Where There's Smoke: A Texas Heat Novel Read Online Free Page B

Donavan said.
    Emerson and Dylan joined them. “What does the Bible say, there’s a time to kill?” Dylan said, amused.
    Rowan plowed through the dancers to get to Sawyer. “Good thing Seth’s got military training,” Dylan said, “By the look on Rowan’s face, he’s gonna need it.”
    Emerson smiled secretly, “I hear wedding bells.”
    Sawyer pried Seth’s hands from around her waist. “You’re not getting lucky tonight,” Sawyer said, “I’m not that kind of girl.”
    Seth was about to say something when Rowan shoved him hard. Sawyer gaped. Rowan didn’t have a violent bone in his body. Seth remained in place like a block of concrete.
    “If you touch her again,” Rowan hissed, “I will break every bone in your hands and shove them up your-”
    “Rowan!” Sawyer said, shocked.
    Seth looked as if he were though roughly enjoying the exchange. “Aw come on pastor just because you can’t get laid don’t deprive the rest of us.”
    Rowan went for his throat. Seth dodged out of reach, while Sawyer pushed Rowan out of the wedding tent, to the garden courtyard beyond. He vibrated with unleashed violence. Sawyer had never seen him behave that way.
    “What’s up with you?” she asked.
    “How can we date,” he did air quotes, “When you let him feel you up on the dance floor?” he said through his teeth.
    Sawyer planted hands on hips. “I didn’t.”
    “Yes, you did,” Rowan said, seething. His green eyes threw sparks, his muscles bunched with tension and his face had a frown so fierce, she didn’t dare laugh.
    “Rowan,” Sawyer said calmly. “He was only teasing, besides, I don’t want any man’s hands on me but yours.”
    The tension seeped from him in rippling waves. “Really?”
    That this big, gorgeous, honey sweet man could be made so vulnerable melted her heart.
    “Come here,” she said.
    He walked in her arms like a lost boy. He crushed her to the length of him. “Cricket,” he whispered in her hair.
    She held on tight. “I’m scared too,” she confessed. 
    “What if we mess this up?” He voiced his fear as well as hers. “I can’t lose you.”
    She closed her eyes. “You won’t, not ever.”
    They stood that way for a heated moment, arms wrapped around each other. His head buried in her hair. He absently touched her curls. One coiled around his finger. “I like this,” he said, “You look good enough to eat.”
    Sawyer blushed. “I’m Black Widow, you better watch out.”
    “I’ll take my chances.”
    He kissed her forehead tenderly. They were about to cross into uncharted territory, the point of no return. Rowan stroked her soft cheek with the back of his hand. She looked up. Their eyes locked. The green eyes she knew so well glittered in the darkness and promised wicked things. Sawyer stood on the tip of her toes. He needed no further encouragement. Rowan kissed her warm lips, sweet at first, breathlessly tender. Sawyer whispered, “Very nice, now kiss me like you mean it.”
    He cupped her face between his hands. “I’m not pretending,” he said.
    “Neither am I.”
    He kissed her long, hot and deep. Sawyer’s knees felt weak as his head slanted above hers for a drugging, melting, wet taste of his lips and tongue. He gently bit her lower lip, his tongue plunged again, ravishing her as the sun blazed on the horizon.
    Sawyer moaned as he kissed her with years of longing and passion exploding between them. Her hands sank into his ginger gold hair. She couldn’t get physically close enough. His hands trailed from her waist and cupped her sweet ass to his arousal.
    Rowan suddenly let her go. His breath harsh and fast. He tried to cool his body down but he was having a heck of a time. It was the sweetest passion he’d ever known. Fine tremors went through him where her touch lingered. He wanted her so badly, it rattled him how much. He raked a hand through his hair. “Oh God Cricket, if I touch you again, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop,” he