off and slapped it to his knee, a big childlike grin on his face.
“You scared me half to death!” Tess was not amused—nor was she immune to his infectious smile.
“It’s nothing to worry over, Tess. I’ve done this before.”
“I’m not worried,” she said in a full-out lie.
His smile grew wider. “I know what I’m doing.”
She liked him better when he had a scowl on his face. At least that way she couldn’t entertain thoughts of liking him. As it was now, she had to remind herself why he’d come back to the Double H and what his intentions were.
“Do you?” she asked.
“I got you to meet me out here tonight.”
She opened her mouth. Then clamped it shut, taken aback by his clever maneuver.
The stallion simmered down, taking his place at the far end of the corral, watching them with cautious eyes, his snorts coming less frequently now.
Tess didn’t have that same luxury. She couldn’t simmer down. Her heart raced. Her body trembled. She’d been afraid for Clint’s life. And now she stood outside in the dark but for a brilliant slice of moonlight, with stars shining overhead, seeing a look of triumph on his face.
“I saw you up in the window, Tess. You wanted me to look at you. So don’t pretend shock that you’re here with me now.”
“You could have been trampled to death!”
“And you don’t want anyone getting hurt on the ranch, right?”
Again Tess opened her mouth, but she shut it just as quickly. There wasn’t any use sparring words with him. He’d just jumble them up to make them come out the way he wanted. “I’m going back inside.”
She turned to leave and got three steps away when Clint sidled up next to her, taking her hand and tugging her toward the barn. Oddly his touch didn’t send her into a panic. She followed him, and when they reached the barn, Clint whipped around to lean his back against the wall, drawing her to him and sliding his hands around her waist.
He held her carefully, without menace or threat, and she went willingly to him, allowing him the liberty of brushing her body to his, finding his gentle strength thrilling.
A half smile on his lips brought her attention to his mouth, and when she looked at him, he searched her face for a moment, their eyes locking.
Hidden against the dark side of the barn, where moonlight seemed to have vanished, Clint dropped his hands lower, his fingers splaying wide, making circles on the small of her back, sending magnificent shivers spiraling through her body. “You like the feel of that, honey?” His voice flowed out like smooth silk.
Tess swallowed and stood still, wanting his touch, but fearing it, too.
He moved his hands farther down, to the very tips of her derriere, stirring her senses and creating havoc inside. Her breaths came rapidly and her emotions rocked out of control.
“You know what I want to do.” Silk again, smooth and edged with promise.
“Clint,” she said, meant as a warning, but his name came out a breathless whisper.
He smiled right before he cupped her head with one hand and drew her lips to his. Their mouths mated and she reeled from the initial contact. Every nerve ending tingled with pleasure.
Sure and confidently, he moved his mouth over hers, but with enough gentleness to assure her freedom. It was her decision to make, but ultimately it was not. She couldn’t deny the impact of his kiss or the flutters inside from being claimed by this man.
He stroked her lips with the tip of his tongue, outlining their shape, then plunged deeper into her mouth, until small pleasured sounds escaped her throat. Their tongues mated, causing rapid-fire heat to shoot through to her woman’s center. A tiny ache built between her legs, and she felt unfulfilled and needy, a sensation altogether new to Tess.
She cupped Clint’s face now, responding to his passion and stroking him the way he did her, returning his kisses with equal enthusiasm.
He held her firmly and she arched her back, allowing
“You scared me half to death!” Tess was not amused—nor was she immune to his infectious smile.
“It’s nothing to worry over, Tess. I’ve done this before.”
“I’m not worried,” she said in a full-out lie.
His smile grew wider. “I know what I’m doing.”
She liked him better when he had a scowl on his face. At least that way she couldn’t entertain thoughts of liking him. As it was now, she had to remind herself why he’d come back to the Double H and what his intentions were.
“Do you?” she asked.
“I got you to meet me out here tonight.”
She opened her mouth. Then clamped it shut, taken aback by his clever maneuver.
The stallion simmered down, taking his place at the far end of the corral, watching them with cautious eyes, his snorts coming less frequently now.
Tess didn’t have that same luxury. She couldn’t simmer down. Her heart raced. Her body trembled. She’d been afraid for Clint’s life. And now she stood outside in the dark but for a brilliant slice of moonlight, with stars shining overhead, seeing a look of triumph on his face.
“I saw you up in the window, Tess. You wanted me to look at you. So don’t pretend shock that you’re here with me now.”
“You could have been trampled to death!”
“And you don’t want anyone getting hurt on the ranch, right?”
Again Tess opened her mouth, but she shut it just as quickly. There wasn’t any use sparring words with him. He’d just jumble them up to make them come out the way he wanted. “I’m going back inside.”
She turned to leave and got three steps away when Clint sidled up next to her, taking her hand and tugging her toward the barn. Oddly his touch didn’t send her into a panic. She followed him, and when they reached the barn, Clint whipped around to lean his back against the wall, drawing her to him and sliding his hands around her waist.
He held her carefully, without menace or threat, and she went willingly to him, allowing him the liberty of brushing her body to his, finding his gentle strength thrilling.
A half smile on his lips brought her attention to his mouth, and when she looked at him, he searched her face for a moment, their eyes locking.
Hidden against the dark side of the barn, where moonlight seemed to have vanished, Clint dropped his hands lower, his fingers splaying wide, making circles on the small of her back, sending magnificent shivers spiraling through her body. “You like the feel of that, honey?” His voice flowed out like smooth silk.
Tess swallowed and stood still, wanting his touch, but fearing it, too.
He moved his hands farther down, to the very tips of her derriere, stirring her senses and creating havoc inside. Her breaths came rapidly and her emotions rocked out of control.
“You know what I want to do.” Silk again, smooth and edged with promise.
“Clint,” she said, meant as a warning, but his name came out a breathless whisper.
He smiled right before he cupped her head with one hand and drew her lips to his. Their mouths mated and she reeled from the initial contact. Every nerve ending tingled with pleasure.
Sure and confidently, he moved his mouth over hers, but with enough gentleness to assure her freedom. It was her decision to make, but ultimately it was not. She couldn’t deny the impact of his kiss or the flutters inside from being claimed by this man.
He stroked her lips with the tip of his tongue, outlining their shape, then plunged deeper into her mouth, until small pleasured sounds escaped her throat. Their tongues mated, causing rapid-fire heat to shoot through to her woman’s center. A tiny ache built between her legs, and she felt unfulfilled and needy, a sensation altogether new to Tess.
She cupped Clint’s face now, responding to his passion and stroking him the way he did her, returning his kisses with equal enthusiasm.
He held her firmly and she arched her back, allowing