Benjamin (22 page)

It was time to become one with the man who owned her heart.

‡

T
he barbecue had
been in full swing for a couple hours when Ben stepped into the barn to get a moment of peace. He’d forgotten just how exhausting it was to be with his entire family.

His brothers and sisters had beautiful children, a bevy of nieces and nephews. They ran around howling and screaming with laughter. The next generation of Grahams on the ranch that had nurtured them all.

Ben had run into Matt leaving the barn. His brother had laughed and told him to stay in the barn as long as he needed.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the walls, making the dust and bits of hay dance on the beams. Ben walked to Paladin’s stall and waited while the gelding nudged his shoulder.

Footsteps sounded behind him as he searched his pockets for a treat, but he didn’t turn around. “Did you forget something, Matt?”

“I remember every second with you.”

Ben whipped around to find Grace standing in the doorway wearing the beautiful blue dress and a smile. His body lurched to life, hard and ready.

“Your brother told me you were in here. I think he suggested I should follow you.” Her smile lit up her face. “I could definitely participate in a pre-wedding night tumble in the hay.”

Ben’s pulse hammered up another notch. “Someone could catch us.”

She waggled her eyebrows. “Isn’t that part of the fun?”

Ben hadn’t seen a playful side to Grace before. He’d certainly seen tough, clever, fearless, and loving. Now to discover there was yet another facet to the woman he loved.

Seductress.

“Where?”

She growled a little and he grew impossibly harder. “The hay stall.” She held up a blanket. “I brought supplies.”

When she disappeared from view, Ben somehow kept himself from running after her. He secured Paladin’s stall and glanced around, finding the barn empty. He wondered if the family had given them privacy on purpose. Perhaps they knew what Grace intended, or perhaps not. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that the woman who owned his heart was waiting for him.

This time, he raced down the stalls to the end where the hay was stored. He thought perhaps they weren’t the first to find pleasure in that particular place. It was secluded if not the most romantic place.

They would make their own magic.

Ben found her lying on the blanket, her blonde hair spread out on the dark fabric like a golden fan. He was staggered by the gift he’d received when he had been tracked down by this fierce, amazing woman. She was all he could ever need or want.

He shucked his clothes in record time before he lay down beside her. She ran her hands down his shoulders and arms, her long fingers leaving goose bumps in their wake. While his body told him to hurry, his heart told him to take his time.

This was their wedding day and their first joining as man and wife. He wanted it to be perfect for both of them. Ben kissed her forehead, then worked his way down her face, kissing each inch of skin. She purred when he licked at her raspberry nipples.

“More.” Her voice was low and husky.

He smiled against her skin and suckled the nipple while he plucked the other one. She wiggled against him, moving her hips in a feminine thrust that made his cock jump with eagerness.

“Touch me.” He wanted to feel her skin on his.

She began exploring on her own, caressing and squeezing him. Her long fingers circled his girth and he almost spilled his seed in her hand. When she cupped his balls and lightly scratched him, he groaned aloud.

The smell of her arousal filled the air around him. Like ambrosia, he breathed in its heady scent and slid his hand into her warmth. Her pussy welcomed him into its slick folds. He explored the softest, hottest place he’d had the privilege of touching. She pushed up against his hand.

“Now, Benjy. Please.” Her breathy plea took away any semblance of control he had left.

For the first time in their times together, he rose above her and gazed into her eyes as he slid into her core.

“God, yes.” She raised her knees, pulling him deeper within.

He found his rhythm, thrusting in as she shifted her hips up. He’d never imagined such pleasure existed. It slid though him like hot honey. His cock throbbed in tune with the pulse within her.

She pulled at his back. “Faster, harder.”

Ben braced himself on the hay bale and obeyed his wife. Thrusting in and out, in and out, each delicious slide bringing him closer to the pinnacle. She arched her back and keened a cry of pleasure that echoed in his heart.

He was not far behind her, pushing deep enough to touch her womb. Sheer joy and ecstasy wound around him, filling him with love that was stronger than any other force on earth.

His breath came in choppy bursts as he moved to lie at her side.

“I love you, Grace Graham.” He enjoyed being the first to use her new name.

“I love you, too.” She smiled at him. “I think I’m going to like being married to you.”

He laughed. “That’s good, because I think we just ensured that we can’t undo it.”

“We sure did.” Her laugh was low and musical to his ears.

“You think we can get this right?”

She touched his cheek. “We’re sure as hell going to try, but it won’t be easy.”

Voices near the barn interrupted his thoughts. He kissed her quick. “We should get dressed before someone comes looking for us.”

She stopped him and cupped his face. “See me, Benjy Graham. Know that I love you with everything I am, and I always will. Nothing will change that.”

His heart was full to bursting with what he felt for his green-eyed warrior. Love had finally come to him, pure and unfiltered, perfect in every way.

