Brutal Heir (Billionaire Heirs #2)

Chapter 12

Ezequiel

I follow the road behind Sage until we reach the gate. Opening my door, I climb out of the truck, thoughts of her still filling my mind.

I walk past her vehicle and go around to the latch without a sideways glance. A woman could expect different things after what just happened. I’m not sure I’m prepared to find out what this one wants.

I pull up the chain that goes around the gate and the main post, taking the lock in hand. Yeah, I could have given her the combination. She’s security, so she should have it anyway. But I chose to drive out with her. Why? She’s unarmed, and unfamiliar with this particular area. Never mind that she made it from here to the hangar by herself earlier.

One hand on the gate, I walk back across the road to let her through. What will she do? I hadn’t meant to go so far, yet here we are. The question is, where will this end up?

She drives past, and I curl my fingers into a fist, squeezing tight. There isn’t a single vehicle on the road to distract us. I start preparing to deal with whatever she might say.

Only she pulls the truck out onto the highway and picks up speed. Instead of the drama I was half expecting, she pretty much took off without a backward glance.

I let out a breath as I walk back, putting the chain back in place as I work through the mess of thoughts. It should be a relief that she kept driving, but somehow it’s not.

Setting the lock in place gives a sense of finality. What the hell is wrong with me? It’s been a long day, but we did everything we were supposed to. I should have a feeling of accomplishment, but instead, I’m restless as I walk back to the truck.

Doing a U-turn, I head home, determined to put Sage out of my mind. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow with all the ranch hands off for the weekend. I’ll need to step up the search for the last few cows. This would be so much easier if we had a helicopter. That would be a hell of an investment. Might make it easier to get out of here every now and then.

I’ve never seen you in town.

I should call Addler and give him an update. I pull my cell from my back pocket and dial his number then set my phone in the holder. The simple act triggers a replay of what happened earlier.

Sage is on the screen, stock-still. I could feel the energy pulsing through her body, a mix of excitement and nerves. She’s holding her breath in anticipation, waiting to see what I’ll do. My fingertips prickle, and I remember the feel of her skin as I move down her chest to go into her shirt.

“What’s up?” Addler’s voice comes through the speakers, breaking into my thoughts. It takes me a second to focus enough to open my mouth. I clear my throat before speaking.

“We hit all the locations on the list,” I say, thinking back to the first stop, to the drilling rig then, ultimately, to the encounter with the rattler. “Some shit’s in the wrong place, but we found everything we were supposed to.” And a hell of a lot of trouble in the process.

“Okay. That’s one less thing to worry about,” Addler says, sounding more relaxed.

“Security’s going to turn in the list on Monday so they can get all the equipment posted in the right place,” I continue. “That way everything’s accounted for when you’re all official-like, Mr. de Marco .”

I can almost picture Addler on the other end of the line. That last bit was for him, since I know how he feels about being called Mr. de Marco. To him, that’s always been the old man, his grandfather, whose expectations he thinks he hasn’t met.

“She give you any trouble?” he asks, not taking the bait.

I hesitate, giving myself time to think. Spending the day with Sage led to a whole lot more than what I expected, but I don’t think Addler needs to hear about any of it.

“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to figure out what to say without sounding like a fool.

“I don’t know that anyone would appreciate being called in to work on a holiday,” Addler says, his tone sharper now.

Oh, well that’s not as hard to detail out for him.

“She was on her way to Laredo and turned around,” I explain. “Think she wasn’t too happy to be called in when she wasn’t in uniform, but that’s it.” I pause, as I remember getting her out of those shorts. “Other ’an that, she was pretty…” Hot? Wet? Sweet? Tight? “Accommodating,” I say, settling on a pretty neutral word.

Addler pauses for a moment, and I can almost hear the wheels turning in his head. Did I give too much away and leave him suspicious?

“You heading in?” he asks, changing the subject and effectively letting me off the hook.

“Yeah. Gotta grab a bite then go to bed,” I reply, feeling the exhaustion seeping into my bones. “It was a long day.”

“You two want to swing by for dinner and a couple of beers?” he offers.

Man, that sounds odd. The “you two” in the same sentence with “a couple” echo in my head. It’s not what he meant, but that’s how it caught my ear. All I can think is, there’s no couple here. While I was worried she would think that way, she made it clear when she drove away.

I shake my head, even though he can’t see me. “Nah. She just went out the gate.” Without a single word or a backward glance, “And I’m not good company,” I admit. “Just need a shower and a bed.” Alone, always alone.

Then all at once, there she is, in my bed. What would it be like to join her? To lie beside her and stare into those clear-blue eyes. To touch her like I did earlier. To hear her soft laughter…

I try to shake the image, but damn she looks good there. Fuck. “I have a lot to catch up on tomorrow,” I remind us both.

“Okay, man. Thanks for dropping everything last minute,” Addler says. “I’ll let you go. Get some rest.”

“Yeah, you too,” I reply, ending the call and pocketing my phone. I don’t need the damn screen staring at me, making me think of pale skin, stiff nipples, and heavy breathing. Her legs spread…

God damn it.

I put her out of my mind and keep driving. Somehow, I make it the few miles back to the house without thinking about her. A quick turn around the corral and barn show nothing out of place. So, for now, everything looks good for calling it a night.

I park by the side door and reach for the key. As I look up, I catch sight of the flowers beside the house. One, in particular, draws my attention. The bush is covered in white roses, the color turning a pale pink and intensifying as it reaches the center.

The flower calls to mind the sight of Sage as I had her over the side of the driver’s seat. Now all I can see is the tightest pussy I’ve ever sunk my cock into. I’m hard in an instant.

Fuck my life . How many years have I existed out here on my own? I hadn’t needed a woman, or wanted one, in a long, long time. Now suddenly, this redhead shows up on the ranch, and I’m all over her—or I’m wanting to be.

No…no, I don’t—then the image of her in my bed comes back, wedging itself directly into my mind’s eye. I’m over her, sinking my cock into that wet heat.

I suck in a deep breath. I’ve never considered myself soft. Every weakness was beaten out of me at an early age, but I ache at the thought of this woman. My cock’s straining against my zipper, and my mouth waters at the possibility of tasting her. Everything I only got to see on a tiny cell phone screen.

That’s it. I got to see everything, but I didn’t get to do the things I wanted. There was too much heat, too much urgency to get to the end. All of it was on the screen, but I could hardly say what her skin tasted like.

I want to call her, to get her here, for a while. That’s what I need. Just one more time, to get her out of my system.

Not giving myself the chance to change my mind, I pull out my phone. I’m not the kind of guy who sends flowery messages. After the way she left, I don’t know if she’ll answer my call. She might not even acknowledge a message from me. But I know a sure-fire way around that.

I type out the four words sure to get me an answer.

Send me the video.