Chapter Twenty

The house rang with that dreaded silence that had driven Ivy away from the ranch. Meadow had gotten their father safely delivered home. She could only guess that he was tucked in bed, resting, and her sister had fled to her training pen and her horses.

With the friend of Forest's showing up out of the blue, Hunter and Colton were outside with him, probably filling him in on everything.

Hunter had been reluctant to leave her side, but she'd assured him that she would go to her room and lie down.

Now she felt the pulse of worry inside her. When she faced her father, she did not want to do it bruised and sporting a new cast on her arm.

But she was strong. She would do what she had to in order to survive.

Later.

Tiptoeing down the hall, she passed the master bedroom where he must be settled. When she reached the open door of the office, she automatically swung her head to glance at the familiar space…and froze in her tracks.

Her father sat at his desk, hunched forward, looking more frail than she'd ever seen him.

He met her stare. Shock flitted across his wan face, and he winced as if in physical pain.

"I didn't want you to see me this way," she croaked.

He said nothing, just let his gaze roam over her face another full minute.

Suddenly, Hunter stepped into the hallway and moved to stand behind her. Her father searched his face. Did he recognize him from any of the photos Forest shared with him?

Hunter's fingers brushed down her elbow, over her cast, to brush over her fingers. "Let's get you to bed."

Boldly, she looked into her father's eyes. Then she turned and allowed Hunter to lead her to her room.

Her father said nothing about Ivy taking a man to her private space. Judging by that expression he wore, he knew he no longer held any clout with her. That she knew exactly what he'd gotten their family into.

As soon as she felt stronger, she would sit down with him, Meadow, Colton and Hunter—and maybe the newcomer, Wolfe too—and throw everything out on the table. A spotlight had to be cast on what he'd done so they could find a solution for the situation.

Her stomach twisted. She only hoped no more lives were lost in the fight.

If she lost the remaining members of her family…or Hunter…

She could let the banked tears fall, but she was too tired to even express her emotions. Though it was good to know that now she could.

Hunter had given her so much. Now, he closed her bedroom door softly and turned to cup her face in his big hands.

Tilting her face up to his, she let him see all the love she felt coursing through her for him.

"You're my world now, Ivy. I'm never going to let you be alone again."

She looped her arms around him, aware of how awkward her cast was. "You're not alone either. You've found your family here."

He leaned his forehead against hers and took a deep breath. When she saw the slight quirk of his lips at one corner, she drew back.

"What's amusing you?"

"This." He curled his fingers around her cast and gently brought her arm down to inspect it. "A black cast, Ivy? Only you would choose such a thing."

Her giggle felt so foreign…yet so freeing. "The little black cast—goes with everything. Though I don't recommend it as a wardrobe staple."

He brought it up to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. Then he leaned in and claimed her mouth.

She had little memory of them making it to the bed, or Hunter stripping off her clothes.

Only when he slowly dragged the tip of his erection through her slick folds did she stare deep into his eyes and come fully back to herself.

In one thrust, he pushed inside her—deep.

Her insides clutched at him. Dark need blasted through her lower belly, and she rocked upward to meet his thrust.

They shared a moan and began to move.

Grinding his hips, he filled her to the hilt. Her pussy pulsated around his cock, drawing a groan from his lips.

For a breathless moment, neither moved.

"Ivy. Fuck! I love you more than life."

She dug her fingers into his spine. "I love you. I need you to make love to me. Make me feel safe."

"I'll make sure no one lays a hand on you ever again."

She brushed her lips over his. The ferocious look in his eyes faded, replaced by desire. When he kissed her back, her heart began to pound. Love bloomed in her chest.

Slowly, he withdrew his cock through her tight walls. The sparks of need rocketed through her system. She wrapped her thighs around his body and clung to him as he thrust in again.

And again.

In seconds, what began as the tender lovemaking they both needed after all they'd been through turned into a wild race to ecstasy. Her pussy flooded. His cock filled her completely. Passion swirled between their tongues. She fed him tiny moans and he devoured them with his kisses.

"Hunter! Oh god, right there. There. There!" She punctuated his every plunge with a muffled cry.

His cock stroked over her G-spot. Her pussy squeezed around his length and her orgasm swept her away.

"Ivy. Ivy!" He pulled her hard against his body and filled her with hot spurts of cum. The feel of the man she loved shaking with his release sent her even higher.

When she floated back to reality, he was climbing back into bed with her. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her long and deep.

Her eyes drifted shut. "God, what a long day this has been."

He leaned away, staring down at her with a crease between his brows.

"What is it?"

He didn't reply.

"It's not over, is it?"

He shook his head. "Colton and Carver want to talk."

Carver. The newcomer to the ranch. Forest's friend and a man that Ivy's lover trusted.

She pushed onto her good hand. "I'll come with you. We'll get Meadow—"

Leaning in, he brushed his lips across hers in a tender caress. "No. You're going to stay right here and rest, love."

Tenderly, he guided her back down to the pillow. "Ivy. My love. You're the strongest woman I've ever met. But I'm asking you to leave this to me right now. Okay?"

She brushed her fingers over his jaw. "Only if you say please nice and pretty."

Caught off guard, he laughed. Then he kissed her smiling mouth before pushing off the bed and reaching for his clothes.

Once he was dressed and standing at the door, he turned back to her, his eyes warm with love.

"I'm going to marry you, Ivy Gracey."

Her heartbeat tripled at his words. She didn't know how they were all going to survive the hell their father had brought down on them, but she had Hunter now. She had Meadow and Colton, not to mention Webb and the other ranch hands, as loyal as they came. And now Carver Wolfe too.

"I can't wait to belong to you in every way possible. I love you, Hunter."

In long strides, he returned to the bed to seal his lips over hers. To seal their bond.