Staking His Claim

STAKING HIS CLAIM by Lynda Chance *** Twenty-one-year-old Elaina Ruiz has only just begun college when she meets Raul Vega for the first time. Recognizing his ruthless intensity for what it is, she doesn’t correct him when he assumes she is an eighteen-year-old freshman. Raul Vega has never met a woman he couldn’t do without. Until he meets Elaina Ruiz and knows she has to belong to him--even if it means waiting for her to grow up. *** SMASHWORDS EDITION *** Staking His Claim Copyright © 2012 by Lynda Chance All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. *** This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental. *** Smashwords Edition, License Notes This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. ***

Dedication To Rita, Whose help has been like gold dust sprinkled around me. And to Clayton, Because . . . just because.

***

CHAPTER ONE Raul Vega leaned against the wall and surveyed the scene around him. Condensation from the ice melting in his mixed drink soaked the red and gold napkin wrapped around the transparent green cup in his hand. What the hell was he doing here? He wasn't into the social scene at all, his time eaten up with running his ranch and the everyday minutiae that went along with it. He didn't have time for this shit. But Brian and Janie Canton were the closest thing to neighbors he had, and if truth be told, the closest thing to friends, as well. Janie had made it known to all and sundry that Raul would be at their Christmas party, and in the end, as cold and icy as his heart was, he still hadn't been able to say no. So now, here he stood, his back to the wall, and watched the beautiful blond couple entertaining what felt like the whole damn county. The house was beautiful, richly decorated and spilling over with lights and greenery that reflected Janie's passion for all things holiday. It was nauseating. He took a drink of the bourbon he had been nursing for the last hour and wondered how quickly he could leave without coming off like the rude fuck that he was. His eyes travelled around the circle of people standing near him. Two women stood side by side, one blonde, one red-headed, playing up the other's charms, both vying for his attention. He had felt their shrewd, calculating eyes coming back to him over and over since he arrived. They were both over the top glamorous, with long hair and manicured hands. Both had attempted to draw him into conversation, and after his second heated glare, had given up momentarily. He knew from experience they would try again. They always did. Raul wasn't interested in either one of them. They both looked like they wanted the same two things. Getting him exclusively in their beds, and then getting to his bank account. He'd met their type before, many times, and as distracting as taking one of them to bed would be, he knew he'd regret it tomorrow. Neither held enough appeal for him to have to suffer the ordeal of extricating himself from the situation after. He had to admit, the selection of available women this far out in the rural countryside was limited. Driving to San Antonio was always an option, but the pleasures of mindless sex were always mitigated by the long drive and the irritation of having to take time away from the ranch. These days, he didn't think it was worth it. The women that he had met lately were all transparent. They all had an agenda. He didn't know when or how he'd become so cynical, but recently, there hadn't been a single woman to cross his radius that seemed genuine. He didn't exactly know where to slot Janie. His neighbor's new wife seemed okay. She was pretty enough, and in her mid-thirties, she hadn't been married before. She was blonde and vivacious and he knew Brian doted on her. Raul figured she wasn't as bad as the rest, and was glad his friend had found her. But still, when Brian had returned from his trip to Houston last year with a bride in tow, it had been a shock to the whole county. But Janie had eyes only for Brian, and her gaze constantly found her husband's across the crowded room and flashed wickedly. Raul was floored that her apparent love for her husband seemed to be authentic and if she had an ulterior motive, he couldn't see it. There were probably fifty people crowded through the house, laughing and mingling around the kitchen and living areas. He had parked himself in this corner and hadn't moved since he arrived. John Garrett, another neighbor, walked over to speak to him. John's wife had died a couple of years before, and the guy was almost as anti-social as Raul was. "What's up, man?" Garrett asked in a smooth drawl. Raul lifted his chin in a small, imperceptible nod of greeting. "Humoring Janie. Ready to leave." Garrett nodded his agreement. "County sure doesn't know what to think since Janie came. Parties and bullshit." "Yeah." Garrett had stayed true to his wife for twelve months, but Raul knew from the small town gossip that since then, his neighbor had been screwing everything far and wide. Garrett was sandy blond, in contrast to Raul's own dark-haired, Spanish heritage. Everybody around town was blond. It was an anomaly being so close to Mexico. People should have been dark, but in this small forty or so square miles close to the Texas Hill country, most were blond. Raul's coloring always attracted attention. And now, standing straight and tall next to his equally tall neighbor, the two females who'd been watching him since he'd gotten there were practically salivating. Raul saw the two women eyeing them up, not even attempting to hide it anymore. Garrett spoke in a sneer. "Unless you got dibs buddy, the one on the left goes home in my truck." Raul knocked back the rest of his drink and casually glanced over at the woman in question. He studied her intently, waiting to feel something other than sheer boredom. He saw her eyes flare with a heated, predatory look that left him cold. Nothing had changed since the last time he looked. She seemed exactly like all the rest. Out for a good time. Out for a rich man. Out for some sex. She did nothing for him. "Be my guest." Raul knew Garrett was about to make his move on the woman when Janie breezed back into the room, her arm wrapped tightly around a young, dark-haired girl carrying a backpack. The girl was wearing jeans and a pink t-shirt, with her hair in a ponytail and her face free of make-up. She was pretty, couldn't have been more than eighteen or nineteen, and he felt Garrett freeze beside him. Raul didn't know who the girl was, but he vaguely remembered Brian telling him something about a niece who had lost her mother recently. She was small and looked Hispanic and some protective instinct he never realized he had rose up within him. He felt his body tighten and hissed a warning to the man standing next to him. "Don't even fucking think about it man, she's just a baby." The other man's eyes stayed narrowed on the girl, and Raul held himself stiffly until Garrett seemed to think better of it and turned his attention back to the two women. Raul took a calming breath, using the moment to excuse himself from getting caught in a social foursome that he had no intention of allowing. Relieved that Garrett had moved his attention away from the younger girl, he spoke both to reward the man and to extricate himself from the clutches of the two women. "Take 'em both. I'm getting another drink." He walked into the den where his host stood mixing cocktails and socializing with his friends and neighbors. Raul caught Brian's eye and in moments the other man was

pouring him another drink. All the while, Raul felt, rather than saw, Janie leading the young girl around the guests, casually introducing her. New drink in hand, Raul was checking his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time when Janie came up behind him and spoke, "Raul, sweetie, look what I've got here." Janie's voice was melodious and filled with sincere, sweet southern honey. Raul shifted around and his gaze ran over the girl with Janie. He stiffened imperceptibly when brown eyes lifted to his and he was ensnared by the exotic beauty of her young face. Immediately, he was swamped with unwanted heat. A raw, basic hunger pulsed through his system he had no right or desire to feel for a girl this young. But nonetheless, it was there, and it was beating forcefully through his bloodstream. She was small with silky dark hair and a skin so porcelain-fine his eyes narrowed in on her and studied her intently, looking for a flaw, any flaw. There wasn't one that he could see. Her eyes were sexily slanted, dark brown and intense, and her nose was straight with a slight upward tilt that only enhanced her delicate beauty. Of their own volition, fighting everything his brain was advising, his eyes dropped and slid down her body. Her hips were narrow below a sharply indented waist. The pink t-shirt clung to her frame and accentuated the slight feminine mounds of her breasts. A fierce arrow of arousal and an alarming need to possess slammed through him and he tightened his body to rein in control. Total heat swamped him and he had to force words out of his mouth. "Who's this?" "This is my sweet baby niece, Elaina. She's home for Christmas. Elaina, meet our neighbor and very dear friend, Raul." As Raul studied the girl in front of him, someone called Janie's name from the other room. "I've got to see what that's all about. I'll be right back." She floated off and Raul was left alone with the young girl. He felt the need to touch her and couldn't stop himself, so he offered her his outstretched palm. "Raul Vega." **** As the deep, commanding voice lacerated her insides, Elaina tentatively reached out to give her palm to the tall, dark man standing in front of her. His hand encapsulated hers completely and didn't let go. A searing moment of shock hit her as she glanced at the rough, masculine hand holding hers captive before her eyes slowly climbed back to his face. His hand was lean and strong, gripping hers with enough force to momentarily hold her immobile without actually hurting her. The calluses she felt only emphasized his masculinity; the combination of his hand gripping hers and his eyes swallowing her whole were almost more than she could handle at the moment. Her heartbeat accelerated and blood pulsed through her veins. Heat swam down her body and she prayed her face didn't show the effect he had on her. As he continued to hold her hand in a tight clasp, she silently studied him. The man was magnificent. There were no other words. She guessed his age around thirty, and his surname was indicative of the looks he carried. He was dark and swarthy, his features chiseled and defined in a way that was very much Castilian. He was tall, probably a couple of inches over six feet, with a steely magnetism that ran through his body. She realized through a haze of disconcertion that he was studying her as intently as she watched him. She sucked in a breath and held it in her tight throat as her body trembled beneath his too-close observation. A tiny blossom of what felt very much like fear unfurled inside her and mingled with the sharp bite of attraction. Her reaction to him unnerved her. He wasn't dropping her hand, and Elaina waited silently to be released so she could get the hell away from him. She was seriously out of her depth, and she didn't want or need his searing attention. "You don't look like your aunt." His voice was deep and smooth and rattled her already frayed nerves. The drive had been long, it was getting late and she was tired and hungry. The very last things she needed right now were to deal with a man that reeked machismo and everything his searing gaze implied. She needed to escape, but somehow, she managed to be polite. "No, sir. I favor my father's side of the family." She wanted to put space between them and hoped the small inflection she put on the word 'sir' would do the trick. Right after the slightly accented word came from her lips, her hand was dropped, but his intense scrutiny didn't leave her. "What's your last name?" he asked. "Ruiz." "Hispanic." It wasn't a question. She replied automatically. "Si." "Home from where?" "School." "College?" "Yes." The need to know her age was paramount. "What year?" "First year." Raul felt a deep hit of disappointment when he received that answer. She was just a baby. And he needed to remember it. "What are you studying?" "Nursing."

"What school?" "University of Texas." She elaborated, "San Antonio." "So you're close by." In the wide expanse of Texas, anything less than seventy-five miles was close by. "I assume that's why you're staying here for Christmas?" Her bottom lip trembled. "That and because Janie's the only family I have left." "I'm sorry, baby." His rough voice dropped an octave. She felt his heated sympathy wash through her. The presumptuous way he called her baby ignited both agitation and weakness within her. She couldn't afford to be weak so she steeled her spine and lifted her chin. "Not your fault, Mr. Vega, but thanks anyway." Her words were sharp and didn't leave room for more questions of an intimate nature. She lifted her backpack to her shoulder. "It's late and I'm not up for a party. It was nice to meet you." She turned to go. His eyes continued to watch her. "Goodnight, Miss Ruiz. It's been a pleasure." His dark voice was still clamoring in her brain as she walked down the hallway to the bedroom that now belonged to her. She wearily sank down on the bed and dropped her backpack beside her. She was intensely tired, her body physically and mentally worn out by the struggle of living through the months and years just passed. Her mother had developed breast cancer at the end of Elaina's senior year in high school. With the help of Aunt Janie, Elaina had managed to stay in school and graduate. But her mom had been in and out of the hospital after that, and Elaina had taken on the responsibility of her care as her mother fought the fight that had ultimately taken her life. Elaina had wanted to do anything she could for the woman who had single-handedly raised her after her dad had died fighting in Iraq. Nursing her mother as much as she could from home had been a loving chore that she had eagerly undertaken. Her mom hadn't wanted her to delay college, but there had been no other option in Elaina's mind. The love she had for her mom was too strong to let her care go to strangers. Elaina knew, rightly so, that whether her mom won the fight or not, that her own life could always continue later. This might be the only time she had left with her mom, so she had effectively put her own life on hold, and for over three years she'd virtually stayed at home and nursed her ailing mother. When exactly she had promised her parent that she would become a nurse, she couldn't remember, but she had promised, and now that pledge was weighing heavily on her heart. She'd never had an affinity for the sick room, and admitted to herself she never had the calling to become a nurse. She'd promised her mom solely because the older woman thought she'd make such a good health-care professional, and it seemed to put her mind at ease visualizing what her daughter's life would be like when she was gone. And now Elaina was trapped, with just one semester of nursing school under her belt, she knew she didn't want to go back. She'd been struggling with it for several months now. She didn't want to be around sick people any longer. If push came to shove and she had to nurse another loved one, she knew she could find the inner strength somewhere, but as a career choice, it wasn't going to work. She didn't want to be around death and sickness; she desperately needed a break. The semester had started only two weeks after her mother had died. Before she had time to think or plan, with the urging of Aunt Janie, she had found herself enrolled and going to school. Going to school for something that she didn't aspire to be. There were many wonderful nurses; she knew that and was thankful to them all for the care her mother had received in the hospital. But it was a calling that unfortunately, she didn't have. She was just so tired. Tired of it all. She needed some time off, some time to herself, where she didn't have to constantly be going to school and studying. She didn't mind getting a job, and in fact was looking forward to earning her own money, but she needed something that would give her the evenings free, so she could just be herself and chill. Was that too selfish a thing to want? Guilt ate at her knowing it would be going against her mom's hopes and dreams for her. But what about her hopes and dreams? What about having friends, being young, dating? She hadn't even had a date since high school. She'd met a few people at college, young men who had been interested, but for the first few months her grief was still too fresh to even consider it. And lately, the crushing workload left no time for a social life. She sighed and closed her eyes. She just wanted some peace for awhile.

