A funny suction noise echoed through the quiet room when he peeled her back from the window. Still joined as one, he locked her legs around his hips and started for the bedroom.
“What was that you called me?”
Even in the darkness, she saw a flash of confusion followed by a gleam of understanding.
“Mine.”
“Is that like—a nickname?”
“That’s like—possession is nine tenths of the law.” Making his point crystal clear, he grasped her ass and rocked into her.
“That principle is oversimplified.”
“Would you like me to enlighten you?”
“Yes.” Legs linked at the ankles near his spine, Ember swiveled her hips, grinding against him. “Please.”
The playful banter bringing them right back to a slow boil.
“Woman, you’re making me lose my damn mind.”
Early morning greeted her with soft swirls of pastel pinks and oranges as the sun peeked between tall buildings off in the distance.
The skyline of Fort Worth had nothing on Nash Harris. The view laid out before her was absolute perfection. He looked beautiful stretched out facedown across his king-sized bed sound asleep. Crisp white sheets draped over half his body, clinging to his masculine form as if posing for an ancient Greek statue.
Ember quietly slipped out of bed. She reclaimed her panties from his pants pocket and retrieved a strappy sports bra from her tote before tiptoeing out of his bedroom.
Sitting on the floor in Lotus position, legs crossed and feet resting on opposing thighs, she stretched her hips and opened her mind. Pangs of hope and excitement fluttering in her stomach collided with fear and uncertainty followed by a small stern kick of a warning. Ember couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so comfortable with a man. Though she tried to fight it, she found the euphoric state of mind a bit alarming. Typically, she found comfort in solitude, not coupling.
It’s the sex.
That’s all.
Okay, it’s the phenomenal sex.
That ass!
And his smile.
Shit. It’s everything.
Seeking clarity, the kind that didn’t include visions of his superb backside, she drew in a deep breath and expanded her lungs. Crossing her wrists over her sternum, she brought the back of her hands together, fingers weaved around each other into the Fearless Heart Seal.
Ember closed her eyes, silently meditating, asking for the courage to let go of her fears and the strength to keep an open heart.
Chapter 15
Nash
Rays of sunlight peaked between the city’s tall structures, streaming through the windows, illuminating the dips and curves of her tight, fit body.
Nash remained silent, shoulder propped against the hall wall, watching in awe as Ember worked through a routine of stretches and poses. A few disobedient locks of her chestnut hair strayed from the mass tied in a knot atop her head when she hinged at the waist and lowered onto the palms of her hands. Kicking her feet into the air with ease, she pointed her toes toward the ceiling and moved into a full handstand.
A sense of yearning sucker punched him in the gut so fiercely, it nearly dropped him to his knees. The free-flowing movement of her body, working in unison with her brain, turned him on far more than he’d ever care to admit.
The fluidity of her breath, controlled and full of intension, drew him in. Nash wanted to go to her, to pull her into his arms, but there was no way he was going to disturb the living art in motion before him.
Relaxed concentration swamped her profile. Chin jutting outward, she arched her back slowly lowering her legs behind her, briefly allowing her toes to dangle in midair before coming to rest atop of her head. The curvature of her limber body mimicked a scorpion ready to sting its prey.
Nash tilted his head, taking in every sculpted elongated muscle. Thoughts of admiration slowly spun to filth noting her panties slipping between the taut curve of her cheeks.
“Morning looks good on you,” he murmured, the compliment saturated in his ragged, lusty tone.
The edge of her lip lifted into a sweet smile exposing both dimples bracketing her gorgeous mouth. A soft snicker filled the quiet room. “You think so, huh?”
“Most definitely.” He sauntered into the living room and stood in front of her, naked. “How long can you hold that pose?”
“For a few minutes. Why?”
“Because I’m making a mental list of all the ways I could fuck you senseless.”
Shaky laughter broke her concentration. Rearranging her position, she came out of the pose, letting her legs fall wide into the splits, pausing briefly before returning her feet to the floor and back to standing position.
The revealing pose made his heart thunder and his dick harden to steel.
A bodily function she didn’t miss.
Reaching out, he coasted a hand over her inked arm. “Very impressive,” he simmered, giving a little squeeze to her bicep. The tips of his fingers trailed over the intricate markings of a hand resting in a flower. “Your tattoo is beautiful. Is there a meaning behind it?”
The tenderness in his caress seized her attention. Her gaze feathered downward watching his sensual touch in fascination.
“Like most tattoos the meanings differ to each individual. For me, the Hamsa symbolizes feminine strength, protects me from harm, and brings good fortune. The lotus bloom represents the expansion of the soul. A spiritual awaking of sorts.”
The sweetness in her tone rolled over him like a warm summer’s breeze, filling him with an awkward sense of calmness.
“It’s beautiful and unique.” He added, “Just like you.”
“Thank you.”
Ember cast a sideways glance to the handprints and smudges on the window. A crimson hue dusted the bridge of her petite nose and playfulness danced in her honey-colored eyes.
Dropping her gaze below his waist, she purred, “I think I’m making my own list.”
