“Say it.”
She shook her head, not wanting to let those words slip from her lips. He’d have to try harder.
His mouth slammed down on hers, and his tongue stroked inside, matching the rhythm of his jerking hips as he drove into her, again and again.
Kate’s breaths gusted in time with his thrusts, and her back curved to force him off, but she only managed to abrade her nipples against his chest, and she groaned.
He dragged his mouth away and nosed under her chin, scraping her neck lightly with his teeth.
She shuddered.
“Say it, Katie,” he whispered into her ear.
With her legs closed and his cock squeezing between, she felt the fullness stretching her entrance, but couldn’t get the length she needed, or encourage him to rub the delicious spot he’d found inside her.
His hips pounded at hers. “Say it, Katie,” he rasped.
She couldn’t stand it, couldn’t take it one moment longer. She had to have him deeper. “I’m yours,” she sobbed. “Please.”
He halted abruptly, and one knee nudged between her thighs, then the other.
Katie quickly wrapped her legs around his waist.
He leaned up on his arms. “Play with your tits.”
Not willing to argue when she was close to finally getting nailed the way she wanted, she lifted shaking hands to her breasts, spreading her fingers to let her nipples peek from between them.
His cock speared into her. “Pinch your nipples.”
She lifted her hips to meet his next deep thrust and squeezed the tips of her breasts.
Apparently satisfied she’d do whatever he commanded, he lowered his body, trapping her hands between them. His hands slipped beneath her bottom to bring her closer still, and his fingers slid between her cheeks to trace her asshole.
Kate tightened in shock.
“You’re going to take it,” he rasped. “You’ll take everything I give you.” He lifted off her and rolled her to her stomach.
When his arm circled her hips to raise her bottom high, she rested her head on the carpet, surrendering completely to his will.
Her ass wasn’t virgin. Sam had shown her that delight, too. But she’d never felt so much pressure as the broad head of Ty’s cock pushed against her resisting anus.
His hands massaged and spread her bottom wider. Spit dripped between her buttocks, and he rubbed it around her hole then brought his big cock back to try to enter her again.
She couldn’t help the whimper that slipped between her clenched lips. It was painful. He hadn’t bothered seducing her asshole into relaxing its guard. But she was hot for it all the same time.
His thighs snuggled up to the inside of hers. “It’s gonna hurt a little.”
She snorted. “Just fucking do it.” Her words were insubordinate, but her tone was thin and needy.
He pumped against her asshole, pressing hard, then backing off, before coming at it again a little harder.
Kate’s back relaxed and she willed her ass to do the same, gasping when finally he breached her hole, and his crown crowded inside her an inch.
Out again, and then deeper.
She sucked air between her teeth as her ring and inner tissues stretched beyond comfort to accommodate his girth. “Stop.”
A sharp slap burned one cheek, and she reared up to aim a glare over her shoulder. “I wasn’t saying no. Just wait.” She squeezed around him, holding him back.
His low grown told her how much her tightness please him. But he lifted his hand and spanked her other cheek, the sting sharper this time.
She tried to hold back her moan, not liking the fact her body loved this further proof of his command, but he drove it from her throat with a succession of slaps that warmed her bottom and had her writhing on his cock in moments.
“Never tell me no, Kate,” he whispered. “I can’t be held off. Not when all I want to do is fuck you deep and hard and drink your cries.”
She sobbed, her body shivering—goose bumps rising on her skin at the bleak, hoarse texture of his voice.
Slowly, inexorably, he eased his way with shallow thrusts and sharper slaps, until his cock filled her dark channel to bursting.
He leaned over her back and kissed her shoulder. “It’s gonna happen fast.”
“I’m ready.” A shudder rocked her whole body. “Fuck me, Ty. Any way you want.”
He rose up behind her, and his hands settled on her ass cheeks, gripping her hard, lifting them apart to make more room for him to drive closer. He widened her stance with his knees and then reached around her waist. His hands slid between her legs, and as he slammed his hips against her ass, he pinched her clit.
Kate screamed, unraveling in a shuddering, gasping convulsion.
Ty hammered his cock deep inside her ass, plucking her clit all the while until she couldn’t take the sensations slamming through her body one moment longer. Her head and shoulder slumped to the ground while he unleashed a storm—fucking her soundly, grinding her knees into the carpet, scooting her forward with the brutal force of his thrusts.
When at last hot, burning liquid erupted inside her ass, Kate groaned and slipped into darkness.
Chapter Five
Even before he pulled his cock out, Ty was cursing himself and his lack of self-control. He knew he wasn’t making the best of impressions on this infuriating woman.
She’d been reckless. Challenged his right to command her. His response had been swift, instinctive—and harsh. He’d wanted time to woo her before letting her see that side of him.
Kate McKinnon didn’t understand the nature of the monster that had her by the tail—literally. He couldn’t be led. Couldn’t be partnered. It had to be his way for her own safety. For when he finally let her see his true nature, he had to be certain she’d never incite the beast inside him into violence. He might kill her.
When she’d stabbed him with the buckle, he’d come close to letting loose the beast. Quickly, he’d substituted one lust for the darker one—pushing her to the floor and mounting her, screwing her brains out.