CHAPTER TWO On Monday, mid-morning, Elaina stood next to her uncle's farm truck at the feed store and watched it being loaded. This small town was the nearest one to the ranch, and at ten miles away, it boasted less than a thousand people in population. She'd been here several times in the last six months since her mother had died and Janie had married Brian. She really liked the small town. For the first thirteen years of her life, Elaina had been raised an army brat. Just as soon as she made friends and got used to a school, her father upped and moved them. It hadn't been easy. She longed for a real home and solid roots. Everyone in this small town was friendly, and as she wanted to be helpful, when the subject came up, she had quickly offered to make the drive for supplies. She stood and chatted with the boy loading the truck, enjoying the laid-back moment having nothing more pressing than getting back to the ranch with the supplies. He was about her age, maybe a year or two younger, maybe older. This was the third time in the last six months she had spoken to him since making her temporary home with her aunt and uncle. It was also the third time he had asked her out. She was actually contemplating saying yes this time. He was good-looking and he wasn't too pushy. Although he didn't make her heart beat faster, he was sweet and cute and seemed to be someone she could enjoy spending some time with. She continued to smile softly at him as he tried to cajole her into going out with him. "You know me now. You can't keep using that excuse forever." She was vaguely aware of a big, black pickup truck pulling into the parking lot as she answered with a smile in her voice. "It's not an excuse. I only found out your name today, Trevor." She stressed his name, trying out a soft, flirty tone that she hadn't wanted or attempted to use in almost four years. She watched the muscles ripple under his dusty red t-shirt as he dropped another fifty pound bag of deer corn in the back of the truck. He turned back to her, lifted the next bag, and stared down at her. "I'll take you to Uvalde tonight. We can catch a movie and--" A dark, hard voice from behind them cut him off and intruded on the personal conversation. "Can't do that, Trev. I need you this week. I've got forty protein feeders that need to be filled." She didn't turn to face the man behind her, but she recognized that voice easily. Raul Vega stood behind Elaina, his hard words interrupting her peace. Tension jolted through her from the impact of his body so close to hers. She shifted restlessly but continued to face Trevor as a frustrated expression crossed the younger man's features. "Damn, Raul--" "You were supposed to get to it last week." His voice was dark, too smooth, too controlled. "Yeah, I know. Mac needed me late every night," Trevor answered. "You still want the extra work? I can find somebody else, easy, if you don't," Raul softly threatened. The younger man let out a puff of air. "Yeah, I want the work." Trevor glanced down at Elaina and his face softened as his eyes ran over her. "Another time, pretty girl." Elaina felt tension radiating from behind her, but she managed to smile back. "Sure. Rain check," she said softly. "Yeah. Rain check." Elaina felt Trevor's blue eyes on her, both disappointment and anticipation shining in them. Trevor threw the last bag of corn up in the bed of the truck and as he turned back, Raul slammed a computerized list at his chest. "Need this quick-fast, Trev." "Sure." Trevor's gaze lingered on Elaina one last time before he turned away and jogged back into the store. Elaina closed her eyes and knew she had no option but to turn around and face Raul Vega. Best just to get it over with. Twirling the keys in her fingers in a parody of relaxation, she attempted to compose herself as she swung in a graceful motion to face the man who twice now had messed with her insides. Trying to exude a calm she wasn't feeling, she pasted a false smile on her face and spoke lightly. "Hey, Mr. Vega." He cut to the chase. "You planning on taking a ride with a kid who's a stranger to you?" he blasted out. Her muscles tensed as she lifted her chin. "He's not a stranger. I know him. Evidently, you do, too." "You didn't know that before I drove up." For whatever reason, his audacity didn't surprise her in the least. She inhaled deeply and took her best shot, answering him in slow, firm words. "I may seem young to you, but I assure you, I'm an adult and can make good decisions." Raul steeled his guts against the lust that consumed him once again and gave her his opinion. "I don't think a freshman in college is an adult, baby. Maybe your definition is different than mine." He looked her over, his eyes going from the silky hair again in a ponytail, to the t-shirt that molded her feminine form. His eyes stalled on the slender hips encased in skin tight jeans, and ended up at the dusty orange Ropers on her feet. Orange. Shit. She was just a fucking kid and he was goddamn lusting after her. He needed to get his head out of his ass and fast. His voice snarled at her but the reminder was for himself, "You need to grow up some before anyone in their right mind can call you an adult." Elaina felt a frisson of anxiety slide through her. First year. Freshman in college. She was just about to begin arguing with him that it wasn't any of his business when it dawned on her that he thought she was a teenager. The first time she met him, it hadn't occurred to her that he might think she was younger than she actually was. But twice now, he'd seen her without any make-up, wearing scruffy, beat-up clothes. Maybe she should keep him in the dark. Maybe the age difference would put a wall between them, protect her from him. Did she need protection from him? Did she even want protection from him? Heat slid through her as his dark gaze stayed on her, his countenance filled with anger and something else she was simply too distressed to fully acknowledge. She didn't have loads of experience with men, but she was smart and the female intuition banging loudly in her head was telling her she was going to at least need all the distance she could get from him.

She let the comment go and moved to get away from him. Suddenly, she didn't feel quite safe. "Thanks for your concern. I promise I'll be more careful." She turned away from him, left him standing alone, his hands clenched into fists. She slipped into the truck and pulled out of the parking lot. It wasn't until she was nearly home that she realized she should have been thinking about Trevor. But she hadn't been. Her thoughts were consumed with one man only. Raul Vega. **** Three days later, Raul's cell phone rang and he flipped it open. The display read Brian Canton. "What's up?" "Raul, I hate to bother you, man, but shit, Janie's about to freak." Raul cradled the phone to his ear and began ripping the leather work gloves from his hands. "What's the matter?" "Elaina's car broke down three miles from the house and we're in San Antonio. She doesn't mind walking back, but you know Janie, she's a city girl, she's freaking out thinking something might happen to Elaina." Raul felt immediate and unintentional heat fuelling his blood. "No problem. She on the south end of county road?" "Yeah, probably half a mile from you. Thanks, man. Drop her at the house. We won't be home for a couple of days. Buying supplies for another damn party. Just leave the car, I'll get Earl to pick it up and take it to the garage." "You got it." Raul closed his cell and walked to his truck, pissed at himself for the uncontrollable and sudden heat of arousal pumping through his veins. He tried to rein in his lust in a futile attempt as he reminded himself repeatedly, she's too damn young. **** Elaina had walked about a mile from her car toward the house when she heard the diesel motor idle up behind her. She figured the farther she walked, the less time she would have to spend with him. Confused and irritated with herself for the way he made her feel, she didn't want to be in his radius any more than was strictly necessary. She hadn't felt comfortable admitting that to Brian when he told her he was going to call Raul. She scooted to the side of the gravel road and waited for the big, black 4 X 4 to roll up beside her. The passenger door opened from the inside and she grabbed it with her hand. "Get in."

CHAPTER THREE Anxiety and a sliver of tension coursed through her. She didn't care for big men who thought they could tell her what to do. She especially didn't care for big, tall, Latino men telling her what to do. Latino men had that certain machismo that Anglos didn't. It was the way they were brought up, the way their fathers raised them. They thought they were the dominant gender and acted and lived it. Her gentle, blonde mother had warned her often enough. Maybe they weren't all like that, but nothing so far had indicated to her that Raul Vega wasn't. But Brian had called him to bail her out, and she had no choice but to make nice. She put her dusty tennis shoes on the running board and climbed in his truck. Easing down into the leather seat, she swiveled to face him. "Thanks for picking me up." She settled in the seat and felt his eyes on her. "Got your phone?" "Yes." "Pull it out." She did as he asked and raised her eyebrows in question. He rattled off his number and made her key it in and then repeat it to him. "You don't take any chances, you need someone, anytime, you can't get Brian, you call me. Anytime." "Okay, thanks. Again, I'm sorry to be a bother." "No problem, Miss Ruiz. You can't help when your vehicle breaks down. These things happen." He put the truck into drive and eased his foot down until they were slowly rolling down the deserted road. Elaina was agitated by his presence and her brain wasn't functioning like it should be. She said the first thing out of her head. "Yeah, well, I didn't have to run out of gas." He immediately braked and turned to look at her. "You what?" Shit! Why the hell had she said that? Her eyes flew to his and she mumbled, "Ran out of gas." Fury took over his features as he slammed the truck into park and turned fully to face her. "Tell me you didn't just say that, Miss Ruiz." "Look, it's not your problem, I appreciate you giving me a ride--" "Do you know what can happen to little girls on a deserted road when they have a disabled vehicle?" "It wasn't intentional--" "You let yourself run too low on gas." His eyes ran over her. "That's not very smart." His voice was glacial. "Yeah, well, I'm not a little girl--" "You better be thankful you're a little girl right now." He looked down at her bare legs. It might be December, but it was almost eighty degrees in south Texas. Anger penetrated the fog in her brain and her spine stiffened. "What the hell do you mean by that? Are you threatening me?" "I'm stating a fact. You. Are. Lucky. You're. A. Little. Girl." He punched the words out, pulsating anger coming with them. His tone and attitude pissed her off. He was nothing to her; he had no right to speak to her like that. She became belligerent. "What the fuck's it to you?" His hand reached out and swiped her wrist in a brutal move that reminded her of a snake striking. He pulled on her arm and her butt lifted involuntarily from the seat as she was forcibly moved until her face was only inches from his. Elaina sucked in a single breath and then began hyperventilating. Her eyes opened wide. Damn her mouth. "What word did you say to me?" She licked her lips as fear slid through her system. Her heartbeat pounded away in her chest as her bravado disappeared in the face of his anger and the proximity of his large body looming over hers. "N-nothing." "Good answer. Little girls don't say fuck. You understand me? Little girls who throw the fuck word around are askin' for it, baby. You askin' for it?" His hand tightened on her wrist. "Because I gotta tell 'ya, I'm trying to be nice here. But eighteen is a legal adult, Miss Ruiz. If you're askin' for it, I got every right to give it to you." Elaina shivered in his hold. Now was absolutely not the time to tell him she was twenty-one. He assumed she was eighteen because she was first year. His mistake. Her good fortune. Not everyone had the money or the opportunity to start college at eighteen. She hadn't. But no way was she telling him that now. "I'm not asking for it. Let me go." He waited for the count of three very long heartbeats as he seemed to conquer his anger. Finally, he dropped her wrist. She immediately scrambled back and scooted away from him and then lifted her hand to rub her wrist. It was red and almost sore where he had squeezed her. She bit her lip and stared at him while she held her arm and waited for him to say something, do something. His eyes dropped to her reddened wrist. "Did I hurt you?" "I'm okay." She pushed the words through gritted teeth. His eyes ran over her and Elaina was supremely conscious of the fact she should have put on more clothing that morning. Yellow t-shirt, frayed shorts and Converse weren't nearly enough protection against his dark, intense inspection. He raised his eyes from her body, to her lips. His searing stare held her until he lifted a hand, ran it through his dark hair, and put the truck back into drive. Three minutes later, he was pulling around to the front of her aunt's house.

She reached down for the handle, but before she could get her hand there, the locks were activated and she was shut inside with him until he decided to let her out. Shocked, her breathing going haywire, she silently turned to face him, her back against the door. He broodingly watched her and took his time about speaking. "I'm going to get one of my men to put gas in your car and bring it around. There's no sense in having the garage pick it up. But you can bet your ass I'm going to tell Brian what you did. Maybe he can talk some sense into you." "You're too kind, Mr. Vega." Her words were sarcastic and she watched a quick, ferocious scowl cross his face. "You just do not know when to quit pushing, do you?" "Let me out." He didn't move. His eyes were glued to her. She tried again. "Let me out." "Doesn't feel good, does it? Knowing you're stuck. You better be glad it was me that found you, baby. Another man might not have been such a gentleman." Her eyes flared wide. "A gentleman? Are you f--" Her voice stopped on that word he hated as he interrupted her at the same time. "You want your ass blistered?" Great waves of intense fury mingled with fear pulsed through her bloodstream. The fury won. "You think you're man enough to do it?" He reached out and swiped her wrist again, but this time, his hold wasn't as tight. Just as strong, but not as tight. "I'm plenty man enough, you grow up some and I'll show you." His eyes glared into hers, then dropped to her lips. His nostrils flared. "That's a promise, Miss Ruiz." He released her from his hold and pressed a button to unlock the doors. She didn't wait even a second before jerking the door open and jumping down. Just before she slammed it in his face, his dark voice hit her with one last demand. "Elaina, do not run out of gas again, understand me?" She gave him a go-to-hell look, slammed the truck door, and ran up the steps to the house. **** At ten the next morning, Elaina sat on the side of the unpaved county road in almost the exact same spot where she had run out of gas the day before. Today, her car was safely in the driveway, but she was shaken and bruised. Her morning run had started out fine, but the surface of the road was not what she was used to. It was her own fault she'd tripped and fallen. She'd more than fallen, she had a couple of strawberries on her knees like she hadn't had since she was a kid. They dripped blood down both shins. The palms of her hands were rough and abraded, and one of her ankles was twisted so badly she couldn't even stand. Shit. And that wasn't the worst of it. She'd been carrying her phone, listening to music and had landed on it, crushing the screen and pretty much disabling it completely. She was stuck until a vehicle came by. Her aunt and uncle were still in San Antonio. Unease trickled through her. The good news was it was only ten in the morning, she could sit here all day before it got dark, and the weather was unseasonably mild. Another reason she had strawberries on her bare knees. She was wearing shorts again. She hung her head between her legs and waited. At one o'clock, not a single car had come by and she was getting more than a little worried. She was ferociously hungry, her face was burning from the sun, and she had to pee. Badly. **** Raul was cutting down county road on his way to the north pasture when he saw her and braked. Jesus Christ, what the hell was she up to now? Letting the truck idle, he jumped down and was squatting beside her in seconds. Her head was hanging between her legs and he gently lifted her chin until he could see her face. Her cheeks were streaked with tears and dust, and he took in the skinned knees and dried blood. "Christ, little girl, what happened to you?" "I fell." The answer was short and all she could manage. "That's it? You fell? What the hell are you doing this far from the house?" "I was running." "Running?" "Yeah, you know, running. Jogging, exercising. Whatever." Raul was acquainted with the concept. He just never had to do it. He got so much damn exercise around the ranch, he needed extra calories and protein. He damn sure didn't want to expend any of them uselessly. She looked at him with dark eyes swimming in tears. "I wanted somebody else," she whispered quietly. "What?" he questioned. "I didn't want you to find me. I don't want your help again. I don't want to be yelled at right now and I was praying you wouldn't find me like this." Damn. That cut him deep. He had been rough on her yesterday.

"Sorry, baby. You're stuck with me." He reached down and as gently as he could, scooped her up with one arm under her back and the other under her knees. "Put your arms around my neck." Elaina did as he said and collapsed against him. Her eyes shut and she let out a sigh of relief. It had been a long few hours. He walked around to the passenger side of his truck and deposited her there, shutting the door. She was immediately closed in again and felt much as she had the day before when he had locked her in with him. He started the truck, executed a reverse maneuver and headed down the road, back the way he came. "Brian and Janie home yet?" he asked. "No. Probably tomorrow." "Right. I'm taking you to my house." It was a statement of intent.