Nash laughed out loud, hauling her into his arms. The scent of her hair, sweet and intoxicating, inundated his senses. He was absurdly aware of his pulse rocketing through his veins when she slipped her arms around his waist and laid her cheek on his chest.
Ember jutted her face upward, chin resting on his torso right below the hollow of his throat. The tips of her fingers keyed up the muscles flanking his spine. She smiled up at him, doe eyes filled with happiness, contentment, and trust.
The bucket of unbridled optimism brewing behind her dark irises triggered a rush of guilt that moved through him like a stray bullet heading straight for his heart.
Though the urgency he felt a few weeks prior had paled, owning Walker Ranch was still priority. The woman may have had him wrapped around her waist, but not around her little finger. Yet, the trusting look in her eyes and contrition taking up residence in his head twisted his conscience into a knot.
She rose to her toes and nipped at his chin. Staring down into her beautiful eyes, he did the only thing he could do. He buried the guilt.
He buried it so deep she’d never be able to find it.
And neither would he.
A breathy sigh hummed in her throat. Amusement danced at the edges of her full lips. “You look…exhausted. I think you need to go back to bed.”
Clamping his fingers around her hips, he hoisted her with ease, caressing a hand down the length of her leg as he tucked it around his waistline. Nash started for the bedroom. “You know what I think, Miss Thompson? I think you’re far too logical.”
She looked up at him, blushing fiercely, releasing the sexiest snicker he’d ever heard in his life. “I’m pretty sure that needs to be fucked out of me.”
This woman. This gorgeous, playful, strong, tenacious woman was getting to him.
And he liked it.
He liked it way too much.
Chapter 16
Ember
Nothing worth having comes easy.
Ember lay flat on her back beneath a tre
e in Savasana Pose. Above her head, leaves rustled in the cool breeze and birds sang to the early morning sunrise. Cooler temperatures prevailed, but the humidity still saturated the air as she drew a deep breath through her nose, inhaling the earthy elements surrounding her.
Arms resting at her side, she slowly opened her eyes, bringing herself out of meditation and back to awareness. Her chest expanded fully on a second breath, filling her lungs with the sticky air, allowing herself to be cognitive of the full view of reality laid out before her.
Weeks had slipped by in the blink of an eye. At times, she experienced the powerful rush of triumph, but more often than not she endured the sting of feeling overwhelmed by facts and data she knew nothing about. Sentiments of insecurities and anxiety, which had previously been somewhat foreign to Ember, left her feeling unsettled. Yet she found the challenge exhilarating, discovering harmony and strength between the chaotic moments.
The four corners of her mat had always been her center of gravity, granting her the knowledge and skills needed in the grace of everyday life. It was a safe place of complete solitude to detox the troubles of the world, leaving everything behind. However, now she desperately searched her mind for clarity.
For the past fifteen years, the script of her potential, though entirely undecided, was certain to be rich with possibilities of everything and anything involving the practice of yoga. Aspirations of traveling to teach or opening her own studio, were all players in the brightness of her future. The intention was there, yet they’d never come to fruition, never seeming to manifest into reality.
Gazing out over the vast open landscape toward the glorious, golden sunrise brought an unfamiliar heaviness to her chest.
Confusion.
Perplexities of who she’d always been and goals she chased seemed to dim with every day spent on the ranch. New dreams and prospects flourished inside making her head spin, leaving her with more questions than answers.
One question in particular whispered to the far edges of her soul.
Am I losing myself or am I finding myself?
The ludicrous notion of filling the shoes of her father, a great man, overwhelmed her. The thought of leaving behind lifelong dreams and aspirations, were equally as terrifying. Yet, Ember believed life held no coincidences. She was meant to be at Walker Ranch.
Nothing came easy. Days were filled with intimidation and hard work. Routines that were uncomfortable in the beginning, now began to feel natural and in some ways instinctive. Ember found herself glimpsing into the future with a new mindset.
That inclination also included prospects of a relationship with Nash.
They’d been spending every weekend together as well as occasional weeknights. Their connection drew an undeniable energy from a new and heightened level of attraction, leaving her riding a cloud of bliss and pleasure mixed with a twist of sultry mischief. The man was anything but conventional or predictable, and completely different than anyone she’d dated previously.
Mr. Montgomery, though extra salty and perhaps even gruff at times, had become a mentor and her biggest champion. Though her lack of understanding and skills habitually triggered a deep crease between his brows, and his words were often limited to those of firm instructions, the approval that shone in the twinkle of his eyes brought a newfound warmth to her heart.
Each silently enjoyed forcing the other out of their comfort zones. Coaxing more than ten words out of the man became Ember’s secret objective and teaching her to shoot a firearm was his. The latter seemed to be the one thing that every man in her life agreed on, insisting she need lessons to protect livestock from coyotes and in rare instances mountain lions.
Watching Mr. Montgomery pick off tin cans with a pistol from fifty yards out in quick succession was like watching something out of an old western movie. Travis claimed her ability to handle a rifle while riding horseback was just as much for the horse’s sake as her own. His teaching came with a strict warning that the horse’s natural reaction was to throw the rider, but thankfully Storm was a pro and never flinched. And then there was Nash. Not to be outdone by Travis of course, he insisted on taking her to the gun range. Witnessing his stealth and precision was like watching a James Bond movie—and arm porn.