But if the only way to get a handle on this woman was dominating her physically, sexually, he’d do it. A man had to do what a man had to do—especially if he wasn’t entirely human.
She’d been clever to realize something was afoot. She’d just picked the wrong monster, and he wondered if she’d ever encountered his sort before.
“Did you really come to Tierney for me?” she asked quietly.
He lay on the floor beside her and pulled her into his arms, his belly to her back—perfect for him to continue groping her sweetly rounded breasts. He squeezed one small mound. “I couldn’t leave you out here on your own.”
“That’s not what I meant. You got to the sex pretty damn quick—like you’d been anticipating it. I could have been eighty years old for all you knew.”
“I knew you weren’t,” he said, rolling a nipple between his thumb and forefinger, hoping to distract her. “I did expect you to be a bit older.”
“I’m twenty-seven,” she said, a hint of gruff defiance in her voice.
“That old?” At her snort, Ty smiled against her hair. She was prickly as a porcupine. “Your dad died ten years ago. You were seventeen?”
“Yeah.”
That shut her down quick, but he needed to satisfy his curiosity about a couple more things. “When did you and Sam become lovers?”
Her back stiffened, but her nipples flowered against his palm. “Ten years ago.”
Ty could see how it had happened. She’d been young and alone when her father was killed—in need of comfort. Sam had been her rock.
Ty could understand it, and part of him was glad she’d had someone to turn to, but he was already predisposed to hate Sam’s guts. “How’s he going to take it? Your being with me.”
Her answering sigh had him tightening his hand on her breast, but he forced himself to relax.
Finally, she drew a breath, and said, “I’m sure he’
ll be disappointed, but I’ve never led him on.” She turned in his arms, her gaze studying his face. “What about you? Have you ever had a relationship?”
Wishing he’d turned the light off, he shuttered his expression. “None that ever mattered. I went into the service pretty young and moved around a lot.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “Well, that tells me a lot. You want the down and dirty on me, but you won’t share.”
Ty frowned back, thinking he’d have been better off never opening this can of worms. He hated talking about his past. Hated even remembering he’d had a life before Davis. Choosing his words carefully, he replied, “I spent some time in the Middle East on my first tour. By the time I made it back, all hell had broken loose here. There was never time.” He picked up a loose curl of her hair and teased her nipple.
Kate’s breath caught. “Why are you ready now?”
How could he tell her the truth? He needed sex almost as much as he needed sustenance—and the two were closely intertwined. He chose not to answer. Instead, he hooked his arm around her waist, bringing her body flush with his. “I need to check on my men.”
But he couldn’t let her go. Not yet. Her warm, lithe body hummed with her quickening heartbeats.
Kate slid her thigh over his hips and pressed her sex against his cock. “This is all you came for, isn’t it?”
Ty met her glance, but rather than giving her the words she wanted, he kissed her, sliding his mouth over hers. To shut her up. Not to tell her he already suspected he’d just been kidding himself.
He needed more than her warm body and the brilliant life force that filled her. If he’d been anywhere near ready to admit it, he might have said he’d loved her just a little bit after sharing those nighttime conversations that had left his body aching and his heart…opening.
When her hands once more surrounded his cock, he groaned and dragged his lips away. “Save that thought for later.” He eased away from her body and stood, picking up his clothing from the floor, never allowing his gaze to return to her slender form.
He dressed in silence, wincing when he closed the zipper over his swelling cock. From the corner of his eye, he watched Kate sit up and grimace.
“I’m a mess. I can’t dress until I clean up.” She gave him an accusatory glance that told him he’d better do something about it.
Rummaging through a tall file cabinet, he found a pristine altar cloth and held it out to Kate.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” she grumbled, but swiped it from his hand and gave him a pointed stare.
It took a moment for him to realize she wanted privacy, and he tightened his lips against a smile. After all they’d shared, she could still be embarrassed? “I’ll leave you to dress,” he murmured and let himself out of the office.
When he stepped into the hall, he found Diego leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He straightened and gave him a sly look. “I would have tied her up. She’s going to be a problem.”
Ty snorted. “Let’s just get inside the ranch first. Did they find those guys?”
Diego nodded. “The team shouldn’t be hungry for a while. We saved you a snack.”
* * *
Kate walked down the aisle between the pews. Many toward the end had been shifted against the walls. Army cots had been assembled and several of the men Ty had brought lounged in various stages of undress.
Shep sidled up to her, eating from an opened can of beans and eying the men around them with suspicion. He glowered when he caught her eye. “You sure about these guys?” he said, under his breath.
“I stabbed Ty in the hand with my belt buckle.” She shrugged, fighting the blush that burned her cheeks. “Nothing, not so much as a welt.”
Shep’s narrowed gaze swept over her, and Kate’s blush deepened.
Danny strode toward her, his gaze sweeping from her unbound hair down her rumpled clothing. He gave her a pointed look, and Kate knew he disapproved. His loyalty lay with Sam.
She lifted her chin, daring either of the men to say a word.
“Missy, I hope you know what you’re doing,” Shep muttered.
