Burn for Cowboy (Stampede Sizzlers) by Jenna Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

on his hips. His gaze moved over her, not even seeing the scars that taunted her with memories. “Those sad eyes.” A graceful push of his shoulder had him standing up and walking toward her. “What is going on behind these sad eyes?”
    When his fingers caressed her cheek, she shut her eyes. Lips pressed against her forehead and the gentle kiss caused a tear to escape. “I don’t know.”
    “Liar,” he whispered against her ear. He backed her toward their ruined bed and when the mattress bumped her knees, he pushed her backwards. She bounced against the sheets that smelled of him, of her, of them. “You’re remembering that he broke you heart, because he did. Didn’t he?” He straddled her hips and braced his hands on the mattress so he hovered above her.
    “Tell me what happened? Tell me why…” A frustrated sigh escaped from him as he stared down at her.
    “Why?” She whispered, reaching up to wipe the tears from her cheek.
    His gaze was steady. “I want all of you, Meredith. I don’t want two separate lives anymore clearly defined by my house and yours. I want one life. One.” His weight shifted as he lifted up his left hand and held up one finger. “Yours and mine blended together. I know that scares you. But I want to know why. Why does the thought of a future with me scare you? I will not,” he said as he tapped that finger gently over the fast beat of her heart to match the rhythm of his words, “walk away from you, Meredith.”
    She searched his eyes and wanted him to wrap her up in his arms to make it all go away. Put a blindfold on her so she couldn’t see anyone but him. His finger rested over her heart.
    “Know that here.” Another tap over her heart. “Know it here.” His finger gently pressed against her forehead. “You trust me with your body, but I want it all, little love. Trust me here and here.” Once again he motioned to her head and heart. “That’s why.”
    ****
    Mike stared at his hand and dragged his fingers over his palm. Well, at least he knew the ghost in Meri’s heart. Exhaling, he sagged back in the couch. He just didn’t expect it to be someone he knew. Someone he liked, for the most part.
    Now he wanted to hunt his hockey player down and slam his fist into that pretty boy face. His fingers curled inwards and he ran his thumb over his knuckles. One hit was all it would take to release what was broiling in his stomach.
    Anger that someone had hurt Meri years ago. Envy that she had loved the stupid asshole. Frustration because even now, even after everything she was in that bedroom crying over the jerk.
    Oh yeah, he wanted to bash the crap out of Adam.
    There was movement and he watched Meri slip out of the bedroom wearing his shirt. She looked hesitant, staring at him as she twisted a button at the cuff around and around. What had he ever done to make her look at him with uncertainty? To jerk away from him?
    She rubbed her thigh, tugging on the bottom of his shirt as if to hide her scars. Shit. They were back to that?
    A frustrated sound strangled in his throat. He crocked his finger at her. When she stood between his knees, he eased the shirt away from her hand so she wasn’t trying to hide.
    “I do trust you, Mike.”
    His eyebrows rose as he parted the shirt. “Says the woman who is all buttoned up.” He flattened his hand on her stomach and met her gaze. “Tell me about Adam.”
    His thumb caressed over the surgical scar on her stomach beneath the shirt. He knew her body, knew every mark on her pale skin. Even the ones he had laid upon her with a crop, he remembered the faded stripes.
    “I don’t want to talk about Adam.”
    He did. Mike turned her so her back was to him. He tugged on the sleeve until it covered her hand. “How long did you date?”
    “Not long,” she said softly. Mike waited as he eased the buttons of the left sleeve into the cuff of the right.
    “How old were you?” Getting answers from her was like trying to whip running