I spend what’s left of the afternoon making the outhouse suitable to stable, both JD and the horse I’m bringing back here for Everleigh. This place has become my home now and it seems stupid not to have my horse with me. I like the flexibility of having JD close. What's the use of a cowboy without his horse?
Everleigh sits out on the porch reading her book and every time I glance over my shoulder and catch her watching me, she gets that same embarrassed look on her face that makes me wonder what the hell she’s reading about.
It’s baking hot so I have my shirt off, and the way her eyes keep looking over me feels kinda exposing. I like it, it makes me feel a lot less guilty about the way I look at her.
When I decide I’m done for the day I lift my shirt from the fence post, slinging it over my shoulder as I walk toward the cabin. When Everleigh sees me coming she immediately places down her book and stands up.
“You done?” she asks, almost seeming as skittish as that damn horse I just bought for her.
“For today. I'm gonna need more timber to get it finished. I can grab some tomorrow.”
“You look hot, do you want a glass of muscle… I mean water?” She shakes her head and looks up from my chest with fast-beating lashes and rosy cheeks.
“I’m good, I was just about to grab a shower.” I glance down to the book she’s reading and she quickly turns it over so I don’t see the half-naked guy on the front of it.
“I’ll just get back to my book.” She’s clearly trying to hide something from me and she looks fuckin’ adorable while doing it.
“Everleigh…” I wait until she’s sitting back down and when she looks at me with that smile still on her face, another chunk of my heart gives itself away. “Thank you for today. For sharin’ with me what happened to ya, I know it can’t have been easy.”
“It was easier than I thought it would be,” she admits, waiting for me to leave her before she buries her head back into the pages.
It takes some persuasion but Everleigh eventually allows me to take care of the cooking tonight, and watching her reaction to her first-ever corn dog was as hilarious as it was cute. I’m still smiling from it when we settle down in the living room and although her nose is still buried in that goddamn book, I can feel her eyes glance at me as I strum my guitar and hum to myself.
“Is it okay if I take a shower?” she asks, and I hate that after all this time she still feels as if she needs my permission.
“Of course.” I smile over at her, noticing that she places her book pages down on the couch before she gets up and heads for the bathroom. I let curiosity get the better of me when I immediately get up and reach for it. I make sure I keep one finger on the page she’s on as I flick back through what she’s been reading today.
My eyes widen at the words that are in front of me, the same words that have kept Everleigh so intrigued. Hell, even some of the bunkhouse boys would blush from the words that I’m reading.
Now that I got a sense of what's been keeping her so entertained, I quickly set the book back down exactly how I found it and retake my chair. I have to try my best to unsee the words I’ve just read because keeping my cock down around Everleigh is a hard enough task as it is.
She smiles at me shyly when she comes out the bathroom wearing just a towel, and as she scurries through to the bedroom to put on her nightdress my eyes glance back over to the book. I need to cool myself off, so I head outside to take a smoke.
He comes to bed about an hour after I turn in, soothing all that worry I’ve built up that he wouldn’t. I’ve felt us get closer today. I dropped my guard a little more and I still can’t believe how much I opened up to him down by the stream. I don’t even regret it. How could I when he was so kind and understanding about it all?
Mitch nods his head at me, looking almost shy when he steps into the room and slides out of his jeans. He keeps on his tee and boxers like he did last time he joined me in bed, and when he gets under the covers he lies back as if he’s not entirely sure how to position himself. I lean over and press and kiss on his cheek before turning my back on him and snuggling into my pillow.
“Good night, Mitch.” I close my eyes and try to picture the look on his face. I know that it’s important that I take things slow, but venturing away from the cabin isn’t the only thing I’d like to try. I want to know how it feels to have Mitch touch me, and not just on the cheek or my hand. In a much more intimate way. The same way that the guy in my book touches his girl. I’ve even been wondering since this morning what his mouth would feel like exploring me all over and when I do, I get that pulsing in my stomach again.
“Good night, darlin’.” His low, raspy voice and the comfort of knowing he’s close makes me smile to myself, and we both lie in complete silence for what feels like hours.
I can sense he’s still awake, and I will for him to put his arms around me the way he did when we were riding earlier.
“You know, you don’t need to ask permission or wait till I’m asleep before you touch me.” I close my eyes in shame as I force the words out my mouth.
Mitch doesn’t answer straight away, but after a few seconds, I feel his hand slide over my hip and cross over my stomach. The bed creaks as he shifts his body closer to mine, ensuring my back is against his chest the way it was earlier. I feel my whole body relax from the comfort of it.
“It’s different with you, Mitch. I don’t fear your touch, I don’t fear anything about you at all.” I reach my hand back to stroke over his leg.
“I’d be careful doin’ that, sweetheart,” he warns me, but I don’t listen. I want to experience intimacy with this man. I want to push my boundaries. And that's exactly what happens when I feel something hard press against my lower back.
“That's what I was warnin’ ya ‘bout.” Mitch looks embarrassed when I glance over my shoulder at him. “I’m sorry. I’ll just step outside for a while, it’ll go away.” He goes to move but I shake my head.
“No.” I turn so I’m facing him. “Maybe I could make it go away for you?” I suggest, watching his eyes widen in shock.
“I think you're the one who's causin’ the problem, darlin’.” He smirks at me, and I wipe it right off his face when I slide my hand into the waistband of his boxers and wrap it around his manhood.
“Holy shit!” He looks between us in even more shock as my fingers start to stroke over his thick, solid cock the same way I read about earlier.