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His jaw flexed, his grip on my waist tightening for a second before he forced himself to take a step back. “No.”

Something warm curled low in my stomach.

I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his before he could fully pull away. “Then don’t.”

Wells stared at me for a long moment, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. And then, just like that, his resolve cracked.

He pulled me back into him, his lips finding mine once more—this time with less hesitation, with more certainty.

I knew, without a doubt, that nothing between us would be the same after this.

This kiss wasn’t careful. It was full of something wild, something unchecked, something that had been waiting too damn long to surface.

Wells backed me up slowly until my legs hit the edge of the bed. His hands, steady and warm, skimmed up my arms, over my shoulders, and into my hair, tugging my messy bun loose. My hair tumbled around my face, and he let out a low sound of approval, threading his fingers through it like he’d wanted to do that for a while.

I should have been self-conscious but Wells looked at me like none of that mattered. Like I was still the most captivating thing in the room.

My fingers found the hem of his shirt, fisting the fabric as he kissed me slow and deep, making me forget about everything outside this moment. The way he moved, the way he touched me—it was careful. It was careful in the way someone handled something they didn’t want to break.

SAVE A HORSE (RIDE A COWBOY) SPICY!!!

He broke away just enough to drag his lips down the side of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. I tilted my head instinctively, my fingers tightening in his shirt.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” he murmured against my skin.

A shiver ran through me. “Please don’t stop.”

He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, something heated and searching in his gaze. He lifted a hand, tracing the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip, his expression unreadable.

“You sure?” His voice was low, husky.

I didn’t hesitate. “Yeah.”

Something in him seemed to snap at that—like my answer was all he needed.

Before I could catch my breath, he kissed me again, harder this time, his hands skimming down my sides, over my hips, until he gripped the backs of my thighs and lifted me effortlessly. A surprised laugh bubbled out of me as I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist.

Wells grinned, and damn it, that smile made my heart flip. “What’s funny?”

I shook my head, breathless. “Nothing. Just didn’t expect that.”

His grip tightened on me as he slowly lowered us onto the bed, careful but deliberate. “There’s a lot you probably don’t expect from me.”

A thrill ran through me at his words. I had a feeling he was about to prove that to me.

And I was more than ready to let him.

Wells settled over me, his weight grounding, his touch steady. His fingers traced along my jaw before sliding down my neck, over my shoulder, and finally stopping at my waist. His lips moved slow, deliberate, like he was memorizing the way I felt beneath him.

I arched into him, threading my fingers through his hair, letting myself sink into the moment. There was no hesitation anymore, no second-guessing. Just warmth, just want, just Wells.

His breath was heavy against my skin as he kissed his way down my neck, lingering just long enough to send a delicious shiver down my spine. My grip on his shirt tightened, and without thinking, I started to tug it upward.

He let out a quiet chuckle, his lips brushing against my collarbone. “Impatient, huh?”

I swallowed, my heart pounding. “Maybe.”

Wells sat back just enough to pull his shirt over his head, tossing it somewhere behind him. My breath hitched at the sight of him—broad shoulders, tanned tattooed skin, muscles carved from years of hard work. He was strong, but not just in the way that showed.