Her throat tightened. She’d known them all her life, but this wasn’t something she was willing to talk to them about. She shrugged. “Not really. Not yet. But I need to find Ty so I can get a few things cleared up.” And this time, she needed to make sure their conversation didn’t involve hands and lips, or she’d never get to the bottom of it.
She found him standing in the darkness on the front steps of the church, talking to the Hispanic man she’d seen with him earlier. They both grew silent as she approached.
She ignored the other man, turning her back slightly to him as she faced Ty. “I thought we might talk about what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Ty nodded. “Let me introduce Diego Salazar,” he said, tilting his head toward the dark-haired man next to him.
She didn’t like really want to meet him. Something about the way his gaze slid over her body, made her feel like she was the butt of a joke and only he knew the punch line.
Kate returned his stare, taking in his darkly tanned skin, black hair, and Spanish features. Too handsome for her to trust or even feel comfortable standing beside.
“Diego’s my next in command.”
Her back stiffened, but she nodded, reluctantly acknowledging the introduction. So this was the man Ty wanted to command her in his absence? When Hell froze over!
Diego lifted one sardonic eyebrow as though he could read her irritation. The slight smile curving his lips infuriated her.
Kate lifted her chin and glared.
“You two know each other already?” Ty said, a hint of laughter in his voice. His arm slid around her waist, and he leaned to whisper in her ear, “He’ll grow on you. Promise. I only want to kill him twice a day.”
She snorted and drew away.
“There’s not much left to discuss,” Ty continued. “When we get to your place tomorrow, we’ll need everyone to pack up their belongings, and we’ll load them all into the deuce-and-a-halfs.”
Kate stared at him blankly.
“The transport vehicles,” Diego murmured, his deep voice a silky murmur.
“We’ll leave so soon?” Kate asked, feeling suddenly cold.
“It’s not safe for you there, and you know it, and I didn’t like leaving a skeleton crew behind at Fort Davis. How many people do you have now at the ranch?”
She shivered, fighting the urge to offer a protest. Ty was right. Much as she hated the thought of leaving Sanctuary ranch, she had to. She drew a deep breath and dropped her gaze as she forced herself to count. “I have my foreman and six ranch hands. Three families—thirteen total there. Another nine stragglers who showed up at the gates.” Her voice grew fainter toward the end, and she realized she was close to tears. What the fuck? She never cried. “Oh, and Cass, the cook.” Wishing she’d never sought him out, she half-turned, ready to escape back into the church.
“Do you have horse trailers?” Diego asked.
“I have three—big enough to load all the horses.” It hit her then. She raised her gaze to Ty. “I won’t be able to bring my cattle will I?” A McKinnon without a ranch or a herd.
“No,” he said quietly.
She nodded, pretending to take it all in stride. “I’ll have to leave them on the open range to graze,” she said faintly. They’d be fodder for the wolves. Feeling chilled to the bone, she asked, “How long will it take us to get to Davis?”
“About ten hours. We’ll leave in daytime—lowest wolf activity.”
“So we’ll spend one night at the ranch, then leave the next morning?”
He nodded.
“And when we get to your post, what happens?”
“There are officer billets standing empty. The families can be split out there. They’ll be comfortable, but there’s no running water. They’ll have to use outhouses and get their water from the central well. The single men can bunk in one of the barracks.”
“What about the women?”
She didn’t miss the charged glance he shared with his next in command. “We’ll see what arrangements they prefer when we get there.”
Kate nodded, once again going with her gut to trust him. She wanted to ask where she’d stay, but he saved her the embarrassment.
“We’ll have our own quarters off the operations building.”
While she stood beside him, his hand rested on the small of her back, his thumb circling. It probably wasn’t even something he was aware of doing.
But she noticed. She’d never considered herself an affectionate person. She and Sam had kept their relationship pretty much under wraps for years. The few gestures of affection they shared were relegated to the bedroom.
But when Ty slipped his arm around her shoulders while he continued talking to Diego, she leaned into him and slipped her arm around his waist.
His answering squeeze warmed her.
How had she come to crave his touch so quickly? She hadn’t the example of a mother and father sharing physical affection, her mother having died shortly after she was born. Her father had raised her the best he’d known how, but his was a gruff sort of love, and he hadn’t known exactly how to raise a little girl. She’d known he loved her with the obvious care he took with her education and the pride he displayed with her accomplishments, but he hadn’t been easy with physical signs of love. A kiss had been a rare thing.
Ty’s hand came up behind her neck, and he tilted back her head. “Why don’t you go ahead and get some shut eye. I’m going to make the rounds and make sure everything’s closed down tight for the night.”
“You don’t want company?” she asked, not caring that the other man listened to their conversation.
“Tomorrow’s going to be a big day. Get some rest. I’ll join you in a little bit.”
She understood he probably wanted to talk privately with Diego and his men. She wished he were more open, but again, her instinct told her he was there to help. She knew there was something they weren’t sharing, but she was tired. She’d worry about it tomorrow. For tonight, she’d lay her trust in his hands. She glanced at the parking lot and realized with a start that the pickup with the body slumped at the wheel—the one she’d been responsible for —had been removed. His men had been busy with cleanup, although she wondered why they’d bothered.
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