Page 24 of Snow in Texas

“Hey, thanks for the ride,” she said, suddenly soft and vulnerable. “I’d forgotten how fun it is.”

He had to be careful – oh so careful – or she’d spook and go bolting. So with deliberate care he lifted an arm and braced a hand on the warm rock beside her head. Her eyes flicked over to look at it, but otherwise she didn’t react. Then he leaned in closer, until his shadow covered her. “Is that the only fun thing you forgot?” he asked, and the question came out more gentle and less suggestive than he’d intended.

She took a quick breath, eyes widening. “You want me.” Not a question.

“A whole helluva lot.”

“There’s plenty of club girls. Look at you. You could have any of them.”

He breathed a laugh. “Look at me? Is that a compliment?”

“Why me?” she asked, some of the sharpness returning to her voice, the defensive edge creeping back.

“Because you’re making me work for it,” he said, honestly, “and at this point, I gotta know if it’s worth it.”

She stared up at him, unblinking.

“You know I won’t hurt you, right?” Not physically, anyway.

“I know men say a lot of things they don’t mean.”

“So do women,” he shot back, voice not unkind. “Do you hear me feeding you a bunch of pretty bullshit?”

“No.” She glanced away, glanced back…and that was when he saw it in her face for the first time. The desire. And there was nothing subtle about it; the sudden flush of her cheeks, the glazed look of her eyes. She was starving. “I think you’re one big mistake.”

“Have been since conception. Tell me something I don’t know.”

She didn’t, but her eyes went back to his mouth again.

And she met him halfway when he leaned in and kissed her, stretching up on her toes, pressing her lips to his.

It was a jolt. A sudden rippling awareness that moved through him on a hot wave. He wondered if she felt it too, because she didn’t move. They froze, suspended, captivated by that first forbidden taste.

Then he opened his lips against hers, asked for a little more.

She slipped both arms around his neck and pulled him down to her, mouth opening for his tongue on a deep, wordless sound.

Colin had never put much stock in kissing; it was just a means to the ultimate end, something he had to do to get what he really wanted. But this kiss was shocking and molten hot, and he worked it. Tasted her deeply.

Her hands shoved into his short hair, fingertips pressing at his skull. She was a wild thing in his arms, shivering with want. Her hands couldn’t keep still, traveled back down his neck, kneaded at the hard muscles roped over his shoulders.

She didn’t protest when he put his hands on her waist and lifted her, hoisted her up against the rock. Quite the opposite – she wrapped her legs around his waist, gripped him hard, pulling his hips into hers. She bit at his lip. Ground against his erection.

“Shit,” Colin said against her mouth. “Shit, baby, you’re…” She was going to get the best of him if he didn’t level the playing field.

With her legs locked tight on his hips, his hands were free to roam. He reached up under her t-shirt, found the slick satin of her bra and the full shapes of her breasts beneath. She filled his palms, nipples hard nubs through the fabric.

Jenny pulled back from the kiss with a ragged murmur, her eyes coming to his face. She stared at him as he squeezed her breasts, leaned into his touch –

His cellphone rang.

They both froze.

The phone’s ringtone was shrill and insistent.

“Fuck,” Colin breathed, trying to step back from the edge, his heart racing.

“It’s Candy,” Jenny said, and the only consolation was the heavy disappointment in her voice. “You’re a prospect. You have to answer.”

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