The words die on my tongue. Desire burns his gaze into a hypnotic smolder. I feel the heat in my veins, pumping hotter with each second. Saliva sticks in my throat and I gulp. My grumpy jailer looks positively feral.
“You fed me, but I’m still famished.”
The lust in Colton’s gravelly tone makes me shiver. “What’re you craving next?”
He puts his cowboy hat on my head, sending a fresh wave of whispers through the gossip mill. But it’s the skull mask he pulls over his face that captivates me.
“Run, Princess. Try to hide from your stalker.”
Liquid heat collects in my lower belly, swirling to gather in my knees that threaten to buckle. “You’re kinda scary.”
“Does it turn you on?” His voice dips lower.
“Yes,” I gasp.
Colton juts his chin. “Show me how much.”
My legs quake as I begin backing away from him. “Do I get a head start?”
“Sure, but it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna catch you.”
That’s all I need to hear. I whirl around and take off. People are everywhere, but not clustered close enough to conceal me. My boots kick up dust as I dodge a couple by the corn booth. The concern in their eyes slows me down a notch.
I can’t move too fast or it’ll raise alarm. The best strategy is to weave and swerve to get Colton off my tail. A quick glance over my shoulder reveals him staring directly at me over the throng. Damn him and his vertical advantage.
A stampede drums in my ears while I duck behind a bouncy house. The leafy obstacles and thick trunks of the woods call to me. It could be the escape I need.
My determination pounds against the turf, but heavy footsteps chase me. I’m almost to the isolation of the bleachers when thick arms cinch my middle. A pitiful wail strips me of my dignity as I’m taken to the ground. His hat pinwheels off my head, wisely choosing to abandon this battle. If only we were all so lucky.
“Mother trucker,” I spit as my spine hits the dirt.
Colton pins me beneath him, his bulk pressing against me like prison bars. “Did you even try, Princess?”
Rather than answer, I struggle under his immovable force. “Why are you so heavy?”
His creepy skeleton mask hovers over me. “Blame the chocolate.”
My eyes roll as I force my muscles to go slack. “You’re back to normal. Don’t drag it out.”
He doesn’t answer. Not directly. After a few tense seconds, hunger rumbles off his chest like the main course is served.
“What do you want?” My voice is too breathy.
Colton swoops down until our lips touch. “Everything.”
Icaught Bianca Benson.
Damn, that’s some unbelievable shit.
A chuckle sets itself loose as I watch my rodeo princess wrap the third barrel and race for home. Bandit’s mane whips into the wind from their speed. Much to my pleasure, Bianca’s hair is wild and free as well.
What a ride this has been. After Haunted Harvest Haze, we hit the road. It’s been three weeks of traveling to different Midwestern cities for the last horse shows of the season. Once the ground freezes, it’s over until spring.
This is the final competition Bianca entered and she just won. It’s only fitting that she chose to end the year on Minnesota soil.
I whistle as her time is displayed on the screen. “That’s my girl!”
Her eyes connect with mine and she blows me a kiss. I pretend to catch it, a total fool for this woman. Every cowboy drooling on the fence wishes they were me. But she’s all mine.
