“Damn, Lise, you match me well,” he hissed out next to her ear, male satisfaction evident in his voice.

  And she did match him, Colt thought as she sighed with contentment when her orgasm began. He enjoyed the sensation of her warm body convulsing around him and felt his own blood rushing in his ears as his cock throbbed harder with his impending climax.

  When she pulled her thighs closer against his legs and clenched her walls around him, he lost all coherent thought as he exploded. He absorbed every single breath, every brush of hot skin against skin, the moisture of her body mixed with his as he slid in and out of her. God, she felt so damn good.

  Pulling her against him, he stayed buried deep within her as they tumbled to the floor on their sides. As their breathing slowed and reason returned, he knew a moment’s panic when he realized what he’d done.

  “I’m sorry, Lise,” he whispered as he started to withdraw from her, his stomach tensing. “I just realized I didn’t put on a condom.”

  She reached behind her and clasped his bare buttock, pulling him back inside her with a throaty chuckle. “I believe after giving me oral sex oh-so-thoroughly you trust I’m clean, Colt. Don’t worry. I’m on the pill.”

  His heart started beating again as relief flooded through him. So why did a small part of him wish she hadn’t been on the pill? Colt ignored the nagging question and stroked her breast with his fingertips, replying with a chuckle, “I’m glad to know you’ll match whatever I throw your way.”

  She shrugged her shoulder in an unapologetic manner, the action unintentionally sexy, but arousing to him nonetheless.

  “I believe in a healthy attitude about sex. How else will you learn what pleases you if you aren’t willing to try new things?”

  He grinned, liking her philosophy. Withdrawing from her, he rolled her over and slid his hand down to tangle in the curls between her thighs as he met her gaze. “I’ve decided you’re sexiest with no makeup and just an old T-shirt. Screw lacey underwear. Hard-rock was exactly what I was thinkin’ when you opened the door.”

  When he finished speaking, Colt shifted to his knees and pulled up his pants. Leaning over, he lifted her in his arms and walked back to her bedroom saying in a suggestive tone, “About those new things you said you’d be willing to try…”

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning, Elise didn’t have time to worry about the fact Colt hadn’t spent the night once more. She had interviews back-to-back that kept her busy all day long. And when the day ended and she and Colt went back to her apartment, she didn’t want to spoil their time together by asking him why he didn’t stay the night before.

  But when the next several days became a pattern for Colt, she found that her patience had run thin. The last couple of nights, she’d casually tried to ask him to stay, but his reply was always the same, “I’ve got early work tomorrow.”

  Feeling bereft all over again as she remembered his response, Elise stood there in front of the office’s main window, staring blankly at the coffeepot and wondering if, after several consecutive nights together, he’d always planned to steal away once she’d fallen asleep in his arms. Waking up alone was somehow worse because she fell asleep with the hope he’d stay the night. The fact he left in the middle of the night bothered her a great deal, because it made her feel as if she were a one-night stand every night.

  So what if Colt didn’t want commitment, couldn’t he at least feign that he felt comfortable enough with her to stay the night? Beyond her growing annoyance, she didn’t examine the reason for her deep feelings on the subject.

  After all, it’s not like she planned to fall for the guy or anything. No, she hadn’t fallen for him. Not at all, she denied as her heart rate kicked up when she spied Colt walking toward the stables, his chambray shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. Her gaze dropped to his rear end outlined by the chaps strapped to his trim hips and muscular thighs. What an ass the man had! She curled her fingers around her coffee cup. Man, she loved grabbing his hard, muscular butt as they made love.

  Oh shit! She’d said it…well, mentally. Made love. But that was how she felt when she and Colt were together. He made love to her. It wasn’t just sex. The way he touched her, rough, gentle—she didn’t care because he was always considerate of her needs—he made her feel loved and cherished, even if he didn’t say the words.

