Resurrection River: Men of Mercy, Book 2 Read online

  “Last chance. I don’t know if I can stop, but I will try.” Ranger held her hostage with his intense gaze. She knew he was barely holding himself back. And she had never wanted anyone as bad as she wanted this man.

  Amy was past the point of talking. She reached up and wrapped her fingers around him, thumbing his tip, spreading the small drop of pre-cum. He bucked, his cock swelled and throbbed in her palm.

  Ranger fell on her, taking her lips in a searing kiss. His cock nestled at her entrance and she let her knees fall wide. He pressed inside her, stretching her, wider than she remembered. She gasped at the sudden sensation, he filled her. Going slow. Inching inside, knowing she needed time to adjust to his size.

  Amy watched as he gritted his teeth and pushed forward, sweat dripping onto her as he leaned down and took her mouth. They touched everywhere, and she felt every millimeter of friction inside and outside. The sensation was too much and not enough. He was taking it easy on her, going slow, but she didn’t want slow anymore.

  “Honey, if you don’t stop wiggling I won’t be able to control myself.” Ranger inched in a little more.

  “Ranger, now. Please, don’t go slow. I need you.” Her nails dug into his butt, urging him forward.

  And he obliged, driving in hard and deep, stealing her breath and filling her completely.

  She gasped, skating the edge of pain and pleasure, her hips bucking to meet him, take him. He was so big she didn’t know how they fit, but they did. Perfectly. And she wanted all of him. Every bit. He pulled out, leaving her empty, but just as she felt the keen absence, he filled her again. And again. He thrust, taking her in long, hard strokes, driving her beyond thought. Beyond anything but feeling. All she could do was hold on and trust Ranger to take her there.

  Ranger stood, lifted her legs from around his waist and up over his shoulders, pushing her down until her knees were almost touching her shoulders. The new position allowed him to go deeper, to places she’d never been touched. He felt bigger, harder. He pulled out and thrust in, taking her so completely she shattered.

  She heard herself crying out, but couldn’t register anything but the ride of pleasure. And Ranger didn’t stop, he didn’t give her mercy, he slammed into her over and over, forcing her to ride that wave. Finally, he stiffened and groaned. He filled her with is heat. With all of him.

  Her body went limp and he let her legs fall to the table. He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest.

  Amy wasn’t sure how much time passed before Ranger started to nuzzle her neck and place small kisses on her cheek. She smiled, high on her first climax in years. And if she were honest, her best climax ever. Without a word, Ranger lifted her up, keeping her legs wrapped around him and carried her into her bedroom. Once they settled on the bed, she laid her cheek against his chest.

  Thoughts of the past few months, thoughts of shame and guilt couldn’t punch past her consciousness. She refused to let go of this feeling. Tonight, tonight she would savor him. And tomorrow… She would think about tomorrow in the morning.

  13

  Chapter 13

  Ranger came instantly awake. He blinked, trying to bring the strange surroundings into focus. Then Amy shifted in his arms and memories from earlier in the night flooded back. Contentment filled him and he pulled her tighter against his chest, every single inch of her skin pressed against him.

  His dream had come true. Amy admitted she wanted him. Only him. And she’d shown him in ways he’d not even dreamed existed. He rubbed his chest again, that familiar ache forming. He’d told her he loved her. He’d given her all of him. Every piece.

  She hadn’t said she loved him, though. She said she wanted him. Ranger wanted more, he wanted all of her. Forever. But he knew he had to go slow. Amy wasn’t immature and rash. She thought about decisions and she took her time. And she needed time to accept him in her life.

  Ranger glanced around the dark bedroom, taking in the four-poster bed. Shane’s bed. His memory hung over Ranger’s head like a freaking ghost. Got to stop thinking about him. Shane isn’t here. He would want someone who really loved Amy to take care of her. Of the child he’d never met.

  He forced himself to shake off the eerie sense of being watched. It was just his mind, his guilt. He looked around, taking in his surroundings, studying the concrete. The here and now. The wall to the right was nothing but windows and French doors leading out onto the back porch. To the left was the door, and toward the end of the bed on the far wall was the door to the bathroom. Something fluttered, snapped, and Ranger’s gaze jerked back to the right. A curtain billowed out from the window.

