwhile, Sam was handcuffing Heather.
“Are you both all right?” Sam asked Ryder who was cradling Kelsey as she cried softly against his chest.
Ryder hugged her to him. “Yes. Get them out of here, please.”
“Do you want to press charges?”
“You know I do, Sam.”
Sam grinned. “Yeah, I do but I have to ask.”
Ryder nodded as Sam and Brody led them away. He tightened his arms around Kelsey and rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. She pulled back from him and gazed up at him with tears glistening on her lashes.
“You were going to give them all that money. You said you would never give them money.”
Ryder laughed. “Are you fucking serious? That money doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. Only you do.”
“How much is in there?”
“Two million.” He shrugged. “I like to keep cash on hand.”
Kelsey burst out laughing. “When people keep cash on hand, it’s not two million dollars.”
Ryder shrugged. “What can I say? I just feel better with it here.”
“But you were going to give them all your money.”
“No, I wasn’t and even if they’d gotten away with it, I have a lot more than that in the bank. At least ten times that. I’m a very rich man, baby.”
“I wouldn’t care if you were dirt poor.” She rose on her toes and kissed him.
“I know.” He leaned back and looked down at her. “This wasn’t at all how I wanted to do this but it seems like the perfect time,” Ryder said, reaching into his coat pocket. When he withdrew it holding the dark blue velvet box, he heard Kelsey gasp. She was surprised anyway and that’s all that mattered. Dinner and the rocker will be the cherry on top. No, he planned to be the cherry on top.
“Will you marry me, Kelsey Sullivan?”
She stared up at him, glanced back to the box he’d opened and gasped at the sparkle on the two-carat diamond in the box. Glancing up again, she had tears glistening in her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I think it would be best to get married since we want children together.” He grinned at her.
She smiled, and then threw her arms around his shoulders. “I love you, Ryder, with all my heart and yes, I will marry you.”
“I love you, darlin’. I really had already decided on all of this. I’ve been planning it all out for two weeks now, and then you go getting yourself into trouble again and ruin things.” Ryder grumbled against her shoulder and when she pushed away and punched him in the arm, he laughed. “Seriously, I was scared to death that bastard was going to slip and blow your head off. I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you. No, I do know. I would’ve torn that old man to pieces and ended up on death row. See, I’m not so different from him after all. I wanted to kill him, Kelsey.” His voice caught.
Kelsey hugged him to her. “You’re nothing like him. You were angry, and you wanted to kill him for hurting me, but you didn’t. I knew you’d never let anything happen to me. I knew you wouldn’t let him hurt me, which is why you were willing to give him all that money. Nothing and no one will ever pull us apart, and nothing you say or do will ever make me leave. I love you, Ryder, and this is the best Valentine’s Day ever.”
He grinned at her. “Well, it was supposed to be a lot better.”
“And so it shall be. So what else have you planned for me, Ryder Wolfe, because I have some very interesting things planned for you,” Kelsey said as she slid her hands up under his shirt and around back so she was pressed tight against him.
“I like the way you think. Well, first you were going to take a bath while I set up dinner, and then I have another surprise for you.”
She stepped back and looked at him with wide eyes. “And you’re worried about me ever leaving you. If you keep being so romantic, Ryder Wolfe, you’ll have to pry me off you and fight me away with a stick.”
“It won’t be easy, since you’re rather demanding and have a hell of a temper at times.” He laughed when she punched his arm.
“I’ll try
to curb it around you.” She laughed when he scooped her up into his arms.
“So when’s the wedding?”
“I like May,” she said before pressing a kiss against his lips.
“May, it is. You know, I’m thinking I might join my fiancée in that bath and wash the bad of the day off me. Is that okay?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. We can grab a condom on the way.”
“Got one in my wallet. I’ve learned to be prepared with you.” He carried her into the bathroom and kicked the door shut behind them.
“So what’s my other surprise?”
Epilogue
Ryder sat in a chair in the back room of the church and gazed out the window. It was a beautiful day in May, and for the first time in his life, he felt at ease.
“Why aren’t you nervous?” Jake asked him placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing gently.
Ryder grinned up at him. “Because everything is as it should be, and I have absolutely no doubt she’ll be here and that she loves me.”
“Yeah, well, I knew that about Becca too, but I was still nervous as all get out.”
“Okay, maybe I am a little but I think it’s more about having to stand up in front of everyone.”
Jake laughed and nodded. “That makes me feel a little better. I think you’re right. Wyatt tried to convince us he wasn’t nervous either.”
“I wasn’t,” Wyatt said with a chin-raised confidence.
“Bull—”
“Don’t you dare say that in my church, Sam Garrett.”
“Sorry, Padre,” Sam said repentantly, and then glared at his friend, Riley Madison. “What are you laughing at?”
“You always did get into trouble with the Rev,” Riley said.
“Shut up,” Sam muttered.
“It’s too bad Katie couldn’t make it. Kelsey invited her but Sadie is sick,” Ryder said.
“I haven’t seen Katie in years. I’d love to see her.” This eager remark was from Riley.
Ryder Men of Clifton, Montana Book 5 Page 19