Page 24 of Mate for the Space Cowboy

I cup both breasts and tease my thumbs over her now damp nipples. “Are you wet for me, sweetheart?” I murmur.

She shifts restlessly on her feet, and I know the answer. I release her breasts, leaning back to swiftly free my length. Cum is already rolling out and down my swollen shaft. Melody’s lips are parted. Her tongue darts out, and she licks her lips.

“Take your dress off,” I say.

She steps back and lifts it over her head, where it falls in a rumple on the floor behind her. I love the sweet curves of her body. I savor the little stretch marks along her belly and hips, reminding me of how she carried our baby. She straddles my knees, and I look down. She’s wet for me. I tease my fingers through her folds, gratified as she lets out a little moan when I circle my fingertip around her swollen nub that’s poking out.

“Ride me,” I say.

She does as I ask, rising a little. I feel the slick kiss of her entrance on my thick crown. We watch together when she slowly rolls her hips down, sheathing me in her clenching core. I hold her close, fucking her slowly. I know her body now. I know when she’s beginning to find her release as she trembles and shudders around me.

I fill her with my own release when she collapses against me. She leans back a few moments later. I kiss her. “I love you, and I always will,” I tell her, just like I do every day.

EPILOGUE

Romi

Fury, my favorite horse, snorts before lowering his head. He’s stunning with his shimmery golden coat.

I look up at him. “You are proud, aren’t you?” I tease. He snorts again, and I stroke my hand along the side of his neck.

The horses here are like Earth horses, but they can fly. Like the aliens here, they have descended from a combination of species. The people here are descendants of cowboys from Earth who traveled through the galaxy centuries ago. The offspring they created is stronger and healthier than humans and the original aliens.

The horses the cowboys brought with them mated with horses native to this planet that were dying out at the time. Now, these beautiful creatures are here. I feel lucky to have a job where I help care for them and train them. On Earth, I was basically a slave. I worked in the stables there as well. Even though I was tired all the time, I loved my job.

On this new planet, I have much more freedom with my job and am treated with respect. I feel goose bumps rise on my skin and a little tug in my chest. I think I know who’s close by, but I’m not sure, and I’m almost afraid to turn around. Not out ofgenuine fear but because this feeling is so unsettling. My skin starts to feel hot.

“Romi,” a male voice says, the sound sizzling through my body and making my belly feel funny and liquid inside.

I turn, lifting my chin. I’ve seen this man before. I know his name is Thorne, and he is part of the royal security team and an elite spy. I’ve gathered that information from my friends. He has the golden eyes all the alien cowboys have here and gorgeous bronze skin that shimmers under this planet’s sun.

My heart beats faster like hooves pounding on the ground inside my body. My breath is shallow, and my knees feel wobbly.

“Hi,” I say, my voice breathless.

He takes a step closer, and I see his tail twitch behind him. I feel an unfamiliar liquid sensation between my thighs. Thorne’s eyes narrow as he takes another step closer, and I can hardly breathe as I stare up at him. For a human woman, I am tall. But these alien cowboys tower over me, and it makes me feel vulnerable in a way I don’t like.

I have fought for all of my life to simply stay alive on Earth. That familiar survival instinct is still there, rearing its presence. “I’m Thorne,” he says. “You are Romi.” He pauses, his intent golden gaze sweeping over me. “And you are mine.”

The finality in his tone is startling. I stare at him, feeling my lips part as those pounding hooves gather force inside my chest.

“I am?” My voice sounds distant and unfamiliar to me, breathy and uncertain.

Thorne nods as he takes yet another step closer. I fear I might legit swoon. Swooning is not a thing I do. I grew up hating men. Men on Earth are cruel. It’s a little strange and unsettling to watch how women are worshipped here, to watch friends of mine fall deeply in love.

Thorne lifts his hand, palming my cheek. His thumb traces along my jaw, the calloused surface of it sending sparks over myskin. He drags it across my lip. I can feel a visceral pull to step closer. I have never wanted someone’s touch. Ever. Much less a man’s.

Right now, this very second, I want his mouth on mine. I want him to mark me.

Just then, I hear another voice. Startled, I jump back. When I look over my shoulder, I see the prince and princess, Asher and Jane, approaching. Thorne appears entirely unaffected by their presence. He steps back. “Can I have a moment alone with Romi?” he asks the prince.

Asher looks toward Jane, and I see the questions swirling in his gaze. I still find it so strange that he defers to her. Jane, who is also my friend and who I care for deeply, narrows her eyes at Thorne before looking toward me.

“Would you like a moment with Thorne?” she asks. “He has told the prince he would like you as a mate.”

My heart is still pounding at a frenetic gallop in my chest. When I look up at Thorne, I know that this man is meant to be my mate. I look back at Jane and swallow through my nervousness. “Okay,” I say.

Thorne reaches for my hand, his big palm engulfing mine. He leads me down the breezeway in the barn and into a small room where we keep equipment and supplies. I walk on wobbly knees as the door clicks shut behind us.

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