CHAPTER FOUR "No. I d-don't want to go to--" "Tough shit, Miss Ruiz." Her eyes welled with tears again as she swiveled her head in his direction and impaled him with a vicious glare. "See? That's why I wanted someone else to find me." Guilt and irritation trickled down his spine. Shit. She was young, she was alone and she was hurt. Couldn't he fucking rein it in with her and not act like a wad of shit? It wasn't her fault his body was screaming for her. He needed to remember that. He kept driving and the silence in the truck was deafening. Minutes later, he pulled into the circular driveway that fronted his house. He climbed out of the truck and walked around and opened the passenger door. He reached in to get her and was amazed she didn't put up more of a verbal fight about him carrying her. He found out why seconds later as he climbed the steps to the front door with her in his arms and pushed it open. "I have to pee." He didn't answer her, just strode to the nearest bathroom. He flipped the light on, and carried her to the commode. "Can you stand?" "Yes." He slid her down carefully and she put her weight on her good foot and balanced on the vanity next to the commode. "Thanks. I'll just be a minute." "Call me. I'll hear you." "Okay." She waited for him to turn and shut the door and then she sat down with a massive sigh of relief. Five minutes later, she was sitting on the closed lid of the commode and he was kneeling in front of her, carefully taking her shoes and socks off. "Damn, little girl, those are some badass skinned knees." "Mr. Vega--" He cut her off. "My name's Raul." She lifted her eyes from her torn up knees and her gaze tangled with his. His eyes were deep, unfathomable. "Say it." "Raul." "That's right, little girl." She cleared her throat minutely. "You could start calling me Elaina." His eyes stayed hot on hers but he didn't answer. She tried speaking again. "Thanks for saving me. Again." He did respond to that. "Not a problem. Better me than the next guy." She still wasn't so sure about that. "You think?" "Yeah." He turned away and came back seconds later with a tube of antiseptic ointment and a moistened cloth. He held the cloth in front of her and gently offered, "You trust me to do it?" She puffed out a breath as something unknown passed between them. "Yeah." He placed the cloth on one knee and then the next, loosening the dried blood, rubbing gently, carefully removing the sand and flakes of rock from the dried sores. It took awhile and she sat still, trying to distract herself from the pain by watching his hands on her. He had large strong hands, with thick, blunt fingers. They were cool and capable as they touched her skin. Elaina felt a trace of heat hit her high in the breasts and slide down through her system, landing in a damp pool of need between her thighs. Shocked, she trembled softly and raised her eyes back to his face. His movements stalled and she knew he felt the tremors in her body as his eyes left his task and lifted to hers. Incendiary heat passed between them. She licked her lips and stared at his male beauty. She opened her mouth and tried to speak. "So--you're not always mean." The words were off the top of her head but they conveyed her exact thought. His ministrations stopped completely and she felt his attention leave her abraded flesh and center wholly on her. She sucked in a breath at the naked look of self-contempt in his eyes. "I was hard on you yesterday." His hand stroked absently down her leg to her calf, and he rubbed back and forth, stopping to cup the feminine definition of her muscle. "I'm sorry about that. I get pissed when I get scared. And it scared me shitless to think about you putting yourself in danger." His eyes continued to rove over her features as his hands stroked her skin. "You're young and small and weak. There are bad people out there, baby." The visible anxiety in his eyes told Elaina his worry was sincere. "You have to be careful all the time, you know?" His hand lifted to her face and cupped her chin, his calloused finger tilting her face completely to his. "Okay?"

"Y-yes." Elaina was mesmerized by his masculine beauty so close to her. Her heart was beating in wild gallops; her brain seemed absent from her body. Again, she spoke without thinking, "You're so handsome." Her face immediately flushed red when she realized she had spoken the thought out loud. His hand tightened on her chin and one side of his mouth lifted in an attempt at a smile that failed completely. "Yeah? Well, you're gonna be stupendous when you get grown. You're beautiful already and there's no fucking way you can stay here with me. This was a bad idea." He let go of her face and pushed back from her onto his haunches. I'm gonna get you cleaned up and get you back home. I got a pair of crutches. You'll be fine until they get back." "Why do you get to say--the f-word and I don't?" she whispered. His hand lifted to her face one last time and held her cheek, his thumb running over the tracks that the earlier tears had left. He leaned into her, put his mouth to her ear and whispered, "You get grown up some and I'll let you say it to me all you want." His mouth lingered, and Elaina quivered as she felt him breathe in her scent and place a slow kiss on her ear. This was the third or fourth time he had made a comment about her growing up. It sent shivers through her system. Her arms were just about to reach up and enfold his neck when he abruptly stood to his feet and turned away. **** The next day Raul fought with himself off and on about checking on Elaina. He knew Brian and Janie were home, he'd seen their truck flying down the road leaving a cloud of dust a couple of hours before. At three o'clock, he couldn't fight the beast inside anymore and flipped his cell open. Brian answered it on the first ring. "Hey man. Thanks for bailing us out. Again." "No problem. She was pretty shaken up yesterday. Vicious twist to the ankle. She okay?" "Yeah. Janie drove her to the clinic this morning just to make sure there's no fracture. Just a sprain. Thanks, man." "Sure. How'd the trip go? Janie buy out the stores?" "Hell, yeah. Now we're throwing a goddamn New Year's Eve party." "Shit. Do I have to be there?" "Better believe it, pard. I gotta be there, you gotta be there." "Goddamn, Canton. You better learn how to rein her in--" He was interrupted by Brian's laugh. "Right. Not in this lifetime. This is the last one. Holidays will be over for a year. We'll let you rest after this one. Hey. You got somewhere you gotta be on Christmas Eve? Janie wants to have twilight drinks." "Twilight fuckin' what?" "Twilight drinks," Brian said on a laugh. "No worries. Nobody gonna be here but us. We're gonna light a fire and grill steaks. Dude, come on. Don't leave me alone with both these women. They've been ganging the shit up on me and I can't keep up. Six o'clock. Beer and steaks. Dude. Please." "Yeah, all right. What can I bring?" "Just yourself. Janie's already stocked your brand." **** Raul pulled his truck in front of the Canton's house three nights later. He didn't care to acknowledge to himself how much he'd looked forward to this night. Already, four days without seeing her was too damn long. The weather was mild. If Janie had her heart set on a fire, they were going to have to turn the air conditioner on. He rang the bell, twelve- pack under his arm. Janie answered the door, a smile on her face, a cold beer for him in her hand. Raul grinned at her and took the offering. "My kind of woman. Too bad Canton found 'ya first." He threw a nod at Brian who was standing behind his wife. Janie grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "Right. That would have been like me robbing the cradle, don't you think?" Raul continued to tease Janie, feeling free to do so with her husband leaning against the wall, drinking a beer, listening in. "What are you Janie, thirty-three, thirty-four? No much of a cradle robber there, sweetheart." "Well aren't you sweet, darlin'." She turned to her husband. "I knew there was a reason I liked your friend." She never gave up her age, and Raul got a kick out of it. Maybe she was closer to forty. Who the hell knew? She looked good was all he knew. Brian had done well. Except for her annoying inclination to throw parties for every damn reason, Janie seemed the perfect woman. Brian deserved her. Ten or so years older than himself, Brian Canton was a good man, a good friend, and he deserved happiness just like the next guy. Raul tossed the twelve- pack at Brian's chest as Janie pulled his arm and brought him into the room, coming to a stop next to the couch where Elaina relaxed, propped up with pillows. "Come say hi to my baby." Raul looked down and felt a vicious kick to his solar plexus. Completely annihilated by the transformation in front of him, he stood zombie-like, having to force out his voice, and all he could do was mimic Janie's words. "Hi, baby." Elaina heard the surprised heat in his voice and her stomach clenched with excitement. His eyes were running over her and his body was held immobile, as if in shock.

Four days without seeing him had left her anxious, unsatisfied. She had known he was coming and prepared well in advance. She let Janie assume it was for Christmas Eve, but Elaina knew in her heart she was dressing up for him. She had conflicted emotions--she didn't particularly want him to find out her age, but at the same time, she wanted him to see her as an adult. It made no sense. She was still on crutches, and her knees were seriously scabbed over. She couldn't wear jeans, so she had put on a little black dress that was the epitome of the phrase, and she had done her hair and make-up. He stood staring down at her, and on the inside she was laughing and shouting at the gobsmacked look on his face. So there! Raul knew he was staring, but he really didn't give a shit. He was seriously debating whether eighteen was too young for him. What the hell? She was an adult. She was old enough to vote. She was legal. Not jailbait. As he watched her, his brain analyzed the ramifications of making such a move. Janie interrupted his thoughts when she swirled back into the room and handed Elaina a can of Diet Coke. Janie was drinking a glass of wine, he and Brain were drinking beer. It was a vicious kick to his stomach to see her take a delicate sip of the soft drink. It was the kick he needed to get his head out of his ass. She's too fucking young, Vega. Understand it, man. How long would he have to wait? He'd have to let her go back to school, grow up some. Twenty-one. No. Fuck that shit. Twenty. Just not a teenager. He didn't want seducing a teenager on his conscience. He was deep in an internal conflict when Janie and Brian went outside to check the grill. The back door slammed, leaving him alone with Elaina. Silence pulsed between them as they stared at each other. She cleared her throat and asked him, "What are you thinking about?" He stood over her, and took his time answering. "I'm thinking you're dangerous, baby." "How so, Mr. Vega?" "You're dangerous to my peace, my state of mind, my equilibrium." His eyes roved down her legs, the only imperfection the scrapes on her knees. He took in everything, her tiny ankles, the pink polish on her toenails, her feminine little feet. His eyes slowly moved back up, stalling at the vee between her thighs and the curve of her chest. "You think this is a smart move, Miss Ruiz? Pulling out all the stops when you know I'm trying my damn best to stay away from you?"

CHAPTER FIVE She sucked in a breath as both pleasure and a tendril of shock trailed fingers across her spine. He was suffering the same as she was. He was temptation beyond temptation. Her heart was screaming at her to reach out for him, her brain was telling her that he was off limits. Too old. Too intense. Too macho. No doubt he did crazy things to her insides. But he just wasn't safe. She took the easy way out. "It's Christmas Eve. So I dressed up. Big deal." He reached out and took her chin in his hand and did that thing with his thumb across her face that made her body tremble. Her breathing splintered and arousal pierced her, hot and hard. His eyes were deep, dark brown. Mesmerizing. His voice was whiskey smooth. "It is a big deal, sweetheart. If you think you're grown-up, you need to prove it and stop trying to entice me. Because it's working." He took the can from her hand and put both of their drinks on the coffee table. He reached back for her and his hand continued to slide over her cheek. She nodded slightly in an attempt to agree to his demand. "Good girl." He slid down until he was sitting on the edge of the couch in front of where she was reclining, overwhelming her. Crowding her personal space. "How you feeling, baby? Still hurting?" She shook her head and answered him in a whisper. "No. I'm better." "Ready to go dancing?" he teased. "Not yet." "Poor baby. Can't go out, can't go running, can't even get up to entertain company." His words slid through her and she thought about last night and looked away from his eyes. He noticed. His fingers tightened on her chin and he demanded her attention. "Look at me." Her eyes slid carefully back to his. His features hardened, like his hand on her skin. "What'd you do?" "Nothing." "You went out, or have company? You damn sure didn't go running." She tried to play down something insignificant that somehow she knew he wouldn't like. "Yeah, I had company. Trevor came by last night." "Trevor." His voice radiated anger. "Yeah." "He touch you?" "What?" Stunned, she could only manage the one word. When had she become his property? She wasn't. "Did. He. Touch. You." He bit the words out, one by one. "That's n-not really any of your business," she stammered. "You don't think?" His mouth flattened in a line of suppressed temper. "No." "That boy's used to playing fast and loose, little girl. I've known him a long time. He's screwed everything in a four county area. You wanna be his next?" "No," she answered softly as her cheeks turned pink. "I'm going to ask you again. Did you let him touch you?" "Not like that." "Elaina." It was a warning. She took exception to his tone and her volatile temper exploded. "I'm not planning on sleeping with him, Raul. Not that it's any of your fucking business." His eyes blazed down at her. Rage colored his expression. "I've told you before. You better watch your mouth." His words were sharp. She felt his dark, compelling eyes on her. "Oh, I think you're watching it closely enough for the both of us." Suppressed lust and territorial aggression glimmered in his dark gaze, easily identifiable even to someone with her limited sexual experience. He sucked in oxygen and forced his eyes from her wet, luscious lips. His hands reached down and grabbed her wrists and pushed them over her head, pushing them into the sofa. He loomed over her, going for intimidation to get her to conform. "I'm trying to be a gentleman here." His words were a low snarl. "I'm telling you to stay away from that boy." Heat and excitement speared through her. He was trying to be a gentleman? She pushed against the hands that restrained her. They didn't give. If this was an example of him being a gentleman, she wondered what he'd be like if he lost control. A shiver of fear and curious anticipation went through her. But she wasn't ready for that, not with someone like him. No way. "You don't have the right to tell me what to do. But I'll be nice and have mercy on you and tell you how it is." She raised her neck and glared into his face, pushing against his restraining hands. "I haven't slept with him. I don't intend to sleep with him. So chill." An arrow of pure jealousy continued to pierce through his bloodstream. "Chill?"

