by Starla Kaye
“Not mine.” Mandy stopped rubbing the side of her head and forced herself to sit up. Evil gremlins in her head started pounding with tiny hammers. She put a calming hand on his leg, which seemed to distract him. “Minor snake incident. Spooked horse. I got caught in the way.”
He appeared to mull over her explanation and she took the time to face the guests. “Why don't you all take a swim in the pool? Or drive into town and look around this morning. We'll try this again after lunch.”
With some concerned looks, they finally decided she would live and wandered away. That left her with Erik and she didn't quite know what to say or do. She went with the first thing that came into her head. “You're barefoot. Are you nuts?”
He barely glanced at his feet, flinched at the blood trickling along the sole of one of them. “I'll survive.” She noticed his grimace and knew running across the gravel road and arena ground had been painful. “I had to get to my wife.”
Warmth swept through her at his matter-of-fact words. Nothing had mattered but getting to her. Before she could let it get to her, make her go all teary-eyed, she attempted to get up. “It was a foolish accident.”
He stood and gently tugged her to her feet. His hands pushed her ponytail out of the way and he ever so carefully touched the side of her head. “That's going to hurt.”
“Already does.” When he frowned down at her, she gave him a reassuring look. “But it isn't serious. Not even a slight concussion, really. I've been concussed before and I know how it felt.”
That didn't reassure him as much as she'd hoped it would. His eyes still mirrored worry. “You're done for the day, honey. If there are riding lessons to be taught later, your ranch hands can do it.”
She stiffened. “I'm in charge here. I'm the guest ranch manager. I—”
“I'm your husband. And I said you're done for the day.” Anger simmered in his gaze. “Now if you don't want me to cart you into town to see a doctor—which I really should do, you'll give yourself at least today to recover.”
“I'm fine,” she countered. She hated being told what to do, even if it made sense. He didn't need to know that she felt ready to collapse, dizzy. She wasn't nauseous, so she'd be all right.
They stood glowering at each other until finally he blew out a heavy breath. “You're not fine. I can already see the lump swelling on the side of your head. You're swaying.”
She tried to stand straighter, still.
He shook his head and before she could stop him, he scooped her up in much the same way he had at the bar in Maui. “Am I forever to be forced to carry you around?” He sounded more teasing than annoyed now, his voice husky while he easily held her.
A part of her wanted to sigh in contentment and enjoy being held in his arms. But the independent part of her didn't cave so easily. She squirmed. “I'm perfectly capable of walking. Put. Me. Down.”
The stubborn devil chuckled. “Not happening, babe.” Even though he grimaced with the added weight in his arms and pressing down on his tender feet, he started across the arena.
Her stomach tightened and it was as if she felt his pain. He suffered because of her. “You can't do this. Your feet….”
He only moved faster. “I'm doing this.”
She remained silent until they reached the porch. Pain etched his face and sweat beaded his brow and upper lip. She glanced behind them and saw the bloody footprints. One of his feet must have been cut on a sharp rock. “Put me down,” she said gently but firmly. “I'm okay now. You aren't.”
He finally gave in and set her on her feet, but held her to him. “Don't scare me like that again.”
“But you play the white knight role so well.” She gave him a teasing smile and went up on tiptoe to kiss him.
An hour later Erik stretched out beside Mandy on the big rumpled bed. One kiss had led to another and then onto the inevitable ripping at each other's clothes. They had managed to steal a few minutes for cleaning off the nasty gash on his foot and bandaging it. He'd cleaned off the dirt from her head bump and examined it, too. He'd wanted to put ice on it, but she'd been too impatient. Fact was, he'd been pretty ready as well.
“I may not survive this marriage. You're awfully demanding of a man.” He grinned up at the ceiling, thinking about how she'd slid to her knees in the bathroom after they'd dealt with each other's injuries. He'd stood next to the counter and she'd taken him into her hot mouth. He should have refused, should have insisted on putting her to bed right then. But it had been impossible to think with what she'd been doing. Clearly he was darn easy.
She lay limply beside him and he turned to note the pleased smile on her face. “You're pretty demanding yourself, Stud Boy.”
He shifted to his side, reaching over to cup one breast and thumb the nipple. “Stud Boy, I like that.” She was tired and he saw the pain lines bracketing her mouth. Still, he couldn't keep from leaning over and swirling his tongue around the aroused nipple. She sucked in a breath and arched upward.
“Don't you have work to do?” she asked, but put her hand to hold his head in place.
Erik continued playing with the nipple and reached over to cup and to massage the other breast. Without a doubt he had a ton of email messages to return. Allan would be expecting him to call back, too. And he needed to check in with the realtor, his business manager, and his main attorney. He didn't want to think about any of that, but he only had so much time he could take away from his business.
“Can't you come back to LA with me for a few days?” He braced for the blunt rejection she'd given him every other time. Good thing he had a tough ego.
She didn't let him down, but for the first time she didn't sound absolutely firm. “I have responsibilities here, especially with Drew and Tanya away for a few days.”
He dared to take that as a small bit of hope. He'd take what he could get at this point. “I understand.” He focused on her nipple again, lightly biting it.
