Page 18 of Waiting for the Rancher
Her hand was over his mouth. Her palm against his lips. Her fingers touching his jaw. Her skin flush with his scruff. She was right there for the taking. All he had to do was press his mouth in, and he’d get to taste her. And heaven almighty, he was suddenly hungry—no, famished—for a taste of her.
Before he could figure out how to restrain himself, he pressed into her palm with his lips and kissed the warm spot at the center.
At the contact, she froze, her gaze crashing into his and widening.
A strange and deep longing radiated through him, and he couldn’t keep from kissing her palm again. She was so soft and warm and perfect, and he couldn’t think of anything else that he wanted to do but keep on tasting her, especially while drowning in her eyes.
She was so beautiful, her eyes so wide, her mouth slightly open, her lips rounded with surprise.
What would it be like to kiss her lips?
Heat stabbed his gut hard, and his hands moved toward her with the need to draw her closer. He couldn’t stop himself as he made contact with her hips. He skimmed the curves, settling his fingers around her waist. It would be all too easy to pull her close. Or even to lay her back in the hay and press against her.
The image sent more heat through him, and he closed his eyes to block the image, except it wouldn’t go away. It was seared to the forefront of his mind.
As if those thoughts were blaring loudly for her to hear, she snatched her hand away from his mouth and scooted back several inches.
His eyes flew open in time to see not only surprise in her eyes but also confusion. She probably had no idea exactly how attractive she was and the power she could wield over a man.
“That was a flirting lesson.” He spoke the first thing that came to his mind, the first excuse he could think of for why he’d just kissed her hand.
“It was?” She was holding the hand he’d kissed and grazing her thumb across the center of her palm as though trying to make sense of the kisses he’d pressed there.
“Yep. I’m gonna teach you how to flirt. But you have to promise you’ll only practice with me.”
“Why just with you?” Did her voice have a breathless quality to it? Had his kisses affected her as much as they had him?
“Because I’m safe and won’t try to take advantage of you in return.” It was the plain truth. He was safer than any other man. And the other plain truth was that he didn’t want her trying out any of his tricks on anyone else. His gut tightened justthinkingabout her flirting with another man. He couldn’t imaginewatchingit unfold.
She was still peering at him, her eyes wide and innocent.
“Promise you’ll only flirt with me?” he persisted.
“Only with you? For how long?”
Forever? He bit back the word and instead shrugged. “Until I say so.”
She cocked her head, as if she was starting to question his sanity. “Eventually I have to use what I’m learning on other men.”
No, she did not. At least, not for a long time. “Some fella is gonna sweep you off your feet without you having to do a blasted thing. I guarantee it.”
A small smile hovered over her lips. “Thanks, Maverick. I wish I had your confidence.”
He was actually glad she was a little bit shy and reserved when it came to men. Men were intimidated by women who were shy and beautiful. And she was both.
“So, what’s the first thing I should do when I approach a fellow?” She sat up straighter as though she truly were preparing to learn from the master.
“Should I call himdarlin’the way you call all the womendarlin’?”
“Naw, the first thing you gotta do is make eye contact.” He held her gaze. “And hold it for a few seconds.”
“Like this?” Scrunching her forehead, she stared at him intently, almost angrily.
He couldn’t keep from grinning. “Whoa, now. We’re not aiming to scare them away.” Or maybe that would be a good thing.
She smiled, then swatted his arm.
“Try it again.”
