Adrian dropped his belt and caressed Sophie’s blazing ass cheeks, the bright-red skin hot to the touch. Fear for her safety tonight hadn’t allowed for second-guessing or leniency when she’d come in right when he was on his way out to search for her. Never, not even when Nicole had gone missing, had he experienced such gut-wrenching apprehension for someone. Her quick, sure acceptance of punishment when he’d given her his ultimatum had backed him into an unexpected corner, but he should have remembered her easy fall into submission from before. He suspected they were both acting out of character because whatever this was growing between them had taken them so fast and gone so deep, neither knew how to handle it. He sure as hell didn’t.

  “Don’t move,” he ordered before relinquishing her soft flesh to scoop an ice cube out of the freezer. Other than to turn her head and watch him with widening eyes, she stayed in position until he rubbed the ice over her flaming buttocks. Squealing, she reared upward, but he pinned her back down with his other hand between her shoulders. “Stay put,” he repeated. “This will help.”

  “Says who?” she grumbled, her skin breaking out in goose bumps, a visible, delicate shiver rippling down her spine.

  “As much as I like how you say what you’re thinking, you need to curb that tendency when we’re together. There, isn’t that better?” Tossing the melting cube into the sink behind him, he ran his chilled fingers over the now pink instead of bright-red globes.

  Her sigh and relaxed smile revealed as much as her soft reply. “Yes, much.”

  “Good girl.” Sliding from her butt into her hot pussy, he warmed his fingers inside her slick core while sheathing his cock one-handed. He struggled to stay in control as he helped her upright, turned her around, and lifted her onto the edge of the counter. Spreading her thighs, he watched her eyes jump from his face to his cock, never looking away as he tunneled past the resistance of her tight muscles, her abundant cream the only thing easing his way.

  “Adrian, Sir!” She gasped, throwing her hands behind her to keep from falling backward, her gaze still glued to his penetrating cock. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she dug her heels into his buttocks, pushing his pelvis closer.

  Sophie’s eagerness for his fucking stripped away his intention to go slow and careful for her sake. Hell, if she was up for a bout of hard, rough sex on the counter, that just might temper the volatile emotions still threatening his sanity from when he had imagined her hurt or in trouble somewhere.

  Withdrawing slowly, he drawled, “Sophie, baby, it seems we’ll both have to learn and accept I have only so much patience and control around you.” He thrust back into her clasping sheath with one hard push, gripping her thighs to keep her from falling off the edge.

  “I don’t need patience or control, just you, just this,” she whispered in a voice raw with intensity, lifting eyes drenched with a depth of need for forgetfulness he could commiserate with.

  “Then that’s what I’ll give you.”

  Adrian caved to the edginess that had claimed his body and taken over his senses since she walked in. Slamming into her tight, hot core, the tiny clutches of her rippling muscles drove him to the brink of ecstatic madness, her mewling pleasure as she strained against his driving thrusts music to his ears. They both watched his pummeling cock, glistening with her juices, as he took them to that place where nothing else mattered except the pounding together of their bodies. A buzzing started in his head, growing louder the harder he hammered into her, the deeper he propelled through her squeezing clutches. His thick girth spread her labia, exposing her swollen, red clit, making it easy for him to press harder against the bundle of nerves with each downward plunge and every slow withdrawal.

  “Yes!” she cried out, arching her head back and closing her eyes as her climax milked his cock and soaked his flesh.

  Adrian let go with a shout, cursing and relishing the tight contractions pumping around his pummeling flesh, riding through a height of pleasure he couldn’t recall achieving with anyone else. By the time he returned with enough awareness to slow down, he opened his eyes to see a small smile of satisfaction curling her lips. Caressing her still-clinging walls with shallow dips, he leaned forward and kissed her, unable to help himself.

  Their heavy breathing mingled, and he could almost hear her heart thundering in tune with his. Sliding his hands under her still-warm ass, he whispered against her mouth, “Hold on,” and lifted her off the counter.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  Her warm breath brushed his ear, her body tense as they reached the elevator. “To my room. I’m not done with you yet.”

