Page 14 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

He stepped between her and the door. He raised his hands and leaned them against the wall on either side of her shoulders. “What do you thinkyoulost?”

Chapter4

Every inchof Rachel’s body quivered as she whispered, “You. Ilostyou.”

“But you didn’twantme.”

“I did. I wanted youtostay.”

“You know Icouldn’t.”

“Couldn’tyou?”

The elevator chimed as the doors slid open. She ducked under his arm and jumped into the hallway. When she turned, he was right behind her. She retreated until her back hit the wall. With nowhere to go, she gathered up what little courage shehadleft.

“Youshouldgo.”

When he didn’t immediately respond, butterflies beat furiously in her belly. His eyes glimmered with unspoken desire. His breath came fast and hard with just a hint of alcohol. Close enough to see the wash of stubble on his cheeks, she flicked her tongue out to wet her lips and, in doing so, made a hugemistake.

In an instant, Brady wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. His lips slashed across hers in a demanding kiss that stole her breath. Even if she’d wanted to fight him, she couldn’t. She knew, without a doubt, that she’d awakened the beast lurking inside him—hisbear.

His tongue slid between hers, eliciting a gasp from deep within her chest. All thoughts of fighting him vanished as he claimed her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him down to deepen the kiss. It had been so long since she’d kissed someone that the overwhelming rush of pleasure made her half-faint withwantonneed.

He broke away long enough to gasp. “Whichroom?”

“Two-fifteen.”

He scooped her into his arms as if she were lighter than a feather. When they reached the door, she yanked the keycard out of her jeans and jammed it into the lock. The second it clicked open, he kicked the door with his boot. He carried her inside and kicked the door closedbehindhim.

She couldn’t look at anything but the twin dark pools of desire in his eyes. The pure, masculine scent of erotic need rolled off of him in waves. She inhaled deeply, drawing in hisessence.

After setting her down, he cupped her face with his palms. “If you want metostop…”

She shook her head, unable to make her lips move. This was crazy, but she couldn’t think about the consequences now. She needed him, wanted him, and wouldn’t stop until shehadhim.

He pulled at the front of her jacket, quickly unbuttoning as he went. When he flicked the outer flap open, he groaned. “Damnzippers.”

She smiled and laced her fingers through his luxurious hair. “It keeps meextrawarm.”

As he pushed the coat off of her shoulders, she wriggled out of it. His hands flew to the hem of her long-sleeved shirt. With a tug, he pulled it up and overherhead.

She wanted him just as naked, so she unzipped his jacket and yanked it off. After making quick work of the buttons on his shirt, she smoothed her hands between the open edges and caressed it off of his broadshoulders.

He stilled. His hands rested at her waist for a second while he gazed down at her with pure, animalistic intent. The smooth skin on his biceps glided under her fingertips. When he shivered, she smiled. She remembered every inch of his body and what heliked.

And sodidhe.

His lips fell to capture her sensitive earlobe in a firm kiss that had her meltingintohim.

She gasped, “Brady.”

“Mmm?”

“Oh,God.”

His hands roamed across her back, stopping only to unhook her bra. The sensible cotton garment fell to the floor. If she’d had any idea she’d be naked in his arms, she would have worn lace, but after the way he’d greeted her at the ranch, she had absolutely no expectation of ending up in bedwithhim.

A flash of rational thought broke through the hazy lust but vanished the second his warm hands closed over her breasts. She tossed her head back and moaned. He walked her backward until her knees hit the bed. They fell onto the squeaking mattress together in a tangle oflimbs.

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