A COWBOY OF HER OWN
Marty Samuels had been cursed with plain looks and a curvy body. It didn’t help that she had to work as hard as any man to keep a roof over her head. But Marty was good at protecting what she loved, including the strays she’d taken in and made part of her little family. So why couldn’t she keep her heart safe from the sexy cowboy next door?
Ethan Blackhawk had been blessed with good looks and an abundance of charm. It didn’t hurt that his family was rich as sin, either. He’d always been sure about what he wanted out of life—until one bad dog forced him to take a second look at the woman who could change his mind.
Ethan traced the seam of her lips, seeking entry and Marty opened to him without hesitation. His tongue touched hers, then retreated, only to advance again in a sensual dance, sending heat shooting through her veins. Her heart pounded in rhythm with his. He lowered his hands, cupping her rear to press her tightly against his lower body. His burgeoning arousal dug into her belly, making her body tremble and her head spin.
If he was simply having fun at her expense, she’d…deal with it later. Right now she couldn’t stop him—didn’t want to stop him. She was exactly where she wanted to be—in his arms. The fragile resistance she tried to maintain was tossed aside at the first brush of his lips. His body felt incredible and she shifted closer, stroking the column of his neck and along the hard strength of his shoulders.
When one hand moved to her breast, his caress swept through her like a flame. She moaned against his lips. At the small sound of need, his hand turned insistent, his fingers finding and opening the top buttons of her blouse. His lean fingers slid inside, caressing the silky skin, contracting gently around the soft flesh as he rolled his palm over her pebbled nipple.
“Do you want me, baby? Your body says you do.”
“We can’t…” Marty stepped out of his embrace.
His arms reached for her, pulling her back against him. “Yes, we can, honey. I’ll show you.”
He kissed her again, long and deep, and Marty could feel herself falling. With the last ounce of sanity she possessed, she wriggled from his grasp. Stepping back, she gulped for air as she stared at him. He was breathing rapidly and her eyes were drawn to the rise and fall of his muscular chest—and lower.
Marty had wanted to think herself—if not immune to his charms—at least strong enough not to give in to temptation. She didn’t want to be another notch on the belt of the sexiest cowboy in town. She wanted so much more. “Why are you doing this?”
Ethan lightly traced a finger along her smooth cheek, then traveled lower to rest against her throat as he’d done before. “Because of the way you react to me, Marty.” His dark eyes bore into hers. “It’s like fireworks when we touch.”
Marty forced herself to take another step back even though what she really wanted to do was fling herself back into his arms. But what price would she pay?
“I’m just handy, Ethan. Go find someone more in your league to play with.”