Page 57 of Embracing Hope

He wanted to brand her so that she’d no longer want another man. He wanted his name to fall from her tongue in the throes of orgasm. He wanted to press her into the mattress, sink his cock deeply into her body while he suckled her big breasts that would bounce with each thrust. He was so hard he'd fill her, touch places within her that were like secret abysses.

But sluicing through his fantasies came questions he couldn’t ignore. Would he ever be good enough for her? Could he overcome his traumatic past to be loving and caring? After all that he’d witnessed in battles, did he have what it took to be a giving partner? He wanted to believe he did. He wanted to believe he could be a good husband like his brother, who put his wife on a pedestal. He’d also be a good father, no doubt. Isaac had never thought too far ahead in his future to consider the possibility of kids. He’d skipped some bases. But now, the dream of a family, wife, and kids was starting to take shape in his mind’s eye. When he ventured to go there, to the possibility, an image of Hope formed clearly.

Had he lost his mind?

Or was he finally healing?

Maybe the woman next to him played a role in that. She made him feel things that he’d never felt before. Exposed feelings within him he didn’t even know existed until he met her.

“Hope?”

“Isaac?”

“Go to sleep. I won’t have sex with you while your father is in the house.”

She lifted her chin. “We’re adults. I’m sure he’s had sex in this house with someone other than my mother.”

“Go to sleep.” He turned over and pulled the pillow over his head.

God, grant me the strength to resist her.

Chapter Fourteen

Every cell in Hope's body blazed with need.

She’d heard his words but she didn’t care. After all, Daddy wanted her to find herself a husband and that was what she wanted to do. Today, seeing how Isaac came to Billy’s rescue and witnessing his need to protect her, she started to realize her feelings for Isaac ran a lot deeper than sex. She was afraid no one would compare to him, so why not make him hers?

Isaac’s tension bubbled to the surface. His tight jaw looked clenched enough to bite a nail in half. If only she knew what he was thinking. Did he have feelings for her too? Could he get past all his doubts?

She’d planned every detail of this seduction while she’d been in the shower. She could feel his control unraveling and she brought the scissors to urge the process along.

He chose to stay here with her so he should have known the fire he was playing with.

“Isaac?”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s talk.”

He rolled over, and his gaze burrowed into her from the space between them. His irises were two branding irons that scorched her skin without touching her. Sometimes, a person did not need to say one word because their eyes were windows into the soul. She could see the internal conflict rolling through him like an out-of-control forest fire.

She shouldn’t be so focused on him when she had so many other things on her plate. Daddy’s cancer, the book coming out, and now someone was wreaking havoc at the ranch. All the while Isaac wreaked havoc on her body and she had to capture herself a husband.

And that would be Isaac.

He stared at her, his jaw clicking like it had its own heartbeat.

“Are you okay?” she asked, biting back a laugh.

“Like I just landed on the moon.” His groan rattled her inner thighs.

“Do you want to remove your clothes and get comfortable?” she challenged.

The cords of his neck looked like they were about to snap. “I should stay dressed.”

“Suit yourself.”

“That won’t be happening.”

---