Page 62 of Tame Our Wild

That thought makes me tremble—stirring a need that shouldn’t be there.

He lets out a distressed chuckle. “You really going to keep acting like you hate me all season when we’re at events?”

“Yes,” I grit my teeth, as if I’m in pain admitting it. “It’s easier that way.”

He shakes his head, not believing a word I say. “Really? Because it damn well looked like you were about to run into my arms.”

I shrug. “I momentarily forgot how I actually feel about you.”

“Yeah?” His head slants, his eyes dark and ominous beneath the shadow of his hat. Colson slowly stalks toward me. “I’m a very perceptive man.”

I swallow. “Colson, you’re up soon. They’re going to be looking for you.”

“Harlow,” he bites back.

“Fine! You’re making me confused as hell. It might not be hatred anymore, but I don’t know how I feel about you.”

He takes another step. As if he’s injected me with his venom, I don’t move. I can’t. I’m not sure I want to. “Careful, dust bunny. It sounds like you’re starting to tolerate me.”

Colson moves until he stands before me, peering down into my soul so deeply that he digs himself further into a heart that wants to forgive him more than my head does.

His breaths are ragged, and I know I’m not the only one fighting a battle in my head. The temptation is written all over him in the way his focus is locked onto my mouth, like he’s barely holding on to his control. Colson knocks me off balance when his thumb lifts to my face and drags down my bottom lip.

“Do you know how many times I’ve wondered how these lips taste?” His husky tone has my legs quivering and my nipples hardening beneath my vest. “If they are sweeter than the teasing words and sarcasm that’s meant to pull at my sanity.”

My eyes drop to his mouth. There’s no hesitancy. “Maybe I’ve wondered the same about yours.”

“Yeah?”

I nod nervously to answer him.

He starts to remove his hat. My body is acutely aware of what’s coming before I have time to prepare for the impact. Colson’s hand cups the back of my neck, his head dipping lower to seal his lips over mine.

Oh, dear Lord.

At first touch, the contact has a bolt of electricity short-circuiting my brain. Sparklers fire under my skin, searing my nerve endings.

In the beginning, his mouth is soft and gentle, gliding over mine, but when I grasp his forearms to keep myself steady from the onslaught of unexpected feelings invading my core, a guttural groan emanates from deep in his throat.

His other arm weaves around my lower back, hauling me into him. A gasp is torn from my chest, the man taking it as an invitation to explore my mouth further. Colson hungrily swallows the sound, his tongue so much sweeter than I imagined as he expertly tangles it with mine. His teeth nip my bottom lip in a way that has my pussy clenching with the need to feel more. Anything.

He’s ravenous as he dominates my lips with his.

I’ve never been kissed like this in my life, like it could implode the world around me.

It’s hungry.

Explosive.

Devastating because it’s on its own level, and I know nothing will ever be the same after this.

I won’t be the same.

If this man fucks like he kisses, then this is a fall that might be worth the risk.

We should be worried that someone will accidentally walk back here. But those thoughts fly right out the goddamn window when our need drives us to cling to each other as if it’s the only way to stay afloat because the aftershocks will surely drag us under.

He bends down, moving his hands to the backs of my thighs. My arms weave around his neck so I can latch onto his frame as he lifts me effortlessly, my legs locking around his firm abdomen.