I take a few days to clear my head. I didn’t want to see Tyler or Liam. I just needed some time to process the way I’m feeling. I go to work and spend the rest of my time with my family or with Amy. I wait a week before going back. And even though I haven’t heard from either of the guys, I’m afraid to confront them. But the time is now. I have to check on Lucy.
I walk into the barn and see Liam through the open back door. He’s shirtless as he bales hay. His tan arms are flexing with each movement, and every muscle on his back is hard and defined. Just seeing him shirtless and glistening with sweat causes me to squeeze my thighs together. My lips part as my breathing picks up, my eyes watching as each muscle moves and flexes in a delicious way.
He stops and wipes the sweat off his brow, turning and looking at me from over his shoulder, catching me gawking. His eyes turn dark as they intently watch me, his chest rising and falling quickly from his tiring work.
It feels like something is being exchanged, but I force myself to snap out of it and turn my back to him to catch my breath. When I look up, Tyler is standing directly in front of me. His eyes quickly move toward Liam. “Don’t waste your time with him. He works his way through more woman than a playboy. Better get over this schoolgirl crush you have before he uses you and throws you away too.” He turns and walks back the way he came.
My body is on alert. First from seeing Liam looking sexy as hell and the way he looked at me, then from being called out by Tyler. I close my eyes and push away all feelings, opting to get my job done and leave.
A week later, it’s time to go back to the ranch. I take my time driving, in no hurry to see them. I know Tyler will probably still be mad because he thinks I’m choosing Liam over him. And to be honest, I’m afraid to see Liam because I felt the connection we have and I’m afraid I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard for if I get mixed up with him.
Hopefully, I can get in and out without either of them even knowing I’m there.
As I’m driving over to the ranch, the sky fills up with dark clouds. The wind picks up and blows through my open windows, and the leaves on the trees flip, preparing to catch the falling rain. I lean forward and look up at the sky through my windshield to see the dark gray storm clouds as they roll in faster than I can drive. I quickly roll the windows back up, wanting to stay dry and warm when the sky opens up and the rain pours down.
I press the gas harder, picking up speed to seek shelter before the eye of the storm hits.
By the time I’m pulling into the drive, rain is coming down in thick sheets. I throw the car in park and jump out, running into the barn. As I make it inside and am pulling the door closed behind me, my clothes are soaked and clinging to my body. Thunder claps loudly overhead, and I see a flash of lightning out the window. One of the horses gets spooked, and she snorts, kicking at the wall of the stall.
“Shhh,” I coo, trying to calm her as I make my way over.
I stand on the bottom rung of the gate and lift my hand to pet down her nose. She seems to settle, even moving into my touch.
“There you go. That’s better,” I say softly, continuing to rub her nose. “It’s just a storm. It can’t get you in here.”
Thunder cracks loud again, directly overhead, and the horse bucks faster than I thought possible. Its front hooves come up over the gate, and as they come back down, I fall backward and get clipped in the head before I hit the ground.
I land hard on my back and my eyes blur. I raise my hand to touch my forehead, and blood paints my palm when I pull it away. My vision grows dark around the edges, and then it completely consumes me.
There is a dull ache in my head and my ears are ringing. I feel something warm touch my forehead, and my eyes flutter open to see a blurry image of Liam hovering over me. I try to lift my hand to touch him, but it falls lifeless to my side as the darkness takes over again.
I can hear echoes of voices talking. I can hear the horses snorting and neighing. I hear thunder, and I feel the cold rain as it splashes against my face.
A deep, rich scent settles over me, and the next thing I know, I’m warm and dry. I’m too tired to open my eyes, so I breathe deeply and live in this moment.
When I stir awake, I look around to find that I’m no longer on the barn floor, but in a bed. The wood paneling on the walls immediately tells me that Liam or Tyler found me and brought me inside. I breathe deeply and know that thick, heavy scent: Liam. I’m in Liam’s bed.
