Page 22 of My Cowboy Valentine

“I’m sorry,” I whisper to him for the first time in my life. “I will be completely, one-hundred-percent discreet no matter what happens between us. But I need you, Rowdy, more than I’ve ever needed any man.”

His heart hammers against my chest as he runs his fingers through my hair, sending logic-killing shivers up and down my neck and shoulders. I don’t know what he does to me, but every place he touches throbs and burns, demanding more.

Walking me backward, he removes one piece of clothing at a time. First, my sweater, stopping to appreciate the lacy lavender bra beneath as his hands come up, massaging and kneading my breasts and nipples with his thumbs and palms. Simultaneously, he showers my décolletage with slow, sensual kisses and swipes of his tongue until I shudder at his touch, anticipation catching in my throat.

Taking another couple steps back, he unclasps my bra one-handed. It falls to the ground between us as he attacks my breasts with a lusty enthusiasm. His tongue swirls and sucks one nipple while his fingers pinch and stroke the other until I gasp and moan, begging for more. He nibbles them playfully with his teeth as his hands unbutton my jeans again, undoing the zipper. My whole body shakes at the skillful way he awakens my trembling flesh, alight with electric anticipation.

“When I remove a piece of your clothing, you need to ask permission before putting it back on. You got me? Especially when we’re in the middle of something. Otherwise, we’ll waste all our time undressing, and I’ve got far better things to do with my time.”

“Like what?” I whisper breathlessly.

“Filling that pussy with my cum, for starters.”

I moan, my girl parts melting as his words dissolve my defenses, and my panties grow even slicker and wetter. Fuck, I love it when he tells me what to do. In a million years, I never would have anticipated this. His big, rough hands slide inside my jeans, grabbing and squeezing my bare ass cheeks.

“Have I told you that you have a nice ass yet, Red?”

“No,” I pant, my complexion glowing.

“Well, you do. These tits and this ass have mine, mine, mine written all over them,” Rowdy says gruffly, claiming my mouth again and pulling my lower half towards him so that his cock grinds into my stomach.

“I had no idea you were such a dirty talker,” I confess as he walks me back a couple more steps, pushing my bootcut jeans down over my hips so they cascade to the carpeted floor. He follows with my G-string, sending the wet swatch of lace fluttering to my ankles.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” he repeats.

Lifting me effortlessly from the ground, he steps over my clothes, backing me squarely against the cold wall. I shiver, goosebumps raising on my flesh. “What’s wrong?” he asks.

“Just a little cold.”

“Don’t worry. I intend to warm you right back up. From the inside out,” he promises in a deep-chested rumble. His hands sweep up, grabbing both of mine and interlacing his fingers as he pins my arms against the wall. “Remember that part about surrender you didn’t like earlier?”

“Yes,” I whimper.

He sticks his knee between my legs, pushing them apart. “This is where you find out how surrender gets rewarded.”

I exhale sharply, anger balling inside me at that word. I strain my arms, trying to free my hands to swat at him and tell him who’s boss, but I can’t budge his upper body even a fractionof an inch. Rowdy smiles naughtily, leaning down to capture my lips again, kissing me so hard and pressing me so tightly against the wall. I gasp for air when he finally leans back slightly, immediately missing his lips.

“I surrender to no one,” I declare, shaking my head. But my anger thinly veils the desire simmering inside.

“You will, and you’ll enjoy it,” he challenges, gripping my neck possessively before sliding his hand up to palm my cheek. “Because I’ll fuck away every inch of pain life throws your way, replacing it with mind-numbing ecstasy.”

“Not possible.”

“Maybe not. But I’m going to be the man who tries.” His voice sounds raw as he steps back, putting a thin sliver of cold air between us. I hate the separation, instantly covering the distance and wrapping my arms possessively around him to draw him hard against my core.

“What’ll it be, Lesley? Me or your independence?”

My mouth hangs open, my eyes searching his face.Is this man serious?“You… I mean, my independ—. Wait, can’t I have both?”

“Of course. But not when we’re alone together, Red. I want you. Every fucking inch of you. Every scrap. The good, the bad, the ugly. All of you…which requires total surrender on both of our parts.” He runs his hand through my hair, drawing closer and pressing his forehead against mine. “When we’re together like this, you’re my everything…my whole fucking world. And I demand the same from you. Or we stop right here, right now…forever.”

“You and I both know that’s impossible,” I say, desperately searching his baby blues.

“Good,” he replies, hoisting me up and pinning me against the wall. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist, and myheart pounds in my chest as I feel him reach down with his free hand, pulling his briefs over his legs so that they fall to the floor.

His big, rough hands squeeze my ass as he stares into my eyes. “I know you said you weren’t sure you wanted to look at me while we do this…” He pauses, cocking his head to the side.

I bite my lower lip, blushing.

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