Page 68 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

If he doesn't want you, then what was it you've been seeing and feeling every time you managed to throw yourself at him?her imaginary friend argued.A banana in his pocket?

Blake cast a shocked look at the ceiling.Cei! Such language!

Oh, get off your high horse. The whole point of pretending I'm able to talk to you is to convince you there's still hope.

Blake restlessly turned on her side.Is there?

Two minutes later, and Blake was still mulling over what her imaginary best friend should say to this when a sound interrupted her thoughts. It was of a car coming up the driveway and the garage door rolling up—-

Thornton!

She was out of her bed in seconds and could only be bothered to get one arm into the sleeve of her night robe as she dashedout of the room. Past the garden, the first thing she saw were headlights beaming from...a police car?

Oh God.Blake was instantly stricken with guilt. What if Thornton had gotten hurt, and that was the only reason he hadn't done a thing about her and Curt? Maybe he hadn't even had the chance to check the CCTV because—-

Thornton finally came into view, emerging from the side of the shop. He had his police chief twin on one side and his younger brother on the other, and both men were struggling to get a flushed-looking Thornton to walk.

"What happened?"

Although all three Blackwood brothers instantly came to a stop at her voice, their expressions varied greatly. Aidan sported a rather discomfited grimace while Ethan had a Cheshire grin on his face. Thornton, on the other hand—-

Blake gulped.

The look in his eyes was deadly. Just so, so much fury in those dark eyes that for one moment she could really believe he led a double life as a secret assassin and the next person he intended to kill...was her.

And yet...

Underneath the rage—-

Oh God...

Blake could feel her throat going dry as Thornton's black gaze kept hers captive.

So much desire in those eyes, hungry and possessive, savage and scorching...

"I can take it from here." Thornton's voice was a low, rough rasp, but not a single word was slurred and after exchanging glances, Ethan and Aidan slowly let go of their brother. Both of them expected Thornton to stumble right after, but instead their middle brother had no trouble remaining upright. It was as if seeing the girl he had been unwillingly obsessing over all these weeks had instantly cured him out of his intoxication—-

Thornton crooked a finger at Blake."Come to me, woman."

Or not.

Blake didn't know what to do. On one hand, she was absolutely, hopelessly entranced by this new side of Thorn's, and every cell in her already-trembling bod was begging for her to submit to his command.

But on the other hand, therewasthe undeniable fact that he wasn't exactly sober.What if doing what he asked,she thought anxiously,was tantamount to taking advantage of him?

Thinking that Ethan or Aidan could tell her what was best to do, she turned towards them but wasn't even given the chance to get a single word out. The moment her gaze moved away, Thornton visibly bristled in aggression and his voice lashed out in a growl. "Don't!"

Blake froze.

"You can only look at me,"Thornton gritted out."Because I'm your man."

And at this point, Ethan and Aidan could no longer keep it together. The youngest Blackwood was practically doubled over as he guffawed over his brother's words. The police chief, on the other hand, was doing a rather poor job disguising his snickers with a continuous bout of coughs.

And throughout it, Thornton still hadn't stopped talking—-

"You're my woman, Blake. Never forget that! My woman!"

Ethan took his phone out.This was just too good not to record, he thought with a smirk.

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