Page 119 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

“I’m picky about what I put between my legs.”

Carnal’s face fell as he considered the innuendo. “I’m… glad,” he countered. “So, which one is yours?”

Looking over the flock, she pointed to the biggest, the one Carnal had chosen the first time she’d lived that event. “That one.”

“Seriously? That’s the one I was going to pick!”

“Well then, you shouldn’t have offered me first choice.”

“My mistake.” He smiled as he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward her choice of ride. “Sheep. This is Rosie.”

“You call that an introduction?” He lifted her onto the back of the sheep effortlessly.

Carnal chose the ewe who was runner up in the size contest.

“Okay,” he said. “Get two firm handfuls of wool like this.” He demonstrated the grip. Pointing to the oak sitting majestically up on the hill above, he said, “The first one to get to that tree wins.”

Rosie narrowed her eyes. “How many times have you done this? If you’ve been practicing, that’s a distinct advantage.”

“Life is so unfair,” he deadpanned.

“Did we talk about what happens if you win?”

“Yes, we did. Kisses.”

“Noooooo. That’s what you said I get if I win.”

“That’s the prize. Whoever wins. Go!” Carnal began goosing his sheep in the sides with his heels while telling it that there was magical grass at the top of the hill.

“Wait a minute. How do I make this thing go?”

He just laughed and kept going.

The first time she’d run the race with Carnal, he hadn’t stipulated no ‘demon cheating’. She nudged her sheep in the sides and, to her surprise, it took off after Carnal. She couldn’t have been more surprised when her sheep seemed to become interested in the competition. It broke out of its bone-jarring trot and began running toward the tree. She was almost left behind, but managed to hold on.

When the sheep reached the tree, they were neck and neck.

Rosie slid down off her sheep, then said, “Shoo. Go back to your friends. There’s no such thing as magical grass.” Actually there was, but she saw no benefit in broaching that subject. To Carnal, she said, “Guess it was a tie.”

Carnal looked disappointed. “I didn’t consider that possibility.” He brightened. “No.” He shook his head. “That was no tie. You were the clear winner.”

He slid off his sheep and started toward her to collect his prize.

She laughed and backed away. “Nope. I’m sure it was a tie.”

Carnal’s face changed. “Don’t run from me, Rosie. I’m warning you.” He suddenly looked more like a predator than an easygoing date as his body melted into a crouch, but since she knew him and knew what was coming next, that was more exciting than frightening.

She cocked her head and smiled mischievously. “You’rewarningme?”

“I mean it, Rosie. Don’t run. Not unless you’re prepared for the consequences.”

She couldn’t wait for the consequences. She spun a one-eighty and began sprinting down the hill, not being able to stop the laughter that was bubbling up from the delight of being chased by Carnal.

She heard him growl, “Fuck!”, and it made her laugh harder. She looked over her shoulder to see that, even though she’d given herself more of a head start, he had almost overtaken her. As before she ‘demon cheated’ and gave herself a ten yard leap. And, like before, she learned it wasn’t enough to leave Carnal behind.

In one smooth and fluid maneuver, he took the weight of the fall on himself and rolled so that he ended up on top without taking a chance on hurting her. She wasn’t about the waste the time teasing him about a no-touching rule.

She wiggled against the soft grass to align her body with his in the most delicious way and met the intensity of his kiss with more passion than she knew she had in her. He tore his mouth away with a ferocious sound, born of frustration. It was part snarl, part growl.