Lara (Reynolds Ranch)

Chapter Seven

Lara

I wake up in his arms, and I feel nervous. Not only did I drink and sneak into the party, but I also slept with a complete stranger. Goodness, I suppose we know certain things about each other. Still, I should run before my brother finds out and goes ape shit on him.

Slowly and gingerly, I lift his big, strong forearm off my waist and shimmy out from underneath him. I just get my feet on the floor when he growls and reaches out, snagging his arms around me and pulling me back onto the bed. “Nice try, beautiful.”

“Good morning,” I mutter shyly.

“Morning.” He rolls me on top of him and spanks my ass. “So you’re a naughty girl, Ms. Reynolds. First, you sneak into my party with a fake invitation and a dress that is made for sin. Then, you seduce me and try to run out of my bed.”

“I believe you’re the one who seduced me, sir.”

“Sweet girl, you were born for seduction. Now, do you want to tell me why you were trying to bump and run on me?”

“Um…I don’t have an answer you’re going to like,” I admit. Do I tell him that I’m scared of how insane I feel about him? Or that I never dated anyone at all and that he could break me? I can’t let him have that power, can I?

“Well, then, let’s just say I’m glad I stopped you because I’d have to track your ass down and bring you back. I need to feed you some food. After all that fucking we did, I’m sure you’re starving. I know I am.” He flips me onto my back so quick I’m breathless and aroused, and from the hard pole digging into my stomach, I’m guessing he is as well. “Should I trust you not to run, or should I maybe tie you to the bed while I shower?”

“Well, I really should be getting back. Kelly’s probably worried about me.”

“Tying you up it is…or..” He kneels, straddling me while he rubs the scruff of his day-old facial hair growing in. “Yes, I have a much better idea.” I wink and then he stands, completely naked. Oh my goodness, that monster was in me last night. Flexing my thighs, it’s clear I wasn’t just imagining it was massive. He grips my ankles and pulls me to the edge of the bed, grabbing me and flipping me over his shoulder. “Shower time, woman.”

“Animal.”

“Damn right, woman. You can’t be trusted to escape,” he says, kissing my bare ass. Why am I so turned on? He’s like a rowdy cowboy in a suit. Given that right now it’s his birthday suit, and it’s one hell of a birthday suit. I’ve never liked the assholes back home because they all had that same bravado, wanting to prove they could be the boss of me, tame me. And yet, I submit to Landon so easily.

I stare at his taut bottom and muscular legs as he marches me to the bathroom like he’s hauling a hay bale. He sets me on the countertop before turning on the shower. I look around, and I’m not surprised that this place is spectacular. He’s Landon Black, the guy Robert described as providing the best security in the world, so he must be loaded.

“Come here, beautiful.” He doesn’t wait for me to hop off; instead, he lifts me up and carries me with my legs wrapped around his waist.

“Impatient much?” Giggles escape my throat.

“You got me, babe.”

“I think you got me.”

“So I do.” There’s a playfulness to him that only amplifies the sex appeal.

I grip his biceps, digging my nails in. “Don’t drop me.”

“I won’t. Never.” He pins me to the cool tiles and kisses me hard. “You’re gonna think I’m crazy, but one day you’ll be my wife, Lara.” I think he’s crazy, but I’m not sure I dislike the idea. I moan against his mouth and lose all thoughts as he makes me come with his hands and tongue.

We make quick work of showering after coming twice. Landon steps out first, wrapping up in a towel, hiding that deliciously handsome lower half from me. “Like what you see?”

“You know I do.” He winks, grabbing a towel, and starts to dry me off. Once satisfied that I’m not so wet, at least from the shower, he wraps me up in the towel and scoops me up in his arms, carrying me to the bedroom where he sits me on his dresser and slides one of his shirts over my head.

He carries me around his house as if I don’t have feet. “I can walk, you know.”

“I do, but I love having you in my arms.” Why does this man turn me into putty? I can’t understand the way my heart beats wildly and my will all but disappears the second he speaks.

“Not for long, because I need to go back to my dorm,” I state.

“Yes, but not right now. Danny has brought up some food for us, so it’s time for you to eat.”

“Need I remind you that I have class tomorrow, which means I have homework to do, so I have to leave soon.” He grumbles something about bullshit school. I want to laugh, but I don’t.

“So although your shirt fits me like a dress, I can’t just walk down Michigan Ave and hop on the number five bus dressed like this. I need to find my bag and get dressed.”