The Rough and Ready Rancher by Kathie DeNosky Page A

the sliver of moon hanging low in the inky sky as Flint watched Jenna walk along the oak-lined drive leading away from the house. They hadn’t talked since the incident with her brother. In fact, this was the first Flint had seen of her since this afternoon.
    And if he had any brains, he’d make himself scarce now. The more he was around her the more he wanted to get to know her and the more he wanted her to get to know him.
    But when he moved away from the porch rail, Flint found himself descending the steps and walking straight toward her. He tried to tell himself he only wanted to discuss Black Satin’s progress.
    Falling into step beside her, he searched for something to say. Damn! Had he forgotten how to make small talk? He grinned. He wanted to make something with Jenna all right, but small talk wasn’t it.
    â€œDid you have something on your mind, McCray?”
    Oh, yeah. “No. I just thought I’d explain about—”
    â€œYou don’t have to. I know you and Cooper couldn’t help yourselves.” She shrugged. “Jackasses are jackasses. Plain and simple. Dye their coats a different color, weave flowers in their manes, stick a hat on them, it doesn’t change a thing. They’re still jackasses.”
    He stopped walking to stare at her a moment before he laughed. “I guess I had that coming.”
    â€œDamned right you did,” she said, grinning back.
    They stood staring at each other. Without warning, the atmosphere suddenly became charged with anticipation, the dark shadows of night breathtakingly intimate, and the warm breeze a whispered voice of sultry promise.
    Jenna shivered when she saw the deep hunger in Flint’s eyes, his fierce need. “Flint, I don’t think—”
    â€œI don’t, either,” he whispered. “Not when I’m around you.” He reached out to pull her to him. “Right now, all I want to do is feel, darlin’.” He brushed her lips with his. “You.” Again his lips caressed hers. “Me.” Yet again. “Together.”
    Her arms encircled his narrow waist, her hands splaying across his broad back. How was a woman supposed to resist words like that? Flint’s mouth moved across hers with such infinite care, she found she didn’t want to resist. She wanted to feel his arms around her again, taste the desire on his lips, hear his heart beat in time with her own.
    Her body heated as Flint kissed her like she’d never been kissed before. Worshipping her lips, he outlined them with his tongue, nipped at them with his strong white teeth, then soothed them with nibbling little kisses.
    â€œOpen for me, darlin’.”
    With no thought of protesting, Jenna did as he commanded. His gentle stroking sent a frenzied surge of excitement racing to every nerve in her system, and hot, enticing desire settled in the pit of her belly.
    For the first time in her life Jenna cast aside her inhibitions and gave herself completely to Flint’s kiss. Boldly she allowed her tongue to meet, then dance with his. A heady sense of feminine power came over her when the deep, rumbling groan of his pleasure echoed across her sensitive lips.
    The fever of Flint’s need burned higher, hotter, brighter than anything he’d ever imagined, when Jenna’s inexperienced tongue played a game of advance and retreat with his. His hands traveled the length of her back to grasp her hips and pull her to him, letting her know how she made him want her.
    He reveled in her softness warming his arousal, the way her body molded to his. “Feel what you’ve done to me?”
    Her breasts were crushed to his chest, her nipples were branding him with their pebble hardness. He felt a fire building in his soul. He knew that when they finally came together, it would be sheer perfection. Two halves of a whole, unequivocally complete.
    As he stood staring down into her passion-glazed eyes, the hairs on