“I'm not coming down until it's gone.”
“Sadie.”
“Gone, Walker. As in, no longer visible. Preferably in another zip code.”
He looks at the gigantic snake, which is now slithering around us, totally unbothered by the drama it's causing. Then he looks back at me.
I'm still standing on the hay bale, arms wrapped around myself, and I can feel my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest.
“I have a snake phobia, okay?” I admit. “They scare me.”
“All right,” he says, voice gentling. “Come here.”
“I'm fine where I am.”
“You gonna stay up there all day?”
“If I have to.”
He shakes his head, and then he reaches for me. Hands firm on my waist, lifting me down like I weigh nothing at all.
My legs wrap around his waist before I've made a conscious decision about it, arms looping around his neck.
The position presses us togethereverywhere.
My chest against his, my thighs gripping his hips, our faces so close I can see the exact moment his pupils dilate and godark. His hands are on my bare thighs. They feel so good there, rough and warm, gripping me confidently.
“Don't you dare put me down,” I say.
“Snake's not interested in us, sweetheart.”
And yet every muscle in his body is still held taut, unmoving. He's holding me like he has no intention of letting go.
One thumb traces a path along the curve where my thigh meets my ass. And I feel it right in my core.
His breathing is shallow too. Like mine. Like we've both been running instead of standing completely still.
“Can't even let your feet touch the ground,” he murmurs, eyes gone dark and heated as they trace over my face. “Such a spoiled little princess.”
“I am not!” The huffy, indignant way I defend myself doesn't exactly help my cause. Especially not when I'm clinging to him helplessly, making no effort whatsoever to climb down.
A wicked gleam enters his eyes, and before I can analyze what it means, he's shifting his grip.
“Wait, what are you…” I start.
In one smooth, effortless motion, he flips me over his shoulder like a sack of feed. The world tilts and suddenly I'm upside down, staring at his back, my stomach pressed against the hard muscle of his shoulder.
“Walker!”
“You said not to put you down.” I can hear the grin in his voice as he starts walking toward the house, one arm banded across the back of my thighs, holding me in place. His hand rests on my skin, fingers spread wide, thumb just at the hemline of my shorts. “I'm just being helpful.”
“This is not…” I'm laughing despite myself, swatting at his back, which does absolutely nothing. The man is solid muscle. “This is not dignified!”
“My dignity’s perfectly intact.” He adjusts his grip,hand sliding higher for just a second. Underneath the denim. Right along the curve of my ass.
My inner muscles clench on nothingness. I’m suddenly acutely aware of the way my clit is rubbing against my zipper. Against him.
The screen door bangs and Jonah comes running out, race cars forgotten, eyes wide with delight. “Dad! What are you doing?”