  Melting against him, Sophie sighed. “Okay.”

  ****

  Sophie once again awoke in Adrian’s bed to discover he was already up and gone from the room. Rolling to her back, she groaned at the slight pressure on her sore butt then sighed with a smile of contentment, enjoying the aching reminder of the debauchery she’d indulged in last night. He’d taken her two more times during the night, his stamina shocking her, along with his inventiveness and strength. She loved the way he maneuvered her pliant body into position without effort, as if she weighed nothing, his harsh instructions in her ear the only thing she heard other than their heavy breathing and slick bodies grinding together, his hard hands and harder body the only thing she felt in the dark.

  His strength and caring hold all night accomplished what everything else before him failed to do and kept the loneliness and pain of her loss at bay.

  That and her job, that was all she wanted from him, she told herself as she returned to her room to shower and dress. But when she skipped downstairs with an eagerness to see him, hoping he was still in the house, she realized she was kidding herself. Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse going haywire when she entered the kitchen and saw him leaning with negligent ease against the counter, his potent, assessing look curling her toes, confirming her belief whatever this was had slipped past just sex.

  “There you are. I was about to come up and wake you.” Setting his coffee cup down, he reached for another, filled it from the pot, and handed it out to her. “I wanted to make sure you were okay before I leave. Did I mention Ashe and I were going to auction today?”

  “Thanks.” She took the cup and sipped, disappointed at the reminder he would be gone all day. “You did, but I confess I forgot.”

  “Don’t plan dinner. We’ll pick something up since it’ll be late when we return.” Cupping her chin, he wouldn’t let her avoid his astute once-over, holding her face up for his scrutiny. “No poor effects or regrets?”

  That was why he’d slipped so easily and so fast past her defenses. He acted gruff, stern, and strict one minute then caring and concerned the next. When combined with his killer body, lethal gazes, and ways to make her forget everything except him, how was she supposed to stay immune from such a package?

  “Not a one, as long as I still have a job,” she returned candidly, needing him to reaffirm her status.

  He caught her off guard when he pulled her close and hugged her. “You still have a job, Sophie,” he whispered in her hair. “I’m sorry I left you thinking you might not. We’ll talk more about this later. I have to get going. Ashe is waiting for me.”

  She pulled out of his embrace and flicked him a teasing grin to lighten the air. “Are you sure you two can spend the day together without going at each other?”

  “Honestly? No, but we’ve gotten good at setting aside our differences for the sake of work.”

  Sadness clouded his eyes, and Sophie wished she could say or do something to help him mend the rift between them. “Were you two always at odds with each other?”

  He turned his back to her to rinse his cup. “No, in fact, growing up, we were inseparable.” Pivoting, he gave her a quick, hard kiss and snatched his Stetson off a hook by the back door. “I’ll call you when we’re on our way back so you won’t fret hearing us come in.”

  “Thanks. Adrian. Have you seen Tink? She hasn’t been around in days.”

  He paused, hand on the knob, and turned to look at her, his face softening. “No, but she does that. She’ll show up, sooner or later.”

  He left without another word, and the loneliness of the long day ahead came bearing down on Sophie, dampening her good mood.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sophie leaned on the fence rail, pulling her jacket closed against the chill. The weather had taken a definite turn toward colder days but still remained shy of having to stay in or wear a heavier coat. It was another drastic difference between here and home she had to adjust to, the biggest one being her boss and their escalating relationship.

  Over a week had passed since he’d carried her up to his room after the kitchen counter sex, and she’d spent every night since molded against all those naked muscles, her body sated, her mind at ease as she’d drifted into dreamless sleep. She’d tried listening for him when he awoke, promised herself each night she would get up with him at the crack of dawn. But so far, she’d failed, not rousing until he was already dressed and either downstairs or at work. To say he wore her out was an understatement.

