Free Briar's Cowboys by Brynn Paulin

otherwise.”
    “Yes, I want you,” she answered. Her tongue shot across her bottom lip before she bit it then looked up at him. She wanted more than for them to stay.
    Jax pushed away from the doorframe and straightened, dropping his arms to his sides. “I’ve wanted to hear you say that for a long time. Do you know that I used to think you were the prettiest girl in Daly?”
    Her brows drew together and her head tilted as she stared at him, as if trying to see the boy he once was. “We knew each other back then? I’m sorry, I—”
    He shook his head. “Not well enough that you should remember me,” he interrupted. “Adam pretty much kept you away from all the other guys, even his friends. Let’s just say, I admired you from afar and leave it at that.” She didn’t need to know he’d been a little obsessive in a love-sick boy kind of way. There’d been nothing dangerous or illegal; he’d just made it a point to be nearby on the ranch whenever she’d been out and about.
    ‘What ever happened to him?”
    “Moved to Alaska and got married. Basically does the tourism and fishing shtick now.”
    “But you stayed here,” she commented, refocusing on the moment.
    “Ranching is my shtick. I wouldn’t give up this life if someone gave me a million bucks to go live in the city.”
    “I know what you mean. My mom loved the city, but I hated it there. I’m just back to Daly, and I can’t believe how relieved I feel…like I’ve been released from a bad dream, or something.” She tilted her head again, peering at him. “You used to have longer hair, kind of moppy, didn’t you? And you wore glasses with black rims. I thought you were kinda cute, if not shy. You liked me?”
    “Yeah. And yeah, that was me. Glasses were pretty annoying out on the range so I had that eye surgery a few years ago. They’re pretty annoying for other things too—you know, you don’t need to make up rooms for me and Ram.”
    “No?”
    Shaking his head he moved closer. She scooted backward on the bed as he leaned over her, bracing his arms on either side of her shoulders. “No. Like I said, I very much want to be in your bed tonight, if that’s acceptable to you, ma’am.”
    “Completely acceptable. Will you be calling me ma’am all night or do you actually want to have sex with me too?”
    His body lowered, covering her completely. Capturing her head between his hands, he kissed her hard and delved between her lips with the sweep of his tongue. Briar groaned, arching into him as her thighs parted and bracketed his hips. Her apex rubbed against his cock, and even through the denim, her fiery heat made him hard. His fingers buried in her hair, holding her as he explored her mouth.
    A cough drew their attention to the door where Ram now stood, watching. Rather than looking aroused by the possibilities before them, he looked concerned. Jax brushed Briar’s lips with his once more.
    “Be right back, baby,” he murmured then got up and went to his friend and partner.
    Ram took a step into the hallway when Jax got within reaching distance.
    “What is it?” Jax asked, following him.
    “Nothing. It’s stupid. I didn’t mean to stop you.”
    “Ram…” Worry gnawed at him. He’d thought Ram was down with claiming Briar, but now he was balking? He’d never seen the man like this. Ram was always confident and jovial.
    “You’ve wanted her for so long.”
    “That’s not news. You’ve known that. We had a plan.”
    Ram planted his hands on his hips and slid his foot along the carpet, refusing to meet Jax’s eyes. “Plans change.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” He pulled Ram closer to the stairwell to make sure he was out of Briar’s earshot. “Are you changing your mind? You don’t want her?”
    Ram blew out an annoyed growl. “Of course, I want her. As far as I can tell, she’s the answer to our dreams.” He huffed. “Especially yours.”
    Jax’s brows drew together. Was Ram…jealous? It didn’t