“Ohhhh,” she gasped. She stroked his hair, threaded her fingers through it. He felt her racing heart. “You understand? Really?”
He understood that she made him sexually crazy, that he couldn't get enough of her. He understood that he wanted her in his life if he could just figure out how they could manage it. And he understood that she didn't think there was a possible way they could meld their completely opposite lives together. Somehow he would have to find a way to convince her. There would be serious compromises involved. What he needed was time and patience.
His cock had magically come to life again, a fete that amazed him considering what they’d just done. “And you should be resting.”
“And you should be returning phone calls or whatever.” She shifted her legs apart, smiling with a twinkle in her eyes. “One more time.”
* * *
She had finally worn lover boy out. Mandy glanced at the bedside clock, just after one o'clock. Did she dare? He'd sounded pretty commanding when he'd told her that she was done for the day. But she'd been lying in the dirt, dazed from the head bump. She felt immensely better now, though her head still throbbed a little. Sex was an amazing healer, a rejuvenator…at least for some people. Erik was dead to the world face down and didn't look as if he could possibly move a muscle for a while. Particularly not that muscle.
The guests had paid good money for this ranch experience and that included riding lessons. She was the guest ranch manager. Yes, she was. Not just temporarily either. She would give the airline notice next week and tell Drew for certain when he got back from Denver. Her gaze locked onto the yummy man beside her. She was pretty sure she'd lost her heart to him, probably in Maui. But this just wasn't going to work. She loved this life and should have come back here long ago. He was Mr. California. Her chest squeezed with pain at the thought of letting him go, but what else could she do?
Tears misted her eyes and she blinked them away. They still had to talk about how to end this mess, but not now. She wasn't up to it. Besides, he was exhausted. It made her smile a bit knowing s
he had a great deal to do with wearing him out.
Carefully she climbed from the bed, pleased to see he didn't appear to notice. She dressed quickly and hurried from the house before she could change her mind and slide back into bed beside her husband.
“Someone is in big trouble,” Chet said, nodding toward the end of the arena.
The last of the twelve dude guests dismounted from the riding lessons. He followed Chet's gaze and so did Mandy. Uh-oh didn't even come close. She considered getting on the horse and galloping away, but that would be chicken and she wasn't that.
“You did very well, Henry,” she stated as calmly as she could. “All of you did. The trail ride tomorrow will be a breeze.”
Erik stopped at the gate, raised a hand, and motioned with a finger for her to come to him. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to; his body language spoke for him. He was six-foot-one of very angry man.
“I think your husband wants a word with you.” Chet gave her an I-told-you-so look; having told her earlier that Erik wouldn't be pleased when he found her out here. She'd told the foreman her husband was sleeping and she hadn't wanted to disturb him. “Did I mention trouble?”
Henry walked away to no doubt join his wife and the other guests, who were all going into Dodge City for the evening. “See you in the morning.”
Chet took the reins of the horse she was sort of hiding behind. “Time to face the music.” He headed toward the side gate.
She glowered at him, hating that he was right. With as much dignity as she could muster, she walked toward her doom. Her buttocks were clenching already in anticipation. Maybe she could talk her way out of this. She didn't even have to let him do what she was fairly certain he had in mind.
At the last second she reached up to rub her head and tried to look worse than she felt.
“Drop the act, Mandy. You're obviously not hurting that bad if you could be out here giving riding lessons.” He didn't add 'against my wishes' but it was understood.
She let her hand fall away. “Are you rested now? You were pretty exhausted when I left.” What am I doing? Trying to make him madder?
“Come with me. We're going to have a discussion.” He shook his head. “Not about the subject you've been avoiding. About something more immediate and I know you understand what I mean.”
She glanced back at Chet and his head nod told her he'd heard the conversation. Her face heated. She moved directly in front of Erik and hissed, “I had a job to do. I'm feeling a lot better—”
To her surprise, he reached around her and sent a stinging Smack! to her bottom. Fortunately the heavy denim quieted the sound, but Chet still might have heard it. She didn't look in his direction.
“That whole 'feeling better' thing is going to change pretty soon.” He took her arm and tugged her with him back to the house. Neither of them said a word.
Erik studied his silent, clearly unhappy wife where she stood just inside the great room. He sensed she was trying to come up with something to change his mind, but so far hadn't thought of anything. He wouldn't accept any excuses anyway. When he'd awakened a short while ago and saw her side of the bed empty, he'd known immediately where she'd gone. She'd defied him, even knowing he was only worried for her sake. Now she was going to find out how serious he was about domestic discipline.
“Take them down and lean over the back of the sofa.”
She blinked at him. “I really am sort of hurting again.”
Impatient, he took her arm and led her behind the sofa. “You're going to hurt some more…in a different place. You can lie down pretty soon and sleep off both issues.” He reached around to undo the top button, then the zipper.
“Okay, okay.” She pushed his hands away and wiggled the jeans and panties down to her knees.
He stared at her and felt his cock hardening. But he wasn't going to be distracted. “Why are you going to be punished?” He wanted to be sure she fully understood.