"Yeah. Chill. You're way too serious. You need to calm down. Chill." He was about to begin interrogating her further when the back door slammed and he heard Brian and Janie come back into the house. He slid to his feet and picked his beer up from the coffee table. Putting it to his lips, he took a long pull and turned to greet his hosts, trying to give them no indication of the inappropriate conversation that had just transpired. Janie stopped in the doorway, looked between Raul and Elaina and slowly back again and then spoke in a stilted manner. "Steaks are ready." **** Raul forced himself to stay away from the Canton household the rest of the month. It wasn't easy, but it was for the best. Or so he told himself. By the time New Year's Eve dawned, he was itching for the damn party just so he could see her again. When he finally arrived, his mood blackened when he saw the amount of people already gathered there. All he could think about was getting her to himself for awhile, and now he realized that wouldn't be possible. It was probably for the best, but that didn't stop him from meandering through the house, nodding to people he knew, his purposeful strides taking him in her direction. He found her in the arched doorway between the living room and the darkened hallway that led to the bedrooms. She was covered in a tiny red dress that ended only a couple of inches below the point where her thighs met. Her ankle had obviously had time to heal, and she was standing on impossibly high-heeled strappy gold sandals that emphasized the shape and contours of her legs. The only physical effects he could see from her mishap were two pale spots on her knees where her injuries were healing and wouldn't be noticeable to anyone that wasn't looking for them. Her facial features were enhanced by the subtle use of make-up and her hair was silky smooth around her shoulders. She looked far too sophisticated for her young years. She was holding a glass of champagne in one hand and was surrounded by a group of young people that included Trevor. Raul saw red as a jealous mist swam before his eyes. He ruthlessly contained his rage and approached the group with a pleasant façade that he was far from feeling. He had one thought only. Containment. **** Elaina stood in the circle of young people feeling so emotionally free and happy she was almost delirious with it. She had finally made up her mind to withdraw from nursing school, had gotten over the guilt, and had told her aunt what she planned to do. Much to her surprise, Janie had been one-hundred percent supportive. They had talked for nearly two hours, and Elaina was going to start looking for a job close to the ranch when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season was over. Janie had well and truly convinced her that she and Brian wanted her to stay with them, and for as long as she wanted. Elaina now stood, leaning slightly against the wall, feeling completely free and easy and enjoying the conversation around her and the slight buzz that half a glass of champagne had induced. A small, happy smile on her face, she glanced across the room and her eyes tangled with the dark, intent stare of Raul Vega. Butterflies hit her stomach, and she actually felt her knees get weak. Her smile slipped a bit, and she felt a full-blown blush spread across her cheeks and warm her face. His gaze never left hers as he made his way across the room to where she was standing. She was held enthralled as she watched him approach and briefly acknowledge the people around her, before he simply reached out a hand to her and said, "Come." Her blush deepening, she didn't think to refuse him and put her hand in his, murmuring, "Excuse me," to her circle of new friends. Turning back the way he came, he pulled her with him into the privacy of the study. He shut the door, leaned back against it and crossed his arms over his chest. She turned in a half circle to face him, her heart beating triple time as he stood silently observing her. The beat of the music from the other room bled through the thick wooden door making the enclosed area of the study seem even smaller, shut away from the rest of the party. She couldn't stop the trembling in her fingers, and the champagne glass wobbled precariously. His eyes narrowed in on it. "You think you should be drinking that?" She already had enough alcohol running through her system on an empty stomach, and the effort it was taking to hold the liquid still in the glass suddenly seemed more than her nerves could handle. She reached over and set it down on a side table. "Probably not," she agreed mildly. As she turned back, it occurred to her that he was suggesting she shouldn't drink because of her youth, and not because of her nervous state. Once again, she chose not to enlighten him. He spoke, his voice rough but controlled, "You know sweetheart, I get that you're young. Too young for me. But I think you're old enough to know what you're doing to me." The look he gave her was speculative, thoughtful. "Are you doing it on purpose?" The question caught her off guard and her breath snarled in her throat. "No." He continued as if she hadn't answered, his voice turning feral, "I don't think it's escaped your notice that I'm jealous of Trevor. And I think you're using it against me." She expelled a shallow pant of air. His disclosure sent an intoxicating blend of heady power and beguiling need through her veins. Her denial came quickly, "No, I'm not. I--" "You need to have mercy on me, baby," his tone turned slightly threatening, "before I snap." Her heart pounded in her ears and she swallowed with difficulty.

He took one step away from the door and her voice unfroze as she tried to explain. "I've told you before, I'm not interested in him that way. I'm not going to start something with him, he kissed me, yeah, but--" He came to a jerky halt, his expression changing to lines of fury, steel inundating his spine. "He kissed you?"

CHAPTER SIX Elaina slammed her eyes closed as she realized what she had inadvertently revealed. Stupid. She kept her eyes closed for a few heartbeats until she felt him move right up next to her. Her lashes came up slowly to find his eyes blazing down at her and his nostrils flaring. The blood slammed through her veins and a lick of heat stroked through her body landing in a pool of vicious need between her thighs. What was it about this man? "He touched your lips?" "Jesus Christ, Raul--" He interrupted her, his voice a snarl. "Answer me." "Yes," she puffed out. His jaw hardened. "That's not acceptable." His hands came up and gripped her forearms in a hold that restrained her. She expelled a sound of laughter that wasn't in any way funny. "What are you going to do about it?" she asked him, smiling softly, licking her lips, challenging him to kiss her. The sane part of her mind knew that was what she was doing. Even though he held her tightly, she felt in control. She was in her aunt and uncle's home, and they weren't far away. But deep inside, a trickle of anxiety washed through her. How would she feel right now if that wasn't the case? His eyes fell to her lips again. His hands became harder and leaned into hers with more pressure as he slowly began to lower his head over hers. "I'm going to wipe it from your memory." Elaina froze in his hold as anticipation melted her bones. Her breathing splintered as he slowly touched his lips to hers. Gently, his mouth moved against hers, in a caress that was the complete opposite of the fierce restraint his hands had on her. He kissed her softly, over again, moving his lips back and forth. His head moved to her ear and brushed her hair aside with his face until his lips were open over her. He whispered, "Was it like that?" Elaina moaned softly. No, it hadn't been anything like that at all. Trevor's kiss had been mildly pleasant, not something that set off fireworks inside of her and scrambled her brain to mush. He took her earlobe between his teeth and grazed her softly. "Was it like that?" He demanded an answer to his question. "No," she whispered. Raul was hit with dual emotions; lust and arousal from holding her in his arms, and rage from thinking about that boy kissing her, tasting her with his tongue. He needed to wipe it from her brain. Wipe it from her memory. Wipe it from existence. With that exact intent, he bent back to her mouth, slanting his lips against hers, and as she took a deep gasping breath, he slipped his tongue inside. Oh, Jesus, she was sweet. Her tongue hesitated against his, her arms pushing against him until he freed her. He moved his hands to her head and lifted her mouth more fully into his. Her fingers came up and clamped greedily to his scalp, her torso molding provocatively into his, and their kiss went wild. He drank from her lips, taking what he needed from her, holding her tightly against his body. Their tongues entwined, their breathing escalated as they fed from each other. His arms stayed wrapped around her, clutching her to him. His mouth left hers and seared its way back to her ear, where he plunged his tongue inside and bit into her earlobe again. He growled deep from his diaphragm and made a demand. "No more fuckin' kisses, understand me?" She panted in his arms, her body liquid as he held her up. "Yes." "Say it." His words were abrupt, succinct. "No more." "No more what, Elaina?" He continued to beat out the demand that he needed to hear. His mouth left her ear as they sucked in oxygen and stared at each other. "No more Trevor." Her voice was soft, hesitant, but sure that's what he wanted to hear. "That's right," he rasped out. They stood, arms-length apart as he clenched her shoulders in his grasp. Her breath came in spiky inhalations as her eyes grew troubled. Swallowing deeply, she watched him intently for several long seconds. His hand lifted to her hair and began to bring her to him again. She broke free and pulled away from him. He let her escape his hold and flee from the room. But later that night, he made damn sure he was standing beside her when the stroke of midnight neared. When the countdown began he stared Trevor down and straightened to his full height, his hands landing on Elaina's shoulders. When the time came, in deference to her age and the crowd around them, he placed a quick, gentle kiss on her lips. During the shouts of noise and laughter the new year brought, he looked at her with an intensity she wouldn't be able to help but understand. He was staking his claim. **** As Elaina was getting ready for bed a few hours later, her aunt slipped into her room. The look on her face was more curious than troubled. "Is there something going on between you and Raul?"

Elaina was surprised by the question even though she shouldn't have been. She answered honestly. "Probably, but I hope not." Janie shook her head and chuckled. "What kind of an answer is that?" "The truth as I know it." "What's going on, sweetie?" Elaina moved to the bed and sat down, drawing her knees up to her chin. "There are definite sparks flying around, that's for sure." "But?" Elaina looked guilty. "I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm younger than I am." "How so?" "He assumed when we met I was eighteen because I told him I was a freshman in college." "Ahh." "Yeah." "And you've let him go on assuming it?" "It seemed the safest route," Elaina responded. "What do you mean by that?" her aunt asked. "He's Hispanic." She stated the obvious. Janie let out a delicate snort. "I hate to be the one to point it out to you, sweetie, but your last name is Ruiz." "I understand that. But mom was very meticulous in explaining how it works with Hispanic men. She was married to one, you know." "I know that. I also know she was madly in love with your father and he with her. What's going on in that crazy head of yours?" "Hispanic men are more--more--just more. More everything. More in control. More macho. More possessive." Janie had a dreamy look on her face. "And my sister told you that's a bad thing?" Her voice sounded incredulous. "Not exactly. But I guess I took it that way." "Elaina, all of that may be true in a general sense. And I would think, certainly true when it comes to Raul. But your parents were deeply in love. They had a wonderful relationship. They were equals in every way. Your mom never fully recovered from losing your dad. I don't think she was so much warning you, as she was just telling you as she saw it. I know for a fact she never regretted her choice and she loved everything about your father. Baby, you must have misunderstood." Elaina thought about it in contemplative silence for a moment. "You don't think he's intense?" "Raul? Absolutely, I think he's intense. But he's also a great guy. I haven't known him very long, but Brian trusts him. Trusts him and respects him. They have a solid friendship, and I know my husband well enough to know he doesn't give his friendship to just anyone." "So you're saying you think I should what--go for it?" "That's for you to decide. I was mostly just curious. But I do think he's a good man and he'd never mistreat you. Ever." Elaina bit her lip and stared thoughtfully at her aunt. Janie continued, "And with your birthday coming up, and the fact that I'm in full party mode, I don't know how you're going to be able to keep your age under wraps for much longer." **** Two weeks passed as Elaina tried to come to terms with her feelings for Raul. If only she could talk to her mother one last time. She trusted Aunt Janie, but she desperately needed one last conversation with her mom. Obviously, she wasn't going to get it. She searched her soul, trying to understand her own self. With an inborn woman's intuition, she knew if she started something with Raul it was going to be something serious. She felt like she had control in that respect, at least for awhile. As long as he was unaware of her age, she knew he would continue to try to keep his distance. If and when she gave him the green light, she figured he'd jump on it. Trevor called and asked her out, and she turned him down. She wasn't interested in him the same way he was interested in her, and she didn't want to give him the wrong idea. In the back of her mind, she wondered if she was trying to please Raul. No doubt he would be pleased that she stayed away from Trevor, and anyway, the last thing she was thinking about was starting something with somebody else. All she could think about was Raul Vega. She didn't need anything or anyone else clouding her confused brain anymore than it already was. She spent her days going over job prospects in the small town. There was an opening for a teller at the bank, and she applied for it. The interview went well, and she thought she had a shot at the job. She waited to hear. One day led into the next, and she couldn't believe how difficult it was to stay away from Raul. She thought about driving to his house more times than she could count, and the knowledge that his number was programmed in her cell phone was a temptation that was hard to ignore. But she persevered, and in the end, managed not to call or text him at all. ****

The day of Elaina's birthday party, Raul had trouble with a mare in foal. The breech birth had been rough and ended up costing him. He had to call a veterinarian out and by that time it was too late. He lost both animals. Losing an animal in the birthing process was never easy. He was in a savage, black mood. It had been two weeks since he'd seen her. Two weeks in which he'd done his damndest to stay away from her. If he could just make it through until she went back to school, he could breathe easier and his damn conscience could shut the fuck up for awhile. Every day felt like pissing nails, his guts ached for her so badly. He arrived late to the party, after ten, and it was in full swing. He grabbed a beer from the cooler on the front porch and pushed his way into the house. Janie had pulled out all the stops for Elaina's party, and the house and yard were decorated in hundreds of lights and lanterns. The evening was frosty but mild with no wind, and guests circulated from the house, to the yard, and back again. He popped the top and took a swig and tried to contain the ferocious heat running through his blood. Experiencing death first hand sucked, and he needed something soft and sweet to knock the dark memory from his brain and force life back into his veins. He needed her. He'd managed to stay away from her for two aggravating weeks, and now as he searched for Elaina, he had to stop time and time again to speak to people he knew. The guest list was varied. Older married couples interspersed with middle-aged singles. Dotted around in groups were teenagers and young twenty-somethings. He imagined Janie had invited them for Elaina. He glanced around as casually as he could and tried to break free from a neighbor who had heard from the vet about the loss of his animals. Word travelled quickly. It was the last thing he wanted to talk about, and he pulled away as quickly as he could. Still, it was forty-five minutes after he arrived before he found her. And when he did, his mood turned even more black and ugly. The fire in his gut smoldered with feral jealousy as his tortured gaze saw her and the animal inside of him tried to break free. She was outside in the gazebo, holding a glass of champagne, surrounded by a group of young people, both men and women. That wasn't the part that made him see red. Trevor stood beside her with his hand playfully twirling in her hair. He wasn't touching her anywhere else, but it was enough to send rage and jealousy spinning through Raul. He stood on the pebbled pathway, downed half his beer, and tried like shit to gain some fucking control. He wasn't going to jump. Trevor was basically a good kid and Raul absolutely couldn't go over there and kill the little prick. His feet took two steps toward the gazebo and he froze. He was not fucking going to go over there and jump down that kid's throat. He wasn't. He lifted the beer, drained the rest and crushed the can. His throat tightened and he waited for Elaina to see him. When her eyes lifted and fell on him, she stilled. Completely. He was twenty feet away but he could see the tremble in the hand that held her champagne. It made him feel slightly better. Her head tilted to the side, away from Trevor, and he watched as she surreptitiously lifted her hair off her neck and made it fall from the younger man's hand. The kid let his hand drop as he turned away to laugh at something one of the other girls in the group said. As Raul stood and watched the scene in front of him, he heard the rumble of an engine and looked across the way and saw Brian on a tractor, hauling a twenty foot trailer full of hay around to the back of the house. One of the girls screamed, "Hayride!" and one by one the kids took off toward the trailer loaded with hay and a cooler full of drinks. Elaina stayed still and Trevor reached down to pull on her arm. She hesitated, watching Raul. Raul shook his head at Elaina, giving her a silent command to stay where she was. Another girl in the group, one Raul recognized as one of the Monroe twins, began pulling on Trevor's other arm, trying to get him to move in the direction of the trailer. Raul walked toward the gazebo and looked at Trevor and the Monroe girl. "You best get going. You're gonna miss your ride." Trevor balked, obviously not wanting to leave without Elaina. But the little Monroe girl was persistent, and before long she won the fight and was pulling Trevor down the drive while he threw looks of longing in Elaina's direction. The tractor rambled off and Raul wasted no time. He picked up Elaina's hand and dragged her away from the gazebo, away from the lights of the yard, and marched her twenty yards from the noise of the party. He swung her around until her back was against the implement barn, and he had her caged between his arms in the darkness of the black night.

