The Rancher's Redemption

“If you have desserts, then I’ll probably lose it completely.”

Billy shot to his feet. “I have desserts.” He hurried into the refrigerated section of the kitchen hoping a cold blast of air might restore his equilibrium. But the sight of Bella Williams licking her spoon and moaning over his food was now seared in his brain. He stuck his whole head in the industrial-sized refrigerator and dragged in a few lungfuls of super-cold air. Nope, nothing was going to help.

“I wasn’t sure whether you’d want hot desserts because they’re more labor intensive, so I made these seven cold ones. I have mini Pavlovas, banana pudding, baklava, Eton mess, all kinds of sorbets, ice cream, and fancy ice pops.” He set the plate down carefully in front of her. “I’m sure Ruth will insist on adding pie regardless, so we’ll definitely have something hot.”

Not as hot as he currently was . . . He hadn’t felt like this since he’d been a horny teenager ogling his high school gym teacher.

“Oh, I love Pavlova,” Bella breathed. “I never have time to make it at the bar.” She picked up the small piped circle and popped it into her mouth, crunching down on the stiff sugar base, the cream, and berries.

A trickle of raspberry juice touched her lip, and Billy instinctively wiped it clean with his fingertip.

Bella grinned at him. “Am I making a mess? I don’t care. This is to die for. . . .”

He offered her the second one, and she raised an eyebrow. “You like seeing me all messy?”

He could only nod as he presented the treat. She eased it into her mouth, leaving his fingertips pressed against her lips.

“Bella . . .” He might have groaned before he bent his head and kissed the sweet stickiness of her mouth and the lingering sharpness of the berries within.

With a soft sound, she wrapped one hand around the back of his neck and kissed him back.

He forgot everything except the fullness of her body now pressed against his and the tantalizing taste and scent of her. She fitted perfectly against him, and he never wanted to let her go again.

Sitting on the high stool meant Bella was at just the right height for them to be eye to eye. He eased his second hand around her waist and drew her closer to the edge of the chair.

“Is this okay?” he murmured.

“Oh yes.” She wiggled even closer until the bulging fly of his jeans pressed against the woolen fabric of her skirt. He wanted to take the skirt off her so badly....

Before he lost all sense of decorum, he forced himself to remember that they were in a public place, and even if Avery barred the door of the ranch house and lay down across the threshold of the guest center, a determined Morgan would find a way to get around her.

“Come with me?” Billy asked.

For an answer, Bella slid off the stool right down his front, almost giving him a heart attack it felt so good. He took her hand, and led her deeper into the building. His only thoughts were he needed a horizontal surface, and a room with a door that locked.

He stumbled into his office, snapped on the lamp, and locked the door behind Bella. There was a couch against the wall, and he drew her down onto it, his mouth glued to hers, his hands now roaming over her body.

“Where are we?” Bella asked between kisses.

“My office.” Billy kissed down her throat.

“I didn’t know you had an office.”

Billy wasn’t really into making small talk, but he made the effort, straightening up, and looking right into her eyes. She looked gloriously rumpled and not at all worried.

“We don’t have to do anything,” Billy said. “We can just sit together and chat.”

“Okay.” Bella nodded, and then reached out to run her hand down his muscled upper arm. “I don’t want to chat.”

He smiled at her. “What do you want to do then?”

“Kiss you? Touch you?” She bit her lip. “But only if you are okay about that.”

“I can’t say I have any objections.” Billy tried to keep a straight face. “Seeing as it’s a long time since either of us have been in this position, how about we start with a little making out on the couch session?”

* * *

Bella couldn’t help noticing that Billy Morgan was definitely very happy to be with her, and that he’d obviously gotten over any doubts about kissing her. She liked the idea of taking it slow, though. Leaning in, she kissed him very carefully until he shuddered under her hands. He tasted of good food, and hot, excited man, a combination that was far more addictive than she had realized.