Page 17 of Born Wild

A shiver runs down my spine at the idea of his rough beard traveling along my naked skin. Lord help me.

“Feel like taking a drive?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I wonder if he’s dying to be alone with me, too.

He grins, taking my hand and helping me into the truck. Within minutes, we’re barreling down the highway, music playing, andfilling each other in with stories from our time apart. All is right in the world.

When he takes the exit to his family’s ranch, I expect him to drive back to the barn, but instead he drives deeper into the woods where the creek runs along the property line. It’s another ten minutes before he turns off on a dirt road that leads to a small cabin.

I glance over, the question in my stare.

“Come on. I wanna show you something.”

We get out and he leads me onto the small porch where he retrieves a key. My body thrums with anticipation.

He flicks on the lights, then holds the door so I can lead the way. Inside, the room is sparsely decorated and the place smells of cleaner.

“Who lives here?” I turn to find his expectant stare.

“You. Or rather, us, if you want to.”

“This is ours?” I look at the space with fresh eyes, envisioning us lounging on the small sofa in the evenings, a pot of coffee brewing in the cozy kitchen, toys stacked in the corner for our child to play with.

“This is what I’ve been up to.” He opens his arms wide and takes a step back. “Do you like it?”

“You weren’t on a cattle drive?” I’m not even mad.

“I was, for a few days. But the rest of the time I’ve been here. My brother and his friends helped me empty it. My mom and her friends gave it a good scrub and brought over fresh linens.”

He did all of this . . . for me. For us.

I rest my hand on my lower abdomen where a bump is beginning to protrude. I fling myself into his arms, squeezing him in a tight hug. Just when I think I couldn’t love him more, he goes and does something sweet again. I pull back enough to lift my head and his lips are there—so damn kissable. “Will you show me our bedroom?”

“Maybe we should wait”—he drops his gaze to floor—“Until we’re married.”

I almost laugh. It’s sort of adorable that he’s being so damn chivalrous when I’m almost five months pregnant. “If that’s important to you, we can. But just so you know, I want to be with you. For real. Now.” My sex drive roars to life in complete approval.

“Oh, I want to be with you.” He scrubs a hand along his cheek. “And I don’t even believe in thatwaiting till marriagebullshit. But the thing is, I don’t want you to be disappointed. Or to change your mind.”

My jaw falls open. “You think if we sleep together, I won’t want to marry you?”

“Maybe.” He shrugs, not quite meeting my gaze.

“Tim. Are you . . . Or have you . . .” I sputter, trying to ask the question in a way that doesn’t make him more uncomfortable. “Never been?”

“I grew up on a ranch.” He narrows his gaze. “I know how everything works, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He rocks back on his heels. “But no, I haven’t donethatwith anyone.”

“Wow.” I would be his first. It only stings a little that I can’t offer him the same. After all, if I were still a virgin would we even have found our way to each other? I step forward and reach for him, my hands skimming up the front of his shirt. “I can show you.” I press onto my toes and kiss against the shell of his earlobe. “I’ll make it good for you.”

“Cassie, darlin’,” he practically groans. “I’m not worried about that.”

“What, then?” I lean back to examine his expression.

“I’m worried I won’t compare . . . to what you had before.”

I cup his jaw tenderly in my hands. “Impossible.”

“How do you know that?”

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