Their Rancher Protector

by Sasha Summers

  Kyle pulled the door closed quietly. “She okay?” he asked. “It’s late, even for her.”

  Skylar nodded, shivering at the gruffness of his voice. If she hadn’t been thinking about his kisses seconds before he’d arrived, she wouldn’t be reacting like this. As it was, he seemed to tap directly into the hunger she had for him. This longing for him was wrong. She was tired. It was late. And she should say good-night and go immediately to her bedroom... Immediately.

  Kyle’s gaze slipped over her, resting on her bare toes. “You okay?”

  She wiggled her toes, her stomach in knots and her throat tight. Was she? She wasn’t fine. If she was, she wouldn’t be here...in her old-fashioned long cotton nightie, acutely aware of the fact that they were alone. She’d made a choice. Even while she’d rationalized all the reasons they couldn’t be and his need for a life of his own, she’d sat up. She’d waited for him. And now...

  “Skylar?” His eyes locked with hers.

  She nodded. I needed to see you. Because she wanted... What? What did she want? Kyle. I want you. It was true. With her heart pounding, she met his gaze.

  Kyle’s jaw muscle clenched, hard and every inch of him seemed to tense.

  No. No. Pull it together. Remember all the valid reasons not to throw yourself at him. But that didn’t stop the surge of heat that rushed from her toes to her cheeks. “Did you have...a nice time?” Did you meet someone? What was wrong with her?

  He shrugged, his gaze fixed on her face.

  The longer he stared at her, the harder it was to pull air into her lungs. When she sucked in a deep breath, the waver echoed in the quiet stillness of the room.

  His eyes narrowed.

  “I’m glad you went out. Met some new people, maybe. Not in diapers?” She sounded forced. She could hear it. He probably did, too. “You didn’t miss anything here—”

  “I wasn’t looking to meet anyone.” He sighed, running a hand along the back of his neck.

  Hearing him say that shouldn’t flood her with relief. It did, but it shouldn’t. She should say good-night and go to bed. She definitely needed to stop before she made a complete fool of herself. “You don’t owe me any explanations or—”

  “I might as well make it clear. I’m only interested in one person. One.” He swallowed, looking more uncomfortable than she’d ever seen him. “It’s you. I only want you.”

  She hadn’t heard correctly. He hadn’t said that. He couldn’t have. She shook her head. He didn’t mean this. But the way he was looking at her made it hard to pull forward his guilt-ridden confession on the back porch or worry over his motivation. What did he mean interested? Yes, he was attracted to her—the feeling was mutual. But, beyond that? She kept shaking her head.

  “Yes,” he said. “I do.” He slowly closed the distance between them. “Every time I see you, I want you more.” He stopped, staring down at her, letting his gaze wander over her face to linger on her mouth. “I want to touch you—to kiss you.”

  “But...” But what? Touch me. Wait. No. “I...”

  “I won’t.” He swallowed. “Not unless you ask me to.” His jaw muscle tightened again.

  The fire in his eyes incinerated every ounce of resistance. She nodded, resting her hands on his chest. “Kyle, please kiss me—”

  He reached for her and pulled her tight against him. A muffled groan escaped him, right before the first brush of his lips. She was clinging to him then, gripping the front of his shirt and pressing herself closer. His hand slid up her spine to cup the back of her head, holding her there as his mouth fitted more firmly against hers.

  She didn’t need to breathe. Or think. All she wanted was to get lost in the feelings he stirred. Being wrapped up in his arms blotted out the rest of the world. There were no questions or concerns or fear, there was only an all-consuming need for more. More of his touch and kiss... More of Kyle.

  Her hands slid down his chest and around his waist. She wanted to explore the ridges of his back and soak up his warmth. He felt so good. But his kisses distracted her. His lips were soft but firm, commanding but coaxing, and seductively relentless. When their breaths mingled and the slight stroke of his tongue teased along her lower lip, her breath hitched.

