Page 23 of The Trail Boss

Gavin chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Deal.”

As she turned to grab her things, Gavin watched her, his chest tightening with a mix of admiration and something far more dangerous. Roxie was a force to be reckoned with, and whether she realized it or not, she’d already gotten under his skin.

And heaven help anyone who tried to hurt her again.

The ride to the Iron Spur was steeped in silence, but it wasn’t the comfortable kind. An uneasy energy filled the cab of Gavin’s truck, unspoken words lingering between them like heavy storm clouds. Roxie sat with her arms crossed, staring out the window, her jaw tight with the same stubbornness that had fueled their earlier argument.

Gavin stole a glance at her, his knuckles tightening around the wheel. She looked fierce and untouchable, but he could see the cracks—the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. And damn it, he couldn’t stop thinking about how much he wanted to protect her, even from herself.

When they pulled into the back lot of the club, Gavin killed the engine and turned toward her. “Roxie...”

“Don’t,” she cut him off, her voice sharp. She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door, stepping out before he could finish whatever he’d been about to say.

Gavin followed, catching up to her as she strode toward the employee entrance. “Hold up,” he said, his long strides matching hers easily.

Roxie spun around, her eyes blazing. “What, Gavin? What do you want now?”

He stopped just short of her, the intensity in her gaze making his chest tighten. “I want you to stop pretending this doesn’t scare you,” he said, his voice low but firm.

“I’m not scared,” she shot back, but the waver in her voice betrayed her.

“Bullshit,” Gavin said, stepping closer. “You’re scared, Roxie. You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t. And it’s okay to admit it.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. The fire in her eyes dimmed, replaced by something raw and unguarded. “You don’t know what it’s like,” she said softly. “To feel like everything you’ve built can be ripped away in an instant. To fight so hard, only to keep losing.”

Gavin’s chest ached at the pain in her voice. He reached out, his hand brushing her arm, and felt her shiver under his touch. “You’re not losing now,” he said quietly. “Not while I’m here.”

Their eyes locked, the air between them crackling with an intensity neither of them could ignore. Roxie’s breath hitched, her gaze flicking to his lips for the briefest moment before snapping back to his eyes.

“Gavin…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly, the space between them vanished. His hand slid up her arm to cup her cheek, and she leaned into his touch, her lips parting as he lowered his head. The kiss was fire and desperation, soft at first but quickly deepening as their restraint shattered.

Roxie’s hands found his chest, clutching at his shirt as if to anchor herself, while Gavin’s free hand settled at her waist, pulling her closer. She tasted like coffee, defiance and wild honey, and it was everything he hadn’t realized he needed.

Her lips felt soft and sweet beneath his and he nibbled on her lower lip—teasing, persuading, seducing—as his hand moved from the small of her back to her ass.

“So sweet,” he whispered against her mouth. Gavin had been drunk many times in his life, but nothing had ever made him feel this out of control.

As he moved his mouth across hers, she parted her lips and his tongue surged in, like a Viking storming the castle in search of plunder. His tongue slid along hers, tangling, dancing, commanding as he reached up to cup her head, running his fingers through her short locks. He tightened his hold so he could angle her mouth just the way he wanted.

When she moaned and melted against him, seduction turned to dominance as the kiss morphed from persuasion to possession. But then, just as suddenly as it started, Gavin pulled back, his breathing ragged as he put a small but deliberate distance between them.

“Roxie…” he began, his voice rough. “I can’t.”

Her brows knitted in confusion, her lips still parted as she tried to catch her breath. “What do you mean, you can’t?”

Gavin ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight. “This… you… I need to stay focused. I can’t protect you if I’m… distracted.”

“Distracted?” she echoed, a mix of anger and hurt flashing across her face.

“You deserve better than this,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “Than me.”

Roxie stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest as her walls slammed back into place. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? You tell me to trust you, to let you help, and then you pull this shit? You bastard.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing,” Gavin said, his voice tight with frustration.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before kissing me,” she shot back, her voice cracking at the end.

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