Page 70 of When the Smoke Clears

“I love it,” I promise, interrupting her. She doesn’t need to finish telling me that nopal is the Spanish word for the prickly pear cactus or that vista means view.

“Yeah? I was just thinking about the one you gifted me from out here. It’s not silly?”

“Not at all. I love it.” I tip her chin up with a finger and capture her mouth in a firm kiss. Her arms pull back and she slides her hands up my chest, pulling a groan from me. “I’ve missed you.”

Her hands still. “I’ve been here.”

I shake my head. “Carefree you. Present you.”

“I see what you mean.” She pauses. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be exactly her again.”

My thumb rubs against her soft cheek. She’s so tender, and yet also the strongest woman I’ve ever known. “That’s ok. As long as I get to come with you.”

She fists my shirt in both hands, all but dragging me down to her for a heated kiss.

Chapter 24

Maci

GrippingSutton’sshirtlikemy life depends on it, I break our kiss. “Take me home, Cowboy.”

The corner of his mouth tips up. “You are home.” His thumb rubs along my cheek again.

“Our temporary home, then.” My voice is husky.

He kisses me with a hard, closed mouth. “I like the sound of that.”

Veda and Johnny Walker graze nearby, and Sutton gives me another boost before climbing astride Johnny. The way his arms tug on the reins, swiftly guiding Johnny Walker where he wants to go, ignites my body in an entirely new way. I know what that feels like. To have his hands be completely in control. My skin tingles at the thought of having them upon me again.

Veda follows suit, though my guiding isn’t expert level. As she walks forward, Sutton leans back the slightest bit, looking me over with a wicked grin.

My mouth pulls into a stupid smile, though I have no idea what he’s after, and I take him in.

“Want to race?” He only gives me a split second before he squeezes his legs on Johnny and they’re off.

What a cheater.

I give a similar squeeze on Veda, but it takes her a moment to get going. I loosen my grip on the reins, grabbing the pommel of the saddle instead, and lean forward, as if she can’t hear me sitting upright. “Come on, girl. Don’t let me down.”

We don’t have a chance in hell. With the head start and Johnny Walker’s speed, Veda and I come in last place. Sutton is already on the ground and pulls me off Veda in a rush as I round the front of the stables.

Cody picks the perfect time to exit the building. “Hey guys.”

“Cody, you mind taking care of Veda and Johnny?” Sutton doesn’t take his eyes off me despite his softer-than-usual voice.

Cody looks between us. “Not at all, boss.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, and we’re in the Defender before Cody can respond.

We barely make it through the door when Sutton pins me up against the wall with a hard kiss. We’re both kicking out of our boots, trying not to lose connection with our lips and hands.

He manages to get his hat onto the rack, and my hands reach for the hem of my shirt. He covers them with his own.

“Let me.”

Another wave of warmth floods me.

He removes my top slowly, admiring me in my bra and jeans before him. His perusal stops on the healing wound on my hip. It’s the first day I’ve left the area free of a bandage.

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