  One large hand came up to cradle her cheek, his thumb tracing along her jaw while he tilted her head back and deepened his kiss. From the tickle of his breath against her cheek to the sweep of his tongue against hers, the only thing keeping her upright was his hold.

  He broke away from her. “Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to do that?” he all but growled, his breath ragged and harsh. “I see you and it’s all I can think about.” His fingers ran through her long hair, smoothing it from her shoulder and down her back. “Wanting you.”

  At the moment, she knew exactly how he felt. She was aching for him. Craving him, was more like it. So, so much. His kiss lit a fuse she had no interest in snuffing out.

  “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to keep right on kissing you.” His hands cupped her face.

  “Okay,” she whispered, all but humming with want.

  “Skylar...” He broke off.

  As much as she wanted him, it wasn’t easy to say “Don’t stop.” She rose on tiptoe, reaching up to tug his head down to hers. Desire pulsed low in her belly.

  “Kissing you?” he asked, hesitating before their lips touched. “What are you asking for, Skylar?”

  Kissing wasn’t enough. It was a good start but... They both knew what she was saying. But Kyle, being Kyle, wanted her to say it—so there was no misunderstanding. Her heart was all but thumping out of her chest now. “I want to be with you. Tonight.”

  * * *

  Kyle swallowed the groan her words stirred. Did he want to take Skylar to bed? Hell, yes. He’d never yearned like this before. Skylar shook him something fierce. But wanting something didn’t make it right. No matter how much he wanted her. Dammit all.

  “But...” She shook her head. “If you don’t want to—”

  “I do.” Which probably wasn’t the best thing to say if he was going to stop this. He trailed his thumb along her jaw.

  “Good,” she whispered. With her eyes blazing and her cheeks flushed, she was pure temptation.

  “You’re sure?” he pushed, hoping she was strong enough to do what he couldn’t.

  She nodded.

  That was it. He was done for. He gave in, pulling her against him and nuzzling her neck. There was no stopping this. Needing her. Wanting her. Tonight, he’d give her everything he had. He’d show her she was who he wanted. Her. And no one else. He couldn’t stop himself from wanting her, that was true. But there was an ache in his chest now, too. An ache he suspected had nothing to do with wanting her.

  Her broken moan had him leading her from the kitchen—pausing just long enough to grab the baby monitor—through the door to his room, tripping over jeans and boots, before falling onto the tangle of sheets and blankets on his bed.

  The minute her arms twined around his neck and she was warm and soft beneath him, the rest of the world slipped away. Skylar was in his bed. Her hands slid from his neck, down his chest, to free the buttons along the front of his shirt. Her featherlight touch against his bare chest sent a shudder through him. The brush of her fingertips, trailing along his chest and abdomen, emptied his lungs. She had no idea how much she got to him.

  He shrugged out of his shirt and bent forward to kiss her.

  Skylar came alive under him. Her hands stroked along his arms and shoulders before taking her nails down his back. Her knee came up, pressing against his hip, baring her leg to him.

  His mouth never left hers as his hand slid along her thigh, soaking up her shudder and moan. There was nothing as arousing as knowing he caused that reaction. He was making this beautiful, passionate woman gasp and cling to him. He wanted to take her higher. He wanted to make h
er lose control and fall apart.

  She was silky soft beneath him. The higher his hand traveled, the higher the hem of her white nightgown. He’d have taken his time exploring her with his hands and eyes, but Skylar’s soft “Please” changed his mind.

  She helped him remove her gown before pulling him on top of her.

  It was the best sort of shock. Skin to skin. Her softness pressed tight against his chest. She rained openmouthed kisses along his throat and shoulder until he couldn’t take it. His hands slid up, along her sides as he stooped to nuzzle the swell of her bare breast.

  Her nails raked through his short-cropped hair, her breath rasping as he drew one pebbled nipple into his mouth. She arched up and into his touch. Her head fell back, her long dark hair spilling across his rumpled white sheets.

  He paused, braced over her, to look his fill. She was wild and passionate and...his. He hadn’t expected that surge of possession.

  Her eyes fluttered open and sought him out.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, shaking his head. “Damn beautiful.”

