He tipped his head back, a low and smooth laugh coming from him. “Nah, they wouldn’t.” He pulled his shirt free from the loop and wiped it over his forehead before his hands found their way to rest on his hips. He was mirroring my stance, but he suddenly seemed a lot more in control than I was. I didn’t understand it, but my breathing was shortening.

Tilting his head to the side, still watching me so curiously, he added, “They’d run on some treadmill at some fancy gym, no doubt.”

“People don’t run out here for a reason.”

“You do.” He raised his chin as if he were taunting me. No. He was challenging me, but I didn’t understand why.

I pulled at the strap of my tank top. There was a nice breeze, but suddenly, I was heated, too heated. The sun had started to wane. We had another thirty minutes before it would be dark. He really needed to get back by then.

“You have to return. You’re six miles out.”

His lips parted in surprise. “Six?”

I nodded. I looked for Shiloh and spotted her grazing farther down the trail.

I let out a loud sigh. “You’re incredibly stupid.”

“Why?”

“I have to walk beside you. I have to make sure you get back okay, and I don’t have a horse for you to ride.”

He looked over to Shiloh, a question in his eyes.

“She’s not broken. I’m the only rider she allows.” My voice was rising. “These are wild horses. This is the wild out here. There are bears. There are mountain lions.” I hit him. I didn’t care. And once I smacked his chest, I wanted to do it again. “You’re so reckless.”

“Hey.” His arm snaked around my waist, and he pulled me to him.

I lifted my hand to hit him again.

He caught it, holding it to pull me even tighter against him.

I almost moaned aloud . . . almost. He was rubbing against me, right where I was throbbing, and I wanted him to keep going. I couldn’t help it. The desire had been building since I was following him, and now that we were face to face, I saw the same hunger in his eyes too. I made the first contact, hitting him, and it was all he needed.

A spark lit, and he grabbed it, pulling me closer to him.

Hell. He felt so good.

He wrapped his arm around me, catching my hand in one of his. He traced a finger down the side of my face, softly, tenderly. “Hey.” He brought it to my chin and tilted my face until I was looking him in the eyes again.

Once I did, I saw he had softened. I saw the remorse, but it only worsened my ache for him.

I didn’t think I could walk beside him for six miles.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

He gentled his tone again. “I haven’t been training. I forgot how much I liked to run. I lost track of time.”

“You lost track of your sanity.”

I saw how he was fighting to hold back a grin before he managed to school his features into a straight line. “You’re lecturing me for what? Being out past sunset?”

“It’s dangerous out here.”

I curled my hand into a fist, but his hand wormed its way in there, and I struggled, pushing against him. I almost groaned, feeling pleasure lace my veins, but I couldn’t stop him. His hand got in there, unwound my fist and his fingers slid alongside of mine. They went slow, acting like a caress.

“Stop it.” But there was no heat to my words. I knew he’d take it as a submission.

“Stop what?” His finger rubbed against mine. His free hand cupped the side of my face, and I started to close my eyes. I felt myself leaning into him, letting him hold the weight of me up. Then his thumb ran over my lips, and my eyelids flew open.

I was looking into him. He was watching me as if he were waiting for something. I saw the lust there. I knew he wanted me. I could feel between my legs, and just thinking of it, I felt my legs tighten, but he was in there. His gaze darkened. He murmured, “Morgan.”

“What?”

My chest started heaving. I was practically panting.

Shivers, tingles, and wanton need coursed through my whole body. I was becoming drugged by him.

He continued to watch me, and then suddenly, his need shone prominently, and he shifted. He let go of my hand, but his arms wrapped around me and he lifted me.

I gasped, my legs went around his waist, and he held me there.

My arms wound around his neck. I was looking at his lips, wanting to feel them.

“We have a situation here,” he rasped out.

I laughed, just a tiny bit. We did indeed.

“I could lay you down here on this path. We could satisfy what we’re both wanting right now, or . . .” His hand slipped to just under the waistband of my pants.

I jerked from the sensation, but he caught me, holding me anchored to him.

“Or . . .” His hand slid farther down, resting on the outside of my underwear.

I gasped. “There’s a water place not far from here.”

His eyes sparked. “A pool?”

“It’s a hot spring, but not too hot. We should be fine.”

As if knowing what I was agreeing to with that admission, my mind started to flee. I wanted him as much as he wanted me. We just watched the other, the air thick with tension between us. I didn’t know where Shiloh had gone, but I didn’t care.