Her face turned red, probably from standing there partially undressed in front of him. “Because you told me I was done for the day after being hurt earlier. Because I went against your order.” She looked straight at him. “I don't like being ordered around.”
“I know you don't.” He held her gaze. “I won't do it unless I feel it is necessary. You were injured enough that you needed to let your body heal today.”
He could see she wanted to protest, but she evidently knew he was right. Breathing out in frustration, she faced the sofa and leaned over, her hands flattening on the seat cushion.
“Good girl.” He really liked the sight of her bare bottom in front of him. So did his cock. He forced the tempting thoughts aside and removed one of his flip-flops.
She glanced back at him and saw his implement of choice. “Really? Your shoe?”
“Really. Now turn away and lower your head.” When she did, he slapped her bottom with the flip-flop hard enough that it left an impression.
“Yeouch!” She danced up on her toes. “That sucker stings.”
“Exactly the point.” He got down to the business of painting his wife's ass red. She was going to think hard before she purposely went against him next time.
By the time he was done she was sobbing and no longer squirming around. He tossed the shoe away and pulled her up and into his embrace. “I love you, Mandy.”
She sniffled and held onto him. “I love you, too.” Then she eased out of his arms, gave him a sad look, and started toward the bedroom. “But this isn't going to work.”
Chapter Five
By the time Mandy woke the next morning the sun was forcing its way through the slit in the blinds and sliding across where she lay on the rumpled bed. She didn't have to look at the clock to know she'd slept in long past her usual wake-up time. She was late getting to her chores, but the ranch hands would have taken care of them. The ranch guests had probably already finished breakfast in the cook shack. They would be getting ready for the trail ride later this morning, but, again, Chet and a couple of the other men would help them. She was being such a slacker. In truth, she didn't care. She'd worked hard ever since returning to the ranch and would again. Being a little lazy just one morning wouldn't hurt that much. Although, if Drew were around, he would probably lecture her about her responsibilities. Thank goodness he wouldn't be back for another couple of days.
She rolled to her side and the scent of their lovemaking drifted around her. She should be more than sated after their sex marathon into the wee hours. Instead she still felt a buzz of longing, heat curling low inside her. Her labia fluttered with need. Need for the man who slept dead to the world beside her. It still felt strange to have someone sleeping in her bed with her on a regular basis, even if it had only been less than a week. And this wasn't just any man, this was her husband.
Her gaze moved to the wedding band he'd had specially made for her. The thought of it continued to warm her heart. And make her feel guilty. What had she given him but two months of resistance to the fact that they were married? She'd refused to even consider going back to LA to talk it all out. She'd hidden away at the family ranch and tried to ignore the issue. But he hadn't let her. He'd come halfway across the country to confront her, but they still hadn't actually dealt with the complicated matter.
He shifted slightly and she watched the play of muscles across his broad back. She desperately wanted to reach over and touch him, run her fingers up and down his tanned body, savor the muscles beneath her fingertips, find his cock and….
She bit back a quiet groan. What was he doing to her? She had ranch business to take care of, duties. Yet all she wanted was to have sex 24/7 with this man who didn't really belong in her life. He was an addiction. She needed space and distance away from him. Yet her body wanted him closer, intimately closer.
Annoyed with her reactions to him, she squirmed off the bed. She stormed into the bathroom to take a much-needed shower and prepare for the day. But the entire time she tried to focus on what she had to do today, her body thrumm
ed with desire that was evidently not easily satisfied. She considered dealing with it herself, but decided against it, knowing a couple of minutes of self-pleasuring wouldn't be enough.
As she came out of the bathroom, she concentrated on not looking at the bed, not seeing the too-tempting body there. She would go straight to the closet and get dressed. Time was slipping away.
But as she started by the bed, a hand snuck out and snagged her arm. A sleep-husky voice said, “I want you to make breakfast for us today.” He yawned. “I'll help.”
Tingles shot up her arm from where he touched her. They zipped through her entire body, weakened her protest as she said, “I don't cook.” Cooking wasn't her thing, unless she nuked something in the microwave. “I eat with Drew and Tanya or in the cook shack. You know that.”
He moved a thumb slowly in circles on her highly sensitive skin. Her heart pounded.
“I saw the time on the alarm clock,” he countered, still playing with her arm. “Everyone is done with breakfast by now. We're going to cook here this morning.”
She wanted to protest again, but he was right. By this hour of the day the cooks would be done with breakfast and cleaning up. “I'll skip eating this morning. You can scrounge up something. But I need to go out and deal with the guests.” Then her stomach rumbled and she self-consciously rubbed at it.
Her gaze met his and she noticed both amusement and disapproval in his expression. But his eyes—those beautiful sky blue eyes—were hot with desire. Suddenly she remembered that she was standing here naked. Her face heated, ridiculous as that was, considering he well knew every inch of her body by now…and she, his. She tried to pull her arm free so she could move away.
He refused to let her go, though his grip on her wrist wasn't too tight. “You've got that trail ride later and camp out. You'll need energy, protein.” He looked squarely at her. “We're making breakfast. Together.”