Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(22)

Gavin threw down his spade, tore off his gloves and said, “That’s it. I can take you making fun of my lack of vegetable ranching knowledge, but when you compare my attitude to that of a sixteen-year-old girl? Well, honey, it’s on. Because I am all man.”


“Yeah?”


“Oh yeah.”


“Prove it.”


Flashing his teeth, he jumped over the spade handle and made a beeline for her.


She started to run but the soft, overturned dirt slowed her down. When she glanced over her shoulder, Gavin was gaining on her. She put on a burst of speed but it was too little, too late. His arms came around her waist, and he jerked her to a stop.


Rielle shrieked. She shrieked louder when he lifted her off the ground. “Gavin! Put me down!”


“No. You’re my captive.” His warm breath teased her ear. “What should I do with you? Turn you over my knee and spank you?”


“Don’t you dare.”


His nose drifted along her neck. “Damn, Rielle, you smell great.”


“It’s, ah…” Shit. She couldn’t think straight when his mouth was on her skin.


“It’s what?” he murmured.


“Honeysuckle.”


“That fits.” He pressed a kiss on her neck. “I’d like to suckle some of your honey.”


The words should’ve sounded corny, but they were beyond sexy murmured in Gavin’s throaty rasp.


He set her down and turned her around. He brushed something out of her hair and used the backs of his knuckles to outline her jaw. “Know something?”


“What?”


“I’ve been thinking about you. Missing you the last few days. A little pissy about it if you want to know the truth. Wondering if you missed me at all.”


“I did.”


“Good.”


He kept stroking her face.


“What?”


“I’m a lousy worker bee. I kept looking over at you, trying to draw you into conversation and now that you’re right in front of me…I can’t think of a damn thing to say. These wide green eyes of yours draw me right in.”


She blinked at him.


“And then there’s your mouth…”


“My mouth what?” she managed to whisper.


“Your mouth is so lush. I could sink into it for days.”


Rielle licked her lips.


He groaned. “You tempting me? Or challenging me?”


“Both.” She snaked her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.


The move caught him by surprise but it didn’t take long for him to haul her against his body and sink into the kiss like he’d warned. Opening his mouth to consume hers in a teasing, hot tangle of tongues. A kiss that changed from hungry to seductive to sweet and back to hungry.


Her head buzzed. If Gavin didn’t have such a tight hold on her, she’d have a hard time standing, he kissed her with such ferocity. Like she was air, water and light.


Gavin ripped his mouth from hers and said, “Holy f*ck.”


That made her smile because she’d been thinking the same thing.


His hands were on her face, tilting her head back. His burning gaze moved to her mouth. Then his lips were on hers again, giving her the sweetest, gentlest kiss. The wet glide of his lips and the possessive way his hand slid down to the back of her neck, holding her in place, was undeniably sexy.


Rielle didn’t know how long they stayed like that, body to body, mouth to mouth. By the time he released her, her panties were damp, her breathing was choppy and she considered tearing off her clothes so they could go at it, right there in the dirt.


She rested her face on his chest and heard his heart beating beneath her ear. His shirt was damp and she breathed in his scent.



“This changes things,” he said softly, stroking her hair.


“I know. Did you ever imagine this would happen when you saved me from the evil banking empire two years ago?”


“No. But seeing you pushing that wheelbarrow the first day we arrived…”


She arched back to look at him. “I was wearing a skintight tank top and no bra that day.”


“I noticed.” Gavin grinned without shame. “Believe me, I’ve done my share of noticing lots of things about you.”


Rielle couldn’t keep from asking, “Like?”


“Like how sweet your ass looks in those cargo shorts you always wear.”


“You’re trying to make me blush.” But she didn’t want him to stop.


His gaze turned solemn. “No, I’m trying to tell you what’s happening between us isn’t just because it’s convenient.”


Relieved, happy—hell, she was giddy—Rielle rose to her toes and pecked him on the mouth. “Thank you for saying that, because that worried me too. The truth is, I like you. A whole lot. And what a bonus that you’re an awesome kisser.”


“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation in a beet field. That’s me, Mr. Romance.”