  His breathing slowed. He reached for his gun, and then he remembered it was in the kitchen. In his pants on the floor. The curtain lifted again, but no one stepped from it. No shadow emerged. He watched, waiting, unable to really shake the feeling of someone else’s presence. Great, he was turning into one of those pussies that freaked out over every little shadow. Had to be the crazy night. Had to be Amy scaring the ever-loving shit out of him. And Shane’s picture on the mantle as Ranger kissed his wife.

  Stop. Stop now. Ranger wasn’t scared of shadows or ghosts. He was the fucking shadow in the night.

  Amy’s thigh shifted across his own, and his cock hardened instantly. He knew without a doubt that having her once would never be enough. He planned to take her until she couldn’t think. Couldn’t form reasons for them not to be together. Until all she could think of was him.

  He would fuck the past right out of them both.

  He flipped her onto her back and nestled between her legs. Her body was still hot and wet. He was at home with her. He pressed a reverent kiss to her parted lips. She was completely bare for his perusal and he took his time exploring the curves and depths of her body. Her breasts were big and heavy for such a petite woman, but fit her perfectly. Her hips flared out provocatively, drawing him down. Pressing kisses across her flat tummy and hipbones. And still she slept.

  Ranger continued lower until he was nestled between her legs. She was completely bare here. He inhaled, her scent filled his nostrils and his cock swelled. She smelled of sex and spice and him. And he fucking loved it. Wanted more. Ranger dipped down and kissed her there. That first taste hadn’t been enough. He continued at his leisure, exploring her depths until her hips were lifting. Soft moans came from her mouth and her fingers tangled in the sheets beside him. He knew she’d wakened. But he wasn’t about to give in yet. He continued tasting her, learning what she needed. Intending to drive her crazy with lust. As crazy as he felt.

  He licked her, from bottom to top. She screamed his name and lifted her hips completely off the bed. His cock was so hard, he could feel the pre-come dripping from him. He couldn’t hold out any longer. Quickly, he rose on his elbows and slammed into her, enjoying her gasp. She wrapped around him like a tight hot fist, squeezing his cock. Milking him. Made just for him.

  “Ranger, don’t stop. Please.” Her voice was raspy with sex and sleep. Her sweet begging drove him beyond sanity. He couldn’t take it slow. Couldn’t hold back.

  He flipped her over and lifted her hips until she was on her knees and elbows. The most perfect ass he’d ever seen lifted for his pleasure. Before she got her balance, he slammed into her from behind. Her fist clenched into the sheets and she screamed.

  “Fuck, you feel so good.” He almost growled the words. “Your mine.” They came out rough and uneven, his need to possess her bordering animalistic. And still it wasn’t enough. He needed all of her. He dipped his thumb into her sweet juices and spread her wetness from her pussy to the tight little pink hole between her butt cheeks. She squirmed, but he continued to spread her juices up, coating her other entrance, while he fucked her. Sliding in and out, her pussy so tight he couldn’t stand it. Each time he pulled out, he slid more of her juices, coating her until she was slick enough for him to slip his thumb inside.

  “Ranger. What are you doing?” She gasped, but continued to ride him.

 
; “Shhh. Trust me. Relax.” Ranger worked his thumb, eased it inside, until she clenched around him. Amy moaned and dropped her head to the mattress, her fingers tangling in the sheets. Yanking and fisting the material. Her hair matted to her back with sweat. She was gorgeous.

  And he was so close to breaking.

  Ranger forced himself to slow down, to go easy. He knew she hadn’t been with a man in a while, and suspected, from her tight little anus strangling his thumb, she’d never been taken there. The thought that he would be her first had his balls tightening and his cock swelling rock hard. He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, bit down, then licked the pain away.

  Her fingers twisted and tangled the sheets, her eyes were closed, her mouth open and gasping. Ranger pushed his thumb all the way in, watching as her brows drew together and she bit her lip. Fuck she was so sexy. “I need you. I need to hear you say it again, Amy. Tell me you need me.”

