It’s the first time I've heard Garrett curse and it’s a goddamn beautiful thing.
"Tell me you've been thinking about this as much as I have," I whisper, my mouth at his ear. I drag one hand down his back, slip it under the edge of his shirt, and find hot bare skin.
He shudders.
"Morethan you. All damn day," he grits out.
"What'd you think about?"
"Lark—"
"I want to know."
His forehead drops to mine, his breath shredded. The hand under my thigh flexes, hauls me tighter. "Can't tell you here."
He catches my wrists and pins them up to the tree over my head.
"Darlin'," he warns and begs in two syllables. He’s trembling. This enormous man is holding himself still by what seems like sheer force of will.
"We need to stop or I'll take you right here," he says in a ragged whisper against my mouth. "Up against this tree. And that’s not how I want it."
"How do you want it?” I breathe.
His mouth grazes the shell of my ear. His voice drops to a place I feel in my panties.
"Savin' that," he murmurs, and kisses the tender spot under my ear, “for another time.”
He lets me down, keeping a hand on my hip until my boots are steady under me. He kisses me once more, softly. Then he bends, picks his hat up and mine, and settles his back on his head.
I do the same.
He offers his hand, but I smile and shake my head. “I need a minute.”
“I get it.” He tips his hat and adjusts himself in his jeans, then walks away into the dark.
I stay against the tree with my eyes closed.
My pulse is pounding in my teeth. My mouth is swollen. My thighs are shaking. There is bark in my hair, and I can feel the shape of his hands everywhere he touched me.
Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 4
GARRETT
The sky is still blacker than the inside of my hat, and the barn is quiet except for the shuffle of horses figuring out they're about to work.
I'm telling myself, for about the ninth time since I rolled out of bed, that I'm only going on this overnight trail ride because Carl asked me to.
It’s a bigger group than usual. Twenty guests. Three wranglers aren't enough hands for that many greenhorns on open country.
And yes, I wasn’t expected to go on the hayride last night, but I figured I would tag along since Jim mentioned the harnesses and wagon gear were giving them trouble at first.
Sure, there are plenty of guys here that could take care of that.
I was just being extra cautious.
For safety reasons.