Page 10 of Austin’s Answer (Shifter Ranch Mates #4)

TEN

Austin

The ten days Emily spent in the hospital were the longest of my life. Her symptoms were mild, thanks to her quick thinking with the antitoxin, but the doctors didn’t want to take any chances.

My brothers covered for me on the ranch, allowing me to spend my time with Emily.

It gave us a chance to have the important conversations.

She may have said she forgave me and loved me, but it didn’t erase the years of hurt my actions had caused.

She needed to tell me about it, and I needed to listen.

There were tears, and there was healing, and eventually we both found acceptance for the past, allowing us to move forward without hurt and guilt.

The nurses also grew comfortable enough with me to demand I leave after visiting hours, but I would sneak back after shift change while my favorite night nurse pretended to look the other way.

“I want to see my dad before we leave.” Emily slipped her shoes on and stood up from the hospital bed. “The doctor said he’s recovering well.”

Her dad was admitted to the hospital after Emily was.

It turned out Vince had been over-medicating him.

After the medication wore off, he scribbled out enough of the story to piece it together.

The stroke was real, but after her dad returned home, he heard Vince and Ray talking about the sabotage outside his room when they thought he was asleep.

When Emily found out, she cried. She struggled to reconcile the image she had of her big brother with the reality of what he’d done. My heart had broken for her when she sobbed in my arms.

“I figured you’d want to visit him today. I saw him earlier and let him know to expect you.” I laced our fingers together and led her from the hospital room. Emily stopped to thank the nurses, and I gave them a nod of appreciation. “Hearing you were coming made his eyes light up.”

Her brow furrowed. “Does he know Vince is missing?”

When Mason arrived at the Miller’s house, Vince was already gone.

Sheriff Danvers was searching for him, but Mason said if Vince didn’t want to be found, he wouldn’t be.

We still hadn’t pressed Mason for the full story, but he told us enough to know our security measures would be useless if Vince wanted through them.

Ray was in custody, but he claimed to know nothing about where his former boss was.

“I gave him a heads-up this morning. The doctor thought he was well enough to handle it.” I pressed the elevator button. “He’s talking a little now, though it’s a struggle for him.”

Emily leaned her head against my shoulder. “It’s all so surreal. I still can’t make sense of it. I wish I knew why Vince did all this.”

“Mason’s gone dark. He barely talks to anyone and spends all his time in his cabin or workshop. I think he feels guilty.”

“He shouldn’t. Like you keep telling me, Vince’s actions are his own.” She squeezed my hand. “Mason will talk to everyone in his own time.”

“Maybe.” We got on the elevator, and as the doors slid closed, I pulled her into my arms. “I don’t want to talk about that anymore. I want to enjoy finally being able to hold my mate.”

She hummed, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head against my chest. “I approve.”

We stood in an embrace until the ding of the doors opening forced us apart. I reluctantly let her go and led her down the hall to her dad’s room. I knocked on the open door. “We’re here.”

Emily rushed to her dad’s bedside and hugged him. His arms came up slowly, patting her back. “Dad. You’re looking so much better.”

I came and stood behind Emily, resting my hand on her shoulder as she sat in the chair next to the bed. She reached up, laying her palm on the back of my hand, and smiled at me. I caught her dad watching us, his eyes considering. He spoke, his speech halting. “You… and… Austin?”

She nodded. “Me and Austin. We worked things out.”

“I promise to take care of her, sir. Not that she needs it. She’s definitely capable on her own. But I’ll always be there, by her side.” I met her dad’s gaze and held it, trying to convey my sincerity.

“Good. Always… knew… you two.”

Emily laughed. “Well, then you knew more than we did.” She switched subjects. “The doctor said he expects you to make a full recovery in time. For now, Austin and I will stay at our ranch. We’ll handle the running of it until we can train a new manager, and you can supervise.”

He nodded. “Thank… you.”

We stayed a little longer until it became obvious he was fighting sleep. The drive to her family’s ranch was quiet. Then, about halfway there, she asked, “Were you ever planning to tell me about marking?”

