Page 40 of The Christmas Cowboy

“Like what?”

“Our little secret,” he said, looking at her stomach. From what he’d seen she wasn’t showing at all. Of course, he hadn’t seen her naked. Yet.

Her expression changed. Softened. “I’m glad you think it’s a good thing.”

“I do. For one thing, it led to us getting married.” He kept his voice low and since they were surrounded on one side by Cici and the other by Connor, he wasn’t too worried about being overheard. Besides, the noise level was pretty high.

“Do you mean that?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

She blushed. “Liam, we’re in public.”

“We’re married. Still newlyweds. I get to do that.” He smiled at her. “I’d rather kiss your mouth but then I’d have an even harder time not dragging you off right now and having my way with you.”

“Are you sure you’re ready?”

Was she kidding? Hmm. Apparently not. “Val, I’ve been ready since we started talking about getting married.”

*

It was Thanksgivingnight and everyone who didn’t belong at the ranch had finally left. Liam had gone to check on the animals. Val offered but he wouldn’t let her. So here she was waiting for him, in the bathroom with her flannel pants and T-shirt in one hand and the beautiful—and sexy—nightgown Letty had given her as a wedding present.

She knew exactly what she looked like in her regular jammies. So she tried on the nightie, still unsure she had the guts to wear it. There was now a full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door that Liam had put in for her when she first moved in. Sexy, yet tasteful, the red satin nightie had thin straps holding up lacy cups covering her breasts. And while it did cover her breasts, it was very low-cut, showing off a cleavage that was taking some getting used to. Below the lace was more red satin, which fell to just below her butt and her bikini panties.

She heard the bedroom door open and close. This was dumb. You’d have thought she was a virgin, instead of far from it. But in a way she felt like one. Because this would be her first time with Liam, the man she’d loved for most of her life.

Liam knocked on the bathroom door. “Val, are you all right? You’re not sick, are you?”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.” Grow some backbone, she told herself. Liam had made it clear what he wanted, and since that was what she wanted too there was no reason to delay. She opened the door and stepped out. Liam had his back to her, having already taken off his boots, socks, and shirt.

“What did—” He turned around, broke off, and simply stood there, staring at her. “Wow,” he said after a long, charged moment.

“Is it…too much?”

He smiled that slow, sexy smile she loved so much and stepped closer. “No, it’s perfect.” He reached out, slipped a finger beneath one of the straps and slid it down over her shoulder. “In case you wondered,” he said softly, “the horses are fine. I washed up at the barn.”

“I, um, wasn’t wondering.”

“Good.” He tucked a finger beneath the other strap and sent it over her shoulder as well.

The lacy cups were fitted to her breasts and stayed up. Her heart pounded; her gaze caught by his. He slid one hand behind her back and pulled her close. His other covered one breast, his fingers circling the nipple through the lace. It beaded immediately. He bent his head and kissed her, slowly, deeply, his tongue dipping inside, exploring her mouth.

After a long, long kiss, Liam raised his head. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for this for months. Maybe even years.”

Shehadbeen waiting years, but she didn’t tell him that. Instead she put her hands on his chest and slid them over his lovely muscles. God, she’d wanted to do this forever.

“You are so pretty. No, beautiful.” He pulled down the lacy cups of her nightie. Sucked in a breath and said, “Damn beautiful.”

She smiled but her breath caught when he covered her breasts with his hands and plucked at the nipples, stiffening them. His lips trailed down her neck to her breasts. He captured one of her nipples in his mouth. She gave a strangled groan as he sucked, swirled his tongue over it, then moved to the other one while fondling the one that was already wet. Gripping his hair with one hand and his shoulder with the other, she thought her legs were going to buckle, but Liam scooped her up and carried her to the bed before they did.

Setting her down beside it, he reached for the hem of her nightie. She stayed his hands. “You first.”

“Same time.”

She nodded and drew the nightgown up and over her head, leaving her clad in a pair of red bikini panties. Liam watched her as he unbuckled his belt, undid the button of his jeans, and slid the zipper down slowly, over a large erection. He shucked off his jeans and underwear in one motion. Before long he was naked, and she was as good as. But apparently he didn’t think so. He sat on the edge of the bed and put his hands on her hips to pull her in front of him. He pushed her panties down her legs, helping her step out of them.

“I wanted to go slow but I’m not sure I can,” he said, his voice deep and husky.

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