I poured myself a cup of coffee and walked to the look out to greet the day. We had arrived back from New York the previous night, and I was beat.

Too much gallivanting around. I had barely had time to find my feet here, before we had gone on the cattle drive, then the whirlwind trip to New York.

But it had been worth it. Gemma was opening up to me like a gift.

I thought back on the New York trip. Overall, it had been a great experience. Gemma had loved being spoilt rotten, it had obviously never happened during her relationship with Jack. The only downer had been those bitches at the restaurant, but I think I made up for that – especially in the elevator. My cock started to tighten at the memory.

I had managed to tick two things off the list – dinner at a fancy restaurant, and sex in an elevator. It had been an inspired moment. We had created so much heat that elevator had almost gone up in flames.

I took another sip of the coffee, thinking over what I had to do today. And then I saw her walking toward me, carrying her own cup.

Beautiful. There was simply no other word. Even first thing in the morning, with her hair scraped back into a ponytail and wearing her work apron, Gemma simply shone.

This was the woman I wanted to wake up next to for the rest of my life.

My fingers tightened on the cup. Whoa. Where had that come from? But it was true. This wasn’t just a sexual dalliance, maybe it had never been that. I had wanted Gemma so badly for so long, I could only focus on the seduction of her.

She was my true mate, matching me in the bedroom. But also in life.

Could I win her heart, as well as her body? Could she ever forget Jack?

“Morning.” I turned and acknowledged her, before turning back to the sunrise.

“Morning,” she answered. The wind lifted her hair slightly, making it dance on the breeze. I reached out and tucked a tendril that had escaped back behind her ear.

She smiled, looking at me with those huge green eyes that could surely melt the heart of any goddamn man.

“Busy day?” She took a sip of her coffee, looking over the view.

“Busy enough,” I answered. I wanted to talk to her about what mattered, her and me. Could we start over, forget Jack? Could she let go of her love for him? But I was mute. The enormity of it overwhelmed me.

And I was scared. Scared she would shake that beautiful head of hers and say no. That Jack was the only love of her life and that she could never consider me as a replacement in her heart, despite what was going on between us.

“Well, better get to it.” I drained my coffee. “Hank and the others are waiting.”

She nodded, not looking at me.

My hands itched to touch her, but I resisted. I walked away without a backward glance.

But the shadow of it followed me throughout the morning, as I herded and branded cattle, laughed and chatted with the men.

I loved her. It was as simple, and as complicated, as that.

* * *

I came to her that night, knocking softly on the door of the cook’s quarters.

She opened the door, standing there in that baby doll nightie of hers, looking so goddamn sexy it made me rise to attention like a soldier to his sergeant. She was my superior, in every way. I had been in the military and worked under some fine men but I recognised her dominion over me, body and soul.

Forever.

“Can I come in?” I whispered, my eyes devouring her.

“Yes, of course,” she whispered back, widening the door so that I could enter.

I walked to the bed, raking my hands through my hair. She followed, looking at me quizzically.

“Lance, is something wrong?” she asked, sitting on the bed and looking up at me with those eyes.

I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to see whether we could start over, leave Jack and the past behind.

Most importantly, I wanted to tell her that I loved her. But the fear overtook me again, freezing my tongue. I pushed her back on the bed, climbing on top of her. She looked surprised, but she didn’t resist.

I suddenly wanted her so much it invaded my blood like a fever.

I found her breasts, and those rosy nipples. I took one in my mouth, sucking and teasing it to peak perfection. She groaned, long and slow.

I couldn’t wait any longer. It wasn’t a time for languorous love making. I just wanted to be in her, riding her like a stallion.

Claiming her. Making her mine.

I turned her over, hitching her onto her knees, and entered her from behind.

Sweet Jesus. It was incredible. I started grinding into that sweet pussy, letting her juices flow over me.

I could see us in her dressing table mirror; Gemma on all fours, her breasts hanging like overripe melons, swaying with the movement.

It was too much. I could usually pace myself, but not this time. I let out a cry as I flooded into her, the orgasm so intense I almost collapsed across her back.

A couple of slow pumps, and I was done, panting like I had just completed a marathon.

She pulled away from me. I fell on the bed, my eyes closed, enjoying the afterglow.

Maybe I fell asleep for a little while. When I opened my eyes, she wasn’t lying beside me. She was sitting on a chair by the window, staring out at the night.

“Gemma.” I called to her, beckoning. “Come lay beside me.” She turned slowly, and smiled. But it was a sad smile.

“Lance,” she said. “I don’t understand what’s happening between us. But I think it has to stop.”

“Why?” I sat up like a bolt. “Why does it have to stop?”

“I thought I could do it,” she continued, as if I hadn’t spoken. “We have such an amazing sexual connection, I thought it was enough. But I won’t be used, Lance. I’m not a sexual plaything. I am a real flesh and blood woman, with feelings.”

“You still love him, don’t you?” I spat it out like it was poison.

Her eyes widened. “Are you talking about Jack?”

“Of course I’m talking about Jack!” I was on my feet now, pacing the floor.

“Admit it,” I continued, unable to stop the torrent of words that were rushing out of my mouth. “You’ve never gotten over him. It’s always been Jack. Even though he treated you like an afterthought, never paying you any attention!”

She paled. “You don’t know what went on between me and Jack.”

“Don’t I?” I stood over her, looking down at that shocked face. “Maybe I know more than you think. About how he cheated on you. About how he could never satisfy you. About how you begged him to do things to you, things that you always dreamt of. I made a list.”

She stood up, facing me. “How do you know that he never satisfied me?” There was a dangerous glint in her eyes.

I had gone too far, I knew, but I couldn’t stop. “I read them,” I said. “All your emails to him, about how lonely you were, about what you wanted.”

If she was pale before, her face was deathly white now. “Hang on a minute,” she whispered. “You read my private emails to Jack?”

“Yes,” I said. “I know everything about your supposed perfect relationship with him.”

She looked like she was churning things over in her mind, and not liking what she was coming up with. “So, that’s what this has been about,” she said, slowly. “The camping under the stars. The dinner at a fancy restaurant. Sex in an elevator. You read that I wanted to do all those things with Jack. And what – you decided to stroll on in yourself and provide them?”

She laughed, suddenly, throwing her head back. “Well, I should thank you, shouldn’t I? Poor little Gemma, desperate for a bit, which she couldn’t get from her boyfriend. Good old Lance Starling will stroll in and save the day!”

“Gemma, it wasn’t like that…”

“Wasn’t it?” The look she threw me was the dirtiest I had ever seen. “You are unbelievable, Lance! Not only do you violate my privacy, you think you are my saviour. But what was the real reason you did it, Lance? Have you admitted that to yourself yet?”

“Gemma, please…”

“I’ll tell you.” She came up to me so that our faces were inches apart. “Because you wanted to best Jack. Because it’s always been about the competition between the two of you. Jack can’t satisfy his old lady, well, watch out! Here comes Lance to show how it’s done, the knight in shining armour.”

“No.” I shook my head. “That’s not the reason!”

“I don’t want to hear anymore, Lance. You’ve insulted me enough, I think. I want you to leave, now. Get your clothes on and walk out that door.” She turned and marched into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

I got dressed. How on earth had I managed to fuck things up so badly?