In Too Deep Read online

  “Did you ever intend to tell me about the boy?”

  She shook her head. “I’d have told Jake when he was older, and let him make up his mind whether he wanted to seek you out. He’d have had my support.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “Why didn’t you want to tell me? I thought we had…a thing. I cared about you.”

  She swung toward him. “You were seventeen years old. I was nineteen. When I realized I was pregnant, thinking about the fact I was about to become a parent, I felt pretty foolish. But bringing you into the equation, so damn young, I didn’t want to make a bigger mess of it.”

  “You didn’t trust me.”

  “You were a kid. A kid I seduced.”

  His mouth curved. “I like to think the seduction was mutual, Lena.”

  Lena frowned. “Don’t do that.”

  “What?”

  “Tease me. Like you can wrap me around your finger just by lowering your voice and looking at me like that.”

  “Like what?” he drawled.

  “Like you could—” She pressed her lips together and shook her head.

  “Eat you up?” he whispered. “I sure as hell want to. But we’ve got some problems to solve first.”

  Lena took a deep breath and turned away again. His words surprised her. She’d expected nothing but recriminations, but he was treating her like this was still about them, instead of all about Jake.

  He acted like they actually had something to work out in their relationship. That thought gave her a burst of hope. But she couldn’t trust that feeling. Couldn’t trust herself around him. Because more than anything, she wanted him to be real, for her feelings for him to be real. The fact he still wanted her sexually was clear. And she wasn’t denying she wanted nothing more than to give both their libidos free rein. Sex with Gabe was as natural as breathing, as heady and intoxicating as the strongest tequila.

  He tucked her hair behind her ear and she shivered.

  “What’s his name?” he whispered.

  “Jake. Jacob Anthony Twohig.”

  “Would you consider changing his last name to Triplehorn?”

  “We have bigger things to think about.”

  “I want you both to come to the Triple Horn Ranch.”

  She aimed a bald stare his way. “You didn’t want to ease into that?”

  “What would be the point?”

  “Want us to come for a visit? Because I have work, and then school’ll be startin’ up in the fall.” She lifted her shoulders. She needed time to get her head around this, to prepare Jake. “Maybe Christmas.”

  He shook his head slowly and his gaze hardened. “Now. To stay. The both of you. With me.”

  Lena’s chest constricted. “I barely know you. It’s the truth. You know that.”

  “We know each other, Lena. We just haven’t spent a lot of time together. We work.”

  “So we like to fuck. That’s not reason enough for me to change my child’s whole world so you can see whether you like playing daddy.”

  “I won’t be playing. I’ll be his father. And you’ll be my wife.”

  She shot off the bench and rounded on him. “You’re not even going to ask me? You think because you’re a high and mighty Triplehorn you can just make a pronouncement, wave your hand and I’m supposed to just fall in line?”

  Gabe rose and walked slowly toward her.

  She wanted to back away, but stiffened her spine. She wasn’t afraid of him. But the closer he came, the more unsure she felt. Part of her wanted to run, the other part wanted him to force her to accept him so she wouldn’t have to make a logical choice.

  He reached out his arms, slowly smoothed his hands down to settle at the small of her back and pulled her against his chest. His cheek slid against her hair.

  He held her until her fluttering heart slowed, and she could breathe again.

  “Feel better?” he murmured.

  Her next breath quivered. “Yes.”

  “I don’t want to fight. I want to help. And more than anything, I want you and Jake in my life. I know I’m rushing you off your feet, darlin’, but I have years to make up to you. Come for a visit. For now. No pressure.”

  Not looking at his face made it easier to think. “I have a campground to run.”

  “My brother’s makin’ arrangements for help, even as we speak.”

  “Jake’s with Grandpa.”

  “We can pick him up on our way to the ranch.”

  She shook her head, her cheek rubbing his chest. “This is crazy.”

  “Lena, only thing crazy is either of us walkin’ away again.” He tightened his arms around her.

