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“I’m on it,” I said, heading toward the bathroom.

While I showered, I kept thinking about how this could work out. I wanted to be involved in the ranch, but I knew Grace did too. I had to get to the bottom of why she couldn’t see us working together. We’d apologized, and I thought we’d cleared the air. She knew I meant her no harm, especially after our swim in the river. Maybe she still thought I was an asshole.

I came out with the intention of addressing this, then nearly swallowed my tongue because Grace was lying down on the couch with the covers up to her chin.

“I’ve decided this is my spot,” she said. “I already made the bed, but this is comfier, and I’m small. I fit on it perfectly, see?”

I noticed her head was on one of the pillows and her toes were peeking up from under the covers. She’d painted her nails red, and I liked it.

“Grace,” I said carefully.

“Nope. Really, I won’t hear anything different. Bed is yours. I’ll sleep here. I won’t toss and turn. And even if I do, I checked, and it doesn’t creak. I guess that’s a perk. The only one I can think of,” she rambled.

I walked over to the edge of the sofa bed where she was lying. “You’re not sleeping here.”

“Yes, I am. It’s decided.”

I bent over her, looking her straight in the eye. “You are not sleeping here.”

“What are you going to do to stop me?”

I reached out for her with one arm, lifting her off the bed. With the other, I grabbed the blanket she was clinging to for dearlife, but that wasn’t going to help her case. I carried her and the blanket toward the bedroom.

“Zachary.” She sounded frantic. “Zachary, you’re...”

It took me a few seconds to realize why she was frantic. Grace wasn’t wearing her jeans anymore. And she either had the world’s tiniest underwear or she wasn’t wearing them either. My hands were firmly gripping her naked ass cheeks.

I groaned as my cock stood to attention. I’d gotten hard so fast, it was damn painful. I felt as if I was going to burst out of my jeans.

“What the fuck, Grace,” I said, lowering her onto the bed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.”

“I tried to warn you.”

Her face was reddening as she scrambled to pull the covers around her, but she only managed to push them away completely. She was wearing black panties and her T-shirt from before. No bra. Those nipples... Christ. I’d been fixating on them ever since we’d gotten caught in the rain coming back from the stables the first time. I’d been able to push the image out of my mind during dinner, but now it was going to be impossible.

“Ugh, why can’t I get this blanket to cover me?”

I tugged at the blanket, intending to help, but accidentally brushed her thigh. Her skin instantly turned to goose bumps. She drew in a sharp breath, and I stilled completely. She pressed her thighs together, and I knew exactly what that meant. Even the small contact had excited her.

“Grace...”

“Zachary, I...”

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I put a knee on the bed, between her feet. She instantly opened her thighs invitingly. I lost all sense of decency and kissed her so fiercely that she lost her balance. Somehow, I needed her even more than last time.

Chapter Twelve

Zachary

I lowered myself over her. The fly of my jeans was right over her pussy. She moaned at the contact, and I couldn’t believe that she was so turned on already. I moved my pelvis back and forth while I circled her tongue with mine. She still tasted like brandy and pie. I wanted to explore her body, cover her with kisses. I couldn’t stop at her mouth. The thought was unthinkable.

I put one hand on her right thigh, drawing my fingers along one side, then the underside. I liked how receptive her skin was. She still had goose bumps. Then she rolled her hips, seeking friction against the fly of my jeans. She was desperate for an orgasm. The thought nearly made me explode.

“It’s the first time I’m sharing sleeping quarters with a man who’s not my husband.”

Was it possible that she hadn’t been touched in so long? That would explain why she was so on edge already. I was honored that she was trusting me, wanting this. I paused the kiss, tracing a line to her ear.

“Grace,” I said. “Babe, we need to stop.”