Page 7 of Lassoed (Steele Ranch 5)

“To what?” she asked, her voice low, husky.

He closed the distance between them, put a hand on her hip and walked her backward so she was pressed against the brick wall, one hand planted above her head. They were in shadow and had a hint of privacy. A little moan escaped her lips right before he kissed her.

I tucked my hands in my pockets and watched the street, although I kept one eye on Natalie. She looked fucking gorgeous, her hands curling into Ashe’s shirt at his waist, her head tilted back against the wall. I had no jealousy toward my friend. I would share this woman, but with only him.

He lifted his head and she smiled, then bit her bottom lip. “Wow.”

“Sweetheart, I can get you to say more than wow.”

She arched a brow in response.

I approached and Ashe moved out of the way. “My turn.”

“Your—”

I didn’t cut her off with my mouth, but I pulled her into me, looked down into her eyes. Eyes that were blurred with arousal that Ashe had stoked. “My turn,” I repeated. “Say you want both of us, sweetheart. And if I kiss you, you’re not going to knee me in the balls or break my fingers.”

Surprise widened her eyes slightly, but it was followed by a small grin. I didn’t see a hint of panic at my words. No, she wanted both of us. She’d been thinking about it ever since we caught her gaze that first time across the restaurant. She just hadn’t realized we’d felt the same way.

“No ball busting.”

  I cupped her jaw with my palm, the other hand at her hip. If I slid it two inches lower, I’d be cupping that tight ass. But not yet, I had to hear the one word that kept all this going.

“Yes,” she breathed and I almost came in my pants.

I smiled, then lowered my head, watched as her eyes fell closed just before my lips met hers.

Sweet, soft, tentative, then all of a sudden bold. Her tongue met mine and her hand went to the back of my neck, tangled in my hair and held me in place.

Fuck, she tasted to so good. Perfect.

“I don’t want to let you go,” I said, our lips a breath apart. “You feel too perfect in my arms. You taste too good.” While she wasn’t pressed up against the wall as she’d been when Ashe had kissed her—she had to have felt how hard he was—there was no doubt she couldn’t miss the press of my dick against her belly. That I wanted her. “But I don’t want to keep doing this here.”

Her dark eyes held mine, and when Ashe stepped close, she looked to him. “This is crazy, but I don’t want you to let me go.”

Fuck, yes. The words I wanted to hear, the consent we needed. Ashe took her hand, lifted it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

“We’re staying at the hotel,” I said, angling my head back toward the restaurant. Just past it was the entrance to the hotel lobby. “Come to our suite and we can continue kissing you.”

It was obvious what we wanted, but kissing a guy on a busy street was a lot different than going to his hotel room.

“I know you don’t know us, but you’re safe with us. We would never hurt you.” I brushed her hair back from her face, felt the silky strands tangle in my fingers.

“Will you come with us?” Ashe asked again.

She looked between us, bit her lip. “I might want...”

“What?” Ashe asked, taking a step closer. “What do you want?”

I watched as her chest rose and fell with each little pant. Her nipples were defined beneath her dress and I felt a shiver beneath my palms. “More than kissing.”

3

NATALIE

* * *

This time, Ashe took my hand. Big and warm, I felt callouses on the palm. The hold was gentle, but I knew he could be demanding. That kiss against the wall outside the restaurant…I’d be using that memory the next time I pulled my vibrator out of my drawer. Holy hell, it had been scorching. A little bit dominant, a whole lot possessive. It had been as if he couldn’t help himself, that he’d been waiting to kiss me and his very thin, weak thread of control had snapped.