Page 37 of Wicked Cowboy
“That would be a bad hospital.” The heaviness of the conversation kept my libido in check. I wiped tears out of my eyes. “I’ve dealt with death every day for years in the ER.”
“Which is why you’re perfect to help Chelsea.”
My lips pressed together. “ER and emotional loss are different. I’m trying here, but I’m not an expert.” He was so close that my skin buzzed. I ignored how my body ached and instead said, “Not to change the topic, but why did you say all that to my sister?”
His lips came closer to me like he’d kiss me, but he asked, “Say what?”
My eyes fluttered closed, but I ignored the tension and asked, “Best woman you ever met? That’s a bit of a stretch. Your friend, Sally, seems wonderful, for one.”
He let out a small laugh. “Okay, she’s nice and all, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“You shouldn’t want me,” I said.
Then his lips crushed mine.
“Yet, I want to fuck you all the time, even now.” His second kiss set me on fire. Wow. Goosebumps grew on me and even my breasts perked like I wanted to be ready for him.
As we broke to breathe, he said, “I most definitely want more.”
My heartbeat grew faster and my body was zapping with desire though I shook my head. “I’m not fancy or special. I’m boring.”
His hands curled around my waist. “And sweet and sexy when naked.”
A huge part of me wanted nothing more than to toss my clothes on the floor and forget today, but I ran my hand through his thick hair. “You don’t need me. You can have someone who will glow on your arm.”
He curled my shirt up a bit and squeezed my backside. “Hey, stop talking badly about my fiancée.”
Tomorrow, we were getting married. I closed my eyes and let him take my shirt off. “Funny.”
He traced my body like he wanted to memorize every inch of me. “It’s the truth.” He stopped and it was like he stared into my soul. “You seriously don’t see the value in yourself?”
I trembled when I said, “I guess I don’t.”
He stopped touching me and his gaze seemed almost sincere. “You’re a true lady, not one that’s out for power. You have a good heart and that’s rare. I just don’t want to ever hurt you.”
“You can’t.”
“My ex, Dora, stormed out of my tent and into enemy fire because I told her we were breaking up.”
“That had to be hard.” Guilt was his reason for wanting this marriage. I wasn’t ever going to be brave like his ex must have been. I was nice and good enough to be a fill-in mom, and caretaker, and bed mate. He was super amazing and sweet and as I stared at his thick lips, I wondered how I’d ever truly be in his heart if he wanted someone that different from me. I massaged my neck and said, “I don’t know if I’d be able to move on from that.”
He caressed my cheek. “Yet, I want you, more and more.”
From now on, I’d have to hide my flaws better and my heart. He’d see in time how he already took up this huge spot inside it.
I sighed. “That’s nice to hear. I guess. But that’s not what the deal was.”
His hardness was obvious, but he didn’t touch me.
Instead, he said, “Sex was mentioned.”
There it was. This wasn’t about love. I wasn’t worthy, not really, but I refused to shed a tear as I asked, “I might want more.”
He ran his hand up and down my back when he said, “I don’t have anything more to offer.”
“You’re wrong.” I curled my arms around his neck. “You’re the guy a girl dreams about all her life.”
He kissed me again and steam poured out of my skin.
