by Creator
“I guess I can live with that for now.”
“What exactly does that mean?” she wondered.
“It means that if you want to stay the night with me, I won’t stop you. But it also means if you change your mind, I won’t stop you from leaving… not today, tomorrow, or a week from now.”
“In other words, I’m still my own woman.”
He nodded. “You still belong to you and no one else.”
“What if I want to at least belong to you a little bit?”
Ramsey shook his head. “If I claim you Chloe, it’s going to be for good. It’s one thing to say we’re dating, but it’s another to say you’re mine. I don’t think you’re ready for that just yet.”
She studied him a minute, unsure of what to say or think. He seemed to be so complex at times. “I guess I can accept that.”
Moving back into his arms, she pulled his head down for another kiss. For at least one night, she wanted to feel special. She wanted to be loved, cherished… and she had a feeling that being in Ramsey’s bed would show her exactly what that felt like.
***
In the bedroom, Chloe felt a sudden case of shyness. She hadn’t been naked in front of a man since her time with Michael. No one had seen her naked, pregnant body except doctors. She hoped Ramsey wouldn’t be disappointed.
She kicked off her shoes and slipped out of her cardigan. When it came time to take off her dress, she hesitated. Ramsey was watching her with a heated expression. She could see the desire in his eyes and it warmed her from the inside out.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as he moved closer.
Pulling her into his arms, he buried his hands in her hair. “Your hair feels like the softest silk,” he said as he rubbed the strands between his fingers.
He trailed his fingers along her jaw and across her bottom lip, watching as her nipples hardened through her dress. Gently running his fingers down to her shoulders, he slipped the straps of her dress down her arms. He reached behind her and slid the zipper of her dress down slowly, giving her time to change her mind.
Ramsey watched the rise and fall of her breasts with her rapid breathing. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips as he slid the dress down her arms, exposing first her breasts and then her stomach. She looked like a goddess standing before him.
Reaching for her white hipster panties, he slid them down her legs and let them pool at her feet.
When she stood naked before him, he sucked in a breath.
“The word beautiful doesn’t do you justice,” he said in a husky voice.
Chloe blushed and coyly looked at him from under her eyelashes. She stepped closer and reached for the hem of his shirt. Tugging it free of his jeans, she lifted it over his head and let it drop to the floor. With his chest bare, she couldn’t contain herself. She allowed her fingers to skim the surface of his warm, firm skin. His nipples hardened under her fingertips as she glided over them, causing Chloe to grin.
Her hands drifted down to his pants. She unfastened his jeans and pushed them down his legs, surprised to discover he didn’t wear anything underneath.
Ramsey quickly stepped out of his shoes and jeans. Standing before Chloe naked, he allowed her to explore his body at her leisure. Her butterfly soft touch was driving him crazy.
Chloe hesitantly reached out and grasped his cock in her hand, gliding her hand along its velvety smoothness. She’d felt him outside in the garden and known he would be large, but she hadn’t realized how large. Now she worried that he might not fit.
Backing toward the bed, Ramsey pulled Chloe down on top of him. “Why don’t we try things this way? That way you’re in control and can stop if you get uncomfortable?” he suggested.
She smiled. “It’s like you read my mind. I was worrying that you might not fit.”
He chuckled. “Oh, I’ll fit sweetheart. I just don’t want to hurt you right now,” he said as he gently cupped her stomach with his large hand.
Chloe covered his hand with her smaller one. The intimate gesture almost made her cry. Leaning down, she kissed him gently, tracing his lower lip with her tongue. When he cupped her breasts, she moaned into his mouth and moved against his cock, feeling its head slip inside of her. Sitting up, she slid down the length of him, slowly taking the length of him inside of her.
“You feel so good, Ramsey,” she whispered.
“You feel good, too, honey.”
She slowly moved her hips, keeping a steady rhythm, feeling him slide in and out of her body. Feeling her orgasm building, she braced her hands on his chest and thrust harder against him, again and again. As she slid down the length of him over and over, her clit grazed against him, pushing her over the brink. Crying out as her orgasm spiraled through her, she continued thrusting against Ramsey until she felt warmth spread inside of her as he found his release.
Chloe fell limply across Ramsey’s chest, unable to move. Panting for breath, she stayed joined with him. She knew he probably wanted to go clean up, but she was just too exhausted to move.
“That was beyond amazing,” he murmured.
A smile curved her lips and she kissed his chest. “I would have to agree.”
He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair. “Did you want to go rinse off in the shower before getting some sleep?”
She nodded sleepily against his chest.
He helped her into a sitting position. The movement was enough to reawaken his cock, but he did his best to ignore it.
Chloe looked at him with wide eyes. “Again?”
He chuckled. “Sorry, sweetheart. It’s been a while. I promise to behave though.”
Chloe eyed him like she wasn’t quite sure she believed him, but she stood up and followed him to the bathroom.
After they showered, they fell into bed. Chloe curled up on her side and Ramsey wrapped his body around her, pulling her into his arms. Chloe fell asleep smiling.
