Read Online The Reluctant Rancher by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker - Free Book Online Page A

  “ You are a virgin, aren’t you? ”
    To know no man had ever touched her warm skin in the most private act known between a man and woman sent the blood surging throughout his body.
    Green eyes met gray.   She jerked free. “I have nothing to be ashamed of, Luke Tanner.   There are hundreds, no thousands of thirty-two year old virgins around .”
    “ Let’s not get carried away , little girl, ” he grinned, drawing her close once a gain despite her token protest. “ I’m glad, Mary.   Really glad. ”   He nuzzled the side of her neck, his teeth lightly nicking the slender column of her throat as he whispered against her skin.   ” Do you know what the thought of your innocence does to me? ”
    She let her hands flatten against his chest, her fingers found the thick matt of hair edging from beneath his shirt.   With one hand he reached up and pulled the snaps apart. He pressed her hand to his naked skin and shuddered as she explored the newly exposed territory. “That’s it, sweetheart.   Touch me.”
    He pressed another string of biting kisses along the curve of her jaw before turning his attention to the shell of her ear. He traced its delicate outer rim with his tongue.   Fierce waves of desire washed over him as she rose to her tiptoes and shyly echoed his caress. He knew she would be just as eager to learn how to please him in other ways. The thought fanned the fire already burning in his belly.
    He pressed the hardness of his body against her softness, letting her feel the strength of his desire.   He needed this woman to know just how badly he wanted her.   How badly he wanted to lay her down in the hay and sate his body with hers. This time his kiss held equal parts desire and pent-up denial.   Luke bruised the rosy softness o f her lips as he took her with his mouth. Recognizing that he needed to ease his fierce possession her lips , to pull back on his desire before he scared her , he forced himself to retreat, suckl ing the pretty, pouty flesh of her bruised lips gently with his own.   The action drew sounds of pleasure from deep within her throat.
    Luke struggled with his conscience as his desire threatened to escalate out of control, almost pushing him past the point of no return.   The feel of her small hands on his chest played havoc with h is senses.   Mary had gotten under his skin and burrowed her way into his heart.
    H e broke off the bone melting kiss and buried his head in the soft, smooth skin of her neck, knowing he couldn’t continue.   Not and keep his sanity.
    H e cupped her face in the palm of his hands.   Her lips were swollen and glistened with moisture.   Moisture from his mouth.   He silently groaned and almost said to hell with his good intentions.   She felt so alive in his arms, so vibrant.   And he felt so alive in hers.
    Fighting the desire that threatened to overwhelm him, he drew back .   He was always in control.   Always.   He moved away before his animal instincts overcame him .
    “ You were right.   That wasn’t such a good idea after all. ” He grabbed Lucifer's reins and walked into the pouring rain.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    The next morning Mary rose early, prepared breakfast and hid in her room while Luke and his grandfather ate their meal.   She knew she’d taken the coward’s way out, but she co uldn’t face Luke.   Not yet.   L ooking out her bedroom window, she saw him leaning against the dusty pickup that would carry them to town.   She watched as he pulled a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his jacket.   He reminded her of the old advertisements on television – a rough and rugged man of the open range.   A cowboy through and through.   As if sensing her scrutiny, he turned his head and looked into her second story window.   Mary quickly moved behind the c urtain before he could see her.
    God, his kisses yesterday made the memory of every kiss s he’d ever had before disappear. And she couldn’t believe she’d been so