Juan briskly turned to Travis and said, "Get her to swallow three ibuprofen. If you can come up with an idea for warmth before I get back, that would be good." With that, he turned and quickly left the room.
Travis paused for a moment and looked at the small figure on the bed. She let out another whimper and started writhing again. Travis left the room and went to his bathroom where he retrieved a glass of water and the pills.
He was back in seconds. "Selena, these will make you feel better. Sit up, baby, and let me give you these pills."
Selena awkwardly tried to sit up. She was in so much pain, she felt like she wanted to die. She knew from years of experience that it would pass, but for the next few hours, she wanted to die.
Travis sat on the bed and propped himself up against the headboard. He set the water and pills on the bedside table and reached over and slid her into an upright position between his thighs. Her back fell against his chest. He reached over and gave her the pills. Her hands shook as she put them to her mouth. She swallowed the water he gave her, and the medicine slid down.
He set the water back on the table and she let out a tiny moan that almost sounded like relief. "Pills are working that fast?"
She shuddered. "No. It is your w-warmth." She squeezed her body back into him, like she was trying to burrow into him. She picked up his hands and wrapped them around her and placed them directly on her abdomen. "P-please. For just a minute."
Travis felt a jerk in the region of his heart as he shared his warmth with her. He eased her back all the way into him and got comfortable against the headboard.
"Sure, Angel. As long as you need. My pleasure."
Immediately, she felt the relief from the heat on the small of her back and on her pulsing womb. Within seconds, she was asleep in his arms.
Travis knew the moment when sleep eased her pain. He closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of her hair. He hated that she was in pain, but God, she felt good in his arms. He relaxed and allowed the feel of her to seep into his soul. He closed his eyes and within moments he was asleep too.
The six-hundred milligrams went to work and Selena slept like a baby. After awhile, she felt too much body heat, and in her sleep kicked the sheet off her body.
Travis felt the soft little body wriggle against him and thought he was dreaming. It was a spectacular dream, and one hand enclosed a firm little breast, and the other moved down and found the spot he had been craving for weeks.
They slept on.
Juan walked back in the room an hour later and found them in that position. He dropped the bag in his hand and stared in shock.
Travis and Selena both surfaced from sleep at the same time from the sound of the bag hitting the wooden floor.
Selena saw Juan first and then looked down and saw her legs spread wide and Travis's hand cupping her over her panties. She started pushing his hand away, but it only tightened on her.
Travis was groggy and only half awake when his grip compressed unconsciously on Selena to hold her in place. But it took only a second for the sleep to recede as he assimilated the situation. He reluctantly eased his hold and Selena scrambled away from him and covered up.
He stood up as Juan belted out, "Young man, I want a word with you in the living room."
Juan turned and left the room. Travis groaned and bent to pick up the discarded sack. He pulled the heating pad from the sack of feminine supplies and plugged it into the wall outlet. He handed it to Selena and turned and strode into the living room.
Travis saw Juan waiting for him and resentment ran through him. "Since when have I become
young man
to you?" He sneered the words.
"Since that young lady needs someone to protect her from you, that's when. This can't go on. She can't keep living here like this. That girl is innocent and I recognize it and every other man on this ranch recognizes it, even if you don't."
Travis listened to the lecture and antagonism pierced him. "Oh, trust me, I do. I know it best of all, I guarantee you that." Travis inhaled a deep breath and studied the older man confronting him. He was smart enough to realize that Juan cared for Selena in a paternal way. "Juan, I was just applying heat to her stomach and we fell asleep. Nothing happened. Nothing's been happening. I'm sorry my hands moved when I was asleep,
but I was asleep
." The last four words were yelled.
"Take it from an old man, son. You ought to just get it over with and marry that girl.
She wouldn't put up a fuss about it, and you know you want to."
"Shit no, I don't want to." The thought was tempting, though.
