“You scared?” he asked, taking her hand.
Words stuck in her throat for a second. “More like excited.”
Had she really said that?
His hand curled around hers and he smiled. She wasn’t used to seeing him smile. But, oh, he flashed beautiful teeth and for the first time, she noticed a dimple on the right side of his cheek. Tyler Warren sort of stunned her.
“You’re truthful,” he said as if it came as a surprise. As if he had no faith in humanity, while she couldn’t say that. She had every reason to believe in the goodness of life.
“I guess.”
“Comes from being the daughter of a preacher.”
She shrugged. Watching his mouth move sort of grabbed her attention. And the light pressure he put on her hand, dragging her a little closer, sped her heart up even more. “I bet your folks told you to stay away from the likes of me.”
“I don’t always listen to them.”
It was a lie. She was a good girl and never defied her parents. Except maybe for now, but that didn’t count, because they didn’t know she was here with him.
“You don’t? Could’ve fooled me. You seem like the kind of girl who does what’s expected.”
She hated that he had her all pegged. “I made a bet with you and I expect to pay up.”
“I might tarnish your sterling reputation.”
His eyes were laughing, mocking her.
“Okay, if you don’t want me to kiss you.” She turned, slipping out of his grasp. If he wanted to act like a jerk, she wasn’t going to stand here and let him mock her.
“Hey,” he said, gripping her arm again.
This time, he pulled her flush up against him, his rock solid body a wall of heat and danger. His arms wrapped around her waist and he kept her pressed to him. Her stomach fluttered and an ache began to grow deep in her belly. Lordy.
“It was just a warning, one I hope you don’t heed. Fact is, I was hoping to win that bet with you, Summer. I’ve been noticing you and wanting this.”
“This?”
“Kiss me, Summer,” he demanded. “Pay up.”
Her mouth quivered and she didn’t know if she’d have the nerve, but then his gaze softened on her trembling lips, giving her courage. She tilted her head, hoping he wouldn’t laugh at her, wouldn’t turn her away if she fumbled. The second her lips met his, something happened, something shifted and changed and suddenly she was full of confidence, full of longing and she put everything she had pent up inside into the kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and a guttural groan rose up from his throat. Her tiny moan met his louder one and sweet heady sensations poured into her, flowed out of her, as if she and Tyler Warren were one person, one soul. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her, with him, of all people.
He whispered over her lips. “Summer, Summer.”
The kiss was beautiful like a brook overflowing, making everything it touched grow lush and full and green. The sound of him whispering her name brought her joy and awakened feelings she’d never experienced.
He splayed his hands into her hair, strumming over her long blonde strands like a fiddler and then licked at her lips, bending her head back. And when she opened to take a much needed breath, he mated their tongues and a pool of heat swamped her below the waist.
She’d never…oh my…he schooled her quickly in this mating and another groan, more like a growl rose from his throat.
The kissing lasted a long, long time. She had the need to offer more, to give more. It grew as fast as a summer weed inside her and when his hands pushed her blouse up, his fingers inching toward her bra, she swayed her back, aching for his touch.
When it didn’t come, her brows furrowed.
“Summer,” he rasped as harsh and pained as an injured animal.
Her blouse was lowered down. She found him shaking his head, his eyes filled with a gleam, a glow of passion that must’ve matched her own, and his restraint, even to her innocent eyes, seemed hard won. He wouldn’t tarnish her.
“Summer,” he said again, touching her hair, running a finger tenderly down her cheek.
But no other words came out. Something real was happening to her, to them. He had to feel it, too.
“You were the first boy I’ve ever kissed,” she admitted, no longer ashamed.
He nodded, as if he’d known all along. He brought her into the fold of his arms, his lips planting tiny kisses along her forehead, into her hair. He ran his hands up and down her back and she felt cherished…even loved.
“First…and last,” he whispered on a deep sigh, as if he were stunned at his own words.
And then he broke their embrace and dipped down to gauge her reaction, his dark intense eyes locked to hers. “Understand?”
She did. And she gloried that he felt it, too. Whatever they had was powerful, potent, and not just a young girl’s fancy. She was his from now on, and he was hers. “I understand.”
Find out what happens next in Claim Me, Cowboy…
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About the Author
Charlene Sands is a USA Today Bestselling author writing sexy contemporary romances and stories set in the Old West. Her stories have been honored with the National Readers Choice Award, the Cataromance Reviewer’s Choice Award and she’s a double recipient of the Booksellers’ Best Award. She was recently honored with Romantic Times Magazine’s Best Harlequin Desire of 2014. Charlene is a member of the Orange County Chapter and Los Angeles Chapter of Romance Writers of America.
When not writing, she enjoys great coffee, spending time with her four “princesses”, bowling in a woman’s league, country music, reading books from her favorite authors and going on movie dates with her “hero” husband.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.charlenesands.com for new releases and special member giveaways. Charlene loves hearing from her readers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Redeeming the Texas Rancher Page 18