CHAPTER SEVEN Elaina's breathing was coming shallow and speedy. She hadn't seen Raul in two weeks, and the sudden sight of him watching her like a predator in the night had the blood pulsing through her veins in a loud, clamoring testament to the feelings she'd been trying to understand. She felt a rush to her head as within mere moments, she was propelled away from the party and held hostage by the most uncivilized man she had ever encountered. He hung over her, his breath rattling out of his lungs, his eyes brilliant in the dark night. They stood together, breathing raggedly, eyes on each other. He reached down, took both of her wrists in his calloused hands and pulled them over her head and pushed them up against the rough exterior of the barn. She sucked in a breath as he leaned into her. Tendrils of fear added to the sharp, hot bite of sexual excitement that lacerated her insides. Liquid heat pooled in her panties as currents of pleasure and need coursed through her system. "What'd I tell you?" He hissed the words at her. Elaina stared, eyes wide, shocked into silence, unable to answer. He pushed his torso into hers. "What'd I tell you?" he demanded as his tone became harsher. She shook her head, unable to calm her raging heartbeat enough to answer him. "I told you to stay the fuck away from him. I told you not to let him touch you. I told you not to let him kiss you. Did he fuckin' kiss you again? You let him fucking touch you again?" "N-no." "Am I gonna have to beat the shit out o' him? Is that what it's gonna take?" "Raul, Jesus, you're scaring me--" "I'm scaring you? You're scaring me shitless, Elaina." The blood left his face, turning it white, as the intensity of his emotions ripped through him. "C-calm down, nothing happened." She tried to get him to understand. "I haven't been seeing him, I promise." He held tight to her wrists so she reached out to him the only way she could. She pushed her face into his neck and tried to soothe, "Shh." He dropped his head and sucked in oxygen. He waited for the count of three seconds and then moved his lips to hers. He kissed her softly, taking light sips from her trembling lips. "You don't know that boy, baby. He's got a reputation with women." He spoke between kisses, his lips lifting from hers and then going back for more. "He wants to fuck you. You know that? That's all he wants." His words were basic. Primal. She trembled violently in his arms as his mouth moved to her ear, feeling him suck in a breath. He kept talking, his voice lowering to a ragged whisper in her ear. "He can't fuck you, Elaina." His hands released her wrists and dropped down until his arms encircled her waist completely. He hugged her to him, running his hands up and down her back. "I get that you're too young for me. I can't have you yet." His hands clenched tight in pure possession. "But baby, you need to take care. You belong to me--" She jerked in his arms and caught him off guard. "I don't belong to you---" His head whipped up to glare at her face and his hand grabbed her chin and lifted it. "You're gonna fuckin' belong to me. Just as soon as you get grown, I've told you before. But you need to take care, protect what's mine, or all bets are off and I'll move in now. Your choice. I'll give you time and space but you gotta promise. Nobody fucks you. Now. Promise now." "I don't understand what you're asking for, Raul. You're asking me for a commitment? Without us being together?" Confusion creased her forehead into lines. "You what? You want me to go about the business of my life, but promise my virginity to you?" Raul felt the sucker punch to his stomach. "You still a virgin, baby?" God, he wanted it to be true. Elaina closed her eyes and let out a whoosh of breath. She hadn't meant to say that. But she figured he already guessed it anyway. Shit, she was only making her situation worse. He was going to shit a brick when he found out she was lying about her age. Not exactly lying. She did know one thing. She wasn't confused anymore. She still didn't know if she was ready for this yet, ready for someone like him. But God, she did want him. That was for sure. His intensity be damned. She'd learn how to handle it. She had to. She hadn't thought of anything or anyone but him for weeks now. The temptation was going to eat her alive. He was so incredibly hot. He was temptation personified. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter. She wanted someone like him to take her virginity. She wanted him to be the one. She just needed some time. Some time that she knew she wasn't going to get. She needed to make up her mind. She needed to reconcile herself to his intensity, quickfast. He was so intense. He wouldn't be easy to handle. His fingers clenched around her face and demanded an answer. "You still untouched?" Well, now, that was a different question. She took a deep breath and attempted to answer him. "Virgin, yes. Untouched, no." "How touched is touched?" She felt a flush come over her face and couldn't answer that question.

His hand jerked her chin up and his eyes seared into hers. "You still got your cherry?" Elaina gasped and began shaking harder. Jesus Christ. His voice dropped as he continued. "Answer me, Elaina." "Y-yes. I mean, I think so--I guess so." Raul learned a lot with that shaken statement. She didn't touch herself. At least not internally. And she probably still had her cherry. He was going to find out. But not tonight. He couldn't trust himself tonight. But he would know. He needed to know. "Okay, now for my promise." His eyes glittered down into hers. "I'm waiting." Elaina searched his eyes. Could she promise that? Did she want to? And what about him? The question came from her mouth, "What about you?" "I'm not a virgin." His voice was deep, and for the first time that night, held a slight trace of humor. Elaina' mouth tipped in a tiny smile. "I figured. No, I mean, I'm guessing you're telling me to have fun with my friends, grow up some, and stay a virgin for you. Do I have that right?" "Yeah." "What about you? Are you going to remain abstinent for me?" "Celibate?" "Yeah. Does it go both ways?" Raul studied her, wanting to hold her by the hips and sink into her so badly he thought the waiting would kill him. He thought about having another woman and quickly dismissed it from his mind. He didn't want one. He wanted her. Only her. He answered her swiftly. "Goes both ways." Elaina was stunned at his agreement and didn't even think to question his sincerity. He was sincere. She would bet on it. "Are you serious?" "Yeah," he bit out. "But--" "I'm not promising I won't jack off, baby. Just sayin' if you promise to save your cherry for me, I'll stay clean for you." Elaina's legs felt jittery as he spelled out his intentions in basic male language. "We in agreement?" He pushed for her answer. "Yeah, okay. But just so we're clear. I get a job and continue with my life. I have my friends and you have your friends and we're both social, just no sex. Right?" He misunderstood what she said. "You getting a job when you go back to San Antonio?" "I'm not going back." That was news to him. "What? Why?" "That was my mother's dream for me, being a nurse. I don't want that. I'm staying here, getting a job, while I think about my life. About what I want." Raul was shocked to feel a combination of stunned pleasure that she wasn't leaving, along with a dark, tormented knowledge that he'd have to keep fighting himself to stay away from her. He was silent as he tried to digest her change of plans. She went back to the subject at hand. "So, is that right? About us, I mean." He knew she was talking about their agreement to stay celibate. "That'll be what it takes to calm me down, yeah." "And you'll believe me?" "I have no reason to doubt your word." An arrow of guilt slid through her. "Okay." "Yeah, okay?" She tried to smile. "Okay." She started to relax against the barn wall, but in a swift move, he swung around until his back was against the wall, his legs were spread wide, and she stood between them, her pelvis pulled into his body by a strong arm behind her back. One hand went to her forehead and pushed a stray curl from her face. "Happy birthday, baby." She smiled at him, trying to overcome the guilt that slid through her from her deception. "Thanks," she said, knowing she needed to tell him. It had gone too far. Now it felt like a lie. She opened her mouth to try to form the words, but he began speaking first and the sadness in his voice made her momentarily forget what she needed to tell him. "I had a shit day. You feel good." She relaxed her body against him, soft tendrils of arousal hitting her system. The juncture of her thighs pulsed against his blue jeans, making her panties wet and her body tremble. She tried to concentrate on his words. "What happened?"

"Lost a mare and her foal. It was a breech birth and lost them both. It sucked shit." "I'm sorry." She experimented by tenderly putting her hand on his cheek. He grabbed her hand and moved it to his mouth, kissing her palm. She hung against him while he breathed in her scent and kissed her palm repeatedly. He opened his eyes and looked deep into hers. "And then I come to find you and he's touching you." His voice hardened. "Raul," she chided softly. He took her hand and wrapped it around his neck and leaned his forehead against hers. He slid his mouth to her cheek and caressed her with his open lips. Dragging kisses over her face, he demanded reassurance in a steely voice. "You promised, right?" "Yes." He kissed her mouth softly and continued to run his lips over her face, his hands moving on her back, sliding from her waist to her hips, his fingers clenching in her butt, and then moving to retrace his actions all over again. He moved his lips to her ear and whispered, "Someday, someday soon, I'm gonna strip you naked, lay you down on my bed, and kiss your naked body. Jesus, baby, you're perfect." His mouth moved to hers, his hands lifted to her head and angled it slightly, and then sealed his lips over hers. He held her face, pushed his tongue between her lips and began kissing her with devastating force. His tongue swirled around hers, came out, licked over her bottom lip, his teeth grazing her softly. He groaned deep in his diaphragm, and went back for more. She sagged in his embrace, leaning against him, her brain separated from her body as he kissed her over and over again. She didn't know where she stopped and he began as she moved her hands over him, sliding under the tails of his shirt, running her hands up and over his naked back. They kissed for a long, long time, his five o'clock shadow abrading her skin. She felt it, knew it should hurt, but it didn't. She ran her hands around to his chest and up his pectoral muscles until her hands covered his small, male nipples. He ripped his mouth from hers and pulled her hands away from his chest and held them tightly while he dragged oxygen into his lungs. "Can't do that, babe. You keep that up, I'll come in my pants." Shocked, Elaina sucked in a breath and went back for his mouth. He allowed her access, and lowered his lips back to hers. It began again. Their tongues dueled, their arms entwined. She moaned softly into his mouth, and he gripped her butt tighter, lifting her into him. She pressed against him, and started undulating against him. He ran his hand up the curve of her waist and landed on a tight little nipple. He rubbed it over her dress and when he did, she gasped into his mouth and their kiss became wilder, wetter. He shoved her dress down and took her small, pale, naked breast into his hand. He squeezed her nipple between his fingers, pulling at her, twisting her flesh until she was panted and pushing against him almost violently. She broke her mouth free for oxygen and he spoke. "Come for me, babe. Give it to me." He pushed his mouth back on hers and drank deeply from her while his fist clenched her butt rhythmically and his fingers caressed her breast. Elaina's mind was numb and sheer pleasure took over her body. She pushed against him, needing it, needing him. His hand left her butt and came around and pushed her dress up and out of his way. Sinking one long finger into the top of her panties, he landed on her glistening clit and began rubbing, swirling his finger over it. In seconds, she was mewling in his mouth and coming hard in his arms. He held her tight, as pleasure beyond any pleasure she had ever known hit her body full force. She splintered completely as the orgasm ran through her. Her mouth fell from his and her head fell to his neck where she took huge, gasping breaths of air while she slowly came down. His hands slowly fell from her sweet spots and his arms enclosed her completely. He held her tightly as his large body shook, trying to regain control. His breathing finally slowed, and he rasped against her ear, "That's mine. That's what's mine. All of it, Elaina. Nobody gets your orgasms but me. Every one of them, they belong to me." She hung her head against him, completely depleted of energy. God, yes. If he could make her feel like that, he could have them all.

CHAPTER EIGHT An hour later, Raul leaned against the living room wall next to Brian and vaguely listened to his friend talk while he concentrated on Elaina across the crowded room. She stood with a group of women that included Janie and another young woman from town who was holding a baby cuddled to her chest. He watched as Elaina and Janie cooed softly to the baby and talked to the young mother. Every so often, Elaina's eyes would fall on him and he would see a soft blush encompass her face. He had a sudden vision of her holding a baby, cuddling it, nursing it. His baby. Fierce possession ran through his blood. The only thing calming him down and holding him in place was the memory of her shimmering in his arms as orgasm took over her body. It continued to play over and over in his head. Brian's voice droned on beside him as he too, watched the women. "It's good to see Janie so happy again. She and Elaina went through hell, man. Janie losing her only sister like that--I can't even imagine. She was ten years older than Janie, and Janie relied on her pretty much completely in an emotional sense. And poor little Elaina. She took on the brunt of the care for her mother. Three and a half years of it. She went from picking up her high school diploma, to full-fledged caregiver." Raul felt something splinter in his brain as he turned his head to look fully into Brian's face. "Three and a half years?" It was all Raul could get out, and his flat voice was in no way indicative of the confusion tearing him up inside. "Yeah, man. It was bad. Janie wanted to give Elaina a birthday party last year on her twenty-first, but there was just no way at the time." Raul felt sucker-punched, but managed to ask another question, all the while reeling from the newly acquired information. "When did her mother die?" "Late July." "And then Elaina started college?" Raul knew his voice sounded empty, but it was the only way he could manage to hang onto the conversation at all without losing it completely. He felt his temper rise like volcanic pressure building inside of him, getting ready to blow. "Yeah, but she hates it, man. She's not going back." "And that's okay with you?" "Well, I think she should get an education, but Janie seems to think it's fine, so what the hell do I know?" "She can always go back when she decides what she wants to do," Raul tried for an even tone, feeling his fists clench the whole time. "Yeah, but for now she needs some time to heal. We never gave her that. We rushed her off to school in an attempt to get her life back on track. I feel damn guilty for that." "You couldn't have known. You did what you thought was best at the time," Raul responded in a gravelly voice. "Yeah," Brian agreed. "I thought she was still a teenager," Raul gritted out between his teeth, just as a loud ping ping ping of firecrackers went off outside. Brian straightened from his position next to Raul to go investigate the noise. "No, man," his eyes held Raul's in silent communication for a heartbeat. "She's twenty-two," he said in a somber voice before he turned and walked off. The back of Raul's head hit the wall and his eyes closed briefly before opening again and staring across the room at Elaina. Fury clouded his brain as he tried unsuccessfully to reason with himself. Yeah, it was a sad story. Yeah, she'd had it rough. Yeah, she was still young. But she had lied to him. He went over and over their past conversations in his head. Had she lied to him? He couldn't come up with shit. He didn't know the answer. But he suspected he knew. She'd kept her true age a secret from him. Why? He knew he needed the answer to that question. But for now, he couldn't seem to give a shit. He had only one thought blaring in his brain. She was twenty-two. And that meant he could have her. Now. **** Elaina stared at herself in the bathroom mirror as she washed her hands. The evening had been a complete blur after she'd had that incredible orgasm. Raul had been amazing, and he'd been watching her ever since like a cat that was just waiting to get the canary. Her heart pounded in her chest as she opened the door to slip back to the party. She stopped abruptly when she saw Raul leaning against the wall in the hallway, obviously waiting on her. Her pulse thundered in her ears. Her eyes held his in question as he reached out a hand and ran a gentle finger down her cheek. Her breath caught at the soft gesture. And then he opened his mouth.

