Page 25 of Cowboy

Ava looked up at Cowboy’s face through her lashes, noting that the normally icy green had darkened, she hoped with desire.

“That depends. Do you like it?”

“Do I like a woman who doesn’t hesitate to let me know what she wants and doesn’t seem to mind taking charge once in a while? Fuck yes. As long as she knows that her being in charge is only in the bedroom, or at least only when it comes to sex.”

His gaze raked over her body in a way her body seemed to feel. Her nipples tightened and ached, and heat pooled low in her belly as her core clenched and seemed to throb for a moment in its need to be filled.

“Outside of that, I’m open to discussion, but I won’t be led around by the nose, or even by the cock.” He met her gaze, as if trying to make sure she understood him.

Words seemed to catch in her throat. She looked down, wondering if she’d gone too far. She’d had one man who had told her what to do and how to do it. She couldn’t do that again, she knew.

A finger under her chin brought her gaze back up to meet his. “I don’t want to control you. I don’t want to stop you from being you. I just want to make sure you’re as safe as we can make you. I love watching the way you experience life. The last thing I want to do is break you or your spirit.”

Something fluttered in her chest. If she hadn’t thought so before, now she knew she was falling in love with him. After her experience with Hank that should terrify her. Oddly though, it was just the opposite. She felt more secure, more anchored.

“In that case, I better make it worth it.” Ava tucked her hands under his t-shirt and smoothed them up along his torso to his chest, letting the thin cloth bunch over her hands as she worked her way up his body. “Off,” she said when she’d revealed most of his torso.

Without waiting, she bent to flick her tongue back and forth over the tiny button of his nipple.

“Fuck, woman. You're going to drive me out of my mind like that.” He tossed the shirt aside. “Angel, let’s take this into the bedroom.” His hands smoothed up her belly, stirring heat in her core.

Ava let her hands drop to his belt. “I don’t care where. I just want you.”

“Fuuuck.”

There was a thump against the door. Ava jerked her head up. Who was knocking on her door at this hour? Then she realized. It had been Cowboy’s head as he let it fall back. She couldn’t help the satisfied grin from spreading across her face as she bent to give his other nipple the same attention.

His hands cupped her breasts over her bra, his thumbs flicking across her nipples and drawing a groan from her as she continued to tease him.

Ava couldn’t help the small squeak that escaped as he scooped her into his arms.

“Where’s the bedroom?” his voice had gone low and rumbly.

Ava pointed to the right doorway, but pressed a kiss against his shoulder as he carried her to the bed.

“There’s no way I’m going to take you the first time bent over the back of the sofa, Angel. You’re too special for that.”

Heat flashed through her. “Bent over the back of the sofa?” The idea had never occurred to her but now that he’d put the idea in her head, she wanted to try it.

“I’m not saying it will never happen, just not for our first time.” He set her on the bed and stood.

She watched his gaze skim down her body as he stepped back, then took a seat in the chair in the corner where she liked to sit and read.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on you,” he said as he bent to unlace his boots. “But I’m going to do this right.” He pulled off one boot, then the other dropping them beside the chair before standing again and closing the distance between them. He took Ava’s hand and tugged her to her feet before placing a kiss on her lips. Gentle at first then with more feeling and passion.

Ava ran her hands up along his arms then wound them around Cowboy’s neck. She tugged him closer and wanted nothing more than to feel his skin against hers.

After a moment she broke the kiss, unwound her arms from around his neck and reached behind her to undo the fastenings at the back of her shirt. She fumbled with the unfamiliar catch and bit back a curse as she couldn’t get the thing to release.

“Let me.”

Cowboy’s patient tone calmed her nerves a little and she turned to let him see the back of her shirt. She picked up her hair off the back of her neck to give him access to the halter as well. No point in only the shirt halfway off.

In seconds, her shirt fell loose. Ava clutched it to her front a moment then shook her head at how stupid she was being. She’d been trying to take the top off, why was she so desperate to cover herself now?

She turned around and looked up at Cowboy, her face heating.

“You’re beautiful.” He smoothed the back of one finger down the curve of her cheek. “And if you’re not ready, this doesn’t have to go any farther.”

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