Free Tying You Down by Cheyenne McCray Page A

come in?” she asked and she heard the vibration in her voice.
    “Yes.” He gave her a little smile. “But I’d better not. My control around you is real thin.”
    She stepped closer to him and tilted her face to his as she placed her hands on his chest. He was warm and solid beneath her palms.
    He slipped his hand behind her head and released the clip that had been holding her hair up and the long, gentle curls flowed over her shoulders. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night,” he murmured as he slipped his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her head.
    Slowly he lowered his head and his mouth met hers. She sighed with pleasure as his firm lips took control and he kissed her with such passion that she felt like she could lose herself. She felt desire blossoming through her, starting low in her belly, and she pressed close to him.
    The feel of his solid body against hers and the hard ridge of his erection pressing into her abdomen heightened her arousal. His scent, so earthy and masculine, made her want to be even closer to him than she already was. The only way that would be possible was if they were both naked, and that thought caused a throbbing sensation between her thighs.
    She was hardly able to think straight as his kiss deepened and her nipples tightened and ached. She wanted him to sink into her, to be deep inside her.
    The sound of something hitting the doorstep and a light jangle met her ears and she realized she’d dropped her keys.
    He drew away. His gaze locked with hers before he reached down and scooped her keys up off the doorstep then put them into her hand.
    She started to ask him to come in, but he said in a rough voice, “I’d better go before I can’t stop myself.”
    She gave a slow nod. He was probably right…it was too soon for them to end up in bed together.
    He brushed his lips over hers before making sure she was safely in her home. She stood in the open doorway and watched him leave.
    Again.
     

Chapter 10
     
    Tate picked Jo up at eight in the morning on the Saturday of the bull riding event to give them time to make the ninety-minute drive to Phoenix and then to the coliseum where it was being held.
    They’d gone out twice since the night of Creed’s birthday get-together. Each night had ended with a kiss that left her sexually frustrated and wanting. Even though she appreciated his gentlemanliness, she couldn’t help but want more. But he’d made it clear that he wanted more than sex.
    Charlee, on the other hand, was apparently spending every night with David that he was in town and then he’d leave on Friday afternoons.
    As Jo and Tate drove to Phoenix, Jo brushed at a piece of lint on her dark Levis. She’d picked out a pair of leather ankle boots to wear with the jeans and had chosen an aqua blue button-up blouse with rolled up sleeves. She’d pulled her hair back into a French braid and wore a simple pair of small hoop earrings, a gold Figaro chain necklace, and a gold bangle watch. She’d brought a light jean jacket for the cool Arizona fall night.
    Tate looked incredible in his faded blue Wranglers, a dark blue western shirt, black boots, and a black Stetson. She loved it when he had a day’s stubble on his jaws that gave him a rough, sexy look.
     “If you don’t have plans for next weekend, why don’t you come on out to my ranch?” Tate interrupted her thoughts. “We’ll go riding and pack a picnic lunch.”
    “I guess I have plans now,” she replied with a smile. “I’d love to.”
    “Great,” he said.
    She situated herself so that she could look at him more easily as they drove, which was never easy when wearing a seatbelt. “Do you raise cattle?” she asked.
    “About a hundred head of black Angus,” he said. “I also raise and train horses. I just purchased a new breeding mare that I think will be a fine addition.”
    “I’m looking forward to seeing everything.” A shiver of excitement went through her. It amazed her how excited