Page 10 of Her Protective Cowboy

Desire simmers low in my belly. He's an Adonis. A living, breathing Marlboro Man fantasy come to life.

The ache between my thighs grows by the second. What would it feel like to have all that strength and virility pressing me into the mattress, utterly at his mercy?

I swallow hard and force myself to get a grip. Quickly, I clear my throat to get his attention. “Um, hi. Good morning, Wyatt.”

Wyatt turns around, his blue eyes locking onto mine. A slow, sexy grin spreads across his face as he sets down his mug and phone.

"Mornin', gorgeous. I see you found some more of my clothes to wear."

Heat floods my cheeks. "Oh, um, I hope it's okay. They're just so much more comfortable than what I packed..."

Wyatt stalks toward me. "It's perfect, baby." He reaches past me to grab another mug from the shelf above my head, and he’s so close I can feel the heat radiating off his bare skin. "I like seeing you in my stuff."

He pours me a cup of coffee from the steaming pot on the counter and hands it to me. I take a big gulp, desperate for something to do with my hands besides reach out and touch him.

Amusement dances in his eyes as he watches me drain half the mug. “Coffee taste okay? I know it’s not Starbucks. But my sister does her best to keep the house stocked with the fancy stuff.”

“The coffee’s great,” I take another sip, trying to act casual despite my racing heart. "Should we, uh, sit down?"

"Sure." Wyatt leads me over to the kitchen table. I slide into a chair across from him, grateful for some distance. I tuck my legs underneath me in the chair. “I didn’t realize you had a sister.”

“Yeah, Abigail was never a fan of being the only girl in a house full of cowboys,” Wyatt chuckles. “She lives down in Houston now. But she comes back to visit pretty often.”

I glance down the hall. "Speaking of your family, where is everyone this morning?"

"They're all out doing their own things. Brody had a rodeo event, Luke took Maisey to the park, and Jace spent the night at his best friend Lindsay's house. Pretty normal since it’s Saturday."

I nod, processing this glimpse into his family's life. It's a world away from what I'm used to.

"But don’t worry.” Wyatt leans back in his chair. “You'll get to meet the whole gang tomorrow morning. We always do a big family breakfast on Sundays."

"That sounds nice." I mean it. There's a closeness and warmth to Wyatt's family that mine lacks. I find myself looking forward to it, even as my nerves jangle at the thought of more new people.

"What about you?" I ask, desperate to change the subject before he asks about my own family. “What are your plans for today?”

Wyatt grins at me. "Well, that depends."

I raise an eyebrow. "On what?"

"On what you want to do."

For a moment, I'm taken aback. I'm not used to anyone, let alone a man like Wyatt, considering my wants. In my family, my desires always come last, if they're acknowledged at all.

"I... I'm not sure," I stammer. "I've never been to a ranch before. I don't really know what there is to do."

Wyatt's grin widens. "Have you ever ridden a horse before?"

I laugh nervously. "No, never. I've always been too scared. Horses are just so... big."

He chuckles. "They can be intimidating at first, that's for sure. But there's nothing like it, riding across the open land with the wind in your hair." Then he pauses, his expression unreadable. "Would you like to go for a ride with me? I promise you’ll be safe with me."

My teeth sink into my lower lip as I consider his offer. Wyatt’s eyes follow the movement. Finally, I say, “I guess that would be okay. I trust you.”

“Perfect.” Wyatt reaches across the table to squeeze my hand. “Finish your coffee and I’ll go get the horses saddled up.”

Twenty minutes later, Wyatt and I walk out to the barn.

"Impressive setup you have here," I comment, my eyes roaming over the neat stalls and tack hanging on the walls. This barn is much bigger and tidier than any I've seen back home in upstate New York.

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