Owned for Christmas (5 page)

Daniel slid his hand down her stomach. Her muscles fluttered beneath his touch. He reached between her legs, finding her clit with the pad of his thumb, and stroked. Electric sparks radiated out from the spot, surging out to the tips of her toes and fingers, sizzling to her brain. She whimpered. The choice taken from her as his insistent rubbing pushed her to her limit.

Her entire body contracted, clenching around the hard cock inside her. Pleasure ripped through her, hot and fast. Just as she was about to come, Daniel leaned over, molding his mouth to hers, and swallowed her screams.

He thrust into her three more times, driving deep, then stilled. His muscles bunched beneath her fingers as he found his own release. He shouted into their kiss, twisting his tongue with hers.

After a minute or so, he pulled back from her lips, bracing his head on her shoulder. His rough breathing swept across her skin. Her heart crashed against her ribcage, beating in time with Daniel’s.

They stayed that way for some time. Their heavy breathing filled the air. His weight pushed her into the bed, holding her down in a way he never would. Then he leaned up, looking down at her with that big happy smile he always wore after they made love. The smile she loved.

“God you’re amazing, sweetheart.” He cuddled her close to his side. “I love you so much.”

She brushed the hair out of his eyes, her whole body tingling. “I love you too,” she whispered back. And she did, completely. With all her heart. Regardless of what Grant had done to her.

Too bad she didn’t deserve Daniel’s love.

Daniel rolled over, staring down at the woman he loved. She blinked up at him through dark, full lashes, her big blue eyes bright and filled with warmth. Her cheeks flushed pink, chafed from his stubble. Her hair lay spread across the pillow in wild disarray. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. And she looked even better now, rumpled and sexy. Her body tucked to his side, all her soft curves cuddling into him.

But there was something different about Kate today. She wasn’t the same vibrant, adorable woman he knew. The one he often found with a sweet smile on her face for no particular reason. She’d been quiet and frightened at dinner then frantic and needy tonight.

Not that he was complaining. She’d never been so voracious in bed before. It had been amazing. His dick was still semi-hard. But there had been a desperation about her, as if she wanted to prove something to him.

Daniel knew some people got off on getting busy somewhere they might be caught, but that didn’t seem like Kate. She was never interested in being the center of attention. If anything, she tried to fade into the background, although she never succeeded. There was something special about her that was impossible to ignore. It made her sparkle just a bit more than everyone else, even in a crowd.

No, it can’t be that. She didn’t seem excited or exhilarated.
If anything, she was drawing back from him, keeping a part of herself away from him. He hated that idea. Something kicked in his chest. A heavy unsettling feeling filled his gut.

No, he didn’t like that idea one bit.

* * * *

“I think this one’s a keeper.” His mother walked around the kitchen, cleaning dishes from the evening’s meal. She was almost giddy as she filled the roasting pan with water to soak.

Grant leaned against the counter, gazing out of the windowpane at the empty, dark night. A lonely feeling had taken root in his chest ever since Danny had grasped Kate’s hand and led her to the back bedroom for the night. And he didn’t know what to do to get rid of it. Well, he knew one way, but he figured that barging into their bedroom and demanding that she come with him wasn’t an option.

“This is the first girl Danny’s ever brought home. How can you know this one is a keeper?”

His mother shook her head. She ripped off a length of aluminum foil and wrapped it over the top of the bowl of leftover mashed potatoes. “I don’t know. She’s sweet. She’s a nice girl. She has a nice job and comes from a good family.”

Grant rolled his eyes. Had his mother stepped back in time? She sounded like she was talking about an arranged marriage in the nineteenth century rather than his baby brother’s new girlfriend—a relationship he knew wasn’t going to work out. There was no way Kate could stay with Daniel. His wuss of a little brother couldn’t give Kate what she needed.

“And the way Danny stares at her. He’s never looked at another girl like that before.” She picked up the potatoes, opened the refrigerator door then placed the bowl inside.

