Zack (Armed and Dangerous Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

make her his woman again—this time for keeps.
     

Chapter 3
    Zack Hunter. His name rippled through Skylar in silvery waves as she leaned against the closed door, her eyes shut, his image filling her mind, her lips still tingling from his kiss.
    She’d wanted to run her fingers through his sinfully black hair, touch the hard planes of his face, kiss the fine lines at the corners of his gray eyes, and run her tongue along the cleft in his chin.
    And Lord, how she wanted to explore his muscular physique, smooth her hands over his broad chest, squeeze his large biceps, and meld her body against his lean hips and powerful thighs.
    She waited until she heard his SUV start. After the sound of the engine had completely faded, she scrubbed her sweating palms on her jean-clad legs and opened her eyes.
    When he’d come barreling into the barn, it was as if her thoughts about him that morning had summoned him to her— like some demon lover come back to torment her.
    Zack. Here. Now.
    The moment she processed who he was, all she’d been able to do was stare at him. So many thoughts had flashed through her mind. In that instant, she had wanted to yell at him for breaking her heart into a thousand pieces. And then she wanted to throw her arms around him and let him hold her like he used to.
    How could she feel like that after the way he’d left her?
    Skylar hugged herself and thought about what she’d lost. What they’d lost, no matter what he’d thought at the time.
    For six months they’d been virtually inseparable. Even though he’d never told her, she’d been sure he was in love with her. It showed so clearly in the way he talked with her, held her, made love to her. Like she was the most exquisite gem on earth.
    Damn. Skylar’s eyes suddenly ached and a tear threatened to roll down her cheek. She was not going to let him do this to her again.
    She slid down the door until she was sitting on the hard tile, wrapped her arms around her knees, and pressed her face against her legs. Images of the past came to her, and her heart felt like Zack had taken it away from her all over again.
    A handsome deputy sheriff and a wide-eyed first-year Cochise College student...
    That hot, sweaty September rodeo...
    Even after all these months and years, Skylar could still taste the sawdust and salt on her tongue.
    I took the trophy in women’s barrel racing.
    And Zack took my heart. I was standing with my friends as they congratulated me, and I had that feeling. Somebody there. Somebody watching... me.
    Skylar clenched her hands to keep herself grounded as she wrapped her arms around her knees tighter. She couldn’t help but remember how she’d turned slightly and had seen him. She had caught her breath at the sight of his gray eyes looking at her so intensely, like he’d already claimed her.
    A whirling sensation had stirred in her belly, as if she were still on her mare and barrel racing. Heat had flushed Skylar’s cheeks as his gaze slowly traveled over her. Her body had responded, her nipples tightening beneath her western shirt, and that place between her thighs had tingled. Her lips parted as if she could already feel the pressure of his mouth on hers, his hands caressing her body.
    The corner of his mouth had curved slightly, an arrogant expression on his face that told her he knew exactly how he was affecting her.
    A flash of anger had had her straightening her spine and turning away from the cocky jerk.
    Trying to bring herself to the present, Skylar sighed and raised her head and looked around her living room. In one corner were hers and her sister Trinity’s trophies from numerous rodeos they’d competed in from the time they were very young until they each went on to pursue their college degrees.
    Still Skylar couldn’t get the memories out of her mind. It was as if the trophies called forth more images. Especially the trophy she’d won that night. As her gaze rested on it, she swallowed.
    “Congratulations, Sky