Though timid at first, after a few weeks of instruction, she could shoot the spines off a cactus. To her own surprise, it left her feeling energized and accomplished. Taking responsibility for her safety and that of the cattle caused a shift in her confidence on the ranch, and that brand of empowerment began to translate into her everyday life. A life she was beginning to love more than she’d ever anticipated.
A trail of dirt floating through the air in the distance captured Ember’s attention. Spotting Travis’s truck, she rose to her feet, rolled up her mat, and offered a casual wave as he neared the house. Veering off course, he slowed to a crawl pulling up alongside her under the tree.
Bent arm resting along the open window, he tipped the brim of his black hat. “Mornin’.”
“Hey, you’re out and about early this morning,” she replied, grasping to the last bit of relaxation clinging to her bones.
“Mr. Montgomery sent me up here to get you.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s time for you to cowgirl up, Miss Thompson.” Challenge clung to his words and a lopsided grin ticked the corner of his lips.
The smile she was working on slid from her features. Ember swallowed the nerves bouncing in her throat. “Oh boy.”
“Not sure if it’s a boy or a girl, but we’ve got a heifer that’s ready to deliver.”
“Should we call the vet?”
“No ma’am, but you’re gonna get dirty so you might want to change your clothes.” Travis took a quick, but respectful, observation of her spandex leggings and crop top. “Make it fast though.”
“Sweet Jesus, he’s really going to make me deliver a baby?”
“It’s a calf not a baby. Besides, you’ve already survived Hell’s Front Porch, so I think you’ll be capable of delivering a calf.”
“I’m not sure which one of those things I should be more terrified of.” A swell of panic panged in her chest. “English please.”
“Weren’t you raised in this great state? Hell’s Front Porch is the season after summer.”
“Yes, but I didn’t take Cowboy Language 101 in high school,” Ember hollered over her shoulder darting toward the house. Travis’s rough laughter spindled through the air behind her.
Thirty minutes and fifty questions later, Ember attempted to remember the advice Travis rattled off on the drive to the barn. However, the glossary of foreign Texan verbiage was now lost to the sight of the messy backside of a very large heifer.
“I’m fixing to leave if y’all don’t stop bickerin’,” Mr. Montgomery warned. “She’s ready. Now, go easy on her. She’s a first-calf heifer so she doesn’t know what to do.”
“Go easy on her?” Eyes bulging wide, Ember’s nose wrinkled, and her voice rose a few octaves.
“This is nature at its finest. Don’t fret too much, the heifer does most of the work.” The cow’s spine arched as another contraction hit and her tail lifted upward. “Take your time. Just slip your hand in and grab hold of its hooves.”
Nerves zipped through her like a current zipping through electrical lines. Her heart pounded against her ribs. She’d never been squeamish, but it wasn’t as if she’d ever seen a baby born let alone an animal.
Horrified, Ember questioned, “Do you have any gloves?”
“What do you think this is? A vet’s office?” Mr. Montgomery crooned before handing her a pair of gloves that reached all the way up to her shoulders.
“Of all the things I thought I’d be doing in life this was not one of them.” Ember grimaced hard, features twisting into an awkward knot. She focused on Mr. Montgomery’s instructions and the task at hand instead of the sac of fluid hanging from the cow. Tentatively, she reached in to find the hoof. “Got it.”
Ember s
truggled for a few minutes until she had a good grip on both hooves with two hands. Between each contraction, she lost a little momentum, but managed to keep the tension. Travis assisted, circling a chain around the calf’s hooves, working together in unison not to regress. He remained at Ember’s side manipulating the delivery until they saw the head.
Sweat beaded on her upper lip as she huffed and puffed.
“Now, when she has another contraction, pull straight back. When she stops pushing, you stop pulling and take a break.”
The momma mooed and fidgeted. Bracing her feet for traction, Ember did as instructed, slowly but forcefully pulling on the chain with all her strength, tugging until the calf’s tongue and head unveiled themselves.
“Now, on the next couple of contractions, first try to walk its shoulders out one at a time. Once you get that far, pull hard and quick.”
“Okay,” she panted.
Travis came up from behind and wrapped his long arms around Ember to assist. The cow gave another push and together they pulled on the chain until most of the calf was exposed. The energy of confidence radiating off him instantly diminished her apprehension and allowed her to catch her breath.
With one final push, the animal plopped to the ground. Its big black eyes bulged but didn’t blink.
Ember dropped to her knees beside the calf. “Oh no, is it alive? Is it okay? Does it need CPR? What should I do?”
“You need to take one of those deep breaths you’re always doing and calm the fuck down, that’s what ya need to do.” Contrition instantly contorted his profile. Travis slipped the chain from the animal’s hooves shooting Ember an apologetic glance, clarifying, “Pardon. She’ll be fine, just give her a minute. Falling on the ground like that gives her a little jump start.”
He swiped his hands over the calf giving it a hardy wiggle. Tuning out the scene behind them, she followed Travis’s lead and helped wipe the calf’s nose and mouth.
Catching Ember (Buckle Up Series Book 1) Page 18