Page 92 of The Guy Who Stole My Ranch

As I stood there, stunned and melting, William’s lips made their way across the back of my shoulders and up the other side of my neck.

I wasn’t sure when I’d closed my eyes or when the sound of the storm had been overpowered by my pounding heart. A sudden cold filled me as William disentangled his fingers from mine and took his hands out of my hoodie pocket.

Flash.

Crash.

William put a hand on each of my shoulders and squeezed, then he turned me toward him.

There was only one thing that was going to happen if I had to look at him. If he wasn’t on the same page, he was in for a surprise.

I stood facing the most attractive man I’d ever known. William’s eyes took in my hair, my face, my lips, my chin, my body, and then moved back to my gaze. I felt even more exposed than I had when he’d had to undress me, but I didn’t feel self-conscious. Instead, I felt…beautiful.

William raised a hand from my shoulder and trailed one finger down my cheek.

I did the same to him, and the longing look in his eyes turned to hunger.

Apparently, that’s all the foreplay he had left in him, because he wrapped one arm around me and used his other hand to cradle the back of my neck.

About time, darlin’.

I grabbed his collar and tugged his lips to mine.

Chapter 24

-William-

I’d started slow. I’d given Brooke plenty of chances to say she didn’t want me to kiss her. I’d tried to talk myself out of each and every press of my lips to her skin, but I couldn’t. She was iron, and I was a magnet, unable to keep my distance.

When I turned her toward me, I had fire running through my veins and ice prickling my skin. I once again pictured the two of us sitting on the porch, watching the sunset, and kissing.

I drew her to me, and in true Brooke fashion, she didn’t beat around the bush.

When her lips engulfed mine, the world as I knew it changed.

Brooke was feisty, beautiful, intelligent, and a hard worker, and I never thought she’d give me the time of day. Yet here she was, wrapped in my arms in the middle of a storm, kissing me like we were lovers who had been apart for years.

She made me feel like I was as awesome as she claimed. I tried to make her feel like she was even better than that. I tried to tell her just how amazing she was without words.

Her responses were enthusiastic, but I felt like she was being gentle, like she was afraid to hurt me.

My aching jaw appreciated the sentiment, but now wasn’t the time to hold back. So I didn’t.

This could be my life.Shecould be my life. This moment was better than brokering any deal. Better than making all the money in the world. It was…

Was this that spark I’d observed between Victoria and Logan?

Was this love?

No, love had to be deeper, but this felt like a step in the right direction.

Could the two of us move closer to love? I wanted to try.

It took a few minutes for the initial high of Brooke’s lips to wear off, and when it did, the storm still raged around us.

Flash.

Crash.

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