Page 72 of Welcome Home, Cowboy
“Just to see an old friend.” She tried to make it sound as casual as possible. With his protective instincts, Lawson would probably insist on going with her. And while she loved that about him, this was something she needed to do on her own. “I’m free tonight, though. We can”—she trailed a finger down his chest—“stay in or go out. It’s up to you. I haven’t eaten yet. What are you hungry for?”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her against him where she could feel that certain parts of him were very excited to see her. “You,” he said, surprising her by lifting her off her feet. Then he carried her down the hall and into the bedroom.
—
Lawson laid Julie down on the bed and stared at her for a long moment. Her skirt was slightly lifted, falling above her knees. Her hair was splayed out around her face. “Beautiful” was the only word he could think to describe her, but that didn’t do her justice.
She sat up and pulled at the button of his jeans.
“Wait a minute,” he said. “I thought I was the one seducing you.” He smiled as she slowly lowered his zipper.
“I want to celebrate you tonight, too.”
The front of his pants tightened at her suggestion; he nearly exploded with her touch. He forced himself to push her off, before he lost too much control. Then he lifted her blouse over her head and pushed her gently to lie back on the bed. “This is what I wanted to do last night.” He ran his hands and mouth over her body, enjoying the way she shuddered against his touch. Her skin was soft, smooth. He never tired of the way it felt. “I want you,” he said. “All of you.”
Except he didn’t mean he wanted her sexually, although that was a given. He wanted her,allof her. He wanted to wake up with her in the mornings and go to sleep with her at night. He wanted to tell her about all the things that haunted his dreams. And he wanted to know about her hopes and dreams as well, wanted to make them all come true.
He kissed her mouth, then moved to grab a condom from the nightstand drawer beside them. They were on the last of the ones they’d purchased at the grocery store weeks ago. He slipped one on and returned to the comfort of her arms, looking at her in a whole new light as he made love to her. The first few condoms might’ve been just about sex, but now it was more between them. A lot more, which should’ve terrified him, but it didn’t.
When they were done, he handed Julie back her skirt. “I’ll still take you to dinner if you want.”
Her eyelids hung sleepily. “Hmm?”
He grinned. “You said you were starving earlier,” he reminded her. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Anywhere?” she asked, draping her arm behind her on the pillow. She looked like an angel beside him.
“Lady’s choice.”
“I’m beginning to love those two words.” She stretched and started to sit up. “Just give me a few minutes to get beautiful again.”
“You’re already beautiful, darling.” He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. She tasted like the champagne they’d sampled before landing themselves in bed. “But I’ll wait for you in the living room.”
He got dressed and walked down the hall, giving her privacy. Each step he took felt like walking on air, because of her.
Ten minutes later they were in his truck and driving across town to the local all-night pancake house.
“Of all the places you could’ve picked,” he teased.
She laughed. “I have a sweet tooth sometimes.”
Yeah, he did, too. And she was the sweetest thing he knew.
“So where exactly are you going tomorrow?” he asked when they were seated in front of a large stack of pancakes, topped with maple syrup and fresh fruit.
Smoothing her hair behind her ear the way he’d realized she did when she was nervous, she forked another bite of pancake, sliding it across the plate and soaking up the syrup. “Nowhere important.”
“Julie?”
Her gaze lifted to meet his and she sighed, her shoulders rounding. “I’m going to Charlotte for the day.”
A lead feeling anchored in his stomach. “Charlotte? Why the hell are you going back there?” He heard the edge in his voice.
She shrugged. “I didn’t want to tell you. I knew you’d be upset.”
“Are you going to see him?” he asked. “Are you moving back?”
Her eyes widened. “No. Of course not. Seaside is my home, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.”
