Page 21 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Cowboy

“It’s been a very eventful courtship,” I say brightly as he slams the motel room door shut behind us.

“Why the hell were you outside?”

“I needed to get something.” I slide the baseball card onto the top of the dresser so it doesn’t get any more of my nervous hand sweat on it, and then set Zane’s phone next to it.

“I can get a new phone, woman! Do not risk your pretty little ass for me again, do you understand?”

“It wasn’t—” But the explanation can wait. “You think my ass is pretty?”

He shakes his head. “God damn it, that’s an understatement. It’s not about you being pretty, Daisy. It’s about you being precious. It’s about never wanting to hear you scream like that ever again. It’s about wanting to protect what’s mine.”

“I’m not yours yet. You haven’t married me.”

He gives me an incredulous look. “Don’t need a judge to confirm what’s in my heart. I took one look at you and knew you were an angel.” His voice goes soft. “My angel.”

I want what those two words promise so, so much. I need to be sure, though. “You called me demon girl.”

He grins, and doesn’t even try to hide it. “You did take me across two state lines while I was unconscious and then surprise me with a marriage license, all before I knew your name. It took me a hot second to realize that my first instinct was exactly right. You are an angel. You are fearless and brave and silly and just foolish enough to leap into the unknown with a cowboy. I love everything about that.”

He’s so serious. Standing in front of me, muscles all tense from the confrontation, still only wearing a towel. I know he’s trying to have a serious conversation with me, but the more animated he gets, the lower that towel dips, and the trail of hair leading south from his navel is getting thicker and darker. I’m staring. I can’t help it.

“Daisy.”

“Mmm?”

“Daisy!” He laughs. “My face is up here.”

I take my time, then give him an innocent smile when I finally meet his warm gaze. “Hi.”

He exhales. “Do you know how scary that was for me, seeing you kicking and screaming for your life…and at the same time have to ignore how fucking hot it was to see you fight like a damn hellion, your little white panties on full display, knowing this towel was all that was keeping my inconvenient erection from making itself the Main Character in that confrontation?”

I squeak and wave my hands. “Zane!”

He takes a step toward me, then stops. Inhaling, he sits on the bed instead, the towel parting over one long, thick thigh. Dark hair dusts up to the edge of the white cotton. Another slice of my husband-to-be revealed, and I’m staring again.

“What are you doing?” I ask breathlessly.

“Nothing.”

“You sat down.”

“That felt smarter than grabbing you and kissing you again, while I’m wearing fucking nothing.”

“You want to kiss me right now?”

“Daisy, I want to kiss you all the fucking time.” His chest heaves. “Yeah, I want to kiss you. I want you to straddle me and grind those white panties down on me until my dick busts out of this towel.”

“But we have to go to breakfast,” I say faintly.

“I don’t care about breakfast. I care about that ten o’clock appointment we have with the judge. Can’t be late for that. But every second before that is ours.” His gaze darkens. “There’s a lot we can do before we’re married, you know.”

I don’t. But I want to. Eagerly, I lean forward, my fingertips barely hanging on to the dresser behind me. “Like what?”

“Lift up your skirt and show me those panties.”

Pulse pounding, I slide my hands down the front of my thighs, then gather my dress in my fists and pull it up to my hips.

He exhales thickly and nods. “There she is. What a pretty little sight that is, darling. How does it feel to give me this?”

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