Page 22 of Big Gruff Cowboy

His body shudders underneath my touch as I drop to my knees in the soft grass next to the porch steps. He calls my name with a groan when I flick the button on his pants open. “Wait…”

I run my fingers over the jean-clad bulge, anticipation thrumming through me. He’s gotten his hands and tongue all over my body. It’s only fair that I get to touch him. “Do you not want me touching your big cock?”

As soon as I say the words, my face goes red. I’ve never tried talking dirty with anyone, but Noah growls in the back of his throat as I continue stroking him through his pants. “Not sure…how gentle…I can be…”

“I want everything you can give me.” With those words, I reach for his zipper and free his cock from his pants. His skin is hot against my palm, and I love the weight of him. He’s so thick that I can barely work my fingers around him.

A bead of moisture is already clinging to the tip. I duck my head, licking it from his body. He tastes salty and warm. I’m surprised by how much I like this. Leaning forward, I run my tongue over his shaft to a chorus of his moans. I love knowing I have control over this big, strong cowboy with just my mouth.

“Fuck, fuck…that’s too good.” He grips the wooden steps so tightly that his knuckles turn white.

I slip the head between my lips and swirl my tongue around the tip. Slowly, I ease more and more of him inside until he’s bucking against my throat. His head is thrown back as he stares up at the darkening sky, saying the filthiest things about how good I feel and how well I take his big cock.

He tries to pull away when he’s about to come, but I don’t let him. I drive my nails into his thighs, holding him closer. I want to give this man every second of pleasure I can. I want to take care of him the same way he always takes care of me, so I swallow every drop of his come.

After, he pulls me into his arms, holding me against his chest. I can hear his pounding heart, and I can’t help smiling. I did that to Noah. I drove him crazy and made him that way.

He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “You’re my girl.”

Cuddled here in his arms, I feel a little bit hopeful. Maybe I can finally have the family I’ve always dreamed of. Maybe Noah and I can make cute babies together, adopt a few more cats for Mr. Darcy to play with, and spend our days building a family right here on his farm.

Three days later, Noah stops his truck outside of his mom’s house. We’re here for a family dinner. I wanted to get out of it, but I couldn’t think of an excuse that wouldn’t hurt Noah’s feelings. He’s spent the last three days so happy. But as his happiness grows, so does the knot in my gut. The one that says this can’t be real. It’s not my life. Every day, I’m waiting for the moment that he decides I’m too much trouble.

“Relax. They’re just people,” Noah says, touching my knee and interrupting my thoughts. He thinks I’m nervous about meeting his family.

I clutch the cherry pie on my lap even tighter. Noah and I made it together this morning. Actually, that’s not right. I was pitting cherries at the kitchen counter when he came in and started licking the sticky juice off my skin. Next thing I knew, he was between my thighs, making me come on his tongue.

“We won’t have to stay long. Just put in an appearance,” Noah promises me.

I shake my head, not wanting him to miss out on time with his family. “No, let’s stay a while. I’m excited to meet them.”

He gives me a look like he doesn’t quite believe me then he’s pressing a soft kiss against my lips. When he pulls away, he strokes my cheek with his thumb. “I can’t wait to show you off to them.”

Without waiting for me to respond, he leaves the truck and jogs around to my door. He helps me down, his hands lingering on my hips a beat longer than necessary. He’s always touching me, and I love how affectionate he is.

He pulls my hand into his as we walk up the steps, but fortunately, he doesn’t say anything about how clammy my palms are.

Maybe if I can just get his family to like me, we can be together for a little while longer. Because when Noah finally decides I’m not worth the trouble, it’s going to break my heart.

Chapter 12

Noah

Something is bothering me as I watch Lizzy flit around the family gathering. I can’t put my finger on what’s wrong. I only know that I can feel it in my gut. Everyone is here for the weekly dinner at Mom’s house.

Greer is with his girlfriend, Evie, and her younger brothers. The four of them live together and I’ve seen the way those boys idolize Greer. It’s got me thinking about the next generation of Maples and what that’s going to look like.

Mom catches my eye and gestures for me to follow her, interrupting my musings.

I thread around Barrett and Zac who are still arguing over whose chili recipe is better when the obvious answer is my chili. I don’t bother to stop and explain that to them as I follow Mom out into the back bedroom. It used to be where I bunked with Greer. But after we left, she turned the space into a crafts room.

Half-finished projects litter every surface. I navigate carefully around her old oak desk that’s stacked high with colorful swatches for her latest quilt. I barely manage to avoid knocking off a collection of tiny dollhouse figurines and a jar of buttons from her cube organizer.

Every so often, my mom and my sister, Ginger, ask me to “help” rearrange this room which is mainly me just grunting as I move furniture until they decide they want it in the exact same spot it was originally. But no matter how many times they put the furniture right back where it was, I’ll always come over and move it for them. It’s just what a cowboy does. He takes care of the ones he loves.

“You’re in love with her,” Mom says, turning her chair to face me.

“I’m marrying her,” I admit. The moment that Lizzy lets me put a ring on her finger will be the happiest moment of my life.

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