The Rancher's Marriage Pact by Kristi Gold Page A

“That would certainly be new and different for me.”
    He frowned. “Your husband wasn’t into foreplay?”
    The understatement of the millennium. “Let me sum up our sex life in a few words. Hi, Paris, just passing through, only have a minute, got to go, see you later. That happened about once a week unless he wasn’t in the mood. He always said I was too uptight about my body, but what did he expect when all he did was criticize me?”
    â€œWhy in the hell were you with that ass?”
    The sheer anger in his voice took her aback. “I was young and stupid. He was my first lover and the first man who really paid attention to me. At least in the beginning. When I got him hired on at the firm, everything changed. I’m fairly certain he cheated on me, although I didn’t have any proof. Eventually I didn’t even care.”
    Dallas let go a litany of curses. “You’re damn special, Paris. You deserve to be treated that way. And if you want me to show you how good it can be between a man and a woman, all you have to do is ask.”
    When he rose to his feet, Paris realized she didn’t want him to leave. “Where are you going?”
    â€œTo grab a snack, take a cold shower and then head to bed.”
    â€œCould you stay a little longer?”
    â€œI could, but being so close to you and not being able to touch you is killing me.”
    She recognized the risk she’d be taking, but she truly craved his attention because she knew with all her heart he would treat her with respect. “I want you to touch me, Dallas. I need you to touch me.”
    He stood statue still and after a few moments asked, “Are you sure?”
    She held her hand toward him. “If you’ll help me up, I’ll go back to the house with you.”
    â€œNo need for that.”
    Paris had no idea what he planned to do next when he, too, rolled up his jeans, sat back down, pulled off his socks and boots, then positioned himself behind her, his legs on either side of her thighs. Right at that moment, Paris felt something at her feet beneath the water and gasped again.
    â€œJust relax sweetheart,” he told her as he pulled the band away, pushed her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck.
    â€œIt’s not you. Something was nibbling on my toes.”
    His slow laugh sent pleasurable chills down her spine. “Darlin’, I can do that, but you’ll have to wait until it’s warmer or until you have your feet out of the lake.”
    She smiled back at him. “You mean you wouldn’t jump in the water if I asked you?”
    â€œNot unless you’re waiting for me, naked.”
    Interesting concept, albeit not logical. “We probably should put that on hold for a couple of months.”
    â€œIt’s a deal.”
    He kissed her then, thoroughly, stroking her tongue softly with his in a heady rhythm that made her want to climb all over him. If she reacted so strongly to this simple show of affection, she couldn’t imagine what she would do if he did anything else.
    She would soon find out, she realized, when he broke the kiss and rested his cheek against her cheek, reached beneath her shirt and unclasped her bra. For a moment she felt like a schoolgirl making out with her first real boyfriend in a backseat, an experience she’d never really had. But when Dallas tugged the tee up over her head, taking the bra with it, she knew she was in the hands of a real man. Naked from the waist up. In wide-open spaces.
    She should be mortified over being so exposed, but she honestly didn’t care. She should have been self-conscious when Dallas whispered, “Watch,” but instead she waited with excited anticipation. And the minute he began to circle her nipples simultaneously with his fingertips, she grew hotter than blazes in places still unseen.
    As much as she wanted to continue to see what Dallas was doing, Paris closed her eyes and