Page 31 of Rescued Hearts

He dipped his head. “They receive therapy and have regular work on the ranch. Being outdoors with no pressure helps a lot, and they can do as much or as little as they need to.”

“Where do I come in?”

“Your jewelry class…” He swallowed hard, thinking of how to put into words the way he felt when he was simply stringing beads onto a wire. He shrugged. “It’s relaxing. A lot of vets could use something like that. Something to focus on, to work with their hands. I think they’d really like what you do.”

“You really think so?” Her brows lifted. He was noticing more and more just how expressive this woman was, how full of life.

“I know it. I’d like to invite you out to teach a class. I’ll pay your going rate. How soon can you come?”

Her expression softened. “Tomorrow?”

He didn’t expect her to agree to it quickly, but damn if he wasn’t glad she did. Because the truth was, he didn’t want his time with her to end. Today had been…great. Better than great.

When they left the restaurant, he led her to the truck. The parking lot was well-lit, but he still searched the shadows for danger out of habit. Before they reached the vehicle, he caught her by the hand.

She swung toward him. Standing close. Her gaze flicked to his mouth.

“Gray…”

He reached for her, one hand on the spine that had tormented him earlier in the night. Urging her closer, he did what he’d also been dying to do—he threaded his fingers into her thick hair and pulled her in.

The first brush of their lips set his veins humming. The soft sigh she emitted sent the blood pumping through them into overdrive.

He took it deeper, angling his head to sweep his tongue across hers. His fingers twitched on her spine, dragging her even closer.

Honor clutched his shoulders, digging her short nails into his muscle, swaying on tiptoe for more. Passion blasted through him. In a blink, he was no longer kissing her.

He was plundering her.

She arched into him, moaning as he angled his head the other way to test out the position.

I can think of thirty positions I’d like to get her in right now.

His cock throbbed. But so did his heart.

The damn thing was drumming so loud that it dulled some of his senses even as others spiked. Like his sense of smell. Honor’s scent was a mix of lemon and cake and something earthier, an unnamed spice.

He pressed her against the side of the truck, tearing his mouth away long enough to dive for her delectable throat. The instant he latched on to her with a soft suction, she issued a quivery sigh and gripped him against her, swaying into his mouth.

He kissed a path down the column to her collarbone and back up to her ear, savoring the little noises she made and dying to tear even louder ones from her.

Tear his name from her.

The cool metal of his truck was a sharp contrast to the heat surging between them. She molded her body to his, and Christ…he was hanging by a thread.

She gasped out, and he claimed the sound for his own by slamming his mouth over hers once more. The kiss, the tight clutch of her fingers in his shirt, damn near stole the last of his control.

As if she felt it too, she twisted her head, breaking the kiss.

Her chest heaved as she stared up at him. “Is this how you treat all your business partners?”

“Not even close.” He lunged for her again, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss even as he learned the curve of her waist, her ribs—

He stopped himself. With a shaky breath, he rested his forehead against hers. “Honor…”

“Gray…”

“I should take you home.”

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