Cherished (Steel Brothers Saga 17)

“They’ll worry anyway.”

“That’s on them, then. I’m going to pack.”

“Dale!” Her tone has changed. It’s angry now. She’s going to fight me.

She will lose.

“I’ve said all I’m going to say.”

She whips her hands to her hips. “Well, I haven’t. I’m not letting you run away like this. Whatever’s going on, you shouldn’t be alone right now. I’m here for you. That’s what you do when you love someone, Dale. You feel their pain with them.”

I rub at my temples, trying to ease the throbbing that has erupted. “I don’t want you feeling my pain. I don’t want anyone feeling my pain. It’s mine, damn it! All mine!”

“Bullshit,” she says. “I don’t buy it. Not for a minute.”

“You’re not me, Ashley. No one will ever be me, so you don’t know what’s going on in my head. Believe me, you don’t want to know.” Truth. I don’t want to know myself half the time.

“You want a fight?” she says. “You’ve got one.”

“I don’t want a fight. You’re the one who’s determined to fight me on this. I just want to go!”

“What if I block the door?”

I shake my head. Really? This is where she’s going? “I’ll move you.”

“Take your best shot.” She walks to the back door and plasters herself against it.

I stalk toward her, lift her into my arms, and—

She wraps her arms around me and kisses me. Hard. Her tongue probing the seam of my lips until I open for her without meaning to.

I can’t help myself. I love her. I want her. I need her.

I’m going to take her. Right now in my kitchen. I walk to the island and set her on the granite countertop, our lips still fused together.

I unsnap her jeans and use both hands to slide them, not gently, over her hips. I get as far as her knees. It will be a tight fit, but I don’t give a damn.

Our lips still sliding against each other’s, I take care of my own jeans and free my aching cock.

With one swift thrust, I’m inside her.

Fuck. So tight, even with her wetness. Her legs are pinned together by her jeans around her knees, which makes for narrow paradise between her legs.

I fuck her hard. I fuck her fast.

I’m concerned only about my own gratification. It’s all about me this time. All about me and the broken soul inside my body.

She groans into my mouth, finally breaking our kiss and gasping. “Dale!”

If she tells me to stop, I’m not sure I’ll be able to.

She doesn’t.

She holds still and lets me take what I need. I fuck her. Just fuck her. And when I release, I bury myself in her comforting body, pulsating into her, grunting.

I love you.

The words don’t leave my throat.

I love you.

Still don’t.

I love you.

“I love you,” she says.

I pull out, then, satiated, and leaving her sitting on the counter, I head to my bedroom where I pack a bag quickly.

Within fifteen minutes, I’m in my truck, en route to…

To somewhere else.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Ashley

Two days later, and Dale is still gone.

He hasn’t stopped loving me. I believe it with all my heart. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have asked me to stay at his place, to take care of his precious dog.

“It’s just you and me, girl.” I give Penny a pet on her soft head as I attach her leash and take her to the car. “Let’s go find your daddy.”

I’ve been here on the ranch long enough to know my way around. But even if I didn’t, I’d still be able to find my way to the Syrah vineyards. That first night with Dale, when he took me, is etched inside my brain as if I was born with it.

Penny sits in the passenger seat, panting, as we make the drive. I try not to think too much, but my mind never fails.

When I try not to think, I think, and I think a lot.

I finger the garnet necklace around my throat. And I think.

“And you never let anyone wear it? Not even the woman you were in love with?”

“No. Now turn around.”

I’m trembling. Actually trembling, as I turn around and pull my hair off my neck.

He clasps the necklace, his fingers warm against my shivering flesh. The piece is heavy and cool against me.

I turn toward him. “Well?”

He smiles. “Now I have.”

“Now you’ve what?”

He draws in a breath, his forehead wrinkling. Then he relaxes—as much as Dale can relax—and his lips nudge into a smile.

“Now…the woman I love has worn it.”

I park the car, grab the backpack and Penny’s leash, and walk to the Syrah vineyards. The harvesting tools sit at the foot of one of the rows. About half of the Syrah has been harvested. I walk to the little shed Dale showed me that first night.

Of course the shed is locked. I didn’t expect it to be open. I don’t need Dale’s tent and sleeping bag. I won’t be here long.