Page 19 of A Cowboy's Twinkling Lights Lasso
“Let me help you.” I lean over, and our heads collide with a thud that tingles.
“Ouch.” She covers her forehead.
“Shit, Flora. Are you alright?” I loop my finger under her chin and tip up her head. “Let me see.”
I take her hand from her forehead and brush her hair back for a better look.
“I’m okay. It was just a little bump.”
My thumb skims the pinkish mark on her tender skin. “No lump.”
“I told you, I’m fine.” Her fingers curl around my wrist.
I glance down at her. “I suppose you’ll live.”
The softness of her lips beckon me. The vulnerability in her gaze holds me captive.
“I need to finish untangling you.” Her whisper is soft and sizzling.
A spark of tension hums between us as she resumes her task. I sit back and watch her tackle her way through the lights. A flutter resonates in my chest when she glances up with a little victory.
“Is it just me, or do we light up together like a well-decorated tree?”
She laughs at my line. “I don’t think I’ll be able to handle another cheesy pickup line after this event. Ah-ha!” With a triumphant tug, she frees a section of the lights and stands up. “That’s one set.”
“How many sets are there?”
Her shoulders lift in a slight shrug. “I guess we will find out.”
She leans over my shoulder to drape the strand of lights on the back of the chair. When our eyes lock, she pauses. Our faces hover mere inches apart. The world around us fades in that moment, and it’s just the two of us.
Her lips part. Her breath kisses my skin. A magnetic pull charges the air. I’m afraid to say anything for fear of bursting the moment. I’m afraid to cup her face or touch her mouth. But mostly, I’m afraid of how much I want to do all of the above.
“Why can’t I stay angry at you?” she breathes. “Anger rids whatever this is.”
I want to ask her why she’d ever be mad at me, but I also want my lips over hers. So instead, I ask, “what is this?”
“A mistake.”
“I’m good at making mistakes.”
Her face shifts like I’ve said something wrong.
I reach for my stetson and place it on her head. My hand remains on the back of the hat’s soft felt. I draw her head closer to mine. As my lips brush hers, I whisper, “I’ve always liked how you look wearing my hat.”
She pulls away and blinks. “Stay right here.” I love the mischievous smile playing on her lips.
She twists the strands of lights around one of my wrists and yanks it behind the chair. “Whoa, what are you—”
She pops up on the side and plasters a quick, hard kiss on my lips. “Don’t you trust me?”
Before I respond, she has my other wrist tied and binds my arms behind me. The constructing lights are unforgiving, leaving a sharp sting.
“Listen, Flora. I’m all about kinky play—” My breath hitches when she straddles me. The soft fabric of her dress brushes against my bare skin.
Fuck. What was I saying? Who gives a shit at this point?
“Is that a candy cane in your pocket? Or are you just happy to see me?” Her smile is tantalizing.
