Harper's Little Spitfire (Harper's Series) (31 page)

“Isn’t it a bit early to be hitting the hard stuff?”

“Not with the pain I’m in,” he grimaced.

His mother stepped behind the bar next to him and removed the bottle from his hand. Slumping on the bar stool at the end of the bar, he watched as his mother reached under, pulled out a can of soft drink and placed it in front of him. He looked at the can and back to her.

What the hell is that supposed to do for me?

Thumping his head on the top of the bar, he sat back up, instantly holding his side.

“What’s wrong?” He heard the concern in her voice.

“Nothing, Mum. Don’t worry about it,” he replied and lifted from the stool. His hand gripped on the edge of the bar as more pain laced his chest. He heard his mother call his name, but his hearing faded in and out, then his body was falling. He didn’t feel the ground, only someone holding him up as he was moved backwards.

“Jesus, you’re heavy,” Zeb cursed, lifting him upright and walking him back towards the couch. Lying him down gently, he opened his eyes and found his mother hovering over him, his father frowning down and both Zeb and Logan looking on.

He heard voices but couldn’t make out what was said. His shirt was lifted from his side. Reaching for the hand that held his shirt, he stopped short when his mother gasped,

“Oh, my God. What happened, Caleb?”

“Spawn charged him and threw him over the holding-yard fence,” Zeb told her.

“Why did you go in there if he was with the rest of the cattle?”

“I forgot he was with them, and honestly, I thought he was with the other herd closest here, in the yard.”

“That damn bull is nothing but trouble,” his mother muttered before she stood and walked away.

“His sperm pays the bills here, woman,” his dad shouted after her. Caleb had to hold the laugh back, knowing that the movement would cripple him. His dad was never shy at saying what was on his mind, none of them were; they only held it back because of their mother.

“I don’t care if it’s his sperm or the fact that he roots everything in his path and produces good cattle. I am sick of him hurting everyone. Before he came here, I only bandaged up five people. Now, because of him, I have lost count.”

Zeb snickered behind them; Logan groaned, and his father stood tight-lipped, scowling at his mother.

“I am not getting rid of him, so don’t bother saying it.”

“What’s it going to take, someone ending up seriously injured or killed by him, Markus? Then will you decide that it’s time?” His mother, Rebekah, faced off against her husband.

His mother had balls, big brass ones to have a standoff with his father, or any of them, but more so Markus. All her boys backed down pretty damn quickly with her, not wanting to be in the line of fire when it arose.

“Damn it, woman. Jesus, you frustrate me to no end. I’m not getting rid of him. You like all the fancy things you have now, the trips we take; all that stuff will stop the moment he leaves this property, Bekah.”

“You idiot. You know I don’t give two hoots about the money. As long as I have you and my boys, I’m happy. After twenty-five years together,” she shook her head at him, “I’m not here for the damn money, Markus Harper. We had nothing when we built this ranch. So don’t you stand there and huff out that I’m one of those stupid ranch wives who are only after money. You know me way better than that.”

The room went silent. Caleb couldn’t hear a breath being taken or the flapping wings of a fly. The quiet felt absolute. He shifted on the sofa and watched as Logan and Zeb took several steps back from their parents who continued to stare at each other. They all knew that their father would back down the moment she fought back. Well, they hoped he did.

They all stared at their parents. Nothing more was said between them as their eyes never left each other.

A noise from the side of the room caught his attention. Turning that way, Caleb found Sage looking at him as Bri, Kaidence and Lilly stood beside her, glancing around the room.

Bri whispered something into Sage’s ear; her eyes left his as she looked between his parents, and then she whispered back.

She knew how his parents were. She had seen them several times have blows like this, so he wasn’t concerned. He needed to break the tension that filled the room. “Mum, do we have anything for pain, other than Ibuprofen? It doesn’t do anything.”

His mother’s stance relaxed as she faced him. “By the look of that bruise, your ribs are cracked. I’m guessing two, maybe three of them without touching them. Are you having difficulty breathing?”

“No, I’m breathing fine. Just hurts like a bitch when I do.”

“Caleb,” Rebekah hissed.

