Page 45 of Don't Trust the Cowboy

“But if you didn’t love me, you would have gone through with it, anyway?”

“No, it ain’t right, either way. I just meant that I probably wouldn’t be willing to pleasure you like I did if I didn’t love you.”

My mouth twists into a quirky smile. “But you love me.”

He pushes up to kiss me. “Yes, I do, darlin’. I love you very much.”

“I love you, too. I’ve never told anyone that before.”

“That makes two of us.”

I lift my brows. “Really?”

“Why’s that so shocking, darlin’?”

“Well, you’re older than me, for one.”

“That’s true. But only by about five years.”

“And you never fell in love when you were in the military?”

He adjusts his head on the pillow. “No. I had a casual thing once or twice, but never a relationship. And there was never anyone in Copper Cove that caught my eye. I had a little crush in high school, but it never amounted to anything.” He looks at me. “What about you? You’re beautiful and smart, and you went to college.”

“My folks would kill me if I got involved with anyone.” I scoff. “It was bad enough that I went off to college without their blessing. If I had met anyone, they would have boarded up the doors, and I’d never be invited back home. Not that I wanted to go back at any rate, but at least I’d still have the option.” I explain. “Plus, all the guys in college were drunken losers. Jade and Crystal hooked up with enough of them, and I saw how gross they were. I had no interest.”

“You mean there were no nerds?”

“There were some nerds, but nobody caught my eye, like you said. I was more focused on my studies, not on getting laid, like some others were. I didn’t even drink, except for once, but sex, that was completely out of the question. Plus, I wanted my first time to be with someone I loved, not some drunken night that I’ll never remember.”

He smiles, pleased. “And there you have it, darlin’. That’s exactly why I didn’t want us to make love tonight.”

“I suppose you’re right. And thank you for not putting your hormones first, unlike most men out there would have done.”

“Well, I’m no angel, darlin’. I’ve put my hormones first before, I’ll admit. But not with someone that I loved. That wouldn’t be right.”

“Exactly. That’s the difference.”

He kisses my head. We lay there for a while, stroking each other, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to take off the rest of my clothes here and get some sleep.” He says with a soft grunt, slipping his jeans and briefs completely off. I’m lying here with my clothes all bundled up around my body, surprised it isn’t irritating me.

“I’ll do the same.” I say, rising. It isn’t until I bend down to pull my jeans all the way off that I realize he’s watching me. “Are you okay?”

He shakes his head slowly. “As I live and breathe, I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful.”

I smile, folding my clothes into a neat pile, as he lies on his back, eyes glued to me. It gives me a certain power, a certain esteem. And as I watch his cock wake up, it makes me so wet, I can feel my own heartbeat at my thighs. He covers it up with the sheets, but it’s too late. As I crawl back into bed with him, he pulls me close, stuffing the sheets between us, but I know. “Are you hiding something from me?”

“No, my love. I've got nothing to hide. Why do you ask?”

“I saw you, Billy.”

He kisses me on the forehead. “Saw what, darlin’?”

“I saw you hiding yourself from me.”

He chuckles. “Well, baby, that’s a natural response from a man, when a beautiful woman undresses in front of him.”

“But why hide it?”

“I just figured it wouldn’t be appropriate, after what we just did. I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression of me. I’m not some sex-crazed asshole, out to get you with every breath you take. Plus, we both need some sleep, darlin’.”

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