Page 36 of Wrangling Hearts
His eyes were dark and lust-filled while focused on my mouth. He reached forward and tore a ragged breath from me as he ran his thumb along my bottom lip. I felt that touch in every cell of my body, and I wanted more of it. Now. “So much. You have no idea. But I’d start with that mouth.”
I was playing with fire, I knew that, but according to the man in front of me, looking at me as if I were the only thing that mattered, I was invincible.
So I wrapped a hand around the back of his neck and brought his lips to mine.
When I was a girl, I knew kissing Beau McLeod was one of those things that could potentially happen over the course ofour lives. But then that door got slammed shut. What I never expected back then was that he’d be the best kiss I’d ever have. But here he was, making my knees weak in under a fucking second.
Lacing my arms around his neck, I sighed into the kiss as I melted into him, into the slow glide of his tongue against mine. I felt that teasing lick in every single inch of my body, coursing through my veins like electricity and obliterating every ounce of hurt I felt.
He let out a low, rumbling groan as he pressed me against the truck, his glorious body draped over mine. I’d never felt safer than with him shielding me from the world around us; he might’ve been my enemy, but I knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. It only made me want him more.
Beau’s hands were everywhere: tangled in my hair, gliding down my side, cupping my ass to pull me closer. It was like he didn’t know where to grab first, and just wanted it all at once. And I was happy to oblige him right here in this parking lot.
I had never wanted something or someone more than I wanted him in this moment. To know it was someone I’d hated half my life, someone I was currently rivals with, who was making me feel this way, was making my head spin.
“Please, Beau,” I panted as his lips trailed along my jaw and down my neck. My hand curled into a fist in his hair, yanking on the short strands. He let out a moan that sent heat pooling between my legs.
“Tell me, baby,” he whispered in my ear, nipping at the lobe. “Tell me what you need so I can make it all better.” Another kiss, this one so tender on the sensitive spot on my neck that my hips bucked. “Let me take care of my girl.”
“Oh God,” I whimpered, grabbing his face to haul his mouth back to mine. My girl. I hadn’t been anyone’s anything in a long time, and hearing it from him made me ache.
Kissing Beau felt a lot like barrel racing. It was wind rushing through my hair, adrenaline coursing through my veins, a race against the clock. Except this clock was how long I could last before I ripped his clothes off.
Someone cleared their throat hard and loud next to us. Repeatedly.
We sprang apart, repelling like opposing magnets. I turned to find Emmett standing there, looking like he wanted to die from discomfort. “Mama’s asking for you.”
I didn’t even have it in me to be embarrassed. “Okay,” I replied, my voice breathless. “Just gimme a sec.”
He nodded, gave Beau a long stare, and walked back to the hospital entrance.
I stayed leaning against my truck, looking up at the man who just threw my world off its axis. “Well,” I chuckled, biting my bottom lip, “that happened.”
Beau’s lips were kiss-swollen and pink, his cheeks were flushed, and his hair was disheveled. It was my favorite look on him by far. “I’m ready for it to happen again,” he said, voice hoarse. “And for it to never stop.”
He leaned forward, arm braced over my head against the truck, like he was about to fulfill his wish. I planted a hand on his chest. “Not now. I’ve got to go inside.”
“I know. But tell me when, ‘cause I’m already needing more of you.”
My heart fluttered, and I grinned, unable to stop it. I felt giddy and light for the first time in years, and I didn’t want to let that feeling go. “I honestly don’t know. I’ve got to focus on this, on taking care of my family.”
Beau nodded and spun a loose curl of my hair around his finger. “Do what you need to do. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
I caressed his cheek, lost in those blue eyes. “Better not. I’ll hunt your ass down.”
He laughed, eyes sparkling like stars. “In that case, I better start runnin’ now. You know how I love to see you mad.”
I hummed, trailing my hand down his chest. “So I’ve heard.” I couldn’t stop touching him, petting him like he was some cute fuzzy thing at a petting zoo. Something about his presence had gone from nuisance to comfort and safety in the last week, and I was finding it hard to leave him here. To face what was waiting for me without him.
He inhaled deeply and let it out in a slow, shaky breath. “You keep touchin’ me like that, and I won’t let you go.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to,” I said carelessly. My hand froze on his chest, my eyes widening. I ripped my hand off him and stood, straightening my clothes. What the hell was that? We only kissed, and here I was talking about himkeepingme!
“I should go inside.” My voice was business-like, detached, as if my tongue hadn’t just been in his mouth.
Completely unfazed by what I had said, he backed up and gave me the space I needed and didn’t want in equal measure. “Alright. Don’t forget what I said, though.” He pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek. “You call me if you need me, okay?” The order was a soft whisper against my skin, sending chills down my spine.
“Okay.” I left him by my truck, fingers running over my lips.
