Guarding Hope

“No.” Hope closed her eyes, remember the incident with the online self-defense.

“Well, there’s no time to waste, then. First thing in the morning, you and I are going to ride out to a secluded spot on the property and I’m going to teach you to shoot. Now, do me a favor and get some sleep.”

“Um. I kind of have a problem. I don’t have any other clothes. I ditched my old ones, thinking I’d be buying a couple of outfits at the nearest Walmart.”

“Got that. I’ll have clothes delivered by tomorrow night. For tonight, let me get you something to wear.” Gage ran to his bedroom and pulled out his old high school T-shirt and a pair of boxers. He’d grown out of them during his college days, but his mom had packed up a lot of his old things, and he’d had them ready to be sent to Goodwill.

He dropped off the clothes and went to his bathroom to take an icy shower before he lost control.

Chapter 9

The night had been a long one. Gage fought himself all night. The urge to check up on her every five minutes grew until he caved and stole a peek at three in the morning. She was sound asleep, curled into a ball on the bed. The covers had fallen half off the bed, leaving her legs bared for Gage’s eyes. His shirt had ridden up her body, revealing a pair of white panties and the slight dip of her waist. He itched to slide into bed and encircle his arm around her. He knew they’d fit perfectly together.

“Damn, I’m going to hell,” he groaned, grabbing his cock through his boxers and stroking it to ease the painful ache. Unable to control himself, he crept away from the room and back into his, finally taking himself in his hand until he came with her name on his lips. Moments after coming, he managed to fall asleep.

It was well after seven in the morning when they both started moving around. She waited for him to be the first to leave the room, unsure how she could face him after sneaking into his bedroom at five to stare at all his sexy glory. The man had been asleep, naked, with his cock, thick and hard, pointing up his abs. Hope didn’t know how to pleasure herself, but if she did, she knew she’d come in a heartbeat if he touched her.

“Did you sleep okay?” Gage asked as he made coffee for them. The sound of an approaching vehicle halted their conversation, and Hope stayed in the kitchen to wait out whoever was coming.

According to a text Bill sent Gage, the men were already starting in the far end of the pasture, so they had no reason to come to the house so soon. Gage went to the porch to see it was Dax pulling up. “Hey, what’s up?”

Dax shook his head as he climbed the wide stairs. “Nothing. Came to see what’s going on.”

“Come on in. I have a little secret,” he whispered to his friend.

Dax strolled into the kitchen with Gage leading the way. “Whoa. Are you Ms. Cummings?” He knew the answer, but the words came out of his mouth faster than his brain could process it.

“Hope. It’s okay. This is Daxton Chambers. He’s the one I told you about.”

“She’s the girl from yesterday?” Dax interrupted.

“Yes. We happened upon each other. They were onto her until she snuck into my backseat. They showed up here last night looking as well.”

“Yeah, I heard from Sheriff McCain. They asked around the entire town. That’s why I came here to see if you’d learned anything.”

“I’ve learned a lot. Cummings’s supposed to sell her to Alfonzo Navarro.”

“Are you serious? We can’t let that happen.”

“It won’t happen,” Gage snarled.

Dax furrowed his brows, mentally assessing Gage’s words. He smiled and muttered, “Another one bites the dust.”

“Gladly. Now. I’ve already made some calls to get my land secured. The old fences don’t have any locks and shit. I don’t want those fuckers on my property again.”

“Yes, that’s good and all, but you can’t keep Ms. Cummings trapped here forever. Someone is bound to notice, especially once your staff finds out she’s here.”

“Please call me Hope,” she asked the Ranger. “I want to erase all things related to him.”

Gage watched, grinding his teeth as she stared at Dax with pleading eyes. He craved her attention and wanted her needs to be met only by him.

“Hope, please call me Dax. I’m going to do everything I can to help keep you safe. As much as I’d like you to testify against your father, we need proof of the exchange. Human trafficking is a serious crime.”

“Well, would you like a cup of coffee?” Hope offers, waving an empty mug at him.

“Sure. Thanks.” Dax turned to Gage and asked, “What’s the plan for security?”