Page 8 of Breaking Her In

He keeps moving in until he’s only a few feet away, then crosses his thick arms over his massive chest. It’s very brief, but his eyes drop to my legs for just a moment–to the sweat gleaming on my thighs. My heart is pounding in my chest.

“You shouldnotbe wearing those.” The words grind out of his mouth like iron on iron. “And prancing around like a goddamn–”

He stops short, biting his lower lip like he was about to say something he shouldn’t.

I frown. “Excuse me?”

He motions to my shorts, his eyes narrowing. “Those. This isn’t Venice Beach. Those are too damned short. You might as well be–”

“Might as well be what?” I cut him off, lifting my chin. “Not wearing anything? Naked?”

He doesn’t answer. His nostrils flare like a bull about to charge. And from the way his eyes are focused on me, I get the feeling he wants to drag me into the barn and bend me over a hay bale.

I may be a virgin, but God, I wish he would.

What a way to lose my V-card. And what a guy to lose it to.

His heavy-lidded, blue eyes scour my body like he owns it. Like he bought and paid for me like I’m one of these ranch animals and now he’s just deciding what he’ll do with me. Well, if he thinks I’m going to cower in fear from him, he’s got another think coming.

I stand up straighter, pushing out my chest so the sun catches my breasts and my tank top clings even tighter to my curves. His gaze is a challenge, but so is mine. I can see right through him now. Every order, every grunt, every name he calls me–it’s all just a cover for what’sreallygoing on.

He wants me. And maybe it’s twisted and wrong, but I’m not that little girl anymore, and I don’t need a sweet city boy that’s gonna treat me nice. I want it real, raw, and rough, just like Colt. And the way he’s looking at me now? There’s nothing sweet about it.

“I’ll wear what I want, thank you very much,” I reply. “So you better just get used to it, mister.”

I turn to go, but Colt snatches me roughly by the arm and pulls me back, his eyes dark and blazing. “Not around me you won’t.”

I gulp hard. My whole body is tingling, like lightning is about to strike. My inner thighs arehottoo all of a sudden.

“Why?” I whisper. “You afraid you won’t be able to control yourself?”

For a moment, our eyes are locked to each other. I can hear the sound of his deep, controlled breaths, feel the rough skin of his hands against my arm.

Finally, a muscle twitches in his cheek, and he releases me. “Go inside and take a break, Lena.”

Could it be? He truly does want me and now he wants to get me away from him before he acts on his desires?

“No,” I reply defiantly, moving in even closer. Close enough that I can smell the sweet aroma of his body.

He steps back. “Go and cool off before you say something else you’ll regret.”

I shrug. “I don’t regret anything I’ve said.Or done.” Time to push it. “Not even watching you sweat like that with your sleeves rolled up and your jeans tight on your thighs and butt while you lift up hay bales like they weigh absolutely nothing.”

That ought to do it.

Colt’s fists clench, and his eyes sink to my lips. “Lena…”

God, I absolutelyloveit when he says my name like that–low and tense like a warning. It’s like he’s trying to hold back and is barely able to.

“Colt?” I breathe back, smiling like a brat.

He leans in, and I close my eyes, preparing myself. This is it. My first kiss.

But that’s when he turns around and storms off, his boots crunching gravel as he goes, putting enormous distance between us in an instant.

My heart sinks as I watch him go, his broad shoulders disappearing around the side of the barn. But I can’t help it as a giggle rises out from my chest.

I got him.

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