I touch my head, and the pain makes me gasp, causing me to feel sick to my stomach. I look down at myself and find that I’m no longer in my work clothes, but a white t-shirt.
The door opens and Liam walks in. When his eyes land on mine, he rushes around the bed and sits on the edge. “How are you feeling?” Concern burns brightly in his blue eyes.
I shrug. “My head hurts.” Even the lightly lit room causes a bout of pain surge through my head.
“Here, take this.” He hands over two pills and a glass of water.
I take the pills willingly and wash them down with the cold water that quenches my thirst and wets my dry throat.
“Thank you,” I whisper, trying not to hurt my head anymore.
“What in the hell were you doing out there alone, anyway?” he asks, anger dripping from his words. “Do you know how lucky you are that I looked out of the window and saw your car? You could have been lying there and bleeding to death.” His brows are drawn together, causing tiny lines to form at the edges of his eyes.
“I was trying to calm down the horse. The storm spooked it. I didn’t go in the stall. I thought I was safe.” My eyes drift downward, wanting to avoid his angry stare and a thought pops into my head: who changed my clothes?
“Uh, where are my clothes?” I pinch the shirt between my thumb and forefinger.
He stands up and crosses the room. “They were soaked and covered in mud and blood. I took them off, cleaned you up, and put you in bed to warm you up. You’ve been out for an hour. I was about to call an ambulance.”
I feel my face flush. “I don’t need an ambulance,” I argue, trying to push myself into a sitting position, but my head throbs and causes me to fall over.
He quickly rushes to my side. “Be careful. You need rest. Just lie still.” He helps to position me back into a comfortable position.
“I bandaged your head and put on a couple of butterfly stitches to hold the wound closed. You may end up with a scar.” He sits on the edge of the bed again.
“That’s okay. I’m not worried about it.”
“What are you worried about then?”
My eyes jump to his. “What?”
“I can tell by the pink on your face that you’re embarrassed about something.” The corners of his mouth turn up.
“You took off my clothes. Isn’t that enough of a reason to be red-faced?” I giggle but cut it off shortly after it escapes when the ringing in my ears starts.
He snickers. “We’re all adults here, Ves. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, I assure you.”
I squint my eyes at him, picking up the neck of the shirt and looking down my body to see that he removed all my clothing, bra and panties included. My face burns hotter.
“You were soaked, Vesper. Changing your clothes would have done no good if the things underneath were still wet.” He sits upright and holds up his hands in front of him. “I swear, I didn’t do anything wrong.” He tears his eyes away. “I would never do that,” he whispers.
“I know. It’s just embarrassing. You’ve seen all I have to offer, and all I’ve seen of you is some sweaty muscles flexing as you baled hay.” I grin just from imagining it.
His deep chuckle fills the room around us. “Well, the next time you find me knocked unconscious, you can take off my clothes; deal?”
“You bet.” I smile wide.
“You should get some rest. I’m pretty sure you have a concussion.” He stands to leave.
“Wait,” I call out, causing him to stop and turn back to face me.
“Will you…stay with me?”
His brow arches. “Stay with you?”
I nod. “Just for a little while. My head hurts so much, I know I won’t be able to fall asleep. Just keep me company until the pills kick in?”
He offers up a small smile and nods before climbing up to lay beside me on the bed.
“Tell me something,” I whisper.
“About what?”
I shrug the shoulder I’m lying on. “Something about growing up here. What was it like? What did you love about it?”
“Hmmm,” he mumbles as he thinks it over. “You know. The first thing I always think about when I wake up here is how the smell of grandpa cooking breakfast would drift up the stairs and wake me from a dead sleep.” He chuckles. “He used to be a cook in the army. Damn, that man could cook. However, he was used to cooking for one-hundred and fifty men, so he always had to make huge batches of everything: homemade biscuits, gravy, eggs. Everything for the week got made on Sunday. Then we would just heat up what we wanted when we got hungry.”
