Page 31 of Cowboy

Autumn stared at the women seated around the room. The Sugar Lodge had been converted into a book club space for the day. George was overseeing the snacks, which in Autumn’s opinion, rivaled the best in the world.

Homemade cookies, brownies, and mini-cakes alongside Cajun spiced popcorn, shrimp and crab dip with spicy crackers and enough wine to make the entire country of Italy happy.

“Charlie, I can’t believe that you’re CC Robat,” smiled Autumn.

“That’s me,” she grinned. “I’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of inspiration around me. I never use anyone’s real name, and sometimes even change the way they look. But every man and woman here has inspired a book of mine. Although I have to say, my favorite inspiration is my own hunk.”

“Don’t tell me which books,” blushed Autumn, “or I might not ever be able to look at him again. I do have to ask, though, how in the world do you come up with these ideas. I mean, this one with the gymnast and the basketball player. Ho-lee-shit!”

“You’re making me very warm just thinking about it,” smiled Lily as she nudged Montana. “I’m not quite that flexible, but I’d definitely try it with Bull.”

“Oh!” said Montana. “Lissa is that flexible! So are Carrie and Brooke. Show us how it’s done, ladies.” The women all cheered them on as they stood, using their dance and gymnastics experience. Standing with their backs to the wall, they bent down, touching their toes. Slowly, they raised one leg behind them, pressing backwards until they were in a full split against the wall.

“Yes!” screamed the women, clapping for them.

“What I want to know,” said Gabi, “is with a beast like Alec, how would you reach him in that position?”

“I didn’t write the book with a six-feet-eight hero in mind,” smiled Charlie.

“But,” smiled Lissa, “to answer your question, he’d simply lift me.” The room roared with laughter as Lissa blushed, laughing with her friends.

“You guys are really open about everything, aren’t you?” smiled Autumn.

“Oh, honey, we have to be,” said Suze. “Talking to others about sex and female problems is important for our mental health. Plus, it brings us all closer together. Sometimes, Charlie just needs ideas for her books, and we’re always happy to help.”

“I never had that,” she shrugged. “I mean, Grandma was pretty open to talking about anything, but she was still my grandma. I think she really loved my grandfather, but she also knew he wasn’t exactly an alpha male. I guess she was the alpha in the relationship.”

“Did she never remarry?” asked Suze.

“No. Never. I think Trigger wanted to marry her, but she said she wasn’t going to let any man run her life again. She never once did it when I was there, but I’m pretty sure that she and Trigger had a bedroom relationship.”

“Oh, maybe that’s my next book,” smiled Charlie. “Sex after sixty.”

“Well, there are a lot of us here having sex after sixty. And seventy. And eighty,” laughed Montana. “I’d like to believe that Luc and I will be having sex right up until the day we die. Lord, that man sends my hormones raging even more today than when we were first married.”

“Wow, that’s good to know,” smiled Autumn. “It’s so awesome to see all these healthy relationships. Is that how you get inspiration, Charlie?”

“Some,” she nodded. “I mean, look at all these amazing, beautiful, wonderful women. I could write a story for each of them, and in many ways, I have. I love that we have all ethnicities, all walks of life, and we still find love with one another. Our stories were meant to be told, and this is a way for me to do that.”

“And the sex and the toys? How do you come up with those ideas?” asked Calla.

“Well,” she blushed, “sometimes Ace and I just want to experiment. It pays to be married to a certifiable genius. He’s always thinking of clever ways to use our bodies together and bring pleasure, no pain.”

“But how do you decide what’s sexy or what isn’t?” asked Autumn.

“Honey, everything is sexy to someone. Even things that we would consider painful or out of the norm, for some, are considered fun. For instance, not every woman likes anal sex. For some, that’s dangerous and exciting, and they love it. I’m not here to judge. I’m here to entertain. If you like it, do it. As long as it doesn’t involve animals or children, we’re pretty open about sex here.”

“That’s so wild,” smiled Autumn. “I mean, I’ve read your books for years and always wanted to have someone to enjoy sex with, like your characters. I just never trusted anyone enough.”

“Trust is the biggest component of a healthy sexual relationship. If you can’t trust your partner, it’s over.”

Autumn looked around the room at all the women. She knew who most of them were married to, and for some, it was difficult picturing them with those men. For instance, how in the world did Lena and Tailor have sex? It was as if she’d said it aloud.

“You’re wondering about the partners,” smiled Suze.

“I guess I am. I mean, Lissa and Alec, Lena and Tailor, Tru and Noah. I guess I’m assuming the man’s equipment matches the rest of him but still.”

“Believe me, honey, I was terrified the first time I was with Tailor. I thought that man might split me in two,” said Lena, shaking her head. “The interesting thing is, these men are all so loving and gentle. It would never happen. They would stop before hurting the woman they were with.”

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