Page 19 of The Unbuttoned Ranger (Texas Heat: The Heart of a Texas Ranger #1)

Sharp rolled over in his bed and instinct warned him that he was no longer alone.

He flicked one eye open, allowed it to adjust to the sunlight billowing in from the window before he opened the other. It took a few seconds for him to see her.

CaDee was standing at the side of his bed. He blinked several times, wondering if he was still dreaming. In his sleep he’d been wrapped in her arms and now here she was, in person. He pushed himself onto one elbow and rubbed the remaining sleep from his eyes.

“Sorry. Your father was on his way out and told me to come on up,” she said.

“This is a bit…unexpected.”

“I’ve been up most of the night thinking.” She paced the floor, stepping over the jeans he’d discarded next to the bed last night when he came home bummed, feeling rejected.

“Don’t you mean overthinking?”

She stopped and narrowed her gaze at him. “Tomato. Tomatoh.” She slammed her hands to her hips. “You were right. I can’t allow Dante to run my life any longer.”

He jerked his pillow out from underneath him and folded it so he could lay his head on it. “I know his type all too well. They like feeling like they have power over others.”

“Carsen is happy here. I’m happy here.”

“It shows.” He smiled.

She paced a bit more then stopped again. “I love being a mom. I love my son and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. But, what you and I shared, I realize how much I miss being held. I miss feeling like I’m a woman. I’ve worked so hard holding the pieces together that I’ve ignored my own needs.”

“A woman as sensual and loving as you are should never feel like she’s anything but wanted.”

Her features softened. “It took a lot for me to open up as I did yesterday. And then…what we shared. I guess I needed a moment to clear my head after learning about the tracker, then feeling so good.”

“CaDee, you can share everything at your own pace, but I’m glad that you trust me enough to allow me in.”

“Why are you so understanding and kind?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of that before.” He laughed. “Don’t expect everyone to be like your ex.”

“I am learning to trust again.”

“It doesn’t happen overnight.”

“Do you still want to have sex with me?”

He liked this new version of CaDee. “Why the hell wouldn’t I?”

“I think we should have sex again” she blurted. “I enjoyed it.”

He sat up and planted his feet on the floor. “CaDee—”

“You’ve changed your mind, haven’t you?” the corners of her mouth lowered.

“Hit pause for a second. I haven’t changed my mind but don’t go at this like it’s a chore. Having sex is one of the greatest acts on earth, not like feeding the chickens.”

She dropped her hands at her sides. “I guess I don’t know how to go about this. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.” She took a backward step toward the door.

“Don’t be silly.” He stood and crossed the distance to her. She backed up into his dresser. She lifted her chin and looked up at him in a way that fought every demon inside he was carrying. He didn’t touch her yet. “Last night you didn’t seem so sure.”

“Last night I was sure, but I was afraid. I have nothing to offer anyone. My life is a whirlwind. A hot mess.” Her bottom lip quivered.

“It’s not as messy as you think it is. You’ve made steps to start a new life. That’s saying a lot.” He took a small step that brought him within inches of her. He reached down and lifted a tendril of her hair, bringing it to his nose. He loved her scent.

She journeyed her gaze downward on his body and when she brought her gaze back to his, she said in a soft voice, “I haven’t seen a man naked in a long time.”

He laughed. “If I would have known I was having company I would have at least pulled on a pair of boxers.”

“I’m not complaining.”

“Scars and all. This is me.”

“You’re a beautiful man, Sharp.”

He’d never been told he was beautiful. He cupped her cheek and caressed her soft skin with his thumb. “What I see today is different than what I saw last night. I know you’re sure.”

“Very much.”

He lowered his mouth to hers. He slipped his tongue inside, tasting her, relishing her gentle whimpers.

The tip of their tongues touched and her arms came up around his neck, pressing her body against his.

Good thing he wasn’t trying to hide his firm cock because it wouldn’t have been possible even if he had clothes on.

He laid his hands on her hips and held her against him, feeling like he couldn’t get enough fast enough.

Although he wanted to skip a few bases and slide inside of her, he also wanted to take things at a slower pace, bring her pleasure, remembering that she hadn’t been held properly in a long time.

Last night they’d jumped the gun, but she deserved to be treated like the beautiful woman she was.

He lifted her and carried her the short distance to the bed, laying her down on the rumpled sheets. She looked up at him through her thick lashes. He couldn’t get over how lovely she looked with her hair fanned out against his sheets, how enticing he found her.

The tip of her tongue came out to sweep along the curve of her lower lip.

