Beau wasn’t sure this was the wisest course of action, but he needed the life-affirming activity almost as much as she did. He wasn’t used to worrying about people. The animals, yes. But people? Not so much. Everyone on the ranch had lived in Colorado all their lives and knew the score. Which was part of the reason he’d been worried about Alyssa—she didn’t. But if he were honest that wasn’t the only reason. He felt different about her than he did everyone else. Like she was vital to his life in some way. He didn’t understand it, but somehow, she was in a category all her own. She mattered and the thought of her in danger had made him a little crazy. He was glad the twins had been in the truck with him when she didn’t answer right away. He’d had to stay calm and rational with them being there, instead of going off like a crazy person to hunt for her in blizzard conditions. Yes, he knew the ranch as well as anyone but that didn’t mean he could see hidden trouble when it was white out conditions—he didn’t have x-ray vision. But he was afraid that if the twins hadn’t been with him he would have risked it to find her and make sure she was safe.

He bumped into her when she stopped a few steps from his door. Was she having second thoughts? God, he hoped not.

“What’s wrong, Alyssa?”

She let go of his hand and looked down at the floor. “Am I being too pushy? You don’t seem to be fully engaged.”

“What? Yes, I am. Why would you think that?”

She blushed. “I don’t know which room is yours, and you’re not leading the way. I’ve been dragging you along. If you don’t want to do this….”

He pulled her in and kissed her long and slow. He pulled her hips in close, so she could feel what she did to him, as he hardened further. She hummed and rubbed her stomach and femininity against him, which made his eyes cross from pleasure.

“Okay. So you’re on board, but I still don’t know which room is yours and umph.”

She couldn’t say anything else as he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her into his room, kicking the door shut behind him and firmly locking it. He walked across the room and dumped her on his bed, following her down. He had his mouth on hers before she could even bounce.

* * *

Alyssa was glad Beau was finally taking charge. She didn’t mind leading the way, but she’d felt he was just following along earlier. When she’d stopped as she reached the end of the hallway where Beau’s room was, and he’d bumped into her like he wasn’t paying attention, she’d started thinking that maybe he didn’t really want to have sex with her. That she was being too forward, dragging him to bed. She had begun to feel mortified at her actions and had let go of his hand, thinking maybe she would just slink off to her room. But he’d acted surprised and had kissed her stupid out in the hall. His body had been interested in her, for certain. Then, he’d gone all caveman hoisting her over his shoulder like a bag of feed, which had knocked the air out of her but had given her a nice up-close view of his ass. A very nice view, indeed.

She hadn’t even seen a glimpse of his room before she was flat on her back with a hungry man on top of her, kissing the stuffing and sense out of her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and spread her legs so he could climb between them, which he did not hesitate to do.

“You taste like pure sin, woman. I can’t get enough of you,” he muttered as he kissed his way down her throat, nipping at her ear on the way.

She shivered and was heating up to an inferno. Wetness pooled between her legs as he rubbed against her.

“Beau, less clothes.” She started pulling the shirt out of the top of his pants. She wanted skin.

He sucked on her neck for a moment which made that inferno leap higher, then he pulled back and yanked the snaps open on his shirt. A woman had to love cowboy-fashioned shirts. He tossed it aside and pulled off his T-shirt and tossed that aside and there was all that gorgeous skin and beautiful muscles—and she wanted her hands on every inch, or maybe her mouth, or both would be best. She reached for him, but he pulled her up and removed her flannel shirt and T-shirt and even her sports bra. And then they were skin to skin, and that was outstanding.

All that warm male skin was pressed against her and there was a little bit of friction from the smattering of hair on his chest. She moaned in delight—the sound just wouldn’t stay inside.

He kissed her until they had no breath, tongues mating and dancing. When they finally had to get some oxygen, he kissed over to her ear and then down her neck stopping to bite lightly in the soft place where shoulder meets neck and then kept going lower—kissing the tops of her breasts and licking in the valley between the two. Coming closer to where she wanted that hot mouth but not quite getting there.

She whacked him on the shoulder. “Stop teasing.”

He grinned up at her, and then pulled her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. She about went off like the fourth of July and dug her nails into his back. She had short nails, so she knew she wouldn’t draw blood, but he might have some bruises tomorrow.

He pinched the other nipple between two fingers and she squirmed. “Yes.”

He bit lightly on her nipple and dragged it out of his mouth, his teeth scraping lightly. Then, he moved over to the other breast to give it some attention.

