Page 50

He reached up, gently tucking my hair behind my ear, his touch lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.

“This Colton?” he continued, voice hushed. “He wants to have a little fun with a pretty woman…maybe work on his people skills.”

I feigned a dramatic gasp, fluttering my lashes. “You think I’m pretty?”

His smirk deepened before his thumb brushed against my cheek, slow and deliberate.

“Stunning,” he murmured, the word slipping from his lips like an unshaken truth.

That single word sent warmth rushing to my cheeks. Was I blushing? No way—it had to be the alcohol.

“Well then, take me to the dance floor, Cowboy,” I challenged, slipping from his grasp and taking his hand to lead him to the checkered tiles. I wouldn’t let myself think about the way his touch made me feel—warm and melty. Tonight, I would revel in being someone else, someone free, and enjoy the moment with Colton.

“I think you’re the one taking me,” he replied, following close behind like a devoted shadow.

When we reached the dance floor, Colton wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing my back against his firm chest. The country beat pulsed through the room, drawing people of all ages to the dance floor. “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” by Big & Rich blasted from the speakers, setting the perfect tone for the night.

My body swayed in time with the music, rolling against his as my hips moved dangerously close. The air between us crackled.

Colton’s hands tightened on my hips, pulling me closer until there was no space between us. Our bodies pressed together, using each other for friction. Heat coiled in my lower belly, spreading through my veins as I surrendered to the sensation. The hardness of his frame against mine—the brush of fabric igniting every nerve—left me breathless and wanting more.

I spun around, and suddenly, it wasn’t my back close to Colton but my face. He exhaled heavily, his breath warm as it danced across my skin. The music dulled, the bar’s chatter faded into the background, and I was lost in the magnetic pull between us, a tension I could no longer deny.

I draped my arms around his neck, rising onto my tiptoes as I closed my eyes and pressed my lips to his. Colton tasted of liquor and something far sweeter as he returned the kiss, his head tilting just enough to deepen the moment. I was completely absorbed in this, in him, as we moved together on the dance floor. It was indescribable—a sense of being completely at ease with a man who should make me feel anything but.

There was a pull—pure magic was the only way to describe it—like I was melting away and being reformed into something new. His hands slid to my ass, each one slipping into my back pockets as he gripped me, kneading the fabric.

I deepened the kiss, pushing against him for more, and he responded with equal intensity, matching my hunger. Lost in him, I opened my mouth and welcomed him in, his tongue sweeping against mine.

When we finally pulled away, dizzy and gasping for air, Colton’s eyes opened slowly. His lips were plump and glistening from our kiss, pupils dilated with desire. The longing that had simmered within me was now replaced by raw lust.

“Delicious,” he purred, wiping at the corner of his lip with the pad of his thumb.

I smirked at him, and he mirrored the gesture, the spark between us crackling. I needed to be wrapped in him, to feel his presence even more, so I reached out and grabbed the hat from his head.

With a surge of confidence, I placed the hat on my head and flipped my hair back. His hair was damp, a bit matted from sweat, but it only added to his allure. I took a step back, holding his hands in mine as I spun, wanting him to get a good look at me. Colton’s grip on my hands relaxed, his jaw ticking slightly as I pulled him into another dance.

Just as before, we moved in sync, spinning and dipping, lost in the rhythm we created together. Our bodies flowed effortlessly in a dance that felt both timeless and fleeting.

But with my energy spent, I needed a moment to catch my breath.

“I’ll be right back,” I murmured into his ear, my lips brushing against his skin. “I need to go to the bathroom. Can you get me another drink?”

Pulling back slightly, I met his gaze, noticing a flicker of something deeper, darker, in his eyes. Colton nodded, his fingers loosening their hold on mine, allowing me to slip away.

In the bathroom, I went straight to the sink, catching my reflection. I had to admit, I looked damn good in his hat. I’d never worn a cowboy hat before, but it suited me, resting confidently atop my chestnut brown hair. My cheeks were flushed, my eyes bright—a reflection of the confidence and exhilaration coursing through me.

The sudden rush of air caught my attention as the door flew open. Colton entered, shutting it behind him with a decisive click of the lock. I barely had time to process before he stood before me, his broad frame filling the small space, his breathing heavy, chest rising and falling as if he’d been chasing something—or someone.

Chapter 18

Eleanor

CONCERN KNITTED MY brows as I tilted my head. “Is everything okay?” I asked softly. “You look like you just got into a bar fight with a tiger.”

His molten gaze flicked between me and the hat on my head, a smoldering intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. He looked down at me, his hands hanging loosely at his sides, his presence overwhelming.

Oh, he was pissed.