"You twenty-two years old?" his voice hissed out in a heated rush of anger. Shock held her immobile as he lifted his hand away from her face and moved back from her, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall again, tension pouring off his body in waves. She swallowed hard and knew she was trembling, but couldn't manage to get the constriction in her throat to go away. Her silence was evidently all the answer he needed. "Get your purse. And get a jacket, too. It's cold out," his menacing voice made the innocuous words sound like a threat. She licked her lips. This was it. She knew this was it. Raul was about to take her away from here, strip her naked and claim her virginity. Her body trembled. She was seriously about to lose her virginity. To Raul Vega. "Where--where are we going?" She asked the question anyway, even though she already knew the answer. "We're taking a drive." She closed her eyes as the defining moment washed over her. She slowly opened them and watched him leaning against the wall, waiting on her. "Are you mad at me?" She knew he was. "Yep," he answered succinctly. She shivered at his one-syllable response as a chill went through her, but she didn't budge from her spot in front of him. "I don't want to go, Raul. I've seen--I've seen you mad before, and I don't like it." "I'm not going to hurt you." The frown line between his brows deepened, and he looked like he was trying to temper his voice. "Go on now and get your purse. I'm ready to leave." "Maybe you should go on without me. We can talk tomorrow." She tried to placate him with the suggestion. It didn't work. He pushed off the wall, prowled over to her, and crowded her back against the doorframe. Towering over her, he invaded her space and leaned his weight on his forearms, on either side of her head. He reached one hand down and lifted her chin up until her eyes were glued to his. Her breath became shaky. His voice was low but firm when he spoke. "We got shit to work out between us, Elaina. But it's all real simple. You either want me, or you don't." He held her chin as her breath came harder. She blinked up at him, but still didn't speak as she waited for him to continue. "As for me--I guess it's pretty damn obvious I want you. I've been wanting you bad since the night we met, five, six weeks ago." His thumb reached out and swept across her bottom lip. "I admit I've been an asshole a lot of that time, but that's 'cause I was trying to stay the hell away from you. I didn't like that--didn't like that shit at all. Now somewhere along the line, we had a miscommunication." His voice became acerbic. "See, I thought you were a teenager all this time. But you're not, are you?" His words stopped and he waited until she softly shook her head. "No, you're not," he agreed with her silent answer. "You're twenty-two now. Have I told you happy birthday yet?" Her head jerked up and down, just once. He continued, "Yeah, well, I think it's more like happy birthday to me. You know what I mean? Now, here's the deal. I've told you I'm not going to hurt you. We're just going to sail right past the age thing and continue on as we mean to go forward." His calloused thumb swiped across her lip again. "And I mean to go forward with you in my bed. All you have to do is decide if that's what you want, too. See what I mean? Very simple, baby." Elaina tried to get a grip on her emotional state, and to think calmly about what he was saying. Her nerves clanged silently in her eardrums. As much as she wanted to deny it, she couldn't. He was right. He was still pissed, but he was right. All she had to do was decide if she wanted him or not. It was really no decision at all. Or if it was, she'd already made it, unconsciously. She licked her lips, sucked in a sustaining breath and opened her mouth to speak. "I want you, Raul." She felt a vibration go through his body as he leaned in closer to her. "I know you're pissed at me. Maybe I deserve it, maybe I don't. But you need to remember a couple of things," she remonstrated as her voice grew stronger. "Yeah, I'm twenty-two. But you're still a shit-ton older than me. How old are you, anyway?" "Thirty," he gritted out between clenched teeth. "Yeah. Eight years older. So, okay, I'm not as young as you thought I was. But I didn't lie earlier. I'm still a virgin. That hasn't changed," she reminded him tartly, her words coming to a momentary halt as he gripped her more tightly. She looked down at his fingers fisted around her and then back to his face. "Yeah, so why don't you think on that for a bit and calm the hell down some while I go get my things." She pushed away from his arms and turned toward her bedroom. **** It was after midnight and since the party was beginning to break up anyway, it was relatively easy for Elaina to slip away. Janie had merely raised her eyebrows and nodded her head in acknowledgement of where Elaina would be when she had told her aunt she was leaving. Raul made quick work of ushering her out to his truck. Thick silence arced between them on the drive. He pulled the truck behind the house, and with a hand at the small of her back, led her through the darkened interior.

Bright moonlight spilled in through the windows helping Elaina's vision adjust to the dimness surrounding her. Her legs trembled from the milestone about to occur. The heady knowledge of what was about to take place beat swiftly through her veins. She wanted it to happen. And she wanted it to happen with him. But beyond that, she wasn't willing to think. He slid his hand from her back and encapsulated her wrist as he moved in front of her, leading her through the kitchen and down a darkened hallway. He didn't speak, and he made no move to turn on any lights. She followed closely behind, the subtle scent of his skin and the virile magnetism of his hot, steely hand holding her in an uncompromising grip going to her head like a fine wine on an empty stomach. The blood beat hotly in her veins and she wondered if he could feel it where his fingers wrapped around her directly on her pulse point. He stopped abruptly and the forward motion of her body brought her stumbling into his back. She felt his corded strength, smelled the clean, potent masculinity that exuded from his lean, muscled body. It was the same masculinity that had fascinated her from the first time she got close to him. A thrill of frightened anticipation washed through her, a subtle excitement that she could have so completely attracted a man of his caliber. It seemed almost too much to take in, and the fact that in a matter of minutes, she would undoubtedly have Raul Vega hanging over her naked body, was enough to blow her mind. She quivered and tried to rein in her fragile control by remembering how much she wanted this, and reminding herself of how he had made her feel earlier when he held her out by the barn. She sucked in a small, shaky breath. He pushed open a door and moved through the threshold of what Elaina knew had to be his bedroom. In this room, as in the kitchen, the moonlight came in through the windows, illuminating the space around them just enough to cast a sensuous spell between them. He moved to the large bed that dominated the room, and sat down on the side, bringing her between his spread thighs. Her hands fell lightly to his shoulders and she felt his tensile strength under her fingertips. His palms began a smooth glide up and down her body, going from the outside of her thighs, over her hips, to the indent of her waist and back again. He dragged air deeply into his lungs, breaking the silence of the night. He made no move to deepen his caresses and she stood in front of him, her body shivering softly as she waited expectantly for his next move. Her breathing fractured from his nearness as she continued to wait. Helplessly, her body swayed toward his and she put her lips against his ear and softly kissed him. His body tightened against hers. The oxygen stalled in her lungs and she asked, "Why aren't you doing anything?" His hands gripped her hips more tightly and the air hissed from his lungs. "I'm fighting myself," he answered her with distinct mockery, cold sarcasm directed at himself. "As you so eloquently reminded me, you're a virgin and I'm still too damn old for you." He anchored her to him, his grasp restraining. "I keep telling myself not to start this, not to start something with you that you won't be able to handle." He sucked in a lungful of oxygen. "But it's not working. I'm losing the fight. You're standing sweet and compliant in my bedroom; I don't have the strength to do what I know I damn well should." He pushed her away from his body, but kept his fists manacled around her upper arms. He focused on her eyes watching him in the darkness of the room. "Why the change of heart?" she asked softly. "It's not a change of heart. I haven't changed my mind. I'm just trying to give you a fighting chance, baby." "What's got you so worried? You weren't worried before." He let out a sound of self-directed criticism. "All I could think about before was that I couldn't have you. Now I can and I'm worried you're gonna hate me afterwards-hold it against me." For the first time since she had known him, he was showing her a side of himself that wasn't one hundred percent confident. "Why? Why would I hate you?" "Because I'm not giving you a choice. I'm rushing you into bed--intimidating you to get what I want." He sucked in a breath and his shoulders tightened under her hands. "Tonight I learned you've been through hell and back. And right now I'm finding out that I'm such a fucked-up bastard, that apparently, I don't give a shit." His hands clenched in a restraining hold that spoke eloquently of his intent to proceed. A tiny smile played around her mouth. "You're not a fucked-up bastard. I had a choice and I made it. I'm here, aren't I?" "You keep thinking that, sweetheart. You keep thinking you had a choice." He looked deeply in her eyes, gave her a layered look filled with conflicting emotions. "I don't think you understand how this is gonna play out. There's something about you--something that makes me lose control. I haven't even had you yet, but already I want the next time and the next time and the next time after that. This shit isn't going to just go away--you're addictive, baby." "But you're saying that you're willing to let me walk away right now? To drive me back to the house?" His jaw clenched and his lips flattened into a distinct snarl. "If I have to, yeah," the words rumbled from his chest with menacing heat. She ignored the threatening anger in his voice and focused on the content of his answer as she continued to beat the point home to him. "So you'd let me go if I thought it was the right thing for me?" "Yeah. I just said that." His words were as much an accusation as an agreement. "Why?" she questioned softly. "Why?" His eyebrows pulled down. "Because I want what's best for you," he spit out, giving her a brutal and accusing glare that was in direct opposition of the words he spoke. "I care about you. I want you to be happy." She nodded her head at his tortured clarification. It was really all she needed to hear. "I'm not going to hold anything against you. I want this, Raul." His hands moved and splayed over her butt as he hauled her closer. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she whispered. He tightened his grip with a steely, almost imperceptible nuance of threat. "Last chance."

CHAPTER NINE "Pass," she murmured as her lips softly touched his. Raul felt her soft lips against his and let her magic roll through him. Never in his life had he felt a need this intense. It had been like this for every godforsaken day since he'd met her. It beat deep from his soul and he knew in dark exasperation that it would never go away. He reached between them and began undoing the buttons that went all the way down her dress. When the slight curves of her soft white breasts were revealed above the lace of her bra, he lowered his head and took her silky skin in his mouth and suckled her there. She squirmed in his arms and lifted her hands between them, going to work on the buttons of his shirt, excitement boiling up within her. Her movements became frantic. "Shh. . . slow, sweetheart." He lifted his mouth from her breast and they worked on each other's buttons, the silence of the night broken by the panting breaths they were taking. They finished releasing the buttons together, and she began pushing his shirt off his shoulders. He complied with her silent request and shrugged his arms from the shirt, dropping it to the floor at her feet. Her dress hung on either side of her body, the buttons parting it in two, her bra and matching lace panties peeking through. He sucked in a breath and brushed the dress away from her waist and sank his fingers into her soft skin. "You're not on birth control, are you?" She stiffened in his arms. "No," she whispered, and he could tell she was shocked by the question. "I'm clean, baby, I promise. What are the chances you could get pregnant tonight?" His lips fell to her shoulder, his hands gripping her as he waited for her to answer. "Can't you use something?" she asked. "I could use something. But I really, truly do not want to take your virginity with a condom between us. I'll do it if I have to. I just don't want to have to." He lifted his lips from her shoulder as he watched her face scrunch in concentration. She spoke hesitantly, "I think it'll be fine. But what if I'm wrong? What if--" "I wouldn't let anything bad happen to you. We'd handle it together, okay? Are you close to ovulation or not?" "No, I'm pretty sure I'm not, but you know what they say, shit happens." He let out an abbreviated snicker. "Yeah. I'm okay with taking the chance, but only if you are, too." She bit her lip and ran her tongue over the abraded flesh. Her eyes rested on his, studying him. Her body quivered and she began a subtle move back from him. "I don't know, I--" He interrupted her before she decided to back out all together. "It's okay. I'll use a condom." One hand left her briefly while he dug around in the top drawer of his bedside table. He pulled out a small plastic square and laid it down within easy reach. He turned his attention back to her immediately, pulling her into his torso and sinking his fingers into her hair. His mouth found hers and he kissed her deeply, entwining his tongue with hers and letting her sweet scent wash over him. He kissed her repeatedly, over and over and over again. She melted against him, and the sweet feel of her innocence exploded through him, hardening him. The blood pooled in his groin and he felt himself surge against the zipper of his jeans. He shifted, trying to relieve the ache, as he gripped her tightly to him. He tried to go slow, tried to make it good for her. As much as he wanted her; he wanted this time to be for her. He pushed the dress from her shoulders and as it fell to the floor, he lifted his mouth from hers to look down at her body. He couldn't have begun to find the words to describe her ethereal beauty or how much he wanted her, so he didn't attempt to try. He picked her up by the hips and twirled her until she was flat on her back in the center of his bed, her body wrapped in only two small wisps of lace. He pushed to his feet and quickly divested himself of his boots, socks, jeans and boxer briefs. Putting one knee on the bed, he lowered himself beside her, completely naked, and took her in his arms without hesitation. He ran his hand up her side, starting at her creamy thigh and travelling quickly up her hip, over the indent of her waist and landed on a lace-enclosed breast. Her soft gasp and quickened breathing made his already rock-hard shaft pulse with need. He reached over to the lamp on the bedside table and flipped it on. Light glared into the room, making her blink. She sucked in her breath and let out a small noise of panic. He tried to soothe her as he reached for her again. "Shh, everything's okay." "Why'd you turn the light on?" she whispered. "I couldn't see you," he stated the obvious, his hands reaching for the clasp between her breasts. He pushed the cups away from the small, tempting mounds, his eyes fastened to the bounty he was uncovering. A sharp sound came from his throat. Elaina saw him staring at her uncovered chest and red flecks of arousal colored his cheekbones as he lowered his head and covered a nipple with his mouth. He began sucking like a starving man, his hand going to her other breast, and pleasure, swift and intense, had her hips lifting off the bed and pushing against him. His chest vibrated with the moan coming from deep in his throat. His lips lifted from her nipple and his voice rasped against the soft mound of her skin, "You're beautiful, Elaina. God, you're so beautiful." She answered him, her heart constricting from the tenderness of his tone, "You're the beautiful one."

