“I um... well, I was clearing my head. My room was too warm, and I couldn’t sleep.”
“It’s definitely a warm night.” And unfortunately, because she looked so alluring, his body became even warmer.
She took a quick glance toward the house and then back to Colt. “Well, I’ll let you be on your way.” She motioned with her hand toward the direction of the stream.
Inwardly, he boiled. She was trying to get rid of him, but he wasn’t going to be pushed away so easily. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“What?” she asked in a high-pitched voice.
“You keep looking toward the house, so I wondered if maybe you were waiting for someone. You know, like... Kent?”
She swallowed hard, which made a noise. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m in my nightclothes.”
“Exactly.” He stepped closer to her, and she retreated slowly. “And by your actions, I’m seeing that you are indeed waiting for him.”
“Please, Colt. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I happen to think I knowexactlywhat I’m talking about.”
She stopped when she bumped into a tree, but that didn’t stop Colt. He didn’t stop until he was mere inches in front of her, leaning against her with his arm bracing the tree trunk just above her head. Heavens, she smelled good tonight, as if she had planned this moment. But of course, she had – for Kent!
“Colt, I don’t think...” She pressed her hands against his bare chest before sucking in a breath.
The warmth from her touch ignited a fire that started deep inside him. At this moment, he didn’t care that she was going to get married tomorrow. He’d make sure that tonight the only man on her mind was him.
“You shouldn’t,” she whispered huskily. “We shouldn’t...”
“Oh, but my darling Cleopatra, wewill!”
Colt bent his head and brushed his lips against her forehead. Her breathing had turned ragged, which only increased the rhythm of his heart, making him want to continue the torturous pleasure.
He trailed his lips down her face slowly, keeping the kisses feathery soft. She’d closed her eyes, which gave him more hope. When he reached her mouth, she held her breath. He wanted to smile from the victory he felt, although he hadn’t won anything yet.
“Colt,” she sighed. “We shouldn’t do this. I’m getting married. Tomorrow, I will be Kent’s wife, and he... will have husbandly rights.”
Panic began to well inside Colt, but he pushed it down. That was not the emotion he wanted to feel at this moment. Instead, he wanted passion to take over. He didn’t want her to think of his cousin anymore tonight – or tomorrow, for that matter.
“But you’re not married yet.” He brushed his lips against her lips. “And you are withmenow.”
Circling his arms around her, he stopped any further talk by kissing her. A moan rattled from her chest as she melted against him. Her gentle touch on his chest had turned him jealous, and he didn’t want her touching any other man but him.
And... he was going to do his best to see that happened.
He broke the kiss and pulled back just enough to lift her in his arms. Gasping, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Colt? Where are you taking me?”
He grinned. “Someplace where nobody can find us, because my sweet Blaze, I’m not letting you go tonight.”
