Page 51 of Protected Hearts

She nodded, feet moving toward him without her even willing them to. Her body just wanted to be close to his.

“No ranch house should be without those.” The teasing note of his voice sent desire skittering over her body. Her nipples pressed against her bra, and her breaths began to come faster in anticipation.

He drew her toward the seating area. Flames flickered in the fireplace, adding a layer of romance to the moment.

She didn’t want to be feeling these things.Shouldn’tbe feeling them.

Quickly, she took one of the seats and folded her hands in her lap. “This is…really nice, Oaks. And unexpected.”

“Maybe it will make up for the months you spent cooped up in your apartment.” Assessing her mood in a blink, he took the other seat. She let her gaze roam over his muscled arm. If he stretched it out, he could easily touch her.

She nodded. “I hardly know what to do with all this space on the ranch. Riding with Colt was exhilarating…before it got scary.”

His stare roved across her face. “When everything calms down, I’ll take you out again.”

She swallowed hard. When things calmed down, she would no longer be in danger, so she’d have to leave the ranch…and Wyoming.

And Oaks.

She eyed his muscular arm resting on the chair and his fingers, loose and open, just inviting her to tangle hers with his.

Just like when her feet moved of their own accord, so did her hand. When she settled her hand over his, he looked up at her. Surprise rippled across his handsome, rugged features, then just as quickly the expression transformed into a smile.

She couldn’t stop herself from getting up and slipping into his lap. His strong arms enveloped her, and she snuggled against his chest with a sigh of pleasure.

“Nowthisis nice,” he rumbled into her ear.

“Mmm.” So was the hard length of him stirring against her bottom. She wiggled slightly.

“Mm-hm.” He skated his hand to the hem of her top. When she didn’t protest, he eased it underneath.

At the brush of his callused fingers against her sensitive skin, she let out a gasp, and he claimed her mouth with a hard pressure, kissing her like a drowning man finding precious air.

She cried out, twisting in his arms to straddle him. The wide seat of the chair seemed made for this kind of hanky-panky.

Digging her fingers into his scalp, she dragged him further into the kiss. The deeper growl of desire rippled through her body, raising goose bumps along her skin every single place that his body touched hers.

When he trapped her nipple between his fingers and pinched it through the fabric of her bra, she arched into his touch. The exquisite pressure on it sent electricity through her body. She rolled her hips into his, dragging a deep groan from the roughened cowboy.

She tore her lips away. “I want you.”

He dropped his forehead to her collar bones, nuzzling her breasts. “I want to be inside you.”

“Stretching me.”

“Fucking you hard…”

Their gazes locked.

“And deep.” Her chest heaved as she fought to drag air into her lungs.

Before she could draw a full breath, he tore her top off and cast it onto the floor. She leaned into the open palms, ready to cup her breasts.

“Oh god!” She gasped at the pleasure of him kneading her breasts through her bra. A second later, it hit the floor too, and he replaced his hands with his lips.

She rolled her body, rocking up and down on his stiff erection while he sucked her nipples. Raking her fingers through his hair, she moved to his spine and pinched the cloth of the thermal shirt he was wearing, yanking it over his head.

A beat of desire pulsed between them. Each of his fingertips set against her back branded her. If she looked in the mirror, she would swear she was wearing his marks.

---