Page 30 of Falling For Her Cowboy (Silver Creek Ranch #9)

Chapter Eighteen

“ I ’m fine. I don’t need medical attention.” Ridge waved off the EMT, Raymond, who offered to look at his hands.

As Draven had promised, they had been waiting for them.

All Ridge had been concerned about was Melah and making sure she was unharmed.

He hadn’t been surprised when she’d admitted she had planned to take a hit.

When he’d first seen her with Theo her hands had been behind her, so it was apparent she’d needed to get down on the ground to bring them in front of her.

His woman was smart and strong. Not many would risk getting hit on purpose.

He glanced at her in the back of the ambulance.

Apparently, they’d been called out for an accident on the ranch.

A few of the hands were standing around.

They’d been alerted to Melah’s disappearance.

By the time he and Melah had exited the woods, Trent, Ethan, Aimee, and a few others were on their way in and they’d all been armed and ready for battle.

“Thanks. I promise I don’t need to go to the hospital.” Melah smiled at the other medic who was checking her blood pressure. “I’ve fallen off a horse plenty of times.”

The medic’s eyebrows rose sharply at her excuse.

“Um, okay.” He finished her vitals and announced she was fine. “Well, if you feel dizziness, double vision, or have an extreme headache that doesn’t go away, call us immediately and we’ll transport you to the hospital.”

“Of course. Thank you so much. You have been wonderful.” She stood off the stretcher and walked toward the edge of the truck.

Ridge met her and held out his hand to her. She took it and hopped down on the ground. He brought her close to him and gave a nod to the two medics.

“Take care of her, Doc,” Raymond said.

“Always.” He rested his hand on the small of Melah’s back. He couldn’t keep his hands off her. It was going to be a long time before he’d feel comfortable letting her out of his sight .

“Everyone good?” Andy asked.

He and Buck exited his truck. His gaze swept over the both of them. Ridge hadn’t realized they’d pulled up.

“We’re fine,” he said.

“I’m okay.” Melah leaned into his hold.

He couldn’t wait to get her back to his house. They both were covered in dirt and needed to shower. She was not going anywhere but to his house. Damn the bunkhouse. Not tonight and not ever again. After today, she was moving in with him. He wasn’t going to take any other answer but yes this time.

“Where’s Draven?” Andy took a look at the few standing around.

The ambulance driver blew their horn and took off down the road. Buck moved over to the hands and spoke with them. Andy came to stand in front of Melah and Ridge.

“Taking out the trash,” Ridge replied automatically. He hadn’t questioned his brother at all.

Draven would take care of Theo, and Ridge couldn’t care less in which way. As long as Melah was safe, that was all that mattered. His father gave a satisfied nod.

“Good. Y’all get cleaned up. Bee has some dinner waiting for you. We’ll bring it up to your house.” Andy tilted his nod to Melah. “If you need anything, Melah, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Yes, sir.” She wrapped her arm around his waist.

Ridge tightened his hold on her. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. His family had accepted her with him.

“Come on. Let’s go home.” He led her over to his truck and helped her in. Once he’d secured her with her safety belt, he jogged over to his side. It didn’t take long to drive from the main barn over to his home.

Once they crossed over the threshold of his front door, he slammed it shut and pushed her up against the door. He stood before her with only a few centimeters separating them.

“This is your home.” He wanted to ensure she knew where her place was going to be. He was ready for an argument, but it didn’t come.

“It is. Wherever you are is where I belong,” she announced.

Her big brown eyes were wide and filled with love. He leaned down and covered her lips with his. He could have lost her today. Theo had somehow come onto the ranch unnoticed and apparently had been plotting to do her bodily harm.

I should have taken you out when I had the chance the other night.

Theo’s words echoed in his head. The fucker had been casing out the bunkhouse. Ridge pushed down the surge of anger that threatened to erupt. There was no point. Theo English would not bother Melah again.

His woman was safe.

Melah tore her lips from his. They were both breathing heavy.

Her gaze dropped down to his hands. Her eyes widened in shock.

He looked at his hands and bit back a grimace.

The skin on his knuckles was mangled and covered in dried blood.

They were already sore and stiff. It was going to be a few days until he’d be able to utilize his hands.

“You need to do something about them.” She gently took his right hand in hers and shook her head. “Come. Let’s go into the kitchen to get some ice.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll do that later.” He bent down and lifted her into his arms.

She threw hers around his neck and held on. He kicked off his shoes and stalked through the house to the staircase. He took the stairs two at a time while carrying her.

“At least clean them and put something on them so they won’t get infected,” she exclaimed.

“I will.” He nudged the door to his bedroom open and strode through it.

He didn’t stop until they were in his master en suite.

Then he lowered her to her feet. He cupped her face in his hands and dropped a kiss on her lips.

“We both need to take a hot shower. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I have dirt in my pores. ”

She glanced over at the mirror and let out a little yelp.

“Okay. Shower first, then you must promise me to let me put something on your knuckles,” she said, turning back to him.

