Saving Red Read online

  He chuckles. “I do. But I’ll be honest, I do have a vested interest. My family owns the property northeast of the estate. For years, contractors have been buying out the surrounding land, turning it into commercial property.”

  “And that would be a bad thing?”

  “It would be a terrible thing. All that land—the forests and green spaces—turned into a suburban playground.”

  I can almost hear my grandmother’s voice as he speaks.

  “My grandmother always worried that I’d turn the old house into a bed-and-breakfast when she passed away.”

  A deep frown draws his brows together. “Have you thought about that?”

  “No.” I laugh. “I don’t have the organizational skills for something like that.”

  “But you have thought about selling the property?” He’s still frowning.

  “I don’t know… I guess. I never really saw myself living there. It’s just a lot more than I can handle myself. But I’m assuming my grandmother wrote something into her will stopping me from selling?”

  “She did.” He takes a sip of his wine. “But as with any contract there are loopholes.”

  “What kind of loopholes?”

  His lips twitch. “I want to be honest with you, Ella. You’re a very beautiful young woman. But that’s not the only reason I asked you to dinner.”

  The lump that’s been in my stomach all evening gets heavier.

  “Then why did you ask me?”

  “Because I think we can help each other.”

  “How?” I lift my glass to my lips and take a small sip.

  “Marry me.”

  I choke on my wine. Because of all the things I thought he’d say, that was the furthest thing from my mind.

  “Hear me out before you say no.” He leans towards me, and captures my hand that rests on the table. “In the will, your grandmother stated that you wouldn’t obtain the full rights to the estate until your thirtieth birthday. Marriage would rectify that. You would be able to claim your inheritance now.”

  “And what do you get out of it?”

  “You.”

  I shiver under his hypnotizing gaze. “You barely know me.”

  “I know you better than you think I do. I’ve been watching you all these years. Waiting for the right time to tell you how I feel. I know it’ll take time for your own feelings to catch up, but I’m a patient man. Like I said earlier, Annabelle, and I had two things in common: our mutual affection for the land, and for you.”

  This is insane.

  “I—”

  “Think about it.” He grins at me, still clutching my hand. “That’s all I ask.”

  “Okay,” I say, draining the rest of the wine in my glass in one fell swoop. “I can do that.”

  Jared ogles me like a predator would his prey. He brings the linen napkin to his face and wipes away at nonexistent smudges of food around the corner of his mouth, never breaking eye contact. He curls his lips back, exposing a little too much teeth in his smile.

  “Excellent,” he says.

  A shiver runs down my spine. There’s something about him I can’t put my finger on. It’s like he’s on the wrong side of wicked. The glint in his eyes and the sharp edge of his smile scream danger. It’s unsettling and heady, but I can’t help but be drawn to it.

  Jared’s exhilarating.

  “Looks like you’re low on wine. That won’t do.” In one swift motion, he tops up my glass. “An occasion like this calls for a toast, though I’m far more partial to a private celebration later.”

  I give him my best seductive smile and sip on the wine. Jared talks a great deal for the rest of our meal and I struggle to keep up. My attention is divided because my mind’s swimming with the possibilities of his offer.

  I’m powerless to a man who can intrigue me into submission with little more than a few firmly spoken words. I wish I had a frame of reference to know what’s in store for me with a tall, dark, and enticing man, on my heels. My imagination is in overdrive. I picture Jared trailing his massive hands all over my body. What his weight would feel like pressing down on me, our skin to skin contact as he ravishes me.

  Jared’s pull isn’t the same as Ash’s. I don’t feel any passion for him, but my body reacts to his magnetism.

  Physical.

  Animalistic.

  I’m certain he wouldn’t treat me like a helpless little girl, but rather like a woman. When I’m with him, I’ll command respect. Exude sophistication. No one will deny me anything I desire, least of all him.

  Freedom. The promise of the world at my feet is a temptation I’m willing to give into.

  Yes, his offer is one that demands careful consideration.