  He was easy to spot among the riders driving the red-coated cattle into the pasture closest to the mammoth barn that housed the winter feed. Sitting tall on his palomino, wearing nothing against the chilly air except a dark-gray flannel shirt, his hat tipped low, he was the epitome of a sexy, melt-your-panties cowboy. And for now, he was all hers.

  She struggled to wrap her mind around that. Who would have thought she would fall for the cold, brooding employer she first met, or the angry man whose suspicions of those closest to him caused tension every time they were all together? The sex and days of relief she experienced from his brand of dominant fucking only accounted for a part of her downfall. That possessive, caring side of Adrian was hard to resist when the tenderness he revealed for his prized horses proved they meant more to him than money. It was impossible to miss the sadness and regret etched on his face whenever someone mentioned his wife, despite her betrayal and the dissipation of their marriage, or how his wrath would surface if someone said or did something that egged on his mistrust of those around him.

  “You would never guess Adrian and Ashe were worth millions seeing them working alongside their hired hands,” Rachel commented, joining Sophie.

  Yet another trait to admire about him, Sophie mused, thinking of the long hours and hard work he put in day after day when he could hire enough people to cover every chore.

  “That was one of the things about them that surprised me when I first got here. I expected both to act the part of spoiled, rich men. Goes to show you, doesn’t it?”

  “Don’t judge a book by its cover? Sure does.” Rachel nudged her with her elbow, her grin cheeky. “Was the other thing walking in on a ménage?”

  Sophie chuckled. “Yeah, that was an eye-opener.”

  “And now here you are, shacking up with him. Please tell me my imagination has been on target all these years and he’s as hot in bed as he looks.”

  Heat enveloped her face, but that didn’t stop her from teasing Rachel right back. “In bed, on the kitchen counter, against the wall, under the shower…”

  “Stop, stop!” She laughed, shaking with mirth. “Okay, I deserved that, and the pictures you put in my head.”

  “I bet they were already there, only some with Wyatt.” Sophie flicked her gaze toward Wyatt riding the herd, showing he wasn’t a stranger to ranching.

  “You’ve got that right, the stupid moron.” The wistfulness of her gaze drinking in Wyatt’s form belied the annoyance in her soft voice.

  “I’m sorry it’s not working out for you.”

  What else could she say? If the two of them, who were friends for years before hooking up, couldn’t make a go of a relationship, what chance did she and Adrian stand? There remained decades they hadn’t discussed between them; in fact, she was usually so hot and needy for him most of the time, they ended up naked instead of taking any time for a discussion.

  “Yeah, me too, but now it’s up to him. I told him to get the help he needed to beat his addiction before I would sleep with him again. Tough love really sucks because I don’t want anyone else now that I gave in and slept with him, at least not right now.” She nodded toward the riders heading in to the stable yard. “Looks like they’re done for the day. Why don’t you and Adrian come to the Drop In tonight? Nora’s already there helping Jessie, who’s shorthanded.”

  “Sounds fun…” Sophie trailed off, and Rachel followed her gaze that had zeroed in on the small bundle cradled in Adrian’s arm. Her throat went dry seeing Tink lying listless then taking in his guarded but compassionate expression in the quick glance he sent her. “Something’s wrong.”

  Rachel frowned. “He doesn’t look happy, which is nothing new, but neither do any of them.”

  Adrian dismounted, tossed King’s reins to Dustin with a curt order Sophie couldn’t hear before he strode her way, Wyatt and Ashe right behind him.

  “Something happened?” She thought she might know and didn’t want him to confirm it.

  “I’m sorry, Sophie.” Still holding Tink, he picked up her hand and squeezed. “We found Tink at the edge of the woods. She’s breathing, but barely.”

  “What happened?” Her chest hurt, but no tears formed. Maybe she was becoming immune to loss, and wouldn’t that be sad in itself? “Did something get to her?”

  His hand tightened around hers, and his face went granite hard, his body taut with anger. Now what? Maybe she didn’t want to hear any more.