He lifted up at her words and stared at her, his gaze fixed on her. He peered at her intently, and she felt like he was trying to see into her soul. She didn't have anything to hide from him. She reiterated her words, "I think you're beautiful--I thought you were beautiful the first time I saw you," she whispered. "Why, baby? Why'd you keep me in the dark?" She stared with longing at him, her heart in her eyes, "I just knew--I could tell--I wasn't ready and I knew I wouldn't be able to say no to you." He visibly swallowed. "Are you ready now?" A soft, pink flush covered her face. "Yes." "Thank God." He reached down, smoothed his rough hands over her sides until they landed on her hips. He divested her of her panties and tossed them aside. His gaze roved down her naked body and a harsh look of satisfaction crossed his features. He lowered himself back down beside her, and began the slow process of her seduction all over again. He kissed her slowly, his tongue swirling with hers as her hands clenched his biceps. He rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb, and she began mewling softly into his mouth. He ran his hand up and down her thigh and lifted it over his hip, opening her softness to him. His finger slid between the soft folds at the center of her feminine core, and landed on her slick, wet clit. She jerked against him, moaning. He rubbed against her, his finger going up and down between her clit and the soft opening of her vagina. She was wet. He thought she was wet and excited enough. He slowly penetrated her with his finger up to his first knuckle. She was small and her inner muscles clenched him tightly. He felt the restriction of her hymen, and a fierce, territorial satisfaction hammered at his guts. Yeah, that was what he wanted from her. That was the beginning of what he wanted from her. He carefully manipulated his finger while she moaned and shivered around him. Her chin butted against his cheek in agitation, and he sank his tongue in her mouth and began kissing her as he tested the strength of her virginity. Sweat broke out on his brow when she whimpered in pain. Son of a bitch. This was going to hurt her. Goddamnit! He really, truly, did not want to hurt her. He carefully removed his finger and slid it over her clit again. She began mewling in need and panting against him. With a vague idea of getting her so hot she might not feel the pain, he spread her legs wide and dropped down between them. Shock hit Elaina when Raul lifted her thighs over his shoulders and pushed his head between her legs. "Raul--" "Shh, be still, it'll be okay." Her shaking fingers sank in his hair as he spread her folds open and looked up at her, his face a contrast of emotions. She saw need, worry, and arousal as he looked at her, his finger falling on the bud above her sex again. Pleasure pierced her and embarrassment fled completely as she watched him begin swiping her with his tongue, all the while manipulating her clit until she began feeling great waves wrapping around her spine, flowing from her breasts down to pulsating need beating through her feminine core. Her breath came quicker and mingled with the rough growling noises coming from his throat as he moved his tongue on her. His dark, velvet brown eyes tangled with hers from his position between her thighs, and she knew the look on his face was going to push her over the edge. He came to his knees between her thighs, picked up the condom and began ripping the small package apart. He rolled it down his length and came back down on top of her, his mouth landing on hers and his finger pushing against the pearl above her sex, wanting her as hot as she had been ten seconds before. He didn't have to wait that long. His finger on her clit and his tongue in her mouth was enough to do it. She became frantic in his arms, and he knew she was about to detonate. His abs clenching in vicious need, the muscles in his neck cording, he pushed himself between her thighs, pressing her knees apart and hooking her legs up and around his waist. He lunged into her, taking her virginity with one smooth, hard thrust of his hips, pushing himself into her until he didn't know where he stopped and she began. The blood pounding through his veins in a deep primal rhythm, he felt her take a shuddering breath and gave her to the count of three heartbeats to absorb the fullness of his intrusion. Then her muscles began contracting around him and he felt the shimmer began to take her. He began stroking her, pushing his hips in and out, stroking her in time with the pulsing contractions of her inner muscles. His lips landed on hers again, his hips pumping into her, and he felt it the second the orgasm took her body. She screamed against him, the sound muffled by his tongue and mouth over hers. She shimmered in his arms, and he pummeled into her, his erection engorging with the last influx of blood, his ejaculation strong as he erupted inside of her, following her over a precipice of pleasure so intense, he didn't know how he'd managed to live this long without it. Elaina came back to herself, the glaring light from the lamp not allowing her to hide from anything. Raul lay on top of her, still deeply imbedded in her, the only things keeping him from crushing her were his elbow and forearm holding him apart from her, just enough so she could draw breath.

Her mind screamed from stunned shock at the way it had been between them. Was this normal? Was sex always like this? Surely not. She bit her lip as her heart rate slowly receded. She expelled a shallow, shaky sigh. His voice rumbled from the pillow above her head, "Did I hurt you?" Surprisingly, no. "No." It was all she could manage. That one fast climax against the barn earlier in the evening hadn't prepared her for the complete and total intimacy of sex. Sex with Raul Vega. Christ. He was right. She never had a fighting chance. Had she ever stood a chance against him? A barrage of images inundated her brain. The first time she met him when his rough palm held her hand for as long as he reasonably could. The day at the feed store when his anger and jealousy were already apparent. His temper when she had run out of gas. The first time he kissed her in the study. Tonight, with his head between her legs. Suddenly, it was all too much for her to handle. "I want to go home."

CHAPTER TEN Raul's big body jerked over her, and he surged to new life inside of her. "No." Elaina whimpered and pushed her hands against his shoulders. "I can't breathe." "You can breathe just fine," he grunted over her, his hands lifting her face up to his and his eyes devouring hers, trying to see inside of her. She closed her eyes against him and he growled low in his throat at the small defiance. When he spoke, there was a silken thread of warning in his tone, "Open your eyes, Elaina." He hung in suspended animation above her, waiting for her compliance. She held her eyelids closed a few pulsing moments, long enough to let him know she only opened them because she wanted to. The beautiful brown orbs glistened up at him, fury and determination coming from their depths. She spoke through gritted teeth. "You're not being fair. I need a moment, Raul. Is that too damn much to ask for?" She pushed against him, hard. "Get off me!" Her fury sparked an answering emotion in him, and he jerked away from her, forgetting all about being careful. Her body didn't release him easily. He was fully aroused again, and the friction against her delicate inner skin resulted in pain that made her flinch as tears flooded her eyes. "Shit! I'm sorry," he bit out as he rolled away from her. She caught her breath and pushed herself up into a sitting position with her back against the headboard. He rolled to his back, dragging oxygen in and out of his lungs, physically trying to subdue the violent urge to grab her again. He clenched his jaw in suppressed need and silently watched her. He saw her gaze slide down his body and she stiffened visibly at what she found. His eyes followed hers to his erection, and he knew that what she was seeing was threatening to her. She'd been a virgin until only minutes before, and now she was experiencing sex in the stark aftermath. His cock was no doubt intimidating to her, and the soiled condom and blood weren't things from a fairytale. It wasn't something he was used to seeing, in fact couldn't ever remember seeing blood of any kind on his cock. Knowing it was her blood, her virgin's blood, gave him a swift kick in the ass and the realization that no matter what kind of shit he was going through, she was feeling more. He rolled to his feet and walked to the bathroom and quickly cleaned himself. It did little to relieve the heat in his groin. He retrieved a warm, wet cloth and brought it back to her. She was watching him walk back toward the bed, her eyes skipping down to his full blown hard-on, like he was a snake about to strike. She clutched the covers to her chest. If he hadn't felt like a piece of shit before, the look on her face cinched it for him. He couldn't do anything about his unruly cock, but he bent down and pulled on his boxer briefs. He saw a slight flare of relief in her eyes from the underwear he pulled over his hips, and he sat on the side of the bed facing her. He held the cloth in one hand and took hold of the covers with the other and began slowly pulling them away from her body. She resisted. "No." "Yes." "I can do it," she said, holding out a hand for the cloth. "I want to do it," he demanded. "No." "Are you about to ask me to take you home?" His voice was sharp. "Yes." "Then give me this. Please." It was the please that did it. She let go of the covers. He held her eyes with his and slowly pulled the sheet and comforter down her body until they were pushed to the foot of the bed. Slowly, he lowered his eyes to her naked body. He gently pushed her knees apart, and the raw emotion on his face as he saw the effects of his handiwork left no room for her embarrassment. She saw unmistakable tension in his face as he put the cloth to the feminine mound between her legs and began to softly cleanse away the blood, the sweat, and the smells of sex. Elaina was utterly unable to speak as he performed this service for her. Everything he was feeling was there, right before her eyes. Possessiveness, satisfaction, tenderness, ownership. Her face paled and a fine trembling began at the base of her spine and travelled out to encompass her limbs. Just because she was emotionally ready for sex, didn't mean she was ready for this. She cleared her throat in agitation and his attention lifted. His eyes were hot on hers and glowed with a savage, inner fire. His voice was deep and purposeful when he spoke. "Thank you." She searched his expression as a soft kiss of blushing heat covered her cheeks. She knew he was thanking her for the gift of her virginity. She softly nodded in acknowledgement.

"You still think you need to go home?" He waited for a second before continuing, "I want you to stay." Elaina studied him, trying to get a handle on his true meaning. Her expression clouded with unease and a sudden need for caution infiltrated her being. She didn't think he meant to stay just the night. He wanted her to stay longer. Or he would as soon as tomorrow came. She might be new at this, but she wasn't naïve. He had every intention of doing exactly what he had spelled out before. Sleeping with her again and again and again. And then what? Whatever he wanted, that's what. Although he was being gentle at the moment, Elaina knew him well enough to know it wasn't his standard operating procedure. He wasn't above railroading her into getting what he wanted, and she needed to find it within herself to exert her demands. If she didn't--well, she couldn't contemplate that. "I think I better go back," she said. "Why?" "I just should. I don't want a bunch of questions tomorrow. I want to wake up in my bed." "I want you to wake up here, beside me," he voiced his opinion, determination in his tone. She studied him briefly before trying to get him to understand. "This is all new for me, you know?" "Yeah, I do know, more than anyone else on the planet. So, why are you wanting to run, to not share this with me?" he growled. She bristled but tried to hold on to her emotions. She spoke with quiet firmness. "There's a hell of a lot of emotional crap going on inside me right now. You think it was only by circumstance that I was still a virgin at twenty-two?" His arms crossed over his chest, his muscles laced into corded bands of steel. His eyebrows came together in a hardened frown. "I don't know, why don't you tell me?" "Well you're acting like I shouldn't need some time to myself. I need to regroup, take a bath--" "You can take a goddamn bath here, Elaina." He swung his arm in the direction of the bathroom before continuing, "So tell me how it was." "Tell you how what was?" "You started it. You asked the damn question. Why were you still a virgin? Was it because you never had the opportunity?" "Really? You think that?" Surprise and a small amount of indignation colored her voice. "Fuck no. I think every goddamn straight guy in his right mind that came across you wanted to crawl on top--" She sucked in her breath in a gasp and his words came to a halt. Her shoulders stiffened and her tone chilled a degree. "I don't even want to talk about this. I don't know why I worded it that way. I'm just saying that even though I haven't dated a lot, what we did tonight meant something to me. I don't sleep around--yeah, I've had opportunities in the past--" He growled at her words and she went on, "but it was never the right time, or the right person--" "So I was the right guy and this was the right time--" "Maybe not the right time--you pushed me into this--" He slashed his arm through the air and gritted out, "And there it is! I knew you'd hold that shit against me. I told you." "I'm not holding anything against you. I'm just ready to go home now. You're the one who's acting like we're fighting. I just want to go home." She grabbed the top sheet, jerked it away from the mattress and held it over herself as she slid off the bed and began picking up her clothes. "Elaina," his voice subtly threatened. "I'm going home Raul, even if I have to walk." She turned her back to him and began slipping her underwear back on. "This isn't about you wanting to go home. This is about you getting your fucking way," he blasted. "Yes!" she screamed, turning around and mumbling, "finally, geez." He watched her dress and glared at her menacingly. "I could force you to stay," he said in a heated threat under his breath. She snapped her head up and a chill came over her features. "That would be a mistake." Her eyes froze his in an impenetrable glare. "I promise you." **** Elaina had been too tired to do anything but fall into bed when Raul dropped her off the night before. But now, after several hours of uninterrupted sleep, she lounged back in the bathtub, and remembered the night before, as the warm water soothed her aching muscles. He had pulled the truck up in front of her house and cut the engine. He turned to her, sifted his fingers through her hair and ran his eyes up and down her length. When he spoke, his words were intent, questioning, trying to gauge her feelings. His fingers were gentle on her. "What do you want, baby?" His eyes tangled with hers and she sucked in a breath at the naked emotion and blatant need in his voice. "That," she answered him softly. His fingers tightened. "Explain." She reached up and put her hand over his where it entangled her hair. "I want you to care about what I need--what I want," she said. "I do care," he answered. "I think you probably do, but it's kind of hidden underneath what you think I need--what you want for me. What you want." "You're saying I'm selfish? "News flash, Raul. You are selfish."

