Page 35 of Wild and Wanted

Stevie stumbled and Clay’s arm immediately tightened around her middle, edging them perilously closer. Dozens of fairy lights reflected like fireworks in his eyes as their gazes caught. ‘When did she tell you that?’

‘We talk every day. She’s been keeping me up to date.’

‘Oh…’ Stevie swallowed at the news. So, he had made enquiries about her grandmother? Just indirectly.

Black brows tugged low as he searched her eyes. ‘Did you think I wouldn’t be interested?’

Shrugging, Stevie looked over his shoulder again. ‘I… don’t know.’ And that was the truth – apart from some googling and a very inconvenient, very stupid, very intense sexual fixation on him, she didn’t know Clay at all.

Just because she felt a connection, didn’t mean there was one.

‘Stevie.’ That gravelly voice and the sudden easing of tension in his body had her eyes lifting again, meeting his. ‘I’m sorry, I should have checked in with you before I left… I just thought maybe some space was needed after the…’

After the kiss. He didn’t need to say it when it was sitting there between them in all its wild impulsive glory. But space was the last thing she’d needed. ‘It wasn’t.’

‘Okay, well…’ He huffed out a half laugh. ‘I needed it.’

He did? Stevie’s eyes widened. What was he saying? That big tough Clay Calhoun had been freaking out about their kiss? Was that a good thing or a bad thing? She opened her mouth to ask him but he was already speaking.

‘Anyway… I really am sorry about your grandmother’s stroke and pleased that she’s on the mend. How’s your mom?’

Already blindsided, Stevie blinked at his totally unexpected question. It showed real emotional intelligence, an awareness that life-threatening medical situations didn’t just affect the patient.

‘She’s fine. I think? Putting on a good front anyway. Last time she was in a hospital was when Yolly…’

As her voice drifted away, the hand in the small of her back firmed, loaning comfort and bringing their bodies even closer again as she moved to the music on autopilot.

‘That can’t be easy,’ he said.

‘No.’ Stevie’s guilt over staying at the ranch resurfaced. ‘I should have insisted on going with her to see Granny.’

‘It sounded to me from Electra’s stall that would have stressed her out even more.’

Stevie smiled, remembering again that he’d been privy to the conversation and why exactly he’d been in that stall. ‘Yeah. She’s pretty keen for my ranch time to not be interrupted.’ Even worried about her elderly mother and the prospect of walking back into a hospital, Cindy Everhart hadn’t taken her eye off the prize. ‘And Dad’s with her too.’

Not that her father didn’t have his own hospital-related baggage. Or Stevie, for that matter.

‘Well.’ A slow smile warmed his face, making Stevie hyperaware of his palm print warming right through to her middle. ‘This is probably all kinds of wrong but, for what it’s worth, I’m very happy you didn’t.’

With him looking at her like that – like they were at the beginning of something – Stevie had to admit she was glad she’d stayed on the ranch, too. ‘Same,’ she murmured, an answering smile curving the corners of her mouth.

The music changed tempo, slowing as Brad Paisley sang ‘We Danced’, and the pace under the twinkle lights morphed en masse from lively steps to swaying.

‘Christ,’ Clay whispered, his hand tightening again. ‘I really want to pull you in close and slow dance with you but I think it’d become dirty dancing pretty damn quick and… I don’t think we need the audience.’

The frankness of his admission was like a lightning rod to Stevie’s insides, everything melting and sliding, looping endlessly over and over as her stomach went into free fall. Stevie had never thought of herself as an exhibitionist before but she’d let him take her virginity on this dance floor right now, if he wanted.

Her nipples ached and she throbbed between her legs. Her body was blooming, ripening under the heat of his gaze like a hot house flower, her roots nurtured by the deluge of desire that turned his eyes to liquid amber.

If this was sexual awakening, she was here for it.

‘Oh God.’ He exhaled on a husky rush. ‘Don’t look at me like that.’

The fact he was feeling this pull just as viciously only added to the dark throb of her body. She’d wanted to be wanton and looking at him, she could tell she’d succeeded. He wanted her.

He really wanted her.

How was it possible that she knew this about him – when she’d never experienced this before? This thing that was so base, so… wild. But she did, and the power of that? Of knowing he’d do just about anything right now to be with her?