Hunted Love Box Set: Big Game, Bounty, Captured by Aden Lowe Page A

was the unique leaf green shade his eyes had gone. He'd turned to his side, facing her, and wore a smile that made her heart do some kind of fluttery gymnastics. She should probably say something, but for the life of her, couldn't think of anything that made sense.
    "You're used to this? Spending days on the trail?" Jakob plucked a slim blade of grass and spun it in his fingers, fascinating her.
    "Somewhat. We still do a lot of things the old-fashioned way. Someone rides line once a month to check all the water and make sure the pumps are working right. Someone else drifts along the edges of the property every few weeks, making sure the fences are holding and watching for trouble. We do roundup in the fall and move the horses to winter pasture, closer to the main ranch." Talking about the operations of the ranch was easy, and didn't require much in the way of thinking. Which freed her mind up to wander a little more about Jakob, mostly things best left un-wandered.
    The blade of grass twirled in his fingers for a moment before he brought it to trail along her forearm, tickling briefly and withdrawing. "Tell me more. The mare you're riding. She's way more than run of the mill cowhorse."
    Kate smiled. At least he knew quality horseflesh when he saw it. "Southern Sunrise. Sunny. World Champion Cutting Mare, three years in a row. Then a torn tendon took her out of the arena. These days she's chilling and putting on a little weight to get ready to be a momma."
    "You got the lucky fella picked out already?" The blade of grass made another trip across her forearm, long enough to tempt her into a half-assed grab for it before he chuckled and withdrew it.
    "Narrowed down to two candidates." Another transgression from the blade of grass. Another grab, a bit more serious. "My neighbor owns one of them, but the stud fee is too high, so I'll probably go with the other." Yet another lick of the grass pushed her for a real grab, which Jakob easily avoided.
    "What's too high for a future champion?"
    "A wedding ring." Kate turned to face him. "The asshole is demanding I marry his son."
    The blade of grass returned, this time to play along her cheekbone. "Would that be so bad?"
    The grass wasn't easy to ignore, but she managed it. "It would. The son is a troll, some sort of lawyer, full of plans to develop all the ranches here. Mini-estates, he calls them. Where the well-to-do can own a part of the heritage of the Old West." Annoyance got the better of her suddenly and she made an aggressive grab for the grass.
    Only to find her wrist pinned in that iron grip again. Jakob's eyes had gone dark with some emotion she didn't recognize. Whatever it was made her heart pound in a mixture of fear and anticipation. He stared at her mouth with intense focus.
    "Kate?"
    "Yes?"
    "I'm going to kiss you now."
    Before she could think he leaned forward and over her, pausing with his lips just a hairsbreadth from hers, as if offering her a chance to refuse him. She waited, silent, watching him close the distance.
    The first brush of his lips across hers sent an explosion of sensation rocketing through her. Seemingly encouraged by her lack of resistance, he increased the pressure and brought his hand to the back of her head to lace through her hair.
    Her eyes refused to stay open, despite her wish to watch him and record every detail. He sighed a little and flicked his tongue across her lower lip and startled a gasp from her. Mind-bending tension swept over her as he leaned further in, bearing her shoulders to the ground and tasted her lip again.
    Gentle teeth pulled at her lip and he slid closer to bring his body half over her. "Beautiful Kate, I wanted to taste you the moment I saw you." Taking advantage of her surprise again, he slid his tongue across the delicate flesh inside her lower lip, and then against her teeth until she parted for him.
    A groan, almost familiar sounding, rumbled through him as he plundered her mouth, allowing her to keep nothing from