Page 25 of Claimed By the Cowboy
I give him a blank look. “Huh?”
“That’s how long you kept your feet in the water.” His mouth twitches in a sexy half-smirk. “Practically a record for city folk."
“Twenty-three seconds? That’s it?”
“Hey, I’m impressed. Most tourists don’t make it past ten before they’re running for hot coffee and dry socks.”
I splash him, sending water flying in his direction. “Tourists? I’ll show you tourist!”
What follows is an epic water fight that would make children proud. Tom has reach and military training, but I have desperation and the righteous fury of someone who’s been underestimated her whole life.
By the time we call a truce, we’re thoroughly soaked and breathless with laughter.
“Okay, okay!” Tom calls, hands raised in surrender. “You win!”
“Damn right I do.” I push wet hair out of my eyes, grinning triumphantly.
We clamber out of the water and sit on our backs on the grassy bank as we catch our breath, the summer sun hot on our chilled bodies and wet clothes.
“I love it here,” I murmur.
His head turns toward me. “Yeah?”
I nod, eyes on the sky. “It’s the space. The quiet. The way everything smells like pine and sun and possibility.”
Tom hums in agreement. “There’s nothing like it. Open land clears your head, gives you room to breathe.”
“It really does,” I whisper. “Feels like the first time I’ve had room in years.”
His eyes hold mine for a few pulsing seconds before they drop to my chest, where my nipples strain against my wet sweater. When they snap back to mine, those azure depths are swirling with somethingprimal and needy.
He clears his throat. “You should, uh, get out of those wet clothes.”
I shouldn’t say it. I shouldn’t eventhinkit. But he’s sitting so close, wet and glorious and grinning like the devil himself.
“Are you trying to get me naked, Tom Sutton?”
Chapter 8
Tom
Are you trying to get me naked, Tom Sutton?
Her blush is so fucking cute, as if the bold, flirtatious words slipped out before she could stop them.
My cock stirs and heat flares in my blood at the thought of a naked Kitty, despite the chill of my wet clothes.
I grin. “Just trying to keep you from catching pneumonia.”
Kitty sighs and flutters her eyelashes. “Such a gentleman.”
If only you knew howungentlemanly my thoughts are right now…
I wink. “Don’t let that get around. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.” I stand and hold out my hand. “Come on, darlin’. Let's get you somewhere warm before you turn into a popsicle. If Delaney finds out I let you catch your death in a creek, she’ll skin me alive and use my hide for a rug.”
“Delaney’s not that violent,” she protests, then pauses. “Actually, she might be. She’s very protective.”
“Smart woman. You’re worth protecting.”
