Page 54 of A Rancher's Vow

Charity had returned to Dustin’s side by now, leaning back on her hands to stare up at them. “They’re not scary at all, are they?”

“Nope.” He adjusted position until he helped support her. “My nephew Tyler is fascinated with all things that fly. He calls bats batterflies.”

“Oh my God, that’s so cute.”

“Too cute.” Dustin glanced around the circle at the other cowhands, but everyone was busy chatting with their neighbour. It was time for being with friends, but he couldn’t resist this one moment. “Hey, want to bore people?”

She took his kiss, lips still softly curved as they connected. Heat rippled through him. Damn going home tomorrow. He didn’t want this to end, yet spending every night together once they were back in Heart Falls was out of the question.

Still, that was a problem for tomorrow. Not tonight as the sky painted the world with sunset hues and the fire crackled in front of them.

Charity shifted position, ending the kiss. But she was still smiling as she curled herself tighter against him and tugged his arms around her.

Amy stood and came back with her guitar, strumming softly as she tuned it. “Time to sing for your supper, Keith.”

Keith needed no more encouragement. He wasn’t bad, either. Definitely good enough to carry the rest of them as he drifted through a series of country and western they all knew.

Everyone except Charity, who sang along for about half of the songs. But she tapped her fingers on Dustin’s leg during the ones she didn’t know and joined in on the chorus when they came round the second and third times.

A sweet interlude before returning to the real world, and Dustin reveled in the moment.

11

Her first clue that she’d woken earlier than expected was the darkness. The second was Dustin’s arm draped over her waist, cuddling her close to his warm body.

What a wonderful surprise.

He’d been up well before her every day until now, and she wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. Morning sex wasn’t always her favourite, but since this might be the last time in a long time to have Dustin in her bed?

Time to make nookie while the sun shines, or something like that.

She rolled carefully, examining his face. Eyes closed, his breathing smooth. The layer of scruff on his chin and cheeks was just long enough to make her fingers twitch to touch.

Under the covers, Charity slipped a hand onto his shoulder. Stroking gently, she traced the muscles of his biceps, his triceps. Reaching lower to caress the side of his torso.

“I’m having this awesome dream. Could you tell Charity I’m staying in bed for a while?” His voice was sleep rough and deep.

“Okay with me. You just lie there and snooze if you want. No use wasting a good dream.”

“That’s what I figured. And if that dream eventually means you and me, naked, there’s a few final condoms in the side table.”

Charity laughed. “A few? You are an optimist.”

“Always and forever.”

She tossed off the covers then pressed a hand to his chest, rolling him to his back. Naked except for his briefs—she may as well do something about that issue right away.

Easing the fingers of her right hand under the waistband, she tapped his hip with her left. “Lift.”

He arched slightly and she stripped off the fabric, freeing his cock at the same time. She tossed his underwear to the stool beside the bed, then pulled off the T-shirt of his she’d stolen to sleep in. Another move, and her headwrap and scrunchie were gone, messy curls tumbling down to her shoulders.

Both of them naked and ready, especially Dustin, if his erection was any indication.

“You seem to have this obsession with my cock,” he offered. “And I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing, just that it’s a thing.”

“You have a pretty cock,” Charity insisted.

“Ha. Cocks are functional, not pretty, but I’m glad you like mine.” He wrapped a hand around it and stroked. His gaze dipped over her, heat brushing her like a caress. “So. This dream of mine… It’s starting out most excellently.”