The Ranch Hand
Page 4
He held her at arm’s length returning her gaze. He needed to see her face. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to give us a shot. See how things go,” she whispered.
He chuckled, thankful he wasn’t the only one wanting more between them. But she gave him a cross stare before turning to stomp back toward the campsite.
“Wait a minute,” he protested as he grabbed her hand and spun her back around. “Since you’re being honest, I’ll be honest with you, too. When I first saw you, you took my breath away. You’re so beautiful.” He ran his palm over her cheek. “Everything inside of me told me I had to have you. But when you told me who you were, I wasn’t crazy about you coming along on the drive.”
“Why?”
“Because something inside me knew that I’d have to protect you.”
“I can take care of myself, Jason.” Her posture went rigid. “I’m a good rider.”
He grabbed her tight around the waist before she could get away again. “I don’t just mean out here, Bobby Jo. I mean from all of them.” Jason pointed back toward their camp. “All those guys at the bar who were drooling over you. I didn’t want to get into a fight with that biker, what was his name? Tiny? But I would have. He was a hell of a lot bigger than me, and he probably would have whooped my ass, but I didn’t want him getting any ideas about you and him. I kept my eyes on you two all night. I didn’t like the way he touched you, but I knew I couldn’t say anything. You weren’t mine, so I tried to ignore it.”
“What about you and the brunette? She was all over you, and I don’t recall you protesting.”
“She wouldn’t go away. Believe me, I tried. I was more concerned about you. Do you know I wanted to slap Mike the first day I met him because I knew he liked you. It pissed me off. I’ve been insanely jealous of every man you’ve paid attention to.”
“Mike’s like a little brother.” She leaned in, her cheek grazing his white undershirt. “And all that stuff back at the bar was harmless flirting. None of it meant anything.”
“Tell those guys that. Look, Bobby Jo, I know I haven’t known you long, and you think I’m some big jerk, but, well, it’s just, when I’m around you, I have this unexplainable pull toward you. Hell, God knows, I’ve tried to fight it, but I can’t.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, the blanket falling to the ground, and drew him closer. “Then don’t. For God’s sake, kiss me already.”
His heart gave a jolt. He placed his hands on her waist, itching to move them lower. “Yes, ma’am.”
Jason leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Fire burned inside of him. He nuzzled her neck and pulled her toward the grass until their knees touched the moist earth. The stars provided him with a natural light to see her luscious curves. He wanted this. He wanted her.
She moaned, her pulse beating beneath his lips. She lifted his hand to the buttons of her nightgown. Slowly, he fumbled with the clasps one by one, sliding his other hand beneath to caress her. Her heart pounded against his palm. He eased the top off her, one shoulder at a time, his hands steady, his moves determined, but willing to stop if she asked. God, he hoped she didn’t ask.
The shirt hit the ground beside the blanket. He stopped to take in her beauty. Her body, lit by the stars above, stared back at him, inviting him closer. He dipped his head to her mouth allowing his tongue to trace her lips. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pushed her mouth deeper into his.
Sliding his hand lower, he traced his fingers over the elastic of her panties. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” she panted.
With her permission, Jason leaned her back slowly. He took his time with her, showing her how much she meant to him. A woman like her deserved the small pleasures he was imparting, and he intended to cherish her, relish in her until she was fulfilled.
When they were finished, they lay holding each other under the stars. Bobby Jo’s lips parted in a lazy smile as she lay beside him, breathless. She had an afterglow to her. He had done that to her, and unlike any other woman he had ever had before, he realized he wanted to see her smile from the aftermath of their lovemaking again and again.
He propped up on an elbow and she began to make lazy circles on his chest.
“Jason, I have to ask…what happens next?”
Bobby Jo studied him for an answer. He gazed deep into the eyes he wanted staring back at him for the rest of his life. The eyes he hoped his children one day inherited, and in that moment, he knew he never wanted to let her go.
Jason placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Montana seems to suit you, and I’ll always be here to keep you warm.” He pulled her tighter into his arms to ward off the chill.
“I could get used to Montana, but it’s going to take some convincing to stay here.” She ran a finger over his jaw line.
“Like what?” He grabbed her hand and kissed each fingertip.
“You’re off to a pretty good start.” She rolled on top of him, straddling his waist. “Maybe we can do what we just did a few more times and I might be convinced.”
“Oh, yeah?” He gave her a lazy smile. “I think I can handle that.” He gripped her waist and rolled her underneath him, her laughter filled the air, the sound carrying on a breeze straight to his heart.
A word about the author...
Erin Bevan is a wife and mother of two with another on the way. An avid reader, one day she decided to try her luck in writing stories of her own, and the idea paid off. She spends her days deep in the heart of Texas, fighting mosquitoes, cleaning dirty faces, and writing when the kids nap. If it’s a really good day, she even finds time to brush her hair.
Visit her at:
http://www.erinbevan.com
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