Page 44 of Wild Hearts (Ruby Ridge #1)

carter

. . .

I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.

I fucking said it. I told her I loved her, whispered it into the dark like a pussy, hoping the silence would swallow it whole.

I convinced myself she was asleep, that it didn’t count.

That if I kept brushing my fingers along her skin like nothing had changed, like the truth wouldn’t burn a hole straight through me.

Hell, I meant every fucking word.

I’m standing in the kitchen like some idiot who doesn’t know how to function. My arms are braced against the counter, waiting for the coffee machine to spring to life. It hisses and sputters in protest as if it has an attitude of its own.

God damn it.

I pace the kitchen like a man on edge, my feet dragging across the cold tile.

“I love you, Catalina.”

Those three words play in my head on a relentless loop. She was asleep, or damn it, I think she was. God, I hope she was .

My palms drag through my hair for the third time, my fingers gripping the strands, anxiously. I can’t stop fucking moving, I can’t sit still, because if I do, I’ll think too hard and unravel completely.

I let the words slip out, revealing a flicker of vulnerability. I meant every fucking word, the first genuine expression that has escaped my lips in years. The moment they left my mouth, I knew they were true.

I fucking love her, even if it scares the shit out of me.

She’s not just my best friend’s daughter. She isn’t just some high-maintenance hurricane that landed on my ranch with lip gloss and an attitude. She’s in my truck. In my bed. In my fucking head. She’s made a fucking home in my bloodstream and now there’s not a single piece of me she hasn’t touched.

The second I picture her leaving, going back to Los Angeles, back to a life that doesn’t have me in it—I feel like the ground’s been ripped out from under me.

I don’t want her to go. I want her here, with me.

Always.

I’m reaching for my mug when I hear footsteps pounding down the stairs like a goddamn stampede, taking me out of my anxiety induced thoughts.

“OH CARTERRRR!”

I nearly spill my coffee all over the damn floor.

She barrels into the kitchen like a goddamn gorilla. Her hair’s a wild mess, her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink, and her chestnut eyes wide and shining like she just discovered a new romance novel.

She’s waving a stack of bills in the air like it’s a golden fucking ticket. “I don’t mean to fucking brag or anything,” she pants, breathless, “but I have enough for first month’s rent! ”

My brows lift.

“I can do this! I’m gonna go to the store right now and put the deposit down!”

I blink, still not fully caffeinated, still sulking about what I said to her. My heart’s a mess. My head’s fucking worse. But she’s looking at me like she just cracked the code to her future, and all I can think about is how fucking beautiful she looks.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack before nine in the morning?” I mutter, setting the mug down before she knocks it out of my damn hands with her clumsiness.

She laughs, practically bouncing, as she drops the wad of cash on the counter.

“I woke up and felt this weird push to count everything. My tips, what Reed’s paid me at the bar, and Carter, I have freaking enough. Like actually.”

I watch her closely, soaking in the way her eyes light up.

That same spark I saw the first time we walked into Bell’s Books is burning hotter now, like she’s finally found something that feels like hers.

She’s practically buzzing, vibrating with excitement, and for a second, I just let myself look at her.

Fuck, she’s so goddamn beautiful it hurts.

All I can think about is how badly I want to protect that fire. Even if it means shielding her from herself.

I step closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’d bottle that light inside her and guard it with my life. I soften my voice, trying to lace it with something gentle. Something she won’t want to kill me for.

“Baby,” I say sweetly. “You’ve got enough for the first month. That’s huge. I’m proud of you, I mean that. But what about the second? And the third? Owning a business isn’t just renting. There’s inventory, utilities, repairs– ”

She puts a finger to my lips. “Wow,” she snaps, “so basically, you’re saying I can’t do it. That’s what I’m hearing. Real fucking nice, Carter.”

I blink. What the fuck just happened? Am I imagining things?

“Baby, I didn’t say–”

Her finger’s back. “Don’t you baby me with that southern drawl of yours. I’m pissed now. You don’t get to speak to me.”

She crosses her arms, glaring at me like she’s seconds away from a full-blown brawl. Her attitude could set this entire house on fire.

“Catalina,” I warn, “you’re already testing me with that smart little mouth of yours. And what happens when you test me?”

She throws me a glare that could kill a lesser man. “Don’t. Talk. To. Me.” She spins on her heel, stomping back upstairs.

