“Actually, we’re coming with you,” Cole said decisively.
Maia shrugged and picked up her bag. Frankly, she’d feel far better if they did come with her. If Cole was right, and his father had hidden something on the ranch that people felt was worth killing for, she didn’t want to run into someone looking for it.
Wally looked much better, and there was no sign of infection. His temperature was normal, and he was moving around the enclosure much more comfortably. Maia fed him his antibiotics with his grain and hay while Jase talked to him at great length.
“He’s a natural with animals,” she told Cole, seeing the pride on his face as he watched his brother. “If he wants to be a veterinarian, he’ll be a good one.”
“He’s a great kid,” Cole agreed, leaning one hand against the wall near her head, effectively caging her between the wall and his body. “And he’s smart, Maia. The old man was a complete bastard, but he had brains. Jase is serious about hitting the books. He hasn’t gone to a regular school, but he’s had the best of tutors. Brett Steele didn’t want idiots for sons, and he made certain we were well educated.”
“You don’t have to convince me, Cole, I can see Jase is smart.” She was fairly certain Cole had no idea how proud of his brother he sounded.
“I wanted to thank you, for saying you’ll stay through Christmas. He really needs you here.” Cole hesitated a moment. He could hear his own heartbeat. “I do too.” Had he really said it aloud? Damn, he sounded pathetic. He stood there, blocking her way so she couldn’t walk away from him, terrified of losing her when he didn’t really have her. When had his feelings changed from wanting to go to bed with her to needing her in his life? How had she wrapped herself inside of him?
Maia stroked a hand down his chest. There were shadows in his eyes, a set to his mouth she didn’t quite understand, and she was trained and always alert to read subtleties. More and more he reminded her of the mountain lion, wary, dangerous, in need but ready to strike out if threatened. “I want to stay,” she admitted softly.
Desire mingled with relief flared in his eyes. It hit her then. Cole Steele, the invincible, the man always aloof and uncaring, the man with supreme confidence, had very little where she was concerned. She went up on her toes and pressed a kiss onto his chin. “I really wanted to stay and not just because of the cat.”
“Or Jase. You’re very fond of Jase,” he prompted, needing to hear her admission.
She laughed, her eyes warming into a brilliant blue-green. It was all he could do not to sweep her up into his arms and carry her off. Who would have thought one person could impact his life this way, make something he thought he lacked come alive deep inside of him and thrive and grow into such intense emotions.
“You’re such a baby. I’m very fond of Jase.”
He waited. When she didn’t continue he stepped closer until her soft breasts pushed against his chest and his hips aligned perfectly with her, pressing against her body. “That’s not very nice.”
There was a growl to his voice, a sensuality that sent fire zinging through her veins. It was impossible to resist him and she didn’t even try. She moved her hips suggestively, a slight feminine enticement, her body soft and welcoming. “I wanted to stay to be with you.”
“Was that so hard?” He lowered his lips to hers mostly because he had to, because if he didn’t he might really lose his mind and carry her off. The shape of her mouth was incredibly sexy, especially when she flashed her dynamite smile. He was drowning in lust, but more terrifying than that, he could feel love and it was overwhelming. So much so that he dared not examine the emotion too closely.
Maia’s arms encircled his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. “You know it was,” she murmured into his hot mouth. She loved kissing him. Loved touching him. She had no idea where it would lead, if anywhere. Her job kept her traveling constantly and Cole Steele wasn’t exactly the settling-down type. She had left herself open for a tremendous amount of pain, and worse, she’d known it before she’d ever gone to his bedroom. It had been her choice. She’d made it willingly, hoping she would think her time with him had been worth it when she had to go.
For a moment she leaned against him, into him, wanting to cling to his strength. All the while he was kissing her, making it impossible to think straight. And she didn’t really want to, she wanted the fire flashing through her veins and over her skin. And she wanted the warmth in her heart, filling her until she ached with it.
Jase banged Wally’s stall gate closed with a little extra force to remind them he was still in the barn. Maia glanced at him to find him grinning from ear to ear. He shook his head at her.
“I know. He’s just irresistible, but we won’t mention it because he’s already so arrogant we can’t take it.”