Page 26 of Cowhand Crush

“Is it that bad between you and your father?” I asked.

Avery nodded.

“I left.”

It took a moment for my brain to grasp the impact of her words. No…no, that couldn’t be right. She didn’t leave High Plains permanently. Did she? Taking Avery by the shoulders, I pushed her back to look her in the eyes.

“What do you mean you left?”

Avery met my gaze, her eyes rimmed with red, biting the inside of her cheek. My heart sank as my suspicions were confirmed.

“Since Dad wouldn’t let you come home,” she said. “I decided I’m going with you.”

“Sweetheart, I can’t stand by while you throw your life away like this. Not for me. I’m just a cowboy.”

“You’re everything, Bowen. The ranch feels empty without you. Dad has made his decision and I’ve made mine. I want to be with you.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Avery gave up a comfortable, wealthy future. For me. What if she regretted it one day?

“Avery,” I said. “I ain’t worth this.”

“It's my choice to make,” she replied, her voice strong and clear despite the raw emotions on her face. She slipped her arms around my waist, gazing up at me. “Let’s start over somewhere else. Build a life together on our own spread of land. We know how to work a ranch. We can do this.”

I brought my hands up to cradle Avery’s face. She was looked so tender and fragile after fighting with her father, but I saw the hope in her eyes too. If I was a better man, I would turn Avery down and insist that she made amends with Grady.

But I was a selfish man. After spending just one night with Avery, I wanted forever. I wanted this woman to be my wife, until the last dying breath left my body.

“I’m worried I’ll break your heart, Avery,” I whispered. “You loved that ranch so much.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb. She leaned into my touch, closing her eyes with a small sound of relief.

“It’s just land, Bowen. The whole planet is full of it. I’ll never find another man like you. I’ve looked. And I always end up drifting back to you.”

She rose up on tiptoe to kiss me, her mouth crashing against mine. I stumbled back a few steps to catch my balance, grasping Avery’s waist for balance. Sliding my hands lower, I cupped her ass, pulling our bodies flush together. I slipped my tongue between her lips as she fumbled at my belt.

I broke away, glancing over my shoulder. The Elroy house was far enough in the distance, shielded by an outcropping of trees, that no one would see us out here.

“What’s the matter?” Avery said with a hint of amusement in her tone. “Suddenly feeling a bit shy?”

“Shyness has nothing to do with it." Grabbing her hand, I dropped into the grass, pulling her down on top of me. Avery sputtered a laugh of surprise as she straddled me, taking my hat off and tossing it aside. “You’re my woman. I don’t want any peeping Toms getting a look at you.”

Her big brown eyes darkened with mischief and lust. She trailed her fingers down my chest and finished unbuckling my belt.

“Is that why you ran Isaac off? You didn’t like him looking at me?”

I raised my eyebrows.

“How did you hear about that?”

“It’s a small town. Word travels fast.”

Avery peeled my fly open and caressed the tip of my cock with her nimble fingers. I swore under my breath and let my head fall back to the grass. Crystal clear blue sky wheeled overhead. Then I felt the hot tip of her tongue drag slowly up my length.

“Fuck yes, sweetheart,” I rasped.

She closed her mouth around the crown of my cock with wet heat and pressure that made my mind go blank with static. I blindly reached down and found her hand splayed against my stomach, curling my fingers around her wrist.

Then Avery broke away, followed by the rustle of clothes. I lifted my head to see her kicking off her boots, stripping off her jeans and panties. When she positioned herself over me again, I grabbed her hips to steady her. The grass itched at my back, poking me through my shirt as Avery swiped the tip of my cock back and forth through her folds a few times.

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