Page 45 of A Rancher's Bride
“I have condoms—” she began, but the rest of the sentence was buried under the onslaught of his mouth as he kissed her vigorously.
She wrapped her arms and legs around him, trying to roll so she could take the evening to a logical conclusion.
Instead, he slowed them down. He pinned her in place with his body even as he softened the kiss. Teasing now, a touch, then away. Another touch, until it was clear that in spite of the firm erection pressed against her, he didn’t plan to progress to sex.
No idea why, but she figured in this too, he was a grownup. She relaxed under him. Not as if she were giving up or mad or falling asleep. More like she was letting him take the lead.
Continueto take the lead since the last minutes had been all about him being in charge.
But she did press her palms against his cheeks, putting as much tenderness into her kiss as possible until he adjusted position, reaching down to help put her clothes back in place before returning to rest at her side.
* * *
Havingher pressed against him was pretty damn perfect. Yes, he still had a hard-on, but while his body wanted to continue, his brain had reached its limit.
Separating the Kelli he’d known for eight years from this brand-new woman wasn’t something he could do in under the space of twelve hours.
The fact he’d given in to the temptation to touch her had more to do with the fact she deserved something special for being a big enough person to deal with his stupidity in a mature and positive manner.
Orgasms for acting like an adult. He laughed softly as he rearranged them, tucking her against his body as he spooned against her back.
She adjusted his arm under her head until it was where she wanted it, which just made him chuckle again.
“You’re way too comfortable shoving me around,” he teased.
“I’m too fussy to compromise when it comes to being comfortable.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, wiggling in tighter. Her soft ass cradled his cock temptingly, but it was clear she wasn’t trying to push tonight’s agenda further. She truly was getting comfortable.
Kelli caressed a hand along his forearm to where his hand rested against her belly. It had been tempting to slip under her shirt, but as she stroked up and down the lines of his fingers, he leaned in to press his nose against her neck and inhaled deeply. He didn’t need more.
Slow, easy breaths followed. Kelli slipped off to sleep.
Luke lay there for a long time, thinking.
His mind played through a mess of memories. Kelli wandering around the ranch, up on horseback, driving a tractor while hauling a combine.
Was that part of the problem? That she’d always been there?
Maybe that was part of the reason why this felt so right. Kelli had been a part of his life for a good long time. What’s more, she’d been a friend. Someone he trusted. She knew how to make him smile, and she knew exactly how to get his temper rolling, and yet she always seemed so unflappable.
She was just—Kelli.
A little snore escaped her, which he found absolutely adorable. And then she wiggled enough that he eased off, giving her space to change position.
She rolled instantly, arms and legs shooting out. One arm slapped his face, a foot caught him sharply on the shin. He twisted instinctively, far too late to have been any good if she had accidentally aimed at his nuts again.
“You are one hell of a dangerous woman,” he murmured, staring at her face. He stroked the hair back from her forehead and watched her until sleep snuck up on him.
She woke him twice in the night with her flailing arms and kicking legs. The second time it happened he was too tired to be amused anymore, gathering heroblivious to the worldbody against him and pinning her in place.
She might be little, but one errant kick would turn her green light to full red on his side of the equation.
Luke woke to an empty bed, the bathroom door still moving as he peered around the room in search of his missing bed partner.
“Kelli?”
Her head poked out the doorway a second later, eyes twinkling as she crooked a finger and motioned for him to join her. “Hurry up.”
He hesitated too long because she rolled her eyes then marched out to whip back the top sheet and grab his hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not about to ravish you in the shower or anything. You’ve got to see this.”
