One Track Cowboy

After tracking two lost hikers, a park ranger and a local rancher lose themselves to a wild passion... 

This 5000-word erotic Western short story first appeared in Cowboy Heat. It may be short in length, but it's not short in passion!

*~*~*~*
Excerpt:

I trusted his instincts. Not something I did easily. He was so competent and briskly impatient that I'd gone along with his every suggestion, biting my tongue before adding my own two cents. He didn't need them. And now we'd be alone. Miles and miles from civilization. For the first time since I'd begun this journey, anticipation rather than quiet dread thrummed in my chest.

If he felt it too, he hid it well. He repacked his gear, ran his hands over his horse's head and flanks, then lifted his hooves to check his shoes. I followed suit, not wanting to earn his disgust if my horse fell lame because I'd been too moon-eyed to see to the mare's welfare first.

When I dropped the last hoof to the ground, I straightened. Zane stood closer than I expected. I drew back startled, my eyes widening. His face hovered over mine, so still, his dark eyes watchful, that my breath caught and held. What was he searching for?

I went with my gut, with my own desire. My lips parted as I let my head fall back. An invitation extended with the lowering of my eyelids. Beneath the sweep of my lashes, I noted the tensing of his jaw, the narrowing of his gaze. He was looking at my mouth.

And then slowly, he bent closer, his mouth drawing nearer. "We should head back into the canyon and follow the edge of the stream."

I drew in a ragged breath. He was so damn close. Just kiss me.

He moved away, but not before I saw one corner of his firm mouth twitch.