Page 13 of Unexpected Temptation

T hey spent over an hour in the barn as Jaylen showed her around and introduced her to the few horses they had stabled.

Amelia couldn’t pull herself away from the roan filly Jaylen had just received from the animal rescue several towns over.

It wasn’t a large organization and didn’t have the ability to take on large animals, so Jaylen did.

He was sometimes able to find homes for the different animals, but for most, they ended up at his ranch where they lived out their lives.

Jaylen told her about some of the different animals he’d received that had been abused or neglected. Cows, llamas, pigs, goats, and horses. Amelia couldn’t wait to see them all.

The young horse she was brushing was the filly of the mare that had come to him emaciated. He hadn’t been able to save the mother, but the baby was doing very well and was ready to be put out with the other horses full-time.

She could tell it still bothered him that he’d been unable to save the other, and her heart broke for him.

The horse nudged her to keep brushing, which made Amelia laugh and Jaylen shake his head.

Jaylen leaned back against the stall wall with his hands in his pockets and watched the two.

He could tell they were going to eventually be inseparable.

Damned if that didn’t make him fall a little more in love with her.

“What are you going to name her?”

Amelia’s hand froze, and her gaze jerked to his.

“You’re going to let me name her?”

He shrugged. “Well, yeah, seeing as she’s going to be your horse.”

Amelia stood speechless for a moment before she shook her head.

“Jaylen, you can’t just give me a horse.”

“I just did. Sweetheart, she’s never been like that with anyone else.”

Jaylen could see the spark of excitement start to take over the disbelief and doubt.

“I just don’t think I should...”

“Baby, she chose you. You don’t have a choice.”

Jaylen’s grin softened at the happy tears that filled her eyes and the smile that spread across her face.

“Princess.”

Jaylen snorted. “She’ll probably live up to her name.”

Amelia hugged the young horse’s neck and closed her eyes.

“I don’t care. She’s perfect,” Amelia murmured against the horse’s neck before going back to brushing her.

“She’s never going to let you go if you keep doing what she wants.”

Amelia giggled when the horse nibbled on her hair.

A deafening clap of thunder startled both the horses and humans.

“I think the storm is worsening. Let’s get back inside.”

Jaylen watched Amelia give the horse one last hug before letting him lead her out and lock the stall door behind them.

Jaylen made sure her poncho covered her, hoisted her up on his back again, and made a run for the house.

They made it back to the house before the next downpour hit. Jaylen pulled off her poncho and then his own, then hung them on hooks to dry as Amelia sat and took off her shoes. He leaned against the wall and pulled his boots off, setting them aside.

Amelia walked up to Jaylen and slid her arms around his waist. His arms pulled her tight against his chest, and he bent to inhale her sweet scent and kiss the top of her head.

“I can’t thank you enough.”

“You’re very welcome,” he murmured and rubbed a hand up and down her back.

She tilted her head back to see him. “It’s the best thing anyone has ever done for me.”

Jaylen bent and pressed his lips to hers. He kept the kiss light and sweet before he raised his head.

“That’s the first of many animals I’m going to give you. That way, you have to clean up after them instead of me.”

Amelia snorted, took a step back, and then laughed. “Ahhh, now I know your reasoning.”

He pulled her back against him, pressed a hard kiss to her mouth, and grinned.

“Go and sit in front of the fire to warm up. I’ll bring you a hot chocolate.”

“I could help you.”

Jaylen affectionately cupped her shoulder.

“Another time. I can tell you’re cold.” He didn’t want to see her shivering like she had the day before.

****

A melia watched as he walked away before she headed toward the fire. She curled herself into the chair, covered up with the blanket she’d left there that morning, and watched as the flames flickered.

“Here you go, Sweetheart.”

Amelia looked up and reached for the cup he held out to her.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Jaylen set his own cup down on the hearth and used a poker to get the flames going before arranging a few more logs on top.

Amelia’s gaze scanned over him as he bent to build the fire up.

He was the strongest person she’d ever met.

The people she’d grown up with would never have gotten dirty or done any of the physical labor he did every day of his life.

Jaylen was as masculine as a man could be, and everything about him drew her in.

A wall of warmth from the fire hit her at that moment. She almost groaned as the heat seeped into her pores. She hadn’t known he’d walked off until he stood in front of her with one of his shirts.

“Try this flannel. It will keep you warmer than the shirt you have on.”

Amelia moved forward in the chair, set down her cup on the hearth, and pulled on the shirt. She buttoned and then rolled the sleeves up.

“You’re right,” she said and grinned up at him. “This is going to be warmer. Thank you.”

“It looks good on you.”

Amelia snorted and shook her head.

“It’s huge. I probably look ridiculous.”

Jaylen sat on the ottoman and bracketed her legs with his own.

“You don’t look ridiculous at all. I really like seeing you in my clothes.”

Her gaze flew to his. “Ummm...”

One side of his mouth tilted up in a grin as the fervor of arousal tinted her cheeks.

“But I’m betting I’m going to like taking them off you more.”

Amelia sputtered, shook her head, and then chuckled. “You’re awful.”

Jaylen chuckled and handed her cup back to her.

“Drink your hot chocolate, Sweetheart.”

For a long time, they both watched the flames and sipped their hot cocoa, each lost in their own thoughts.

“How do you want the sleeping arrangement to be tonight?” Jaylen murmured as he gazed at her.

Amelia glanced quickly at him and then back at the fire. Her face felt hot, and she knew it wasn’t all because of the fire. The morning flashed through her mind, and how good it felt to be held by him.

“I ... I’m not really sure. I’m not ready for us to ... you know.”

Jaylen chuckled. “Have sex?”

Amelia narrowed her eyes at his teasing, making him grin.

“Sweetheart, I think we can sleep together without making love. It’ll be tough, but I don’t want you getting cold again.

” He tried not to picture her underneath him but failed, and it made him harder than he’d ever been.

Jaylen tried to move around inconspicuously on the ottoman to get comfortable, but his pants grew tighter, and he ignored it as best he could, continuing the conversation.

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” she whispered.

He laid a hand on her knee.

“You won’t. I don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize our relationship.”

Amelia relaxed, nodded, and took another sip from her mug.