I don’t even try to fight the smirk curling on my lips. She’s so fucking sexy when she’s mad.

Feisty. Fierce. Mine .

I tell myself to wait a minute before I go after her. I make it ten seconds.

She whips around like she just heard the devil himself coming after her. Her eyes were wide, and her pout aimed right at me. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I smirk, slapping her ass as she storms up the stairs in one of my t-shirts, the sound echoing through the hall. I watch the fabric stretching over her hips as she climbs up the steps.

What a sight.

“Get away from me,” she snaps, marching faster.

“You don’t mean that, baby,” I call after her .

“I don’t,” she huffs, already halfway to my room. “But I’m mad at you.”

“Then take it out on me, darlin’.”

We both know she’s not as pissed as she’s pretending to be. She just doesn’t like hearing the truth when it stings.

She pauses at the top of the stairs, spins around, and yanks my hat off my head, planting it right on hers.

Holy FUCK. Does she know about the rule?

She taps her finger to her lip, eyes wide with mock innocence. “What’s that saying again?”

I falter mid-step. She’s pure chaos and temptation wrapped in a five-foot-nothing fireball.

“Wear the hat…” she hums, trailing her finger around the brim, “ride the cowboy.”

Fuck me.

“That hat means you’re mine, Catalina.” My voice echoes down the hall. “Don’t tease me unless you’re ready to back it up.”

She winks, and saunters into my bedroom with that hips-swaying, heart-shattering confidence that fucks with every bit of my self-control. I follow her, and when I walk through that doorway?

Jesus, fuck. I basically come at the sight of her.

She’s laid out on my bed like a fucking goddess. Completely bare, except for my hat tipped low on her head. Her bronzed skin glows against the white sheets, her long brown hair tangled across the pillows like a halo from hell.

My mouth goes dry as my cock grows harder beneath my jeans. My self-control dies a quick, violent death.

“You gonna make it up to me, cowboy?”

I don’t know what the hell I’m making up for, but fuck, she could ask me for the moon and I’d crawl through the stars to hand it to her. I’m so far gone, I don’t even fucking care. I’d let her gut me with a smile on my face if it meant I could watch her do it.

I start toward her, but she shifts, propping herself up on her elbows.

“Be a good cowboy,” she says, running her fingers across the brim of my hat, “and crawl to me. Like last time.”

I let out a sharp breath through my nose.

Only she could make me drop to my knees and like it.

My hands move to the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head, tossing it to the floor.

Her eyes follow every movement, burning me alive as I strip down, one piece of clothing at a time, her gaze soaking in every inch of bare skin like she owns it—and she fucking does.

Once I’m completely bare, I sink to my hands and knees and crawl towards her.

“You love this, don’t you?” I say, gripping her ankles once I reach her, my thumbs circling against the soft skin there.

“Every fucking second,” she purrs.

I run my hands up her legs, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along the inside, worshipping her.

My tongue brushes the crease of her hip, and she shudders under my mouth.

I drag my palms up the backs of her thighs, spreading her legs wide.

Her pussy’s already glistening for me. Sweet, swollen, and begging for my mouth.

“Look at this perfect little pussy,” I groan, “dripping for me already.”

I swipe my fingers through her folds, sucking them clean. “I’ll never get tired of this, baby. You taste so fucking good.”

I dip down, swiping my tongue through her slit slowly, letting her taste coat my tongue. “Fuck, baby. ”

My tongue slides into her tight, wet cunt. She moans loudly, music to my fucking ears.

I hold her hips down when she squirms, locking her in place with my hands, so I can pleasure her like a real man should.

She lets out a gasp, already writhing beneath me.

“Don’t move,” I growl, tightening my grip on her hips. “You’re gonna sit there and take my tongue like a good fucking girl.”

“Carter,” she moans, “please…”

“Please what, princess?” I tease, dragging my tongue over her clit in slow, wicked circles. “You want me to make you come with my mouth? Want me to tongue-fuck this needy little hole until you soak my beard?”

Her legs shake underneath my hands, her fingers fly into my hair, tugging me closer.

“Say it, baby,” I say, pressing a kiss to her clit. “Tell me what you want.” I groan against her, my lips still teasing that sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Please eat my pussy, Carter.”

“Good girl.” I moan, devouring her, eating her like it’s my last fucking meal, licking and sucking until her thighs are clenching around my ears. She’s damn near screaming my name by the time I ease two fingers inside, curling them just right.