Grant couldn’t deny that. No man could stop himself from admiring at Kate. Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her. What man wouldn’t want her? He couldn’t blame his little brother for chasing after her any more than he could blame the horses for jumping over the fence when a mare got loose in the pasture.

Sticking his hand in his pocket, he fingered the thick silver chain he always kept with him. The cool metal did nothing to stabilize him. The small comfort the bracelet had once held was gone—now that its owner had reappeared in his life.

“We hardly know this girl. She could be all wrong for Dan.”

“Pish posh.” His mother playfully slapped his arm before returning to the sink. She dipped her hands into the soapy water then pulled out a plate and scrubbed it clean. “Are you jealous of your brother? That he’s settling down with a nice girl?”

Grant was jealous all right. So damn jealous the green-eyed monster might just eat him alive. But it had nothing to do with Danny settling down with a nice girl, and everything to do with the girl he’d chosen.

“You could too, you know. There are plenty of nice girls in town who would love to go out with you.”

Grant shook his head. His mother was right. He’d never had a hard time getting a girl, even in his early years when he still hadn’t known who he was and what he craved. Since moving back from Dallas, it had only been easier. He was now the new attraction, the worldly man from the big city. Every girl in town had already taken a shot at him. But none of them were what he demanded. He doubted a single one of those women could take the beating he would give them and scream out for more—not the way Kate had.

However, he hadn’t even tried. He couldn’t take the risk. If a woman had second thoughts in the morning, he wouldn’t let his name become associated with a scandal or, even worse, the police. He couldn’t do that to his mother.

That only left him with the option of boring, mediocre sex, which was exactly why he hadn’t brought a single girl to his bed since he’d returned to the ranch. What was the point? If he couldn’t have what he wanted, if he couldn’t be who he truly was, why even bother?

His gut clenched. A man couldn’t live on mediocre sex or no sex for the rest of his life. It just wasn’t possible. It certainly wasn’t for Grant. Maybe he should make a trip to Dallas after the holidays. Go see some old friends, spend a few nights at the club and satisfy his dark desires. The ranch could last without him for a few days. After this weekend, he’d require the release.

“I’ve already got my girl,” he joked, giving his mother a one-armed hug.

She laughed and swatted at him. “Not me, you fool.” She drew back from his hold to return to the pile of dirty dishes stacked beside the sink. “I want you to find a nice girl. One to settle down with and give me grandbabies.”

Grant kissed his mother on the top of the head. “I’ll try.” But there wasn’t much point. He doubted he’d ever get married. There weren’t many women who could handle his sexual requirements. For a month or two, sure, but years of dealing with the darkness inside him was too much to ask from any woman. Living day in and day out with his control issues could become suffocating.

Nice girls didn’t fall for dangerous men like him. Nice girls fell in love with nice guys. They just fucked men like him.

Chapter Four

“What are you two up to today?” Gale poured coffee into their mugs, refilling Kate’s for a third time.

She accepted the cup. Given how little she’d slept last night, tossing and turning beside Daniel and thinking about Grant, she needed the boost.

It didn’t help that Grant hadn’t come to breakfast. She couldn’t stop wondering where he might be.

“I’m going to take Kate to the barn to see the horses,” Daniel answered, dumping three spoonfuls of sugar into his coffee.

“Oh.” Gale sat at the table across from them, picked up her own coffee mug and took a sip. “Do you like horses, Kate?”

Kate pushed a clump of eggs around on her plate, her appetite just as absent as Grant.

“Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a real horse up close before.” Sure, she’d seen them from afar, in parades and at rodeos, but she’d never really been close to one. Nor had she ever pet one.

“I’ve got myself a real city slicker here,” Daniel joked, knocking her with his elbow as he forked another bite of pancake into his mouth with the other hand. A drop of maple syrup clung to his lip.

“Then keep her away from old Bertha.”

Daniel nodded to his mother.

“Who’s old Bertha?” Kate looked back and forth between them, envying their shared look. It must be nice to be so close to one’s family when it only took a few choice words to convey a thought or memory.

