Free Wild Rodeo Nights by Sandy Sullivan

house. He didn’t open his door until Carrie asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”
    “Uh…yeah.” He couldn’t have said no if he tried. He wanted to be near her, wanted to make sure she was all right after her ordeal, but most of all, he didn’t want to leave.
    Once they were inside, Carrie flipped on the lights, and Jessica moved off toward the stairs. “I’m going up to my room and leave you two alone.”
    “You don’t have to do that, Jess.”
    She shook her head and smiled but didn’t say another word before she walked up the stairs.
    They stood in the middle of the room eyeing each other. He was afraid to touch her—afraid he wouldn’t be able to be near her without stripping off her clothes in a rush and burying himself in her sweet warmth. He balled his hands into fists inside his pockets to keep from reaching out to her.

    * * * *

    She dropped her gaze and smiled. He looked so nervous standing by the couch—like he was afraid to come close. Lifting her head, their gazes met for a moment before she walked to him and slipped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his shoulder.
    “Just hold me,” she whispered, burying her nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent. She sighed when she felt his arms wrap around her. It felt so good to have him hold her.
    She was surprised when she saw him stand up and try negotiating with the crazy man who held her captive. He had been willing to trade his own safety for hers. What kind of man would do that? They hadn’t even known each other more than a few days, but he'd been willing to let the guy take him hostage if he let her go.
    When she lifted her head, he growled low in his throat. He lifted his hand, wrapped it in her hair before his mouth dove for hers. Fitting his lips against hers, his tongue speared inside her mouth to capture her moan when she released it. The kiss wasn’t the soft, coaxing, playful kisses they’d shared before. This was an all-consuming, full-blown need that raced along her nerves, settling somewhere between them.
    His mouth left hers to nibble her lips before moving across her cheek and then down her neck. She tipped her head back and gave him unobstructed access to the hollows of her throat. She arched against him when his palm slipped over her nipple and it hardened beneath his touch.
    He lifted his head, framing her face with his hands. “I should have killed him myself for hurting you,” he whispered when his thumb moved over the large bruise that had begun to show on her cheek. Dipping his head, he kissed her softly along the bruise.
    “Fuck me, Cole. Help me forget the ugliness of what happened tonight.”
    His eyes searched her face for a moment before he swept her up in his arms and headed for the stairs and her room. Once they were inside, he kicked the door closed with his foot. Laying her softly across the comforter, his hand went to the front of his shirt, but she stopped him and reached for the buttons. She didn’t want soft—she didn’t want slow, she wanted him now, buried inside her as she screamed his name. Grabbing his shirt in the middle of his chest, she fisted the two halves in her hands and pulled. Surprise registered on his face when the buttons flew in several directions. She tugged the shirt off his shoulders, pinning his arms at his sides before she smiled and rocked back, bringing him down beside her on the bed. Straddling his hips, she sucked his nipple, bringing a groan to his lips.
    “Carrie.” he growled through clenched teeth as he fought for control.
    “Mmm.” She didn’t lift her mouth while she licked his chest. When she finally released his arms, he reached for her shirt and lifted it over her head. He unhooked her bra and pulled it off too. He reached for the waistband of her jeans, but she shimmied down his body, licking and nibbling his skin.
    He wrapped his fingers in her hair when she worked her way toward his cock straining against his pants. Reaching his