Chapter Fourteen

W arm, rough hands enveloped Shiloh’s. “Keep your eyes shut.”

She nodded at Oaks’s command, a carefree smile plastered on her face.

“No peeking. I’ll know. Remember, I have younger siblings.”

He guided her forward two steps, then three. She felt the smooth wood floor under her socked feet, but had no idea what direction he was leading her.

“What kind of surprise is this anyway?” Her heart hitched at the idea of their encounter on the enclosed deck, and she almost cracked an eye to see if they were headed that direction.

“Turn left now.” His deep voice took on a gruffer tone that sent chills up and down her spine.

A few more steps and she glided over a threshold into another space. Oaks stopped leading her but didn’t tell her to open her eyes. She battled to keep them shut, even pinching them tighter so she wasn’t tempted.

“It’s been a long time since I had a surprise. I can’t wait anymore, Oaks!”

His low chuckle edged under her skin and sent new heated tingles rippling through her nerves. “Just one more minute.”

“Oaks Malone, I swear—”

“Open your eyes.”

She popped them open and found she was standing in the big dining room. She blinked at the candles flickering in holders spaced evenly on the long table. Light gleamed off the dinner plates and silver flatware. It beaded along the rim of two wine glasses.

With visions of their shared dinner at the chef’s table, her stomach rumbled, eager for delicious food.

But when she sniffed the air, she didn’t smell any food.

“What’s on the menu?”

He was watching her face closely, his eyes hooded and an amusement playing in the depths. “Usually you sit down before you find out what’s for dinner.”

She cut her stare over his handsome face, down to the broad swell of his chest. Her insides flared with warmth as she thought about him being on the menu. Visions rose up…of him swiping an arm over the table and dishes flying as their passion took over and they used the table for other purposes.

She shook herself a little, but the visions still played in the back of her mind. Planting her palm on his chest, she tipped her head up to look at him. “If I don’t get the chance to tell you later, I just want you to know I had an amazing time tonight.”

That smile in his eyes spread to his lips, tilting them at the corners with a bad-boy smirk. “Come sit down.”

With his hand on her spine, he guided her to the table and pulled out a seat for her. She slid into it and watched with appreciation as he took the chair across from her. Now that she was seated, she picked up the scent of food. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the movement of somebody entering the dining room.

To her shock and amusement, Carson walked in with his usual cowboy swagger mixed with the cockiness of a military man, dressed in jeans and a Black Heart Ranch T-shirt with a towel folded over one forearm and a bottle of wine in hand.

She couldn’t stop a giggle from bubbling out, then turned her attention to Oaks. “You made your brother serve us?”

True to Carson’s personality, he gave the expected eye roll. He stepped up to the table and poured wine into each of their glasses.

“You don’t have much ceremony for this kind of work, brother, but at least you’re efficient.”

“You know I don’t have time for this.” He softened his growl by tossing a crooked smile at Shiloh as he filled her glass.

She thanked him, and he let out a snort as he turned on his heel and sauntered out of the room.

Twisting her focus back to Oaks, she shook her head. “You thought of everything.”

“I wanted to give you a little treat. Before I forget, we’re having a meeting in the morning with Carson.”

She nodded and then searched his face with a thoughtful expression. “I thought the chef’s table was just a one-off. Then last night happened.” She felt a fizzle of warmth in her cheeks and covered it by lifting her wine glass to him. “I had no idea you’re such a romantic.”

At the mention of their sexy evening, steel sparked in his eyes. He wrapped his long fingers around the stem of the wine glass and lifted it to her.

She clinked the fragile glass off his. “To another wonderful evening.”

Their gazes held as they each took a sip of the flavorful wine. Notes of berry burst on her tongue and warmed all the way into her veins.

“Where did you learn to be such a romantic? In the military or at home? Was your dad very romantic with your mom?”

“No.” He set his glass on the table.

She saw her mistake and quickly waved a hand. “You don’t have to tell me.”

