Playing With Fire (Tangled in Texas, #2)(57)
My heart squeezed painfully tight in my chest. Contemplating a one-night stand with Cowboy was one thing…even if I couldn’t bring myself to tear my own heart out that way. But the moment he clarified he wanted more from me, I was lost. Yet I couldn’t ruin his life by letting him get closer to me. I needed to end this now by telling him I was leaving because I was in danger. I had no choice. Only then would he understand.
“There are other things you don’t know about me. Things that matter. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. I’m not a whole person.” More tears flowed down my cheeks as I tried to make him understand. “I’m…broken.”
His gaze flickered over my face as his mouth set in determination. He ran his fingers along the nape of my neck and leaned into me. “Then let me fix you,” he whispered.
Unexpectedly, his mouth crashed against mine, sending my heart scrambling around inside my chest, searching for purchase. Sweet warmth pooled low in my belly as he parted my lips and sank deeper into me with his tongue. I plunged my fingers into his thick, wavy hair, knocking his white Stetson off his head. But even then, he didn’t stop kissing me.
The hand he held over my breast twitched, but he quickly moved it to my waist. I had no doubt it was to keep himself from shifting a little lower and stroking the pebbled nub pressing into his chest. Because he undoubtedly would look like a fool if he told me this wasn’t sexual for him one minute, then fondled me the next.
But no matter what lies I’d told him earlier, I craved his touch. Wanted it more than the air I breathed. No one had ever made me feel as alive as Cowboy, and I needed to feel his warmth against my bare skin. Just once…
In that moment, my reservations slipped completely away, no longer allowing me to keep myself at a distance. I grabbed his hand and moved it back up, covering my left breast.
Cowboy’s mouth murmured against mine. “What are you doing, sweetheart?”
Hell if I knew. “I need to feel your hands on me.”
“Christ,” he groaned. He pulled his head back and searched my face for answers. “You sure about this?”
“God, yes,” I rasped. In a gutsy, liberating move, I grabbed him by the collar and pulled his mouth back to mine, eager to have another taste.
It was a mistake, losing my composure that way, letting him tamper with my heart. But I couldn’t stop myself. He forced me to feel things I didn’t want to feel. And it was soul-shattering.
But Cowboy didn’t do things half-assed. His hand dove under my shirt, roughly pushed my bra up, and cupped my naked breast. He thumbed over my sensitive nipple and gave it a pinch that stopped somewhere short between pleasure and pain, sending chills through me.
As I gasped, he took full advantage of my open mouth and plunged his tongue inside. A small whimper escaped my throat. He pulled back a little, allowing his lips to move against mine, as he whispered, “Fuck. I’m addicted to the way you taste. You don’t know how beautiful you are.” Then his lips claimed mine once more.
His hand grew more persistent as my nipple tightened beneath his calloused fingertips. I moaned into his mouth, pleasure zinging through my veins with every touch. His ravenous hunger consumed me, leaving me dangling limply in his arms.
By the time his teeth moved to nibble on my ear, I was panting and clinging to him like static, half out of my mind in some weird, altered state. And he must’ve known because he used it against me.
“Anna…?”
“Mmm-hmmm.”
His lips brushed against my earlobe as his warm breath caressed my neck. “Dinner with me. Tomorrow night.”
And just like the colt he’d whispered to, I was tamed into submission, unable to speak. I meant to shake my head, but instead found myself nodding. The moment I agreed, he released me and I staggered backward, swaying on my feet while feeling a little frayed around the edges.
He only looked more pleased with himself. “You okay there, sweetheart?”
No. “Yes.”
He chuckled and gave me a wolfish, smug grin. “Good. Then I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Cowboy lifted his hat from the floor, placed it on his head, and then tipped it as he gave me a quick wink. “Pick you up at seven.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked out.
What the hell just happened?
After spending three hours on the computer trying to figure out the puzzle of Chief Swanson’s missing brother, I sighed, turned off the screen, and headed to bed. For a second, I thought I’d found him, but quickly realized my mistake. The old photograph had been of Chief Swanson when he was younger and his name had been misprinted. That small setback had cost me precious time and frustrated the hell out of me. I was starting to doubt if I would ever find Ned Swanson.
Which was the exact reason I hadn’t bothered to mention it to Cowboy. I hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up if I couldn’t find the man before I left town. With only a few short months to go, I’d have to pick up the pace. Otherwise, Cowboy would have to go at it alone.
Like I’d be when I leave this place. Alone.
I slid under the covers and turned off the bedside lamp, plunging myself into darkness. Unable to get comfortable, I rolled over onto my stomach and huffed. Did he mean what he’d said about seeing what was between us? I mean, he had me right where he wanted me…yet he still backed off. Annoyed, I leaned up and punched my pillow and then flipped over onto my back. Maybe I should call the whole date-thing off.