Page 44 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
“So, no condom, huh?” he said.
She started to sit up and reach for her clothing. No condom equaled no sex. Which meant they could return to the living room for a night of old movies.
Then his hand pressed down on her shoulder. “Wait just a minute. No condom doesn’t rule out everything.” His voice lowered. “It doesn’t mean I can’t touch you, does it?” He kissed the side of her neck again, following the curve down to her shoulder as his hands explored lower parts of her body.
A soft moan escaped her throat as the tingles returned in full force, flooding her as he urged her body to lie back again. Then he proceeded to touch and taste, kiss and lick every inch of her bare skin until she quaked underneath him.
An eternity later, he fell into bed next to her.
“What about you?” she asked, coming back down to earth.
“I’m fine, darling. Trust me.” A satisfied smile slid across his handsome face. “But next time we’ll have a condom.”
She lifted her eyes. “Next time?” She hadn’t thought that far ahead.
His expression changed subtly. “Right.” He paused, tracing a finger lightly over one of her bare shoulders. “This was a one-time thing. Because we’re friends.” The tone of his voice made the statement feel like a question.
She nodded slightly. “That’s right.” It was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Just this once to give in to her body’s desires and ignore her brain. “Right.” And if this was just a one-time thing, then she better make the most of it. Rolling into him, she kissed his mouth and, copying his earlier movements, she began to kiss his neck, his chest, his chiseled stomach.
“Julie? What are you doing?”
“Returning the favor,” she said as he groaned under her touch, tossing his head back on the bed. Fair was fair. He’d driven her over the edge with his mouth, and now she intended to do the same to him.
—
Lawson grabbed his keys Monday afternoon and locked up his office, ready to go home. He’d spent his entire Monday, just like Sunday, thinking about Saturday night with Julie. Consequently, he’d gotten exactly nothing done at work today. He was a week away from reporting back to regular duty, which he prayed to God he’d be able to do. Watching YouTube videos of Hueys had gotten easier. He’d even sat and watched a couple takeoffs last week without getting nauseous. He had this.
Walking downhill toward the space where he’d parked his truck this morning, his cellphone rang in his pants pocket. His heart lifted as he momentarily wondered if it was Julie. He’d called her to make sure she got home okay on Saturday night, but they hadn’t spoken since then. He glanced at the ID and disappointment crawled through him. Not Julie. Instead, his sister’s name lit up the screen. “Hey, Beth. What’s up?”
“Hey. Just wondering if you’d do your little sister a favor?”
“Of course.” He unlocked his truck and stepped inside. “What is it?”
“Milk. We’re out and I just got home with Sabrina. She’s whiny and—”
“Say no more. I’ll drop it by when I get home.”
“You’re the best brother in the world, you know that?”
“I know,” he teased, then hung up. A few minutes later he stopped at the local grocery store in Seaside and walked in. He’d grab the milk and get out. That was the plan. But as he walked down the middle aisle toward the coolers where the milk was stored, his feet slowed in front of the selection of condoms. Why the hell hadn’t he had a condom with him this weekend? He’d never gone without one back in the old days. He’d always been prepared.
He’d been in no way prepared for Julie on Saturday night, though.
“Something I should know about?” a familiar voice asked. “Or should I saysomeoneI should know about?”
Lawson scrubbed a hand over his face as he faced Micah coming toward him. “Hey, man.”
Andah, hell. Coming down the aisle to join them was Griffin. The three of them stood in front of the condom selection.
“Well, Micah is a married man now, so I know we’re not buying rubbers for him.” Griffin slammed a hand across Lawson’s back, making him lock his knees to keep from falling headfirst into the display. “Who’s the lucky girl? Stalker Mel?”
Lawson choked on the thought. “Hell, no.” He looked at Griffin, who continued talking.
“She was looking for you today, by the way. I ran into her at your office when I came by.”
Lawson shook his head. He was about to start walking past the condoms when both Micah and Griffin grabbed his arms and pulled him back, sandwiching him in front of the Trojans.
“For her pleasure. That would definitely sell me. In fact, I have a box of those at home,” Griffin said. “Just in case.” He waggled his eyebrows.
