Page 13 of The Cowboy Contract
But her harried movements only made things worse, because Leland reflexively hugged her closer, his big body shifting around behind her in a way that pressed his hips tighter to herass. Then—because the universe fucking hated her—he groaned. And not some sleepy kind of sound. This was the kind of groan that came from a different sort of place. The same lusty place she was working hard not to go herself.
Unfortunately, the deep rumble that moved through Leland’s chest sent her tumbling right into that pit as it vibrated through her body. It made her wonder what would happen if she moved her hips just a little. Ground her ass against the hard length behind it.
Probably nothing good. Leland would likely wake up and be horrified. Traumatized by their current situation and never able to look at her again.
The possibility sent a pang of pain stabbing through her insides. And had her determined to worm her way out of this predicament unscathed.
It took a hell of a lot of finagling, and more than a few minutes, but eventually she finally managed to slide free of Leland’s grip, inching her way off the mattress. After making sure he was still fast asleep, she adjusted the blankets around him and crept from the room.
Not once in the time they’d been friends had she ever snuck out like this, but staying wasn’t an option. Not when she wanted it so badly.
When she wantedhimso badly.
She was halfway down the stairs before realizing her socks were still up on the nightstand. But it was almost six, so Leland would absolutely be waking up soon. And considering her cheeks were still flushed and her clit was still throbbing, facing him now was not a good idea.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, she was halfway through blowing out a sigh of relief when the rumbling sound of the garage door stopped her in her tracks.
“Fuck.” She whispered the curse. The only thing worse than facing Leland down while she was still horny from him rubbing his dick on her ass in his sleep, was looking his sister in the eye.
The race was on, and Paige was determined not to come in second place. She ran into the kitchen, grabbing her bag and swinging it over one shoulder. She’d made it halfway across the room when the entry door to the garage opened and Beverly stepped directly into her path.
Leland’s sister gave Paige a bright smile. “Hey. I thought that was your car out front.” Her head tilted, brows pinching together. “Is everything okay?”
Paige was already nodding, head bouncing around. “Yup. Uh-huh. Everything’s great.” She didn’t stop moving as she rounded Beverly, walking backwards toward the front door. “I just came over to help Leland because Will had a tummy ache and he thought it would be easier with two of us here, so we just tag teamed. That was it. That’s all.”
She reached the front door and nearly broke her neck trying to stuff both feet into her tennis shoes. The backside of one folded in half and wedged under her heel, and the tongue on the other was twisted enough it made her want to scream, but she didn’t stop. Not even in the face of so much adversity.
She grabbed the handle of the front door, fumbling around for the deadbolt. After flicking it open, she removed the final barrier to her escape, continuing to back away while her rambling explanation carried on. “Everything was good though. The kidswere angels. Good to see you again. Hope you guys had fun. Bye.” She ducked out and closed the door, barely waiting until it clicked into place before turning and running across the yard straight to her car.
Was her reaction a little insane? Probably. But she would rather Beverly think she was insane than horny for Leland. Insanity she could deal with. Beverly probably already suspected she was a little crazy anyway.
But Bev finding out Paige had been lusting after her brother for years would probably put a damper on their friendship.
And since her dad was the last of her family, friends were all she had. It was worth any sacrifice to keep them. Including swallowing down her own feelings and smiling when she wanted to cry.
Or—in this particular case—scream.
6
Leland
“UNCLE LELAND?” ROSEMARY’S voice dragged him out of a deep sleep, robbing him of the opportunity to finish the best dream he’d had in a long damn time.
Scrubbing one hand over his face to rub at his tired eyes, he attempted to wipe away the lingering thoughts of Paige tucked close to him, her soft body coming alive against his. “Yeah, String Bean?”
“What do you have under the blankets? Are you hiding some-fing?” Rosemary tried to lift up the corner of the sheet.
And he almost let her, because her words hadn’t quite registered. By some miracle, the dots connected just in time for him to slam an arm down, keeping them pinned in place as he rolled away from her. “Nothing’s under the blankets.”
Well, notnothing. He was definitely sporting a wicked case of morning wood thanks to a dream involving him rubbing said morning wood along the cleft of Paige’s firm ass. And the last person he wanted to know that—outside of Paige—was his niece.
The trauma would outlast them both.
He was a piece of shit. An awful, horrible man for the things he fantasized about doing to the woman he called his best friend. And his karma came in the form of a four-year-old who was way too observant for anyone’s good.
“Are you sure it wasn’t your wiener?” Rosemary crawled onto the bed behind him. “Because sometimes Will’s wiener gets all pokey like that.”
“It wasn’t my—” he turned to peer at his niece over one shoulder. “What did you say about Will?” He’d changed his nephew’s diaper countless times, but not a single one of them had he noticed any sort of questionable behavior from the little guy’s mini-me. “Can that happen?”