I swerved, swearing as I righted the truck. I shot a glance over at her. “Where did you hear about that?”

“Sierra. She visited me the other day and filled me in on a lot about shifters that I didn’t know.” She bit her lip, pausing before continuing, “Do you not want to do it?”

I hit the brakes, wrenching the wheel and pulling over onto the shoulder of the highway. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, you haven’t said anything.”

“You’ve been in the hospital.”

“You could have told me about it.” She twisted in her seat to face me. “At least Sierra warned me you would probably want to bite me.”

I cursed under my breath. “I didn’t want to put too much on you too soon. I absolutely want to mark you. My tiger’s been going crazy every day that I haven’t.”

“Really?”

“Really.” I cupped her face with my palm. “Emily, you’re my everything. The answer to what I’ve been searching for the last eight years. I’d mark you right now if you let me.”

She studied me, searching my face for the answer to her own question. She gave a slow nod. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

“Wait. You mean now?” My tiger leaped inside me, growling and clawing at me to do it.

“Why not?” She gave me a slow smile. “I don’t want to waste any more time. I want to be yours. Officially.”

I leaned down and kissed her, fighting, and failing, to keep it brief.

My fingers dove into her hair, holding her close and allowing me to plunder her mouth.

Her hands slid over my chest, skimming down to slide beneath my shirt, and her fingers danced across my bare skin.

I growled against her mouth, deepening the kiss even more, and reached out to pull her onto my lap.

The resistance of the seat belt cut through the drive to claim her.

I shook my head. “Nope. I’m not marking you in a truck on the side of the highway where anyone could drive by.

We’re doing this properly. Now, hold on. ”

I put the truck in gear and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. Tires squealed as I tore down the highway toward the ranch. Emily’s breathless laughter filled the truck, and I gave her a grin and a wink.

Emily

Austin braked at the last minute, getting us as close to the house as possible. We scrambled to undo our seatbelts, but mine was stuck. He ran around the truck and opened my door, reaching in to remove the belt, cursing when it still wouldn’t come undone.

“Screw it.” He tore the seat belt out, showing off his shifter strength.

His hands circled my waist, and I expected him to lower me to the ground.

Instead, he tossed me over his shoulder and slammed the truck door before his long strides ate up the distance to the house.

He opened the door and stepped through. “Which way is your room?”

“Upstairs and to the left. First door on the right.” I thought about objecting to being carried this way, but it gave me a magnificent view of his backside, which fit perfectly in his worn jeans.

He took the stairs two at a time, tightening his hold on my legs to keep me secure. Once in my bedroom, he slid me slowly down his front. My breath caught as I felt every inch of him.

He bent his head, and his lips found mine again, but the urgency was tempered now, and he meandered, nibbling at my lips. I savored the feel of him. The taste of him. The hint of coffee and the surprising softness of his lips.

I slid my arms around his neck, and he lifted me.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, tightening my thighs’ grip on him as he walked forward.

My back met the wall, and his hips rocked, pinning me tighter between him and the surface behind me.

We stayed there, trading languid kisses, learning the taste of each other.

He kissed the way he listened. All in. He gave himself to me in a way that made tears prick my eyes.

I hugged him tighter, wanting no distance between us.

He trailed kisses over my jaw, down my throat, and I dropped my head back as he settled on a spot at the junction of my neck and shoulder. “This is where you’ll bear my mark.”

I gasped as he bit down, though not hard enough to break skin.

Yet. I held his head to me as he sucked and nipped at the spot before returning to my lips.

Now his kiss was more demanding, asking me to give him everything.

I answered, and our mouths fused, connecting us together almost completely. But I wanted more.

I slid my hands down and tugged at his shirt, my hands diving beneath the fabric to stroke over his skin.

He was smooth over hard muscles, which bunched and flexed beneath my touch.

He spun me away from the wall, and together we tumbled onto the bed.

He caught his weight with his hands before he crushed me into the mattress.

