Page 17 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
Neither spoke during that dance, and as the sky grew darker, the night indigo with a swath of stars, Rye drew her even closer until it felt like they were one.One dance turned to two, and still no words.There was no need for conversation.They were in a world of their own, and the world was magical.
And then the music stopped.The band announced they were taking a ten-minute break and the couples on the dance floor began to return to their seats, but Rye and Ansley remained where they were, his arm still around her waist.
“You’re a good dancer,” she said, tipping her head back to look up at him.
“It’s you,” he said.“You make it easy.”
“With the right person, dancing is easy.”
Just like that, his body hardened, the desire hot and intense.He swallowed, battling the need, shocked by the strength of it.He wasn’t a kid.He had tremendous control over his body, and yet he felt a craving that went deeper than just the physical.He wanted to know her, he wanted—
He stopped there.
This wasn’t going to happen.He was a fool to tease himself, never mind tempt fate.
He should walk her back to their table, but he was loath to break the contact when her long legs fit perfectly against his, between his, her breasts against his chest.
Not even aware he’d made a decision, he dropped his head and his mouth covered hers.He hadn’t intended to kiss her, but her lips were so full and pink.They were warm and soft beneath his.It would be so easy to keep kissing her but instead he pulled away and shook his head.
She looked up at him, a question in her eyes.
“I probably should have asked,” he said, lifting a hand to lightly stroke her cheek.
Her lips curved, tremulous.“I would have said yes.”
“Still, it would have been more respectful if I had.”
She leaned closer, her breasts crushed to his chest.“You’re very respectful.And I only have one problem with the kiss.”
“Oh?”
“It was too brief.”
It was the last thing he’d expected, and the corner of his mouth curved.“I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“It was a little disappointing.”Heat and humor warmed her eyes.“You see, I couldn’t tell if you were a good kisser or not.”She lifted a brow.“These are important questions.A girl always wonders.”
His body tightened, his chest full of a tender pain.He felt desire but also something else, something far more unsettling, something that made him aware that he had to take things slow.He had to be careful with her.He wasn’t promising her anything.There was no future.There was just this weekend, and it was lovely being with her, but there was no way he could take her home, and there was no way he was staying here.There would be no long distance of anything, even if she was willing to try.He wouldn’t be willing.He’d done that before and it was a disaster.No, love and relationships had to wait.His future would wait.But how did one explain that to someone like Ansley that made him feel like Superman?As if he was a hero and could do anything?
“The kissing will be a problem,” he said, his hand low on her back, close to the curve of her butt.
“And why is that?”
“I think once we start kissing properly, it’s going to be very hard to stop.”
“You are assuming you’re a good kisser,” she said, mischief and blaze of fire in her stunning blue eyes.
“You want me to say I’m a good kisser.”Air bottled in his lungs, his heart thumped slow, heavy, matching the ache in his body.
“No, I don’t want you to say it.I want you to prove it.And, not that it matters, but I don’t say this to all the boys.I don’t go out anymore.I haven’t had a date since my boyfriend and I broke up two years ago.”
Rye took her hand and led her back to the table where they’d been sitting.Their beer was still there.The dishes had been cleared away.
“Why not?”he asked, sitting on the bench and pulling her down between his legs.He put one hand on her thigh, unwilling to let her go.
“Not interested in anyone.Not interested in getting involved or getting hurt.Not interested in any of it.”She turned her head and looked at him over her shoulder, the blue of her eyes darker, deeper.“Love isn’t a game.I don’t want to be won.And I don’t want to capture or conquer anyone.”
“You sound like someone burned you good.”
