Branded

by Stacy Gail

  “Hello, Ry.” Torn between irritation that he thought he had a right to decide for her when it was time to enter into a relationship with him, and thrilled he wanted that relationship, she loosed a short sigh. “You really are something, you know that?”

  “I’m going to pretend you meant that as a compliment because you’re really something, too. And yeah, darlin’. That’s definitely a compliment.”

  “Yeah?” Her irritation melted away, and in its place ballooned a dizzying happiness that filled her chest with so much warmth she half-feared she’d burst with it. Pressing a hand to the disturbance, she found herself smiling. “When are you coming home?”

  “Why? Miss me?”

  “You have no idea.”

  She loved his lazy chuckle. “I’ll be flying back home later on tonight. Wait up for me.”

  “Okay.” Like he had to ask. At that moment she suspected she’d never be able to sleep again. “Think I’ll leave my curtains open just to keep an eye out for you.”

  “Woman, do not test me.”

  “But it’s so much fun.”

  “I’ll show you what fun is later tonight,” he said with so much promise it took all she had not to shiver. “Now do me a favor and help my brothers with the order they’re putting in for the barbecue, yeah? Since you know Lucy and what she can do better than anyone there, I’ll leave it in your hands to decide what gets ordered.”

  She raised her brows even as she turned and headed for the counter. “Somehow I doubt your brothers will appreciate my taking over.”

  “That would usually be the case, but on this chore they’ll probably fall on their knees thanking you. Putting together big bashes like the one coming up has never been our thing.”

  “Really? I’ve always heard great things about Green Rock’s famous parties.”

  “That’s because our office manager, Dottie Ledbetter does a lot of the planning, but I think she might be slowing down a bit. When she heard my brothers were headed into town, she delegated this chore to them. Not the best idea she’s ever had.”

  “Dottie...wait. As in Dorothy Ledbetter?” Celia frowned as the name tripped a memory. “Does she have a son named Lawrence?”

  “Yeah, he’s our heavy equipment manager. Do you know him?”

  “I went to school with Lawrence. Even dated him for a while.” In fact she’d been dating him off and on since high school, until he’d stopped returning her calls. Lawrence had been the man she’d bumped into at a gas station a couple months back, standing no more than a few feet away from her on the other side of the pump she’d been using. When she’d spoken to him, he’d refused to even look at her before he got in his car and left.

  That had been the day when she’d known with absolute certainty that she was being ignored by the young men in town.

  She’d gotten into her car and cried all the way home.

  Lawrence’s deliberate rudeness had left her gutted, but also determined. That had been the day she’d resolved that one way or another, she was getting the hell out of Bitterthorn.

  It was strange how that desire to get out had all but disappeared. Aside from Velni and Associates, she’d heard back from a few more agencies who wanted to set up in-person interviews, but she hadn’t gotten around to arranging them yet. As much as she wanted out of Bitterthorn, the thought of leaving Ry behind was...

  Unsettling.

  As she watched the little screen, storm clouds gathered in Ry’s expression. “One thing, Celia. We’re not going to talk about exes, yeah? I don’t want to think about you with other guys, and I don’t want you to think that I’m a total fucking nut job, so that’s got to be another one of our rules. Think of something else to talk about.”

  “Right.” She nodded, trying not to laugh. The man might be the bossiest person she’d ever met, but every now and again he had some great ideas. “Let’s go back to the barbecue. Tell me what your brothers are here to order.”

  “I don’t know. Cakes or some shit. They make cakes there, right?”

  “All kinds, from several layers, to cupcakes, to multiple flavors—whatever you want. Then there are cookies and brownies—great finger food for a big party and not as messy as cake. And then there’s the ice cream, which is—”

  “You handle it,” he cut in, shaking his head. “My brothers know we need a real woman’s touch when it comes to shit like this, so feel free to go wild. Just remember that it’s all for Green Rock.”

  “Got it.” She did her best not to look overwhelmed, instead nodding while the mention of the Brody ranch had her mind moving in another direction. “By the way, it’s been more than twenty-four hours. In fact, it’s been nearly a week.”

  He blinked. “A week? A week for what?”

  “For my decision on taking you up on your offer for promoting Green Rock. I’m going to do it, and I’ve got the agreement ready for you to look at when you have the time.”

  “Agreement? Like a contract?”

  “Of course. This is a business arrangement after all.”

  He began to smile. “Send it my way, and we’ll go over it in detail.”

  “Deal.” She found herself hanging back, greedy to steal a few more private moments. “Be careful on your way home, okay? Fly safely.”

  “You worried about me?”

  “I... Yes.” No one was more shocked than she was to realize it was true.

  His low chuckle played over her like a caress. “Promising,” he murmured before he winked and disconnected the call.

  Chapter Nine

  By the time Celia left Lucy’s late that afternoon, the sweet shop’s windows were decorated with a brilliantly colored garden mural with an Easter theme, and the Green Rock Ranch order was complete. She was still trying not to reel at the price tag on all the cookies, brownies and the extra-large, triple-layered rectangular sheet-style cake that had been ordered, but Lucy’s creations were well worth it.

