Page 45

The creek was higher than a year ago, a fact everyone in Deer Creek was thankful for. Jax was in that camp, but for entirely different reasons. At least with it over waist high, Jill couldn’t see the obvious effect she had on him.

Especially when her eyes dipped to the smudges on the tops of her exposed breasts. He quirked a brow and smiled, trying his best to bite back the Owwwuuuga! he wanted to shout like he was a cartoon wolf in front of a juicy steak.

Dipping one hand in the creek, he used the other to draw her close. If she couldn’t see below the reflection of the canyon on the surface of the water, now she’d surely feel his want against her abdomen. The time to hide his intention had passed.

She inhaled a small gasp and bit her bottom lip as he palmed her breast and cleaned the skin from any blemishes. Her eyes shut and the corners of her lips tilted up in a sensual smile.

Christ. She has no idea how goddamn sexy she is, does she?

But she slid a hand under the sticky fabric of his cotton T-shirt, and he shivered from something other than the cool water parting around their hips. He froze in place, afraid to break the tension building between them by breathing.

She lifted onto her toes and wrapped her hands around his neck.

And he couldn’t have taken a breath if he wanted to. The kiss began as a soft exploration. He let the warmth from her skin eradicate the chill on his. Damned if he ever wanted to breathe again. All he wanted, needed, to survive were Jill’s lips on his.

Whoa there, his brain chimed in. Slow your roll.

His pulse raced, but with the creek cascading around them, the trees swaying overhead, he was calm. Still, he’d had some pretty sexy encounters in his life, and this topped them all, no contest.

There was no slowing anything. His fingers twisted in her curls. His lips crashed into hers. His tongue tangled with hers, and he drew long breaths from her, tasting her as he explored. Coffee and salt reminded him of the caramels he’d buy in Dallas when the rodeo went through there. It was his favorite food, his favorite flavors, until now.

Now all he wanted was this woman and her unique flavor that opened up a desire in him that might never be sated.

She’s going back to San Antonio, his head tried.

Fine, his heart answered. I’ll follow her there. It’s not like my new job won’t let me travel.

A hunger opened cavernous and wide in his chest, and her mouth opened for him. That invitation was all it took. His hands fisted in her hair, and he pulled her closer. His tongue found hers, teasing it into a tangled dance not unlike the rodeo.

She moaned, and damned if he didn’t want a bed, a soft patch of grass—anything to lay this woman down and keep exploring her. His hand slid down her arm, wrapping around her waist, as she breathed life into him. Which was a funny concept since he was breathless with want. It surged in his veins, melting him into a puddle.

The gentle give of flesh balanced against him was his only tether to the earth. It was strong, fortifying, but also soft enough for him to lean against and feel…

Home. His heartbeat stuttered.

He broke off from their kiss, his lips and heart regretting it immediately. His pulse still raced, but his mind slowed.

What were you thinking? He couldn’t answer. All he’d known was the pure shock and delight of being gifted a passionate moment that topped anything he’d come there thinking would happen. But the feelings that followed were more than inconvenient. Passion and desire he’d expected. The rightness and security and coziness were a whole other story.

And damn—they hadn’t even slept together. Yet.

Oh boy. He was in trouble.

“What was that?” he asked. A soft smile played on her delicate features, and her eyes gleamed.

His long finger traced his lips where hers had just been, and he struggled against the desire to dive right back into their plush warmth. Her hand still sat at the small of his back.

“I just wanted to say thanks, I guess,” she managed. At the same time, she stepped back. Which was fine.

Some distance was definitely needed if he was going to figure out these feelings.

“For?”

“I dunno. Helping with the mower.”

“You say thanks with your lips a lot.”

“No,” she said, her cheeks red. “I don’t.”