Read Online The Cowboy Claims His Lady by Meagan McKinney - Free Book Online Page B

wanted her to marry that cowboy down in the valley.”
    Lyndie was speechless.
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    â€œYou know what?” Lyndie said, pumped up on adrenaline and cheap beer as she stood next to Bruce at the gates.
    Bruce paddocked the last prize-winning bull and wiped the dust from his eyes. “What?”
    â€œI’ve been challenged by Hazel to seduce you. She doesn’t think I can do it, but you know, I think I can. And if I succeed, she says she’ll forgive my MDR Corporation debt.”
    He stared at her in the darkness of the paddock.
    She couldn’t read his expression.
    â€œOf course,” she rambled, “I won’t let her forgive the debt. I am a McCallum, after all, and I pay my debts back, but it would delight me to no end to prove her and her wicked matchmaking ways wrong. Would you go along with the gag?”
    He stepped toward her. She leaned back against the metal tube fencing of the paddock until she nearly melted into it.
    Still he came, pressing toward her, tall and intimidating, masculine and domineering.
    â€œI’ll go along with it. How far are we going?” He smiled.
    â€œWell—not far enough for me to be a notch on your bedpost,” she confirmed nervously.
    â€œI’d rather you be tethered to my bedpost.” He pressed his long lean body against hers.
    His hard chest rammed against her soft, fulsome one. The contrast was almost more than she could bear. His steely arm clamped around her waist. She was captured.
    She looked up at him, wondering how feminine wiles could ever tame such a male animal. Against her will, her breath quickened, and the fluttering in her belly became a heated dampness between her legs. She was no match for him when his very nearness caused her to tremble and melt.
    â€œI just want out of a debt.” She desperately tried to remain practical and detached.
    â€œYou know, there’s a name for women like you. Money isn’t always the key, is it?” His strong callused hand swept a wisp of hair from her eyes. His touch was fire.
    She felt her cheeks heat with a blush. “Well, at least my price is more than you can pay.”
    He tilted back his head and laughed. “Don’t be so sure of yourself. You’d be surprised what I can pay.”
    She smiled, valiantly trying to remain chummy even though his very scent was driving her to distraction; its earthiness, its darkness promised way more than she could handle.
    Sobering, she said, “Look, this is our little joke. Play along with me, will you? For Hazel’s sake?” she begged. “The woman’s got her finger in every pot in this town. She really does need to fail once in a while so she will stay out of other people’s business—including mine.”
    He put his face to hers. The heat of his breath warmed her cheek. “I’ll play anything with you, girl, but what do I get if I win?”
    She held his gaze. “You won’t win.”
    â€œNo?” he asked, his voice husky with desire.
    â€œNo,” she affirmed, just before his lips came down on hers.
    His mouth was hot and demanding, and the loneliness inside her took it like a rainstorm on scorched earth. His tongue pushed inside her hungry mouth and took away all thoughts of protest. He kissed her, and each second with him like this seemed to promise an eternity.
    She knew she should push him away. A second wasn’t an eternity, the rational side of her announced, but in his strong arms, she became nothing but gelatinous, quivering feeling. Her body turned so liquid, his embrace was the only thing holding her up.
    And still she took his kiss, wondering who was the seducer and who the seducee. Everything got turned around where he was concerned.
    His tongue licked a flame within her that melted even her most frigid parts.
    Then the yearning came. Like a wind that passed through her very being, she wanted him, body and soul.
    If they had not been in the shadows of a