“Sorry, Mum,” he mumbled.

“I’ll see what I can give you. You can’t have anything that will knock you out. We need to watch your breathing in case you have a punctured lung, but I don’t think you do.”

Glancing at her husband one more time, she spun around and walked off towards the kitchen.

Everyone in the room looked towards his father. His eyes followed where his mother went, then shaking his head, their father sat down in one of the spare chairs and huffed out a breath.

Sage and the girls stepped further into the room. Sage sat in the chair opposite Markus, not once looking in his direction. Bri and Lilly moved over to where Zeb was and Kaidence sauntered over to Caleb. She knelt down near where his head was resting on the sofa, and by the look on her face, she was pissed.

“So, I heard what happened at the cabin.” She grinned evilly. “I’m glad you gave her a better night to remember than what Mac did.” Shifting closer to him, so he was the only one hearing what she obviously was going to say next. “I don’t care if you were in pain from what happened out there with that bull. You ever say shit like you did to her again, I’ll castrate you personally and enjoy every single moment of it, got me?”

He frowned, having no idea what he had said to spitfire, but he nodded his head in agreement.

Tapping him on the thigh harder than normal, she smiled. “Good. Now, I’m going to enjoy what time we have left here before we leave.” Straightening up, her smile dropped. “Remember what I said.” Turning her back, she walked back to where Sage was.

Fuck!
Closing his eyes, he couldn’t think right. He had no idea what he’d said. Visions flashed over his closed eyes: him behind Sage as he slid in and out of her, while Logan was under her, and Zeb to the side, watching as her hand slid up and down his erection. Then he thought back to when he was outside in the storm, counting the cattle until he was thrown over the fence, his brothers helping him inside and laying down on the sofa.

Once on the sofa, he remembered the alcohol. Logan handing him tablets, then...nothing. Absolutely nothing. Blank. It went from him taking the tablets to when he was holding onto the back of the quad for dear life. He concentrated really hard, but in between was blank.

Growling, he sat up best he could and hung his head as his hands dangled between his spread legs.
This is all fucked up!

Sage’s voice echoed his way. Glancing up, his eyes connected with hers. Pain laced her face, but it quickly disappeared and anger replaced it. Shaking her head at whatever Bri said, she stood and turned to leave.

“Sage.” He needed to talk to her, apologise for what he said, although he couldn’t think of exactly what it was.

Her body stilled, back straight, and she turned and faced him, glaring daggers into him.

Gulping, he pushed from the couch and stood on shaky legs.

“Can we talk, please?” He was grovelling. He hated seeing her this way towards him.

Her shoulders shifted slightly, but to his relief, Sage nodded once and walked out of the room. Breathing a heavy sigh, he followed after her down the hall, determined to make this right.

She leaned against the wall, twisting her hands in front of her, eyes downcast as he approached. He stood in front of her, wanting nothing more than for her to forgive him.
God! I hope I didn’t fuck everything up with her!

Clearing his throat, he spoke, “Sage, shit.” He raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck, trying to release half of the tension sitting on his shoulders. “I’m just going to say it. I’m sorry for whatever I did or said. I can’t remember anything after last night when we came inside after checking everything out. It’s all blank till we arrived here, and it’s bugging the shit out of me that I hurt you in some way.”

She didn’t look at him when he spoke. Taking a breath, he continued, “I hate seeing you like this towards me. I know without anyone telling me I fucked up. I’m not trying to make excuses for not remembering, but for the life of me, the shit isn’t coming to me. Can you tell me what I did or said, please?”

Her head lifted and he cursed. He hated seeing her this upset. Tears welled in her beautiful eyes. Stepping forward, he pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her.

“Shit, spitfire. I fucking hate seeing you cry. It breaks me apart knowing the pain I see in your eyes is from me,” he whispered against her hair. And he meant every word, ten-fold. He’d kick himself in the balls if he could.

Her hands tightened in his shirt as her nails dug into his stomach. “Talk to me, baby. I need to hear your voice.”

“You didn’t do anything. It was what you said that cut me, Caleb.” Her voice shook.

