The Ashtons - Cole, Abigail & Megan

while.”
    “Mercedes asked me to go with her to San Francisco for a couple of days of shopping.” She smiled. “I don’t think I could have gotten a better workout on a StairMaster.”
    Laughing, he nodded. “Some of those hills are pretty steep.”
    They both fell silent, and he knew his invitation was the reason neither of them had much to say. Continuing to brush the gelding, he tried to think of a way to gracefully retract his request before she had the uncomfortable task of turning him down.
    When he finally decided to just tell her straight out that he understood why she wouldn’t be going with him to Wild Horse Flats, they both spoke at once.
    “Abby, I think—”
    “Russ, I’ve decided—”
    Stopping, they both laughed nervously.
    “Ladies first.”
    Her gaze dropped to her boot tops and he figured he knew what was coming. But when she raised her gaze to meet his, she smiled. “I’ve given it a lot of thought and if you still want me to attend the rodeo with you this weekend, I’d like to go.”
    His heart thumped double-time and he suddenly found it extremely hard to breathe. He’d mentioned the living quarters in the horse trailer having two beds, and he fully intended for her to sleep in one and him in the other. But considering they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, she had to know there was a strong possibility they’d end up making love.
    The thought had him harder than hell in less than two seconds flat. Resting his forearms on Blue’s back, he was glad the gelding stood between them. At least shecouldn’t see how her accepting his offer affected him, beyond his grinning like a damned fool.
    “That’s great. Do you think you could be ready to leave by noon tomorrow?” he asked.
    She nodded. “When is your first event?”
    “Not until Saturday morning. But it’s a seven hour drive and I’d like to get there in time to get a good night’s sleep.”
    “I can understand that,” she said, running her hand along Blue’s back. The horse’s hide quivered with pleasure at her touch, and Russ couldn’t help but wish it was his skin she was stroking. “Do you want me to come down here early enough to help load the horses?”
    “Thanks, but Dancer is the only one I’m taking,” he said, laying aside the brush he’d been using on Blue. “A couple of friends called this week and asked me to haze for them during the steer wrestling.”
    “Okay.” She turned to leave. “I guess I’ll see you at noon tomorrow.”
    “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, walking around the roan.
    Stopping, she looked uncertain. “I thought I’d go back to the carriage house to start packing.”
    He shook his head and reached for her. “Don’t think you’re getting away that easy.” Pulling her to him, Russ smiled. “I missed you, Abby.”
    “I missed you, too.”
    Her smile sent his blood pressure soaring and, even if his life depended on it, there was no way he could stop himself from covering her mouth with his. The moment he touched her perfect lips, they parted on a soft sigh, and he didn’t think twice about slipping his tongue inside.
    In the past three days, he’d craved the taste of her, the feel of her body pressed to his. As short a time as they’d known each other, it was completely insane, but he was quickly becoming addicted to her sweetness.
    When she responded to his kiss by touching her tongue to his, fire streaked through his veins, and his knees threatened to buckle. He wanted her with a fierceness that robbed him of all reason and, needing to touch her, he slid his palm up along her side to the swell of her breast. He heard her soft intake of breath when he cupped the soft mound with his palm, but to his satisfaction, she didn’t pull away. Instead, he felt her arms tighten around him and her fingers grip the back of his shirt for support.
    Encouraged by her acceptance of his exploration, he used the pad of his thumb to chafe the hardened tip through the layers of her T-shirt and bra. Her moan of pleasure sent a jolt of desire straight up his spine and caused an answering groan to rumble up from deep in his chest.
    Realizing that he was close to losing the tight grip he held on his control, Russ slowly moved his handdown to her waist as he broke the kiss. “Honey, I’d like nothing better than to stay here like this for the rest of the day, but it could prove dangerous.”
    “Why…do you…say that?” she asked, sounding as out of breath