I couldn’t help myself. I cupped his cheek, and he shivered. “I think this is the moment when I tell you what a hot, sexy man you are, and I can’t wait to fuck you.”
Come on, Robert. Tell me you bottom.
“You’re pretty hot yourself.” Another full-body shiver. “And I can’t wait to be fucked.”
Thank you, God.
He bit his lip. “And kissed.”
Oh, I was down for that.
I leaned in, brought my mouth to his, and kissed him, no heat, just a brushing of lips. His eyes were closed, a visible calmness settling on him.
“Do that again,” he murmured, and I homed in on his inviting lips, letting the kiss play out a little longer this time. Then I drew back, and he opened his eyes. “Okay… what were we talking about?”
I laughed. “Wow, I’m good. Two kisses and I’ve scrambled your brain.”
“My first kisses since Kevin…”
I gave him a warm smile. “I get it. So now, when you invite me in, I won’t be some stranger. You want there to be a… connection between us before we go any further.”
Hell, we already had one.
“Yes, but…” He took his hat off and rubbed his scalp.
“You’ve gotten this far,” I said with a hopefully reassuring smile. I knew we’d have to move at his speed.
He replaced his hat and took a deep breath. “Something I need to say here. And it’s important. It might even make you decide not to proceed any further.”
There was little doubt of that happening. “Color me intrigued.”
“I don’t know where you expect this to go—”
I chuckled. “I’ve got ten more days here. It can only go so far in that time.”
“Is that all?”
I removed my gloves, placed my hand on his knee, and gave it a squeeze. “You were saying?” I saw once again how the physical contact relaxed him.
“I just wanted to say… I know this isn’t some romance novel, okay?”
Okay, I hadn’t expectedthat.
He surged ahead. “Guys can hook up without becoming emotionally attached. Sex doesn’t need to be complicated. And I know that can work, because I see it here on the ranch every goddamn day.”
“You’re talking about Teague and Butch.”
His eyes widened. “You know about them too?”
“Yeah. First night here, I woke up to find Butch sneaking out—and then I learned where he was going, what he was doing…” I grinned. “And who he was doing it with.”
“They have sex for release, and they’re happy with that, with just the physical side of things, and—”
“And you thought I might not be happy with a similar arrangement,” I concluded.
“Yes.”
I cocked my head. “How many men have you been in a sexual relationship with?” I was fairly confident it was just the one.