Page 50 of White Collar Rancher

“Gross!” She dissolved in laughter as he carried her to his bathroom. He quit teasing her with his beard, but she took over, tangling her hands in his hair and tightening her legs around him.

By the time he deposited her next to his shower and closed the door, she didn’t feel the cold. He peeled his shirt off as he stalked toward her. She did the same, tossing it where he’d dropped his. They watched each other as they undressed. It was their own private, hurried strip show.

He maintained eye contact as he opened a drawer in the vanity next to him and withdrew a condom packet. She flipped the shower lever to a setting that’d warm them both—not that they’d need it.

He advanced on her, bringing to life a fantasy she hadn’t known she had about being snowed into a cabin in the mountains with a reclusive beast of a man. Normally she would’ve jumped in and washed off before he touched her. But now she was under his spell.

He had enough foresight to test the spray of water before drawing them both inside and closing the door behind him. “I’m impressed,” he murmured as he backed her against the cool tile. Warm spray pelted the side of her body. He moved enough to let the water hit her and heat her body and the wall behind her, but he was still pressed against her, his erection throbbing between them. “I didn’t think you’d let me get this far.” He skimmed his hand down her belly and slicked his fingers through her folds.

Her moan was amplified in the stall. She widened her stance and twined her arms around his neck. “You’re hard to resist.”

In one smooth move, he lifted her and angled his shaft to slide inside as she settled on him. The way he filled her so completely chased away the rest of the cold. They were moving. Or he was, and she gave herself over to his thrusts. Her breasts rubbed against his chest, heightening the sensations of the water hitting her fevered skin, the stroke of him inside her, and the hard wall pinning her to his solid chest.

Her entire body tightened. She clung to him. Their lips met and opened immediately. Wet tongues clashed as their bodies worked in harmony to reach a mutual peak. His shoulders were rigid, his legs braced. He was close. She strained against him, the tease of her clit as they smashed together not quite enough to push her over the edge.

She almost shouted in relief when he wedged an arm between them, not stopping until his fingers grazed her nub. She melted against him, her moans and whimpers mixing with his grunts as his hips flexed harder and faster.

She couldn’t call his name or shout yes as she peaked. They were too tied together. Their mouths fused, joined at the sex, her legs anchoring her to him. Careening over the summit, she came hard. A long groan resonated from him into her, like a human-sized vibrator sending little waves through her nipples and her belly. His strokes shortened until he stiffened with his release. She rode out hers as he climaxed.

Their kiss went from frantic and needy to slow until they finally broke apart. “You’re welcome to come shovel anytime.”

“You might’ve created a monster.” If this was how it ended, she’d be over here for every snowfall.

His smile was as hot as the look in his eyes. He might not have been done if it wasn’t the middle of the afternoon and she had to get home. He didn’t leave the shower like she’d expected, only leaning out to dispose of the condom.

She took the soap she’d bought for him, hoping he didn’t mind her suggestion. He didn’t seem like the body-wash type, so she’d stuck with bar soap that wouldn’t gross up the shower. Lathering up the brick in her hands, she washed his chest down first. He snatched it from her and worked it until suds covered his big hands. Then she was next.

He dipped his hands lower until a shudder ran through her from head to toe. Were they going to do it again? She had to get home and prepare for the week, and Isaiah could wake any minute.

“Just to show you what will be waiting for you next time.” He washed her down completely, his touch gentle but full of suggestion.

“I don’t think I’m at risk of forgetting.” She might not be able to wait until next weekend.

Once they were all dried off, she went to the mudroom to grab her coat and boots. The front door would be easier to get out. The stairs weren’t cleared yet, but it was a shorter span before she reached the cleared-off drive. And her packed bag was there.

She carried her things through the kitchen. Justin was waiting at the front door next to her purple bag. His hands were full of her toiletries. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Hair product.

“I didn’t want you to forget these.”

Out of the goodness of his heart? Or because he had to maintain such a strict line of friends with benefits that she couldn’t even keep a toothbrush here? “Oh, okay. Thanks.”

She opened her bag, grabbed them from his hands, and dumped them inside. Uncharacteristic of her. What if they spilled, oozed, or smeared residue over her clothing? She didn’t care. The hurt burning inside of her cleared out her need for order.

“Give Isaiah a kiss for me when he wakes.” She heaved the bag over her shoulder and darted outside.

“Wait.”

Would he apologize? Was this the moment they’d have the talk? The one where they moved ahead into the real relationship she couldn’t deny she wanted? The only other direction was backward, and she didn’t know if she could be just friends as he forged ahead in life—with someone else.

“Let me shovel the steps before you—”

“It’s not bad.” Cleaning off the snow was a sweet gesture but not the topic she’d both hoped and feared he’d bring up. The need to leave overwhelmed her. She charged down the steps, didn’t slip, and scurried to her car.

Oh, hell. She’d have a pile of snow on her car.

No. She almost pulled up short. All the snow was brushed off and the windows had even been scraped.

That was it. When he did kind, thoughtful gestures like this, her hopes rose. She wanted more. She wanted his actions to mean more. But he’d probably do the same for his sister. For Caleb. For any other person he called friend. A word that was no longer good enough for her.

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