Leopard 03 - Burning Wild

you leave.”

    Emma’s eyebrow went up. “Contrary to popular belief, Jerico, I don’t work for Jake. He can’t boss me around. Open the gate.”
    Jerico shook his head, although he did look remorseful. “You don’t even have a bodyguard with you.
    He said you weren’t to leave under any circumstances unless he specifically okayed it. If you’re having trouble with the boss . . .”
    Emma slid out of the Jeep and slammed the door. “Jake actually ordered you to keep me here, on the ranch? Like a prisoner? Open the gate now, Jerico. I want to leave. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a grown woman, not a child.”
    “Emma . . .”
    “Is there a problem, Emma?” Drake came up behind her in his silent way.
    Emma whirled to face him, caught in the headlights of her vehicle. His gaze dwelled on the marks on her neck—bright red and obvious—the bite mark on her shoulder. He inhaled and stiffened, his gaze shifting to Jerico and then looking warily around him. He even stepped back a few paces, putting distance between them as his sharp gaze studied the obvious signs of possession. He took another wary look around, scanning the night for something dangerous.
    Emma felt herself blushing, but she stuck her chin in the air. “Jerico won’t open the gates and I want to go for a drive.” There was demand in her voice.
    “You don’t want Jerico to lose his job, Emma. If the boss says no, what’s the big deal? You have over a thousand square miles to drive on. Stay on the ranch.”
    Emma’s hands closed into two tight fists. “I have the right to leave whenever I want to leave, Drake.
    I’m not arguing with you about this. Open the gate.” She didn’t want to be near anything Jake owned.
    He shook his head, very calm. “Take it up with Jake, Emma. You and I both know how protective he can be. He’s worried something may happen to you—”
    “He’s a control freak,” she snapped, interrupting him. “And he’s not controlling me.”
    She heard the truck but there were no lights as Jake drove up. Her heart began to pound and she tasted fear in her throat. He unhurriedly stepped out of the truck and tossed the keys to Drake before closing the door with a certain firmness that made her mouth go dry. She tried not to be intimidated by the width of his shoulders, the confident, fluid way he walked, or the roped muscles playing under his shirt with suggestive power. Was she afraid of him after all?
    Her body betrayed her, going liquid, hot, melting, telling her she was more afraid of her own reactions than his. She had no will around him. No backbone. She hated that she wanted to wipe the pain from his eyes, the scars from his soul. She hated that she wanted him with every cell in her body. She couldn’t put herself into the hands of a man capable of the kind of cruelty she knew Jake was capable of. He destroyed his enemies. She’d heard of his ruthless business tactics. He used and threw away women. He trusted no one. How could she ever respect herself again if she gave in to him?
    “I’ll take it from here. Thanks, Jerico, Drake,” Jake said, his voice calm as he approached Emma with his long, confident strides. Everything about him was self-assured. He moved into her space as if he belonged there, moved close until she was under his shoulder and one hand casually rested on the small of her back.
    Emma wanted to pull away, but there was something so compelling and assured about Jake, she found it impossible to move.
    He bent his head to hers. “Come on, honey, I’ll take you home.” His hand pressed into the small of her back, down low, his fingers brushing her butt as if he had every right, guiding her around the hood of the Jeep to the passenger side. He gently handed her in and waited in silence until she’d snapped her seat belt in place.
    Jake slid behind the wheel, lifted his hand in recognition to the two men and turned the Jeep around.
    “I don’t want to go back,” Emma said in a low, mutinous tone. She glanced at his set jaw and then looked down at her hands. “I need time to think. You’re everywhere in that house.” His personality was too powerful, too overwhelming and dominating. She had decisions to make and she needed a clear head to make them.
    He abruptly turned the wheel, spinning the Jeep in another direction, taking them away from the main ranch house and deeper into the property. “I know you’re frightened of everything changing, Emma, but it isn’t going to be