Page 97 of Stockman's Showdown

‘No. I want you all to stand down while my team executes the warrant. We need a clean bust, so Leo can’t worm his way out on a technicality. Are we all clear on that?’ Marcus glared at everyone at the table. ‘Bree? Can I trust you to behave?’

‘Pfft. I’m always on my best behaviour.’

‘For five minutes.’ Porter gave Bree a playful wink, while tucking his paperwork under his elbow.

‘And I’ll see you mob tomorrow at the rodeo,’ said Marcus, ‘Where I’m sure you’ll all be on your best behaviour.’

Thirty-three

In her soft bed in the cottage, Bree awoke to Ryder’s arms wrapped around her, his warm chest against her back and his breathing deep and steady.

She rubbed her eyes, adjusting to the daylight. ‘Hey.’

‘Hmm.’

She nudged his arm. ‘You need to get up.’

‘Why? I’m comfortable.’ His arms tightened around her, cuddling his naked body closer to her back.

‘It’s sunrise.’

‘So?’

‘Charlie.’

‘Don’t care.’ His lips were on her neck, then up to her ear, making her squirm. One of his large hands, callused and rough, gently cupped her breast, his thumb kneading her nipple. ‘Can’t we just stay in bed? Charlie isn’t awake yet.’

‘How can you tell?’

‘He’s noisy. I haven’t heard the telltale creak of the back door, the bathroom, and I can’t smell his bread.’ But he was incredibly handsy this morning.

‘Charlie drank a fair bit last night, and he danced.’ She hadn’t seen her grandfather dance like that in years, teaching Harper, Mia and Sophie how to line dance.

‘You did too.’

She smiled the way you’d smile at a group of playful puppies. ‘Charlie danced with everyone.’ Whooping it up, celebrating the innocence of his brother, he had everyone involved, including little Mason. Except Ryder and Dex, who were busy holding up the bar.

‘How about you dance with me tonight, at the rodeo?’

‘How about you get out of my bed?’

‘Not now, I’m not.’ He turned her body over to press her back into the deep cushioning of the bed’s mattress. His lips caressed up her neck as he rolled on top of her. His body weight was comforting, with a body length so much bigger, stronger, yet a perfect fit against hers.

She allowed her palms to skim over the warm muscles of his chest, shoulders, and arms. ‘You are really making this hard for me.’

‘Want to know what’s hard? Shh—say nothing, just enjoy, baby.’ And his lips pressed on hers, kissing her deeply, while his hands and slow fingers teased her body.

His lustful gaze made her shiver. That was soon followed by a sharp intake of air as he slid into her, giving that deep rumble of satisfaction that rolled in his chest as her body stretched to accept him.

She licked her lips, not with nerves, but with a hunger-filled passion, while arching herself to better accommodate him.

It must have flipped a switch inside him, with the way he grabbed her, crushing his mouth to hers, in a kiss that tasted way too good to be bad, bringing with it a whole new thrill of not allowing any of those noises threatening to escape her throat, as the bedsprings squeaked beneath her.

She moaned. It was loud. Desperate even.

His eyes flew open, to lock on hers, while trapping her on the soft bed. Above her, he went to move away from her.

She didn’t want that!

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