“She’s just the meanest old mare you’ve ever met.” Gale pushed a lock of golden hair out of her face. “You don’t want to cross her. She’ll attack without a second thought.”

Daniel enfolded Kate in his arms and pulled her to his chest.

She curled into him, loving his embrace.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” He puffed out his chest and crossed one hand over it, doing his best to impersonate a cartoon knight.

She snorted at the sight. But she really did believe him, not just in reference to Bertha. She believed he’d protect her from everything he could.

She felt safe with Daniel, safer than she’d ever felt with Grant. But then that had been the point.

“Well, you two have a good time.” Gale stood, picking up both their plates, then carried them over to the sink.

“Can I help you with the dishes?” Kate was pretty sure she could handle a few dirty plates. She didn’t cook a lot, but she’d done enough cleaning up after her kids at school to feel confident about conquering a frying pan coated with bacon grease.

“No need, sweetie.” Gale brushed her offer away with a sweep of her hand. She dropped their plates into the already filled sink of soapy water. “I’m happy to do it. It’s nice to have so many dishes in the house.”

Gale smiled over at her and Kate was almost jealous. The pure happiness on her face dazzled Kate. The woman really was happy to have her boys home. Happy to be picking up after them. Doing their dishes. Kate saw a contentment and love in Gale she’d never experienced herself.

“You two go out and enjoy the day,” Gale urged.

Maybe there was something to this country living. Her mother had never looked so content. She was usually too focused on what everyone else had and making sure she had the same to be content. Kate didn’t think it was possible that her mother could be satisfied with something as simple as doing the dishes.

“Come on, hon, let’s head out.” Taking her hand, Daniel helped her up from the table. She went with him willingly as he led her toward the back door. He held out her coat, aiding her in slipping on the garment. His tender care melted Kate’s heart as they headed into the cold outdoors.

“You’ll love the barn—the smells, the quiet—there’s nothing like it in Dallas.”

With how fanatical Texans were about their cowboy heritage, she doubted that was true, but she let him have his delusion, especially when he had that big goofy grin on his face that liquefied her insides.

“Do you miss the ranch?”

Daniel tightened his grip around her shoulders. “At first I didn’t. Moving to the big city was exciting. But lately…”

Her stomach churned.

She could see in the way he’d acted since they arrived and in the way he smiled and poked fun with his mother that he missed his family. But did he miss them enough that one day he’d leave her for them? Just like Grant had.

She knew she could never be enough on her own to keep him, to convince him to stay away from his family and the farm he loved. Grant had proven that to her.

“I don’t know if I miss the ranch, or just being in a small town. Dallas isn’t as exciting as it used to be. I hate how impersonal city life can be, how disconnected. I miss knowing my neighbors and the sense of camaraderie.” He slid his arm down her body, rubbing against her lower back. The small gesture heated her blood. “I don’t think I’d want to have kids in that kind of environment. I’d want to raise my kids similar to how I was raised, in a quiet town, where everyone looks out for each other.”

He smiled as he ushered her into the barn, his quick comment offering her a glimpse of all she’d ever wanted. A husband. A family. He’d been doing that more often lately, tossing off those easy comments as if they meant nothing, which she hoped wasn’t true.

“Here it is,” he declared, throwing his hand out, gesturing to the entire structure.

Kate scanned around, first with trepidation then with interest. There certainly wasn’t anything like this in her version of Texas. The odor hit her first, the sweet scent of hay and animal. She’d always imagined that barns stank, like cow manure and decaying grass. But this barn didn’t smell bad. In fact, she liked it. It seemed homey, welcoming in a way the city never did.

“So what do you think?” Daniel held her tightly. He stilled, waiting for her response.

“It’s beautiful.” Kate looked back at him.

He puffed his chest out a little with pride. He really did love this place. Even after years of living in the big city. Years away from the hay and manure, he still felt the same. And he wanted her to see it the same way.

“I’m glad you like it.” His pride was almost palpable.

It was clear that Daniel had great affection for this place. But just because he cared for something didn’t mean it was the right thing for him. She knew that all too well.