Page 44 of The Devil in Blue Jeans
“Hold for thirty seconds,” he said.
“Got it.” She leaned in, just inches away, but instantly pulled back. “No, I can’t, I’m going to hurt it.”
“He’ll be a little sore for fifteen minutes, but the pain will fade,” Jaxon said in a reassuring tone. “He’ll be out of the chute before he even knows what happens. He won’t even flinch. Trust me, horses are tough.”
She gave him alook. “I bet some animal activists would disagree with you.”
He chuckled. “I have no doubt about that.” He gestured her on with a firm nod. “Now or never.”
She leaned forward again, the cold rod nearly on the horse’s body, and froze again. “Nope, I can’t do it,” she gasped.
Jaxon stepped in behind her, running his hands down her arms. “You’re causing the horse more stress by taking so long rather than just stamping its ass.”
The thought horrified her as much as branding him. She screamed and pressed the rod against the horse. Jaxon was right, the horse didn’t even flinch, as Jaxon stroked the horse’s back, and like Jaxon said, he was out of the chute and on his way without much fuss.
“Take the rod,” she said, her arms shaking. “I never want to do that again.”
Jaxon laughed, coming up behind her, taking the rod from her hands. He pressed his strength against her and murmured in her ear, “Now you’re a real cowboy.”
She nearly told him that she was most certainly not, but her brain stuttered. She wasn’t thinking about the branding anymore. She was only thinking that if she turned her head just a little she’d capture his lips.
Andthatwas a problem.
Jaxon moved through his silent home long after all the cowboys were gone. He had heard Charly shower before he showered himself, but he wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her yet. Tomorrow she was going home after the auction.
But he still had tonight.
His only goal was to ensure she left his house with a better opinion of him than when she arrived. Because the more time he spent with her, the more he knew he wanted more.
He soon reached the guest bedroom, and he rapped on the door, hearing her moving around inside.
When she opened the door, he had to fight against giving her a full once-over—especially when he saw how little she was wearing, only a long T-shirt. His cock stirred instantly.Damn it, this woman...
He wrenched his eyes back up to her face and asked, “Would you like to come with me somewhere?”
“Right now?” she replied with wide eyes.
“Yeah.” He looked her over again. “You should probably get dressed first.”
Her cheeks turned crimson as if she just realized she wasn’t wearing very much and she had no bra, revealing taut nipples. “Give me a few minutes,” she said quickly.
Before she shut the door, he said, “I’ll meet you outside. Put on something comfy and a sweater.”
“Okay.” She quickly closed the door, and he swore he heard her talking to herself.
Smiling to himself, he headed away before his urges got the best of him and he pulled her onto the bed.
Once outside, greeted by a gorgeous clear night, he untied Thunder and his mount from the porch and made sure their saddles were secure. Charly had come out soon after, looking just as sexy in jeans and an oversized hoodie, her hair pulled back into a ponytail.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. How in the hell was he going to keep his hands off her?
The last thing he wanted to do was get those claws all up in his face again. Finally, he felt like they’d gotten somewhere. Her smile came easier. Her sweet laughter filled his ears. She fit right into his life, and he liked how he felt with her around.
“Are we going for a ride?” she asked, coming down the stairs.
He nodded. “If that’s all right with you.”
She smiled, finally reaching him. “That’s all right with me.”
