Page 104 of Saddle and Bound

Alex sighs. "Max is... complicated. But in his own way, he cares about us. Even if he'd never admit it."

I nod slowly. "And then there's this whole thing with Lexy. I don't understand why he hates her so much."

"That's one of the universe's greatest mysteries," Alex admits.

I notice the subtle shift in his demeanor, the way his shoulders tighten, how his eyes grow distant.

He's working himself up to something, and I think I know what it is. Before I can speak, he finds his voice.

"Rosie... about what happened with Max, with the whole Los Angeles situation..." he pauses, wrestling with the words. "I'm truly sorry. I never meant—"

"Hey," I interrupt, squeezing his hand.

We talk it through, acknowledging that arguments are part of any relationship. We're both navigating these waters for the first time, learning to sail together.

After all, love doesn't come with an instruction manual. We're writing our own as we go along.

?

We’re lying on the couch, cocooned in the soothing silence of the house. Alex holds me close, his steady, warm breath brushing against my hair. This recovery period has been all about moments like these, me being pampered beyond belief and Alex tending to my every need with infinite care.

But I crave more. He hasn’t touched me intimately yet, and his restraint is wearing thin on my patience. I want my Alex back—the cowboy version, the one who doesn’t hesitate to take what he wants.

It’s time to act. I shift slowly in his arms, letting my hands drift along the hard lines of his chest. He watches me, his brows furrowing in mild confusion, but he stays silent. Smiling coyly, I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips.

He kisses me back, hesitant at first, but I’m not stopping there. Emboldened, I deepen the kiss, teasing his lips apart and slipping my tongue into his mouth. He doesn’t stop me, but I can feel the tension radiating from his body.

I move closer, tangling my legs with his as the heat between us intensifies. My body presses against his, and I can feel the unmistakable hardness of his arousal. Still, he holds back.

His hands find my hips, gripping them as if to steady me—or stop me. But I have no intention of stopping. Straddling his lap, I settle my weight against him and start to move, slow and deliberate. The friction sends a shiver through me, and I hear the rough hitch of his breath.

“Rosie…” he murmurs, his voice hoarse, yet laced with resistance.

I tilt my head, giving him a mischievous smile.

“Come on, cowboy. Aren’t you my part-time doctor? Shouldn’t you be taking better care of your patient?”

He shakes his head, but the darkness in his eyes betrays him, smoldering with unspoken desire. “Rosie, it’s too soon. I don’t want to hurt you.”

This man, he makes me feel cherished, desired, and utterly exasperated all at once. Leaning in, my nose brushing his, I lower my voice to a whisper.

“I’m fine.” I sigh dramatically, rolling my eyes. “And you know what else? I’m yours. I want you to touch me, Alex. I need to feel alive. I needyou.”

He swallows hard, his gaze fixed on mine, a storm of emotions swirling within. I know he’s fighting a losing battle with himself, and I don’t plan to make it easy.

My hands slip beneath his shirt, trailing over the taut muscles of his abdomen. I tug the fabric upward, pulling it over his head to reveal his warm, bare skin.

“Rosie…” he tries again, but his voice trembles, his resolve crumbling.

“Shh,” I hush him, capturing his lips once more, this time pouring everything I have into the kiss. My hands roam over his chest, while my hips move rhythmically against him, igniting sparks that make us both gasp.

At last, his hands surrender, gripping my hips with a possessive force that sends my pulse racing. He guides my movements, pressing me harder against him, and his control begins to slip. His hands slide lower, gripping my ass firmly, his touch branding me.

His fingers tighten, his breathing deepens, and I see it in his eyes—the dam is about to break. A thrill of anticipation rushes through me as I lean forward, grazing his earlobe with my teeth.

“So, doctor,” I murmur, my voice a sultry purr, “don’t you think your patient needs a more…thoroughtreatment?”

Alex groans softly, the sound sending a delicious shiver down my spine. His hands trail over my body, slow and deliberate, igniting a fire beneath my skin.

---