Page 49 of Snow in Texas

“Me?” Jenny chuckled. “I’m not the one who came back here looking to get laid.”

“That’s ‘cause you manipulated me into making the first move.”

She laughed and he felt the sound move through her body and into his own, where they were pressed together, shivering into his skin. “Yeah? How’d I do that?”

“Sweetheart.” He rolled his eyes. “You can’t walk away twitching your ass like you did and think that’s not some kinda invitation.”

“That’s the most sexist thing I’ve ever heard,” she said, but when he glanced over at her, she was grinning.

“I’m a pig. Sorry about that.”

“You’re not sorry.”

“You’re right. I’m not.”

They lay tangled in the aftermath. Colin on his back, Jenny nestled up against his side, one leg hooked over his hips. Her breasts were plumped up against his ribs and when she flexed her foot, her thigh tensed against a very sensitive area of his anatomy. If she didn’t stop wiggling, she’d buy herself another round.

She stilled, though, one hand pressed tight to his chest, above his heart. “Colin?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you–”

A knock sounded at the door. Then Candy’s voice floated through: “Pants on, prospect! We got shit to do.”

“Be right there,” he called back, and sighed. “Sorry, baby.” He cupped the back of her head, pressed her soft cheek against his shoulder a moment in farewell.

“It’s okay.” She pulled away and sat up, and that was when he saw the emotion shining in her face. Whatever she’d been about to say, it had made her nervous.

“You sure?”

She smiled and pushed her hair back. “Yeah, it’s fine. Better go see what he wants before he knocks the door down.”

As Colin tugged his jeans and shirt back on, he reflected that if the man wasn’t his VP, Candy would be begging to have his ass handed to him. But, VP, and all that. Not to mention Colin felt a little disquiet in the pit of his stomach as he let himself out into the hallway. It didn’t matter how old you got, facing a girl’s male relative after you’d just boned her senseless was always uncomfortable as all hell.

Colin stepped out and shut the door quickly, to shield Jenny, under the covers, but still very much naked and glowing with aftershocks.

Candy smirked and gave him a long, slow up-down glance. “Look at you. With your hickey and your fucked up hair.”

Colin slapped a hand to his neck out of reflex, to cover said imaginary hickey, and Candy burst out laughing.

“Haha, asshole,” he muttered.

Candy slung an arm around his neck and pulled him in close as they started down the hall. Proving to be one of the few people who had the size and strength to throw him off balance. The only other who could claim that was probably his brother – haha again.

“Prospect,” Candy said, “you’ve got to lighten up. If I can get over you being my sister’s new favorite pet, then you can get over me talking shit about it. Deal?”

“Hmm,” Colin said.

“Alright. Game face. We gotta go rattle a puppy’s cage.”

~*~

Two trees. Gnarled, desert-scarred things that twisted as if in pain. Colin didn’t know what kind they were, and didn’t feel inclined to ask, as his eyes moved down the length of chain attached to each. In the glare of the truck headlights, the stubby limbs seemed like claws. A breeze whispered across the ground, brushing against the chains like an affectionate cat, setting them to swinging.

Colin stepped into the beams, broad-shouldered, strong, and as mysterious in that moment as some ancient warrior. “Come here, prospect,” he called.

Colin felt Pup glance at him, and looked back, face feeling heavy in its resolute expression. “He means you,” he said quietly.

---