Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Yep.” He kept his eyes on the road, both hands on the wheel, taking it slower as snow whipped over the windshield and swirled on the road. “Never got old. Each time in the chute was like a riot of horseflies in my gut, nerves threatening to bring up whatever lunch I’d choked down. But then I’d do it, and I’d immediately start thinking about the next ride.”
“I’m so sorry you lost that world.” Sympathy made my voice softer. He was a damn good foreman, but I wouldn’t have minded knowing his younger, wilder side. I could imagine he’d been a sight to see on a bronco. I also knew a bit of what it meant to have to figure out how to live with fewer thrills. “Being high felt like that too. Anticipation. Rush. And then the fall afterward. I’m not sorry to leave that rollercoaster behind, but I get losing out on an adrenaline fix.”
“Eh. Like drinking and partying, rodeo probably wasn’t the healthiest.” His harsh exhale revealed far more regret than his measured words. “And other things can provide a high.”
“True. Newborn horses.” I ticked items off an imaginary list. “Skinny dipping. Knowing the answer to Final Jeopardy. Letting a horse gallop on a cold morning. Fresh-baked cookies. Sex.”
“That’s quite a list.” Grayson chuckled as I’d hoped when I threw sex on the end of my examples.
“Anything you want to add?” I teased, tone turning more seductive. “You gonna let me come in when we make it back?”
“Suppose the dogs will be happy to see you.” He kept his voice mild, but my back tightened.
“And you?”
Hands still on the wheel, gaze straight ahead, he shrugged. “Reckon all this adrenaline of ours needs somewhere to go.”
“Is that all this is? Convenient?”
“Adler.” He made a frustrated noise. “I can’t tell you what you want to hear.”
“I’m not asking for any grand speeches,” I lied. I’d love any speech he cared to make, wanted him to claim me, even privately, own this thing between us. “Just tell me that you want me specifically, not sex in general.”
“I asked you to ride along. Had a powerful craving for you as soon as you started teasin’ me after the meeting. Only got worse when I watched you look at that filly like you were seeing the dawning of the universe. And that’s adding to the want that plagues me all damn day, every day. Yeah, it’s you, specifically.” He didn’t sound thrilled about that fact, but I got the speech I’d been craving.
“Is that such a bad thing?” I asked as he pulled into the ranch, taking the looping drive toward his trailer. “Maybe fighting this is why you’re cranky all the time.”
“Enough analysis.” He parked close to his front steps. “Inside with you.”
I would have protested the change in subject, but as soon as I exited the truck, my legs wobbled worse than Winnie’s first steps. The snow had a heavy crust of ice and only Gray’s steady hand at my elbow kept me from falling.
“Careful.” His gaze met mine, porch light illuminating his craggy features. I’d seen him naked, had him inside me, knew what he looked like when he came, but something new passed between us. His eyes held a warning that went beyond slippery ice, but the moment was more than merely caution. Rather, his gaze also reflected the longing I felt so deeply, want and fear mingling. No matter how much he protested, he felt, and felt deeply.
“What if I don’t want to be careful?” I asked softly as he guided me up the steps.
His only answer was to kiss me like I was holding the only heater for miles, like I alone had the power to warm him up, like I was the answer to every question he’d ever had. This, this was the real rush, heady and swift, more potent than any other high.
We stumbled into the trailer, dogs greeting us like we’d been gone for years, and still we kissed. We broke apart long enough to check the food and water dishes and let them out into the snow for a quick pee break before falling into more kisses on the way to Grayson’s bedroom. The dogs followed us as far as the living room before flopping on their bed with its pile of toys and toy carcasses.
Alone at last, we undressed each other with fingers stiff from the cold. I trembled from both a chill and anticipation as air met the patches of my skin he revealed. This was hardly our first time, yet the energy between us felt new, charged. I felt downright virginal as I unbuttoned his work shirt, giddy over the rasp of his chest hair against my fingertips.
Once we were naked, he tumbled me onto the bed. My brain was hazy with want, whole body thrumming with anticipation as he claimed my mouth again. He was a warm, welcome weight on top of me, the only blanket I’d ever need. I arched against him, testing his strength, reveling in how damn good each contact felt.