The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,86

for, but it wasn’t the place or time.

As Zach guided her back onto the dance floor, he realized he agreed completely with Julia. Any of the sacrifices they were making to keep Brad’s reputation intact—it was worth it. On every single level.

Although it wasn’t much of a sacrifice to have Julia in his arms.

They danced a quick two-step then ended up near the edge of the room when the music shifted to a slow ballad. Zach rearranged her in his arms, hand against her lower back so he could push their bodies together tight enough to be at the very edge of public decency.

“Somebody’s feeling perky,” Julia murmured, her hands linked around his neck. “I take it you’re over your slight indisposition from this morning?”

He didn’t answer. Just took a chance and stepped one leg between hers, nestling even closer. His thigh brushed her core with every step, and it didn’t take long before her breathing went erratic.

Julia’s cheeks glowed, and her eyes shone as if she were debating either murder or mayhem. “Zach. What are you doing?”

He whirled her in place then raised her up his body. The following slow glide down his thigh forced a moan from her lips. “If you can’t tell what I’m doing, I’m not doing it very well.”

Half a song later, her breath rushed against his cheek in rapid puffs. “You’re killing me, baby.”

He was doing a good job of torturing himself. Zach glanced around the room and spotted the service corridor that led toward the back storage rooms. He slow danced with her into the shadows and out of sight.

The music was still audible, so he kept up the pretense of the dance, but this was one dirty round that promised to have a spectacular finish.

Julia ground down harder against his leg, sounds sneaking from her lips that pushed him closer and closer to the edge. Zach gritted his teeth to keep from cursing. To keep from stripping them both down right there and then laying her out flat and thrusting into her hard.

She caught him by the ears, damn near ripping them off as she pulled their mouths together. She kissed him frantically, hips pulsing in a rhythm that said in no uncertain terms the end was near. He put all his focus on being there for her. Being what she needed. Tightening his grip on her ass so he could offer a little more leverage.

Her gasp rushed past his lips. He separated them far enough to stare into her wide eyes as her expression tightened and her lips opened in a perfect circle.

Her swaying rhythm faltered, but he kept her tight, dragging her higher.

That was it.

“Zach.” She moaned his name before the word turned into a long drawn out quivering noise that released the cover on his safety latch. He came while staring into her face, loving how pleasure continued to grow until she relaxed bonelessly against him.

Relaxed a little bit too much, considering he had no blood left in any part of his body except his cock. His legs quivered, and he barely managed to rearrange them before sliding to the floor. Back braced against the wall, they landed with Julia in his lap, his legs stretched all the way out into the corridor.

Her breath quivered now, not just with passion as tiny chuckles slipped into the mix. “We’re terrible,” she whispered. “We’re in public.”

“At least it’s not the middle of the dance floor,” Zach pointed out.

She snorted, tapping her fingers against his chest. “At least it’s not that.”

The music played in the distance while they sat there in the shadows. Secret and yet not. Zach took a deep breath and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Happy retirement. Welcome to the ranch.”

She laughed before slapping a hand over her mouth then staring back onto the dance floor as if certain somebody would spot them at any moment.

When she turned back to meet his gaze, she still looked far too amused. “Thank you. Now I think we’d better sneak out of my own party.”

No arguments from him. And as uncomfortable as he was at that moment, he wouldn’t change a thing about the evening.

19

The snow arrived with a vengeance not even two days into November. Zach got a huge kick out of how excited Julia was as she peered out the cabin window, coffee cup in hand.

Her happiness lit up the room, and he stepped beside her to see what she was quivering on the spot about. “What’s got you