I smile. “That’s a nice memory. You were lucky to have him.”
He nods. “I know. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. I probably would have grown up in boarding schools. He taught me everything: how to ride a horse, how to brush them, wash them, how to work on the machinery around the ranch, how to cook.”
“You cook?” I ask.
He nods. “For one-hundred and fifty men.”
My giggle slips out, and his eyes lock on mine.
“I’ll take the job, Liam.”
“What about your dreams?”
“I can do both. This place, it’s so special. I want to be a part of it. I’ll just need to find someone to replace me at my clinic first.”
He smiles wide. “That would be amazing. Thank you, Ves.” He picks up my hand and presses a kiss to the top.
12
Liam lies next to me and we chat through most of the night. Around two a.m., my pain pills kick in, and I find myself drifting off to sleep. Our conversation took an easy turn. Neither of us talking, just lying beside each other and living in the feeling, the other person creates.
When I open my eyes, the sun is shining through the window and Liam is still beside me, his hand in mine as he lays on his side, facing me. His blue eyes are closed but seeing him at ease causes my heart to flutter in my chest. My breathing picks up as I watch him sleep. Suddenly, his eyes pop open and land on mine. He offers a sleepy smile. “How’d you sleep?” he asks.
“Really well. My head doesn’t hurt anymore.”
He looks down to see our clasped hands. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles, pulling away and sitting up on the edge of the bed. “You need to take a few days off and nurse that concussion. Do you want a ride home? I’m a little worried about you driving so soon after an accident.”
I slowly push myself up. “That would be great. Thanks.”
He stands. “I’ll go grab your clothes from the dryer.” He leaves the room in a hurry.
I try to stand up from the bed, and at first, I’m a little dizzy. I stand still, giving my head a minute to catch up, before slowly walking across the floor and to the window to look out. It seems like the storm we got was a strong one. The big oak tree in the front yard is split, a big tree limb lying across the yard.
“Here you go,” Liam says, walking back into the room and freezing when he sees me up, standing in front of the window. His eyes look up my legs, stopping at the top of my thighs where the shirt ends. He licks his lips and swallows, causing his Adam’s apple to bob in his throat. “I-I’ll be downstairs when you’re done.” He tosses my clothes on the bed and leaves the room in a hurry.
I change my clothes and head downstairs to find him watching out of the window as Tyler chops away at the fallen tree.
Great. Now I get to do the walk-of-shame and nothing even happened.
“Ready?” he asks.
I bite my bottom lip. “Does Tyler know what happened last night in the barn?”
“Yeah, why?”
I let out a long breath. “I just didn’t want him to think that something was going on between us, you know? He already thinks I’m choosing you over him.”
He holds out his arm to help balance me on our walk to the car, but something flashes across his face, and I’m not sure what it is.
I slide my arm through his and lean on him as he opens the door and helps me down the stairs. It’s like the longer I’m on my feet, the dizzier I get and the louder my ears ring. Walking out into the bright sun blinds me, causing my head to pound all over again. I shield my eyes from the sun, keeping them trained on the ground as he leads me to the passenger side of my car.
He opens the door and places me softly inside. I pull my sunglasses on immediately.
“Tyler, follow me to the town in your truck. I don’t want her driving so soon after an accident,” Liam shouts.
Tyler nods before throwing down the ax and jogging toward his truck.
Liam climbs inside. “Are you feeling okay?” he asks, starting the vehicle and shifting into drive.
“I don’t feel well. My head hurts so much it’s upsetting my stomach.”
“Do you have anyone to help you out until you recover? I don’t want to leave you alone to fend for yourself.”
“My parents live nearby and so does my friend, Amy. I’ll be fine. Thank you though.”
When we get to my building, he helps me into the house and to my room. He places me at the foot of my bed. “Would you like me to get you anything before I take off? I can bring you some more comfortable clothes, something to eat, drink, whatever you want.”
