Rebecca Zanetti - Under the Covers

Quinn chortled and handed her the reins to the smaller horse. “There are no secrets in Maverick, now are there?”

That wasn’t true. Not even close. She frowned at the quiet animal. “No.”

Quinn leaned close and brushed a kiss on her forehead. “It’s nice to see you, Juliet.”

She nodded, her tongue suddenly thick.

His eyes darkened. Keeping his hands on the reins, he tilted his head, and his mouth captured hers. Firm and warm, his lips tempted her until she opened for him.

She could’ve easily stepped back.

Instead, she stepped forward into the heat generated by the man.

He deepened the kiss, taking her under, making her head spin. Finally, he released her and focused on her face. “I’ve wanted to do that since our kiss at the fund-raiser.”

Juliet breathed deep, trying to dispel the crazy need rushing through her body. No way would her voice work.

“This is going somewhere, Juliet,” he said.

Panic shoved desire out of the way. She shook her head.

Amusement filtered through his eyes. “Apparently you need time. That’s all right. I’m a very patient man.”

She glanced around the area in a lame effort to control her libido. His sprawling ranch house held a wide porch, the colors matching the three closest barns. Acreage spread out in every direction, some fields, some trees, plenty of cattle in the far distance. “I like your place.”

“Me too.” He smiled. “Mom and Tom live toward the north, while Jake and Sophie have a house to the east. Apparently Colt wants to build over that way, as well.”

“You’ve combined all the family ranches?” What would it be like to have family you actually wanted to be around?

“Sure. We all work the cattle and share the profits—and losses.” He shrugged. “Are you done stalling?”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

He chuckled and drew the smaller horse closer. “This is Mertyl, and she’s a sweet mare. Put your foot in the stirrup, and I’ll hoist you up.”

Juliet cleared her throat and tried to ignore her still-humming abdomen. Man, the sheriff could kiss. “I can get up.” She’d seen this done on television.

“Sweetheart, let me help.” Charming was too tame of a word to describe his smile. “Just a quick caveat to the no-touching-rule limited to helping you on and off the horse. I promise.”

Either she could make a fool of herself and fall on her head or let the sheriff assist her. “Fine.”

Quinn grasped her waist and swung her onto the horse. Her butt hit the leather saddle. He instantly released her. Ignoring the heated imprint from his hands, she wiggled into a comfortable position.

“Excellent.” Smooth and graceful, the sheriff hoisted into his own saddle. “You’ve ridden a little, right?”

She considered lying. But he’d probably been riding since birth, and he’d figure out the truth. “No. This is my first time.”

“How is that possible?”

“My folks owned a store in Idaho, and we lived in town. No horses.” This time she did lie and kept her gaze on the mare’s mane. The sheriff needed to quit probing into her past. “Tell me about the naked man you arrested.”

“Just a minor arrest for public nudity and being drunk on moonshine,” Quinn said. “He made bail, and I took him back home.”

Just what she’d thought. “You couldn’t give the guy a break?”

“I had to make sure he had a good meal.” One dark eyebrow rose. “Plus, the guy broke the law.”

No wiggle room with the sheriff and his values. He would never understand why somebody might need to break the law. “You’re a hard man, Sheriff.”

“So I’ve been told, darlin’.” He held the reins and easily controlled the massive beast. “Are you all right on the mare?”

Besides still being horribly aroused and sitting on a wild creature of death, sure, she was fantastic. “I’m fine.”

He nodded, gaze dropping to check the stirrups. “You’re a delicate one, Juliet Montgomery. I want you to go slow and take it easy. If you get scared, we stop.”

A hard man with a sweet side. A very intriguing sweet side. Juliet couldn’t bring trouble down on him. If the truth about her family came out, just being linked with her might hurt him professionally. “I’m not delicate.”

“Yes, you are. But I won’t let anything hurt you. I promise.” He flashed an encouraging smile. “You can do this.”

She came from the city where predators wore fancy suits and drove fast cars. In Montana, the strong wore cowboy hats and didn’t care about the rest. Without a question, Quinn Lodge held a natural toughness no city man could match—but he played fair. Those who played fair got hurt. No way would she let him get hurt from knowing her, because her family never played fair. “This isn’t a good idea, Quinn.”

