Page 7 of Joy Ride
Geez Louise, I’ve got myself in a precarious situation again, didn’t I? There’s nowhere to run if I needed to…but I’m not afraid of Travis. In fact, I feel as safe here as I do at home. In addition, I’m so turned on, I keep having to clench my thighs together so I don’t leave a puddle on this bar stool. Every wire connected to all my circuits inside are buzzing. It’s like I’m super charged, tuned into every subtle inflection of his deep gravelly voice. And when his dark chocolate eyes and those thick black lashes turn to me, plain and simple, I melt.
Mom says all the Wests possess an innate sense of knowing what’s what long before most people. If we trust our instincts, we have the talent to sniff out someone with bad intentions quicker than a lick. Mom married a West, and after raising so many kids, she should know.
And all my instincts tell me Travis Cassidy is delicious.
I exaggerated about having a black belt, but I’m fast on my feet and know how to land a punch. Can’t imagine me having to do anything except kiss this gorgeous cowboy though. A damn fine sight he is, all sexy and swagger as he struts to me with a devilish smirk.
“I almost forgot about your drink.” Travis takes two tumblers off the rack behind him. “Whiskey, okay?”
“Sure.” I shift in the stool and watch him pour. “I tell you, this place sure could use a little holiday cheer.” I tip my chin up at the pathetic string of red and green lights haphazardly dangling from the Boondocks sign over the bar. “Is that it?”
“It’s all I need,” he claims, plunking a coaster and glass down in front of me.
“Thanks.” I clink my tumbler against his. “Bottoms up.” I bite down a giggle. Let’s not get started on the subject of his delectable bottom…I let the liquor trickle down my throat and savor how the booze warms my insides all the way down my tummy. “So, no tree?”
He shrugs. “We’re closed for Christmas.I locked up today and won’t reopen until after New Year’s.”
“And you’re not planning to have a tree upstairs in your apartment either?”
“Nope.”
“Against your religion or something, or are you a fully-fledged grumpy Grinch McScrooge?” The sound of his deep chuckle reverberates through every one of my cells like a tonic.
“I used to celebrate Christmas, just don’t anymore.”
“I hate to put you on the spot, but if you’re not celebrating a different holiday, and it isn’t against your religion, who the hell doesn’t put up a Christmas tree in Montana? There must be a hundred ponderosa pines on the perimeter of your parking lot.” I bring my drink with me to a nondescript window on the far side of the bar that overlooks an area I haven’t seen yet. The blue moon reflects off the glistening snow. “I see a little six-footer out there that would be perfect.”
Travis grabs his drink and joins me.
“That one.” I point to a young pine off by itself. “The trunk isn’t very thick. It wouldn’t take much to chop it down.”
Towering behind me, he inches closer for a better look, peering over my left shoulder so close he’s almost touching me. My heart rate sky rockets. This is the closest I’ve been to Travis, not counting when he almost kissed me in bed.
I glimpse up at him, tilting my head with the slightest arc. Not a full turn but enough to confirm that I might’ve struck gold out here in the middle of nowhere. He has loads of thick dark hair with the sexiest lil’ bit of grey around his hairline, full lips and a chiseled jawline that doesn’t quit.His tight black tee shirt looks like wrapping paper around his bulging biceps where a sexy tattoo peeks under the sleeve on his left arm.
“Think that’s the one, huh?” His lips curve up devilishly with a hint of dimples in his cheeks.
His whole face changed with that soft smile. He thinks I’m still staring at the tree, but I close my eyes and inhale his glorious fresh pine, ginger, and Christmas scent. He smells like some kind of exotic cookie.
“I do.” I smile, stepping aside from the window so I can stare at him head on. “I’m what you’d call an expert at Christmas decorations.”
“That so?” His dark, dangerous eyes meet mine. I drop my head and try to forget the package he’s hiding under his jeans, but his beautiful cock will be burned into my memory for eternity.
When he jumped out of bed all thick and long and hard for business, I had to look away before I embarrassed myself and pounced on that joy stick.
Just because I’m a virgin doesn’t mean I don’t get turned on like every other human on the planet. Hell, my libido is probably stronger because I’m a West. I lick my lips contemplating how I’m going to seduce him.
I’ve been so anxious about being a virgin, it’s getting ridiculous. But there’s still time for one of the worst days of my life to turn into one of the best.But in order for me to make it to my cousin’s house in time for Christmas Eve dinner, Travis and I will have to do the deed tonight.
I didn’t tell Travis my real last name because my cousin is a famous actor who has so many stalkers, we have a rule to never give out any information about him. Now I’m thinking my little fib was a godsend.
If I lose my virginity to Travis, I could finally figure out what the mystery is about and no one would be the wiser. Sure, I’ve fooled around a little before, but the Wests are kind of a big deal. Being my “first” became a competition between the guys in my town. I couldn’t trust any of them long enough to even take off my bra.
Because I’m the only girl now, I couldn’t ask my sister how she handled her first time, obviously. Sarah died three years ago, after being hit by a drunk driver while on a walk less than a mile from our house.
Age wise, I’m closest to Casey now. He’s twenty-eight, but I’ve never even broached the subject of having a boyfriend with him because he’d probably go ape shit. My brothers are extremely protective of me, even more so since Sarah passed.
But in my current situation, I don’t need any advice at all. I’ve watched a little porn, I think I know what to do, and if it turns out that I’m clumsy or awful in the sack, I’ll never have to see Travis again.
