Page 48 of Bull Riders Don't Swoon

“You sure you don’t want to stop for food?”

“I’ll order room service if I have to.”

Okay, then.

I have to admit, not going to a bar after a rodeo is a welcome change.

It’s nice not to be around crowds and have a little quiet after the chaos of a bull-riding event.

Once in our hotel room, Jamie waited for my signal. He didn’t push. In fact, he didn’t say a word when I ducked into the bathroom alone and said I was going to take a shower.

That was fifteen minutes ago, and I’m still standing at the counter, clutching the surface like I might fall over if I let go. I can’t even put my finger on why I’m overthinking this so badly. It’s Jamieson. He’s listened to every concern I’ve had so far, and not once has he shown my sexual preferences to be a turnoff for him.

A normal person would talk to their partner about why they’re hiding out in the bathroom. Communicate like a mature adult and all that. I guess I’m so used to keeping it all to myself that this part is harder than I thought.

A soft knock sounds at the door. “Griff? Is everything okay?”

I open the door to find Jamie standing there with my tape and plastic bags for my cast dangling from a finger. “I figured you’d come back out when you noticed these weren’t in there, but you’ve been in for a while…how can I help?”

“I’m…having a moment.” I laugh, but Jamie doesn’t.

“Don’t do that. If something is bothering you, then you need to tell me.”

He sets the tape and bags on the counter and strips off his shirt. My gaze drops to his tattoo, and I draw courage from that. That he already etched me on his heart, and I need to move beyond this fear of him rejecting me.

“I’m afraid of not being enough for you. That you’ll want the kind of intimacy I can’t give you.”

Jamie hums and reaches for my shirt. It’s over my head and on the floor before I register what he’s doing. “I think I knowmyself well enough to know I’m not missing out on anything.” He motions for me to stick out my cast and places the plastic over it. He folds it tight, and my free hand holds it while he gets the tape. “I understand that you’ve had some shitty people in your life who have some questionable thoughts on what makes a man a desirable partner. I also understand why you’d be sensitive to that.”

He rips off the tape and squeezes it around the top of my arm, making sure it’s a tight seal before tossing the tape on the counter. “But I don’t understand why you think I’m like them.”

“I don’t think you are.” My voice is hoarse, and I reach a hand to the top of his jeans and pop the button. “I know you’re not, but I’m…touching you like this and kissing you can be overwhelming. Sometimes I’m all in and I want to stay naked with you all day.” Pushing away my nerves, I trace the zipper on his jeans with a finger. “Sometimes I feel like a shy virgin who hasn’t touched a dick before.”

Jamie remains motionless as I surge ahead and unzip him. Then I tug at his pants until they fall and puddle at his ankles.

“What do you need from me right now?” Jamie’s voice is hoarse as I run my hand over his bulge.

“I want you to get me out of my head. I don’t want my past to be between us.” Swallowing hard, I force all the insecurities out of my head and focus on the gorgeous man in front of me. “I trust you.”

“You’ll tell me to stop if you need me to?”

“Yes.”

I expected him to steal my breath with a kiss, but he presses a kiss to my forehead instead and pushes me aside to turn on the shower.He chuckles when he steps back in front of me. “Were you hoping for something else?”

I playfully push at his shoulder. “Yes. Don’t be an ass.”

His eyes darken as he reaches for my pants. After making quick work of the zipper and button, he drops to his knees and pulls them down my legs, and my mouth goes dry.

“Is this better?”

“Oh, yeah.”

He peppers kisses on my thigh while his fingertips slide under the elastic of my briefs, and he drags them down. If he moves a little to the left, my dick will slap him in the face. But no, instead, he sits back on his heels and makes me step out of them before standing up with a giant grin on his face.

“Hate me yet?”

“Is this your idea of getting me out of my head? Making me so frustrated that I beg for you?”

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