“Sure it is. Just use your hands and legs to steer Mertyl. She’s easy.”

Had he really misunderstood her? Taking a deep breath, Juliet nudged the horse with her knees. The animal trotted forward.

Ack. Juliet grabbed the reins tighter. She bit her lip while her ass hit the leather saddle. Slap. Slap. Slap.

Pain ricocheted up her spine.

She whimpered, her mind rushing to the inevitability of her flying over the horse’s head and landing on her face. Panic shot through her. Yanking up on the reins, she kicked her feet.

The horse shot into a gallop, straight for the solid ranch house.

Juliet screamed, her body flying into the air and slamming back on the saddle.

A low growl echoed behind her before Quinn snapped an order to the horse. The damn animal halted immediately. Juliet lunged forward onto the pommel and dropped back. Safely.

She hissed out a breath. Her butt ached already.

The sheriff jumped off his horse and strode toward her. The sun slanted across his strong face, highlighting his Native features in a way she hadn’t caught before. Such purposeful steps from such a dangerous man made her want to kick the horse again just to get out of his path.

He reached up and grabbed her elbows. Two seconds later, she stood on the unmoving, rocky, very safe ground. Her legs wobbled as she took several deep breaths.

The mare whinnied and wandered toward some tall grass.

Quinn tipped back his hat and grasped the reins of his stallion. “I’ve never seen anybody move exactly the opposite of the horse, before.” Shaking his head, he quickly untied his saddle and tossed it on the ground but left the heavy blanket in place. The black horse snorted and twitched its tail.

She stepped away from the monster. “I told you I couldn’t ride.”

“I know.” Quinn’s hands circled her waist, and he sighed.

“No.” She shook her head and attempted to evade him.

He kept her in place. “Trust me.” With a mere shift of his massive shoulders, he tossed her onto the huge stallion.

Panic heated Juliet’s blood. He’d thrown her on top of a wild stallion. She grabbed the silky mane. “What in the world?”

Planting both hands behind her butt, the sheriff jumped up behind her.

Heat fired down her torso. Desire unfurled inside her with the strength of a tornado. Sparks flew throughout her skin. Instant and unexpected.

He leaned forward, his breath whispering against her ear. “Now relax, darlin’.”

Her nipples hardened to points. God. Fuzziness filled her mind. A need ripped through her veins so demanding she could barely breathe.

The horse huffed.

Strong, large hands settled into the mane in front of her.

On all that was impossible and holy. She bit back a whimper that wanted loose.

“Okay.” His heated breath caressed her ear. His hard chest cradled her back. “Tighten your legs, and you can control the animal.”

She swallowed. “I, uh…” Her voice lowered to a huskiness she barely recognized.

“You’re safe.” His voice slid to guttural.

She tightened her grip. “Okay. What now?”

“Just click your tongue and pull in with your foot,” Quinn murmured.

His heated breath licked around her ear, brushing her face, shooting beneath her skin to warm her. Everywhere. Her eyelids fluttered. Thank God he couldn’t see her face. Mentally smacking herself, she kicked the horse.

The animal snorted.

Quinn leaned into her, his hardness cradling her back. He dug his boot into the horse’s flank, man and beast both rippling with impressive strength.

The horse moved forward.

Flutters that had nothing to do with fear rippled through Juliet’s abdomen. She sucked in air scented with male. Her eyelids became heavy, while her limbs tingled. Her breasts ached. Her sex softened.

“Okay. Now you steer him.” Quinn’s voice was gravel in a cement mixer.

This type of instant desire was unreal. Couldn’t be happening. A long shiver wandered down her entire body. He had to have felt it.

“Juliet.” He groaned.

Naturally, unwillingly, her head dropped back to his chest. “Quinn.”

He stilled and then exhaled. “Juliet, you need to concentrate.”

“Can’t.” Desire reduced her to one syllables, and she didn’t give a damn.

Muscles vibrated against her back. “What do you want, darlin’?”

She groaned low in her throat and shut her eyes. “God.”

“Juliet, either start paying attention to the lesson, or tell me what you want.”

What did she want? Him. Without question, him. It was a mistake, one she’d probably regret, yet one she wanted to make so badly. “I want you.”

He stiffened. The breeze wandered around them with the scents of honeysuckle and pine. “Say the words,” he said.