Page 34 of A Rancher's Bride
She stared at his lips again. “If we’re supposed to be a couple, you can’t jerk away every time I touch you. Just like I can’t react as if it’s the first time you’ve ever touched me. I know that’s a little out of our comfort zone, so we’d better practice.”
Her sitting in his lap, staring at him intently, was doing wicked things to his system. Luke had been aware Kelli was a woman, but he’d deliberately not thought about her in a sexual way before.
Being given a green light—stupid how parts of his brain had switched paths almost instantly. The more animal-based parts.
Her sitting in his lap now was not remotely like the other day when he’d hugged her, offering comfort. Nope, feeling her slight weight resting against his body sent a whole different sensation roaring through him.
“You’re right.”
Jeez, was that his voice? Far too low and far too needy.
She tipped off his cowboy hat, gingerly stroking her fingers through his hair, and a shiver shot down his spine. A second ago he’d had an enormous knot in his throat, and now his mouth had gone dry, and as she slid a finger down the side of his neck to the top button on his shirt, heat flared.
Shocking in its intensity. Devastating in the speed of its arrival.
“I’m going to kiss you,” she warned.
He should be warning her off. He should be stopping her, turning this entire train around before they went out of control, but the track had already been set.
“Tell me no,” Kelli whispered. “Or tell me yes. This is up to you.”
His heart pounded, and the heat gathered in his belly had nothing to do with impressing people or making Silver Stone look good. It had everything to do with the fact he was suddenly, shockingly aware of the woman in his arms. The strong, confident anddesirablewoman who he had never even thought of being with, and yet here she was.
A woman who had clearly told him she wanted him, no strings attached. No demands, no fallout. Just desire.
He still wasn’t sure where the train was going, but there was no way he could stop this part of the journey.
Luke leaned in and slid his hands around her body as their lips connected.
8
This was really happening. She was sitting in Luke Stone’s lap, kissing him.
Being kissed, because even as she leaned in to make the connection, it was clear Luke had made his choice.
This was not a man sitting passively while she pressed hesitant kisses on him. Which was what she’d worried about in the first place, and sometime when she was alone, she and her confidence were going to have a firm talking to because the whole “maybe you don’t want me, but I’m going to tell you how I’ve been drooling over you for years” confession had been a little over the top for someone who was used to keeping her cool.
That had not been cool at all. Nor flirtatious or seductive.
No, what it had been was honest, which was pretty much where Kelli’s head and heart were firmly stuck. So be it. Just like when she had refused to tell Luke about her situation that had led to helping Ryan, it hadn’t been her lying. Just keeping silent.
It seemed those were her two choices: shove down her emotions or let them spew.
Didn’t seem to have harmed her so far, though.
And then she wasn’t thinking anymore because their soft, gentle exploration was heating up. Luke’s hands fell to her hips, sliding down her thighs slowly as their mouths explored. Lips moving, teeth nibbling. The connection was still delicate, but instead of a slow, single drip from a faucet, pressure was building.
Her hands were in his hair, stroking and playing, the soft strands teasing her palms. His thumb rubbed back and forth just above her knee, his other hand easing up her spine until he wrapped his hand around the base of her braid. He tugged lightly to pull their lips apart.
Luke swore softly, gazing into her eyes for a split second before his lips returned to her skin, brushing over her cheek, making contact below her ear.
A shiver took her, shaking her entire body and making her ache. Heat flashed between her legs, and she pressed her hands to the tops of his shoulders so she could shift position.
Kelli intended to rearrange herself to straddle his thighs, only at that exact second a polite but firm cough sounded behind them, and Luke jerked his body the wrong direction. She was already in motion, unable to stop the firm connection between her knee and his groin.
Luke made a soft sound of distress, then in spite of the fact she’d just canned him in the nuts, he rose awkwardly to his feet. He hauled Kelli up with him, and when he shifted her to stand half in front of his body, she went willingly.
She was particularly grateful that female anatomy, while annoying in some ways, didn’t announce arousal as vigorously or visually as for males. Except nipples, and that’s what padded bras were for.
