Page 7 of Curvy Girl for the Cowboy

“If you would just talk to me—” she begins.

"Dammit, Sam, I'm tryin' to protect you!" I slam my mug down, coffee sloshing over the rim. "Can't you see that?"

She flinches but doesn't back down, chin lifted, meet in' my glare head on. "I don't need your protection. I need you to be honest with me. To talk to me. Let me in, Colton. Please."

The plea in her voice undoes me. I feel myself cracking', defenses fallen'. Lord help me, but I want to. I want nothin' more than to let her in, to keep her, cherish her, love her like she deserves.

But I can't. If I ever take this curvy thing in my arms, it’s going to be no holds barred. I’ll turn into a fucking beast. I’ll rip her virginity to shreds. I’m assuming she’s a virgin because the thought of another man ever taking her drives me insane with jealousy. I can’t bear the thought of it.

And thinking of her pussy has me hard as steel and aching again.

"I think...I think you should go back to bed," I rasp, throat raw with pent up emotions. "We got an early mornin' tomorrow."

Her eyes swim with tears she refuses to let fall. "Is that really what you want? For me to go?"

I can't face her. Can't watch her cry knowing' I'm the cause. "It's for the best."

A shuddering breath escapes her. Then she's turning, fleeing the kitchen, the slamming of her bedroom door echoing through the silent house like a gunshot.

I slump back against the counter, head bowed, heart shattered. What have I done?

I sit in the kitchen for a long time, miserable at the thought of hurting Sam before the creak of the screen door snaps me out of my misery. I'm moving’ before I can think better of it, long strides eating up the distance to the porch. "Sam, wait!"

She's halfway down the steps, arms wrapped tight around herself like she's holding' herself together. The sight of her—so small, so broken—tears me apart.

"Leave me alone, Colton," she throws over her shoulder, voice thick with tears.

I catch her arm, spinning her to face me. "I can't."

"Why?" she demands, green eyes flashing with a mix of anger and confusion. "You've made it perfectly clear you don't want me here."

"That's not true." The words come out low and fierce, surprising us both with their intensity.

She searches my face, lookin' for the lie. "Then what is it? Because I don't understand. One minute you're kind to me, treating me like I matter, and the next you're pushing me away."

I cup her face, thumbs brushing away the tears she couldn't hold back any longer. "You do matter, darlin'. More than you know."

"Then why-"

I bring my lips close to hers.

So close. So fucking close. I’m dying to taste her.

But I somehow muster up every ounce of restraint I have and rasp, “Go back to bed. We’re both tired and cranky after a long day.”

She looks like she might argue, but maybe she sees the tension in my body, the way my arms are trembling with the effort it takes me to keep from ravishing her right here and now.

She swallows and turns to obey wordlessly.

As soon as I hear her door shut, I growl in frustration and pull my aching cock from my pants, beating it furiously like a crazed animal.

Sam

I lean against my closed bedroom door, heart pounding, mind reeling. What just happened out there? The way Colton lookedat me, touched me...I felt it down to my very soul. The heat, the longing, the desire barely restrained.

But why? Why pull me close only to push me away again? I don't understand him. One moment he's gazing at me like I'm the only woman in the world, the next he's shutting me out cold.

Frustrated tears burn my eyes as I slump down to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. Is it me? Is there something wrong with me that he finds so repulsive?

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