Page 12 of Captured by the Billionaire Cowboy (The Secret Billionaires #7)

E very sense soared, every muscle seized, splintering the world.

Rowan towered over her, so large, so powerful, yet they fit together perfectly, hardness against softness, male to female.

She pressed flush against unyielding muscles, as he held her with ease, solidifying his claim.

He usurped the control she no longer wanted.

Heady need swirled, set to the beat of her heart and the cadence of her own rapid breathing.

He was an intoxicating combination of nature and heat, with a spicy taste that tantalized as he manipulated his lips expertly over her own.

Such utter confidence sparked the desire to test his control, to challenge him as he challenged her.

Sheer instinct drove her, natural and elemental, as sensation streaked through her.

Resistance fled as she delved nearer, tentatively and then more certain.

He welcomed the invitation and boldly explored, pulling her firmer against his rock-hard body. She closed her eyes…

As he slowly broke the kiss.

She gazed at him through a hazy world, biting swollen lips. Fog clouded her mind as reality forced her back to the present. What just happened? Why had she allowed it? And most importantly…

When could it happen again?

For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then Ciara said the only appropriate word, “Wow.”

He gazed at her, for once without his expressionless mask, his eyes reflecting a cacophony of emotion: satisfaction, pleasure and yet stark surprise, uncertainty even. The same emotions burned in her.

“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.” His deep voice rumbled through the air, and the horses behind them neighed, as if they could sense the charged atmosphere. “You seemed to… respond.”

She hadn’t just responded. She was thirty seconds away from tumbling into the hay with him and shocking a dozen rescue horses. “That was…” Unexpected. Unwise. Absolutely delicious.

“Surprising?”

In a thousand ways. And yet there were a thousand reasons why it shouldn’t have happened.

In a few months, she would leave, travel thousands of miles and an impossible chasm away.

The last time she allowed Rowan to infiltrate her heart, he’d broken it, walked away without a second thought. Had he ever loved her?

“I would never take advantage of you.” His expression was genuine, raw. “Or expect anything by letting the horses stay.”

“I would never think that.” It was true. No matter the past, he would never expect payment of that sort. She understood his motivation behind the horse rescue, even if he didn’t. He wanted to help her and the horses, not score some benefit. The motivation behind the kiss? Far less clear.

Yet her motivation was obvious: Clearly, she’d lost her mind.

She knew who and what this man was, and what he’d done the last time she’d allowed him into her life.

He was accustomed to women chasing him. According to Frank, he’d ended matters with his last girlfriend when she started planning their wedding after just a few dates.

She would not be one of those women, not even if her feelings were far more complicated.

She notched up her chin. “This was a bad idea. A very bad, terrible, awful idea.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Not that it meant anything,” she hastily added. “I mean, it was just a kiss.”

His lips quirked up slightly on the sides. “Just a kiss?”

Heat swept up her neck. ‘Well, not just a kiss. I mean it was great.” Why had she said that? “Really great.” That was even worse! “Best kiss I’ve had.” Her brain had obviously departed. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

She finally managed to get her mouth to stop the sabotage. Did she actually just admit the magnificence of the kiss? He studied her carefully, as if he could read her every thought. Impressive, when even she didn’t understand. “It’s okay, Ciara. I know why you’re here.”

She breathed out. She had dreamed of kissing him ever since… well, a long time… and reality had shattered expectations. Still, she couldn’t deceive herself into thinking this meant more than it did. Not again. “I just…” She fought for words. “I’m a little overwhelmed right now.”

He touched her shoulder. His hand was large, warm, like the rest of him. She should pull back, yet instead she leaned into it. “You’re always taking care of everyone. Don’t forget to take care of yourself.”

“Of course.” She kept her tone casual, brushing off the advice he no longer had the right to give. “The kiss was obviously just a reaction to stress. “We can’t… I can’t…”

His expression hardened. “I better get started on the listings.” He pivoted, blazing a hundred unsaid words as he strode to the door, and, without hesitation, left her.

This time it would be temporary, yet somehow the surprise still came, laced with a layer of hurt, as he walked away without a glance back.

