Page 39 of Wrangled Love

“Birdie’s dad is the sheriff, so we usually get a warning… and a lecture that always ends with him offering us his homemade peach cobbler.”

We only had real consequences the time Charlie vandalized a minivan to create a distraction while we were saving a piglet with a limp. Turns out it was the pastor’s vehicle used to deliver meals to homebound individuals and to shuttle the church’s senior choir to rehearsals. That stunt bought us six months of community service, and the pastor still gives me the side-eye when I run into him at the grocery store.

“If you get hauled off to jail, I’ll be waiting with bail money. No questions asked,” Jensen states.

“My criminal career thanks you,” I tease. “Honestly, I was half convinced you’d never let Caleb see me again if you thought I was a bad influence.”

He scoots closer, his hand settling on my thigh. “By now, you should know I’d never think that, especially when you’reout rescuing animals with your friends. And besides, you’re far too important to Caleb, and—” He stops short, his eyes searching mine as if he wants to say more.

“I think we should talk about what happened this morning,” I say hesitantly.

“Oh, you mean the part where I found your risqué panties hanging on the clothesline?” He smirks. “Yes, let’s discuss that, shall we?”

I bite my lower lip. “No, the part where we almost kissed.”

His grin widens. “Ah, that part. Must have slipped my mind.”

I exhale slowly, my heart racing. “We were in the heat of the moment, that’s all.”

“Sure.”

“A kiss would have been a disaster for us both.”

Jensen nods. “The worst.”

“It’s good we stopped before it went that far.”

His gaze drops to my mouth. “Definitely.”

I sigh. “Will you stop agreeing with everything I say?”

His hand inches higher up my thigh. “Why? Would you rather I disagree and show you exactly what we missed out on?”

“What? No. We just agreed that it was a bad idea.”

“If that were true, why is it all I can think about?” He tugs me closer, his breath skimming my lips. “Tell me I can kiss you, Briar.”

It’s not a question—it’s an invitation to cross a line we’ve both been dancing around. Something real, unspoken, and long overdue. As much as I deny it, the truth is I want this… more than I should.

How much could one kiss hurt?

Tomorrow, we can go back to pretending there’s nothing between us, but if I don’t take this chance, I’ll always wonder what could’ve been, and I refuse to live with regret.

“Well? What are you waiting for?” I whisper.

Jensen leans in, cupping my chin, his thumb tracing along my lower lip. His fingers barely graze my skin, but it’s enough to light a fire in my nerves. It’s only fair that he experiences the effect he has on me. His gaze stays locked on mine as I wrap my mouth around his thumb, my tongue swirling in slow strokes over the pad. Jensen’s jaw tightens, restraint fraying at the edges, and I want it to unravel completely.

Slowly, I let his thumb slip from between my lips and lean forward until our mouths meet. I catch his bottom lip between mine, nipping just hard enough to make him groan. His breath is hot against my skin as his hand trails to my hip, gripping it firmly.

His mouth crashes over mine, my body surrendering to him with reckless abandon. I thread my fingers through his hair, dragging him closer as he deepens the kiss—claiming, consuming, devouring.

“Damn, you taste sweeter than I imagined, sugar,” Jensen whispers.

He tugs me into his lap, guiding me to straddle him, his hands gripping my hips. Whatever restraint he had left snaps as he rocks up into me, his bulge rubbing against my core. My nipples grow achy, and my body hums with longing, and I’m tempted to beg for more when I remember this was supposed to only be one kiss.

What would happen if Caleb woke up and came downstairs? The thought hits me like a cold splash of water, and I lean back, breaking the trance we’d fallen into.

Jensen’s chest rises and falls as his vivid green eyes meet mine, studying me as if gauging my reaction. His hair falls in tousled waves, thanks to my fingers running through it, and I long to lose myself in him again—unbothered by reason or restraint.

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