Page 48 of His Road Dog

Chapter 19

Nicole

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THE RAYS OF SUNLIGHTlanded in front of Nicole, bringing all the deep, vibrant colors of the landscape to life. She stood at the railing outside the living room of Priest's house and leaned over, looking for any wild animals starting their day on the hillside.

Already, the air was warm against her bare skin. It looked to be a hot day.

"See something?" said a familiar gruff voice behind her.

She smiled, having not heard Priest arrive home, and turned. "Just looking. I think I could stand here all day."

Priest's gaze swept over her body, and the hardness around his eyes softened a smidge. She'd caught his interest, though, and clung to it.

"I was sad you weren't in bed when I woke up." She tilted her head. "You left early."

"Had shit to do." He stepped out onto the deck.

She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him to her. A shiver went through her.

"Brr. Your leather is cold." She tipped her face.

He kissed her. "My body isn't."

Taking that as a challenge, she slipped her hands underneath the hem of his T-shirt and placed her palms against his stomach. She lifted the material higher and pressed her bare breasts against the front of him, wrapping her arms around his torso to slide her hands into his back pockets. His wallet got in the way of squeezing his ass.

"You have too many clothes on." She leaned back and raised her hands to push his vest off his shoulders.

"I got it." He stepped away and took off his leather, setting it on the outside chair. Then, he pulled his shirt off.

He came back to her, not giving her a chance to wrap her body around him, and lifted her off the deck. Her bare butt met the top of the wood railing. Panic filled her, and she screamed, throwing her upper body toward him and wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oh, my God, Michael, put me down." She clung to him, shaking and light-headed from vertigo. "I'm going to fall."

"Sh." He pressed his forehead against hers, lifting her face, and looked into her eyes. "I won't let you fall."

Her equilibrium failed. Swallowing hard, her breath caught in her throat. Goosebumps rose on her skin.

"I got you." In front of her, Priest lowered his body.

Her heart raced. Afraid she'd tumble over the railing backward, she froze.

The mountainside went straight down.

Hundreds of feet.

She'd die from a fall.

A whine burst out her lips. Her hold on Priest shifted, and she rounded her back, clinging to his head as he bent in front of her. His hands moved off her back and slid down her arms, gripping her wrists. Her precarious position stole her breath. If he let go, she'd fall.

He placed her hands beside her butt. Every muscle in her body tensed. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Hold onto the railing."

"I can't." Her chin quivered.

"I've got you."

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