Chapter Fifteen
The next week passed in a blur. Ramsey and Chloe were inseparable, a fact that wasn’t lost on Michael. He noticed every touch, hug, and every kiss. He knew that if he didn’t do something soon, he'd lose her for sure. He just didn’t know what.
Cole had called and talked to him. He knew his behavior had driven Chloe away. Now he had to fix the mess he'd created. If he’d just allowed her to be herself, to be independent, then none of this would have happened. But no, instead he’d had to play the alpha male and he’d pushed her away.
He had no doubt that she was sleeping with Ramsey. The werewolf’s scent was all over her. Michael’s gut churned at the thought. He had no one to blame but himself and he knew it, but it hurt just the same.
There was only one thing he could do. Cole had won Marin by playing the part of the hero. Granted, a psychotic killer had been after her. And Gabriel had won Kiera by saving her from a vampire. So all he had to do was save Chloe; except he didn’t have anything to save her from – yet.
If he could just get Ramsey to go away for a little while, then maybe he’d have a chance. It wasn’t going to be easy, but maybe he could come up with something. There was no way Ramsey would leave Chloe unattended. He’d leave a wolf on duty. All Michael had to do was make sure he was that wolf.
***
Chloe couldn’t have been happier. She’d pretty much moved into Ramsey’s house. They spent every night making love and then lying in one another’s arms. It was what she’d always dreamed of.
She was in the kitchen cooking when the phone rang. Thinking it was Kiera, she smiled and answered, “Hello.”
There was a pause on the line. “Is Ramsey there?” a female voice asked.
“Yes, may I tell him whose calling?” Chloe asked.
“Sabrina from Colorado,” came the clipped response.
“Just a minute.”
Chloe held the phone to her chest as she went in search of Ramsey. She found in him the spare room putting a cradle together that he’d purchased earlier that day.
; “Ramsey, there’s a Sabrina from Colorado on the phone for you,” she said in the calmest voice she could muster. They’d talked about a lot of things, but Ramsey had never mentioned the women
in his life prior to moving to Ashton Grove. She had to wonder if Sabrina had been one of those women, and if so, why was she calling?
He frowned, but took the phone from her.
“Sabrina? What do you want?” He paused to hear her response. “That’s not possible right now.”
Another pause.
“Yes, it has to do with the woman who answered the phone.”
Ramsey held the phone away from his ear as Sabrina screeched at him on the other end.
“There’s no reason for name calling, Sabrina. I told you when I left Colorado things were over between us. I thought you understood then that we were just dating. I’m sorry you felt it was more, but I’ve moved on in more ways than one.”
More screeching caused Ramsey to hang up the phone with a pained expression. He looked at Chloe apologetically. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Ex-girlfriend?” she asked hoping she didn’t sound as jealous as she felt.
“Yeah. Apparently things weren’t as clear between us as I'd thought they were.”
She nodded. “Well, I’ll just go finish dinner.”
Ramsey gently took her arm when she turned to go. “Chloe, wait.”
“It’s okay, Ramsey. You don’t owe me an explanation or anything. You had a life before you came here, before meeting me. And I had one before you.”
He nodded. “I know, but you’ve shared more of your life with me than I have with you. Sabrina caught you off guard and I’m sorry for that.” He paused and looked at her thoughtfully. “She’s called a few times over the past month or two. This is the first time she’s actually caught me at home though.”
“You haven’t spoken to her since you moved here?” Chloe asked.
“Not until now.”
Chloe grinned. “I get the feeling she wasn’t happy that I answered the phone.”
“Probably not.”
“I didn’t mean to sound like a jealous girlfriend,” she said quietly.
“Sweetheart, you have nothing to be jealous of. Sabrina is firmly in my past,” Ramsey said as he pulled her into his arms.
“If you start something, we’ll never eat dinner,” she murmured right before he kissed her.
He lifted his head and grinned at her. “Then I guess I better not start anything. You and the
baby definitely need to eat.”
***
The next morning the phone rang and Chloe answered it again. Once more, it was Sabrina asking to speak to Ramsey. Chloe hesitated. She knew Ramsey didn’t want to talk to Sabrina, but didn’t feel she had the right to hang up on the woman.
“I’ll look for him, Sabrina. I think he’s in the shower.”
“What? The two of you don’t shower together?” the woman asked snidely.
Chloe’s temper got the best of her and she responded without thinking. “Sometimes we do, but my pregnant stomach gets in the way these days.”
Dead silence followed her response. Part of her was sorry she’d given the impression the baby was Ramsey’s, and the other part of her felt triumphant. She carried the phone into the bedroom and found Ramsey toweling his hair dry in the bedroom, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans.
“Sabrina is on the phone for you,” she said as she handed the phone to him.
Ramsey took the phone and pulled her close. “Thanks, sweetheart,” he said before giving her a lingering kiss.
“Ramsey… your call,” she murmured against his lips.
“Right,” he said with a sigh.
Chloe left him to his conversation and went to gather her things for work. She was enjoying her job, but she hated that she still needed a ride to and from work. It would be a while before she could afford a car, but she’d found herself browsing through the classifieds on more than one occasion looking at used cars.
