Page 38 of Wrecked for Love (Buffaloberry Hill #1)

ELIA

It was the first day of winter, and The Lazy Moose had never looked more serene.

This was my favorite time of year—if I took off my rancher’s hat for a moment.

The barn and snow-covered fields practically shouted “holiday,” and this year felt even more special with the old Christmas decorations making their comeback.

Claire and I had spent last night rummaging through boxes that hadn’t seen daylight in years. We put up the Christmas tree, strung lights around the house and porch, and hung a wreath at the ranch’s gate.

The boys and I had just finished stacking feed for the cattle, making sure we were set for the cold months ahead. The bales were piled high, and the air was crisp with the scent of hay mixed with the sharp bite of winter.

I stomped the powdery snow off my boots and pushed open the door. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt eyes on me. A tail wagged so hard that I thought it might knock something over. Koda. His signature Collie gaze was the same—bright and intelligent—but his mane?

I laughed in wonder, dropping to my knees and running my hands through Koda’s coat. “What did Claire do to you, buddy?”

Koda barked as if I hadn’t quite given him enough credit for how sharp he looked.

“Did she sign you up for a show?”

His fur was still long but now neatly trimmed at the edges, soft and fluffy under my palms, and he smelled great. Really great. Like he’d just walked out of a spa.

“Elia? Is that you?” Claire’s voice floated in from the back. She appeared, smiling as she caught me rubbing Koda’s fur like we hadn’t seen each other in years.

“How’d you pull this off, Claire? With me, it’s always like a full-blown wrestling match just to get him in the tub.”

She grinned. “Even a guy likes to feel fancy once in a while. I left most of his length—it’s winter, after all. But come summer, I might just trim it a bit shorter.”

I stood and wrapped my arms around her, still laughing. “You’re full of surprises, Chili. And whatever you’ve got cooking smells incredible!”

We ambled toward the kitchen, where Claire had insisted on making her New York specialty for the night—Yankee pot roast, a slow-cooked one-pot wonder.

For the first time since the attack, everything seemed to settle back to normal. No strange notes. No shadows looming nearby. But I wasn’t fooled—this was just the calm before the storm. I could sense it.

“Are you sure we need this much?” I asked, eyeing the growing mountain of chopped vegetables.

“I figured I’d make enough for lunch tomorrow—for you and the boys.”

Most of the guys had left for winter, but a handful stayed behind. We planned to use the downtime to fix some broken equipment. Plus, feeding the cattle was an all-year job.

“What would I do without you?” I pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“By the way, we’ve got a new guy joining us.

Fritzy. He’s been around before, but back then, I couldn’t take on another hand—we were full.

Then he came back, practically begging for a spot.

Can’t deny a man’s persistence, right? So far, he’s doing okay, but he needs a lot of direction. ”

She paused, her eyes scanning me. “Hey…” she said softly, stepping up behind me and pressing her fingers into my shoulders. “Sit down. You’re tense.”

“Rancher’s shoulders are always tense, sweetheart.”

“Yours are especially tight!” she exclaimed, her fingers pressing into the knots with surprising force.

I winced as she hit a sore spot.

“That’s the one, huh?”

“Yeah,” I admitted. Then, shifting gears, I added, “By the way, I haven’t noticed your nightmares lately. Or have I been too out of it to notice?”

“You’re not out of it at all. My nightmares aren’t as bad as they used to be. They’ve mostly been downgraded to…bad dreams.”

“That’s a relief. I was starting to worry I’d been an inattentive partner.”

She kissed the top of my head. “Never.”

I gently took her hands, halting the massage. “Claire, I’ve been thinking…maybe we should get out of town for a bit.”

She sat beside me. “Why? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I answered a little too quickly.

“Elia, I dragged you into this. Let’s call the sheriff. I’ll come clean about everything that happened at The Willow. There’s no witness, but Armand Voss is no saint. Whatever happened to him, it was because he was up to no good, and the sheriff has to know that.”

I shook my head.

She shifted toward me, leaving just half of her ass on the couch.

“If you’re worried about The Revenants, I’ll leave them out of it.

I’m not na?ve. They’ll catch up with me sooner or later.

But right now, we’ve got the Vosses to worry about.

That’s the immediate threat. I’ll make sure Clare Ashbourne stays rock solid as long as we need. ”

“No, Claire. No sheriff.”

“Is he under their thumb?”

“No. It’s not that I don’t trust him…”

“Then what? Why not?”

I sighed. “He’s not crooked, but he’s not exactly diligent either. Especially when it comes to the Vosses. Remember how they handled the sabotage of Diesel’s pen? My bull running loose in the middle of our date?”

Her lips curved into a small smile. “Yeah, I remember.”

“Now it’s more than just a bull. Whatever we’re facing with the Vosses, bringing in the authorities is asking for trouble. They’re experts at manipulating or getting rid of evidence. You saw how spotless The Willow was.”

She dropped her head. “I know,” she said softly, her fingers wringing together. “To tell you the truth, I don’t even want to go back there, Elia.”

Something inside me cracked. I hated seeing her like this—defeated. But more than that, I wanted tonight to be different. I wanted her without the interference of all this looming danger.

The Vosses were circling closer every day, settling old scores. Whether it was Armand and Lucien or their fathers and mine, the history of punches thrown ran deep in our bloodlines.

“Hey, are you hungry?” I asked, the question simple but loaded.

She flinched ever so slightly, barely noticeable. “Um…it’s still early, baby. That’s why I got dinner started. The pot roast will need about four hours,” she replied, her voice hesitant.

I repeated the question, my voice softer but resolute, as if her answer was already written in the space between us.

My eyes held hers, my hands gliding down her back in a gentle, deliberate caress.

