Page 111 of Saddles

“Perfect timing.” I twist around to loop her with my arms, lifting her easily onto the counter next to me.

I’m a little disappointed to see her snug t-shirt and shorts, but it’s probably for the better. The drive to Missoula takes a couple of hours, I’d have her in bed until noon if she wasn’t clothed.

Her messy hair is in spikes around her head, and she chews on her bottom lip when I hand her mug to her.

My hips find their way between her knees so I can rest my palm on her thigh. “Ready for this trip?” I can see she’s fretting.

Her tiny nod confirms it. “I’ve tried twice more to call him, but the bitch keeps answering and deflecting saying he doesn’t want to talk to me.”

I lose the fight to hide my grin. “I’d pay to see you smack her down.”

“Don’t tempt me.” She smiles and pokes me in the chest. “You’d have to pull me off of her if I ever started.”

“Why is the idea of you clawing me like an alley cat so damn appealing?” My thumb works under the hem of her shorts.

She curls one finger and rakes her nail over my nipple sending a jolt through me. “Rawr.”

Fuck, if only.

Her giggle dies off in a sigh. “If I could avoid it I would. I’d much rather stay here in bed all day. Hell, I’d rather be almost anywhere.” Her amber eyes roll as she takes a sip of her drink. “But he has copies of my documents. I know I got my new driver’s license yesterday, but the rest of that crap can take months without getting my stuff from Dad.”

She’ll have to do it all again when I give her my last name.

I knew I’d fall for her, damn it. She’s so fucking easy to love.

Slow down, one day at a time.

Yet I know I’m never letting her go. The big question will be if she wants to keep me.

“Do you want to eat before or after you see him?” All I want to know is which highway to drive, I stop both ways if she wants to.

Her bottom lip sticks out in a pout as a knot appears on her forehead. “I don’t know. I’ll be so anxious beforehand, but might be in a sour mood after and might not be very good company.”She glances down to trace the stem of the jack-o-lantern over my knuckles.

“Hey—” I tilt her chin up so she can see the earnestness behind my words. “—there isn’t a person on this planet that can ruin what’s between us. It’s you and me against the world, remember?”

I hope she does. She said that before I kissed her the first time.

I’m pretty sure that’s the moment I knew I was hooked.

The corner of her mouth turns up as she leans close. “I knew you’d come around.”

She sets her empty cup on the counter, then wraps her heels behind my knees and pulls herself closer.

Threading her fingers into my hair, she tugs my head back and playfully nips on my Adam’s apple with a tiny growl before slipping to the floor in front of me.

“I guess we should go.” Her melodramatic exhale exaggerates how low her excitement is. “At least once I get my bank cards back I can repay you.” Glancing down, she tugs on the hem of her shirt. “And get a new laptop to finish my degree.”

I want to trail after her, my skin itches to touch her constantly. “Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t need to pay anything back.”

She turns at the door to the bedroom, leaning against the frame.

Fuck, she looks delicious.

“Ford, you don’t owe me anything. This—” Her arm makes a sweeping motion down her front. “I give you freely. Hell, if anything I should be paying you for the most amazing orgasms ever.” Her grin flashes, then she swivels on her toes to disappear, leaving only her giggle drifting through the living room.

My cock twitches.

Many more to come, Frosty, more to come.

---