The kiss had been far more than surprising; it had been shocking, and absolutely tremendous. Most of all…

It had not been a kiss between friends.

Ciara strolled over endless green fields, sprinkled with magenta wildflowers and flavored by the scent of blooms and the sea.

Her hair flowed like a silken screen in the gentle Irish wind, as she held the lead loosely, allowing Jasmine to decide how quickly to move, giving her back the control that had been so cruelly stolen.

The mare was still skittish, jumping when she first saw the tack, but she had reluctantly allowed Ciara to fit the minimum equipment for the short walk.

Fortunately, the trail had calmed her, and she seemed to enjoy the beautiful outdoors as much as her human guide, relaxing as they walked under the brightly shining sun.

Finally, the horse tired, just a little, and Ciara moved slower.

She had a destination in mind, although whether the place still existed was uncertain.

Many years ago, she and Rowan had stumbled upon it while riding, a beautiful garden hidden amongst a tangle of weeds.

From the outside, it looked like an unkempt copse of trees, yet inside reigned a magical wonderland, a tiny, enchanted garden filled with wildflowers every color of the rainbow.

The day they’d found it had been glorious, much like today, when they were just two kids wandering and exploring after a particularly exhilarating race.

They’d been astounded by the masterpiece of nature, a secret garden laden with native flowers and set to the music of a babbling book.

Back then, they’d truly believed it was enchanted.

Now she imagined it was the work of a whimsical gardener from long ago.

They had visited the garden numerous times, yet they had never seen another human being.

However, one clue proved humans created it, or at least visited.

Deep in the brush, two letters were carved into the majestic oak tree: C and F.

As a child, she’d believed they were explorers or pirates; now she assumed they were sweethearts, enjoying their own private oasis.

A tangled mass of trees came into view in the distance, and her heart quickened.

She forced herself to move slowly for the horse’s sake, despite the urge to break into a run.

Finally, they came upon the entrance to the sanctuary, heralded by a crystal-clear brook that sparkled like liquid diamonds in the brilliant sun.

As the horse drank eagerly, she removed her own water bottle from her bag and took a deep gulp of the cool spring treat.

When the horse had her fill, she led her through the brush.

Did the garden of her childhood still exist?

It was even more magnificent than she remembered.

Wildflowers bloomed in vibrant array, like a painter’s masterpiece, complimenting each other in brilliant synchrony.

The air was heavy with the scent of honeysuckle and love-in-a-mist, the breeze cool and fresh.

Tall trees surrounded the garden, protecting the beauty from the outside world, while up above the blue sky extended endlessly, like a pathway to a magical world.

Life flourished all around. Fluffy squirrels danced in the underbrush, as colorful butterflies flitted between the flowers, their gem-colored wings sparking pops of color against the emerald background.

Birds chirped in sweet melody, providing a harmonic soundtrack to the lush setting.

Even Jasmine sensed the beauty of the surroundings, as she sauntered slowly, calm and content.

Ciara removed a rope from the saddlebag and carefully secured Jasmine to a branch. She would let her roam free, but the horse could bolt if startled, an unfortunately likely possibility for the emotionally traumatized animal. The rope was long and gave her plenty of room to explore.

Ciara relaxed, as the surroundings lured her to peace.

She’d come to the right place to contemplate the drastic changes in her life, both professionally and personally.

And she had the perfect friend to discuss it with.

“I know you’re afraid, Jasmine. It’s going to take a long time for you to recover, but I promise we’ll get through it together.

” She reached into her pocket and retrieved a carrot. The horse’s eyes lit up.

“You have nothing to fear.” Slowly, she fed the horse the treat.

Would she allow her to touch her? For a moment Jasmine stayed still as Ciara approached, but when a squirrel scurried past, she snorted and scooted back in alarm.

Ciara retreated, giving the horse space, and sat down on a leaf-covered log.

“I’m going to open a horse rescue center so I can help more horses like you.

I just need to figure out some things, well, mainly one thing: money.

I can become self-sufficient, but I need capital to get started.

Otherwise, I’ll never find a permanent home. ”