Page 139 of Ride a Cowboy

“No. I haven’t even started to cross it yet. But I will.” He tightened his grip on her wrist, though the action wasn’t necessary. She wasn’t trying to get away anymore. “It’s like you’re frozen in ice, Sienna. You’ve surrounded yourself with a thick, cold wall hoping it will preserve all the things you think you want and keep you safe from the unknown.”

She didn’t respond, though he felt the slightest tremor in her hand.

“You’re so focused on the end result, you’re stifling yourself. Have you ever said to hell with anything? Ever done something crazy without worrying about the consequences?”

“That would be stupid, reckless,” she whispered.

“Yeah, it would.” He leaned closer, drawing her near enough that he could feel the heat of her breath on his face. “Be reckless,” he dared her. “Just once. Right now.”

She didn’t move, didn’t reject him as he closed the distance between them and kissed her. He kept the touch light at first, gentling her as he would a skittish horse. Her lips gradually softened beneath his. He lifted his hand to her face, cupping her smooth cheek with his palm before running his fingers through her long hair.

Sienna’s name suited her. There was a fiery red fighting to be released from the muted brown she used to bury her true nature.

She responded slowly but surely. Turning her head slightly, she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Her lips parted and he accepted her silent invitation, his tongue meeting hers halfway. She tasted so damn sweet.

Her hands returned to his bare shoulders, her fingers gripping the muscles in a much sexier massage. It took all the strength in his body not to push her down on the mattress, to cover her body with his and show her the true meaning of recklessness. But he wouldn’t—couldn’t—do it. She wasn’t ready to accept his offer. And if he was a good guy, he wouldn’t make it. She had a boyfriend.

He started to break the connection, but Sienna beat him to it. She rose quickly, moving backward until she hit the wall. “Shit. I can’t… We shouldn’t have?—”

He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “It’s okay, Sienna.”

“No. It’s not. I don’t cheat on my boyfriend. This is wrong.”

He couldn’t argue with that. He’d been an ass to push her. “I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again.” He prayed to God he could keep that vow. Problem was he still longed to kiss her. Badly.

She studied his face and he suspected she was searching for deceit.

“I mean it, Sienna. I won’t touch you again until you ask me to.”

“I’ll never ask for that.” Her voice was shaky.

He was tempted to call her on the lie. She’d ask. He’d make damn sure she did, but until then…

He remained silent.

She looked toward the door, anxious for an escape. “I have to go.”

He didn’t try to stop her. “Thanks for the salve and the massage.”

She nodded, then left without another word.

Sienna rushed from Daniel’s trailer, her head whirling. Why had she let that get so far out of hand? She’d never been tempted to let another man touch her, let alone kiss her. So why had she granted Daniel such liberties?

Because you wanted it. You were dying to know what it would feel like to have his lips on yours.

Daniel pushed buttons she didn’t realize existed. She’d always thought herself lucky in love. She and Josh were compatible in bed as well as out. It had never been hard for her to achieve an orgasm. Josh was a considerate, patient lover, and she had no complaints.

Until Daniel Lennon showed up at Compton Pass. He made her imagine things she’d never considered, never desired with Josh. She and Josh had learned about sex with each other. They’d both been virgins when they met, so they’d fumbled through, found their own way. Just because they didn’t exactly set the sheets on fire didn’t mean it wasn’t good. It was comfortable, easy with Josh. Sweet.

Daniel struck Sienna as a man who could teach her things she’d only read about in erotic romance books. And suddenly, she was dying of lust, anxious to try them.

It bugged her that while she’d never longed to try those things with Josh, the same didn’t hold true for Daniel. Her body physically ached every time they were in the same vicinity. Her nipples tightened, her pussy tingled and her skin flushed.

Josh would be home in a few weeks. God. If she could keep her libido under control until then, she could get some of this pent-up sexual frustration out of her system. Maybe she’d even suggest to Josh that they spice up their vanilla sex life. Then she’d convince him to come home for Christmas so they could really explore some new things. She could do this.

She had to.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

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