At the Cowboy's Mercy by Emma Jay Read Free Book Online Page A

the ground and he had a good grip. Finally, with a twist, he dropped the animal into the dirt. The clock stopped and Kennedy finally let herself look at it. What had seemed like an eternity was three point eight seconds. A shriek of delight tore from her throat and again he found her in the stands, grinning like a fool. A time like that would be hard to beat tonight. Looked like he was heading for the next round.

CHAPTER SIX

    Kennedy flexed her fingers inside her pockets as she waited outside the RV for Luke. The days had warmed up but the nights were still cool. She just couldn't make herself go into the trailer to wait, not the way they'd left things earlier. She tugged her hands free from her pockets when he turned the corner and strolled down the path. His pace quickened when he saw her.
    "Why are you waiting outside?" He passed her to unlock the door.
    "Not sure you'd want me back inside."  
    His shoulders eased and he angled his head to look at her. "Look, I'm sorry about earlier."  
    He reached out a hand and she took it. Heart tripping, she followed him inside.
    "This is how I should have said hello," he murmured, and turned to take her into his arms.
    His kiss was gentle and coaxing but no less devastating than the one in the barn. She wound her arms around his neck as he held her, both arms around her, making her feel cherished, not owned. His lips were soft, his tongue teasing. She rose on her toes, wanting to feel the strength of his body against her. He tightened his hold, but made no move to take her to bed. So she let herself melt into him, to savor every movement of his lips, every brush of his tongue.  
    He broke the kiss, easing his lips to her jaw, then below her ear. "Don't run away tomorrow."
    She stiffened and lifted her hands to his biceps, to push him away. "I didn't--"
    "I want you to go with me to Gonzales."
    Her hands rested on the insides of his elbows as she tried to wrap her mind about what he was asking. "You spend the night."
    "I do." His thumbs circled patterns on her back.  
    "I work."
    "Not the next two days."
    How did he know that? And he wanted her to go away with him? What did that mean? This was just sex, right? Going away together meant something more. He hadn't said he'd forgiven her for not calling him when her father was sick, but maybe he'd softened a little. And she was eager to see the place he wanted to call home. "Are you going to put me to work?"
    He chuckled and dragged her hips closer to his. "Maybe. But I spent the past two days getting the house livable."
    She frowned. "You said the house was last on your list."
    "It was. But now it's rodent free, with a new bed and a functioning bathroom."
    She angled her head, relaxing a little. "A functioning bathroom?"
    "I thought we could take the RV, but maybe we'd like to spread out a little. Come with me."
    Something in the pitch of his voice warmed her, and she nodded, not meeting his gaze, not questioning her own desire to go with him, to know the man as well as she'd known the boy.  
    His fingers hooked through her belt loops and edged toward the bedroom. She followed, heart pounding. Knowing how sex would be with him made this more exciting than the first time. He sat on the edge of the mattress and drew her between his thighs. He released her jeans and pushed up the hem of her t-shirt.
    "All weekend long I thought about getting my mouth on your tits."
    She made a face, even as he dragged his callused fingers over the sensitive skin of her belly. "I don't like that word."
    He looked up at her, brows lifted. "What word? Tits?"
    She nodded.
    He brushed his thumbs against the undersides of said tits. "What word do you like?"
    Honestly? She'd never given it much thought. "Breasts, I guess."
    He shook his head, a grin canting his mouth. "Too hard to say. What about nipples? Can I say I want to suck on your nipples?"
    A groan escaped her throat at the words, and she felt a charge go through her body. She nodded, and he flattened