  The sight of May trotting out of the stable on Bess’s back drew her out of her musings. May had stopped and spoke to Colt while he grasped the horse’s reins and responded to whatever she’d said. Elise’s stomach churned and her chest felt as if someone had put a vise around it. The constricting sensation made it hard to catch her breath.

  Her emotions running high, she turned away and ran right into Mace.

  “Whoa,” he called out, steadying her with his hands. “Man, I guess it’s a good thing you decided to forgo coffee this morning or I’d be wearin’ it,” he laughed in a good-natured tone.

  Feeling miserable, Elise looked down at her empty cup. “Guess it’s best I skip the coffee this morning.”

  “You okay?” he asked, his expression concerned.

  She shrugged. “Yeah, just a headache.” Brushing past Mace, she headed back to her office and shut the door.

  After she’d flopped into her chair and stared at her computer, Elise let her anger at herself boil to the surface. Screw second best. I’m going to do something about it, damnit.

  Picking up her phone, she called directory assistance and retrieved Josh Kelly’s phone number. Once she punched in the number, she drummed her fingers impatiently on the desk, waiting for him to pick up.

  “Hello?” an older man answered.

  “Mr. Kelly? This is Elise Hamilton. Is Josh around?”

  “No, he’s not, Elise. Josh had a firemen’s conference to attend. He should be back by Sunday. Want me to have him call you?”

  Sunday? That was a few days away! Her heart sank at the news. “Yes, please have him return my call when he gets back.”

  “Will do.”

  Even though she couldn’t reach Josh, Elise felt better. She had a plan. Lightning would be hers by the end of the weekend.

  She worked steadily all morning, incorporating the info from the various employee interviews she’d conducted into the website. When lunchtime arrived, Elise took the film to the developer to have it put on a CD so she could upload the photos to the website. Thankfully, her errand kept her away from the office and out of Colt’s sight. She was afraid if she spent any time with him, she’d ask why he hadn’t stayed a single night with her. The last thing she wanted was to come across demanding or clingy.

  She’d just finished her takeout lunch and was about to throw the bag away in the trash can underneath her desk when Colt walked in.

  “I came by earlier but you weren’t around,” he said.

  Crumpling the bag, she tossed it in the trash and turned back to her computer. “I took the film to be developed on my lunch hour.”

  Colt nodded his understanding, then grinned. “I noticed you haven’t ridden all week. Come out on the range with me for an hour or so.”

  Her heart jerked at the invitation. Time alone with Colt. Outdoors. The fresh, open air blowing in her face. On Bess.

  Which made her think of May and second best. Which made her think of him leaving her every night after she fell asleep.

  Her heart stuttered and her euphoria died a quick death. Rubbing her forehead, she lied, “I’ve got a killer headache.”

  Colt’s expression reflected his disappointment, then turned devilish as he raked his gaze down her white button-down blouse to the rise of her breasts, then back up to her face. “I guess I’ll just have to settle for spending time with you tonight. Want to go out to dinner?”

  She shook her head. “Not tonight. I’ll have to pass. I’m tired.” ‘Cause waking up to an empty bed in the wee hours of the morning has a tendency to make me sleep fitfully until it’s time to get up, she thought with an inward grimace. Maybe if she spent an evening away from him it wouldn’t bother her so much. Now why did she seriously doubt that?

  “Just dinner then?”

  She shook her head once more and noticed him visibly stiffen at her rejection. Why did she feel like such a shmuck? Because you know you want to go out to eat with him, find out more about him, then spend the rest of the evening making love until you’re both exhausted and spent, that’s why…you shmuck!

  She couldn’t even meet his gaze as her emotions swirled inside her, making her body tense and her stomach ache.

  “I hope you feel better tomorrow, Lise,” he replied before he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

  His use of her nickname, spoken in a low, deliberately husky voice reminded her when he usually called her Lise—while making love. Her nipples tightened and her sex throbbed in immediate response at the thought. Damn, she was like Pavlov’s dog…just say the pet name and she’s panting. Grrrrr!

