Chapter Twelve
Jared opened his bedroomdoor and was not ready for the satisfied, possessive feeling racing through him.When she had shown up yesterday, he’d been thrilled that she seemed to be a beautiful and sweet woman he knew he’d come to care for eventually, and he’d be able to sleep with her every night and dive into her whenever he wanted.He no longer had to use his fist to get a moderate feeling of release from the overabundance of sexual hunger he’d been born with.
He couldn’t seem to understand why his feelings for her had hit him hard at the very beginning.He let his body and his need for her take over his common sense.He hadn’t considered that he would start to have feelings—deep feelings—for this woman.He decided that would be the worst thing that could happen, and he would do whatever it took to keep home and work separate.He couldn’t allow her to disrupt his life.
Jared told himself he married her so quickly to protect her, but he knew the real reason.He wanted her bound to him as fast as possible, and it pissed him off while it brought him a sense of peace he’d never felt.He stared down at her with his hands on his hips.
“Jesus, what am I going to do with you?”He turned away and got ready for bed.He grabbed some sleep pants, grimacing.He usually slept naked because he liked the freedom, but he didn’t want to freak her out if they touched during the night.
After shutting the lights off and getting under the covers, Jared turned toward her.She lay facing him, curled into a small ball with her hands tucked under her chin.He reached out and pushed a piece of hair out of her face.He took the time to look at her as much as he wanted without getting caught, and the light from the full moon was enough to see her features.
He had an overwhelming feeling of ownership right then that took his breath.Jared pulled his hand away abruptly.He would not allow her into his heart.That would only compromise the way he liked his life.He was not going to do anything that would jeopardize the ranch.
He closed his eyes.He wasn’t going to worry about it anymore that night.He just knew this little woman was not going to make him feel like he needed her in any other way besides sex and babies.
Sky woke during the night with a heavy arm wrapped around her waist, holding her back against a hot, hard chest.She was alarmed at first until she realized who it was, then she felt a sense of security, unlike any she’d ever felt.She slid back into sleep as she contemplated her emotions.She vaguely sensed his arm tightening when she tried to move away from him a few times during the night.
When she awoke next, she was alone in bed, and sunlight was streaming through the windows.She noticed the empty side of the bed when she jerked around toward the bedside clock for the time.
“Oh, Lord.”She’d slept until noon.She’d never done that in her life.
She flew out of bed and raced toward the bathroom.She took a quick shower, wrapped a towel around herself, and used another to blot the moisture from her hair.Sky turned and raced into her old bedroom to get clothes and shrieked when she ran into a hard wall of muscle.
“Hey, there.Slow down.”Jared grasped her shoulders to keep her from dropping to the floor.
Sky took a step back, but he kept a grip on her.
“I’m sorry, I can’t believe I slept this late.I was rushing,” she explained breathlessly.
Jared’s eyes roamed hungrily down her body.The towel covered her midsection but left her legs, upper chest, and arms naked and still damp from the shower.
“Why?You can sleep as late as you want, Baby.There’s nothing that needs your immediate attention, is there?”
Sky tried again to pull back from him, but he just held her steady.
The energy drained from her when she realized he was right.She had nothing to look forward to, just like when she’d been with her father.For some reason, the thought of that here, of feeling like a nothing, bothered her more.Much more.
Jared gritted his teeth when she seemed to deflate right in front of him.He wanted so badly to pull her into his arms and make her feel better, but he knew it would open an emotional door he wanted to stay closed.
“That’s true.”Sky tightened her grip on the towel she had wrapped around her after her shower.“Why are you here?”Her voice was somber.
Jared dropped his hands.Something in him needed to see her, and it pissed him off.
“I had to come up to the house for something, and Abby told me you hadn’t been down yet.I decided to check and make sure you were okay.”
“Yes, well, as you can see, I’m fine.”
His eyes locked on hers.“Good.”Jared took a step back.“I guess I’ll go back to work.”