  “It’s dark,” she whispered.

  He was so surprised, he laughed. “It’s not that dark.”

  “You are, too, you know.” She sighed, her gaze traveling along his shoulder, across his chest, and down his stomach. “You need help with those?” she asked, eyeing the waistband of his jeans.

  He pushed off the bed and stood. Until now, he’d never thought of taking off his pants as a turn-on. But that was before he’d had someone eagerly staring at him—the way Skylar was looking at him right now. By the time he kicked off his jeans, he was on fire. She was propped up on her elbows, one hundred percent focused on the rock-hard evidence of just how much he wanted her. He wanted her something fierce.

  She rolled up onto her knees and moved to the edge of the bed, her eyes fluttering shut as his hand slid around her waist to grip her hip. He hooked his other arm around her waist and lifted her, tossing her back onto the bed and coming down on top of her.

  This time, she was laughing.

  And he loved it.

  He kissed her, gently tugging on her lower lip, at the same time her legs parted in invitation. The simple act was the most seductive thing he’d ever experienced. He wanted this woman, wanted to be a part of her. His breath came out on a growl. He stared into her eyes, steadying himself.

  Her fingers tightened against his back as he moved into her. He was slow and careful, letting each new sensation roll over him and pull him under. He was drowning in her eyes—drowning in her—and he welcomed it. Once he was buried deep, he kissed her, doing his best to keep control.

  “Oh, Kyle,” she murmured, arching against him as her hands gripped him to her.

  As one, they began to move. The shift and glide of skin on skin turned their fire for one another into an out-of-control blaze. Kyle wasn’t sure how long he could hold back, pleasure rolled over him—making his thrusts deeper and faster and more urgent than ever.

  Skylar stared up at him, so damn lovely she took his breath away.

  If he’d had any breath in his lungs, that was. He didn’t. He couldn’t. The pressure building inside his chest was powerful. His lungs throbbed and his heart pounded and he didn’t want this to end.

  When Skylar’s head fell back against the mattress, Kyle kept moving. He absorbed it all—the slim column of her throat, her gasping breaths, and the broken groans that spilled from her lips. He was shaking, fighting for control, fighting to hold on until she’d climaxed.

  “Kyle... Oh, Kyle...” Her knees pressed against his hips and her fingers bit into the skin of his back as she stiffened and arched, straining against him. She met his gaze then closed her eyes tight, burying her face against the tangled sheets to muffle her cry of release.

  His release hit hard, the roar rising up inside him smothered against her throat.

  He was breathing hard, propped over her on his elbows, when he felt the sweep of her fingers along the side of his face. He caught her hand and pressed a kiss against her palm before he rolled to her side.

  Other than the sound of their breathing, it was quiet. Outside, the crickets chirped and a spring breeze blew as if nothing had changed. Inside... Well, Kyle was pretty sure everything had changed. For him, at least. Whatever this feeling was, it was new and strong and clear and all about Skylar. He’d never been in love. Before Skylar, that is.

  Skylar. He studied her profile in the dim light. Her eyes were closed and the rise and fall of her chest was slowing—her breathing growing steady once more.

  Was her heart beating like his? Pounding?

  Part of him wanted to ask her, to put it all out there and see what happened. But the other part balked at the idea. Tonight had been one hundred percent unexpected. He’d had a few beers, beaten Buzz at pool, and thought about Skylar the whole damn time. So, finding her still awake, almost as if she’d been waiting for him, had been one hell of a surprise.

  He wasn’t foolish enough to think she’d been waiting for him. She’d been headed to bed after walking the floor until Greer had fussed herself out and things had just...happened. Things that couldn’t be undone.

  Things like losing his heart to Skylar Davis.

  “Skylar?” he whispered.

  She turned toward him, her eyelids heavy and her motions sluggish.

  “Sleeping?” he whispered again, content to lie there.

  She shook her head but her eyes drifted shut.

