Page 24 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

Cole raised his head, and his eyes slid leisurely over her face. “You are so beautiful...”

Tears burned her eyes, and she turned her face to the side. “Don’t. You don’t have to tell me that. I know what I look like. I don’t want there to be any lies between us.”

Cole was quiet for a second before he framed her face, turning it until he could see her eyes. “Don’t you ever, and I mean ever, say that shit again. I don’t know where you got that from, but I could guess.” He pulled her face back when she tried to turn from him. “No, look at me.”

Emily sniffed and gazed at him, willing the tears and heartache away.

He racked his brain for a way to make her understand, make her believe him. “Remember the first time we saw each other?”

She nodded.

“What did I do?” he asked.

A frown puckered her brow. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“What was my reaction to you?”

“You stared.”

“That’s right. What did you do?”

“S-s-stared.”

“Why?”

She swallowed and kept her eyes glued to his. “Because I thought you were the most handsome man I’d ever seen.” Her voice came out low and husky as she remembered the first time she laid eyes on him.

The heat from his body and the hardness he had pressed against her core were rapidly overtaking any control she had over her body or mind. She twisted under him to get the friction she needed. Her hands clutched at his back, and she arched to get closer.

Chapter Fourteen

He groaned and leaned down to place a hard kiss on her mouth before he continued.

“So, can you guess what my reaction was to you?” He was satisfied with the look of wonder that crossed her face, even if it was mixed with confusion, because it was a start.

Her brows drew together in indecision and doubt. “You ... you thought I was pretty?” Emily’s fingers continued their journey up and down his back.

“Hell, yes. But not just pretty. The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and nothing I’ve learned about you since has changed that. My feelings have actually grown, gotten more intense. So, don’t you ever say that shit again. Do you understand?”

He noticed the hard, domineering tone of his voice got through to her quicker than the words. She nodded hesitantly.

He knew there would be more emotional hills to climb, but at the moment he was appeased.

“Good girl.” There was no more time for talk. He gave her more of his weight and captured her lips, sucking and nipping at them until she moaned for more.

His kisses moved from her mouth to her neck and then farther down. His teeth slid across her silky skin before he reached his destination.

They both moaned when he latched onto one of her tight nipples, pulling and sucking it into his mouth, feeding on her. Her breasts were a handful. Perfect. After a moment, he moved farther down.

He took a look at her fervent face, stuck his tongue out to taste her, something he’d fantasized about since meeting her, and watched her expressions the whole time. He smiled when she gasped in surprise and squirmed. He didn’t know if she was trying to get closer or pull away from him.

“Please ... Cole.”

Cole couldn’t get enough of her. “Mmm. Please, what, sweetheart?”

“Oh, God. Please, I need you.”

“And you’ll get me. When I’m ready.” He used one hand to grip her hips to keep them still, and his head dipped again. He looked up at her when his tongue slid through her slit. He chuckled when she screeched but kept on with his assault. “Mmm. You’re so damn sweet.”