“I want to show you what you deserve,” he said. He knelt at the side of the bed, lifting the hem of her dress to her thighs. Her desire filled his nostrils and his body hardened even more. He could practically taste her already and his mouth salivated.

“Sharp…” she laid her hand on his cheek.

“Just feel, sweetheart. Let all the chains break away and let me show you,” he urged.

He felt her body relax some. With a gentle touch, he laid his hands on her knees and spread her thighs, opening her to his view.

The strip of lace panties molded to her plump pussy.

Hooking his finger around the dainty material, he dragged the thong down her hips and legs, dragging them off her ankles and giving them a toss.

Her back arched slightly and her slick lips glistened.

He reminded himself that he needed to take his time.

Lowering his mouth, he inhaled her musk fragrance as he slid his tongue over the slick crevice, licking her creamy juices.

Her legs quivered when he rolled his tongue over her swollen clit, giving the sensitive nub full attention.

He suckled the bead until her hips came up, bouncing her pussy against his mouth.

And although he loved to have his face ridden, he didn’t want her to buck off the bed.

He held her steadily as he continued to work his mouth and tongue over her. Her moans echoed through the room.

Her juices turned thicker and tastier, and he knew she was close to coming. He slid his finger inside her, feeling the muscles quiver around his knuckle.

“I-I’m there,” she said in a whisper.

“Yes, baby. Come for me.”

Her juices flooded his palm as she reached climax. Her fingers were in his hair, her nails scraping his scalp.

“I need you!” The words came out on a moan.

He fished a condom out of his wallet in record time, ripped open the package and rolled it onto his rigid cock.

He lowered himself in the V of her thighs. Her eyes were closed. “Look at me,” he said gently.

She fluttered her eyes open and he guided himself into her.

She was tight and wet, and her muscles gripped him in a vice.

He took things slowly, easily stretching her until he was fully wrapped in her warm body.

He stopped for a moment, gaining his control, but when she wrapped her legs around his back all control vanished.

He began to move, sliding in and out, and she met him thrust for thrust. Her nails bit into his back and her whimpers reached his ears.

Soon he felt her spasm and her back arched.

The last thread unraveled, and he sunk himself deep, caught in a waterless ocean. They reached the peak of the climax together until he collapsed at her side, spent and holding her close.

The silence surrounded them in a comfortable blanket until she rolled over to look up at him. “I don’t have any expectations from you.”

He looked down at her, smiling. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to have this conversation with me. I’m not your ex.” He pulled her closer, loving how their bodies fit together perfectly.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get far enough to take off her dress so he could feel her skin to skin.

“I’m only saying, I’m a single mother, but I’m not looking for someone to take care of us.”

“That never crossed my mind.” He pushed the tendril of hair off her cheek. “I feel like I need to apologize for losing control so fast two days in a row.”

“It was wonderful.” She lifted herself so she could look down on him. “I think it might be best that we keep what happened just between us.”

He kind of figured she’d want this. “I can keep a secret.”

“Not that I regret anything, but Carsen, he’s young. I have to protect him. He already likes you.”

“Which is a good thing. I get it. I do.”

She followed the scars on his chest, following the outline of the marks. “I do realize you’re not Dante.”

“Just make sure it stays that way. Men like him are cowards. Me, I’m the type of man who’ll protect you till death if necessary.”

She lay back down in the crook of his arm. “I don’t want to give Dante any more power. I’ve already wasted so much time on him. I’ll always be grateful that he gave me Carsen, but that gratitude only runs so deep.”

“You’ll always be safe here.”

She pushed off the bed. “I should be going. I need to get back to the farm.”

He watched her slide her feet into the sandals then tug her hair up in a messy bun.

Her smile made his cock semi-hard.

“Will I see you later at the magnolia barn dance?” she asked as she checked herself in the mirror.

“I promised Ursula that Pa and I’d go.” He scraped his fingers down his whiskered jaw. “I’m guessing I need to keep my hands off of you while I’m there?”

“I hear there’s lots of dancing. I like to dance so maybe we can have each other’s hands on one another for a few slow ones.”

“I’d be happy to oblige.”

“See you later, handsome.” She gave him a flirty wave at the door.

He hopped out of bed and went to his dresser, pulled open the top drawer, and took out the velvet case that held his ma’s wedding ring. His pa had given it to him years back as a keepsake.

Lately, he’d been thinking a lot about marriage. Settling down. Maybe even have a few kids of his own.

His mind wandered to CaDee. He’d never been much of a romantic, but he found himself wanting to show her that she deserved so much more than she’d received in the past.

His pa once told Sharp, “When you know, you know… and then never let go. Show her every day what she means to you.”

He placed the ring back in his drawer and took off for a shower.