  She exhaled and sank against his chest. He dropped his head to the corner of her shoulder and they stood like that, gently rocking as all the fight left her body. She was tired of going it alone. Of making every decision. Being the rock for her small family. “My grandpa? He’s at my place. He’s been in a wheelchair since he had a fall and broke his hip.”

  “Soon as Colt sees him, he’ll have the hands buildin’ a ramp. Your grandpa’s welcome at the ranch. We have a couple of guest rooms. We’ll make them both comfortable.”

  “There’s so much to consider. And I’m not sayin’ yes to marryin’ you, just maybe to coming to stay for a while and seein’ how things go.”

  “Sounds sensible,” he growled.

  “You sound like you don’t like sensible.”

  “I like going with my instincts.”

  She snorted. “See where that got you?”

  “Got me a son. And a woman who’s as hot as a fuckin’ firecracker.”

  She leaned back to study his face.

  Wicked lust shone in his slate-colored eyes.

  “I’ll need my own room too. My son doesn’t need to see the intimate side of us just yet.”

  He nodded. “I agree. Just so we don’t shock Jake or Grandpa. But you’ll be sleepin’ with me.”

  She swallowed hard. “When will the help arrive?”

  “I’ll have to call Colt and see. When can we go pick up Jake and Grandpa?”

  “Guess we both have arrangements to make,” she muttered, already ticking through a list of things she’d have to do.

  He smoothed his hands over her butt. “Mind makin’ those arrangements a little bit later?”

  She didn’t miss the sweet tension in his voice, or the stirring of his sex trapped against her belly.

  Her breaths deepened. “I have dishes to do.”

  “I imagine Kayla won’t mind takin’ over.”

  She arched a brow. “She’s a little disappointed in you.”

  “Then I’ll have to redeem myself in her eyes.”

  She gripped the front of his shirt in her fist and rose on her toes. “How about you do a little redeeming with me first?”

  Their lips met and there was nothing tentative about the caress. They dove headlong into a steamy kiss that left both their bodies shaking.

  “My bedroom?” she whispered.

  “Too far.” He stepped back, grabbed her hand and pulled her down the path. The sun was dipping behind the trees, but it was still broad daylight.

  “People will see,” she whispered.

  “They won’t be lookin’ unless you make too much noise.” He led her to the wooden pier with the gabled boathouse to one side housing her little paddle boat. He ducked inside and pushed her up against the planked wall. “I made you a promise.”

  A thrill shivered through her. Her pussy tightened.

  Gabe began plucking at her clothes, tugging her tee over her head, unclasping her bra. When he knelt to remove her sandals and shorts, she gave a little moan. “Someone’s gonna find us.”

  “Everyone’s at dinner. Besides, we’ll hear the poundin’ on the boards. If we have to, we’ll jump in the water to hide.”

  She glanced around the narrow confines of the covered dock with its narrow planked walkway. “There’s no room.”

  “I’ll make do.” When he had her nude, he
held out his hand.

  She gave her hand to him and let him settle her onto the wooden floor beside the boat slip. “What about you?” she said, lying back. “I’m the only one naked.”

  “Better I keep myself covered. Your pussy’s too much temptation.”

  He lifted her feet one at a time, sliding them up and apart, and then splayed her knees with a firm press of his hands. In the shadow of the boathouse, he bent over her sex, his breath gusting hot against her exposed flesh. He thumbed up the top of her folds, exposing her clit.

  Warm air brushed it, and she drew a hissing breath. “That’s almost too much,” she said in a little voice.

  One side of his mouth crooked up. “Darlin’, you’re really gonna have to work harder on keepin’ quiet.”

  “We could have had a bedroom, a soft mattress…”

  His eyebrows waggled. “This is more fun.”

  She shook her head, fighting a grin. “Because I have to keep quiet or we might be discovered? You’re a wicked man, Gabe Triplehorn.”

  He smiled and leaned down to gently lick her clit.

  She blew air between her pursed lips. Her heartbeat quickened. She dropped her knees open a few inches more, baring herself completely.

  He parted her sex, swept his tongue along the outer folds and then lavished her opening with wet swipes.