  Chapter 4

  Ash

  When Ella steps through the gates of the estate, I’m on her. Not in the way I wish I were, but on her all the same. If Jared Wolfe is sniffing around, it can only mean he’s thick in his schemes, and plots to take advantage of her.

  He might have her wrapped around his slippery fingers. He might even be able to captivate her with every deceitful word that slithers out of his mouth. But if he’s dropping her off at home intact, there’s still time to change that.

  She’s not his yet.

  I let go off the rake I’m holding. It drops to the ground with a heavy thud. All it takes is two large strides and I’m towering over her. “What did that bastard want?”

  Ella looks up at me with those big doe eyes. Her posture immediately turns vixen. Back straight, shoulders square, and breasts threatening to explode out of her form-fitting shirt.

  She notices my gaze on her body and gives me a slow, maddening smile. “You were saying?” Her voice is throaty. Raw.

  My cock stiffens against my work pants.

  It’s ridiculous, the hold she has over me.

  “I asked you what that bastard wanted,” I growl out.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but it was a proposal.” Ella’s tone is casual, but it doesn’t fool me. Whatever it was that he proposed, it was bad news. She saunters away, heading to the estate.

  I plan to follow her, but before I do, I take a moment to appreciate the view. The contrast between her slim waist and shapely hips is enough to make any man ravenous. I have to remind myself that there are more important matters to attend to. Shifting my focus from Ella’s ass to the issue at hand, I hurry after her.

  “What kind of proposal?” I call.

  Ella can’t hide the amusement that’s taken over her expression. She’s taking pleasure in making me wait in anticipation, which tells me that whatever she’s about to say is sure to be a doozy. “The marriage kind,” she says, and then she’s climbing up the winding stairs that lead to her bedroom and impromptu studio.

  “He what?” My voice carries and reverberates throughout the empty house. I take the stairs two at a time, chasing after her.

  She turns to face me just as she reaches the threshold to her room. “Jared asked me to marry him. And I’m inclined to say yes.” The theatrical way she bursts open the double doors does nothing to diminish my anger.

  I stop dead in my tracks. “You can’t be serious?” It’s the only thing I can muster. “You are not going to marry him.”

  Ella throws her purse on the thick covers that dress her bed and kicks off her shoes. “And why is that? Because there are so many other suitors clamoring to marry me? No. There aren’t.”

  I bridge the distance between us. “Listen to me, Red,” I say through clenched teeth, my face an inch away from hers. “You’re going to turn him down and report him to his firm. He’s a snake.”

  “You’re not the boss of me,” she snaps. “I don’t even know why you care. You couldn’t have been clearer about your lack of interest in me than you were yesterday.”

  “You are not going to marry him,” I repeat.

  Ella doesn’t back down. “Make me a better offer then.” She comes even closer, so close that I can feel her breath. Her heaving chest is barely t
ouching mine.

  I groan. Before I can control myself, I’m grabbing a fistful of her hair and bringing her mouth to mine.

  The electricity between us is searing. Ella parts her mouth, inviting me in. I take the inch she’s giving me and stretch it to a mile. My tongue meets hers, deepening the kiss. She sighs and melts in my arms. Pushing her on the bed, I allow my hands to explore every inch of her in a frenzy. When touching doesn’t cut it anymore, I rip her top open.

  Her breasts spill out of a bra that’s clearly not equipped to handle them. I catch the faintest hint of a nipple peeking out. My cock throbs. I bury my face in her chest, only lightly teasing her nipple with the tip of my tongue. It’s enough to make it go rigid.

  “Take it off,” Ella breathes, guiding my hand to the front clasp of her bra. I open it with ease, exposing her bare breasts. Gooseflesh spikes her skin and seeing what I did to her with minimal touching makes me delirious.

  My hands roam the length of her body. I part her legs, hike her skirt up, and see only a flimsy fabric standing in the way of my mouth and hands accessing her wetness. She’s soaked through her underwear, which fuels my desire. I tear her panties off. Ella gasps, clearly not expecting that. It’s my turn to flash her a devious smile.