  It took some maneuvering, but he untangled the sheets and blankets and wrapped them up, pulling her against him. She fit there, against his side—like she was made to do just that. Maybe she was. He pressed a kiss to her temple and closed his eyes. He didn’t have high hopes for getting much sleep but he didn’t mind.

  Six hours later, Kyle woke up with a smile on his face. Not only had he slept like a log, there was a new sense of optimism for the future. He stretched and rolled over...

  Skylar was gone—not surprising since he could hear the morning chatter from the kitchen. The girls were up, so Skylar was up.

  He hurried to shower and dress then headed into the kitchen, eager to see Skylar. As much as he’d like to believe she’d had the same sort of epiphany he’d had, he wasn’t going to hold his breath. She’d been in love before—been married... And he was no Chad.

  As soon as she saw him, Mya waved.

  Kyle waved back. “Good morning.”

  “G’morning,” Brynn said, scooping up cereal. “Sleepyhead.” She giggled.

  He glanced Skylar’s way and paused. Coldness seeped into his bones, clamping down on his stomach, and instantly dashing his sense of optimism. “Everything good?”

  Skylar didn’t look at him. “Wonderful.”

  Right. Maybe she was feeling shy? He hoped like hell that was it.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute, Kyle?” she asked.

  Not shy then. This wasn’t good.

  Skylar scooped up Greer. “Finish eating,” she said to Brynn then tapped Mya’s shoulder and nodded at her cereal.

  Kyle followed her onto the front porch, stooping to give Jet a rub behind the ear—and buying time.

  “I... This is going to be hard.” Skylar broke off. “But I’m going to dive in. Okay?”

  No. Not okay. He was pretty damn sure he didn’t want to hear what she was about to say. “’Kay,” he managed, coming to stand before her. Staring down at her put knots in his stomach. She was doing her best to avoid his eyes—keeping her expression blank and remote. Nothing like the passionate woman he’d had in his bed the night before.

  Greer cooed, grabbing his attention. Her gleeful smile tugged at his heart.

  Skylar cleared her throat. “You know last night was... Well...”

  Amazing. Wonderful. “Good?”

  “Physically, maybe.” Her gaze darted his way, then away.
“Last night was a mistake. Kyle, you have to see that. You said you... The attraction is there but... That’s just it—attraction. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship.” She closed her eyes, the words coming out in a rush. “I regret...everything... I was tired and emotional and...and so lonely. And well...well, I used you to ease my loneliness. It was wrong. I’m so sorry. If I could undo last night, I would.”

  He was pretty sure she’d said everything he’d never wanted her to say. Hell, no one ever wanted to hear one of those things. All together? It was a knee to the groin.

  “Please tell me I didn’t ruin our friendship.” She was bouncing Greer, her brow creased. “You’ve become...my best friend... My only real friend. Someone I can count on... I don’t want to ruin that.”

  What the hell was he supposed to say to that? I love you? That wasn’t going to change how she felt. She was worried about losing his friendship. Professing his love was an altogether different thing. Now she was braced and wide eyed, waiting—almost fearful. “No. Nothing’s been ruined.” He shook his head, clearing his throat. “We’ll always be friends.”

  She drew in a deep breath and nodded, but she still wouldn’t look him in the eye. “We’re okay?”

  “We’re okay.” He stood there gripping the porch railing long after Skylar had carried Greer back inside. He’d fallen in love for the first time in his life and had his heart pounded to dust in a span of hours. Unfortunately, he suspected the recovery period was going to last a hell of a lot longer.

  Chapter Twelve

  Over the next two weeks, Skylar threw herself into her new life. Overall, things seemed to fall into place. Penny Hodges, the retired elementary schoolteacher, instantly clicked with her girls. Not only had the older woman gone online to learn some basic signs to communicate with Mya, she had daily activities and mini field trips around town on the days she had the girls. Penny had become the grandmother her girls had never had. And since her grandchildren lived several states away and only visited once or twice a year, Penny was eager to play grandmother to her girls. Thanks to Penny, she was able to work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Granite Falls Veterinary Clinic and Hospital with Dr. Buzz Lafferty.