It was obvious that Grant thought he had the upper hand and that wouldn’t do.  Casually Charli wiggled her foot higher on his leg and settled on his inner thigh.  He hissed in his breath and his fingers froze on her knee.  All the while the wedding guests in the audience watched not having any idea of how intimate the motions were they were witnessing.

Don’t try to one up me, Doc.  She curled her toes into his muscular leg and his fingers reached the hemline of her gown. 

His hand slipped out of sight of the crowd and he explored freely above her knee.  The others in the room faded away, her eyes held captive by his.  His large hand smoothed her inner thigh pressing her legs open and implying an intimacy that no one knew was happening in the audience. 

Charli bit down hard on her bottom lip.  It was suddenly getting very warm in the room.  An ache began to build inside as his fingers dancing on her inner legs sent desire spiraling through her.

Her breasts tightened and her nipples peaked.  He noticed and raised one eyebrow and looked into her eyes.   His fingers drew tiny little circles on her inner thigh that made warmth curl in the pit of her stomach.  She stifled back a groan of pleasure.

She wanted to close her eyes and experience the full sensation of his erotic massage but she couldn’t.  He had long ago placed the garter on her leg and now he was simply intent on driving her crazy.  The look in his eyes had changed and with a start she realized that he actually thought he’d won this battle.  Silly man.  Did he really think she was going to let him get to her? In public, in front of everyone?

Purposely she wet her lips with her tongue until his gaze was held captive.  The crowd cheered but Charli knew they had no idea just how high his hand was.  His body concealed her from view and her skirt covered his arm.  His fingers continued to climb up her leg until they encountered the edge of her stockings and her own garter belt, just beyond he touched her bare skin and his nostrils flared and his eyes darkened.  She could tell he was trying to picture in his mind what she looked like under the gown.

He traced a pattern along the edge of the silk stockings.  When his fingers went higher, she let her breath out in a rush.  He held her gaze expecting her to stop him or at least give him a signal that he was being too bold.  But then he didn’t know her that well.  Discreetly, she slipped down in the chair until his hand encountered a lot more than her bare thigh.  His eyes popped open wide and his mouth went slack.  His fingers froze.

Charli grinned and slapped her hand down on top of her dress and pretended to be outraged that he’d gone too far.  She waved the finger of her other hand in his face as if chastising him.   The crowd laughed and Grant’s face turned red.  She lifted one eyebrow and smiled evilly at him.  To the audience he looked like he was trying to take advantage of her during an innocent wedding ritual.

But rather than quickly pull his hand away, Grant spread his fingers wide and stroked her intimately.  Charli gasped and jerked back.  He held her firmly in place while he slowly withdrew his other hand from under her skirt. 

Did he really just do what she thought he did?  In front of all these people?  She glanced up at him and the look in his eye told her very clearly that he had done it and he meant to do it.  Her center pulsed to life wanting more than the quick brush of his fingers.  She blinked trying to get her composure back while the crowd clapped and walked away.  No one seemed to notice anything out of sorts.  There were no whispered glances, no frowns from the elderly.  To everyone else it had seemed perfectly normal.   But then why would anyone suspect what had happened. 

Most bridesmaids were smart enough to wear panties under gowns.

"The Cowboy Comes Home" available now from www.thewildorsepress.com

"“Dance with me.” Tyler’s words weren’t a question, but they weren’t quite a command either. She could have refused, should have refused, yet she let him lead her to the dance floor.

He turned her to face him and her brain screamed its refusal even as her hand settled into his palm.

When he folded her in his arms, her mutinous body soaked him in like a sponge. The song, a familiar tune about being home for Christmas, was way too fitting. She took a deep breath and then another. I can do this. She’d danced with Tyler and only Tyler for most of her life; of course it would be as natural as taking a breath.

Dancing with him was different than before, though. His body had changed, harder, more muscular. He was completely unfamiliar to her, and yet, she still tingled everywhere he touched. There was a time when she knew every inch of every bit of the skin on his bones. Now he was a stranger. How could this be? How could a relationship that had been so strong and solid since they were children turn into this?

She focused on a spot on his dark shirt instead, pulling herself out of her disturbing thoughts. “You’re in Abilene, then? How’s that working out?”

“Good,” he said shortly.

His scent drifted to her nostrils. He still wore the cologne she’d always bought him. The smell wrapped around her like an old quilt on a cold night. A strange sensation flowed through her, as if she was a plant that hadn’t been watered in way too long and slowly came back to life with a good dousing. She struggled against the urge to drop her head to his chest and snuggle in.

“You’ve cut your hair.” His large hand covered the middle of her back and slid up as if remembering where the thick blond mane used to hang.

She didn’t miss the disapproval in his voice. He’d loved her long hair, loved winding his fingers in it when they made love. He used to drape it over her bare back and make her promise that she’d never cut it. Her body flushed with the memory. She lifted her chin. He’d once promised her forever, too. So much for promises.

"To Tame A Cowgirl" The first in the Double B Series out now at www.thewildrosepress.com.

“I said I dare you.”  Sara scooted to the edge of the sofa and reached out for him but Buck was smart enough to step back so she couldn’t touch him.  She came off the couch in one fluid movement and walked towards him.  She wasn’t wobbling or swaying and he would have sworn she was stone cold sober if it wasn’t for the stupid stuff coming out of her mouth.  “Are you going to be the first one of us to back down from a challenge?”

She moved steadily towards him and he retreated until his back hit the wall next to the door to his bedroom.

“This isn’t like that.  This is nothing like that.” Bucks hook his head.

“Yes it is.  I want to do something with you and you’re backing down..”

His head spun.  What the hell was she trying to pull? Did Charli put her up to this?  She would never have thought to do this on her own.  “What did you and Charli talk about tonight?”  

Sara’s hands were on his waist.  Her fingers slid along the top of his jeans.  The open snap made them loose and he bit back a moan when her fingers flittered to his zipper and drew it downward.  He pushed her hand away.

She shrugged.  “This and that, nothing important.” She shook her hair back and looked up at him.  “Look Buck, we’re going to do this, tonight.  We can do it the easy way or the hard way.”

Buck laughed.  “What are you talking about?  How are you going to make me?”

Sara raised one eyebrow and gave a mysterious half smile.   She pressed her body into him until the part that was rock hard on him was up against her warmth. She tilted her head way back and looked into his eyes.  “I want to do this with you and if you turn me down I’ll know you were all talk that night behind the barn and you were too chicken to go further than a kiss.  I’m telling you straight up that I’m not drunk.  I know exactly what I’m doing and who I’m doing it with and I won’t be mad or regret it in the morning. Now are you in? Or are you all talk?”