Page 13 of The Rancher’s Ecstasy

He didn’t know how many minutes went by before he noticed her start to shiver. He didn’t want to startle her, but he didn’t like that she was uncomfortable. He leaned back against the blanket and softly touched her shoulder.

“Em, baby?” He waited until she awoke. She was groggy but alert. “Can I lay down beside you? You’re starting to get cold.”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

Cole curled his body around her, placed his arm under her head, and used his other to pull her tighter against him and held her there.

“Better?”

Emily shifted a bit and relaxed.

“Mm.” She nodded, and a sigh slipped from her lips before sleep claimed her again.

Cole felt his heartbeat as a feeling of contentment settled over him. The emotions were so overwhelming it helped him to ignore the fire that was racing through him. The need to bury himself as deeply as he could inside her and show her exactly how much he felt for her was eating at him. He knew that making love to her was going to have to wait until she trusted him, but he was content with being able to hold her and breathe her in.

The fact she trusted him enough to let him hold her while she slept thrilled him and made something inside of him settle further. After several minutes, his eyes started to droop. He tightened his grip on her waist and let sleep drag him down.

Chapter Seven

A bird’s song pulled Emily from her nap. At first, she couldn’t remember where she was until one of the horses snuffed out a breath. The strong arm wrapped around her waist prevented any kind of movement, and Cole’s breaths whispered over her head. The heat from his body permeated through her clothing and made it impossible for the cool breeze that swept over them to chill her in any way.

She wasn’t used to having a man hold her while she slept. Her ex-husband didn’t like touching at all unless it had to do with sex. The minute he was done, he moved away from her, leaving her feeling cold and unattractive.

She could get used to this, Emily thought. Very easily. Her breath caught when he shifted and tightened his hold on her, tucking her tighter against him. Emily squeezed his arm. “Cole?”

“Hmm?”

Emily couldn’t help but smile.

“Don’t you think we should be headed back?”

Cole shifted but didn’t release her. “Why?”

Emily chuckled. “Because we both have work to do?” His hand glided over her stomach.

“But I’m comfortable right here,” he grumbled.

Emily relaxed her head back against his arm. Did she dare tell him that she didn’t want to leave either? They had agreed to be friends, and she didn’t think it was smart to lie plastered intimately together as lovers would. She patted his arm. “I still think we should go.”

Cole blew out a gruff breath. “Okay.” He slid his arm from under her head, sat up, and turned to her.

Emily’s breath caught in her chest at the way his eyes roamed over her and heated. As much as her body was telling her to lie back and give herself to him, her brain was yelling at her to move away. Emily scrambled up and away from him.

“Ahh,” she cried out in pain.

Cole stood and gripped her arm as her body loosened enough for her to straighten. “Are you okay, baby?”

Emily waved his concern off. “Yeah, I just moved too fast.”

Cole’s hand glided up and down her back. “Do you want me to give you a massage?”

Emily’s muscles tightened, making her bite back the groan that clawed at her throat. “No,” burst from her.

Cole chuckled. “Are you afraid you might like my hands on you too much?” The smile left his face at the desperate look in her eyes she tried to hide.

She pulled away before he could say anything.

“We need to head back.” She turned and walked toward her horse. She stopped short and turned. A furrow pulled his brows together at the sharp look of embarrassment on her face. “Cole, um, I need to use the restroom?”