Page 89 of Eyes Like a Hurricane

He nods, “You were the girl who looked like a rainstorm, with eyes like water and hair like the darkest storm cloud.”

My arms wrap around him tighter as I push him backward into the house. We stumble over the threshold, a tangle of limbs. He rotates us, and my back presses into the kitchen island. Reaching behind my thighs, he lifts me up and gently places me on the counter. My back bumps into something, and I inhale a sharp breath. Breaking the kiss, I twist to find Lachlan’s birthday present pressing into my left side.

“Are you okay?” he rasps.

I nod and smile. “Care to open your present?”

He smirks at me. “As long as I get to unwrap you next.”

Reaching behind my back, I pull the present forward and place it between us on my lap. With hands on his hips, he takes in a deep, steadying breath.

“You didn’t need to get me anything, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his voice low and soft.

“I know, but I wanted to. It will benefit both of us. Plus, they are small things,” I grin and nibble on my lower lip.

His hands softly tug at the ribbon and then move along the seams, dislodging the tape from the paper. He gently removes the piece of paper and sets it on the counter.

Looking at my arched brow, he says, “My mom liked to reuse paper if she could, so we were strongly discouraged from ripping presents open. The method kind of stuck with me.”

I simply smile and nod. Can’t fault a woman who reuses and recycles. His fingers make quick work of the box, and I hold my breath as he flips open the flaps. Reaching inside, he first finds a pair of soft leather work gloves with the Ambarsan Equine Therapy Ranch logo branded on the back. The next item he pulls out is a Scottish plaid blanket from the Ambarsan clan. He looks at it questioningly.

“I wanted to replace your work gloves after they were practically destroyed during the mine rescue, so you can keep those in your saddle bag and use these new ones around the ranch. The blanket is the Ambarsan clan plaid. I never saw the pattern on anything in your home, but I thought it was really pretty with the shades of blue and green,” I explain.

“They are wonderful, Aislinn. Now that I think about it, I think my parents have this plaid for a blanket they keep in their bedroom. I never really thought about it as our clan,” he says softly, thoughtfully turning the items over in his hands.

“There is one more thing, but it’s more for fun,” I wiggle the box so he can hear the thudding inside.

Reaching in, he removes the two sixteen oz silicone cups with coffee lids. They are shades of blue and green like his blanket, and I had them custom-designed with the Ambarsan Equine Therapy Ranch logo.

“His and hers?” he asks, wiggling his brows.

Then he holds up the little vinyl sticker of two kissing coffee beans and raises one brow.

“The sticker is for your laptop, so you always think of me. Yes, you needed a pair of travel mugs, and they are my favorite for coffee on the go,” I say with a grin. “We can use them when we meet with the DEQ Representative on Monday. Yesterday, they confirmed their appointment with you, right?”

He nods and puts the cups to the side, along with the gloves and the blanket. “Thank you for the considerate gifts, Aislinn. I look forward to cuddling you under the blanket.”

“I told you it would be useful,” I say with a wink.

Cupping my face, he presses his lips against mine in a tender kiss. I pull on the back of his neck and slant my head to deepen it. As I swipe my tongue against the seam of his lips, he parts them, giving me an open invitation to taste him deeper. A groan pulls from the back of his throat as I lace my fingers through his hair. What must be minutes later, we separate, sucking in air.

I reach my hand between us to rub my palm against his hard length. His forehead lands on my shoulder as he hums his approval.

“I need you,” I whisper in his ear as my tongue flicks his earlobe. “But you’ll have to catch me first.”

Before he can fully register my words, I hop off the counter and run for the library. I can hear his feet pounding against the wood floors behind me and know his long legs will catch me in no time.

“You better run, lil’ hellcat,” his voice rumbles right behind my shoulder.

The door is within arm's distance. Just as I reach for the knob, strong arms grab me around the waist and lift me up. I turned the knob just enough for the door to nudge open. Lachlan rotates, putting his shoulder against the door and continuing inside.

He sets me down, and I run to my oversized reading chair. I glance up and see him stalking toward me like a lion approaching prey. My heartbeat thunders beneath my breastbone, not from fear but with excitement and anticipation.

“Nowhere for you to run, my sweet hellcat,” his voice rumbles.

“I got to my intended destination,” I murmur.

Slowly lifting my nightshirt over my head and sliding my sleep shorts off, I sit on the chair in nothing but my panties. His boxers don’t hide his arousal as he continues to reduce the distance between us. I pull off my underwear next, then reach for him and pull him onto the chair next to me. Rotating my lower body, I straddle him and continue the kiss we started in the kitchen.

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