Barb Han - Sudden Setup

“Hold on,” he said, like there was another option.

Ella turned her head and pressed it against his strong back as wind whipped around her.

Adrenaline had long since faded by the time they reached the cabin and exhaustion made it difficult to lift her leg over the motorcycle. Holden helped her take off the helmet and then he secured it to the back of the seat, mumbling something about needing to get another one. Texas didn’t require one by law, but most riders seemed smart enough to take the precaution.

Ella stared at his face. Beneath all that wild facial hair was an attractive and capable man, and she ignored what the revelation did to her stomach.

“Did you get a look at who did this to you?” he asked.

“No. He had on a ski mask and it was dark outside, so I couldn’t get a good look at his face,” she said.

A disgusted look crossed his features. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have left you there and especially not without a vehicle.”

She leaned her weight on him as he put his arm around her waist, hoping she’d feel less vulnerable if she knew a little more about the stranger who was helping her. More electricity fizzed through her as he walked her inside the cabin, and the overwhelming feeling that she was safe for now settled over her.

“Sit still,” he said as he retrieved a bottle of water and poured it over her thigh. “I have something that’ll help with the cut on my bike.”

He brought in medical supplies and attended to her wounded leg.

“Who are you really?” she asked, staring up at him.

“A man defined by his mistakes.” He stepped back but maintained eye contact, holding a second too long. The dark lines of his serious expression said he meant every word of that. Fire shot through her when she realized the implication of what he said.

“You think helping me was a mistake?” She scoffed. Anger had been building and she’d explode if she held it in any longer. “Well, then, I’m sure glad you went against your superior judgment or I’d be dead.”

“Twice,” he said through clenched teeth as he stood. His breath was a mix of mint and coffee. An infuriating part of her wanted to see what that tasted like. He raked his fingers through thick, wavy hair.

“Now that you’ve saved me again, why not just leave? My Jeep isn’t far from here. I’ll head north, away from the ranch, until I figure out who’s doing this to me,” she said with more anger than she’d intended.

He took a threatening step toward her, closing the gap between them even more, and this close she could almost sense what his skin would feel like pressed against hers as she stood.

Ella blew out a frustrated breath. She thought the same curse that he muttered when she said, “Mistakes aren’t the only things that define a person.”

Holden caught her gaze again and she felt the moment her anger turned to awareness. Awareness of his strong, masculine body so close to hers. Awareness of how much he turned her on even though she fought against it. Awareness of how good it would feel to have his hands on her, roaming her skin.

“Do tell,” he said, and there was so much sexual undercurrent running between them.

“We’re also defined by our choices,” she said.

“Fine. This is one of mine.” He dipped his head and kissed her.

His lips, pressed to hers, sent a current of need rippling through her and heat pooled inside her thighs. She’d never been this aroused this quickly in her life, but then a sexual current had been building between them since she’d first seen him.

He tensed, like he expected her to fight back, but all she could do was surrender to the out-of-control wildfire spreading through her. She stretched her fingers out and smoothed them across his chest as she parted her lips. His tongue dipped inside her mouth and she could feel the groan rumble from deep in his chest.

The realization she was having the same effect on him that he had on her was satisfying. A frustrating and intense sexual draw stronger than anything she’d ever experienced enveloped her. That strength of an emotion could be dangerous. Holden was dangerous.

Instead of pulling back, which would be the most sensible move, Ella wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss.

His arms looped her waist and he hauled her body against his. She could feel his heart pound inside his chest at a frantic pace. Her breasts strained against her bra as they pressed flush against his muscled chest.

How on earth was it possible to feel so much heat in one kiss?

Holden’s strong, flat palm slipped inside her shirt and her nipples pebbled. He hesitated at the snap on her bra and then all of a sudden her breasts were freed. He released a guttural groan as he took one of her full breasts in his hand. He teased the nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger, and her stomach fluttered.

He pulled back long enough to search her eyes. He seemed to need reassurance from her that all of this was okay.

Was it?

Ella didn’t want to think. For once, she wanted to go with what her body craved...and right now, that was the blue-eyed stranger.

He pulled back. “See what I’m talking about?”

She studied him.

“I’ve needed to do that since you woke up the other day,” he grumbled. “And it’s a huge mistake.”

He had that right, she thought, as anger flared through her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing like it ever happens again,” she said.

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