Page 27 of That Fateful Ride

So much for being on her own if they found out. “Don’t ruin this for me. Please.”

He whirled and left abruptly. She noticed his limp and realized that was probably had him up at this time. She blew out a breath, which Polaris echoed with a snort.

“Who understands men,” she muttered before patting him a final time then leaving.

Things between her and Cy remained tense. She ensured they weren’t alone and went out of her way to avoid him without appearing she’d done so. Three weeks after they’d made love in the old building and she still couldn’t forget how it had been.

Today blistered. She’d come in from her ride and was looking after her horse. Content he had sufficiently cooled down, she walked him to the corral where the others stood lazily beneath a lean-to, tails flicking indolently at buzzing flies.

She sent him off with a pat and trudged back into the barn. With a groan, she hefted the saddle and put it on the rack where it would stay until her next ride. She turned the saddle blanket upside down on it to dry out.

Running the back of her hand across her brow, she sighed. She bent to grab her saddlebags and swung them over her shoulder when she turned; she froze at the sight. Cy leaned against a stall, arms crossed and legs hooked at the ankles.

She dragged her tongue over dry lips and tried to slow the beating of her heart. He looked so good. His pants were snug, as was his shirt.Touch. Touch. Touch.Her body cried.

“Something I can do for you, Mr. Spencer?”

“Cy.” He strode toward her.

She held her ground and watched his approach. Raw power. His hair hung over one eye and she clenched a fist to keep from reaching for it. He glanced around before gripping her wrist and tugging her back into the room she’d just vacated. Her saddlebags fell to the floor as he shut the door behind them.

“What are—”

“Shh!”

He kissed her. Dominating her mouth, his tongue swept through with broad strokes. Flames licked at her skin. She arched into him, embracing the wondrous feeling of being in his arms again.

“I can’t keep away from you,” he rasped. “I want you, Rebecca.”

The length digging into her side confirmed his words. She should refuse. She should demand he leave her alone.

“Yes,” she murmured as his hand squeezed her ass.

“Tonight. Come to me at midnight.”

His touch was making her crazy with need. “Yes.”

Another hard kiss and he vanished before she could ever recover. What had she just agreed to? Right. More amazing sex.

The rest of her day passed all too slowly. The anticipation continually built until she almost hummed with need. She skipped eating with the others needing some time to herself. She kept still as the others fell asleep. Belly in tight knots, she stepped to the door. One destination in mind. Passion awaited her. Cy waited.

Cy paced his room.Midnight was too far away. Hell, he wasn’t even sure she would show up. She’d missed dinner. He’d almost gone out to find her but stopped himself.

One candle burned in his room. It was on the other side from the bunkhouse. He paused and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. Where was she? He made his way to the tall wingback in the corner by his bed and sat with a sigh.

He rested his head back and closed his eyes. A slight tingle ran up his spine and he opened his eyes to find he was no longer alone in the room. He rose, eyes on her.

Rebecca stood there, resting against the door. Heat shot straight through to his loins. She’d removed her hat and kerchief, holding them in front of her.

“You came.”

She didn’t respond. Her brown eyes glinted courtesy of the candlelight. She moved toward him and despite her male attire, he didn’t believe he’d ever seen anything so sexy. Rebecca paused before him, her hat falling to the floor. She tipped her head back, dampened her lips with the tip of her tongue, and he felt the jolt in his groin.

“I shouldn’t be here.”

He had no desire to hear what shouldn’t be. There were so many excuses. He didn’t care. Her skin color wasn’t an issue for him. Her spirit had drawn him. Dissuading any further comment, he reached for her, curving one hand around her arm. She was softness and strength fused into one.

Cy drew her close and kissed her. He swallowed her moan and held her tighter, thinking he wouldn’t ever get enough of her. She tasted of lemon and he knew it was from those little lemon candies she liked so much.

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