“You like that?” I rasp against her clit. “You gonna come all over my fucking face, darlin’?”

She chokes out a yes, falling apart in my hands, and I don’t stop until I feel her pulse around my fingers.

I wipe my mouth, still tasting her on my tongue, and I crawl up onto the bed without breaking eye contact. My body hovers over hers for a beat, just long enough to feel her breath catch, before I drop back onto the pillows, my legs spread wide, cock heavy and aching.

“Come here,” I say, patting my chest, “take what you want.”

She starts to move to me, tortuously slow, and I groan, fucking losing it already. I stroke myself slowly, watching her pupils blow wide with want.

“Get on top, baby,” I murmur, lips curled into a smirk. “Ride this cock nice and slow. I want to watch those pretty tits bounce while you fuck me.”

She lets out a shallow gasp, the mattress shifting under her weight. Her fingers trail slowly across my thighs, leaving a path of fire in their wake, each touch pulling a quiet groan deep in my chest. She crawls onto my lap with that same infuriating smirk, still wearing my goddamn hat.

My hand grabs the brim of my hat, still resting on her head. “Keep the fucking hat on, Catalina,” I snarl, wrapping a hand around her throat, not squeezing, just letting her feel me. “Fuck—baby, please. Don’t take it off. You have no idea what you do to me lookin’ like that.”

“You begging, cowboy?”

“Yeah, I’m begging,” I say. “Please, baby, just ride me already.”

She bites her lower lip as she wraps her hand around my cock, teasing it along her entrance before sinking down on me—inch by inch—savoring every second.

My head tips back as she sinks onto me, every nerve in my body short-circuiting. My eyes flutter shut, trying to keep it together—but fuck, the feel and sight of her alone is going to make me combust.

“Goddamn, Catalina,” I grit out, gripping her hips. “You fit me so fucking well. Like this pussy was made for me.”

Every roll of her hips sinks me deeper, her tight, soaked pussy strangles my cock like she was fucking made to take me. I grip her waist, my fingers digging in like I’m trying to anchor myself, like maybe if I hold her hard enough, I won’t lose my fucking mind.

But, I am losing my fucking mind.

Her tits are bouncing in front of me, pretty shades of pink, pebbled nipples begging for my mouth.

I lean up, my tongue sliding over her nipple before I suck it deep, groaning when she moans and grinds into me harder.

I take my time with her, swirling my tongue around the sensitive peak before dragging my lips over it again, licking, sucking, grazing it with a careful bite that makes her gasp.

Her nails grip my shoulders. “Carter.”

I thrust up once, just to feel the way her walls strangle me in response.

My head slams back against the pillow, a sound ripping from my throat so loud it doesn’t sound human.

My body’s burning, my cock’s throbbing with every pulse of her cunt wrapped around me, milking me like she wants to keep me inside her forever.

“You feel that?” I struggle to say. “This cock’s fuckin’ yours. All of it. No one’s ever—fuck—ever taken me like this.”

She leans over me, sweat-slick skin brushing mine, her fingers curling around my jaw to make me look at her.

“Can’t talk,” I breathe out. “You ride me like that, wearing my hat, baby, and I swear I’ll give you anything.”

She leans in close, her lips brushing mine. “Feel good, baby?”

I can’t even answer. I’m too far gone. She quickens the pace, her moans filling the room, and I sit up, wrapping my arms around her as I drive my cock deeper into her with every thrust .

“Fu–Fuck, Catalina. Baby, you feel so fucking good.” I groan.

“Carter I’m–I’m gonna–”

I press my finger to her lips. “Eyes on me when you come, Catalina.”

Her body tightens, her walls clench around my cock, and we both crash into our orgasms, shaking and breathless.

I hold her there, burying myself deep inside her as I spill into her, not giving a single fuck that I didn’t pull out. She’s mine. I’ll fill her a thousand times if that’s what it takes to prove it. After a moment, I press a kiss to her damp forehead, rubbing slow circles on her back.

“I’m serious, Catalina,” I whisper against her neck. “You wearing my hat means you’re mine.”

She lets out a soft laugh, pressing her lips to mine, pulling back with a grin.

“Okay, babe,” she teases, hopping off me like she didn’t just wreck my whole fucking soul.

She saunters into the bathroom and turns the bath on like she owns the place. And fuck it, she does.

She was mine the second I laid eyes on her.