  I use my fingers deftly, first teasing her with light caresses that make her buck beneath me. She looks at me with hungry eyes, her lust thickening the air around us.

  Two fingers inside her. I move hard and fast. Ella writhes on the bed, her moans getting closer together and more urgent. It drives me wild that she’s so ripe, so ready for me to take her. Without any warning, she props herself up while I’m still fingerfucking her and reaches to unzip my pants.

  I don’t need any more encouragement to take action. I stop touching her body to take off my own clothes, starting with my shirt. It goes over my head and on the floor in record time. I feel Ella’s hands on my crotch, rubbing the length of my shaft. The faintest whisper of a touch from her makes me harder than I knew I could get.

  I begin to unbuckle my belt while Ella pulls back and proceeds to remove her skirt and whatever remains of her shredded underwear. Staring at her naked body is a revelation. Smooth, soft skin, as far as the eye can see. Only the sparsest patch of hair between her legs, a tiny detail that reminds me that she’s all woman, all temptress, and she’s looking at me with dirty in her eyes.

  Cock unbridled, I move to take her. I remember what Ella said about taking that asshole’s proposal into consideration. My anger flares up again, but I direct it toward her. Despite how forward she’s been so far, she’s pressing her legs together. Tentatively, I pull her knees apart and take in the sight of her, stark naked and swollen, while her legs are up in the air in a V-shape.

  Just as I’m about to thrust into her, I notice she’s tense.

  “Ash, can we... take this slow?” she asks. Her voice is barely audible. Between the sudden shyness and how nervous she appears to be, it suddenly dawns on me.

  Is she a virgin?

  “Are you…?” I ask, my voice trailing off. I wait for her to answer my implied question with bated breath. The tension in my cock overwhelms me.

  If she says she wants to stop, I don’t know what I’ll do besides have a serious case of blue balls.

  “Yes.” She averts her eyes. “I don’t want to stop. I can’t stop, not now. Not when I want you this badly.” She licks one of her fingers and lowers it to her pussy, expertly touching herself. I see she’s getting even wetter and groan. “But I want to explore your body first.”

  Ella stops the little show she’s devised to torture me, pushes forward on her knees and, next thing I know, she takes my cock in her hands.

  She wastes no time.

  No sooner than she’s got me in her mouth, a wave of pleasure rushes through me.

  If she hadn’t all but confirmed she was a virgin, I never would have guessed. The way she strokes my cock, while her tongue licks and twirls around the throbbing head, makes me lose control. She takes more and more of me in her mouth until she’s deep throating me. I clench every muscle in my body, so close to the edge while there’s still so much more I want to do. After a few thrusts in her mouth, I stop her.

  “I want you on top,” I tell her, expecting to hear her protest and say she doesn’t know what she’s doing.

  What I get is a mischievous look that materializes on her face. She pushes me on the bed, taking control of the situation. I’m flat on my back, cock upright and positioned for her to ride me. She straddles me, knees on either side of my hips, and grinds her wetness against my shaft. Without further delay, she mounts on top of me, slipping just the head in at first.

  Her gasp and the sensation of being inside of her overpower me.

  Hands on her hips, I press her body down until I see and feel my cock disappear inside of her. She widens her eyes in surprise and I feel her clench, her pussy tight around me.

  “Oh my God,” she moans.

  I thrust my hips up again, and again, and again, with increasing speed. Ella rides me with careless abandon, her half-lidded eyes lost in the ecstasy I know we both feel. Her breathing becomes shallow and the mewling rolling over her tongue is labored.

  Ella’s gaze locks with mine, right as she climaxes, and she clamps down on me. I explode inside her with an orgasm so intense that my eyes roll back in my head.

  “Wow,” she says falling across my chest.

  We lie next to each other, her head nestled in my chest.

  “That was…” Her voice is a whisper. “Just… wow.”