“What did I say?” He held his breath, praying that whatever dick thing had come out of his mouth, he could make better.

Leaning her head back, she looked into his eyes, searching for that something. “You said, I’m a kill joy’, and you asked why I couldn’t be like all the other women, and that you were going to find someone willing when you got home.”

“Fuck, spitfire.” He tightened his hold on her. Her body shook as she sobbed into his chest. “I didn’t mean any of that. Shit, I can’t even remember saying that to you, and I’m not saying that just for you to forgive me.” Lifting her chin, so she was looking at him. “I didn’t mean any of that. I don’t want anyone but you in my bed, Sage. All I can think about is how your smile brightens up the room, your laughter, seeing how happy you are, and most importantly is when the next time is I can be buried deep inside that tight little body of yours. You drive me fucking insane with want. My dick is constantly hard for you, only you, and no one else. And there is no fucking way you are a kill joy. You might give me blue balls and frustrate the hell out of me, but never that, spitfire.”

To his relief, she giggled.

“Do you forgive me for being an ass to you?”

Leaning her head back, her breath lingered over his lips. Her tongue traced along her bottom lip. Groaning, she dug her nails into his stomach more, careful not to touch the bruised area as her body shifted against his.

His jeans tightened when her stomach brushed passed his crotch. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her further into him. He ground his erection into her.

Moaning, her mouth shifted to his neck, and then her teeth bit down, hard. Caleb’s breathing accelerated. Slipping his thigh between her legs, she rocked against him, loving the sweet little moans that escaped her lips.

Sage reached for his hand and slid it between them, her eyes glued to his as she pushed his hand past the top of her jeans and beneath her panties. Both of their hands were down her jeans; his head rolled back when he felt how wet she was for him.

“Do you think I would be this wet for you if I was still upset with you?” she moaned as his fingers glided over her clit.

“Fuck, Sage,” he grated out. Her other hand traced over his erection through his jeans. Pinning her to the wall, he pinched her clit as her body rocked against his. Fuck, he needed inside of her, now.

“I need inside of you, spitfire,” he whispered against her lips.

Both of them moaned as her hand gripped him through his jeans and his fingers slid lower. Then just as that happened, Sage dropped her hand away from him and pushed him back a little.

Panting for breath, he searched her face. “What’s wrong?”

“We can’t do that.”

“Why the hell not?” His cock throbbed painfully.

“You’re injured, Caleb.” She fixed herself up and moved from the wall.

“And? Like that has stopped me before.”

“I don’t want you to be in more pain than you already are. I’ll feel worse,” she whispered.

“Sweetheart, the only pain I’m in right now is I’m not buried inside of that tight little pussy of yours,” he growled in need and stepped towards her.

She backed away; he followed. He watched her swallow and look down at his jeans. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

“See, you want me as bad as I want you, spitfire.”

“Of course I want you, Caleb. But I think it’s best that we don’t have any kind of sexual involvement between us till you’re all better.”

“What? That could be weeks before I’m all healed up.”

“It could be, but you need to heal before anything happens between us.” She spun around quickly and began to walk off.

Grabbing her arm, turning her to face him, “We can do other things besides the sex.”
God!
How was he going to survive not touching her or her not touching him? Fucking torture, that’s what it would be. Stupid fucking damn bull.

“What? Me sucking your cock or you going down on me? Come on, Caleb. Either way, you need to move, and you can’t stay still for that long. You’ll be in pain and I don’t want that.”

“Please don’t say cock and going down in the same sentence. That’s all I imagine right now; your lips wrapped around my cock.” His hand gripped himself through his jeans and groaned. “And you sitting on my face as I taste that sweet pussy of yours.”

“Nope, you have to wait; it won’t kill you. Plus, it will be worth the wait,” she said. Caleb was sure he saw a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“It will bloody kill me. I’ll die from blue balls and having a constant erection, spitfire. How the hell am I supposed to get better when I’m in that state?”

“You will. Have faith,” she laughed, turned and walked away.

“Screw faith,” he mumbled.

She added extra sway to her hips as she walked away. Damn it! He was screwed.