*

Grace was buttoning
her dress and smiling at her new husband when sounds of voices and footsteps came from the barn. At least they weren’t caught in the midst of the deed, although she was fairly certain there was hay stuck in various places in her hair.

“Who?” she whispered.

“My brothers and someone else.” He kissed her soundly. “Let’s find out what they’re doing.”

They emerged from the hay stall to a circle of men. The three Grahams and their four brothers-in-law were a wall of muscle. Another man stood with them. They all turned when Grace cleared her throat.

“What’s happening, gentlemen?”

“We have a situation.” Caleb turned so Grace could see what was at the center of the circle, or rather who.

The little boy who had been Henry’s cellmate at the compound. He’d been cleaned up and had put on weight, from eating no doubt. He was looking up at all the men in bewilderment. The stranger took off his hat and she recognized the red-haired Ranger who’d taken charge of the boy.

“Rooster, right?” She nodded in greeting. “I’m glad you could join us for the wedding.”

She assumed Caleb had invited him but the expression on Caleb’s face was anything but friendly.

“Sorry, ma’am. Felicitations on your marriage, but that ain’t why I’m here.” The redhead tapped his hat on his thigh. “I came to talk to Caleb, but I think you’re the person I need to tell.”

A dark feeling snaked through her. She had visions of Dominic or Bernadette escaping, of being in danger again. “What’s happened?”

“It’s the boy, ma’am. I’ve spent the last month trying to find his kin. No posters or wires have brought anybody to claim him. And he doesn’t talk and I don’t think he hears, either.” Rooster pursed his lips. “Rangers don’t have homes to speak of and he’s been dragged around for too long. He’s just a little tyke and he needs a home.”

Grace tried to absorb all the information the Ranger had imparted. The most important being the child was without a family and he was a deaf mute. She couldn’t imagine what he’d been going through, alone and scared. She was sure the lawmen had taken care of him as best they could, but they were a bunch of plodding men. Since she’d lived as a man for a year, she knew just how little they paid attention to what was truly important.

“Benjy, can you please find Henry and bring him in here?” Without waiting to be certain he would do as she asked, she knelt in front of the boy and smiled. There was so much love in her life now that sharing some with this little boy would be easy. He had brown eyes and straight dark brown hair. A few freckles dotted his nose and she put his age somewhere around six or seven, a little older than her own son. His expression didn’t waver when he saw her.

She held out her hand and he put his little clammy one inside hers. She held it lightly. “My name is Grace.”

He blinked and nodded ever so slightly.

She pointed at his chest. “Who are you?”

He mouthed the word “Joe.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Joe.” She held his gaze and she saw hope and intelligence behind the chocolate brown eyes.

“I didn’t know his name was Joe. The boy never replied to any of my questions.” Rooster frowned. “I kept him safe and fed.”

“You did a good job, Ranger. I’m sure was just fine.” She opened her mouth to ask him how old he was when Henry came running into the barn, his feet clomping across the wooden floor.

“Mama! My new pa Mr. Ben said—” Henry skidded to a stop, his mouth falling open when he saw the other boy. “Joe?”

Joe’s face lit up when he saw Henry. He made a noise that didn’t sound like much but Henry smiled as though he’d heard angels singing. He moved his hands and Joe replied by moving his hands.

To Grace’s surprise, she realized they were talking to each other. Some kind of communication they must have developed while being held together at the compound.

“Joe can’t find his family, Henry. He has no home to return to.” Her voice grew tight with emotion for the poor lost child. “What do you think we should do?”

Henry’s brows furrowed. “Can he be my brother?”

Grace glanced up at Benjy who was looking at the boys with so much love, her heart did a funny flip. “What do you think, new Pa Mr. Ben?”

“I think Henry has a new brother.” He met her gaze and smiled. “We’re going to need a bigger house.”

She smiled when Henry moved his hands again and Joe turned to look at her. When he smiled, she knew that some force had brought this child into their lives and they could share the love they had for each other with a boy who needed a family.

“Welcome to the Circle Eight, Joe.” She opened her arms and both boys hugged her. She closed her eyes and felt Benjy move in behind her.

The rest of the men left the barn, leaving the new little family alone. Grace couldn’t have imagined how much she would have. The gift of life, love and these three men, big and small, filled her to overflowing with happiness.

Life had truly begun.

*

Once again Ben
headed for the barn for an early-morning ride. Although he was still tired from the wedding the day before, he still liked the quiet time on the back of a horse. He wasn’t surprised to see a light already on in the barn.

When he stepped in, he expected Matt, but he found all seven of his brothers and sisters there. Each of them smiling at him. His heart lurched at the sight. They all had their own lives, families and responsibilities, and each of them had dropped it all to be here with him.