Page 8 of The Rancher

She shakes her head, then her cheek falls against my chest. "It’s just… Nobody ever has before. It's…weird."

"How old are you?" I chuckle. "Sorry, that came out really abruptly."

"Twenty-two." I feel the shudder that runs through her. I think she knows why I'm asking.

"I'm thirty-four. Does that make me an old man?"

She giggles, her hand traveling gently around my chest to settle on my ribs. "Not an old one. But definitely a man."

"What does that mean?"

Her cheek brushes against my shirt. "You know – a grownup. Somebody who has their shit together."

"Yeah, I get that." I nuzzle her hair, whinnying just like Prince. "Maybe that means I should be the one in charge. Order you to relax. Command that you have ice cream for breakfast. Insist you get as much fresh air as possible."

"I don't think I react very well to commands," she laughs.

“Fine." My arm tightens around her. "Then I'll beg."

She turns to look up at me again, eyes glowing as the fire crackles. "You really don't strike me as the kind of man to do that."

The electricity between us is shimmering and sparking. I’m positive she feels it too. I know I should wait another day or two, but I just can’t. My finger tips up her chin, bringing her luscious mouth within an inch of mine. "On the contrary. I beg you to kiss me," I whisper. "Please. I've been thinking about it from the very first second I saw you."

I feel a tremor run through her back, then watch transfixed as she blinks, hesitates, then half-nods before she leans closer.

The kiss is soft and gentle. Then another, and another. Remy's hand moves to the back of my neck as I pull her legs across mine until she's sitting on my lap. Our mouths move together easily, the kiss gaining steam. Then I hear her soft, breathy moan.

I want to tell her how much it means to me to feel her relax. That I've never felt this way about a woman before, had this deep conviction that she’s mine to protect.

My hand slips up into the back of her hair, tilting her head so I can kiss along the side of her throat, making her tremble against me. Then I kiss up to her ear, nuzzling a sensitive spot as she releases a throaty cry.

“You're so sexy," I murmur, my lips against her skin. "And sweet. And driven. And beautiful."

The fire is dying down as our own fire kicks into overdrive. Remy shivers, feeling my erection against her hip. "Ignore that," I growl.

"That sounds suspiciously like a command," she grins, fisting the front of my shirt and pulling my lips to hers.

Christ almighty, this woman kisses like she's hungry for me. For this bond we’re creating.

When another shiver runs through her, I kiss her deeply for a moment, then release her soft mouth. "I don't want you to get cold. We could adjourn to the couch. Or I could tuck you into bed?"

She looks at me, blinking slowly. Then the corners of her lovely eyes lift as she smiles sweetly. "What exactly would that involve?"

"I’ll show you."

6

REMY

The unbelievable heat between us can’t be normal. It feels larger than life, flowing through me like a pulse much stronger than my own.

Stone makes me feel like a brand-new woman. One who isn't frantically crunching numbers, counting the days until true freedom.

Maybe because he himself is already free.

It's hard not to moan at the loss of his touch when Stone sets me back on the bench so he can get up and douse the last of the fire with a garden hose. He takes my hand and we walk inside to the bottom of the stairs. Then he pauses, reaching up and cupping my face softly in his palms.

"Beautiful, this is your choice. Whatever makes you feel good is the right answer. I would love to hold you all night. Or if you need your space, I can tuck you in, then leave. So… Do you want to be tucked into your bed or mine?"