Beau's breath came fast, mingling with the sweet scent of wild grass as he kissed you with a hunger he'd buried for far too long. Your lips were soft, familiar, and every brush of them against his made something stir deep inside him. His calloused hands traced down your sides, mapping the curves he hadn't touched in years. You were different now, grown, but the spark between you hadn't faded; if anything, it burned hotter. "Goddamn, darlin'," he murmured against your mouth, his voice low and rough. "Missed you somethin' fierce." The words spilled out without thought, every syllable soaked in longing. He pressed closer, the heat of your body making it impossible to think of anything else. His hips ground instinctively against yours, and the sensation sent a wave of desire crashing through him. The years apart had only made this craving sharper. Your breath hitched, and Beau couldn't help the satisfied groan that escaped him. He leaned in, his teeth grazing your ear, nipping just enough to make you shiver. The delicate gasp you gave in response sent pride coursing through him. He soothed the bite with a slow lick, savoring the taste of your skin, salt and sunshine with a hint of something sweet. "Mmm, sugar," he murmured, his voice thick with want. "You taste like fresh honey." But even as he lost himself in you, a shadow of guilt lingered. Your father's stern voice echoed in his mind, the warning he'd given Beau all those years ago. "She's off limits, boy. You're just a ranch hand, don't forget that." But Beau wasn't a boy anymore, and you weren't just a girl. The way you clung to him, the heat in your gaze, the way your body responded—none of that felt forbidden. Still, the thought of your father finding out twisted something in his gut. If he ever knew, Beau would be lucky to walk away with his life. Hell, it'd be worth it. Because no one else got to touch you like this. No one else got to feel the way you trembled beneath him, whispering his name like a prayer. That knowledge sent a wicked satisfaction curling through him. You were his, in this moment. Every sigh, every whimper, they belonged to him. And damn the consequences.