Page 69 of When Sparks Fly

I wish you wouldn’t.“You don’t scare me.”

“And I never want to.”

Sutton turns off the lamp on his nightstand. His grip on my waist tightens and his other arm rests along my own. I’ve never felt so safe.

Chapter 30

Maci

In the morning, I wake wrapped in Sutton’s arms, pressed firmly against his chest, legs tangled and sweating.

Holy shit this man is a heat rock.

The sun hasn’t risen yet. I lie as still as possible, listening to the gentle cadence of Sutton’s breathing, his heart beat thrumming a comforting rhythm against my ear. Content doesn’t begin to cover my feelings. I don’t think there’s a place on Earth that could feel more right than right here.

I trail my fingers from Sutton’s collarbone down his chest, feeling his hard earned muscles. I don’t get far before his warm hand grips my wrist and my eyes dart up to his face. His eyes are still closed, but he grunts at me. “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he warns.

“I’m not starting anything.” As I say the words, I turn my face toward his chest, planting a featherlight kiss on his sternum. His grip on my wrist tightens and a squeak forces itself from my throat.

“Final warning.” Even through slitted eyes, the look he gives me is full of warning.

“Very well.” I remove my hand coyly from his chest, but when I try to sit up to prove my point, his other arm tightens, forcing me to stay in place. I squash this squeak before it escapes.

“I didn’t say move.” His grumble warms my insides. I wiggle in his arms, causing his breathing to quiet. Trying to hide the arousal coursing through me, I bite my lip. “I changed my mind. We need to move,” he says suddenly.

He releases his hold on me and practically jumps out of the bed, the fastest I’ve ever seen him move. I sit up, letting the blanket pool around my waist, watching in fascination. I’m about to protest and tell him he needs to get back in this bed, but my eyes follow as he tugs on jeans, making my mouth water. It gives the perfect opportunity to ogle all the muscles of his back and shoulders.

“You know how to use a compound bow?” He looks at me over his shoulder as he buttons his pants and my breath hitches.

I do know how to use a compound bow, but this man is testing the limits of my control. His steely eyes settle on me and, realizing the effect he’s had, he turns to fully face me. I think my lips go numb and my hands ache to touch him. He takes two big steps toward the bed that I’ve yet to move from.

“Maci?” An eyebrow tips up and his voice lowers, intentionally tempting me.

“Mmhmm?” I manage. I’m drenched. Jesus, he’s too much.

He places both hands on the bed and leans into my face. I blink like a smitten school girl. My tongue darts out to wet my lip and his eyes clock the action. “Do you plan to leave this bed today?”

I haven’t even had him yet and I don’t want to leave this bed. What does he expect from me when he looks like he just walked out of a Cattle Ranchers' Sexiest Man Alive feature?

I force my lips together and swallow hard. “Yes.”

I finally stand, far less exposed than him in my sleep pants and long-sleeve top, though you wouldn’t know it by his perusal of my body.

“So, hunting then?” This time I look at him over my shoulder.

He returns to standing and nods at me, the rest of him frozen.

I let him get his fill, making a show pulling off my shirt, and replacing it with a long-sleeved camo top. Then I slide my pants down my legs, before climbing into my jeans and turning to face him as I button up.

Sutton drops his head back, eyes to the ceiling, and rubs a hand over his face. “Woman, you’re gonna be the death of me.” I wink at him when he rights his head.

After Sutton packs a cooler in The Big House, we trek to a barn that also has hunting gear. The sky is still dark and a low light is on in the barn. Muffled voices outside let me know the ranch hands are up and moving around.

He grabs two compound bows, handing one to me, and we head off in the direction of one of the blinds on the property. He mentions along the way, his whispering doing evil things to my body, that there are no less than ten on their land. This is the closest to the house. Also doing things to me are the tee stretched taut against his muscles and the ball cap I’m getting to see him wear for the first time.Does he ever look bad?

The hunting blind we get to is raised and has built-in windows on each side. There are three small stools against one wall and a pair of binoculars on one of the window ledges.

We tie the window coverings back and deposit what we’ve carried around the space. The bows are stationed on opposite sides of us and the small cooler and backpack are near our feet. It’s barely tall enough for Sutton to stand fully. We could fit one more person, but it would be a squeeze.

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