Page 93 of Wrangled Love

“It really has,” I agree, brushing a knuckle across her jaw. “You’re stunning, baby.”

My hand finds the back of her neck, fingers threading into her hair as I draw her closer. I press my lips to hers, and she tastes like strawberries and whiskey—a blend of sweet, bold, and intoxicating. My tongue dips into her warm mouth, tracing hers in a slow dance that speaks everything we haven’t said out loud.

“Is this the part where you make me come?” she whispers.

“I was hoping it would be.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a condom.

Briar places her hand over mine, shaking her head. “Jensen,” she whispers.

“What is it?”

Her gaze meets mine. “I don’t want anything between us tonight.”

I freeze, unsure if I heard her right. “Are you sure? I was tested before coming to Bluebell, but if you’re not ready, we can wait until we get back—” She places a finger to my lips, silencing me.

“Positive. I have an IUD.” Her hand slides along my cheek, her fingertips grazing the stubble. “I want to feel you inside me.Allof you.”

My heart pounds in my chest as the weight of her words sink in. What was supposed to be temporary has turned into something far more consequential. We’re both in deeper than we ever planned, but at this moment, all I want is to give Briar what she asked for. Because the truth is, I want it just as much as she does.

We move in tandem, peeling our clothes off between kisses and lingering glances. Once we’re both naked, I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling us into a sitting position, my arm propped behind me to anchor us as I tug her into my lap to straddle me. I grab my hat from the edge of the blanket and place it on Briar’s head.

“You’re going to wearmyhat while you’re ridingme.”

She flashes me a sultry smile. “If you insist,cowboy.”

It’s not the first time she’s called me that, but tonight, it carries a weight it hasn’t before. When I got to Bluebell, I was trying to outrun my past, leaving behind anything tied to it, including my small-town upbringing. I hated admitting I came from a place full of ranches and cowboys, or that I used to be one of them. Yet, with Briar’s help, I’ve learned to appreciate those roots more than I ever thought possible.

She puts her hands on my shoulders as she sinks onto my cock, her pussy clenching around me. The moonlight dances across her face, illuminating her features. Her hair spills over her shoulders, eyes dark with want, lips parted as she gasps my name. Our mingled groans fade into the hum of crickets and the trickle of creek water.

Fuck, she feels so damn good without a barrier between us.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” I confess.

She dips her head, capturing my lips in a kiss. “Then let’s make sure tonight is unforgettable.”

I grip her ass, guiding her as she slides along my shaft, arching her back with every thrust. She drags her nails along my chest as we move faster.

“Damn, you ride me so good,” I say, bucking my hips in time with hers.

“Jensen. Touch me, please,” she moans.

I reach between us, circling my thumb over her clit until she’s left gasping for air. She moves above me, her hips moving in time with my fingers, every motion edging her toward release. Warm and wet, and when she clenches tight, I know she’s close to letting go.

“Come for me, sugar,” I command.

She throws her head back, careening over the edge as she pulses around me. A guttural sound tears from my throat as Iwatch her come apart. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. As we come down together, tangled and spent, it hits me.

I’ve fallen for Briar Halstead.

I didn’t anticipate or plan for this, yet the truth is impossible to deny. I’m hopelessly and completely hers. And now I’m left wondering how the hell I’m going to survive if we have to say goodbye.

Last night felt like something out of a storybook. Jensen was romantic and charming, and meticulously planned every detail, right down to the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches he knows are my favorite. We stayed wrapped up in each other under the stars until the cool breeze had me shivering, and he insisted we go back to the ranch house to get Caleb.

It was the perfect date, and made one thing crystal clear: my heart belongs to a man who loves his son fiercely, and has shown tremendous strength in his vulnerability. What started as a fling has grown into so much more, and the thought of him and Caleb leaving ties my stomach into knots, making me wonder if he might feel the same way.

Mama Julie’s words from the night of the barbecue have been on repeat in my mind:you won’t know unless you ask.

Easier said than done.

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