Give Me A Cowboy. Jodi Thomas
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shifting like a huge flour sack pressing against her.
When the cottonwoods blocked the moon, she saw Rowdy waiting for her. His arms went up to gently help her down.
“I didn’t know if you’d come,” he said as he lowered her beside him.
For once in her life, Laurel didn’t think. She knew what she needed and wanted.
“I’m glad—” he got out before she rose to her toes and kissed him.
It took a few seconds for Rowdy to react. Then, as if he’d also been hungry for another kiss, he pulled her against him and gave her what she wanted. A long, sweet kiss that made her forget to breathe.
When he finally straightened and pulled away, she could see his gaze still staring at her mouth. She’d shocked him.
Laughing, she pretended to pout. “Sorry I forced myself on you.”
A slow smile spread across his lips. “You’re not sorry at all and neither am I.”
“Good.” She closed the distance between them. Her words brushed against his mouth. “Then would you mind kissing me again?”
“How do you want to be kissed, gentle Laurel?” he answered.
“Completely,” she whispered, leaving her mouth slightly open in invitation.
He met her challenge. With his body pressing like a wall against hers, he kissed her, widening her mouth until he’d tasted all he wanted, then teasing her until she answered in kind. He tugged the ribbon from her hair and wrapped his fingers in the softness.
When she pulled away to breathe, he whispered, “I love your hair. The warmth of it, the softness of it. The way I feel with my hands wrapped in it.”
“I could cut it off and give you a few strands.” She laughed.
He kissed her quick and hard. “No thanks. I prefer it attached to you. There are a few other parts of you I’m growing fond of having near. This partnership has some very interesting side benefits.”
“Like what?” She knew she was fishing, but she needed to hear something other than she was smart and practical.
He hesitated, brushing her cheek with his knuckles. “I like how your mouth fits against mine. I like watching your thoughts sparkle in the pale sunrise blue of your eyes.”
“And?”
“Are you sure you want the list?”
She nodded.
He tugged her a little tighter to him. “I like the feel of your body against me.”
She buried her face in his shoulder.
His fingers moved gently along her back. “You asked,” he whispered against her ear. “And you didn’t pull away so I’m guessing you like it too.”
He held her for a while, playing with her hair, caressing her gently, then he held her at arm’s length. “Want to tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she lied.
“You rode in here like the devil was chasing you, Laurel. Something happened.”
He was right. She couldn’t believe she was so easy to read. She’d wanted to wash the feel of Jeffery from her and she’d used Rowdy to do just that. Maybe she’d needed affection that had never come from her father. Maybe she wanted to feel like a woman for once and not a thing. Maybe she wanted to prove her father wrong, that she was desirable.
If she told Rowdy any of those reasons he’d think he was being used and she didn’t want to make him feel that way.
She couldn’t lie to him and she wouldn’t tell him the truth. “If I don’t tell you, will you still kiss me again?”
He grinned. “Sure. I kind of like communicating without words. Talking is overrated anyway.” He kissed her nose. “When I was waiting for you, I was wondering if you’d let me kiss you again. I wasn’t prepared for you to attack me.”
She started to argue, then reconsidered. She liked the way this conversation was going. “That’s me. I look all shy but underneath I’m a wild woman.”
He raised an eyebrow. “How many people know about this secret of yours?”
She rubbed her cheek against his and whispered in his ear. “You’re the first so far.”
He caught her jaw and kissed her playfully, then whispered, “If I give you what you want, maybe this secret can stay between us.”
“I want lots of kisses,” she announced. “I can be very demanding.”
“I think I can handle that, darling.”
She felt like she was melting. Locking her arms around his neck, she let him lift her off the ground and whirl her around. When they were both laughing, he said, “Laurel Hayes, you are a wonder in this world.”
They stood in the moonlight staring at each other. She brushed his hair off his forehead. He tucked a wild strand of hers behind her ear. When their lips touched, it was as if they had a lifetime to finish one kiss.
When he finally broke the kiss, she sighed and moved away. “Thank you,” she said.
He still held her hand. “For what?”
“For making me feel good all the way to my toes.”
He raised a wicked eyebrow. “I wouldn’t mind testing to see if that’s true. From what I’ve touched so far, I’d guess you do feel good all the way to your toes. You’re tall and slim, but you seem to fit against me in all the right places.”
She blushed and turned to her horse. “I have to go. It’s late.”
He stepped behind her as she reached for the saddle horn. His hand glided from her shoulder to her waist. She leaned against the saddle, loving the feel of his fingers moving down her back. His hands spread wide and made a slow journey along her sides. She caught her breath when the tips of his fingers moved around her enough to brush the sides of her breasts.
“Rowdy,” she whispered.
He was so close she could feel his breath brushing her hair at the back of her neck. “Do you want me to apologize?”
She tried to control her breathing, her knuckles white as they gripped the saddle. “No,” she finally answered.
His hands moved once more along her sides, only this time, when he reached her breasts, he slowed, tenderly feeling the sides, pressing gently as he tested the softness beneath her blouse.
She was glad he couldn’t see her face for she felt like it was on fire. No one had ever touched her as he was now.
He leaned down and kissed the side of her throat. “You feel like heaven come to earth, woman. I could spend all night doing this.”
“Then do it once more before I go.” She couldn’t believe her own words. “So I’ll remember exactly how it feels.”
With the same gentleness, he moved his hand up from her waist, only this time his fingers covered her breasts, cupping each. As she gulped for air, she pressed into his palms and his grip tightened.
Neither said a word as he held her in his tender grip. As her breathing calmed, she felt his fingers gently brushing against her breasts.
Finally, he pulled his hands away. When he turned her to face him, she rested her head on his shoulder and they simply held each other. What they’d done hadn’t been a casual or an accidental touch. She had a feeling they’d both remember it all their lives.
“I’m not sure…” He took a deep breath. “I haven’t been around many women. I…”
She moved so that he could feel her smile against his skin. “I think you did it just right,” she whispered and felt him relax against