“I promise.” He went over to the shower and switched the water on to allow it to warm up a bit. When designing the bathroom, he’d ensured it had plenty of space. The shower was a walk-in with a glass wall separating it from the bathtub.

“I don’t have any clothes here.” She went over the sink and pulled her hair out of the ponytail. She combed her fingers through her tangled strands. She grimaced and continued her attempt to tame her hair .

“I’m sure I have something you can wear.” He checked the water and found it to be satisfactory. He tugged at his shirt and raised it over his head. His hand dropped to his belt. He swore at the pain of trying to undo it.

She glanced over and saw he was having a slight issue.

She moved over to him and pushed his hands out of the way.

“Your shirts are way too big.” She chuckled. She opened the belt then went to the button of his jeans. She undid it and lifted her gaze to his.

“Well, you need something to cover you when my father and Bee bring the food,” he said.

She gave a quick nod then threw her hair up into a bun on the top of her head.

“I guess it will do. But then what?” She drew down his jeans. They fell to the floor.

He kicked them away and stood proudly before her in just his boxer briefs. His cock was thickening. It lifted and pressed against the cotton material. She arched an eyebrow at him and shook her head.

“None of that until I make sure your hands are okay.” Melah backed away from him while a sexy grin spread across her face .

“What? Of course not. I can’t control him,” he muttered.

She removed her clothes, and with each article that fell to the floor, he grew even harder. He released a curse and shucked off his underwear.

“Whatever, Ridge. I know you.” She brushed past him and went over to the shower.

Her naked form had him salivating. His cock stood fully erect at the sight of her. She reached in and tested the water herself before walking into the spray of water.

He followed behind her.

The initial spray stung. Especially on his knuckles, but he ignored the pain and gathered Melah in his arms. He positioned them to where his back was to the water.

She reached up and entwined her fingers at the base of his neck.

They stood there for what seemed like eternity just staring at each other.

No words were needed. The water beat down on his back in a rhythmic beat.

It felt good, but having Melah in his arms was better.

He was in awe that this woman was his. He’d waited forever to find the right person to spend his life with, and he knew without a doubt Melah was his.

“I love you.” He’d never tire of saying the words .

“And I love you.” She lowered her forehead to his chest and inhaled sharply.

He ignored his hard cock and brought her closer to him.

“All I could think about when Theo had me was getting back to you,” she said.

Ridge’s heart thundered. He didn’t want to think of the fear that had filled her at the hands of that crazed lunatic. He’d been close to pulling the trigger when Theo was spouting off what he’d done to Melah. The sound of her begging him and then Draven appearing had brought him back to himself.

He’d gone to a place he hadn’t ever wanted to go to again.

That was why he’d gotten out of the military. He hadn’t wanted to lose himself.

But at that moment looking down at Theo and imagining his hands on Melah, causing her physical pain, imagining her screams…at that moment he’d wanted to end him.

He blinked and came back to the present. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

“And all I could think of was getting to you. Melah, you are everything to me.” He tilted her chin up to force her to look at him .

The spray landed on her face. She smiled up at him.

“How did I get so lucky? I didn’t come here to find love,” she admitted. Her small hand slid along his shoulder and came to rest on his chest just above his heart. “I was too busy wanting to figure out my future, but apparently something knew my future was waiting here on this ranch.”

“You’re damn right I was waiting on you,” he playfully growled.

He lowered his head and covered her lips with his. Her worries of finding where she belonged were no more. Her place was here in his arms and his home— their home . What was his, was now hers. He looked forward to having her officially move in and putting her touch on the house he’d built.

When he had designed this place, he’d pictured a wife and kids in it with him.

A moan escaped Melah as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss.

Her soft mounds were crushed between them.

He slid his hand down her back and cupped her ass.

There was no room between them. His cock was pressed against her stomach.

He tore his mouth from hers and trailed it along her cheek.

He continued on to nuzzle her neck. He walked them backward until her back was leaning on the wall.

“Ridge. Your father will be here soon,” she gasped.

He nipped the sensitive skin along her neck, eliciting a tremor through her body. He bent down and lifted her. Her legs automatically wrapped around his waist.

“And?” He trailed his tongue along her skin.

Her fingers dove into his hair, sending a shiver down his spine. He moved her higher to position his cock at her entrance.

“Meaning that we don’t have time for this. We need to?—”

Her words ended in a moan as he brought her down on him. Her pussy opened and accepted him, and he sank completely in her. Ridge groaned at her tightness. He paused and gripped her thighs to hold her in place.

“What was that?” he asked.

He inhaled sharply at how tight she was wrapped around him. Her silky warmth was slick and coated his cock. Melah always took him perfectly. Being buried inside her was where he belonged. His cock swelled even more.

“I said we need to hurry,” she gasped.

She leaned her head back on the wall. Her eyes were closed. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He withdrew slightly then thrust again.

He smiled at her change of heart.