Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(34)

“The peaches are mine, Wade.” She clutched the two cans tightly to her chest.

His grin faded. “You don’t intend to share?”

He set the Spam on the table and advanced slowly toward her, circling with a dangerous look, one that reminded her of the wolves that very likely sat right outside the door. She shook her head and hugged them even tighter, licking her lips with growing anticipation.

“I don’t think so, Wade. Finders keepers and all that.”

“Come now,” he cajoled in a honeyed voice. “I’m mighty fond of peaches.”

She found her back to the wall with his forearms pinned on either side of her head, his body looming over her all big and hard. She breathed him in with a sense of fullness in her chest. He smelled faintly of horse and leather…and something else that made her go tingly all over.

He just stood there looking down at her, his gaze sliding slowly down her body, making her skin prickle in its wake. Every nerve ending suddenly sounded an alarm. She knew she’d only egged him on. Was he going to make another move?

He dipped his head to murmur darkly in her ear. “As a matter of fact, I can’t think of anything I love better than sucking on a ripe, juicy peach.”

He sure as hell wasn’t talking about the canned variety. Nikki bit her lip. The cans slipped right through her fingers as a ripple of raw lust ripped through her. The first thudded to the floor, thankfully missing her foot. He must have caught the second.

Oh dear God. Here we go again!

She’d been ten kinds of fool for thinking she could resist him. Nikki closed her eyes and parted her lips on a sigh of surrender—but the claiming she both longed for and dreaded, never came.

“Thanks for the peaches, sweetheart. Now all we need is a can opener.”

She opened her eyes to his mocking grin. Damn him! He’d played her like a virtuoso, effortlessly turning her into a hot and quivering mess.

No way in hell was she going to let him have the last word yet again!

“I’ll make you pay for that, Wade. I promise before this night is out, you’ll pay dearly.”

“I don’t think so, darlin’. I wasn’t lying about my love of peaches…though I’m especially eager to try the ones from Georgia.”

His expression was taunting and playful but his blue gaze was searing hot. Though he tried to play it cool, his little game had him just as fired up with lust as she was. She pursed her lips and shook her head, determined not to let him hold the upper hand.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you out there, Wade. Now if you’d said you were partial to nectarines…”

“Nectarines?”

“Yeah.” Her mouth twitched. “You know. They’re a lot like peaches…sweet and succulent…only without the annoying—” She gifted him with a seductive smile.

In sudden understanding his pupils instantly flared big and black. Nikki’s gaze flickered to his crotch. She certainly had his attention now.

“Shit,” he mumbled and shifted his stance. “I’ve never eaten a nectarine before.”

“Then I guess you’ve got something new to add to your bucket list.” Her smile widened in triumph. “Payback’s a real bitch, isn’t it?”





Chapter 10


In the end, they’d fried up the cans of Spam and shared the peaches. It was hardly the best meal she’d ever had, but Nikki didn’t taste it anyway. Her senses were far too overloaded by Wade. The tiny cabin virtually vibrated with sexual tension. She wondered what the night would bring, but also knew it was up to her. He’d made his desire known in no uncertain terms, but he’d also made it clear he wouldn’t take without an invitation.

She knew coming up here with him was stupid and reckless, but her life had been dull and empty for so damned long. After moving to Atlanta, she’d worked her way through at least a half-dozen loser boyfriends—hoping to find the elusive Mr. Right. Once she’d given up cowboys, she’d thought she’d find a decent guy, but any decent ones she’d dated were as dull as dirt.

At twenty-eight, she’d thought she’d be settled down by now, but instead she’d just plain…settled. Every day was the same routine, punching the time clock, meeting a few friends in the cafeteria for lunch, talking smack about their respective bosses, and then clocking out at the end of the day. No dates. No cowboys. No crazy passionate sex.

She’d never felt the lack of intimacy in her life more deeply. She had little doubt she was getting ready for a big fall. She was more than half there already, but sleeping with Wade could only lead to heartache. No good could come of getting involved with him—well, that probably wasn’t true. She had a feeling it would be damned good—just not the aftermath.

That would be a train wreck.

She’d never been able to detach her emotions from sex. When she gave herself, it was always the whole enchilada—that was her problem. Sex always equated to love but men weren’t wired that way. Wade had already admitted he had no desire to settle down. Given his age, and single status, he wasn’t likely to change.

She continued this internal debate while sitting in front of the fire sipping Jack Daniels from the bottle. She’d used the excuse of seeking warmth, but what she really needed was its numbing qualities. She’d never been this wound up. She took another choking swallow that scorched all the way down her throat but so far it had done nothing to quench the desire burning low in her belly.