“River, look at me.”
“No.”
“Look at me. Please.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both. Either. I can’t look at you, and I won’t.”
“River, please.”
I grit my teeth and relent, dragging my eyes up to meet his. He’s staring at me, studying me. Those hazel eyes are boring holes in my skin, and for a second, I feel naked. Like he’s looking straight into my soul.
His tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip, and my gaze drops to follow the movement. A small sound works its way out of my throat, and then he’s cupping my face, tilting my head, and dipping his down. Our lips collide, and my body goes up in flames.
He’s kissing me. Colby Burke is kissing me, and I’m not stopping him. In fact, I’m kissing him back. My hands are curled into his flannel shirt, and my lips are moving against his, and everything is hot and frantic and desperate.
Colby tastes like coffee and mint, and his lips are so soft. It’s a jarring contrast to the stubble on his chin and the rough hands cupping my face. It’s dizzying. Exhilarating. And exactly what I need.
I press my body against his, reveling in the feel of his hardness against my curves.
God, this feels good. Better than anything I’ve ever felt.
His tongue swipes along the seam of my lips, and I gasp, opening my mouth for him. He groans, and the sound shoots straight to my core. My panties are damp, and my clit is throbbing, and all I want is for Colby Burke to throw me over this railing and fuck me into next week.
As if he can read my thoughts, Colby lets out a growl and pulls me flush against him with one hand on my lower back and the other buried in my hair. His lips move to my neck, and I can’t stop the whimper that slips out. His breath dances over my skin as he presses soft kisses across my jaw, and down the side of my throat.
“You smell like sunshine and cinnamon,” he remarks. “I’ve never smelled anything so damn good.”
I can’t speak. My heart is hammering, and my lungs are screaming for oxygen, but I can’t even breathe. Not when Colby is touching me. Not when his lips are doing unspeakable things to my neck.
His tongue flicks over the shell of my ear, and I shiver, clinging to him as though my life depends on it.
“You taste even better,” he murmurs.
I can’t think straight. Every word I’ve ever learned has left my head, and all I can manage are moans and squeaks. And the more noises I make, the harder Colby’s cock gets. He slides his hand from my back to the curve of my ass and gives it a squeeze. My breath hitches, and my knees go weak.
But then somewhere in the distance, the sound of one of the ranch hands shouting pulls us apart. They aren’t speaking to us, but it’s enough to break the spell and bring me back down to earth.
We’re standing outside, on the back porch of Colby’s house, with ranch hands just yards away. Anyone could see us. What the hell am I thinking?
I slide my hands up between us and shove at his chest, forcing him back a few steps. Colby clears his throat and takes a step back. His eyes are dark, and his cheeks are flushed. He looks like a man who just got a taste of heaven and is already missing it.
“River, listen—”
“No, you listen. That...that shouldn’t have happened. Whatever you think is going on here, you’re wrong. I’m not...I’m not that girl.”
“What girl?”
“The kind who’s up for a romp. You’re the boss, and I’m an employee. We both know what would happen. People would talk. Assumptions would be made. It can’t happen. And even if it could, I wouldn’t want it to. Do you understand?”
“Not even a little bit.” There’s a teasing lilt to his voice, and that combined with the smirk on his face is almost enough to make me smile. Almost.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Colby. Just because I kissed you... It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Didn’t think it did.”
