Cowboy Strong by Kelli Ireland

Author:Kelli Ireland
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

11

KENZIE BROKE THE kiss so she could simply look at the man beneath her. She touched his face, tracing a fingertip over his lips, up one cheekbone and then down. The hair along his stubbled jawline had grown out enough that it was on the verge of losing the prickly feel and becoming soft. She loved the way his hair was both light and dark. It was reflective of the man himself—the part people saw and the shadows he carried inside. She understood him. Probably more than he realized and definitely far better than he wanted her to.

He nipped the pad of her finger as she traced it over his lips again.

She instinctively pulled away and then pressed two fingers to his lips. When he kissed the sting, part of her relaxed. This was Ty. Simply Ty. He wasn’t a stranger but a familiar lover. A man her heart recognized, craved, dreamed of more often than not. Looking at him now, it was as if she was seeing him for the first time all over again—the rush of attraction, the need to glimpse his smile, the desire to hear his laughter and, even more, to be responsible for it. Above all, though, was the yearning to touch him.

So she did.

Hands trembling so slightly she didn’t think he’d notice, she reached out and undid the first Velcro strap on his neck brace.

Ty jerked away, eyes wide. “I can’t take the brace off.”

“Shh.” The rip of the next strap seemed louder than the first.

“Seriously.” His hand rested atop her wrist to stop her from removing the next strap. “Please, Kenzie. I can’t do this.”

She paused, taking in the undisguised fear on his face. “Can’t or won’t?”

He slid his hand to encompass hers and squeezed. “I don’t...”

Cupping his face with her free hand, she pulled gently against his grip, giving him every opportunity to really resist, to stop her, to hold on to his fear and put it in front of his desire.

His gaze locked on hers and, eyes wide, he let his hand fall away.

She knew it was the ultimate gesture of trust. He’d handed over the keys to his fear, stepped aside and allowed her to rule the moment. No way would she abuse that. Moving with ultimate care, she pulled the third and fourth straps. Then she lifted the top of the brace away.

Fine tremors ran through Ty, transmitting his concern to her through every point where they touched.

Movements precise, care for the man tempering her hunger for him, Kenzie set the brace on the floor.

“I can’t reach it,” he said, voice strained to the point of breaking.

“You won’t need it,” she countered quietly.

“But what if I—”

“Enjoy yourself,” she finished for him.

His brows drew together. “Huh?”

“What if you let your inner playboy loose and take a chance?”

He shook his head and froze.

Her heart stuttered. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“No,” he answered slowly. “But what if I do?”

She closed the distance between them, feathering her lips over his in tiny kisses. “What if you don’t?”

“It could happen, Kenzie.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.