Page 50 of The Science of Attraction

“Now, that has to be the very best way to wake up,” he muttered, beginning to grind against me.

“Oh, Jesus, quit that.” I rolled him back onto his side before I lost all common sense and scandalised the woolshed by being late for the first time in my life. “You have no idea how much I want to stay, but I can’t.” I drew him close for another kiss.

“Are you sure about that?” He hooked his leg over my thigh. “Because I think somebody wants to play.” He gave my dick a tug and licked back into my mouth.

I groaned and thrust into his hand before quickly disentangling myself. “You’re a fucking tease.”

He snorted and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Aw, is that your boss voice? Cos I have to tell you, it could do with some work. I could squeeze you into my calendar for a lesson this evening, if you’re interested? The clothes optional version, of course.”

I huffed out a laugh. “As intriguing as that sounds, I’ll have to see how the day pans out. I’ll text, but in the meantime—” I unwrapped his sneaky hand from where it had found its way back to my cock. “—I have to go. If there was another heavy frost last night, we’ll need to check on the new lambs first thing.”

Liam’s eyes widened. “Shit. Will they be okay?”

I swallowed a smile and kissed him softly. “That’s why we check.”

He stabbed a finger at my chest. “Call me if you need someone to... I don’t know... feed them or something. I’ve never held a new lamb.”

I studied him. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “I can’t spend seven weeks on a sheep station during lambing and not get up close and personal with its cutest residents, present company excluded, of course.”

“Of course.” I ran a thumb over his cheek. “Okay, then I’ll see what I can do this week. And I’m not the cutest resident by a long shot. That spot’s already taken.” I pinched his chin between my finger and thumb and kissed him very slowly, very purposefully, and very thoroughly.

When I was done, Liam pulled back and batted his lashes at me. “Why, Mister Lane, I do believe I’m blushing.” But under the light teasing tone, he sounded almost shy, and it occurred to me that some of that bossy attitude might be nothing more than a bit of armour for his heart.

And so I kissed him again, and this time he just smiled and cupped my cheek. “I thought you had to go.”

“I do.” I flipped on the light, threw the sheets back, and—“Christ, it’s cold.” I sat on the edge of the mattress, grabbed my jeans and briefs from the floor, and started pulling them on.

Liam leaned over and ran a hot tongue up my spine. “See? I told you to stay in bed.” His hand found its way to my cock, teeth nibbled my ear, and stubble grazed my neck.

Stubble.

I almost laughed.

How is this my life?

“Before you go—” Liam idly stroked my cock while I sat distracted, my jeans caught around my knees. “I know it’s my day off, but I thought I could drive your dad down to the south pasture to take a closer look at the mob. What do you think?”

“Ithinkyou need to let me go before I head into breakfast with a raging boner.” I loosened his grip one finger at a time and then stood and tried to stuff my tent pole of a dick into my way-too-small briefs and strangle-worthy black jeans.

Liam watched my contortions for a second, then fell back on the bed, laughing. “You know, I could solve that for you.”

“It’s not funny,” I grumbled. “If Mum catches me like this—shit, I’m gonna have to change out of my good clothesandshower before I risk the kitchen. Ihaveto go, Liam,now.”

He raised both his hands. “It’s notmyfault your dick won’t behave. I did offer a solution, which was rudely ignored. Besides, if you walk in like that, won’t your mum just think you stayed at Laura’s?”

I raised an eyebrow. “She could’ve got up in the night and seen my ute parked in the machinery shed opposite the kitchen.”

“Oh.” He smothered another laugh.

I finally got my buttons done up and the rest of my clothes back on. “Okay, I think that’ll do.” I whipped into the bathroom to check and—“Fucking hell.”

I turned to find Liam leaning on the doorjamb wearing nothing but an innocent smile. “A zipped jacket or scarf should do the trick.” He waved a hand at the angry bruise at the base of my neck. “And everyone will definitely assume that one came from Laura.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s hardly fair to her.”

He walked over and fingered the mark smugly. “You’re not lying. Just don’t confirm or deny.” He petted it lightly. “ButI’llknow.”

---