Page 14 of Tainted Empire (Sins of Our Father)

“Well, judging by the fact that I just found out he left everything to me and that I got in yesterday afternoon, I haven’t really had much time to sort everything out,” I say before bringing the cup to my lips and sipping the black tea.

He distracted me and I didn’t have time to put any milk or sugar in, but oh well.

“You just found out? So your affairs must not be in order. Have you thought about putting this place up for sale to receive any offers?” he asks, his eyes narrowing.

Shit, I shouldn’t have told him about anything. Marley said he was bad news. I should’ve known he was just another snake wanting to slither his way into my father’s land.

“No, Hunter, I haven’t. My father just died on my birthday a month ago and I just got into town. I’d like some time to reminisce about my dad’s home before I do anything else. There’s still renovations that need to be finished and like I said, it’s none of your business,” I snap, hating his intrusiveness.

“Sorry, Red. Didn’t mean to strike a nerve,” he says slowly, his eyes still narrowed on me.

“What’s it matter anyways? Why do you want to know?” I ask, staring at him now as his eyes land on my breasts.

He reaches into his back pocket and slaps a paper on the countertop.

“My offer,” he says simply, darkly.

I look down at the paper and stare wide eyed at the number across the page. The offer is nearly double what the ranch is worth, which is a lot of fucking money, but it pisses me off. He is a snake. Just like Marley said. I set my cup down and push the paper back to him, nearly hissing my words out.

“I don’t need your offer. You can take that paper and shove it up your ass for all I care. You must be out of your mind if you think I’d sell my dad’s pride and joy to his rival,” I say bitterly and he shrugs, getting up from the barstool and putting on his hat.

He walks around the counter, stopping just a breath away from me. He towers over me as I look up at him. Before I can move to put any space between us, he bends down and places his lips near my ear, his rough beard scratching against my cheek as he speaks.

“And you must be out of your mind to turn away a deal like this one. You know you don’t have what it takes to run a ranch, city girl, but I’d love to see you try. My offer still stands. I left my number on the paper as well, so you can call me when you’d like me to come over so we can discuss this in further detail. Or you can just call me to come over. My mouth is much better at doing things other than talking,” he says in a husky, seductive tone in my ear, making me tremble.

I bet it is.

I scoff and step away, but his arm reaches out and wraps around my waist, pulling me against his large, stone body. I should hate how well we fit together, but I don’t. He is hard where I am soft, tall and large enough to make me feel more feminine than I have in my entire life.

“Get out,” I try to hiss, but it comes out as a breathless whisper.

He stares at me with those deep blue eyes, his face dark and arrogant as a ghost of a smirk flirts with his full lips.

“I don’t think you want me to leave, Red. Your body says otherwise. It has been since we first saw each other,” he says in a dark tone, rich and low and vibrating my entire body as I tremble against him.

His other hand touches my cheek, his fingers rough against my skin as they hold my face and travel down my throat, tilting my head back. He leans closer, burying his nose in my hair and inhaling deep. I have to clench my thighs together to stop them from shaking with ecstasy.

“Your body wants me just as much as I want it. Your mind may hate me, and your people may too, but don’t deny what your body knows,” he says, his hand now running down my side as I gasp and try not to moan, try not to give in.

“And what does my body know?” I ask, my voice raspy and low.

“It knows that it wants me to fuck it, Red. It knows that it wants to be wrapped around me all night long, just like I want.” He growls in my ear, and I bite back a moan as he inhales the scent of my hair once more.

“You smell like strawberries,” is all he says before he dives in and claims my mouth, kissing me like a man unhinged.

His mouth is rough and demanding against mine, forcing my lips open with his wet tongue as it slides inside and takes over. He licks the roof of my mouth then traces my lips before biting down. The moan in my throat now leaves. It is long and needy and I hate it. I hate how good he kisses. How fucking amazing his mouth feels on mine.

He kisses me like he’s starved, like I’m the only food that he’s had in days. He kisses me like he wants to crawl inside my body and, God help me, I want him to. I want him to climb all the way inside and stroke every angle and crevice until I shake.

Stop it, Ali. He wants your dad’s land. He wants everything he worked hard for, everything that’s yours, he wants to take it all away.

That thought is like a bucket of ice water dropped over my head. I bite down on his lip and pull away from his hold, panting and gasping for air as he wipes the blood I caused from his mouth, scowling at me.

“Leave. Now!” I hiss and he shrugs, straightening his shirt and offering me that cocky fucking smile.

“Whatever you want, darlin’, but know this: I will have you. Even if your mind decides to do the right thing and take my offer, your body will do what’s right first and let me take it,” he says with a wink, and I scoff.

“In your dreams, asshole,” I snarl, and he tips his hat at me as he backs away.

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