  When he glanced up, he caught her fascinated stare. “It’s okay to whisper sexy things. Tell me what you want.”

  “You’re doin’ fine,” she said faintly.

  Holding her glance, he stuck two fingers in his mouth, wetting the digits and slowly inserted them inside her, fingers tucked facing upward as he tunneled.

  When he found just the right spot, her body twitched. Her mouth gaped. “There. Dear God, right there.”

  “Good to know,” he said, then slipped them out.

  Fluid leaked out, and he coated his palm with it.

  She shook her head, not understanding, until he cupped her sex with his palm and lifted his hand.

  She tensed, knowing what he meant to do but still unprepared when he slapped her pussy.

  Lena clutched a breast and squeezed it, more for comfort than to add to the sweet tension he built with three more well-aimed, juicy claps of his callused hand.

  Her breath left in a harsh gust when he dove down and latched his mouth around her hooded clit. He suctioned his lips, pulling at the small, rapidly hardening bud. She dug her toes into the rough plank floors.

  He mouthed her clit, suckled it, flicked it with his tongue, ratcheting up the tension building in her core with a steady, spiraling heat.

  She lifted her bottom, mashing herself against his mouth, tiny moans leaking between her bitten lips. Fingers dove into her cunt, teeth nibbled at her bud. She thrashed her head side to side and pinched both nipples, because suddenly the sensations he built below were too intense to stand.

  “Gabe!” She gasped.

  He inserted another finger and twisted the thick digits, encouraging a steady release of liquid lust that sounded so lushly erotic, so wonderfully dirty, she jerked her hips up high, holding them as still as her quivering ass and thighs would allow, because she never wanted him to stop.

  And then he slid the hood up again, readjusted his lips to draw directly on her engorged clit, and electric darts of pleasure consumed her. He pulled it, lavishing it with the flat of tongue while thrusting his fingers deep.

  She flew apart, shattering. Her moans slipping out, one after the other, soft murmurs from him vibrating through her, adding to the glorious release.

  When at last she peaked and gradually slid back down, it was to find him rolling his fingers and palm in the moisture he’d made.

  She held her breasts, her breaths jagged, chopped pants, and watched as once more he began to spank her hot, reddened sex.

  They weren’t light taps. They pounded against her—quickening, sharp bursts then harder, thudding claps. She writhed and wriggled, trying to get away because her orgasm was cresting again and she was coming undone.

  “Jesus,” she whispered. “Oh, fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” She tried to close her thighs but couldn’t resist the jolting pleasure.

  Suddenly, he halted, ripped open his belt and tugged down his zipper, rooting inside his pants to pull his cock free. “On your knees,” he rasped.

  There wasn’t much space, but she clambered up and turned, sinking her back to raise her ass high because he was already nudging between her folds. When he thrust inside, she dropped her head to the floor, dug her fingers into the wood, shredding her nails.

  He gripped her ass and parted her cheeks. Liquid dropped into her crease, and she groaned as he pushed a finger into her ass. When he began moving, fingers and cock burrowing deep, Lena wondered how she’d ever thought another man could satisfy her.

  Gabe didn’t have any inhibitions, didn’t accept any hesitation from her. He molded her responses, her positions, with strong grips and fierce thrusts. Her body shook and shivered, her breaths broke apart, edged with quiet sobs. “It’s too much.”

  Her admission only seemed to fuel his passion. He slammed against her, jackhammer thrusts that rocked her body. His groin slapped her flesh, making louder, lusher sounds, but by this time she didn’t give a damn who might hear. She was there again, rocketing upward.

  Gabe reached around her and toggled her tender clit with a callused thumb. “Now, baby. Come for me. One more time.”

  She exploded, giving a garbled shout. He pounded his hips, slammed one last time and held.

  Hot streams of come flooded her, a liquid burst that soothed ravaged walls. The stray thought passed that they hadn’t bothered with protection. Maybe that had been deliberate on his part, but she was too consumed with pleasure to care. They jerked and writhed together, his hands clutching her bottom, holding her up because she would have melted to the floor without his strength supporting her.