  Gritting her teeth, she willed herself to focus on work while she prayed she didn’t see Colt for the rest of the day.

  * * * * *

  After she called “goodnight” to Mace and walked down the hall past Colt’s office, Elise breathed a sigh of relief. Empty. Phew! She had a reprieve.

  As she exited the building and made her way to her car, another disturbing thought wormed its way into her psyche. Colt would find someone else to fill his evening, namely May.

  Her stomach churned at the thought and her hands shook so bad she dropped her keys as she tried to unlock her door. Bending down, she retrieved them and started to slide her key in the lock.

  Someone reached over her shoulder and a big, warm hand came down on hers. Colt’s distinct scent washed over her, leather, faint spicy deodorant and outdoors. God, he smelled so good. She wanted to lean back against him and keep inhaling.

  Instead, she stiffened as he pressed his body against her back and whispered suggestively in her ear, his voice low and sexy, “Did I tell you I give great massages? I’ve been known to make a headache or two disappear.”

  Elise fought the desire swirling in her belly. She straightened and turned the key in the lock. “No, you hadn’t mentioned that particular ability.”

  As she started to open the car door, Colt’s hands landed on her hips and quickly turned her around to face him.

  Before she could respond, he clasped her hips once more and stepped into her body, pressing his erection against the seam of her jeans running between her legs. With the car behind her, his action created arousing friction. Her heart rate jumped into overdrive. Elise fought the excitement flowing though her like an electrical wire overloaded to the max.

  Colt’s blue gaze searched her face as if he were looking deep into her soul, deciphering her mood. Without a word, he dipped his head and inhaled near her collarbone while a low growl escaped his throat.

  “You’re sure you don’t want me to work my magic on you?” he purred into her ear.

  Elise’s self-serving, traitorous desires clamored for dominance. She so wanted to let him have his way with her—to work his magic as he put it. The very fact he was pressing himself against her, staking his claim in plain sight of any Lonestar employee within eyeshot made her feel special. She caught herself before she asked the question that had been nagging her brain. Are you going to stay this time?

  Laying her hands on his chest, she worked hard to keep her breathing even as she pushed against his hard muscles. “Not tonight, Colt.”

  Colt’s gaze met hers and narrowed. He leaned close once more and whispered in her ear. “Take your break for tonight, but don’t think for one minute you’ll put me off tomorrow.” He finished his statement by pressing his erection against her.

  She shivered at his fierce, possessive comment and couldn’t suppress the thrill that zipped down her spine at the knowledge he wanted her that much.

  When Colt let go of her and stepped back, she let out an unsteady breath and turned to open her car door. His next words made her freeze in her tracks and her heart stutter in her chest.

  “Did you know that when you’re very aroused you bite your lip?”

  Elise glanced at him and slowly let go of the deathlock her teeth had on her lower lip.

  Colt gave her a steely look. “Tomorrow night you’ll tell me why you gave me the brush-off today, Elise.”

  * * * * *

  The following morning, Elise was on her third cup of coffee as she sat in front of her computer. Last night she spent a restless evening tossing and turning. The pillows and sheets on her bed smelled like Colt. Everywhere she turned in bed, she imagined his touch, his warmth. She’d missed him desperately.

  Taking a sip of coffee, she set the cup down on her desk and realized the caffeine made her more jittery than wakeful. Or was it the fact she knew she’d have to face Colt and his determination to know why she’d ditched him the night before. She’d arrived very early this morning and every time the office front door opened she tensed.

  She didn’t want to tell Colt the truth because she’d be revealing too much of herself. Not that she wasn’t a giving person, she’d tell him what bothered her in a heartbeat if he gave her the slightest indication his feelings ran deeper. So far he just seemed to be sexually attracted to her…well, okay, he was a bit possessive, too.