"Are you sure? You want to give up all that food? The nice house? The clean laundry? You haven't once thought about having the right to the beautiful little senorita in your bed at night? What, you got no balls, boy?"
Travis scowled. "Listen, old man. Don't piss me off." Travis turned and raked his fingers through his hair in agitation. "I've thought about it all right. I've been thinking of that for every godforsaken day since she came here."
Juan paused a moment and then said, "Listen. My sister lives in San Benito. She's almost seventy. She's going to need help soon. We can take the little missy there and she can live with my sister."
Travis rejected the idea instantaneously and scowled. "No. She stays here."
Juan sighed and exhaled deeply. "Don't take advantage of her. I brought her here. I feel responsible for her. I couldn't live with myself if you ruined her and tossed her away. Don't do that to her. Don't do that to an old man." He shook his head sadly and walked out the back door.
Travis stood still while tension pulsed through him. The situation had him tied in knots. He was momentarily distracted when a loud growl came from his empty stomach. He was starving and Selena was incapacitated enough that he had to find his own food. The thought of the rubber eggs and burnt bacon that he knew Slim would be serving in the bunkhouse kitchen made his stomach roil. On top of that, all the hands would be asking a million questions about why Selena hadn't cooked his breakfast. The idea of the men speculating and possibly finding out something so private about her made his protective instincts rise. She would be horrified if the men knew what was going on. He would eat his breakfast here if it would help protect her privacy.
A few minutes later, he thought that idea was easier said than done. He hadn't cooked for himself in a long time. Until Selena came along, he had eaten all his meals with the men in the bunkhouse kitchen.
A dark mood settled over him as he threw six pieces of bread on the counter and began to smear them with peanut butter and jelly. The meal was unappetizing to say the least, but the worst thing was that with every bite, he realized more and more how much he had gotten used to her. The only thing that calmed his turmoil was the knowledge that she was down the hallway, asleep in her bed.
He refused to think about how he would feel if it was otherwise.
Selena was still incapacitated at lunchtime, but at six o'clock that evening, when Travis came in through the back door, she was moving around the kitchen slowly, like a pale, slender wraith.
He had had a lot of time to think things through today. His mind was still in turmoil, but there was a certain code he lived by, and there were a couple of indelible facts that he couldn't get away from. The first was that he wanted her in his bed and under him with a hunger that would haunt him for the rest of his life if he couldn't have her. And the second was if he wanted to be able to look himself in the face every morning, he couldn't take advantage of her situation and her innocence in a less than honorable way.
Selena balanced herself on the counter, preparing his meal.
"Baby, you need to be back in bed." His voice was low and gentle.
Selena smiled softly at him and shook her head slightly. "No. I am fine now." She turned to face him fully. "I am sorry but there is only ham and cheese sandwiches for supper. If that is not okay, Slim can--"
He cut her off. He had eaten her ham and cheese sandwiches before. They were piping hot and grilled to perfection. He damn sure didn't want to eat Slim's food.
"No. The sandwiches are fine. Do you need some help?" He took the first few steps toward her.
"No. Y-yes. C-can you carry this plate to the table for me?" Her hands shook slightly as she pointed to the large plate of sandwiches.
"Sure. Selena, you're weak. You need to sit down and eat." He moved to the counter and picked up the sandwiches and put them on the table. "Christ, have you not had anything to eat all day?" Why the hell hadn't he thought about her not eating? What kind of a selfish bastard was he?
Selena hesitated and shook her head. Until recently, her mother had always taken care of her during these episodes. But she hadn't had her mother during the last six months, and she knew that she would survive. She always did.
Travis saw the cans of soup on the counter and knew what she planned. She swayed slightly in front of him and he reached out and picked her up and moved her over to a kitchen chair. "Sit there. Don't move."
He began opening and dumping the soup into bowls to zap in the microwave.
Grabbing two plates, he put a sandwich in front of her. "Start on that."