  There’s no hesitation on her part this time her words came out sobbing, “Ranger. Please Ranger I need you.”

  “Do you trust me?” He held his breath, held his body still inside her.

  She jerked, clenched around him. “Yes. I trust you.” Amy buried her head in the mattress and thrush her hips back, impaling herself this time. Ranger threw his head back, barley holding on to the need to scream.

  His hands locked onto her hips and he pulled out, lining himself up with her back entrance. Sweat beaded and dripped down his face. He pushed forward, her tight entrance strangling the tip of his cock. He inched further, pushing past her resistance, past her tight ring until his head popped inside. She squeezed him. Hard. Her ass clenched around him and it was all he could do to keep from shooting his load right there.

  “Oh God.” Amy yanked on the sheets again, so hard she pulled them off the mattress. Tigress.

  “Are you okay?” He forced himself to ask.

  “God, yes.” Her cry drove him beyond reason. Ranger gripped her hips and pushed inside, grinding his teeth together, vowing he would hold on to his control. He rubbed a shaking hand down her back and pushed forward another inch. Each time he moved, she gasped and her soft whimpers drove him wild. This is what he needed from her. What she needed from him. Unable to stop himself or hold back another second he thrust forward.

  Amy cried out and his own cry matched hers. She was so tight, she was strangling his cock. Warm. Hot. His eyes nearly rolled back in his head with pleasure. He knew no matter how much control he practiced he wouldn’t be able to last long. So he spread her knees until her chest rested on the bed, her arm stretched out above her head and the only thing sticking up in the air with her glorious ass with him buried deep inside.

  He reached between her legs and stroked her clit. Amy writhed against him. Ranger slammed into her, over and over, rubbing her. Taking her. Fucking her with long strokes until they fused together as one.

  He raked his finger hard across her and she screamed. Her already tight ass spasmed around his cock, her climax so strong it ripped his own free. He grabbed her hips with both hands and slammed to the hilt, releasing himself completely.

  Unable to break the tender bond between them yet, Ranger stayed planted firmly inside, and rolled to the side, taking her with him. His chest to her back, enjoying the small spasming aftershocks of pleasure. He wrapped his arms around her, moved her hair from her neck and nuzzled her there.

  They lay there together, both of them painting and out of breath. His cock was still hard, but he knew she couldn’t take more tonight. No matter how much he wanted it. Careful not to hurt her, Ranger eased from her body and carried her to the shower. Then he sat her on her feet and placed a tender kiss on her swollen lips. The look of sleepy satisfaction was evident in her flushed cheeks and lowered eyelids.

  Ranger turned on the shower and guided her inside, washing her body first, then himself and drying them both off. Amy didn’t protest his ministrations and Ranger felt a small measure of satisfaction. He carried her back to the bed and snuggled in with her. She fell asleep almost instantly but his brain kicked into overdrive.

  Would tonight be enough to break down the rest of her barriers? Would she give in and let him into her life? He kissed her cheek again, finding it more and more impossible to keep his hands from her. He hoped he’d managed to anchor her to him. He prayed for it.

  Because tonight he’d gone all in, he’d given her his body and heart. He didn’t know what he would do if she denied him in the light of the rising sun.

  14

  Chapter 14

  Amy woke to sunlight streaming through windows and luxurious warmth cocooning her body. Ranger’s arm draped across her waist, the weight heavy and heavenly at the same time. His warm chest swelled against her back with each breath, his skin smooth. She wiggled, needing to feel a little friction of skin on skin.

  He made a sweet sound in his sleep and pulled her tight against him. Her butt snuggled against his growing hardness and heat flooded her cheeks.

  He’d consumed her last night and she’d let him. Begged him. He’d taken her. Hard. And in places she’d never imagined. He’d given her more pleasure than she’d ever dreamed. Unable to hold still, Amy glided her fingers down his forearm, tickling the growth of blond hair. Images from last night pinging her brain. Ranger pounding into her, crushing her resistance with every thrust. Soothing her aching body with soft languid kisses.

  It was like he knew what she needed, when she needed it. When she needed him to demand she give herself to him and when she needed a slow hand.