  “You were amazing,” I tell her. We’re breathing heavily after the physical exertion and both spent, so I close my eyes. Sleep will claim me soon.

  “Was I really?”

  The timid tone of her voice prompts me to open my eyes. “Yes. That was incredible. Have you really never done this before? At all?”

  “No,” Ella says, blushing. “I’ve only ever wanted one person and, until now, I thought he didn’t want me.”

  Sidestepping the subject of her crush on me, I launch into the topic that started everything. “What about Jared Wolfe?”

  “What about him?”

  “You were about to say yes to becoming that asshat’s fiancée and soon-to-be wife.”

  “Don’t you get it? I was hurt because of what happened last night and wanted to get under your skin. Well, I got as far as under your clothes, so I’ll consider this a win.” Ella beams.

  I feast my eyes with the image of her: all unkempt hair and wild eyes. I’ve never seen her more beautiful.

  “Red, I like you.” It’s not the whole truth. I’m head over fucking heels for her. I tilt her chin up and stroke her bottom lip. “But I’m not sure I’m good for you.”

  She’s an heiress and an innocent girl, and I’m bad news. She deserves someone with means, who’ll give her the stability she craves; who’ll be there to adore her every day without also dealing with their demons.

  Which means someone with better social standing than me.

  Her brows furrow and she says softly, “I’m all for taking this slow, so long as you stop rejecting me. I can’t deal with that after what we just did.”

  With that, she cuddles next to me. In no time at all, she’s sleeping. Her rhythmic breathing lulls me in a deep, dreamless slumber.

  And I know there’s no way in hell I can ever reject her again.

  She’s mine now.

  I’m just not sure what that means.

  Chapter 5

  Ella

  By the time I wake up after the glorious sexcapade with Ash, it’s late in the afternoon. I can’t believe how long I slept. The sun is starting to go down, and the rays of light seeping through the window give a soft glow to my surroundings. I’m almost bursting with excitement just thinking of the mind-blowing sex we had.

  I notice I’m not resting on top of him anymore. Confused, my head shoots up, scanning the room for any sign of him. He’s not next to me in bed, but his socks and underwear ar
e still strewn across the floor.

  Yawning, I get up and fetch a robe to cover myself. It’ll be chilly outside soon, but I don’t want to get dressed yet. With a robe, I can easily slip it off and jump back on the saddle for another ride.

  I’m a little sore, but not enough to deter me from wanting more of Ash.

  The fact he’s not there worries me a little, but not enough to cause alarm. He probably has to take care of something on the grounds before it gets dark. He’ll be back soon. Of that, I’m certain.

  I might not have much experience, but I know enough to feel confident in how I did. His moans echo in my mind and images of the way he looked at me when he’d removed my clothes consume my thoughts. A tingle runs through my body.

  The canvas with my latest work in progress sits on the easel to my left. I haven’t made progress in days. I don’t have a clear idea of where I’m going with it, so I remove the painting from the easel and put a blank canvas up. The color palette in my hand, I start on the edges by mixing the oils to create vibrant tones to use. The landscape scene is of a meadow near the estate, a place without manicured lawns and well-kept gardens. The plants grow thick and wild, yielding an uproarious surge of color in the woods.

  It’s that image that I associate with Ash. I’m in a trance of creative spark when I hear someone open the doors.

  When I turn around, I see Jared. His feral smile doesn’t charm me this time.

  “Mr. Wolfe!” I let out a nervous laughter, suddenly self-conscious about the thin, revealing attire I have on. “What are you doing here?”

  “Mr. Wolfe? I thought we were past that point,” he replies. “People who’re engaged should call each other by their first names.”

  Jared approaches me in slow motion as if he’s taking pleasure in cornering me. The edge of sadism in his actions send a chill down my spine. It’s different from the shiver I felt earlier, when his innuendo was welcome.

  “I didn’t say I would marry you,” I say, my voice shaking. “How did you get in here?”