Page 54 of Claiming His Christmas Angel

“Yes, I knew nothing about either business, and in order to make them a success, I had to learn how each business operates.”

“Which do you like the best?” she asked, her gaze filled with curiosity.

“The ranch. Wyoming is unbelievably beautiful. I have just under six thousand acres and on average, three thousand head of cattle.”

“Three thousand.” Octavia stared at him in amazement. Atticus smiled.

“I bought Peaceful Sky ranch from an old farmer. He and his wife had no children, and he didn’t like the other man who had made an offer. I think the ranch was the child Clarence and his wife never had, and he liked my appreciation for the land.”

“What’s it like?”

“Wild, untamed, and beautiful. Everything is immense, from the mountains to the forests. The house sits on top of a hill, and from the front porch, my land reaches as far as my eyes can see.”

“It sounds magnificent.”

“It is. I plan on returning in the late spring for the cattle drive.”

“Do you mean you will ride along with the cowboys?” Octavia’s eyes widened a small bit as if intrigued yet intimidated by the thought.

“Yes, I actually learned how to be one too, albeit a somewhat incompetent one. Rarely did a day pass when they weren’t all joking and laughing about my struggles to learn something new.”

Atticus laughed as he remembered one of the younger cowhands, John, chortling with laughter as he’d struggled to put up fencing around his property.

“Learning how to install barbed wire fencing was one that resulted in several painful lessons. The small calf I had to untangle when it became caught up in the wire was even more so.”

“Oh, then that…” When her voice trailed off, Atticus cocked his head to one side as he met her gaze with a small smile.

“Yes, that’s where I learned how to rescue maidens from brambles.”

“I never said thank you for your kindness that night in the garden,” she said softly.

“Given the conversation you overheard, I don’t blame you,” he said with sincerity. “Although if we’d met at the Lyndham affair, such a conversation would never have taken place, and you wouldn’t have fallen into those thorny bushes.”

“I don’t understand,” she said with puzzlement. Atticus dragged in a breath.

“From the first moment I found you entangled in those rose bushes, I was captivated by you. Any other woman would have been hysterical, but not you, Octavia. Your fire and strength were astounding. You were Aphrodite personified. You still are. And if we’d met at the Lyndham affair, I would not have allowed you to walk away from me, whether you had been an heiress or not.”

Eyes widening with surprise, bright pink color flooded her cheeks. She was adorable, and desire heated his blood as he met her gaze. Even if tonight was the only time he’d ever held her in his arms again, he planned on making every second count. Cheeks still flooded with color, she quickly sprang to her feet.

“It looks like you’re finished eating, let me bring out the dessert.”

Octavia started to sprint past him, but Atticus extended his hand to catch her wrist, bringing her to a halt. Rising to his feet, he studied her upturned face for a moment. The merest hint of trepidation flitted across her features.

Arms wrapping around her waist, Atticus pulled her into his chest, then kissed her gently. As he raised his head, his heartbeat accelerated at the way her features had softened with delight. It made him want to see her expression after he’d pleasured her.

“I already have my dessert here.”

With a gentle tug, he guided her to the opposite end of the table. Hands pressing into her waist, he lifted her up and sat her on the tabletop.

“What are you up to, Ashurst?”

“Ashurst? That’s rather formal, given the dessert I’m about to enjoy,” Atticus said with a smile as he leaned forward and kissed her deeply.

As his tongue slipped past her lips, he savored the sweet taste of the plum pudding they’d had for dinner. She tasted delicious, and he knew the tangy taste of her sex would only enhance the sweetness. Her tongue tangled with his in several strokes of feminine demand, and his body tensed as he contemplated the idea of taking her now. No, she deserved better than that from him. She deserved to be wooed and seduced before he claimed her as his completely.

Atticus ignored the clamoring hunger of his cock, and forced himself to consider only her pleasure. There would be plenty of time to satisfy his own needs in the hours ahead. Instead, his hands gathered up her skirts and pushed the gown up to her stomach to expose her lush thighs.

At the sight of her, he grew still as he absorbed the sheer magnificence of her full hips, the gentle swell of her belly, and the treasure at the apex of her long legs. God almighty, but she was beautiful. He swallowed the knot in his throat that was blocking his ability to breathe, while his body harden and ached almost maddeningly to possess her. Ignoring the physical ache pounding against him, Atticus met her shy gaze and smiled.