Page 36 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

“I know you must be cold,” she said quietly.

“Thanks, I am.” He captured her hand and held it loosely. It was going to be a long night.

“I’m worried about JJ. I only brought two bottles of breast milk with me.”

“Don’t worry, my dad will figure something out. His truck has four-wheel drive. He can go to the house and get more. Whatever your aunt decides is best, my dad will make happen.”

Taylor leaned against him. “He’s a lot like his son, isn’t he?”

He chuckled. “It’s the other way around, I’m afraid. My father taught me to be resourceful and to get the job done.” He bumped her gently with his shoulder. “That’s what we’ll do here tonight.”

She laid her head on his shoulder. “I know that I can always count on you to keep me safe.”

He nestled his cheek against her head, catching the scent of her herbal shampoo despite the fact that she’d been out in the rain. His pulse picked up at this reminder of his attraction.

After a while, by touch alone, he put his phone back together, but it was still dead. He took it apart again and laid it out to dry.

“No luck?” Taylor asked.

“Nope,” he said with disgust. If only he’d called his dad at the beginning of the storm. He’d just had no idea that it would turn into an all-night monsoon. The Brazos River bordered their ranch, and its muddy waters would be running high by tomorrow afternoon.

Taylor raised her knees to her chest and tucked the blanket closer around her.

“Are you cold?” he asked.

“I’m freezing.”

“Well luckily, we won’tactuallyfreeze tonight. We’re forecast for a low of thirty-eight degrees.” He reached for her hand again. “I meant what I said about sharing body heat. I just need to know if you’re okay with it.”

After a moment she said softly, “Of course I’m okay with it. I trust you, Colt. Don’t you know that by now?”

He brought her fingers to his lips. “Thank you. That means the world to me.”

After a moment, he said, “We need to stretch out, and then you put your back to my chest. Does that sound all right?”

“Sure.”

“OK, here we go.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her to the floor, lying close beside her. She pushed back against him, and her butt settled against his crotch. He sucked in a breath and drew his knees up, capturing hers along the way. Then he covered them both with the blanket and tucked it in around their legs.

He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. She wiggled around until she fitted him perfectly, and he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. He sighed quietly. “Now we lay here, and soon our body heat will warm us up. At least, that’s the plan.”

She moved, and suddenly her fingers linked with his.Ahh. She feels good.He felt himself begin to harden, and he knew that she could feel it too. His mind froze. He didn’t know what to do.

Then she pressed her butt against him and slowly moved it from side to side, caressing him in a way that said, “I’m ready,” in no uncertain terms. A wave of euphoria hit him, and he slipped inside her coat collar and kissed her neck.

***

Ashaft of pure pleasureshot through Taylor as Colt’s lips nibbled her shoulder. His body felt deliciously warm snuggled up next to hers. She could feel the muscles of his thighs pressing against her, and his strength turned her on in an unexpected way. Maybe because she also knew his gentleness.

He brushed her hair back from her face and sucked her earlobe between his teeth. She shivered as tingles of desire rushed from her core. She brought his fingers to her lips. He ran his thumb across her lower lip, and she sucked it into her mouth.

He moaned softly, whispering, “Come here, honey,” and he gently turned her to face him.

Every nerve in her body was alive and aware of him as she unzipped his jacket and ran her hand across his warm, bare chest, feeling the contours of his hard muscles before she kissed them one by one. He sucked in a breath and then cupped her face in his hands and drew her to him. “Sweetheart, you feel so good.”

She smelled his scent, fresh from the rain and a hint of the cologne he’d worn. The heat of his skin flooded her senses. Her pulse began to race as she felt his breath on her lips. The pounding of rain on the roof disappeared. Her mind—her senses—attuned to him. She closed her eyes, trusting him with her body, entrusting him with her soul.

He feathered a kiss across her lips. She sighed and slipped her hand through his hair. He kissed her again, still gentle, his tongue tracing her bottom lip. She sought his mouth as he slid his hand behind her neck. She sucked his bottom lip and, as he moaned, she slipped her tongue inside his mouth, caressing his cheek and tongue. He tasted sweet and clean. He kissed her harder, as if losing his careful restraint. She welcomed this and kissed him back, sweeping his lips with her tongue, tasting him, wanting him.

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