I smile. “I’m fine; thank you.”
“You’re sure?” He cocks his head to the side and studies me.
I nod with my smile in place. “You’ve done more than enough.”
He crosses his arms over his chest and looks down at me. “I’m not leaving until you call someone to come sit with you. I don’t want you passing out and hurting yourself.”
I let out a short laugh, but the look on his face tells me he’s serious, so I grab my phone and call Amy.
“Aims, I had bit of an accident. Would you mind coming to sit with me? Helping me out a bit?”
“Of course. I’ll be right there.” She hangs up the phone, and I drop mine to my bed, looking up at him.
“Happy now?”
He nods once. “I am.” He turns around and sits on the chair in the corner.
“What are you doing?” I ask, a little confused. I did what he asked.
“I told you I’m not leaving until someone is here to sit with you.”
“She lives five minutes away.”
“Then I won’t be here long,” he retorts.
I stand up and he rushes up to my side. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to get some clothes, so I can lay down.”
“Sit. I’ll get them.” He urges me back down to the bed.
I direct him to my dresser where he grabs a pair of shorts and a tank top. He drops both on the bed beside me, then drops to his knees. “Arms up,” he orders.
I laugh and feel the embarrassment stain my cheeks. “I think I can do it.”
He squints his shimmering blue eyes at me. “I don’t want you to do anything but rest. Now, lift your arms.”
I take a deep breath and lift my arms above my head. I feel his fingers latch onto the hem of my shirt, softly skimming across my skin as he pulls the shirt gently upward. When it’s off, he pulls the tank top on just as smoothly.
I reach up the back of the shirt and remove my bra, tossing it to the side. His eyes grow dark as they lock on my body that’s slowly shedding clothing for him.
He places his hands on my hips, unbuttoning my dress pants that I wore to work yesterday. “Lift your hips,” he tells me, and I do as I’m told.
He gently pulls them down my legs and off my feet. His eyes quickly meet mine, and they are growing darker by the secon
d. He holds the shorts on the floor, and I slip my feet into them. His fingers softly skim up my legs, and he pulls them up to my thighs. I place my palms flat on the bed and lift myself as he pulls them up over my ass and hips.
I look into his darkening eyes and he wets his lips. Tension is growing thick between us and my heart pounds. He leans in. As do I. My eyes flutter closed and his warm breath blows across my lips. Just as his nose touches my cheek, the door slams.
“I’m here!” Amy yells making her way through my tiny apartment.
Liam quickly pulls away, our lips never meeting, as he gets himself onto his feet.
“Hey, Ves, what happened to you?” Amy asks, rushing into my room and coming to an abrupt stop when she sees Liam.
He clears his throat and holds out his hand. “I’m Liam O’Connor. You must be Amy.” She nods and takes a step closer, placing her hand in his for a handshake.
“Ves had a little accident at the ranch yesterday. I think she has a concussion. I just wanted to make sure someone would be here to help her. I know she’s stubborn and will try doing things alone. I didn’t want her passing out and hurting herself further.”
Amy smiles wide. “No worries. I’ll keep her in bed for a few days.”
He nods. “I should be getting back. I’m sure Tyler is outside waiting for me. Take care, Ves.” He steps toward the door, then turns back to look at me one last time. “I’ll check in with you in a few days and see how you’re feeling.” Without another word, he steps through the doorway, leaving me wanting that kiss we were so close to, and Amy to stare at me, wanting information.
13
“Okay, Ace is fed and watered, your laundry is done, and I made you a grilled cheese and some tomato soup. Sit up and eat,” Amy directs, walking into my room with a tray. I wiggle myself into a half-sitting position, and she places it over my legs.
She flops down on my bed, causing my soup to spill over the edge of the bowl. “Now, spill it.”
I pick up my spoon and stir the soup. “Spill what?” I don’t make eye contact. I know if I do, she’ll be able to read me as easy as a book.
Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 7