  “Go ahead,” Ashe snarled, his whisker-shadowed jaw just as rigid as Adrian’s. He whipped his head toward her and Rachel, and she could just make out the furious slit of his cold eyes under the rim of his hat. “The damn cat was poisoned, and typical of my cousin, he thinks one of us is responsible. Isn’t that right, Adrian? The stupid thing couldn’t possibly have gotten into the rat poison we keep in the barn and stable, could she? That would make too much sense, and you wouldn’t have another excuse to accuse us of something you know damn good and well none of us would ever do.”

  He stormed off without another word, Wyatt following him after sending Adrian a censuring glare.

  “Nicole loved…that…cat.” Rachel’s voice choked, her eyes swimming with tears as she looked up at Adrian. “She’s a connection to her around here. I hope you can save her.” She ran a hand over Tink’s head before turning away.

  Sophie didn’t know what to think watching Rachel stroll to her car with leaden steps. She shouldn’t ask, but something compelled her to when she looked at Adrian again. “What can you do?”

  Shaking his head, he replied, “I’ll get her to the vet and then it will be wait and see. I’m sorry. I know you’re attached to her.”

  She could hear the cattle lowing clearer now they were closer, the cowhands milling around, doing chores and the horses’ whinnies, all now familiar and somewhat comforting sounds. “Yes.” Leaving it at that, she asked him, “You don’t really believe someone would poison her on purpose, do you?”

  Tugging her alongside him, he started toward the house. “Yes and no. We keep the rat poison locked up except what’s in the traps, which Tink couldn’t reach without getting hurt. There were no signs of injury from a trap snapping her. But I suppose she could have wandered into someone else’s storage and gotten into something there. Hell, anything is possible. Why don’t you join Rachel at the Drop In? I have work to do when I get back, and I won’t make good company around any of them or you right now.”

  Sophie didn’t want to spend the evening alone, worrying about Tink’s fate, especially after enjoying Adrian’s focused attention the last week. She would sit around and fret wallow while pining for him like a pathetic teenager with a crush. “Okay, if you’re sure,” she replied, hoping he would change his mind. With trembling fingers, she caressed the still cat.

  Opening the front door for her, he placed his hand on her butt and ushered her inside. “I’m sure.”

  Tingles from that light pressure against her sore cheeks were still teasing her when she drove out to the bar a short time later, the distraction helping to keep her mind off Tink. She shouldn’t have let herself care so much for someone else’s pet, but Tink had befriended her as soon as she’d arrived almost a month ago, and she couldn’t help but welcome her sweet attachment after the cold loneliness of the past months. As long as there was a chance she would survive, regardless of how slim, she would hold out hope.

  Pulling into the parking area in front of the roadside bar, Sophie fought the tears threatening her composure, waiting to get herself under control before going inside. If she weren’t sure Rachel and Nora were here, she wouldn’t have come. Places like this weren’t her thing. In fact, she mused, entering the dim, crowded establishment, she never even frequented the popular pubs in New Orleans.

  She spotted the girls sitting at the bar and wound her way through the tables to join them. The combined noise of blaring music and boisterous conversations made talking impossible until she sat right next to Nora and could be heard over the din by leaning close. Already she wanted to leave.

  “You like this place, huh?” she asked, waving to Rachel on the other side of Nora. Sophie noticed Wyatt at a nearby table with two guys and another woman then saw Rachel’s unhappy expression.

  Nora shrugged. “When I’m not pissed with him, I like spending time with Jessie, and this is where he is five nights a week.”

  Jessie saw her and came right over, her heart twisting from his compassionate look, recalling his fondness for Tink. Reaching over, he squeezed her fingers. “You doing all right, hon? Ashe told us about Tink.”

  “So-so,” she admitted since he would see through a lie. All three of the guys seemed as astute at reading women as Adrian was with her. “Could I get a bourbon and water, please?”

  “Coming right up.” He winked at Nora. “I might cut out of here early,” he told her then turned to fix drinks at the counter along the wall behind him.