Page 42 of Breaking the Cowboy's Rules

“I’m more experienced than I let on,” she said.

His eyes flared. “Can’t say I don’t like the sound of that, but you let me know how you’re feeling. No need to be uncomfortable or frightened.”

“I’m feeling brave,” she said.

Bodhi’s breath hitched and he stepped closer. “Nico, I don’t want to read something into the situation that isn’t there.”

“Open the book and read.” She just had to tilt her head back so that she could kiss his lips—softly at first, nibbling, a little unsure and hoping that he’d take over.

He did and pulled her into his body. She felt his hard length right where she wanted it and sighed into his mouth, letting him lick along the seam of her lips.

“Chocolate and whiskey weren’t the only things I bought today,” she murmured.

“No?” He kissed the corners of her mouth, and she smiled, feeling daring and in control—something she hadn’t felt for the past year.

She unsnapped her cross-body bag to give him a peek of the four blue foil packets she’d tucked inside.

“I know improv is all about being spontaneous and going with the moment—” she pulled out of his arms “—but I wanted to be prepared.”

She swung up on the beautiful Midnight and sat lightly but squeezed with her knees. Western saddles with the higher pommel weren’t familiar but being back on a horse and taking charge felt fantastic. “Just in case,” she added and clucked at Midnight and gave him a little lead, laughing when Bodhi mounted and chased after her.

Chapter Seven

For the firsttime that he could remember, riding through the pastures and small oak savannahs didn’t take Bodhi out of his mind and into the sense of contentment and belonging that always grounded his visits to Three Tree Ranch.

Nico brought condoms.

She was taking charge.

She wanted to take their relationship to the next level.

What am I, sixteen?

Bodhi didn’t have relationships. Sex was all it had ever been, but here he was acting like a rookie. Nervous. Wondering where he should take her. Thinking that maybe their first time should be in a plush bed with high thread-count sheets like at the Graff and a bottle of champagne—not that he had ever hooked up with anyone there. He preferred to focus on Granddad and the ranch when he was home.

But Nico seemed refined, sophisticated. Worldly. The Graff suited her. Or did she have a sexy fantasy about a cowboy in a barn or by the river? His blood surged hotly, totally on board with the idea. Nico naked by the river or at the hot springs or at the massive granite outcroppings on the northern tip of the ranch. He had a blanket. She would look like a pagan goddess spread out like an offering to the sky gods when he would go down on her there.

She turned in the saddle, smiling.

“I’ve missed this,” she said stopping in a stand of oaks by the creek, an offshoot of the Marietta River that ran through the ranch. “It’s been a few years. If you’re going to ride behind me staring at my butt and not talk, can we pick up the pace?”

“Oh. Ummm.” Bodhi paused. He’d been staring at her ass like a randy teen even as he tried to talk himself down—wooing her like she deserved.

But this is pretend. Only a week.

But Nico and the connection between them felt more than chemistry and confusingly real.

He urged Cash forward. “Sorry, I was admiring the view far too much,” he admitted.

“Really?” Her voice held doubt for the first time. “I do a lot of yoga and Pilates and put in gym hours, but I still have a bubble butt.” She winced and ducked her head. “Forget I said that. Self-criticism doesn’t fall within the improv parameters, so it can’t be part of the week.”

“Or any week.” Bodhi caught hold of her pommel. “Nico, you are hot AF. You exude confidence and sex appeal. You’re beautiful. Brilliant. I doubt there’s a man still kicking out testosterone who would see your fine ass and not fantasize about seizing two ripe handfuls and…let’s just say nothing would get less than an R rating.”

Crap, he should have been less crude.

She moistened her top lip and stared at him as if trying to read his very filthy mind.

“You said if I played the Rodeo Bride Game with you this week, I could ask for something from you.”

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