There would be no way she would say anything to anyone about her fears of the new guy. She was sure he was harmless, like the rest of the men and just trying to make a living.

The guys returned for lunch in no time. Mark always looked so sexy in his dust covered wranglers and worn out Stetson hat. It took every ounce of willpower not to stare at him, or pull him close.

“Hey Emily we’re going over to the Three Rivers tonight. There’s this great new singer who’s performing. Do you want to come with us?” one of the hands asked her.

Emily was pleased to be invited but she was worried about her son. Edward was in the kitchen and seemed to be able to read her mind. “I can keep an eye on the Little Man if you want to get out for a while,” he offered her.

“Are you sure?” she asked Edward.

“I would love to watch him. We’ll make some buttery popcorn and watch the new Disney Movie,” he said.

“Well in that case I would love to,” she said. She was mentally going through her closet, really excited to have a night out. It had been far too long.

“I can give you a ride in,” John offered.

“I will bring Emily,” Mark said, brooking no room for argument from any of the men.

“I thought you said you couldn’t make it boss,” John whined a little.

“I changed my mind,” he stated, before throwing his hat back on and slamming out the back door.

“What’s gotten under his burr?” John grumbled.

“I think he’s marking his territory,” one of the other guys said.

“We’re not a couple. He probably just didn’t want to put any of you out,” Emily defended.

“Sure,” a couple of the guys chorused together. Everyone suddenly found great interest in their food and no one else said a word as they finished their lunch and then rushed out the door.

Emily cleaned up quickly and rushed upstairs to get ready for her evening out. She had the whole afternoon to pamper herself, since everyone was going to eat dinner at the bar. She was actually a little giddy as she took a long bath and spent extra time on her hair, clothes and make-up.

“Damn girl, you look good. I call the first dance,” her favorite ranch hand, Eric said, as she walked into the smoky bar with Mark, who hadn’t said one word to her on the ride there. He seemed to be angry with her and she couldn’t figure out why.

“Thank you Eric and yes I would love to dance with you,” she told the man. He wasted no time in abandoning his seat and pulling her out onto the dance floor.

Emily was having an amazing time. She had no idea how long she’d been dancing, because as soon as one song ended another of the hands grabbed her and she was off doing another two-step. She had not laughed so much in far too many years.

“It’s my turn to take this lady around the dance floor,” the creepy ranch hand Chris said. He was standing far too close to her and placed his hand on her back. She felt violated by just that little bit of touching.

She was trapped because she hadn’t turned any of the other guys down but she really didn’t want to dance with him. He didn’t put off good vibes at all. She was getting ready to get through the dance as best as she could.

“This dance is already taken,” Mark said, as he cut in. Normally Emily would’ve been really irritated with any man who was as high handed as Mark was being but she was so relieved to not have to dance with Chris she gladly accepted his offer.

Neither Mark nor Emily noticed the look Chris gave them both. He didn’t say a word but his hands clenched tight and if looks really could kill, they both would’ve been dead.

“You seem to be having a good time,” Mark said through clenched teeth.

“I haven’t been out in such a long time. I’m always just Mom, so yes I’m having a really great time. It’s nice to have some adult time,” she said and then actually giggled as he spun her around.

The giggle stopped instantly when he slammed her body into his, pressing her close. He rubbed his hands from her shoulders, down her lower back and up again. She felt electricity shooting from her stomach, all the way to her toes.

“If you’d wanted to go out, all you had to do was say something,” he snarled.

“Mark why are you so upset? This is a fun night and you should be enjoying yourself,” she said to him, completely clueless.

“How do you expect me to enjoy myself when you’re in the arms of other men? I’ve respected your wishes and haven’t been pursuing you but damn it, I shouldn’t have to watch you in the arms of my crew,” he said, growing louder with each word he spoke.

He had her pulled so tightly against him she could barely breathe. She didn’t even notice they’d stopped dancing. Luckily the bar was loud and smoky, with a lot of people on the dance floor and no one was paying them any attention.

Mark finally growled low in his throat and then crushed his lips down to hers. He pushed his tongue up against her bottom lip, demanding entrance and she willingly obliged. She forgot about all the reasons she’d decided being with him was a bad idea and just enjoyed being in his arms again.

His hands caressed her silk covered thighs, making the fabric draw up inch by inch. He was slowly walking them into a dark corner, where they could have more privacy. She couldn’t even feel the movement of her own two feet. She was focused on nothing but Mark and what he was doing to her body.