I reached for him greedily, not liking the distance between us.

He pulled back enough to yank his shirt over his head, and I hummed my approval of the perfect specimen in front of me.

His hands found the hem of my T-shirt, tossing it aside before sliding the straps of my bra down my arms to my elbows, trapping them against my sides while my breasts sprang free.

He cupped one in his hand, kneading, squeezing, and stroking, as if committing it to memory.

His mouth closed around the other breast, sucking me deep into his hot mouth, and my back arched as I let out a cry. “Austin!”

He grinned around my nipple and looked up, giving me a wink when he dove back in. I rubbed my legs together, craving the friction, needing it to relieve the ache in my core. He switched breasts, leaving nothing untouched by his lips and tongue. I struggled to free my arms, desperate to touch him.

His lips traced a path down my stomach, and he slid my pants over my hips, taking my underwear with them.

I twisted, yanking my arms out of my bra straps and unsnapping it, tossing it over his shoulder.

He finished removing my clothes and threw them on the floor.

I spread my legs, and he filled the space I made, blowing gently over my core.

I bucked beneath him as my body chased its climax.

“You’re mine now.” His gaze held mine as he lowered his mouth to me. He groaned as if he was tasting something amazing and lapped at my core. He dedicated himself to the task in front of him, driving me higher and higher until I was about to explode.

“Yes! Oh my… Yes! I’m yours!” The words flew from me, a plea for release, for more, for anything he desired to give me. I clutched at his head, alternating between holding him to me and pulling him away so I could catch my breath.

He rolled us, lifting me over him to straddle his hips.

His hard cock rubbed against me, and I whimpered, rocking back and forth, seeking relief.

I went up on my knees, and he fit himself against my entrance.

Our eyes met, and as I slid down, he moved his hands to my hips, guiding me, slowing my descent so I could adjust to him.

Time slowed as my body stretched and shifted, making room for him inside me.

We held still for a minute, and I luxuriated in the feel of being filled by him, connected to him. His eyes burned, but underneath the passion was his love for me. His promise for our future. The corners of my mouth lifted, and I breathed out the words, “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Em.”

I planted my palms against his chest and followed the urge in my body to move.

His grip tightened as I picked up the pace, and I could feel each finger pressing into my skin.

I squeezed my muscles around him, and he growled, flipping us over and lifting one of my legs over his shoulder.

He drove forward, thrusting into me over and over again.

My hands covered my breasts, and I played with them. His eyes heated as he watched me, and he captured my lips in a demanding kiss, his tongue mimicking the movements of his cock as it filled me. He lowered my leg, and I tightened my thighs around his hips.

His kisses moved to my neck, and he sucked at the skin, scraping his teeth along my marking spot. I tilted my head, granting him access. A flash of nerves shot through my body, but I pushed them away. This was Austin. I loved him. I trusted him. And I wanted to be his forever.

I met his thrusts, my hips rocking wildly as his rhythm grew more erratic.

My skin tightened, every inch sensitive, as if the slightest breath of air would send me over the edge.

He growled, and his teeth sank into me as the sensations in my body gathered, coalescing into a tight ball before shattering in a cascade of pleasure.

A few more thrusts and he followed, spilling into me. His body pushed mine into the mattress as his arms trembled, struggling to hold him up. He flopped onto his back, and I curled into him, resting my head on his chest. His arm held me tight to his side.

My muscles were loose, and my body melted into him. It was like something connected us on a level deeper than the physical. He was part of me now, and I was part of him. “This connection I feel… is it the bond?”

He rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. “Yes. The mark allows you to feel it fully.”

“I didn’t think it was possible, but it’s like my love grew by leaps and bounds.”

“I swear to do everything in my power to keep it growing. I’ll tend to it like a plant. My sweet prairie rose.”

I kissed his chest over his heart and peered up at him. “I didn’t know you had a sappy side.”

He grinned that cheeky grin of his and winked. “Only for you. My Emily. My second chance. My everything.”