She thought she was going to come right then and there, the feelings were that exquisite. Fire raced in her blood and she could do nothing but thrash on the bed as he pleasured her breasts with his tongue and teeth and lips. The man had some serious skills, but she needed more. She wanted him to fill her, complete her, make her his.

“Still too many clothes,” she managed to gasp out.

He looked up at her in delight, as both hands went to her breasts, massaging and squeezing them and pinching the nipples which furled into tight buds from all the attention. Then, he looked lower and started kissing and nibbling his way down her torso until he got to her jeans. He unbuttoned the top button, pulled it open, and kissed the V of skin uncovered. Dear God, he was going to kill her.

The zipper was lowered click by click, so slowly she was certain she would go mad before he got it unzipped all the way. He pulled the sides apart and kissed the skin above her panties. She moaned and squirmed beneath the onslaught. She lifted her hips off the bed and he obliged her by pulling her jeans over her hips and down her legs. He tossed them aside along with her socks and then kissed and nibbled his way up her leg starting with her toes. When he was nearing the apex, he stopped and moved to the other leg doing the same thing. She thought about kicking him for tormenting her, but it was too amazing to stop.

The second time, when he reached the top of her leg, he nuzzled her and breathed deep, which made her want to scream with pleasure.

“Beau, for God’s sake, you’re killing me.”

He looked up at her with fire in his eyes; the lust she saw there about did her in. “Just savoring you, lovely lady. Enjoying. Every. Single. Inch. Now, just lay back and take it.”

He started pulling her panties down with his teeth, but when they got far enough to free her he ripped them off with his hands and tossed them on the floor. Then, he spread her legs and she about died when he licked her. Lightening shot through her whole body as the man teased and tormented her most sensitive flesh.

She gripped the blankets and held on for the ride. She was completely incoherent with ecstasy as he pleasured her to mindlessness. She lay there panting as he stood and divested himself of his jeans, shorts, and socks. He pulled a foil packet out of the drawer, ripped it open, and rolled the condom on, while she watched in anticipation of having all that manhood inside her filling up all the empty places.

She managed to whisper, “Come here and give me that.”

He grinned. “Your wish is my command.”

He climbed on the bed, got between her legs, and filled her with one long stroke. It was magnificent. Her body stretched to accommodate his girth, and she hummed in pleasure, lifting up so he slid in deeper.

He growled and started moving in smooth even strokes, loving her again and again, hitting a spot deep inside that sent jolts of lightning through her body. She wrapped her legs around his hips, locked her ankles, and met him stroke for stroke. She felt her body wake up and come to attention as he loved her. It was the most amazing thing she’d ever experienced. She’d had sex a few times before, but nothing in her past experience compared to this. She didn’t even have any words to describe what he was doing to her body—she just knew she never wanted him to stop.

Her body started gathering for release and she wasn’t sure she could handle all the sensations he created.

He groaned. “Come for me now, Alyssa.” And her whole being exploded into a shower of light that filled the whole room with shimmers. She barely felt him stiffen and growl with pleasure as he joined her in release. When her body and soul finally coalesced back together, and she could think again, she realized Beau was still inside her and he was smooshing her into the mattress. It was a wonderful feeling of togetherness and she would have loved to stay that way, except the man was heavy and she was having trouble getting enough oxygen. A few seconds later he rolled, off her—pulling her with him, so she ended up on top.

“Mmm a soft Alyssa blanket.”

She smiled at his silliness but didn’t have the energy to speak yet. She tucked her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled in.

* * *

Beau was perfectly content to lie in his bed with Alyssa draped over him for the rest of the day, or week, or month. Not that they had the luxury to do that, but it was a pleasant thought. Her skin was so soft, like velvet, and she smelled heavenly. She was curvy and plush in all the right places, but there were muscles under that softness he admired. He already knew she was a hard-working woman, that so far, had never shied away from anything that needed doing.

She had a delightful sense of humor and was sweet and kind without being a pushover. She’d put him in his place when he needed it, but she’d not done it in a public manner. She was good with the hands, the family, and the animals. He’d seen her slip a few tasty morsels of food to the old yellow mutt that lived in the kitchen. The dog was too old to work anymore, but he’d been a good steady working dog, and no one had the heart to put him down. So, he lived in the kitchen on a soft bed. It wouldn’t be long before he passed, but they all hoped he did it quietly in his sleep.

She worked well with the cattle, the horses, and the dogs. She’d even gone out to see the bulls a time or two and they appeared to—if not cuddle up to her—at least tolerate her. Most of the men couldn’t get as close to the bulls as she did. She was such an asset and having her wrapped around him—as she was—made him yearn for her to stay with them.