Animal Heart(17)

“You're so much more than beautiful,” he murmured, his dark lashed eyes sweeping over her face and hair.

Her heart melted and her lips parted as a deep breath escaped her mouth.

“Don't...” she whispered, staring desperately, her stomach constricting tightly.

“Don't what? Give you a compliment?” His eyes held hers.

“No... Don't hit on me, please...” she replied honestly.

His whole demeanour changed instantly.

“Why? Prefer Lucas hitting on you, do you?” He ground out nastily.

“Maybe I do.” She stood and shakily jumped to the ground, turning and crossing her arms. “Perhaps we should move on, after all. I don't think it's a good idea to stay sitting here... all alone.”

He followed her down and stood before her with a grim expression. She gasped as he took hold of her jaw with his large hand and tipped her face up to his, staring deeply into her surprised eyes, with a wild, blazing passion. His other hand grabbed a handful of her hair, a little too roughly, anchoring her head in position. Her heart started pounding like a drum, her legs felt weak, and her whole body ached for him like nothing else mattered. She wanted to grab at his hair too, to sink her tongue into his mouth and pull him to the ground. Waves of desire engulfed her, heat building like an inferno. Her panties were instantly drenched. Her eyes widened with pure shock at the strength of her arousal.

“What's the matter Maddy? Scared of me, hmmm?” He taunted.

Her head quickly swam with intense anger.

“Yeah, right!” she scoffed, yanking her head away and giving him a hard push. “Me... Scared, of you? Don't make me laugh.” She moved fast, untying her horse and mounting him quickly. “You rate yourself far too highly Aden. Anyone would think you were the big bad wolf!” She turned and slowly moved off, shaking all over, suddenly overwhelmed of what she'd seen in his eyes. She wasn't just scared, she was terrified. Of him, a little, but mostly, of herself.



Aden worked in the stable, clearing out the horses and feeding them. There was no sign of Mia. She'd left everything to him. Normally that would have annoyed him, but for some reason he didn't care. She was obviously off sulking again, about last night probably. She hated it when he took the other women to his room. He knew that. But one day she might just get the message, that they weren't a couple.

His mind was not on the job at all, and very soon he realised he was clearing out a clean stall. The day's events played themselves over and over in his head, obliterating everything else. The intense morning and the very uncomfortable and awkward afternoon. She had hardly spoken to him on the way back. Only to say she wasn't in the mood to continue with the trail and perhaps they should try again tomorrow. They had eaten lunch silently in a clearing in the wood, and then made the short journey back to the ranch.

He decided to leave things for a while and return to work later. He went inside for a quick coffee and a rest. He was suddenly tired, mentally and physically. He needed a short nap and he'd be fine. He'd recharge his batteries and he'd be up and running, his usual keen self.

He entered the ranch and stopped up short with a rush of anger. Lucas sat next to Maddy on the sofa, his arm around the back of her, playing with her beautiful long red hair, twirling it around his fingers, while they watched a movie.

“Haven't you got work to do?” he growled harshly, and Lucas turned and glared. Maddy sidled away, watching them both warily.

“I've done all I need to for now. Just taking a break with Mads,” Lucas announced as calmly as he could manage. Aden walked around the sofa and stood in front of them.

“There's plenty to do around here. We haven't time for 'breaks', no matter how tempting they are,” he said sarcastically. “Get on with it.” The irony of the situation, in that he was just about to take a break himself, didn't cross his mind for a moment, in his angry state of being.

“Jesus Man, what's got into you? I've only been sitting down for ten minutes. Fuck!” He stood up and squared up to him.

Not a good idea at all. Not in his present mood.

Aden rose up above him at full height and he looked at him with authority.

“Get outside, NOW...” Aden ordered in a thundering voice. He left quickly and Aden followed him out of the door. Outside, Lucas turned and faced him, angrier than he'd ever seen him.

“Don't ever show me up like that again, not in front of Maddy.”

“You forget your place.”

“Oh shut the fuck up!” He shouted.

“Lucas, I'm warning you. Go for a walk and calm down. That's an order.”

He watched his retreating back as he stalked off in a huff, lighting up a cigarette and puffing at it in fury.