It was probably an ex. She had plenty of stories about William too, and though not all of them were bad, she most definitely did not wish to share them.

Before the moment could get any more awkward, Layne entered the room. She carried a platter in one hand and bore a very stoic look as if she took this job seriously.

Shiloh felt a hard pinch of remorse about the things she’d said to Layne before. When she told her they were not the same, she had been wrong. She only saw a woman who led a very different life from hers, but that didn’t mean it was any easier. She didn’t know the details about what happened to Layne, only that she had been threatened and Carson saved her.

The faint scent of spiced crab wafted from the platter as she crossed the room to the table. When she set it between Shiloh and Oaks, two of the crab-stuffed mushrooms toppled over and slid off the plate.

Layne let out a groan. “I told you I’d be horrible at this, Oaks. I should have just left them in the takeout container.”

With a giggle, Shiloh grabbed her fork and scooped the little round caps back onto the platter. “No, no. You’re wonderful . Isn’t she, Oaks?”

He stared at her, eyes hooded in that come-to-bed look she wanted very much to answer.

She aimed a kick at his shin beneath the table. “Tell the woman she’s wonderful, Oaks,” she hissed through her teeth.

A laugh as lovely as Layne was inside and burst from her.

Oaks flicked his attention to her. “Thanks, Layne. We appreciate your help tonight.”

Shooting Shiloh a wide grin, she gave a small bow and walked out of the room.

Oaks picked up his fork and served a portion of the appetizer to Shiloh on a small plate. “To answer your question, my father was far from romantic with our mom. Unless you consider him going on benders and her bailing him out of jail up until the time she walked out romantic.”

Shiloh stopped dead with her fork poised over the perfectly toasted crab meat mixed with spices in the center of the mushroom. “Oh god, Oaks. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to raise bad memories for you.”

He shrugged off her apology as if he had long ago gotten over it. “To be honest, I got stuck watching a lot of romantic comedies with my little sister.”

She smiled at the vision of him and Willow watching silly romance movies and took a bite of her mushroom. Flavors filled her mouth, and she moaned quietly at the decadent treat.

Oaks stabbed an entire mushroom and popped it in his mouth whole. He chewed for a moment and his throat worked as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple shifting underneath the skin she enjoyed nuzzling so much after they made love.

Made love. She couldn’t believe she was even thinking of the sex they’d shared in those terms. She…she couldn’t be falling for Oaks.

Why not? Who was stopping her? She had no ties to…well, anyone. She was free to do and feel as she pleased.

She stole a peek at his handsome face, and her heart reacted with a little flip.

“Dad was an asshole, so I stepped up. I took Willow to the movies and all the daddy-daughter dances. Our old man was never going to do it, and I didn’t want her to be embarrassed, so I took her.”

She marveled at the man before her. “That was so sweet of you.”

He brushed aside her compliment. “I wanted to make sure Willow knew how she deserves to be treated. That meant I chaperoned her dates and had to sit through these movies one row back.”

She chuckled at the picture he painted about that time. “It sounds horrible.”

“It wasn’t always so bad. Especially when Willow’s date would reach for her hand. Then I’d get to slap him alongside the head.”

Shiloh burst out laughing. He popped another mushroom in his mouth, leaving a light film of the oil on his hard lips. The man had no clue how enticing he was. If sex appeal had an image in the dictionary, it would be Oaks Malone.

He darted his tongue across his lips and then took a sip of wine to wash down the food. “When the guy went in for a kiss, I’d kick the back of his seat.”

Another laugh bubbled up from the pit of her stomach. “I can see it now.”

“Willow wasn’t getting pregnant on my watch. I was not going to be Uncle Oaks.”

Her heart swelled at these stories. He was such a special man.

She was glad he was the man she was forced to marry.

Setting down her wine glass, she searched his gaze. “If someone had to buy me to save me from a Russian marriage, I’m glad it was you. That was a lot of cryptocurrency you shelled out for me. Someday I’ll pay you back.”

He leaned over the table, holding her stare. “Baby, I’d empty my whole vault for you.”