His caressing fingers reached the edge of her dress and were stroking the uncovered top of her thighs. She could feel the heat pooling in her core and she wanted him to relieve the pressure continuing to build there.

Her hands gripped tightly behind his neck, pulling him even closer. The kiss continued until she needed so much more from him than just his lips on hers. She needed him to join them together again. She needed it more than she needed air.

His lips left hers, allowing a gasp of air to enter, only to be rushed back out when he ran his tongue along the length of her throat. He nipped at her tender flesh and she moaned in pleasure. “Please Mark…” she begged.

“Uh boss…” a voice interrupted them.

Emily slowly became aware of her surroundings again and realized they were practically making love up against a dirty wall in a bar. She was horrified at her own behavior. She wasn’t ever that brazen kind of girl. She ducked her head into Mark’s neck, hoping to avoid anyone’s eyes.

“What do you want?” Mark snapped at the unfortunate guy.

“Um…the bouncer over there said you guys need to break it up,” the poor guy was so embarrassed he was stuttering.

Mark finally seemed to realize where he was and what he’d been doing and backed up a little bit from Emily. “Thanks,” he mumbled to the kid. He then grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the doorway.

“We are getting out of here now,” he stated.

Emily had no desire to argue with him. She’d been fighting her own desires for too long and it was time she got some satisfaction. “I’m ready to leave,” she purred.

Mark walked out of the bar, never letting go of her hand. When they reached his truck he picked her up and sat her in the seat, slipping in between her opened legs. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply again. His hand slipped between their bodies and he caressed her hardened nipple.

She heard a moan and was startled to realize the sound had come from her. “Please take me home,” she begged him.

He kissed her one more time and then pushed her legs into the truck. He jumped in the driver’s door and pulled out of the parking lot like the place was about to explode. The drive back to the ranch took half the time it had taken to get to town. The silence was just as noticeable on the return trip but for far different reasons.

They screeched to a stop a few feet from the front steps and he leapt from the truck. “Please don’t change your mind,” he pleaded, as he pulled open her door. Emily didn’t answer him with words. She smiled seductively at him and then reached down and rubbed her hand over the bulging evidence of his desire, as she leaned into him and ran her tongue over his neck.

“This is going to end far too quickly if you keep that up,” he croaked. He then scooped her up into his arms and ran into the house and up the stairs. Emily didn’t even know if he got the front door closed.

He made it to the bedroom and then took her hard and fast against the door. Neither of them could hold out long enough to reach the bed.

Emily woke to find Mark staring down at her, while rubbing her from the top of her thigh, to her neck and back down. She could feel the desire start to pool again and didn’t see how it was possible.

After their explosive love making, they’d passed out in each other’s arms on top of the covers. When the cool night air woke them, he’d made slow sweet love to her again, before they fell asleep, too exhausted to even move.

She glanced at the clock and was shocked to see it was almost noon. She’d slept for nine hours straight. She never did that. She groaned a bit as Mark’s hand caressed her tender breast and then teased the nipple.

“Mark we need to talk…” she began.

“No,” he said simply.

“Mark listen…”

“No this time you listen,” he said, before pinning her hands above her head with one of his hands, as the other one continued caressing her body.

She was really trying to reason with him but he was making it impossible. The feeling of being trapped under him and having him in complete control was extremely erotic. The hand that was touching her was causing her to lose all thoughts of stopping.

“You will not run away this time. I understand all your reasons for wanting to keep things distant but when two people have the kind of chemistry we have together, it’s a crime not to pursue it. If it works out great, if it doesn’t, I promise I will take care of you,” he said in between kissing her and nipping at her in places she didn’t even know were sensitive until he touched them.

“You’re making me sound like a mistress,” she gasped at him. She was trying to remember that was a bad thing.

“No, I want you as my girlfriend, my companion, my lover. I would never try and buy you,” he said with complete seriousness.

As he paused in his administering, to show her how serious he was she couldn’t think of a single argument against what he was saying. She wanted him so much and she really didn’t see how they could go backwards at that point anyway.

“But what about Trevor?” she said in a last ditch effort to reason with him.

“I love Trevor,” he said matter-of-factly.

That was all it took for Emily to cave into the man. She couldn’t fight him or the relationship anymore. He was still looking at her, waiting to see what she would say.

“Please kiss me,” she finally pled. Her simple words were all it took to break the damn. They didn’t leave the room for a few more hours.

Emily felt so guilty when she finally made it downstairs. Edward gave her a wink when she stepped through the kitchen doors, which made her face turn a deep shade of red.

“How was your night?” he asked knowingly.