The Golden Rules of Love: Western Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

higher, wrapping an arm underneath her bottom. Their faces were now level. He continued to kiss her, but it was softer. Finally he stopped and sat them both down on a rock. Her legs were wrapped around him, her skirts bunched up and tangled. She pressed herself closer to him attempting to kiss him harder.
    “Annie, you’re crying”
    Annie stopped moving her lips. She pulled her face away to look in his eyes. His hand gently came up and brushed the tears away.
    “I can’t be crying. I haven’t cried since…” she didn’t want to tell him.
    “It’s all right. You don’t have to tell me when the last time you cried was. I’m sorry I told Tom about your husband leaving you in St. Louis. You were right. I should have kept it to myself.”
    She took a deep breath. She didn’t want to face reality again. She liked the blissful numbness of his kiss. “I…I…don’t know why I got so mad. I’m sorry I yelled that you’re always touching me. I was angry and…”
    “Is your temper as fiery as your hair?” He chuckled and his lips playfully kissed hers. Annie tilted her head to give him better access.
    “Sometimes. Do you always meddle in other people’s business?”
    “Not usually. You seem to be an exception.” His hand trailed along her neck.
    “Then why are you?” If he hadn’t been kissing her between questions, she probably would still be spitting mad. But with his lips playfully nipping at hers, all she could muster was desire.
    “I’m worried about you. You’re tough but even the strongest men fall in a place like the goldfields. I just want to help you.”
    “What if I don’t want help?” His lips teased hers with a lingering kiss and her words lacked her usual sharp tone.
    “Well that is a tough one. If a man is carting you off, should I just let him?” He opened her lips again and their tongues met. Annie squirmed under the touch.
    She broke contact for a second. “I see your point.” She brought her lips back up to his.
    “What do you want to find in California?” For a moment the question made her freeze in fear but then his hand travelled to her breast, and his thumb skimmed over her nipple as he held the generous flesh in his hand. She groaned as he massaged the round orb.
    “I need to find Garrett’s best friend, Jasper. I want to know what happened and I want Garrett’s possessions. They’re mine.” It was the truth, though she had left several important details out. She couldn’t lie to him when they were like this but she couldn’t tell him the whole truth either. It had become clear he would not approve and she was determined to do this.
    His lips kissed a trail down her neck and she found herself straining to give him better access to her skin. She again had the sensation of wanting to take her clothes off.
    “That is why you are risking your life?” His mouth dipped to her breast and he kissed her nipple through her shirt. Her hands went back into his hair and she let out a groan.
    “I can’t go home, not like this.”
    “Annie, you can’t let pride get in the way of your safety.” He was sliding open the buttons of her shirt. His hand reached in where he reached another layer of buttons for her long underwear. Most of the women had given up corsets for the journey.
    His delay caused her to sit up straighter, pulling away from him. “I’m getting back what is mine and I am taking my life back. I’ll not have any man telling me where to go and what to do―“
    She stopped talking because his hand ripped open her long underwear and his palm came down on her bare breast.
    Her head fell back and her she thrust up into his hand.
    “I’m beginning to understand,” he said between kisses on her neck. He nipped at her collarbone and then slid his mouth down.
    “What?” She gasped out as his lips took her nipple into his mouth. For all her talk a moment before about being no man’s puppet, she was absolutely powerless to stop him in this moment. The sensations