Page 65 of Country Contract

I shake my head and wave my hand to the woman offering assistance. She nods a few times, sidestepping us and heading into the ladies’ room.

I throw a thumb over my shoulder to the office behind me and with pinched eyebrows, Harlow nods. She opens the door and leads me into the room.

It’s a small room with one window and concrete floors that Silas intended to finish later but never got around to it. A cowhide rug lays on the floor, which would seemunethical to anyone but us. The edges are tucked under furniture. A simple desk and a chair sit at one end with two lounge chairs on the opposite. There’s a lamp behind the desk, and I point to it before sitting in one of the lounge chairs.

Spreading my legs wide, I put myself in a tripod position and take my first few solid breaths. My coughing has stopped, and I think the tears have, too.

Nothing like crying in front of the woman you’re trying to seduce after she strikes you in the throat.

Harlow hits the light, and a soft amber glow fills the room. I keep staring down at the hide’s pattern between my boots, breathing as best as I can. With my eyes down, two black combat boots stand between mine. I don’t think I’m quite ready to meet her eyes just yet, but I don’t have much of a choice.

Harlow’s knees come into my vision as she kneels between my legs. I feel my hat getting pulled off my head, followed by delicate fingers raking through my hair. Her hands brush through the tresses multiple times before she takes hold of my face. She pulls me to face her, and I finally meet her gaze. Those inky eyes of hers look so damn remorseful.

“I’m all good; can’t kill me off that easy.” My voice is raspy and harsh, causing her to flinch.

“Damn kid, I’m so fucking sorry.” Harlow leans forward, moving her hands away for a moment as she plants those lips on my neck. She traces kisses up the column of my neck before returning her hands and kissing me one final time on the apple of my cheek.

“It’s okay, Harlow, just really fuckin’ shockin’.” I try to joke, but I can’t laugh.

“Listen, let me tell Meg and Cassidy we need to leave. We’ll get you back home and maybe get some ice on that.” Idon’t want Harlow thinking she has to take care of me. I shake my head fiercely, and I hear a small giggle escape her. She covers her mouth quickly and looks at me apologetically.

“Sorry. You just look so damn young sometimes.”

I suddenly get mad and scowl at her. “I’m only six years younger than you, Harlow!” Damn, even I heard how bratty I sounded that time.

“Yeah, Yeah. Come on, let’s get you home.” She goes to stand, but I grab her wrist tightly.

“Careful kid, you know what happened last time.” This time she can’t stop her laugh followed by biting her lip and staring at me.

“Too soon?” She scrunches her nose a little, and I know I’m a goner for this witch of a woman. Contract or no contract. Her sense of humor, her dark exterior and soft interior, her quick wit, her facial expressions—they all cause my heart to skip a beat. When she leaves, I know I’ll lose a small piece of my heart.

I offer her an annoyed look and that only makes her laugh harder.

“It’s not funny, I swear I feel awful,” she says in between her laughter. I’m a little mad, a little impressed, and a little amused. Damn it, only Harlow could punch me in the throat, and I think it’s funny.

Before I can think about it anymore, my grip on her wrist loosens and my shoulders shake as I join her in a silent laugh.

“It’s not funny,” I say brokenly.

When I finally release her hand, she crouches down and picks up my Stetson from where she had placed it on the ground. Before she can place it on my head, I stand up,taking it from her hands. She releases it and I dust off the bottom then hold it at my side.

“Aren’t you going to put that back on?” she asks.

“Not right away; it’s bad luck to put a hat down flat, even worse in my family if it’s on the ground. After a mean right hook from you, I don’t want any bad luck coming my way.” The first sheepish look I’ve ever witnessed from her crosses her face.

“I’m not mad, I’m actually glad your response was fight over flight.”

“I’m going to say sorry every day until I leave.”

The reminder of her leaving hits almost as hard as her fist. I remember why I came back here in the first place. I snake my left arm around Harlow’s waist and love that when I pull her close, we practically look eye to eye.

Her long, thick lashes flutter a few times, and then she looks at me with a combination of curiosity and regret. I bring my free hand to the back of her neck and tangle my fingers in the thick locks at the base of her skull. With only the smallest pull, her chin tilts up ever so slightly, and I’m able to bring my mouth down to hers.

I kiss her sweetly, letting her know that I don’t feel an ounce of anger after her assault. Once I feel her soften, I press a little firmer against her and kiss her deeper. She hums each time I pull back and return for more. We nip at each other, each time testing how far we can take the pressure. The sharper and harder my bite, the more excited she gets. I capture her lip in my teeth and pull and she tugs her head back in opposition. I can’t say what possessed me to do so, but I only bite down harder, causing her to gasp. The next thing I know, I taste copper in my mouth and I know I’ve broken the skin.

Never in my life has the thought of making my partnerbleed turned me on. But everything with Harlow is so different. My tongue drags against the abused flesh and takes more of the crimson liquid. I love the way it makes her shiver. Her hands come up and hold my face in place as she attacks me, taking back what she wants after I have.

We kiss for what seems like an eternity, and I’m lost in her completely. Coming out of the fog, my throat no longer sore, I pull back to look at her.

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