She looked up when she saw Ramsey leaning against the doorway. He had a strained look on his face, which she figured didn’t bode well.
“I need to talk to you for a minute,” he said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“If this is about my comment to Sabrina, I’m sorry.”
His brow furrowed. “What comment?”
Chloe inwardly winced, wishing she had kept her mouth shut. “It was nothing.”
He pushed away from the door and walked over to her. “I get the feeling it was more than nothing. What did you say to her, Chloe?”
She blushed and looked everywhere but at Ramsey. “When she called I mentioned you were in the shower. She made a snide remark about me not being in there with you.” Chloe paused, not wanting to continue.
“What did you tell her?”
She cleared her throat. “That we did shower together, but it was getting difficult now that my stomach was getting so big.”
Ramsey’s lips twitched and then he roared with laughter. “No wonder she was in a jealous snit when I got on the phone.”
“If you didn’t want to talk to me about that, what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
Ramsey’s laughter died and he quietly pulled her into his arms. He rubbed her back as he thought of what to tell her.
“Some friends in Colorado need my help for a few days. Sabrina was just their unfortunate choice of spokesperson for the phone call.”
“So you’re leaving?” she asked quietly.
“Tomorrow. I’ll be gone through the weekend at the latest.”
Chloe nodded. She didn’t mind being on her own, but she wasn’t sure how she was going to get to and from work.
“I’m going to ask a friend if I can borrow his wolf dog while I’m gone.”
Chloe looked at him quizzically.
“For you. I don’t want to leave you completely alone. You can use the Hummer while I’m gone, of course, and I’d prefer that you stay here and not move back into the apartment. I don’t want to take any chances on you being hurt while I’m away.”
“Ramsey, I’ll be fine. I don’t need a guardian while you’re gone.”
“This isn’t a debate, Chloe. You’ll be guarded while I’m gone, you’ll use the Hummer, and you’ll stay in the house.”
She bristled under his authoritative tone. “You don’t own me, Ramsey. I’ll do as I damn well please!”
He sighed, knowing he'd chosen the wrong tactic with her. “I know I don’t, sweetheart. I just want to make sure you’re safe and taken care of while I’m gone. I know you don’t have your own transportation and I don’t want you climbing stairs while I’m gone. Is that such a bad thing?”
She chewed on her lip thoughtfully. “I guess not,” she conceded.
“I’ll be leaving early in the morning. I’ll make sure your watch dog is in place before I leave.”
Chloe buried her face against his chest. “Are you sure you have to go?”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. They called and asked for my help. I couldn’t say no.”
She nodded, but couldn’t respond past the tears clogging her throat. She’d gotten so used to
him being around that a few days would seem like an eternity. The house would feel empty without him.
“I know you have to work, but I’m going to take the day off so I can get some things in order. Do you want to go to breakfast before I drop you off?” he asked.
“Will Gabriel let you take so much time off on such short notice?” she asked.
“He’s pretty understanding.”
“Then I’d love to go to breakfast.”
Chapter Sixteen
The next morning Chloe woke to find herself alone in bed. Rolling over, she buried her face in Ramsey’s pillow and inhaled his scent. Loneliness washed over her and tears dampened her cheeks. She sobbed into the pillow until a noise startled her. She looked over the edge of the bed and spotted a red and white wolf dog with blue eyes.
&nb
sp; She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes. “You must be the watch dog Ramsey borrowed.”
The dog in question snorted as if he didn’t agree.
“I bet you think I’m a silly woman, crying into a pillow.”
The dog leaned forward and licked her hand in comfort.
“I should get up and start getting ready for work. There’s no sense lying in bed feeling sorry for myself all day. Not if I want to keep my job anyway,” she said to the dog.
Chloe climbed out of bed, pulled some clothes out the dresser, and walked into the bathroom. She took a long shower, taking her time in the bathroom. When she walked back into the bedroom wrapped in a towel, she would have sworn she saw the dog’s eyes widen. She shook her head at her folly and let the towel fall to the floor. She struggled to get into her clothes and finished getting ready for work.
“I’m guessing Ramsey left something for you to eat in the kitchen. Shall we go see?” she asked the dog.
The dog cocked his head to the side and watched her. When she walked out of the room, he followed on her heels. Chloe searched the kitchen for both food and a note, but found neither.
She looked at the dog perplexed. “What am I supposed to feed you? I can’t very well give fix you bacon and eggs.”
Apparently, the dog disagreed since he nudged her toward the refrigerator.
Chloe laughed and opened the refrigerator, playing along. “You’re pretty smart if you understood that.”
Taking out the ingredients she needed to fix breakfast, she talked to the dog as she cooked. She had to admit it was nice having the dog around. The house was a little less lonely.
As she sat down to eat, she hand fed the dog pieces of bacon.
“Ramsey said it was an emergency or he wouldn’t have left.”
The dog made a rumbling noise like he didn’t agree.
“I just don’t understand why that woman had to start calling. It seems the emergency didn’t pop up until she called.” Chloe eyed the dog for his reaction to the whole thing. “You don’t think he lied to me, do you? He said he didn’t really care about her.”