Leopard 03 - Burning Wild

flooding his veins. Hard knots formed in his belly. It was frightening to know a part of him wanted to strike at her, push her away, take back the control she didn’t even know she had stolen from him. Already his fingers fisted in her hair, tight, close to her skull, deliberately pulling on her tender scalp as he forced her head back. He was breathing hard, great, ragged breaths, as he stared down into her face.
    Emma felt the difference in him immediately. He went from Jake to a cornered beast, his eyes that slashing gold that indicated a fight for survival. She stayed pliant and unresisting, wanting to cry for him, for the feral animal trapped in those eyes. “I love you, Jake,” she said softly, knowing it was true.
    The eyes glittered at her, lips drew back in a snarl, baring white teeth as they snapped together. “Don’t say that to me.”
    “I love you,” she repeated, unafraid. His face was a mask of burning fury, but she felt his body shudder against hers in a kind of surrender.
    The fingers tightened to the point of pain, bringing tears to her eyes. “Don’t say it,” he hissed, his heart already gone. Panic set in. She was so fragile. He could break her neck with one movement. He could tear out her heart. He could destroy her so easily, yet she looked at him without fear, her expression radiant. Absolute. “Like in the damned pictures,” he whispered, and brought his mouth down on hers, afraid she would see—would know—about the burning in his eyes and the lump clogging his throat.
    She gave her mouth to him, uncaring that he was savage, almost brutal, kissing him back, matching fire for fire until he calmed and couldn’t stop the gentleness, the tenderness that she found in him, from emerging. “You’re destroying me, Emma,” he whispered, his forehead against hers. “You’re fucking destroying me with every breath you take.”
    “I’m making you stronger,” she answered. “You make me stronger. That’s the way it works.”
    He hoped so. He hoped she knew what the hell she was talking about, because he was in virgin territory.
    The kitchen door banged open. “Emma!” Joshua yelled at the top of his lungs. “The kids are losing their minds out here. If you don’t move it, we’re going to have a mini rebellion.”
    Joshua sounded harassed. Jake and Emma looked at each other and burst out laughing. She ran through the house. “I’m coming, sheesh. I had to take care of some business.”
    “I can see what kind of business you were taking care of,” Joshua complained. He raised his voice so Jake could hear. “I’m not a babysitter.”
    “What a wimp,” Emma teased. “A couple of little kids and you’re whining like a baby.” She caught up the reins Conner held out and swung up onto the little mare Jake had purchased for her. The horse had beautiful lines, but it was the training he’d paid for. She moved at the slightest request, her gait gentle and flowing.
    Conner had Andraya sitting in front of him, her cheeks red with excitement, her pink riding helmet matching her beloved boots. Sometimes she refused to take off her boots, wanting to wear them to bed at night. Kyle was waiting impatiently for Joshua to remount behind him. He was all in black, matching his daddy’s hat and boots, although he too wore a helmet.
    “You’re in so much trouble, Joshua,” Emma warned. “You’re not supposed to bring the horses up to the house. The gardener hates that. They trample his flowers and leave big messy surprises.”
    “It’s your fault.” Joshua still hadn’t forgiven her. He knew the gardener would vent for hours, screaming in Italian at her and throwing rich, fertile dirt in the air in one of his frequent tantrums. Only Emma could soothe him when he was in a rage over the destruction of his beloved gardens.
    Jake had sought out Taddio, his gardener, years earlier, after hearing several people first praise him as one of the top landscape artists in three states, then drop him after an accident had left him with one arm. He still had his genius, but none of them wanted to look at his “disgusting imperfection.” He had been with Jake exclusively ever since, designing the landscaping around his buildings, the homes he bought and sold, and the ranch as well.
    They rode in single file, Emma listening to the bantering between Joshua and Susan. The teenager sat with perfect form, shoulders straight, chin up, with a new confidence Emma hadn’t seen in her