The guy gulped, then disappeared.
From this angle, Beck could also see Clancy lined up in the large square of people that was taking up most of the barn right now. To his surprise, Clancy was flanked by two enthusiastic women who looked to be in their sixties or seventies, and Beck watched as he leaned over to compliment one of them before turning to laugh charmingly at a remark the other one made, the three of them seemingly having the time of their lives together.
Perhaps Clancy wasn’t the womanizer he liked everyone to believe he was.
That held up with what a hard worker and kind person he was on the ranch.
Beck continued to move with Sierra, soaking up every second of the dance until, with a holler, the band finished the song, then stood to bow. People milled about, some waiting for the next song, others going off to get a drink.
And then a slow, moody country song started to play over speakers that had been installed in the rafters, and couples started to come out to the floor.
“Might I have this dance?” Beck offered his hand to Sierra, and he tipped his Stetson.
“What a gentleman,” Sierra said, beaming, taking his hand and coming up to meet him. “Of course I will.” And they shared a laugh.
Even with her head at his chest, there was something so romantic and wonderful about just being so close to Sierra. And as the music continued, a classic song about love lost then reunited years later, time seemed to slow as Beck forgot all about the fact that he was a dragon and she was a human.
That he was a monster and he’d somehow crossed paths with an angel and fallen in love with her.
But as they swayed back and forth together, his hands on her hips, her arms wrapped around his neck. He didn’t think life could possibly get any better right now, with the woman of his dreams right here in his arms.
Much like the lyrics that were being sung out over the speakers, Beck didn’t know how this story was going to end. But he damn well knew that as long as he was by Sierra’s side, he’d never stop wanting and protecting her.
13
By the time they were back at her house, Sierra was about ready to burst with happiness at how fun the evening had been.
Beck, in spite of himself at the beginning, had accompanied her in practically every line dance for the rest of the night, picking up the steps and joining her in doing something that she’d only been able to do alone with strangers for so long. And in between, they’d slow danced, getting closer and closer until she wanted nothing more than to tear Beck’s clothes off and get her hands on him right there in the middle of the dance floor.
Maybe it was the three or so beers she’d had, but all she felt was a light buzz, lowering her inhibitions as she took in the sight of Beck’s magnificent pecs as he stopped the truck and put it in park.
“Thank you for this evening. I had a wonderful time,” she said, running a hand through her hair as the tension inside the truck was beginning to reach a boiling point.
“The pleasure was all mine, seeing as I got to enjoy the finest company in the state of Texas,” he said, getting out and getting the door for her like he always did. Such a gentleman, so much kinder than any man she’d met before.
Just the proximity of his big, warm body as he helped her out of the truck made her nerves twinge. And when she stumbled a bit, perhaps from all the dancing she’d done, he picked her up in his arms like she weighed nothing, carrying her toward the door.
“All that dancin’ back there got me thinking about a different kind of way we could be movin’ together,” she said, emboldened by the fun evening and the way Beck’s eyes roamed over her hungrily
He smirked at her, gray eyes more silver beneath the light of the full moon as he unlocked the door and opened it for them.
“A private dance for two?” he asked.
“Something like that…” Just her body rubbing against him was warming her insides faster than a bonfire doused with lighter fluid.
He ran his tongue over his lower lip, reminding her of the many times he’d done delicious, devious things to her with it. But to her surprise, instead of making for the bedroom, he headed past the kitchen and went out the back onto the little patio at the back of the house.
Only a few days ago, the patio had been a total wreck, with cracks in the wood and cement and the overhang about ready to collapse. But under Beck’s care, everything had been fixed, spackled, replaced, and repainted with utter efficiency, making everything appear newer than it ever had in her whole life.
“Where are we…?” she asked over his shoulder, then looked up to see him smiling as he glanced out at the distance.
“It’s a pretty night outside.” He stepped toward the big hanging bench she used to sit on to watch the moon rise. “I reckon the only thing more perfect than being with you in there would be getting to be with you under the stars.” He nuzzled her neck, then bit lightly down on her ear, making her muscles jump. “Watching while I make you scream my name.”
His low, growly words got her wet right there, and Sierra practically melted in his arms.
He sat on the bench, and it groaned slightly but held fine since he’d replaced practically every part of it, including the upholstery, in his quest to upend her life and make it better.
She turned her body to straddle his hips, and he placed his hands on her sides, running beneath her shirt and up
