Page 36 of The Cowgirl's Forever Love
Lisa worked at his buttons until she could slide her fingers over his chest. A light tangle of hair scratched her knuckles and another breathless groan escaped him as she pushed the fabric aside far enough to press her palms against his torso.
“Do you have something cooking on the stove?” she whispered, staring down at her hands, loving the texture of his skin under her fingertips. “Something that’s going to burn?”
“Who the hell cares?” Josiah grumbled.
He caught the bottom of her borrowed T-shirt and jerked it off over her head. A second later, the fabric was scrunched into a ball and thrown mindlessly to one side, the material catching on the lampshade beside the couch before dropping to the floor.
His gaze locked on her naked torso. Blue eyes swept over her as a smile grew on his lips. “I’m hungry,” he muttered. “Excuse me while I enjoy my appetizer.”
Josiah had been tryingto be patient. Dealing with Ollie’s paw, then giving the animal a quick wash and a meal had taken less time than expected, and he’d been two seconds away from joining Lisa in the shower when the old reluctance kicked in. Unwelcome, unwanted, but undeniable.
He knew the reasons behindthisparticular hesitation were unfounded—he was now fit, and in shape, and Lisa had made it clear she was interested in a more physical relationship.
Demons from the past were tough to defeat, no matter how strong the current motivation.
Instead, he’d scrubbed down quickly in the guest bath and gotten supper started.
Seeing Lisa turn up in his shirt? He’d gone so fucking hard he didn’t think his brain was firing on all cylinders anymore. And when she touched him—that gentle tease had melted every remaining concern, and he was cursing his past self for being stupid and missing out on naked and wet time with her.
Thankfully, one swift move had corrected part of his mistake, and she sat in front of him, dusky red nipples and sweet rounded curves, and any chance he’d had of thinking fled entirely.
“Yes?” he asked. His voice trembled. He wasn’t even sure what he was asking, except she had to say yes.
Lisa leaned back, arching as she placed her hands behind her on the countertop. Her gaze met his, bold and unwavering. “Oh, yes.”
He slid one hand around her back, palm flaring with heat as he touched her, pressing her knees apart with his other hand so he could slide her to the very edge of the counter, he stepped in close, drawing her against his body to take her lips again. He feasted on her mouth as heat passed between them. Naked skin caressed briefly with each rub. Josiah eased back far enough to slip his hand up and cup her breast. Teasing his thumb over her nipple as it peaked.
Somewhere in the distance, a long, sorrowful howl sounded.
Lisa tensed. “Ollie?”
It had to be. They both sat motionless for a moment, hearts racing fast enough her pulse vibrated against his chest.
A second later the sound cut off.
They listened, hard.
Silence.
Lisa grabbed him by the head, leaning in as if to resume where they’d stopped—when the howl rang again. A heartbreaking sound full of gloom and utter despair. If this had been a performance, his parents would have called the actor out for overplaying their role.
She swore. He swore.
Neither of them could ignore the plea. Not after what the poor creature had experienced.
“Stay here,” Josiah ordered. “Please.”
He sprinted across the room and down the hall, sliding into the garage that had been made over as a clinic room.
The instant he opened the door, Ollie rose to her feet, tail wagging a million miles an hour as she approached the front of the penned area he’d left her in.
“You’re a great mood killer,” Josiah muttered. “But whatever. I’ll forgive you this time. Just try not to do it again.”
He opened the door to the dog kennel, and Ollie stepped out, balancing daintily on three legs. He grabbed a blanket from the shelf, following after the dog that seemed intent on making herself at home.
She headed unerringly to the kitchen, stopping at Lisa’s dangling feet and staring up adoringly as her tail thumped the side of the cupboard, butt shaking hard enough she nearly tipped over.
Lisa had folded her arms over her chest, naked from the waist up. Leaning over, she reached down as far as possible to offer her fingers for Ollie to sniff. “You’re safe, sweetie. Go lie down.”