His cheekbones colored slightly. "Elaina--" "I'm not saying you're a selfish person--you're not. I know you're an incredibly good person. But when it comes to me--," she stopped, looked down and cleared her throat, "for whatever reason--you want what you want and nothing and no one--including me--seems to be able to stop you." "Are you trying to blow me off?" his voice was sharp. "No!" she exclaimed. "Then what?" "I need some distance--" "You are blowing me off." "No--I'm not. Not even close. If I hadn't made you bring me home tonight--I get the feeling that--this is going to sound stupid--I get the feeling you'd never let me leave." Her voice came to a stop and she watched him silently watching her, interrogating her without saying a word. He never tried to dispute her claim. "This is serious shit, Raul. It's not a game. I wouldn't begin to know how to play games. You think I belong to you. That fast--I sleep with you one time and that's it for you. Hell--you thought it before tonight. You're going to trample all over me if I let you." He jerked from her last sentence. "Trample you? What the hell, Elaina?" "Honestly? This isn't just sex. You want a relationship. And I'm okay with that as long as it's two ways. Equality." His lips thinned and his frown deepened, but he didn't try to deny what she was saying. "So, again, I'm asking you--what do you want?" he hissed out. "I want to take some time to get to know you. I'll stay here. I'm not saying we won't--have sex. I'm just saying I need to go to bed at night here. Wake up here. It's too soon to start staying with you, and I don't want to fight about it every time we see each other." "You're putting me on a goddamn trial?" "Do you want to give me what I need to feel comfortable with you?" "Yes," he blistered between grinding teeth. "It's not you that's on trial," she tried to soothe. "It's us." He jerked her to him and her hands fell helplessly to his chest. "We'll play it your way for a while. I'll give you space. But it is a relationship, Elaina. You can argue fucking semantics with me all night long. But this little body you got going on," he gripped her with one hand while he ran his other up and down the curve of her waist, "it is mine. That's not up for debate. You understand me?" His hand fell between them and landed on a breast and squeezed. His eyes glittered down at her, challenging her. Her heartbeat escalated and her voice froze as his thumb swiped back and forth across her nipple. His grip tightened and he gave her a slight shake as he demanded her acquiescence. She swallowed hard. "Yes, she whispered in submission, and his mouth fell on hers. **** Elaina came back to the present and reached for a towel as she climbed from the bathtub. Had she gotten through to him? Had she made him understand? Really, only time would tell. As for herself; she knew, she wanted him. What they had was intense, and she was old enough to realize that what they shared might not ever come around in her lifetime again. But it had to be right. His masculinity was fearsome. There was no doubt that was what she found so exciting about him. But it was also what scared her the most. She hoped and prayed it could work out. The sex had been addictive. Crazy. Crazy addictive. She could happily go her whole life with only him as a lover. If-If they could find a happy medium. Again, only time would tell. Thank God, she had a lot of time to make it work. **** Elaina spent the day cleaning up after the party alongside her aunt. Janie gave her several probing looks but never asked any questions. It was still too new for her to talk about, so Elaina didn't offer any details. They spent a pleasant day together regardless. Her cell phone rang at six o'clock that evening and she answered on the second ring. She knew by the display it was Raul. "Hello?" He cut to the chase. "What are you doing?" "Nothing, right now." "Have you eaten?"

"No, not yet." "I'll pick you up in twenty minutes." His arrogance was inborn; she wasn't going to get him to change that. Besides, she wanted to go. "Okay." She was sitting on the porch swing waiting for him when he drove up. He pushed the passenger door open from the inside and she stepped on the running board and up into the seat. She buckled and turned to him. "Hey," she said softly. He put the truck in reverse and looked over at her. "Hey." "Where are we going?" "You've got two choices--" She cut in with a smile in her voice. "Mmm. Choices. I like it already." He sniggered and ran his hand caressingly over her thigh. "Little shit." "Me?" Her eyes cut to him flirtatiously, then away again. "Surely not." His smile broadened in approval as he turned his eyes back to the road. "The diner in town or my house. I've got steaks we can grill." "A real date?" The truck came to the fork in the road and he stopped before turning onto the county road. "Would you like that?" His eyes radiated indulgence as he contemplated her mischievous mood. "Yeah." Her eyes searched his playfully. "Can we go to the diner and then--" Her voice stalled. "And then?" He lifted his hand and rubbed her silken chin between his fingers. "And then--can we go parking?" "Parking?" he almost choked on the word. Their eyes tangled as incendiary heat flowed between them. "I've never been." "Never?" he questioned her. "No, never," she qualified. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. "Baby, if you're going to be so easy to please, I don't think we're going to have any worries at all."

CHAPTER ELEVEN Elaina sat across from Raul in a booth at the only diner in town. Almost all of the tables around them were filled. His eyes were hot on her face as they searched for hidden answers. His hand entwined hers on top on the table as he played with her small white fingers. "You okay today?" Her eyes flew from watching the rough pads of his fingertips up to his heated, expectant expression. She knew what he was asking with that question. "I'm fine," she said quietly. His hand compressed over hers. "You sure? No residual effects from last night?" His thumb stroked back and forth across her palm. Elaina had the absurd notion she should be feeling embarrassment. But she wasn't. Arousal, immediate and all-consuming, slid through her veins and landed in a pool of heat between her thighs. His eyes pierced hers and she saw the same arousal reflected in his expression as his jaw tensed visibly and his skin pulled taut over his cheekbones. She sucked in a shaky breath. "Maybe a tiny bit--sore. But it's mostly gone now." "You sure? You bled so much--Jesus, babe." Elaina glanced quickly around to see if anyone was paying them any attention. She was relieved to find they were completely alone in their conversation. "Raul, please, be quiet. I'm sure it was normal." "I guess so. I worried about you after I dropped you off." "Don't you know so?" "What?" Now Elaina did feel the blush of embarrassment. "How much I bled," she whispered so softly she knew he would have a hard time hearing her. "Don't you know if it was normal?" "No, I don't. Christ, wait--what are you asking me?" His eyes flared and his fingers entwined with hers, grasping her hand completely. She remained silent as he studied her. His voice was firm when he spoke. "I haven't had any virgins before you." Pleasure, sharp and intense slid through her system. She was about to try to convey that emotion to him when her eyes looked past his to see the man coming up from behind him and toward her. It was Mr. Reynolds, from the bank. He had a smile on his face and stopped in front of their table. Elaina looked up at him and gave her best attempt at a smile as she retrieved her hand from Raul's. Had the banker heard Raul's last statement? Mortification pierced her, but she didn't have time to dwell on it as the man moved on to the business at hand. "Elaina, I've been trying to find the time to call. We want you to start on Monday if you're still interested in the job." Surprise and pleasure lit her face as she began nodding her head. "Yes, sir! Thank you, that would be great." As exhilaration infiltrated her, she knew she needed to introduce the two men. She was about to do just that when she realized it wasn't necessary. Mr. Reynolds had obviously only now discerned who she was with. He held his hand out to Raul for a handshake as his eyes darted between the two of them in inquiry. "How are you, Raul?" "Good. You?" "Fine, just fine," the other man said as he looked like he was recovering from finding his newest employee having a tete-a-tete with the town's hard-nosed, yet most eligible bachelor. Gossip was rampant around here and everyone would know they were seeing each other long before she showed up at work on Monday. She thanked Mr. Reynolds and watched him walk away and pay his bill at the counter. She looked back at Raul and found his frowning attention fixed on her. "I didn't know you were actively looking for a job." "I was, I'm not anymore," she said with satisfaction in her voice. His frown became a scowl. "Why do you want a job so bad?" "I need a job." "You don't need a job." "Yes, I do! I can't leach off Janie and Brian forever," she said with a distinct chill. Raul was about to respond when he thought better of it. She already looked about to come unglued on his ass. He could almost see the steam rising off her. He was irritated with her wanting a job, but he had enough brains to realize this was the kind of shit she was pissed about. The reaction he was trying to suppress was exactly why she wasn't comfortable with him. He bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood and took her hand back in his again. He gave her his best smile. "Fine, baby."

Elaina almost laughed out loud at the play of emotion streaking across Raul's face. Tension gripped his shoulders and he held himself so tightly he looked like he might snap. His face was twisted in a sad imitation of a smile that totally failed. She choked back the humor in the situation and focused on how he was attempting to respond. There was no telling what it was taking for him to back down. Pleasure spiked through her. He was trying. She was going to give him this one. She wasn't keeping score. She wasn't. Still, an imaginary line went up in the chalkboard in her head. One point for Raul. **** The windows were foggy and her panties were hanging from one ankle. They were in the backseat of his truck and he was pulling her over him in a straddling position while he sat in the middle of the bench seat. She thought parking meant petting. She was wrong. Evidently, it meant seducing her into going all the way. She was semi-ashamed to admit to herself it wasn't taking much seducing. She clenched her hands on his shoulders and tried to lower herself over him. "Mmm," she let out a tiny moan of anticipation as her legs shook with the effort of holding herself over him. A drop of sweat dripped down his face and his control threatened to snap as he rasped out, "Hold still and let me get the condom on." They were on a narrow dirt road at the back of his property. It was dark outside but there was just enough moonlight shining in for her to see what he was doing. His erection pulsed thick and hard and ready. There was something incredibly sexy about seeing him holding his engorged penis while he rolled the condom down its length. She bit her lip and tried to push her torso closer. "Baby, just--okay, now." His hands bit into her hips as he lifted her over him and began pushing up into her as his grasp on her silky skin pushed her down to meet him. He adjusted her legs, moved her minutely and then impaled her completely. He sucked in a shuddering breath and threw his head back against the rear window as the fierce pleasure from their joining consumed him. The vibrations from her sharp inhalations reverberated through him. He expelled his breath as the provocative feel of the shiver that attacked her body flowed into him, from her sweet silky arms wrapped around his neck. They panted together for the titillating count of five heartbeats and then he lifted her, introducing her to the motion of riding him. She sucked in a breath and he helped her take another stroke. And another. He felt a rush to his head as she took over from him, lifting and falling on him, creaming for him so sweetly he had to grit his teeth and start counting backwards from one-hundred. When he thought he had a modicum of control and couldn't stand it anymore, he put a hand on her jaw and lifted her face to him. His mouth sunk down on hers, opening her lips and plunging his tongue inside for a hot, wet, deep kiss that blew his mind. He was close, but he needed her to come first. While she clung to his lips and gyrated over him, he slipped a hand between them and began rubbing her sweet spot. It was silky, so silky, and the combination of her internal muscles clenching him was too much for him. He felt a last surge of blood thickening him, making him even harder and then his mind shut down to everything but the ecstasy consuming him. Only when he was at the peak of pleasure did his disjointed mind realize she was feeling it too. They were coming together. **** Two weeks slid by. The best two weeks Elaina had experienced since before her mother had fallen ill. The time was magical. Her days were spent learning her new job, and her evenings were spent with Raul. By the time he came and picked her up after he finished working on his ranch and she got back from her job in town, there was no sunlight left to do anything outside. But he came and got her every night. And they spent every evening together, either cooking at his house or having supper at the diner in town. They watched movies sitting on his couch together and usually never made it to the end of the film before they were touching each other and were out of breath and naked. He never complained about her job, but he did ask her leading questions that at first seemed innocuous. But the more nonchalant the question was, the more she knew the answer meant to him. Finally she threw up her hands and told him he had no reason to be jealous. She only wanted him. She saw that statement sink in and a calmness come over him that was almost tangible. He still brought her back to her aunt's home every night. He usually became tense but he never verbally attacked. He never criticized, but he would stand erect, rigid, and Elaina knew he was never happy to take her home. But he did, and she gave him points in her head. She was immensely happy. He was going out of his way to please her, and she knew why. He wanted her. Completely. And he was trying to prove it to her. He was going for her. Totally. For the win.

**** Three wonderful weeks later, Elaina was heading back to the bank at the end of her lunch break. She'd spent most of the hour in the small, county library with a yogurt cup and granola bar, using the internet for nothing more important than a bit of online shopping. She was walking past the only grocery store in town when Trevor opened the door, walked out and bumped into her. He reached out to steady her at the same time he realized who he had in his arms. His grin was infectious. "Hey." "Hey." They grinned at each other a moment before he spoke again with the smile still in his voice as he studied her. "Raul Vega? Seriously, Elaina?" A small laugh erupted from her throat. "Yeah, seriously." Trevor sobered. "He's a good man." "Yeah, he is." "Even though you could have had all this," he lifted his hands from her and motioned to himself like he was a chocolate donut with cream filling. "Right." They laughed and chatted a few minutes. She looked at her watch. She was going to be late if she wasn't careful. "Later, dude, I need to get back to work." Elaina turned away from him and kept walking as he went in the opposite direction. She was still smiling when she came to the entrance of the bank and saw Raul leaning against the front of the building, arms crossed, a frown on his face, watching her. Her insides quivered and her legs trembled from the shock of him appearing out of the blue when she wasn't expecting it. "What are you doing here?" She came to stand within a foot of him as he answered, "I bank here, Elaina. It's the only bank in town." His voice was strained. She bit her lip against the unintentional grin that began encompassing her face. She motioned with her head in the direction she had just come from and asked him, "Did you see all that?" His eyes narrowed on her and his lips flattened. "Yeah." The smile won and took over her whole expression. "Really? You saw Trevor? You saw the whole thing?" His nostrils flared. "Yeah. The whole goddamn thing," his voice hissed out. Elaina walked the last few inches toward him. She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. She studied his handsome, virile face and the smile fell from her lips as a deeper emotion took hold of her. "I love you." His hands wrapped around her jaw line and sifted through her hair until he was holding her by the scalp. "Jesus. Finally." His eyes searched hers. "I love you, too." He leaned down and put his mouth on hers in a kiss that sealed her fate.

Epilogue Five years later "Happy birthday, baby." It was just past midnight when Raul came up behind Elaina and wrapped his arms around her. She turned away from the twin bed and snuggled into his arms. He kept his voice purposefully quiet. "Is she asleep?" "Yeah, she finally exhausted herself." He reached down and around his wife to touch the soft, downy cheek of the three-year old. Her cheeks were rosy and she looked absolutely cherubic in sleep. He knew it wouldn't last long. She'd been giving them fits for awhile now as her terrible two's lingered. On fast chubby legs, their daughter was a little terror. Raul led Elaina by the hand and walked her out of the baby's room. He sat on the couch and pulled her into his lap and put a protective hand over her swollen belly. Their gazes tangled and held. "You don't look twenty-seven. You still look like a teenager. You're just as beautiful as you were the first time I saw you." She let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "I'm serious," he said. She lifted her hand to his cheek and flashed wickedly seductive eyes at him. "You don't have to flatter me. I'm a sure thing, Raul. Haven't you figured that out yet?" "A sure thing, hell." His hand absently caressed her taut belly where his next baby snuggled safely. "You put me through the ringer, baby, remember? You were never a sure thing. I sweated bullets thinking you weren't going to give in." Their gazes caught and held. "You were hard to resist," she said. "Damn straight. I had to be. I couldn't take the chance of you getting away." "I never wanted to get away." He watched her with an appreciation and love so deep, it vibrated between them. He leaned his forehead against hers and ran his hand down and clenched it around the silky cheek of her butt. He lifted her chin and his expression grew serious. "I mean it, baby. I love you so much. More than life itself." His eyes swallowed hers and she felt the same flutter in her stomach as she had when she first met him. "I love you, too." He kissed her lips and began the sweet seduction that still managed to blow her mind. He whispered in her ear, "Let me prove it." She kissed him back and asked, "Again?" "Yeah, again. Always." ###

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