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| click to read about the companion to Under a Painted Moon - Mountain High |
An excerpt from Under a Painted Moon
Courtney opened the door to his studio and stepped inside. Barry was sprawled out on
his sofa, shirtless, eyes closed. He was holding his iced tea glass to the center of his
forehead. God, he had a good chest. He worked out just enough to stay in shape but not
bulk up. It was the look she preferred.
She tried not to notice the fingers of his free hand tucked under the waistband of his
jeans.
“Headache?”
He jumped, spilling the tea down his chest.
“You left!” He grabbed a paper towel and swabbed at his torso.
“I didn’t. I’m here.”
“I see that. Want some tea?”
If I can lick it off your chest.
“Sure.” She dropped her purse and keys on the table inside the door. Crossing the floor
in three long strides she plucked the glass from his hand and sipped. He cocked an
eyebrow at her.
“So why did you come back?”
“That is the question, isn’t it?” She sat the glass to the side, keeping her eyes on him.
Why had she come back—really? The only thing Barry would truly respect was an honest
answer.
She leaned over him, placing her hands on his shoulders. He reached for her, resting his
hands on the curves of her hips. She slowly fitted her lips to his. His fingers tightened,
pulling her closer. His lips remained passive under her kiss. She lifted her head to look
at him. His eyes were closed. A quirky little smile twitched in the corner of his mouth.
Of all the possible responses, she would have expected from him, laughing at her hadn’t
been one.
“You’d better tell me what’s so amusing, McWaters.”
“That’s the first time you’ve kissed me.” His eyes popped open. “Do it again and just let
me lay back and enjoy it.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You clown.”
“Clown? I’m serious, babe.” He tugged on her hips again. “Why’d you come back, Court?”
“I couldn’t leave without letting you know everything is okay.”
“Between us.”
Courtney took a deep breath. She’d wanted to avoid this moment, but it was upon her.
She either had to walk away or acknowledge that they did share something that was
turning them into ‘us’.
It felt like a commitment she couldn’t make. Yet if she didn’t, all her instincts said he’d
back away for good. To refuse to respond was to test the limits of his patience. She
couldn’t risk doing that.
That surprised her.
She didn’t have time to dissect it now. The smile faded from his face. His eyes darkened.
His gaze bored into hers, seeing more of her than she ever wanted to show to anyone.
She could only think of one thing to do to try and tell him what was balled up inside her.
Would he sense it? All the hope, and fear, that drown her when she was this close to
him? There was only one way to find out. She kissed him again.
His lips opened under hers, hot and eager. He shifted, tugging on her. She sprawled
across him, her mouth never leaving his. Need suddenly swamped her, crashing through
her system, stealing her breath. His arms came around her, sheltering her in a warm
circle of steel.
Courtney opened the door to his studio and stepped inside. Barry was sprawled out on
his sofa, shirtless, eyes closed. He was holding his iced tea glass to the center of his
forehead. God, he had a good chest. He worked out just enough to stay in shape but not
bulk up. It was the look she preferred.
She tried not to notice the fingers of his free hand tucked under the waistband of his
jeans.
“Headache?”
He jumped, spilling the tea down his chest.
“You left!” He grabbed a paper towel and swabbed at his torso.
“I didn’t. I’m here.”
“I see that. Want some tea?”
If I can lick it off your chest.
“Sure.” She dropped her purse and keys on the table inside the door. Crossing the floor
in three long strides she plucked the glass from his hand and sipped. He cocked an
eyebrow at her.
“So why did you come back?”
“That is the question, isn’t it?” She sat the glass to the side, keeping her eyes on him.
Why had she come back—really? The only thing Barry would truly respect was an honest
answer.
She leaned over him, placing her hands on his shoulders. He reached for her, resting his
hands on the curves of her hips. She slowly fitted her lips to his. His fingers tightened,
pulling her closer. His lips remained passive under her kiss. She lifted her head to look
at him. His eyes were closed. A quirky little smile twitched in the corner of his mouth.
Of all the possible responses, she would have expected from him, laughing at her hadn’t
been one.
“You’d better tell me what’s so amusing, McWaters.”
“That’s the first time you’ve kissed me.” His eyes popped open. “Do it again and just let
me lay back and enjoy it.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You clown.”
“Clown? I’m serious, babe.” He tugged on her hips again. “Why’d you come back, Court?”
“I couldn’t leave without letting you know everything is okay.”
“Between us.”
Courtney took a deep breath. She’d wanted to avoid this moment, but it was upon her.
She either had to walk away or acknowledge that they did share something that was
turning them into ‘us’.
It felt like a commitment she couldn’t make. Yet if she didn’t, all her instincts said he’d
back away for good. To refuse to respond was to test the limits of his patience. She
couldn’t risk doing that.
That surprised her.
She didn’t have time to dissect it now. The smile faded from his face. His eyes darkened.
His gaze bored into hers, seeing more of her than she ever wanted to show to anyone.
She could only think of one thing to do to try and tell him what was balled up inside her.
Would he sense it? All the hope, and fear, that drown her when she was this close to
him? There was only one way to find out. She kissed him again.
His lips opened under hers, hot and eager. He shifted, tugging on her. She sprawled
across him, her mouth never leaving his. Need suddenly swamped her, crashing through
her system, stealing her breath. His arms came around her, sheltering her in a warm
circle of steel.
| Under a Painted Moon |
| Contemporary Romance The companion story to Mountain High |
| Courtney’s been burned by men, and badly. It’s up to renowned artist Barry McWaters to show her love Under a Painted Moon. |
| Courtney's eventual standing up for herself and following her dreams and heart made this story an inspiration for any woman shattered by a one-sided relationship. Barry ...will definitely make you sigh for your own artist. - Cupid's Library Reviews |
| Under a Painted Moon ISBN 1-59374-589-3 ©Rayne Forrest, 2006 Whiskey Creek Press Torrid |
| Rayne Forrest |
| "Rayne Forrest is a masterful storyteller." - Romance Junkies Reviews |
| Contemporary romance for tonight...futuristic romance for tomorrow...paranormal romance for beyond |
Kindle Reader |
