Cassie's Hope (Riders Up) by Adriana Kraft Read Free Book Online

willingly fall into a snare large enough for any man, and
he didn’t even know who’d set the trap. Was it her? Was it him? Was it the
universe? This woman wouldn’t be satisfied with just sex. And he certainly
needed no emotional entanglements, particularly with a temperamental woman from
the big city.
    After running her
hands up and down Hope’s front legs and knees, Cassie announced, “They’re cool.
That’s a relief.”
    She stepped out of the
filly’s stall and turned toward him. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask. What did
that guy mean tonight when he talked about me being saved by an Indian raid?”
    Clint glowered at
her. Her blank look told him everything. He spun as if to bolt.
     She caught him by
the arm. “What did I say wrong now? I can’t ever seem to talk to you for more
than five minutes without one of us getting upset.”
    He grimaced. “I don’t
mean to insult you, but you are beyond naïve at times. Did you think this skin
was created by the sun? I’m half Ute. My mother is a full blood. My father was
a mixture of all those things whites tend to be.”
    “Oh.” Her eyes
widened. “I hope I didn’t offend you. I work with people of color all the time—guess
maybe I’m sort of color blind.”
    He had a difficult
time believing her, yet he knew intuitively that the outspoken, fiery Cassidy O’Hanlon
did not lie. She might have many faults, but he was sure lying was not one of
them.
    Narrowing her eyes,
Cassie quipped, “You know, tonight I think I’m very pleased to have been
rescued by an Indian raid rather than by the local cavalry.”
    Clint smiled at the
mischievous woman. One moment she hissed at him and the next she tempted him. She
never ceased being provocative. He could almost feel her surging heat. When she
was busy he took the opportunity to rearrange his erection, which had become
incredibly hard and uncomfortable.
     
    - o -
     
    Cassie stepped into
the next stall, bent over, and rummaged though a pack. Finally she emerged with
a tube of ointment.
    She turned and
fixed her green sparkling eyes on his. “Caught you gawking at my butt. See
anything you like, Mr. Travers?”
    “I’ve wanted to see
your hair down,” he said softly,  “since I first saw you. Do you always keep it
in a ponytail?”
    “No,” she responded
weakly. She wet her lips. Was this it? Was he going to kiss her at last? Was
she ready for him? She didn’t do flings. But she was a thousand miles from
home. So, why not? Her nipples hardened. She felt the sure sign of wetness in
her pussy. She had her answer—she was more than ready. Her fingers trembling
slightly, she removed the band holding her hair in place and shook out her long
tresses, letting them fall loosely over her breasts. Smiling, she arched her
back and thrust her pelvis forward in silent invitation.
    “Sweet Jesus,”
Clint muttered, closing the distance between them. Gently, he ran his fingers
through hair, grazing her breast in the process.
    Cassie’s eyes went
wide and she bit her lower lip.
    He smiled and bent
his neck, leaning toward her.
    She stood on
tiptoes, raising her lips to meet his. Their lips brushed. His tongue sought
her mouth and she opened to him, chasing his probing tongue with her own. Suddenly
overwhelmed, Cassie slid off his lips gasping for air. She shook her head
trying to find clarity. Spasms of desire raced from her toes to her most
private place. His arousal pressed against her tummy; his hands clutched her
buttocks. Thinking was a nearly impossible task. If she wanted to change her
mind, this might be her last chance.
    He held her tight
as if he feared she’d run. He seemed to be smoldering just as much as she was. Were
they ready to chance a wildfire?
    She was certain of
only one thing: she’d not had enough. Not hardly. Crushing her lips against his
again, she tried to swallow his tongue as it searched her mouth. They fell to
their knees. She slipped a hand inside his shirt and massaged his