It doesn’t.
She doesn’t even know what she’s doing to me, and that just makes it worse.
The way she’d grip the rope—tight, commanding. The way her hips would move—grinding in a rhythm so smooth I’d be ruined. Not just hard.Ferally obsessed.
She’d toss that teasing little smile over her shoulder—like she knows exactly what she’s doing and dares me to stop her.
And I would. Oh,hell, I would.
I’d stride through that crowd like a man with one purpose.
Pull her off that damn bull.Bend down until my lips brush her ear and growl “Ride me like that, sweetheart, and I won’t come up for air till you forget your own damn name.”
“Grant!” A sharp elbow to my ribs yanks me out of the fantasy like a slap.
I blink, breath caught somewhere in my chest.
Ryan’s staring at me, eyebrows raised. “You alright there, man?”
“Yup hey, yeah. Just peachy.” I say, clearing my throat and white knuckling my drink.
Fuck my life right now.
He looks doubtful but continues “I said, want another beer?”
“Yeah.” My voice cracks. I cover it with a cough. “Yeah, that sounds real good.” Sounding overly chirpy and for the love of all that’s holy, I’m clearly losing the ability to pull my shit together.
Ryan eyes me with a concerned look, before shaking his head and turning for the bar.
My eyes seek Mia out almost instantaneously and I watch her disappear into the crowd, her braid bouncing, confidence dripping off her like sweat. She doesn’t belong here, and yet, she does. Like the whiskey’s smoother when she’s around. Like the air’s lighter. Better.
And still—still—I want to claim every inch of her like the cowboy I am.
Dragging a hand down my face, muttering under my breath,
“Lord help me if she ever actually gets on that bull. I’ll combust.”
The girls hit the dancefloor just as a fast two-step song kicks in, and suddenly there’s a blur of denim and long legs as they lose themselves in the rhythm.
I stay where I am. Watching. Always watching.
It’s not until Lily and Annie wander off toward the bar that I see it—a cowboy with a cocky grin and boots too clean sliding up next to Mia like he owns space he hasn’t earned.
His hand hovers just around her waist.
Not today, jackass.
I’m moving before I even realize it, beer forgotten, jaw tight. I’m halfway across the room in seconds, and I slide up behind her, smooth and easy, like Idobelong there.
The guy looks me over, uncertain. “Didn’t realize she was with someone.”
I tilt my head, letting the slow, dangerous smile do the talking. “Now you do.” His hands go up like I pulled a damn gun. “Hey, it’s all good, man. All good.” He backs off so fast, disappearing into the crowd.
Mia spins toward me, one brow arched, a smirk teasing the corner of her mouth. “You staking your claim now, cowboy?” The couple of drinks clearly giving her a seductive confidence she didn’t have before.
I step in, close enough to brush her lower back with the tips of my fingers—just the barest touch, enough to make her breath hitch.
“Maybe I am,” I murmur, my voice low and unrepentant.
