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His big, rough hand cupped the back of my neck, and he tilted my head back, locking eyes with me.

“I shouldn’t do this, but I’m going to anyway,” he said, and it sounded like he wasn’t even talking to me.

But that didn’t stop him from bending down.And it sure as shit did not stop me from responding.

Emmet’s lips crushed mine.His kiss wasn’t gentle or timid.It wasn’t sweet.It was rough and heady.Desire and desperation rose like the tide inside of me and I moaned as his kiss awakened feelings I hadn’t experienced in,well, ever, truth be told.

“There, that’s better,” he said before dropping one more plucking kiss on my lips.

“Why did you do that?”I asked.

“Do you really want to know?”he replied, canting his head to the side like a curious animal.

I nodded.

“Because I couldn’t just let you go and not kiss you, Angel.”

The admission hung in the air, heavy with implication.It felt like the weight of destiny was resting on both our shoulders.

I didn’t know if I was strong enough to bear it.

“Go inside now, Little Girl.I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Then he was gone, back down the stairs.Emmet left me standing there in stunned silence.

A chill raced through me as I watched him from the doorway, his silhouette barely visible beside the truck, outlined by the relentless rain that poured down like the sky itself was also mourning the loss of his kiss.

He stood there for a minute, waiting for me to go inside, I realized with a jolt.

I turned around and went inside, slamming the door and my eyes shut at the same time, trying to stem the sudden rush of emotions threatening to spill down my cheeks.

The sound of the truck backing up and turning around was loud as Emmet drove away.I felt his absence like I felt the cold—keenly.

It seeped into my skin, making me aware of the enormous impact our brief encounter had on me.

What the hell just happened?

Chapter Five-Emmet

“Are you shitting me?Emmet!”Max yelled from the main house.

It was loud enough to reach me clear across the second ranch where I was helping Dante and Kian tear down the rest of the damaged fence.The rain had stopped sometime in the wee hours of the morning, but what was left was an awful muddy mess.

More trees had fallen, and several were weighed down by their heavy, sodden branches and leaves.Zeke was working, cutting them down.After he was done, he’d drag all the branches and trees to the wood chipper to make mulch out of the mess.

I took off my gloves and tucked them in my pocket, checking the time as I jogged to see what Max wanted.Boss man was still getting used to the life of a rancher/farmer, and it was not always easy going for him.

It was a little after eight, and I growled in frustration.I’d wanted to finish this before heading over to bring feed and supplies to Jed and the goats.And maybe stop by Jezebel’s for a cup of coffee or something.

There was no denying the woman was taking up space inside my head.Demon hadn’t stopped snarling since I laid eyes on the female, and after kissing her, well, it was ten times worse.

But more than my own inner battles, there was just something about the woman that drew me to her.Like there was a secret hidden behind her sapphire eyes and I was desperate to learn more.

But first, I’d have to deal with whatever it was Max wanted.

“Emmet!”he snapped as Mrs.O’Hare opened the door.

“Morning, Wolf,” she greeted me gruffly.