Page 66 of Kentucky Nights
His nostrils flare. “I think I’d rather have you wear mine. It means you’re taken. No other cowboy will talk to you, and if he does, well, they might find themselves in the grasp of my claws.” He flexes his fingers, his nails growing and darkening to show his shift.
“What if I want to wear my own while you’re wearing yours?” I place my hand on his knee, needing him to relax. I want him to know that no other could possibly take me away from him when I know there is no other for me.
“I’ll have to figure out a way to show the world you’re all mine, then.”
The side of my neck heats with the thought of his mark there for all to see, for all to smell, and arousal soaks my new panties.
I don’t even want to know how Lorcan got those, and I’m sure Kentucky won’t be happy about another man buying me underwear if we talked about it, so I’m going to keep my lips shut.
A growl comes from Kentucky. “You can’t be smellin’ that good, Dru. You need to go inside, lie down, and I’ll get a heating pad for your cramps. I’ll get anything you need. I have to go out and do the chores. Later, I don’t think I’ll be able to wait. My body is on fire for you still.” He stands, downs the rest of his coffee, and sets the empty cup on the arm of the rocking chair.
He cages me in, each arm gripping my chair, and he tilts me back. I gasp, worried I’ll fall backwards.
“Don’t worry. I won’t ever let you fall. I’d catch you before you ever hit the ground.” He leans in, his breath riddled with a hint of coffee and iron.
We fall into a sexual tension-filled silence. Seconds turn to minutes, our gazes locked, and his tinted eyes have a sparkle of happiness to them that I haven’t seen before.
Without saying a word, his palm reaches for my face. His thumb glides across the edge of my jaw, taking his time drinking me in. Kentucky exhales, tilting his head while he traces the other side. It’s as if he is memorizing me.
“If a constellation-decorated sky is what the world sees as beautiful, then they have never met you,” he admires, never once taking his attention away from me.
“Kentucky.” I become shy, breaking our gaze.
He lifts my chin up with his index finger, forcing me to look at him. “I’m serious, Dru. Never in my entire life have I ever seen someone or something so fucking breathtaking before. I need nothing else as long as I’m surrounded by you.”
I lean forward, placing his hat on top of his head, and give him a long, soft kiss. Our lips move in slow, deliberate skims. I’m weightless. I’d float away if it weren’t for his arm wrapping around my waist to pull me closer to him.
“I could kiss you until the sun goes down,” he mutters, breaking the kiss so we can catch our breath. “I’d better go before I lock us inside this house.”
“Can I come with you?”
He straightens, hooking his thumb through his belt loops. He looks like a cowboy. He has on dark jeans, a belt with a big, gold belt buckle that says, ‘Dead Man’s Ranch’, and his button-up shirt is tucked in with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. His black boots round at the top, and the only speck of color on them is the silver spurs in the back.
“Darlin’, I never expect you to work the ranch. I want you to have relaxing days. I want you to do whatever you want. If you want to work, great. If you want to stay home, great. If you?—”
I stand next, grab the lapels of his shirt, and haul him in for a kiss to silence him. He groans, sinking into my embrace. He cups my face, then places his free hand on the base of my neck. I nibble his bottom lip, giving it a gentle tug, and lean away from him.
His eyes are still closed. His lips are puffy and a bit red.
I never expected love to find me like this, yet here I am, wanting to completely change my life.
“You better listen to me, Mr. Jones. And listen well. I will not ever stay cooped up in that house. I’m ambitious. I have goals. I like to work. That hasn’t changed since meeting you, do you understand? It’s important to me to work. I’ve come too far to give it all up now—especially for a man—no offense.”
The muscles in his neck tense when he laughs, a big, bright smile taking over his face. His shoulders shake with all the humor he is experiencing. Kentucky even pinches the bridge of his nose, then wipes under one of his eyes.
“What is so funny? I’m serious.”
“I know. I know, Dru. Hey, I don’t mean to make it seem like you aren’t or that I’m not taking you seriously. I am. I’ve lived through so many different times where women didn’t have the same rights as you do now. I’ve been isolated, and it’s refreshing to see how times have changed; that’s all. I love that you have dreams and want to work. I support you always, no matter what you want to do.”
I slip my arms around his waist and peer up at him. I have to bend my neck as far back as possible to even see his face. He is so tall. “That means I can come and do the chores with you?”
His happiness fades a bit, a stern tension morphing his face. “Yes, but you won’t do anything that puts you in danger. Okay?”
I squeal with glee. “Yes! Yes. I promise. Okay, let me go get dressed.”
“Okay, Darlin’. I’ll wait out here for you. Go on.” He spanks my ass when I turn around, and I yelp, rubbing the spot he hit.
“Kentucky!”
