She only went faster, sending his blood pressure soaring. What if she lost her grip with her broken arm? His heart raced as he sent Brutus after them. He caught up to her when they reached the barn.
He jumped down from Brutus and pulled Riley from Storm.
“Stop, Garrett. What’s wrong with you?” she said as he hauled her over his shoulder. He set her inside the barn door, and his hands caged her. “What do you think you’re doing riding an unknown horse like that?” he ground out. “You might’ve gotten hurt. Stay here.”
He brought the horses inside and slammed the barn door shut before tending to the horses.
“Did you get a stick up your ass?” she snarked. “Why do you suddenly have an attitude?”
“You almost caused me to have a heart attack,” he exclaimed. “Storm’s a new horse. You don’t know her enough to take off like that, especially with a broken arm.”
“You’re not the boss of me, Garrett Johnson,” she yelled. “I’m not some damsel in distress. I know horses and ranching, and I can run circles around any of you cowboys.”
Oh, did she irritate him. His head threatened to blow off his neck as he stared at her blazing eyes. Did she understand he didn’t want her to get hurt?
Riley lunged forward, kissing him and taking him off guard. Garrett’s arm circled around her waist as he lifted heragainst the barn door. His lips crushed against hers. Their tongues clashed as his anger dissipated into fear, then into desire. He loved her, and the thought of losing her sent him to his knees.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Riley’s heart raced as Garrett’s eyes flashed with anger. Deep down, she knew better than to race a horse she barely knew, especially with her current situation. He had every reason to rail at her, but she wanted to feel free. Something shifted in her the moment Garrett made love to her. She no longer wanted to keep running from her father. She wanted to settle down and make a home for her and Tara.
Not knowing what else to do, she crushed Garrett to her and kissed him with everything inside of her.
Garrett lifted her to his height and continued to kiss her.
“You drive me crazy,” he said in between kissing her and carrying her to the abandoned hay bales from the night before.
“You’re bossy and overprotective,” she said as she unbuttoned his shirt.
“Ha, you’re calling me overprotective. You won’t let your sister out of your sight,” he uttered as he lifted her arms and pulled her dress over her head. With no bra on, her breasts popped from under her dress, making him toss it to thefloor to concentrate on them. He sucked a nipple into his mouth while his other hand delved into her panties.
“Ohhh,” she moaned, kissing his neck. Her hands roamed to his jeans when she pulled back.
“Condom?”
“In my wallet,” he said, rising and kicking off his boots. He knelt long enough to pull Riley’s off. Riley reached behind him, pulling the leather item from his pocket, and plucked out the condom. Setting it beside her, she worked the buttons on his jeans.
“Did you stock up right after we finished? How many women do you bring to your cabin? You kept condoms in the bedside table,” she said, yanking down his clothes.
“Most men keep them by their bed and in the medicine cabinet, Riley,” he gritted out as he tugged on her nipples.
“What about your wallet?”
“Force of habit. When you’re in the military, you always bring protection,” he explained, pulling her panties down.
“I love you, Garrett,” she said, gazing into his eyes.
He stopped and cupped her face. “I love you, Riley. Please don’t give me a heart attack.”
“Then give me an orgasm, and I’ll think about it,” she said, grinning. Garrett growled, making her giggle. “You sound like a big, old grizzly.”
“Then get ready, because I’m about to devour you,” he said, spreading kisses up her leg and closer to her center. He loved her sharp intake of breath as his beard scraped along the insides of her thighs. The honeysuckle scent from her soap drove him crazy as he kissed her belly and dipped between her legs. His tongue explored her lazily, making Riley pull his hair. Garrett didn’t stop. The more she moaned and tugged at him, the more he drove her higher. Her hips squirmed beneath him.
“Let go, Riley,” he said between licks. “Allow yourself to give up control. You’re safe with me.”
“You won’t be with me if you don’t make love to me now,” she growled back at him, making him laugh against her delicate skin. It made her jump at the new sensation, and Garrett hummed as if considering it.
“Garrett,” she demanded.
