Page 14 of Rugged Mountain Man
Much later I’m on the last feed of the day.
I take a deep breath and step forward, holding the bucket as steadily as I can. The mare sniffs the air, her ears twitching, but she doesn’t back away. Her head dips, and she takes a bite. My breath rushes out in relief.
“See? Told you,” Cole says, a hint of pride in his voice. I turn around as he walks into the stable.
“Guess I had a good teacher,” I say, looking up at him.
Big mistake. The intensity in his eyes, the way they’re fixed on me like I’m the only thing that matters, steals the air from my lungs.
“Careful,” he murmurs, his voice dropping. “Keep looking at me like that, and she’ll think you’re distracted.”
I laugh nervously, stepping back. “Maybe I am.”
Before he can respond, a loud bang echoes through the stable. The mare startles, her head jerking up, and then she bolts out of nowhere.
“Oh no!” I shout, frozen as the mare bolts, her hooves churning up dirt. She’s a blur of panic, heading straight for the paddock.
“Stay here,” Cole orders, his voice calm but commanding. He grabs a lead rope and strides after her, all power and precision. My breath catches as I watch him, the way his broad shoulders shift, the confident set of his jaw. He moves like he owns the world, and maybe he does—this part of it, anyway.
The mare circles the paddock, wild and frantic. Cole doesn’t rush. He approaches slowly, speaking to her in a low, steady tone that I can’t quite hear but feel all the same. My pulse races as I take in the flex of his arms, the dirt smudging his forearms, the sweat glistening on his skin. He’s raw, untamed, and completely magnetic.
With one smooth motion, he loops the rope around her neck. She doesn’t fight him. She just... submits, like she knows she’s met her match.
Cole leads her back, his shirt clinging to him, his hair damp from exertion. He turns to me, his voice rough. “She’s good now.”
I swallow hard. That tinkling down there is back. God, how does he make this look so hot?
Cole turns to me, wiping his hands on his jeans, dirt smudged across his forearms and the front of his shirt clinging to his chest. The raw strength of him, the heat radiating off his body—it makes me forget how to breathe.
“She’s settled now,” he says, his voice rough, sending a shiver down my spine. He steps closer, his dark eyes scanning my face. “You okay?”
I nod, but my heart pounds so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. “That was... incredible,” I manage, my voice shaky. “You’re incredible.”
His lips twitch, the faintest hint of a smile. “Just doing what needs to be done.”
The air between us feels heavy, charged. His gaze lingers on my lips, and I swear the temperature in the stable just shot up ten degrees. My stomach flips.
“You’re still shaking,” he murmurs, stepping closer, his scent—earth and sweat—wrapping around me like a blanket. His hand lifts, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. His fingers linger, the calluses rough against my skin, and my breath catches.
“I’m fine,” I whisper, though my body trembles, every nerve attuned to him.
“Are you?” His voice is low, a rasp that sends a rush of heat through me. His thumb brushes over my cheekbone, and I lean into the touch before I can think better of it.
“Cole,” I murmur, his name a plea I don’t fully understand.
“Tell me to stop,” he says, his voice thick with restraint, but I can see it in his eyes—the fire, the need. And I don’t want him to stop.
“I won’t,” I whisper, my words barely audible, but they’re enough.
Cole doesn’t hesitate. His mouth comes down on mine, and it’s like I’ve been lit on fire. I gasp against him, but he doesn’t let me pull away. His hand cups the back of my head, angling me exactly how he wants, and his lips claim me like he’s been waiting his whole life for this moment.
I moan when his tongue slides into my mouth, stroking mine in a way that makes my knees weak. His other hand grips my waist, pulling me against him, and I feel every hard inch of him pressed into me. He’s solid, unyielding, and yet his touch is gentle enough to make my heart race. My fingers find their way into his hair, tangling in the dark strands as I hold on for dear life.
“You’re so sweet,” he growls against my lips, his voice rough and low. “Like I knew you would be.”
My skin tingles, heat pooling low in my belly as his hands move over me—one sliding up my back, the other gripping my hip. He tilts his head, deepening the kiss, and I can’t help the whimper that escapes me. His response is immediate, a low rumble in his chest as he presses me harder against the stable wall.
“Cole,” I whisper when his lips leave mine, trailing kisses down my jaw to my neck. I tilt my head back, giving him better access, and he takes full advantage. His teeth graze my skin, just enough to make me shiver, and then his tongue soothes the spot, driving me absolutely insane.
