Free Her Desert Treasure (Entangled Ignite) by Larie Brannick Page B

protect the herd? “It’s taken two years to build their trust enough to let me get close to them. It would be destroyed if people and machinery invaded their home.”
    She was clearly frustrated, as well. “I would never dream of invading , Jake. It’s my home, too. You said yourself that you want to create an adoption program. Doesn’t that include socialization for the animals? If the herd continues to grow, and you said it will, do I set aside more land each year to accommodate them?”
    He ran his fingers through his hair as she continued.
    “I’m not going to do anything to hurt them, Jake, and I’m not going to run them off.”
    Jake knew in his gut that Meg wasn’t the kind of person who would intentionally harm anyone—or anything. But any abrupt change to the herd’s way of life could be damaging. “I know you don’t want to hurt them. And I know I don’t have any right to tell you what to do with your land. Please, just consider what I’ve said before you make any decisions.”
    “Of course I will.”
    The rest of the drive was quiet. Meg seemed deep in thought, and Jake worried that he’d ruined everything. Cussed himself that he’d put such a serious look on her lovely face.
    It wasn’t until Jake had parked in front of his house and shut off the engine that Meg spoke. “What will happen to Rex if his owners don’t call?”
    Ah. So that’s what she’d been thinking about. Wanting to put her mind at ease, he assured her. “I’ll keep him until I can find a home for him.” Surprise crossed her features. “He might have to bunk with one of the other strays for a while, but we’ll make do.” Meg blinked when he opened his door. The glare from the dome light was harsh against the black night. He met her at her door to help her out. When she was steady on her feet, she smiled at him.
    “I want Rex if his owners don’t come for him.”
    In that moment, all of his concerns about the wild horses fled. “That’s great, Meg, but don’t feel like you have to take him. It hasn’t even been a full day since we called. Let’s give it some time.”
    She nodded. “I know I don’t have to. I really would like to have him if he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”
    Jake stopped and took her hand, stroking skin that was soft, smooth against the roughness of his thumb. “You are too sweet.”
    He brushed her knuckles with his lips. An almost imperceptible tremor shook her when he kissed the spot where his thumb had been. Looking up, he found her staring at their entwined fingers, her teeth pulling on her lower lip. Her gaze lifted to meet his as he cupped her cheek. He craved the taste of her, needed to feel her delectable lips against his. Unable to resist any longer, he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his.
    Electricity arced between them just as it had the first time he kissed her. Moving his hand to the back of her neck, he pulled her close, deepened the kiss. His tongue swept across her lips, and she opened for him, her own tongue darting between his lips. Lust fogged his brain. At some point, her arms had wound around his neck, and his arm encircled her waist. Their bodies pressed together from chest to thigh, their mouths locked in a desperate fusion of lips, teeth, and tongues.
    Jake hardened to the point of pain. Every brush of her stomach against his zipper brought him closer to the edge, and he knew if he didn’t stop, he’d embarrass himself in a way he hadn’t since he was a horny teenager. It took every ounce of his will to break the kiss. He pulled his head away and watched her slowly open her eyes. Her lips were still parted, and her ragged breathing matched his. God, she was incredible. And as turned on as he was.
    “Wow.”
    He smiled at her breathy whisper. “Wow?”
    “Yeah. Just…wow.” Her pupils covered her irises until only a thin ring of violet remained. Wow was right. How easy would it be to pick her up and carry her to his house, to his bed? Visions