The next time, Garrett got an eyeful. His jaw dropped and he made the wrong turn on his next step. She started to giggle. Garrett wasn’t the only stumbling cowboy out there. CJ, Rafe and Jake had a determined clench to their jaws. Their shimmying women were clearly playing havoc with their dancing prowess.
Damn, this was fun. