Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Well, since I kissed you right back, I would say no.”
“It was just an impulse. I got caught up in the moment,” I informed her. “It shouldn’t have happened, and it won’t happen again.”
She frowned. “It won’t?”
“No. You’re here to do a job, and I’m not looking to start anything. Or interfere with your job.”
“So basically, you are apologizing.”
“I’m setting the rules.”
She pursed her lips. “The rules. Right. No kissing. Okay.”
A beat of silence passed, and I found myself unable to look her in the eye.
“You should change out of those wet clothes and get lunch.”
She nodded. “Point the way to the ranch, and I’ll head back.”
I called to Maverick, who was standing under the shade of a tree, chewing grass. He walked over, and I grabbed the reins and held out my hand. “Get your stuff, and you can ride back with me.” When she hesitated, I frowned. “It’s perfectly safe.”
I took her knapsack and wrapped my arm around her waist, lifting her to the front of the saddle. I swung myself up behind her and handed her back the knapsack. I felt a shudder run through her, and I pulled her into my chest. “Don’t be afraid, darlin’. We’ll go slow.”
I urged Maverick forward and, in an instant, realized what a huge mistake this had been. I could feel every inch of her pressed to me. The top of her head was right under my chin, and I could smell the soft fragrance in the waves of her hair. My cock roared back to life and was trapped between us. Every step Maverick took, every roll of our bodies, connected us.
Perfectly safe?
I was totally fucked.
SAMMY
Oh my God, he was huge. He surrounded me, his muscles rippling, his breathing heavy. I felt his erection, hard and pressed against my lower back. I heard his low, muttered curses. The desire I had felt when his mouth was on mine hadn’t abated. It was only heightened now. He felt it too.
His laughter and teasing in the river had been unexpected. His kisses even more so. He tasted of the apple he ate, coffee, and mint. He was delicious.
And the man could kiss. His tongue was addictive, his mouth a hidden treasure I wanted to explore over and over again. I was sure if his foreman hadn’t shown up, I would have been naked with him on that rock, writhing in ecstasy as he took me. Riding that stallion would have been far more pleasurable than this one. Maverick seemed like a nice horse and all, but I was certain what was trapped between us would be even better.
He had said no more kissing. It was a mistake.
He was lying. I knew it. I felt the heat between us. Felt the desire in his kiss and the need his body pushed into mine.
I wasn’t a young girl, crushing on a cowboy, thinking she’d found her Prince Charming. I was a woman, quite capable of deciding whom she slept with and when. I was well aware of the differences between us and our worlds, but I had zero expectations. I saw nothing wrong with a little romance, a fling, while I was here.
I simply had to make him understand that. From the feel of his erection, part of him was already on board with it. I only had to make the rest of him comprehend that.
We were quiet on the ride. I was surprised at how far I was away from the ranch and grateful Luke had come to find me. He went directly to the house, swinging off Maverick and holding up his hands to help me down as if he had done it a hundred times. I slid from the horse, landing on my feet with a little oomph of air escaping.
“That’s a long way up,” I said to break the tension between us.
He snorted and rolled his eyes. “That’s because you’re so short, Lady.” Our eyes met and locked, the heat flaring between us instantly. He stepped back, shaking his head. “Go change and get your lunch.” He turned and walked away, heading for the door.
“Hey,” I called. “Don’t you need to lock your horse?”
He stopped and turned, his voice incredulous. “Lock my horse?”
“Tie him up or something. Someone could take him, or he might wander off.”
He shook his head. “Unlike you, Lady, he listens to what I say. He doesn’t need to be tethered to stay in place. You, on the other hand…” He trailed off. “Might not be a bad idea.”
Then he turned and headed inside. But he was laughing and muttering about locking his horse. I grinned. I knew that would get a reaction.
But what I hadn’t expected was the spread of warmth in my lower belly when he mentioned tethering me.
I probably wouldn’t object.
Luke was gone when I came out of my room. I tried not to feel disappointed. Maybe it was for the best and he was right. I was here to do a job, not have hot sex with a cowboy.