Page 49 of A Family With the Cowboy

“Nonsense, you’re our guest,” Arlene tried, but Laura just smiled.

“I’ll help Miss Anderson,” Luke called out.

“We’ll both help,” Hayden said, as he also got up.

Everyone ended up in the kitchen, Molly still happy in Cooper’s arms. While Laura rinsed the dishes, Hayden stacked them in the dishwasher. He made sure his fingers touched hers every single time. Inhaling deeply, she tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

“So, Hayden, what exactly is going on between you and Laura?” asked Cooper, scratching Molly’s ears.

Laura’s breath caught in her throat. Oh, dear. She didn’t dare look in Hayden’s direction.

“Dad likes her,” Luke said.

“Laura, what about you?” Becket asked.

“Okay, you two, that’s enough,” Hayden said as he closed the washing machine. Taking Laura’s hand, he turned to look at the rest of his family. “I’m taking Laura home. Luke, will you please stay here with Grandma until I’m back? Mom?”

“Of course, he can stay and so can Molly.” Arlene smiled, holding out her hand toward Luke. “Come on. I’ve bought new books. I’m so happy you’ve discovered reading…” They disappeared around the corner.

“Take your time,” Willow said. “I’ll take Luke home with me and stay with him until you’re back.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Hayden said as he took Laura’s elbow and steered her toward the front door. He handed her jacket to her and put his on.

“We haven’t finished the dishes,” she said while slipping into her jacket.

“Don’t worry about that.” He’d opened the door, and grabbing her hand, he pulled her after him. Without talking, he walked in the direction of her house with such long strides, she had a hard time keeping up.

By the time they got to her house, they were both breathing hard. Without asking, Hayden unlocked the front door, steered her inside, and kicked it closed.

Before his jacket hit the ground, he was pushing her against the wall. She tried to catch her breath, but his mouth found hers in a searing kiss, rekindling last night’s embers. Within seconds, she was burning up. Without breaking the kiss, she shrugged out of her jacket before slipping her arms around his neck.

Reveling in the taut muscles beneath her fingers and the stubble of his beard against her face, she melted against him.

This was what she’d been waiting for the whole day. This was what she’d been craving—being like this, with him. How was she ever going to let this cowboy go?

*

Usually Hayden hada lot of self-control, but around this gorgeous creature he didn’t stand a chance. He wanted her with a fever that had been burning inside of him since he’d dropped her off at her house earlier this morning.

His hands had found their way beneath the soft blue top she was wearing. Desperate to touch her soft curves, his fingers slipped beneath her bra. His whole body ached for her, but he also wanted to spend time kissing her. It was all he’d had on his mind all day.

Angling his head, he deepened the kiss and their tongues met, mingling with their groans. He loved how she leaned into him. But it wasn’t enough. Not nearly.

He pulled his shirt over his head. As he dropped it on the floor, Laura’s top joined his. She was leaning back against the wall, her eyes dark pools of blue ink, her breath coming through her lips in gasps. A fist of desire hit him in the gut, the force so intense, it nearly knocked him to his knees. Beautiful. So, so beautiful. Today, an ink-blue bra covered her gorgeous breasts.

“Laura,” he breathed, as he bent down to taste her while he ran his hands over her hot flesh. Her hardened nipples against his mouth were so erotic, he struggled not to lose control. Her moan reverberated right through her body while she stroked and loved his body with her soft hands. He was ready to explode. The waiting was over.

With his blood racing through his veins, he lifted his head. “I want you. Right now, right here.”

With her eyes never leaving his, she shimmied out of her jeans, while he kicked his to the side as well. His eyes dropped to her satiny legs. “These”—he lifted her one leg against his hip—“these are the holy grail,” he muttered before he caught her mouth again.

To be here with her like this, steeped in her scent, driven to the brink of madness by her soft skin, the satiny texture of her hair around his face, had seemed impossible. His need for her was more intense than anything he’d ever experienced.

Catching her mouth with his again, he slipped his hand down her body to her core. She was ready for him. And then he couldn’t wait another second. The need to be one with her was so intense, so overwhelming, nothing else mattered.

With a cry, he entered her, and only when she clamped around him like a velvet glove did the chaos inside him settle. Both her legs wrapped around him, pulling him closer. For a second, they held one another, their breathing labored, his muscles straining. And then, completely in sync, they began to move.

Not wanting to miss a thing, he watched her, trying not to let the red mist blur his vision. In awe, he watched her flushed face, her eyes dark and stormy, and her hair tangled in his fingers.

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