Playing With Fire (Tangled in Texas #2) - Alison Bliss Page 0,124

crunched under the horse’s hooves as Cowboy steered him up my drive, then stopped in front of me. He rested an arm over the saddle horn and leaned forward, tipping his hat back and giving me a wicked grin. Then he offered me his hand.

“Have you gone insane?”

“Darlin’, the only thing I’m crazy about is you.” Cowboy scooted back in the saddle and gave the other guys a quick nod. “Boys, why don’t you give the lady a boost?”

“No, I don’t want—” But Ox and Judd grabbed a hold of me and gently lifted me into Cowboy’s waiting arms. Balancing on the front of the saddle with my legs hanging off one side, I wrapped my arms around his waist to keep from sliding off.

Everyone quieted and stared at the two of us, waiting for one of us to speak. Not used to being the center of attention, I felt my cheeks heat and lowered my gaze to avoid all the prying eyes. “What are you doing?” I whispered.

“I’m laying claim to what’s mine,” he said, lifting my chin. His intense eyes reminded me of the last time he’d “claimed” me.

My heart sped up and a tingling sensation rocketed through my lower abdomen, but there was still no way he was getting off that easy. “You can’t just come here and take whatever you want. It doesn’t work that way.”

“Wanna bet?” Cowboy wrapped his large hands around the back of my neck and roughly pulled my mouth to his.

Briefly, I froze. But the moment his tongue slid into my open mouth, the fever kicked in. My frenzied hands swept up his back, knotting his shirt in my fist, as he kissed me silly. So much for me playing hard to get.

A round of applause sounded, reminding me that not only were we on a horse, but there were others present, watching us make out. I was the first to pull away. Touching my swollen lips with my fingertips, I glanced around at all the smiling faces, wondering if they could all see what I was feeling.

I glanced up at Cowboy. “You’re sure you want me?”

“No, darlin’, I don’t want you,” Cowboy said, making a lump form in my throat and tears burn behind my eyes. “I need you. And only you.” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “I love you, Anna.”

My heart ballooned in my chest, filling with more joy than I could have ever imagined. “I love you, too.”

“Then what would you say if I told you I wanted to marry you and give you that happily ever after you deserve?”

Tears fell from my eyes, landing on my cheeks. “Really? You mean that?”

“Hell, yeah, I mean it! I may not be scaling a wall, slaying a dragon, or even be much of a prince, but I’m damn sure on a white fucking horse, aren’t I?”

“Then I guess I’d say I’m feeling pretty jubilant right about now.”

“Sonofabitch.” He groaned in frustration. “Woman, you know damn well I don’t understand what the hell that means. Was that a yes or a no?”

I smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss. “That was definitely a yes!”

Epilogue

“You sure you don’t need any help?” Cowboy called out from the living room over the low rumblings of our family and friends.

“No, I’ve got it.”

I placed the leftover sheet cake into its box, but before closing it, I swiped one finger across the corner, scooping the white frosting, and popped it into my mouth. A low moan escaped my lips as I sucked the icing off. Delicious.

When I turned to grab a napkin, I realized I wasn’t alone. Cowboy stood in the doorway, his eyes focused on me and one brow raised, as if he caught me red-handed. “Very unladylike,” he reprimanded.

But his smirk told on him.

“And you loved it.”

“Damn straight,” he replied, then continued standing there with his eyes burning with uncontrolled intensity.

For a moment, all I could do was stare back. Even after a year of marriage, it amazed me how his watchfulness still affected me. Warmth crept up my neck, as if my body was a thermometer and heat from his pointed gaze caused my mercury to rise. Then his eyes flickered down to my chest and my swollen nipples hardened.

“W-what are you doing?”

“You mean, besides looking at my beautiful wife?”

I glanced down and caught sight of the bulge in his jeans. Just my luck. His wick was lit. “Yeah, right. We both know what that look of yours leads to.”