Selena smiled weakly and took a few bites while he prepared the soup and put the bowls on the table. At first, she felt horribly nauseous when the food hit her empty stomach. But she ate small slow bites, and soon she was feeling much better.
Travis sat down with her and steadily made his way through the food. When he was finished, he began clearing off the table and stacking the dishes in the sink.
She made a motion to get up.
"Just sit. You're not cleaning this up tonight. The dishes can soak overnight in the sink."
Within moments, the sink was full of hot soapy water, and the table was cleared.
"Thank you, Travis."
He wiped his hands on a dishcloth and turned to face her. "No problem, Angel.
Let's get you settled." He took the few steps back to her and started to lift her in his arms.
"I c-can walk."
"Why should you have to?" He gently swung her into his arms and shouldered his way through to the living room where he deposited her on the couch. He handed her the remote. "Find something to watch. I need to work on the books for awhile."
Selena settled into the couch and flicked through the channels until she found an old movie. She had seen it before, but never in English. She tried to concentrate and study the structure of the words.
It was difficult because her eyes were continually drawn to Travis. He sat behind his desk, flipping through a pile of receipts and logging them into the computer. He worked steadily, and only once did she glance up and find his eyes on her.
The impact was electric.
Her heart started beating a wild tattoo in her chest when he continued to study her.
He tossed the pen down, and stood up and moved over to the couch. He picked up the remote, and turned the volume down until it was muted almost completely. He sat back on the couch and in one movement, picked her up and slid her over to him until she was sitting in between his spread thighs, with her back to his front, much as she had been earlier on the bed when Juan had walked in. His arms wrapped around her and she felt his lips on the back of her head. Shock went through her.
This was a bold move and screamed of an intimacy that she didn't know they had.
With one arm wrapped around her, hugging her tightly below her breasts, he picked up one of her hands and twined her fingers with his. He played with her fingers and inhaled the scent of her hair. His hand gently moved her hair away from her neck, and he put his lips softly on her. His lips and tongue make a wet path up to her ear.
Selena closed her eyes in ecstasy. His large body completely wrapped around hers, and Selena felt safe in his arms. He smelled good. So strong, so male, so perfect for her. He was a gruff, hard man, but he could be so sweet at times. It was a combination she found enthralling.
Selena felt his breath on her ear as he spoke softly to her. "I have to go into Laredo this week for supplies. I want to take you with me. You'll enjoy a day off the ranch, hmm, Angel?" The words crooned in her ear and his hand continued to play with her fingers.
"Y-yes. That sounds n-nice." Her words were breathless.
He continued in his low, whiskey smooth voice. "And I thought we ought to go to the courthouse and get a license."
His lips were touching her ear and Selena found it hard to concentrate. "Yes.
Okay." She was completely distracted by his male hardness surrounding her. His arm was holding her tightly, and her breasts were pressed against him. "A l-license f-for what?"
He tipped her face toward his, and covered her mouth with his. He sipped at her lips, and Selena's mind shut down, her physical response to his kisses taking over.
He gently took her tongue with his, and lazily kissed her for a few moments. He lifted his head and her eyes were captured by his.
"A marriage license."
Selena gasped. "What--what for?"
His mouth moved back to her ear. "Because I want to marry you, Angel." The arm that held her around her front turned slightly and his hand blatantly captured a breast. "I need to marry you."
Selena was inundated and drowning as feelings shot through her. Namely, joy that he was feeling the same thing she was.
His thumb lightly stroked over her nipple and a tremor of desire slid from her breast down to her feminine core. He continued the smooth strokes, back and forth, and her breath hitched.
She turned in his arms and tried to speak. She wanted to tell him how she felt, how she was growing to love him, and that she would marry him.
Before she could form the correct words, he spoke again.
"You want to marry me, don't you Angel?" She sat on his lap, and he looked at her beautiful profile. She was exquisite. His words became cajoling. "I want to marry you, so much." He ran one finger down the smooth slope of her tilted nose. "It would be nice, don't you think?"