sharply. She didn’t quite know what he was going to do, so she said nothing. He grinned wickedly at her before drawing her fingers into his hand, one by one, wiping them slowly, moving unhurriedly around the tips, removing any trace of chicken grease from her delicate digits. Graysen bit her lip to stifle a moan as his hand sent electricity all the way down to her curling toes.
Nervously, Graysen stood up and tried to collect her thoughts. Without warning, Colt scooped her up as if she were a small child and placed her in the saddle. Clementine moved a bit, adjusting to the weight of a rider. Colt placed his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up.
“Scoot forward a bit, Iowa.”
She did, but this time she was acutely aware of the most intimate part of his body being pressed more closely to her, and he acted as if it were nothing. He threaded the reins between her fingers and then dropped his right hand to her thigh. His left hand wrapped her waist. She wanted to move his hands. It was too fast, yet somehow it felt wonderful, like two lovers who were comfortable with each other. It seemed as if it had taken forever to get to their destination, but too soon they were back at the corral. Colt hopped down first. Instead of letting her get down off the horse on her own, he effortlessly lifted Graysen onto the ground after she swung her leg around.
“I’m sorry I kept you from that hike today. I know you are here with your family.” He led the horse into the stables.
Graysen didn’t even think about the words as they tumbled impetuously from her lips. “I wanted to ride with you. I think I had more fun.”
Colt turned and stared at her. She could feel his eyes on her face, her mouth, her shoulders. Nothing escaped those piercing green eyes. She felt as if he could read her soul.
“Do you think your family is wondering where you are?”
“I told them that I had a migraine and they think I am at the cabin resting. They probably won’t check on me until well after dinner.” Graysen realized how much she was revealing. She lied to her family in order to meet him. She was making herself vulnerable and she didn’t like feeling so out of control.
In the barn, Colt unhooked Clementine’s saddle before grabbing a brush to run over her. Graysen watched his hands work. “So what is it like living in Iowa?”
“There’s not much to tell. Iowa is miles and miles of corn and bean fields dotted by the occasional wind farm.”
“Are you from there originally?” His voice was quiet and relaxed, as if he liked just listening to her talk. As he brushed the horse, he stole quick glances at her.
“I was born and raised there. We’ve always traveled a lot, so I have been to all sorts of different places. I considered going to school on the west coast like my older brother did, but I didn’t want to be that far away from home.”
“Seems like you are close with your family,” Colt observed.
“I love my family, even if they do drive me crazy from time to time.” She chuckled as he gave her an understanding smile.
He paused. “Are you close with anyone else?” He methodically led the horse into its stall, closed the gate, and then turned to face her while leaning against the wooden gate. His eyes darkened to a lethal green hue, the color an Iowa sky turned before a twister touched down.
Is he asking what I think he’s asking? She decided to take the question at face value. “I’ve made some great friends at ISU, and I’ve known my best friend, Emma, since we were in first grade.”
“Is there someone special?” He started slowly walking towards her, one step at a time. His sultry smile melted over her like butter on a hot rock. Graysen felt naked, and vulnerable, and alive.
“Someone special?” The volume of her voice suddenly decreased to just above a whisper. Graysen tried walking backwards even though the stall door was in her way. It swung open as her back pressed against it. Colt didn’t stop,
Nervously, Graysen stood up and tried to collect her thoughts. Without warning, Colt scooped her up as if she were a small child and placed her in the saddle. Clementine moved a bit, adjusting to the weight of a rider. Colt placed his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up.
“Scoot forward a bit, Iowa.”
She did, but this time she was acutely aware of the most intimate part of his body being pressed more closely to her, and he acted as if it were nothing. He threaded the reins between her fingers and then dropped his right hand to her thigh. His left hand wrapped her waist. She wanted to move his hands. It was too fast, yet somehow it felt wonderful, like two lovers who were comfortable with each other. It seemed as if it had taken forever to get to their destination, but too soon they were back at the corral. Colt hopped down first. Instead of letting her get down off the horse on her own, he effortlessly lifted Graysen onto the ground after she swung her leg around.
“I’m sorry I kept you from that hike today. I know you are here with your family.” He led the horse into the stables.
Graysen didn’t even think about the words as they tumbled impetuously from her lips. “I wanted to ride with you. I think I had more fun.”
Colt turned and stared at her. She could feel his eyes on her face, her mouth, her shoulders. Nothing escaped those piercing green eyes. She felt as if he could read her soul.
“Do you think your family is wondering where you are?”
“I told them that I had a migraine and they think I am at the cabin resting. They probably won’t check on me until well after dinner.” Graysen realized how much she was revealing. She lied to her family in order to meet him. She was making herself vulnerable and she didn’t like feeling so out of control.
In the barn, Colt unhooked Clementine’s saddle before grabbing a brush to run over her. Graysen watched his hands work. “So what is it like living in Iowa?”
“There’s not much to tell. Iowa is miles and miles of corn and bean fields dotted by the occasional wind farm.”
“Are you from there originally?” His voice was quiet and relaxed, as if he liked just listening to her talk. As he brushed the horse, he stole quick glances at her.
“I was born and raised there. We’ve always traveled a lot, so I have been to all sorts of different places. I considered going to school on the west coast like my older brother did, but I didn’t want to be that far away from home.”
“Seems like you are close with your family,” Colt observed.
“I love my family, even if they do drive me crazy from time to time.” She chuckled as he gave her an understanding smile.
He paused. “Are you close with anyone else?” He methodically led the horse into its stall, closed the gate, and then turned to face her while leaning against the wooden gate. His eyes darkened to a lethal green hue, the color an Iowa sky turned before a twister touched down.
Is he asking what I think he’s asking? She decided to take the question at face value. “I’ve made some great friends at ISU, and I’ve known my best friend, Emma, since we were in first grade.”
“Is there someone special?” He started slowly walking towards her, one step at a time. His sultry smile melted over her like butter on a hot rock. Graysen felt naked, and vulnerable, and alive.
“Someone special?” The volume of her voice suddenly decreased to just above a whisper. Graysen tried walking backwards even though the stall door was in her way. It swung open as her back pressed against it. Colt didn’t stop,
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