“Thank you for dinner,” she said, inching closer to her car.
I knew I was going to spend the weekend thinking about her in between all the things I had to get done on the ranch. Lacey would be here, too, working with Elroy and some of the others. I’d need whatever distraction I could get to keep from just dreaming with my eyes open until Emma came back on Monday morning.
“Your pay,” I blurted, seizing on that small glimmer of hope like I would a life raft in rough waters. “I left it on my kitchen table.”
She cocked her head, but it was too dark to read the look in her eye. I didn’t want to wait for her to tell me she’d stay out here while I ran in to get it. I just turned and walked to the house, grinning when I heard her footsteps falling in behind me. I didn’t have much in the house besides beer and coffee, but I was happy to offer her whatever would get her to stay a little longer.
Riley was keeping watch on the porch. He lifted his head as we walked by, but didn’t get up to follow us. The front door wasn’t locked. I had my guard dog, didn’t I? I went into the house, too nervous to turn around, sure Emma would tell me she’d wait on the porch if I did.
The kitchen was bathed in moonlight. I turned on the overhead and picked up the envelope of cash from the table. I turned, a smile stretching over my lips that was wiped clean off by the look on Emma’s face. She was standing in the doorway, her green eyes wide. That hungry look was back in them, the one I’d seen earlier on the porch. And, her body was tense. I wanted to take her into my arms, but that wasn’t my place. She looked lost. The self-possessed, confident woman who worked the farm every day was gone. This was a glimpse of the girl inside the safe.
“Here you go,” I managed to force out in a wavering voice. I cleared my throat and held out the envelope. She reached to take it, her fingers brushing over mine. That heat moved through me, and I held my breath. She hesitated, her fingers still touching my skin as her eyes widened, that hunger passing from her to me in a straight line.
I didn’t think. I just reached for her, my hand wrapping gently around the back of her neck and bringing her closer. Her lips parted as she lifted her head to keep meeting my eyes. That was what undid me.
I leaned to finally taste that perfect mouth, softly at first, but I couldn’t hold back. Her hands lifted to rest on my sides, and I curled my hand into that soft brown hair at the back of her neck. We kissed harder, her sweet mouth opening so I could press my tongue inside. She kissed back, her body straining into mine.
I couldn’t help how excited she made me. Within a few seconds of tasting her, my cock was rock hard. I pressed it against her, still kissing as hard as she’d let me, our tongues exploring the deep, sweet warmth of each other’s mouths. It was all I’d wanted for weeks, from the time she walked up to greet me on the porch that first day.
She pulled back, breathless, her green eyes as wide as before, the look in them a little disoriented. But she didn’t step out of my embrace. I wanted to kiss her again. I wanted to peel off every piece of clothing that was between us right now. The envelope with her pay inside of it had fallen on the ground at our feet.
“Do you have a bathroom?” she stammered, cutting her eyes away.
“Down the hall,” I whispered. I didn’t want to let her go. The minute I did, there was a chance I wouldn’t get her back.
She stepped out of my arms and backed into the hall, her dark eyes meeting mine for a few seconds before she turned to hurry down to the bathroom. As soon as the door closed, I collapsed onto one of the dining room chairs, the strength leaving me in a warm rush. I touched my tingling lips, amazed at what they’d just done.
Whatever I had to do, I couldn’t let Emma leave without kissing her again. Now that I knew how sweet she tasted — like honey straight from the comb — I was going to crave her soft, supple lips whenever I looked at her. Tonight might be my only opportunity. Who knew what Monday would bring.
I sprang from my feet, the need at my core and throbbing between my legs directing me down the hallway after her.
Chapter Fourteen
Emma
Friday
I splashed some cool water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to calm down. I was trembling from head to foot. That kiss. Goddamn. I wanted to do it again, but I knew I needed to just get the hell out of here as soon as I could. Going to dinner had been a mistake. I knew better. I liked Pete, I really did, but he was my boss. This had to stop right now, before it permanently changed things between us.
I dried my face as I steeled myself. I’d just walk out to my car and leave for the weekend. We could go back to the way things were supposed to be on Monday morning. No more dates, no more alone time. As long as I got out of here right now, it wouldn’t be too late.
I turned away from the sink, determined, and opened the door.
Pete was standing in the hallway, his blue eyes wide and chest heaving with the strength of the desire I saw written all over his face.
I drew in a sharp breath, my plans leaving me in a rush of exhaled air, and went to him.
He took me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine. I opened my mouth to him, tilting my head as his tongue ventured deep into my mouth, toying with my own. I kissed him back, unable to deny the heat that moved through me and how badly I wanted him. My plan to escape this house and run out to my car disappeared in the intensity of that heat.
My entire body tingled as his soft, eager mouth dropped to kiss my neck, sucking lightly as I moaned with the need that was bubbling up from deep inside me. I hadn’t even let myself acknowledge how much I wanted him until this moment. But, now that I had, my entire body had unclenched, going soft in that heat. I wrapped my legs around him as he lifted me with two hands on my ass and carried me down the hallway. He kicked open the door to his bedroom, still kissing my neck, his hot breath igniting every inch of my skin.
He set me down next to the messy, unmade bed and tugged my shirt over my head. Thank God I’d thought to put on one of my better bras this morning. One with actual lace on it — not that he was paying it much attention.
He tore his own shirt off, nearly ripping it in the process. I bit my lip at the sight of his smooth, muscular chest, tanned from so much time in the sun. It was my first time seeing it so close up. He smelled like sunshine and hard work. I loved that musky odor. I pulled him down to me by the back of his neck, kissing hard, my tongue fishing into his mouth as his fingers unfastened my bra.
He brought his hands to my breasts, running his fingers over my nipples, and I moaned into his mouth. His fingers dropped to the waistband of my jeans, pulling them open as we continued to kiss almost desperately, that heat rising, stoked by my furious heartbeat and the pulsing between my legs, a furious itch I wanted him to scratch.
He pulled his lips away so he could focus on pushi