Page 23 of Auctioned to the Cowboy

Her green eyes, usually so full of sunshine, now hold a gravity that tells me she understands the weight of my words. She nods, her hair brushing against her cheek as she moves. It’s a sight, her looking up at me with those emerald eyes full of trust.

“Making this real, being your wife for real, would mean more to me than a title or an escape,” she says, her voice earnest. “I wasn’t hunting for love when I met you, but you and your family have shown me something I didn’t know was out there. And yeah, I want that. I want all of it.”

“I want it all too. With you,” I admit, leaning in for another kiss that seals our unspoken vows. Together, we’re more than we ever thought possible.

The kiss deepens, and the world outside ceases to exist. The howling wind, the biting cold—it all fades away, leaving only the warmth of Shay in my arms. Her touch soothes the parts of me I thought were too damaged to heal.

I pull back slightly, enough to see her face. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips slightly swollen from our kiss, and her eyes glisten with something I can’t quite name but recognize all the same. Hope. The same hope that’s been quietly blooming in me since the day she walked into my life.

“Shay,” I murmur, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “This… us… it’s not about the ranch anymore.”

Her lips part, and she stares at me like she’s trying to piece together what I’m saying. “What is it about?”

“It’s about us.” The words come easier than I expected, steady and true. “You. Me. What we could have together.”

A soft smile spreads across her face, tentative but genuine. “You mean that?”

“Every word.” I tighten my hold on her, needing her to know how serious I am. “I didn’t think I’d ever want this again, Shay. Hell, I didn’t even think it was possible. But you’ve changed everything.”

Her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, anchoring herself to me. “You’ve changed everything for me, too, Henry. I didn’t think I’d ever feel safe again, let alone… wanted.”

“You’re more than wanted,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “You’re needed. You’re everything I didn’t know I was missing.”

She leans into me, resting her forehead against mine. “Show me.”

“My pleasure,” I rumble, sliding my hand through her silky hair to cup her nape and pull her in for a hard, heated kiss. I slide my other hand beneath her sweatshirt. “No bra, wife?” I mutter against her mouth when I find smooth, unfettered skin.

A whimper emerges from the bottom of her lungs as I cup her breast and softly circle the nipple until it tightens into a hard bud. She leans into me more heavily, as if her body is robbed of strength.

I slide my tongue along the seam of her mouth, and Shay opens at my silent command. The kiss turns demanding, my tonguegliding along hers, and all rational thought burns to ashes. There’s only Shay and the scorching intimacy we share.

She grasps at my sweatshirt, her hands searching restlessly over my chest. “Henry,” she moans, her neck arching as my tongue traces an intricate pattern on her throat.

I lift my head and smile in masculine satisfaction when I see the passion-softened curve of her lips and the haziness of her green eyes. “You’re mine, Shay. Do you understand?”

She nods dazedly. “I belong here. With you.”

I undress us leisurely, pausing often to claim her mouth with languid kisses. This morning, our coming together was quick and urgent, but tonight, I want to take my time, savor every inch of her soft skin and every sigh from her plump lips.

When I finally remove her panties and she’s naked, she presses herself against me with a whimper of relief. Her skin is warm and satin-smooth, her nipples rubbing the hair on my chest.

Shay reaches between us and curls her fingers around my cock. As she clasps me, it moves with a will of its own. A guttural groan escapes my throat before I can stop it. I watch her, her brow furrowing in concentration, her lips parting slightly as if she’s experiencing every sensation I am.

“You’re perfect,” I murmur, unable to keep the words from tumbling out. “Don’t rush. Take your time.”

Her eyes meet mine, a flicker of boldness in those verdant depths that takes my breath away. Slowly, her grip tightens, her strokes becoming more confident, and every nerve in my body ignites under her touch. It’s not just the pleasure she’s giving me—it’s the way she opens herself to this. To me.

And damn if I’m not completely undone by it.

I’m harder than I’ve ever been, my shaft ridged with veins and pulsing in time with my heartbeat. My voice is thick with desire as I guide her fingers to the head. “This is where it’s most sensitive.”

She gives me a shy smile. “I worked that out last night when I had you in my mouth.”

I groan as I remember her sweet mouth wrapped around me. My hips jerk as she strokes the broad tip and the small slit in the center until a drop of precum seeps out. It makes my skin slippery, and she circles the head with her fingertips before sliding her hand down to explore my tight balls nestled beneath.

I catch her wrist. “That’s enough for now,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Why?”

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