Her warmth seeped through the thin fabric as my fingers moved lower and caressed the curve of her ass.

She had to feel it too—the longing that pulsed between us.

There was something different about her today, a subtle change in her scent that tugged at my senses.

I had been near her long enough now that I could perceive even the smallest change in her body.

Every nuance of hers felt like a secret she hadn’t yet shared, but it was one I was already beginning to understand.

“As a matter of fact, I am,” she finally answered, a different kind of hunger riding her raspy voice.

Unable to resist, I pulled her closer. Our lips met in a crushing kiss, the taste of strawberry from her lip gloss dancing on my tongue.

The rhythmic motion of my hands continued, tracing circles on her ass as she instinctively pressed against me, her core seeking friction with my erection. Divine. Fucking divine.

I rose gradually, lifting her along, her body straddling mine.

Once we reached our bed, I undressed her, revealing her enticing breasts.

They were masterpieces, holding the power to command my surrender.

I found pride in my weakness because being undone by her felt like the only strength that mattered.

Shedding my own clothes, I reveled in the sensation of her skin against mine. She writhed, urging me to remove her panties, and I obliged. Her hand explored my hardened cock through my underwear before removing it entirely. As I positioned myself on top of her, our eyes met.

“I want you to let go, no need to hold back,” I whispered.

“But…you know how easily I?—”

I knew all too well. Tonight, I wanted to watch her writhe and squirm with moans she couldn’t curb. “That’s exactly what I want. Will you do this for me?” I pleaded. Hell, I wouldn’t leave this bed without having this woman come at least three times, be it in agony or comfort—fast or slow.

Her reply was hesitant. “Yes…”

I leaned in. “Do you trust me?” I sealed the question with a kiss while my fingers played with her sensitive bud.

She welcomed me, her core wrapping my sheathed length. Starting with gentle, shallow thrusts, I pushed deeper into her. My hands gripped her slender waist as I guided her. Inch by inch, she took me—her calls so carnal, so free.

“I feel kind of guilty…” she drawled, the words more a formality than true remorse.

There was nothing guilty in the way she moved or in the tone of her voice, only want—a deep, undeniable craving.

Maybe she was offering me one last chance to make her wait, but she was already past the point of hesitation.

“No guilt,” I said, firm and sure. “I can feel it. You’re close. Come for me, baby.”

As I spoke, her core throbbed against me, causing her luscious lips to part in sheer bliss. The air was filled with the sound of her moans, and I simply kissed them into me.

I patiently waited, allowing her to recover from the ride. Her pussy swelled, red and hot, gleaming as I withdrew. She lifted her head, eager to witness the sight. My cock was still hard and begging. She moved to reclaim the distance, signaling she was ready to carry on.

But I stopped her. I was aware of how addled she could become after a big orgasm. I wanted her to be clear-headed when I posed the question.

I leaned in, whispering, “Sweetheart, would you let me take you bare?”

A spark ignited in her eyes, illuminating her face like a constellation of fireflies dancing in the night sky. “I’d love that,” she replied.

I lowered myself, kissing her with passion and gratitude while my hand removed the condom from my cock.

Time has a way of fooling you—you think you’ve got plenty of it until you realize you don’t. I wasn’t about to let a single moment slip away just because I once believed there’d always be more. I wanted to experience the raw intimacy with her, with nothing separating us.

She slowly widened her thighs. I knew what she needed, and I was the man to fulfill it, just as she had granted my wish.

My thumb began tracing her clit, starting off slowly and gradually picking up pace, causing it to swell even more.

Her thighs quivered wildly, and her hips danced with an insatiable craving.

The room was filled with her panting, as if she had run out of breath.

But her voice, oh my goodness…her voice was loud and feral.

It was easy to forget she only had one lung.

Once again, I entered her.

How I felt her. Her tight hold, her wetness, her feminine warmth.

Then she lifted her head slightly, calling my name.

“You feeling okay?” I asked.

“No.”

Heart in my throat, I almost pulled back. But she stopped me, wickedness all over her face.

“I’m feeling damn fine,” she rasped, yanking me toward her.

I was inside her all the way—rubbing, poking, pushing.

All she could do was moan. It was clearly a heavenly paradise for her, and just witnessing it brought me immense pleasure.

I set a moderate rhythm, allowing her to savor every sensation while keeping myself from going over the edge.

Each glide ensured the perfect amount of friction that I knew would drive her crazy.

She moved in step with me, as if we were two parts of the same thought.

As the intensity grew, I quickened my thrusts, and she eagerly followed suit.

I wrapped my hands around her tiny waist and lifted her to me as I straightened my back and watched my cock go in and out of her.

It was a seamless dance, her hips swaying in harmony with mine.

Then she looked at me, her eyes and the rise of her breaths forming a single cue: I’m ready .

A satisfied smile curled on my lips.

“I want you to have yours too,” she gasped, her breath coming in short bursts.

It was fucking tempting, but tonight, it was all about her. I held on, resisting my aching cock while letting her enjoy her climax once more. I loosened my hold on her body, letting her recline on the bed before I leaned down and joined her there.

“Of course,” I whispered, gently nibbling on her lips and prolonging the pleasure, not wanting it to end. I rested on my elbows, my hands clenching as I fought against the release building inside me. She was still enjoying her second, and this time, I kept going. “I’m almost there, Baby Chili.”

Our lips pressed together, nearly biting with hot pleasure as we reached a breathtaking climax together.

Her core clenched my cock as I released.

No barriers between us, just the pure connection of our bodies intertwining.

I raised myself slightly, gazing at her serene face, a beauty I had never witnessed before.

I begged the heavens, hoping this moment wouldn’t be the last time I held her in my arms like this.