Page 9 of Lasso Lovebirds (Rainbow Ranch #4)

I looked around, suddenly embarrassed by how messy it was in here with all the countless notebooks and papers and pens everywhere over the desktop. There was a spare chair in the corner, and I went to it quickly, hauling it to the desk.

“You don't need to make space for me,” they said. “I can always sit on the floor.”

“You're not sitting on the floor,” I snorted. “I have plenty of space for you.”

They let out a soft laugh, and that broke whatever tension I was feeling. I paused for a second, closing my eyes as I felt a smile emerge.

“Sorry,” I drawled. “I’m a little all over the place today. And for whatever reason, when you're in my presence, it makes it even worse.”

Oh . I'd really just said that.

This time, when I looked up at Sky, they had a different expression on their face. I swallowed hard, wondering if I’d just ruined everything. Probably, right? My tongue felt tied, my heart beating out of my chest.

They took a step toward me. Then another.

One step after the other, until we stood boot to boot, their head tipping back as they looked up.

More than anything, I wanted to kiss them.

“Sky,” I croaked.

Heat rolled through me, sweltering and needy. All of those thoughts that’d been swirling around my head came roaring back.

They were so close.

Barely an inch between our bodies.

I swallowed hard, wondering what I was doing. Wondering what they were doing.

“I really like you,” they whispered. “I don't know why. I know we just met. But every time I’m around you, I can't think about anything else but kissing you. Is that wrong?”

“No,” I said. “It's not wrong at all.”

“Then will you kiss me?”

My breath hitched. It was the only thing I could think about. My gaze swept from their sweet eyes to their soft lips. Their eyelashes were long and dark, sunlight catching the tips as it poured in through the window. The office felt like an inferno.

I carefully lifted my hand, sliding it behind their neck. Their eyes fluttered, a soft moan leaving them that had me melting.

Of course they made the prettiest sounds in the world.

“Are you certain?” I asked.

“Yes,” they whispered. “But only if you want to.”

“Oh, I want to.”

I leaned down, my mind racing as I wondered how long it had been since I'd kissed someone. Too damn long. What if I was bad at it?

All of those thoughts melted away as our lips brushed against each other. They leaned into me, their body soft against mine.

Our kiss was gentle at first.

But then, a lightning strike of desire bolted through us, and our kiss deepened with a raw hunger that’d been haunting me since they tumbled into my life.

Sky leaned up on their tiptoes, winding their arms around my neck.

My hands fell to their hips, and I lifted them with ease, putting them on the desk. Papers and folders flew to the floor, making a mess around us.

None of that mattered.

The only thing that mattered was them, their kiss, the feel of their body against mine. The pleasure pumping through me, heavy like a drug.

God, they tasted just as sweet as I’d imagined.

I didn't pull away until we were both breathless. Pink blushed their cheeks, their eyes wide with surprise.

“Was that okay?” I whispered.

“More than,” they said.

Their eyes slowly slid from my face down my chest to where the bulge in my jeans had grown. They swallowed hard, reaching up and looping a finger through my belt loop.

“Damn,” they whispered.

“Sky,” I choked out.

The way they looked at me brought up every protective instinct I had. I wanted to keep them safe, to be with them, and to give them the whole world and more.

“I didn’t expect to come in here and kiss you,” they said. “But I’m glad I did.”

“Me too,” I said.

“What are you doing tonight?” they whispered.

“I don't have any plans after dinner. I usually come back here to work.”

“Does anyone ever bother you in the office?”

A slow smile crept over. “Not typically .”

Sky grinned. “Maybe I can come work with you.”

“I’d like that, Sky.”

I couldn’t help it. I leaned down again, brushing my lips against theirs. They held me there, the kiss deepening all over again, the sparks flying. I grunted, desperate for more.

Something had changed. Something was stirred up inside me now, and I couldn’t turn away. If it weren't the middle of the day, I'd be keen on shutting the door, locking it, and taking them right here on the desk.

A throat cleared, and I damn near launched myself across the room away from Sky. I looked up, my chest, squeezing as I saw Priscilla.

“Pris,” I said, breathing out.

“Sorry,” she said. “I . . . wasn't trying to interrupt.”

Her gaze lingered on me and then slowly slid over to Sky. And then she left, the sound of her boots quickly fading.

Fuck. Another feeling rose up, and I wasn't really sure what it was.

Worry? Sadness? Both?

Sky crossed their arms over their chest, their expression twisting. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Are you and Pris a thing?”

“No . . .” Although everyone seemed to think so today.

“Do you want to be?”

Well, that was the question of the century, wasn't it?

Of course I wanted to be. But I worried about not being enough. Plus, Pris was always here and if I fucked up, I’d never forgive myself.

“Yes,” I finally admitted. “But I doubt she wants me. And we've never been together, never even talked about it.”

Sky slid off the desk and put their hand on my chest. “I think you should talk to her. I think you might be surprised by what you hear. And I'd like to just say . . . I'm interested in her, too.”

“That doesn’t bother me,” I whispered. “Sky . . . I don’t . . . I’m not sure what to say right now.”

“How about I’ll see you tonight?”

“What about your computer work?”

“I’ll do that tomorrow,” they said. “I want to go talk to Pris, given that she just walked in on us kissing.”

All I could do was nod, completely speechless as they left the office.

A storm was brewing between the three of us.

I just hoped we’d still be standing at the end of it.