And she would do anything to save him from William. She would meet her ex and finally hand over the files, then hurry back to the Black Heart Ranch. To Oaks. Then he would be safe.

* * * * *

The springs of the guest bed squeaked lightly with every thrust of Oaks’s hips. Shiloh’s soft moans added to the sensual music they were creating.

Her thighs clamped around him tighter, and she looped her arms around his shoulders, yanking him closer. The kiss of her warm skin against his had him blazing with need.

He’d only plunged his cock inside her seconds before, and already he was about to blow. Dark wisps of need curled around the base of his spine, teasing him with a release that he knew would be more intense than ever before.

With his weight braced on his arms, he jerked his hips into hers hard. Harder.

She let out a cry of bliss and locked her ankles behind his back, digging her heels into his ass as she tried to bring him even deeper.

The new angle made him slip in another millimeter, and they shared a groan. The slippery feel of her insides clenching him from base to tip left him shaking on the verge of release.

She’d come for him once already, when he fingered her pussy up against the dining room wall. Then a second time after they made it to the guest room and he tore off all her clothes and tossed her onto the bed, where he spread her wide and went down on her.

The taste of her still flooded his head, driving him on and on toward a blinding end.

“O-hhh-ks!” His name ripped from her throat in a disjointed moan as he plunged inside her.

“Fuck, honey! I’m there. I’m…” All thought fled from his brain as his orgasm hit. Shocks zapped through his body, accompanying each hard jet of cum from his cock.

He only knew sensation and the soft croon of Shiloh’s voice as she strummed her fingers down his spine. Each gentle caress sent another shockwave through his system. The heat pulsed between them for long moments.

Leaning in, he claimed her lips. The tender brush of his mouth across hers would never be enough to show her all the things he felt right this moment.

He gathered her close, breathing in her scent. “Shiloh…honey.”

She curled her fingers into his nape, holding her close. “Don’t say anything. Don’t ruin the moment.”

He lifted his head and pierced her in his gaze. “I want to say things.”

“What things?”

“ All the things. Like… Christ, Shiloh.” He stared at her for long heartbeats, trying to figure out how to admit to doing something that he had feared for years—falling in love. As a SEAL, there was no guarantee he’d come back from an op, and if he did, he may be very, very changed, just like the men here on the Black Heart Ranch.

He had to tell her. She had to know.

The words pushed through his vocal cords, past his lips. “I’m…in love with you.”

Her hands stilled on his spine. She held her breath. “Oh my god. Oaks. I-I’ve been feeling the same way.”

He searched her eyes for the truth and saw it glimmering back at him like two candle flames. “I’m not just spouting words, honey. I mean it. I never say this to anyone. Not siblings, and especially not women.”

Her breath hitched.

“You mean more to me than you can ever know. Shiloh, I will do anything to keep you safe and bring this horrible chapter of your life to an end.”

Her fingers pattered over his shoulders and down to the hard planes of his ass. “I’d do anything to save you too.”

Filled with the thrill of the words they’d exchanged, he clutched her against him. “That’s the thing. You will never have to. I can take care of myself, and I want to take care of you too. This marriage means more to me than trading a few words. I didn’t realize how you would affect me then, but it didn’t take long for me to know that I don’t want to let you go.”

She looked at him like she was about to speak, but instead she brushed her mouth over his in a tender kiss. Emotion throbbed between them like the beat of a pulse.

To think that two people had found each other in these circumstances, and that they were perfectly right for each other, sounded like something out of one of Willow’s romantic comedies. Only they’d skipped the slapstick mishaps and gone straight to the sappy part.

Shiloh’s eyes were filled with liquid heat. Her body rolled against his, seeking more. As if she couldn’t get enough of him either.

Oaks claimed her mouth again in a slow, deliberate kiss that spiraled on for long minutes. When they were both shaking with need, he quickly donned another condom and took them to new heights.

As she cried out his name, he lost himself in pleasure—and the warmth of their newfound love. A love he’d never give up.