  For that matter, so was Green Rock Ranch.

  She just hoped Ry wouldn’t murder her when he saw the bill.

  This was business, she’d reminded herself throughout the process. The barbecue was all about convincing potential buyers that Green Rock Ranch’s organically raised Black Angus was the best of the best. She figured they had to go top-drawer on everything, including putting the ranch’s logo—a big green G and two black R’s placed back to back in the middle, all on a darker green background—on everything that came out of Lucy’s bakery.

  The brothers explained that this sort of added expense had never been done before, and though that information made Celia’s heart pound, she’d insisted. Not only did she know Lucy had an edible ink printer she was dying to use, it was also a great way to make Green Rock Ranch a brand name that would imprint itself on the minds of their guests with every bite they took.

  So she’d stuck to her guns and overruled the Brody brothers, who’d backed down when she told them Ry had left the final decision to her. The speculative looks they’d shared at that tidbit hadn’t escaped her, and neither had Lucy’s. She knew what they were thinking, because she was thinking it herself.

  Just how serious was her relationship with Ry?

  She couldn’t tell if it was hilarious or pitiful that she didn’t know herself.

  You’re mine.

  She stifled a shiver as the memory of Ry’s voice floated through her brain. That was another thing she wasn’t too sure about, but she was going to get to the bottom of it tonight.

  Just as soon as Ry showed up.

  The sound of an engine coming up the drive forestalled one more nervous trip to the mirror. She’d changed three times so far, mainly because she had no idea how dressed up she needed to be. Welcoming a man back to his hometown after being gone for such a short time didn’t exactly call for a ticker tape parade—or for that matter, a dress and heels—so she finally
wound up in her favorite red sleeveless blouse and black skinny jeans.

  And heels.

  As a compromise, it worked.

  With a calming breath, she opened the door just as the engine of Ry’s truck cut off. The sudden silence didn’t do a damn thing to soothe her nerves, and with her heart beating so hard she could feel it thudding against her sternum, she pushed through the screen door even as Ry exited his truck.

  “You made good time.” She sounded as breathless as she felt, and as she closed the distance between them, the air seemed to evaporate like magic. “Flying must be the way to go. Usually it takes a good four hours to drive in from Houston, but you made it—”

  That was all she managed before he closed the remaining gap between them, hauled her into his arms the moment she was within range, and stilled her mouth with his.

  Fire ignited in her blood at the invasion of his tongue. It was insane, how immediate her response was, as if every nerve in her body had been waiting for his touch to turn her on. And she was turned on, no doubt about it. From the second his mouth was on hers, she melted against him as if fitting their bodies together was her mission in life.

  If it really was her mission, she could declare it a success.

  With his mouth never leaving hers, Ry abruptly bent, gripped her just under the ass with both hands and lifted her off the ground. The position encouraged her to wrap her legs around him, so that’s exactly what she did as he moved determinedly toward the house. She closed her eyes to better savor the feel and flavor of him, her tongue dueling with his while she indulged in the sensual sensation of rubbing her breasts against the solid wall of his chest.

  A low rumble sounded in his throat, and one hand moved up her back to press her harder against him before he reached for the screen door and flung it open. Delight spiraled through her like fireworks, and no force on earth could have stopped her whimper of bliss moments before his mouth lifted from hers.

  “Yeah,” he whispered, his hand moving back to support her bum while he kicked the door shut behind him. “That right there is how you’re going to greet me whenever we’ve been separated. Your legs around me, your tongue in my mouth, and you making sweet little sounds that beg me to fuck you until you’re unconscious. That’s exactly how I want to be greeted from here on in.”

  The mere thought of it made her pulse race and her girly parts tingle. “If we’re alone like this, I think I can handle that.”

  “Always.” His hands gripped her tighter, underscoring the urgency she could feel thrumming through him. “No one else exists. It’s just you and me, yeah? When we’re together, nothing else matters.”

  She ran her hands through his short hair and kissed him, so moved by the passion in his tone—dear God, passion for her—that she could barely wrap her mind around it. “You don’t let things like reality get in your way, do you?”

  “You and me being the only thing that matters is reality.” His mouth caught hers again, as if he were addicted to her taste and he couldn’t get enough of his fix. “Where’s your bedroom?”

  Her heart stopped. “In the back, past the kitchen. Sliding barn door on the left.”

  He didn’t have to be told twice.

  In a few strides he was through the open sliding door and setting her by her quilt-covered bed. For a moment she wished she had a bigger bed than an ordinary double and more impressive than an antique iron scroll headboard. Then she realized it didn’t matter. Having Ry there with her was all that mattered.

  “Love the look of you in jeans, darlin’, but they’re in my way.” His voice was a hunger-roughened growl as he attacked the buttons of her blouse. “Do something about that.”

