Page 57 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

“I absolutely do, sweetheart.”

She laid her cheek on his chest and let out a long deep sigh. “Oh Colt, I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am, so promise you’ll try to relax and stop this damn pacing,” he said with a smile.

The corner of her mouth curled up. “I will.”

He held her for several minutes, and she soaked in his strength. When at last he released her, she felt stronger than she had in days.

Unable to stay shut up in the room, she suggested that they find a place on Main Street to keep a lookout for the rest of the day. Colt agreed, and they ended up parked in front of the hardware store, another business that she felt might come in handy to the kidnappers.

They rolled down the windows and sat in silence, each looking in different directions for the two vehicles the felons were known to drive. Colt held her hand, and that connection to him filled her with a peace that she hadn’t had since JJ had been taken.

They watched until seven-thirty and then had dinner. When they’d finished eating, they went back to the room.

She took her shower first, and it surprised her how comfortable she was at doing that now while sharing a room with Colt.

Later, when they crawled into bed, neither of them wanted to watch TV. Colt drew her into his arms, and she snuggled her back to his chest, feeling safe and warm and ready to sleep after the intense emotions that had racked her during the day. She could feel his breath stirring tiny tendrils of her hair, and the sensation lulled her towards sleep. The last thing she remembered thinking was,Thank God for you, Colt.

***

Hours later, Taylorawoke with a loud cry and struggled to throw the covers off. An unbearable nightmare had torn her from sleep.

“Baby, honey, it’s all right. You’re safe, and I’m here with you,” Colt said tenderly and turned her to face him. He wiped her tears and cupped her face in his hands. “Tell me what happened, honey. Did you have a bad dream?”

Fighting back a sob, she told him of her dream, in which JJ was being hurt by Jeb and the other men were holding her back so she could do nothing about it. She started crying again, and Colt drew her to his chest. “Sweetheart, it was just a dream. JJ’s Jeb’s nephew, and the man isn’t going to hurt him. He kidnapped him so he could raise him as part of their family. We’ve got to remember that. Obviously, family is everything to these folks, so it stands to reason that they’ll treat JJ well.”

She nodded, unable to speak.

Colt’s thumb grazed her lower lip, and then he kissed her so softly it made her mouth tingle. He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed one eyelid and then the other, murmuring, “It’s okay, baby, you’re okay.”

He trailed kisses along her jaw and found the sensitive spot behind her ear, kissing her there. She sighed as pleasure rose and swirled in her belly. He tugged on her sleep shirt, and she drew it over her head, her need for him sudden and overwhelming.

She felt him kick off his shorts, and she ran her hands across his broad chest. His thigh covered hers, and she felt his hard muscles, reminding her of his natural strength. He hooked his thumb in her panties and slid them off her hips. She kicked them off, feeling suddenly free.

He took her nipple in his mouth as his hand roved down her waist and cupped her butt. The pleasure was exquisite as he worked her nipple with his tongue. She forgot about her nightmare, she forgot about her fear; only Colt, her sweet lover, existed.

She took his hard length in her hand and worked him up and down. He gasped, “Taylor, honey!” She smiled, loving the need in his deep, rasping voice. She slid down and took him in her mouth, and he moaned his pleasure. “Oh God, Taylor, yes.”

She pleasured him then, knowing what he wanted as he clasped her head in his hands. Soon his breath came in pants, and she knew he was close.

Suddenly he stopped her, holding her tight. “Wait! Whew. Hang on, honey.” She rolled him on his back and straddled him. He said, “Just a second, sweetheart,” and grabbed a condom from the drawer and slipped it on.

Damn, she’d forgotten that. Thank God he hadn’t. He always took precautions.

She raised herself up and he slid inside her—slowly, slowly, until she took him all. She felt tight and full and magnificent. He clasped her hips and moved her forward and then back, and the smooth, sensual feeling was exquisite. “Oh baby, you’re so good.” She leaned down, her hair brushing his chest, and kissed him long and hard, giving it everything she had.

He flipped her over on her back and began to thrust, his strokes smooth and quick, sinking deep inside her, hitting her sensitive spot and shooting pleasure like lightning bolts through her body. She panted as she raised her knees, clasping his butt, his muscles rock-hard.

“God, Taylor,” he ground out through gritted teeth, on the edge of his control.

She cried, “Now!” and let herself go as a tidal wave of pleasure crashed through her. Her body spasmed again and again as he thrust once, twice, and a last time, sinking deep inside her. As she pulsed around his hard length she wanted to scream, “I love you!” but she held back, and it tore her heart out.

At last, he lay down and pulled her to his chest. She snuggled close, her nightmare gone but not forgotten, replaced by this new and wonderful memory of the man she loved.

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