  When Mace poked his head into her office to say, “Mornin’ Elise,” she jerked, gasping in surprise and bumped her coffee. As the brown liquid sloshed on her desk, she quickly mopped it up with tissues from a box in her drawer.

  “Man, Elise, you’re more jumpy than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. You okay?”

  She nodded. “I’m fine. I think I made up for yesterday by consuming two days’ worth of coffee this morning.” With a grin, she continued, “I’ve already helped hay and feed the horses, made more coffee, took out the trash, cleaned the refrigerator and the kitchen, contemplated washing the kitchen floors, but decided I’d better get my rear in here and work on the website.”

  Mace gave a hearty laugh. “I think you just became Mabel’s best friend.” With a wink, he thumbed back toward the front of the office. “Hey, my car needs a good washin’ if you’re still in an energetic mood.”

  Elise picked up a wad of paper she’d crumpled earlier and tossed it at his retreating back. “Go to work, you slacker.”

  Once Mace had walked off, in her keyed-up mood, the sight of that lone, balled-up trash on the floor drove her nuts. Elise walked around her desk to her doorway and bent over to retrieve the paper missile.

  The tip of a dusty, scuffed boot crushed the paper before she could pick it

  up. Her heart rammed in her chest as she lifted her gaze up Colt’s jeans,

  past the bulge at his crotch, up his white button-down shirt to see his

  serious expression.

  “Littering, Elise?”

  She pushed at his boot and when he moved it, she picked up the paper ball.

  Standing, she met his penetrating gaze with a steady one, even as her heart

  beat in her chest in a staccato rhythm.

  “Just working on my target practice,” she shot back.

  Colt took a step closer until his arousing aftershave tickled her nose.

  Without his hat on, she noted that his hair was curled and still

  slightly damp from his shower. She clamped her hand tighter on the wadded-up

  paper to keep from reaching up to touch those damp curls.

  He raised a dark eyebrow. “Plan on trashin’ someone?”

  She laughed at his pun, then grinned. “Yeah, I’ll spam ‘em to death.”

  “Huh?” Colt looked confused for a second before understanding of her computer techie jargon dawned on his face. “Spammers should be shot.”

  Her smile faltered when his expression sobered. His deep blue gaze

  compelled her as he said, “Come ride with me.”

  “This early in the morning?” She shook her head. “Can’t. Got work to do.”

  Colt stepped into her, his hard, muscular frame making her own body scream in slow, tortured agony. He pulled the clip from her hair at the same time he laced his fingers with hers.

  “It wasn’t a request, Lise.”

  Before she could form a reply, he took off down the hall with her in tow. Colt only stopped long enough to toss her clip in his office, let her throw the paper in the trash and retrieve his hat from the coat rack before he pulled her outside toward the stables.

  When Elise saw Sam standing there holding Scout’s and Bess’s reins and an extra cowboy hat in his hand, she dug in her boot heels and tried to yank her hand loose.

  “I told you. I have a lot of work to do.” She’d be damned if she’d share Bess. She knew it was silly, but she couldn’t help how she felt.

  Colt had stopped briefly when she spoke. When she finished, he said in a low, controlled voice, “This isn’t up for debate. You’re riding out with me for a bit.”

  Turning, he made his way over to the horses, tugging her along.

  Angered by his high-handed manner, Elise jerked her hand free. “I’m not riding out on Bess, Colt.”

  “Suit yourself,” he replied as he approached his horse and swung his leg over Scout’s saddle.

  “I’m sorry you went to the effort on my account, Sam,” Elise mumbled before she turned and walked back toward the office.

  The sound of Colt’s horse trotting behind her made her entire body tense, but she refused to move out of the way or be cowed by the man’s obvious show of anger. Elise let out a surprised yelp when a strong arm reached out and pulled her up onto the saddle in front of him.

  With her legs dangling down the horse’s side and the saddle digging into her butt cheek, Elise grasped Colt’s arm as fear of falling raced through her. She shot him a deadly look.