  “Me first, then you.” Quickly Celia did as instructed, shucking the jeans and kicking them aside. The moment they were gone, he abandoned the task of unveiling her breasts to dive his hands beneath her undies. He nudged them down her legs to fall at her feet, his palms cupping her ass so he could haul her up against the stiffened bulge of his cock, still trapped behind layers of material. With his mouth fused to hers, she worked the front of his jeans until they were undone, then had to pause when he pulled the barriers of her blouse and bra away and dropped them to the floor. Then he backed up a half step to take in her nakedness, and she heard his breathing stop.

  “Beautiful.” The word whispered out of him like a prayer.

  She had to agree. Hearing him say that one word, like that, was the most beautiful thing she’d ever experienced in her life.

  With great reverence his hands claimed her, sliding up her ribs to cradle the bare globes of her hard-tipped breasts, his eyes watching her as if he were trying to commit every inch of her to memory. “You’re so fucking beautiful. Better than I imagined, and it seems like I’ve spent my whole life imagining you. God, Celia, just looking at you is enough to break everything inside me.”

  “I don’t want to break you.” Breathless with building excitement, Celia tugged his shirt up and over his head, then greedily flattened her naked torso against his. Ah, yes. “I want to have sex with you. What do you want?”

  “Everything.” The word was no more than a growl. He dug his wallet out to remove a condom packet before he got rid of the rest of his clothing, his eyes never leaving her. “Your body. Your time. Your thoughts. Your dreams. I want everything you have to give. All of you.”

  The way he said it both thrilled and scared the hell out of her. “What do I get in return?”

  “Me.” He eased her back onto the bed, his knee edging between hers to support his weight while she relaxed into the softness at her back. “You get all of me. And you’re getting it tonight.”

  As she watched him roll the condom in place, she had to give credit where credit was due—all of him was an impressive sight. His cock was iron-hard and thick, so much so she thought there was no way she’d ever be able to wrap her fingers around it. She reached out to test that theory, thrilling at the heat and fierce stiffness of him even as she closed around him. Slick wetness surged at the juncture of her thighs when he groaned, and all at once she wanted him there with such urgency she opened her legs in invitation.

  “Celia.” He bared his teeth as if in agony as she squeezed and stroked his hard flesh. In sweet retaliation he dragged his fingers along her cleft until her intimate flesh ached with arousal. “You don’t know what it does to me, finding you so wet. Knowing you want me like this...you just do not know what that does to me.”

  She wanted to ask him what it did, but in that moment he zeroed in on her clit and stroked her without mercy. All thought of conversation died. At that moment all she was capable of was feeling—feeling pleasure bloom deep in her belly, feeling edgy tension tighten her muscles to wire-tautness, feeling mindless bliss sweep the world away and fill her with a madness she could almost touch. She’d wanted this since they’d been interrupted days ago in the garden. Now, with his hands on her and his determination to turn her inside out with lusty, finger-banging boldness, she shot straight into the stratosphere of sensation and kept on going. Her body clenched, her pelvic muscles convulsing as she pumped her hips against his devastating touch.

  Without warning, the dam holding back the flood of pleasure burst all at once, drowning her in wave after wave of pure sensation. Cries tore her throat raw as she reveled in the mindless bliss he gave her.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  “Inside me.” She writhed as though tortured, and in a way she was; fulfilled, but not completely. Shown a glimpse of heaven, but denied entry. It was enough to make anyone insane. “Ry, please...oh, God, come inside me.”

  “Celia.” He said her name like it meant everything to him, like there was no other word that mattered. He settled between her thighs, pulling her knees up high before he slid into her.

  Merging them together.

  Stretching her until she moaned.

  Filling her completel
y.

  If there was a heaven other than this, she wanted nothing to do with it.

  “How it’s supposed to be,” Ry breathed, his face coming to press against her neck, his breath hot along her skin. “This is how it’s supposed to be, how life is supposed to be for us. This is how it’s supposed to feel. Fuck.” His teeth nipped at her, his mouth sucked, his tongue licking away any pain. “This is who we are, from now on. Say it. Feel it.”

  “This is who we are.” The smooth glide of his cock drove like a piston into her, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes to better savor it. The friction was beyond exquisite and so addictive she couldn’t hold still. She rolled her hips in time with his, searching for more pleasure while the madness ballooned once more. “Ry...oh, God. Harder.”

  “This is who we’re always going to be.” Again and again he thrust into her, crazy, urgent. Desperate. God, it was beautiful. “Wanna make you come screaming my name, Celia. Do that for me. Do it.”

  Without breaking his furious rhythm he reached between them, pushed against her clit and catapulted her over the edge once more. Her second orgasm ripped through her so furiously her universe exploded into an agony of ecstasy. She reveled in how he filled not just her body, but her mind and senses as well, until there was no room for anything else.

  Only Ry.

  So, that was the word that broke from her as she came, just like he wanted.

  She was nowhere near done when he suddenly pumped into her, the groans escaping through the barrier of his teeth underscoring the power he used to slam into her all the way to his hilt. Then his back arched, his head rearing back, and just watching him come gave her another mini release, before he at last collapsed over her.

  Every nerve was still tingling when he shifted so that he wasn’t completely crushing her, but still moved in a way that made sure their bodies remained connected.

  She loved that, so much.