asked, but put her hand to hold his head in place.
Erik continued playing with the nipple and reached over to cup and to massage the other breast. Without a doubt he had a ton of email messages to return. Allan would be expecting him to call back, too. And he needed to check in with the realtor, his business manager, and his main attorney. He didn't want to think about any of that, but he only had so much time he could take away from his business.
“Can't you come back to LA with me for a few days?” He braced for the blunt rejection she'd given him every other time. Good thing he had a tough ego.
She didn't let him down, but for the first time she didn't sound absolutely firm. “I have responsibilities here, especially with Drew and Tanya away for a few days.”
He dared to take that as a small bit of hope. He'd take what he could get at this point. “I understand.” He focused on her nipple again, lightly biting it.
“Ohhhh,” she gasped. She stroked his hair, threaded her fingers through it. He felt her racing heart. “You understand? Really?”
He understood that she made him sexually crazy, that he couldn't get enough of her. He understood that he wanted her in his life if he could just figure out how they could manage it. And he understood that she didn't think there was a possible way they could meld their completely opposite lives together. Somehow he would have to find a way to convince her. There would be serious compromises involved. What he needed was time and patience.
His cock had magically come to life again, a fete that amazed him considering what they’d just done. “And you should be resting.”
“And you should be returning phone calls or whatever.” She shifted her legs apart, smiling with a twinkle in her eyes. “One more time.”
* * *
She had finally worn lover boy out. Mandy glanced at the bedside clock, just after one o'clock. Did she dare? He'd sounded pretty commanding when he'd told her that she was done for the day. But she'd been lying in the dirt, dazed from the head bump. She felt immensely better now, though her head still throbbed a little. Sex was an amazing healer, a rejuvenator…at least for some people. Erik was dead to the world face down and didn't look as if he could possibly move a muscle for a while. Particularly not that muscle.
The guests had paid good money for this ranch experience and that included riding lessons. She was the guest ranch manager. Yes, she was. Not just temporarily either. She would give the airline notice next week and tell Drew for certain when he got back from Denver. Her gaze locked onto the yummy man beside her. She was pretty sure she'd lost her heart to him, probably in Maui. But this just wasn't going to work. She loved this life and should have come back here long ago. He was Mr. California. Her chest squeezed with pain at the thought of letting him go, but what else could she do?
Tears misted her eyes and she blinked them away. They still had to talk about how to end this mess, but not now. She wasn't up to it. Besides, he was exhausted. It made her smile a bit knowing she had a great deal to do with wearing him out.
Carefully she climbed from the bed, pleased to see he didn't appear to notice. She dressed quickly and hurried from the house before she could change her mind and slide back into bed beside her husband.
“Someone is in big trouble,” Chet said, nodding toward the end of the arena.
The last of the twelve dude guests dismounted from the riding lessons. He followed Chet's gaze and so did Mandy. Uh-oh didn't even come close. She considered getting on the horse and galloping away, but that would be chicken and she wasn't that.
“You did very well, Henry,” she stated as calmly as she could. “All of you did. The trail ride tomorrow will be a breeze.”
Erik stopped at the gate, raised a hand, and motioned with a finger for her to come to him. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to; his body
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