  When at last he pulled away, he pressed a kiss against one shoulder, sat back and gathered her into his arms. He held her, her back against his belly, his hands cupping her breasts.

  “Think anyone heard?” she said in a small voice.

  He laughed. One sharp gust that buffeted against her. “Do you really care?”

  She shook her head and reached behind her to cup the back of his neck as he stroked her breasts again, pulling on the tips.

  “I’m done,” she muttered, sure the soreness between her legs would have her walking funny for days.

  “No more arguments? Coming home with me?”

  She turned her head to meet his lambent gaze. “All right. But let’s give Jake a chance to know you all before we tell him.”

  His mouth tightened but he gave a nod. “I’ll let you decide when he’s ready.”

  As her breaths deepened and slowed, she conceded she liked this. Being held in the embrace of a strong man.

  He kissed her temple. “Think you could get to like this?”

  She grunted, not surprised at all that his thoughts had followed the same path. “Like’s a really tame word. I think I might crave it. Like chocolate.” She shook her head. “More than that. I’d hate it if I never felt this way again.”

  Gabe dug his fingers into her scalp. He turned her face a fraction more and sealed her mouth with a kiss filled with promises.

  Chapter Six

  When they returned to the lodge, two dinged-up pickups filled the spaces in front of the porch.

  Gabe’s steps slowed. He tightened his hand around Lena’s. “Looks like Colt didn’t waste any time.”

  His brother Tommy straightened from the rail he’d been leaning against. His gaze slipped from Gabe to land on Lena. His quiet expression remained neutral as he stared, but then his mouth stretched into a great big smile. “Must be Lena,” he said, touching the brim of his hat in greeting. “You’re prettier than I expected.”

  Gabe glanced down to find a blush coloring Lena’s cheeks. She had to be embarrassed. Their clothes were wrinkled—hers were smudged with di
rt. And anyone looking at her messy hair and swollen mouth had to know exactly what they’d been doing.

  She reached up her free hand to touch her hair but then dropped it. “You’re a Triplehorn. Just don’t know which one.”

  “I’m Tommy.”

  She swiveled her head toward Gabe, eyes narrowed. “Didn’t use much imagination,” she muttered.

  Gabe raised his eyebrows and flicked his gaze back to Tommy. “You bring a crew?”

  “Yeah, Eddie Sandoval and Lane Whitley volunteered to spend the rest of the summer here. Said fishin’ was a lot more appealin’ than starin’ at cows’ butts.” He hooked a finger over his shoulder and lifted his eyebrows. “They’re busy chattin’ up that pretty young thing at the counter.”

  Gabe suppressed a smile. Eddie and Lane would no doubt be shoving at each other trying to cozy up to Kayla.

  Tommy kicked at a broken spoke in the porch rail. “They brought their tools too. Looks like they can keep busy makin’ some repairs.” His gaze went to Lena. “They’re good men. They’ll pitch in. Kayla says she knows the ropes. Said not to worry about a thing.”

  Lena let out a long exhale and nodded. “I appreciate this. It’s my grandpa’s place. It’s been a little too much for me to keep up with since he was forced to retire.”

  Tommy nodded. “Colt’s on his way to Denton.”

  Gabe frowned, not understanding, but Lena’s hand gripped his so hard that he figured it out quickly. “Jake’s in Denton?” he asked her.

  “Yes. How the hell…” She shook her head, her lips twisting in a snarl. “Don’t imagine it was that hard for your brother to find them. Not when you Triplehorns have money to throw around.”

  Tommy raised his brows and narrowed his eyes. “He’s on his way, but only ’cause he wanted to have them at the ranch house so your mind’ll be at ease,” he said, speaking slowly. “He wants you to call them, to give them warning so they can pack. I know we’re movin’ fast, Lena, but we don’t mean any harm. We take care of our own.”

  Lena didn’t say anything. Gabe gave her hand another squeeze, telling her silently that everything would be all right. “Where’s Zuri?”