  Last night hadn’t been about just sex. He claimed her, body and soul. Ranger made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t after just one night from her. He wasn’t after a quick lay. No, that would be easier. What he wanted wasn’t just her body. He wanted her heart, mind and soul.

  And he didn’t want to replace her dead husband. He wanted to share his memory with her. He wanted them to heal together. He wanted to raise her daughter.

  Ranger James had taken one giant wrecking ball to the walls of protection around her heart and demolished them. Leaving her chest aching. Feeling. Since the news of Shane’s death she’d gone unemotional, unfeeling and unresponsive. Living to take care of Chloe and earn a dollar. That’s it. She’d shut down and perfected her gut response of ‘I’m fine’ whenever anyone asked how she was doing.

  When in reality she’d been anything but fine. She’d been a robot. A machine. Her emotions laid to rest with her husband.

  And she’d been fine.

  But Ranger didn’t accept her self-imposed isolation. He wouldn’t let her go it alone. He drove her crazy calling, stopping by to check in. And every time he showed up unannounced she felt.

  But she didn’t want to feel. Feeling hurt. Feeling reminded her she was alone.

  Amy grabbed Ranger’s hand and pressed it to her aching chest, needing his healing touch.

  Something changed last night. Emotions overtook her. Tears threatened her eyes. How could what they did be alright? Her with Shane’s best friend? His teammate’s wife?

  Would the rest of the world understand?

  He was her emotional bloodhound - sensing when to go easy on her and when to push her. If it were left up to her, Amy would still be that wooden statue imitating her former self. A single parent. Single business owner. Single.

  Could she open her heart to Ranger James? He was a Special Forces. SF’s didn’t get to stay and play happy family. They got called out, sometimes with no warning. They were gone a lot. And sometimes, they didn’t come home. Could she handle another loss?

  Could Chloe?

  Someone knocked on her door. Amy’s body went ice cold. The sound still gave her chills, haunted her dreams. Her nightmares. What time was it? Who would be knocking this early? Maybe it was Bo Lawson with news about Santos.

  They knocked again. Amy jerked upright. Someone was at her door and she was lazing in bed, naked, with Ranger James, thoroughly satisfied.

  Her discarded clothes lay in the kitchen, right
beside Ranger’s. Careful not to wake him, she eased from the bed and slipped into her closet. With speed born of desperation, Amy yanked on a cotton sundress and raced into the kitchen, easing the bedroom door shut behind her.

  She passed by the folded flag and picture of Shane on the mantle, ignoring the small flash of guilt. No. She’d mourned long enough. She wouldn’t feel guilty. She had a flesh and blood man wanting her heart. Wanting to be part of her life. Her daughter’s life.

  Amy grabbed the doorknob and turned, eager for news. Only the person standing there wasn’t Bo Lawson. An iceberg of dread slammed into her with the force of the freaking Titanic.

  Mavis Carter. Her worst nightmare.

  Her stomach dropped to the floor and Mavis stomped on it with polished leather pumps.

  Saturday. How could she forget about today. The third Saturday of the month.

  “Are you going to just stand there like an idiot or invite me inside?” Her mother-in-law’s voice laced with annoyance, pierced her chest.

  “I…I overslept.” Amy tried to sound calm, but she sounded like she swallowed a frog with the flu.

  “I can see that.” Mavis stood there, swollen face resembling an over-ripe grape about to bust in her perfectly pressed purple suit. Had her second neck fold increased to three?

  “I’m sorry, can you give me a minute to get ready?” Amy gripped the doorknob, trying to think of any excuse to keep Mavis out of her house. Forget southern hospitality. If her mother-in-law found another man in her bed it wouldn’t be the Titanic sinking. Her house would turn into Pearl Harbor.

  Mavis huffed and pushed into the house. “And you expect me to stand there on your front porch in this heat? I told my Shane you weren’t a lady.”

  Amy checked the urge to plant a foot up her mother-in-law’s flabby ass and shut the front door. Keep Mavis contained. Keep her out of the kitchen and as far from Amy’s bedroom as possible. “Why don’t you have a seat on the couch and I’ll put on some coffee for you while I get dressed?”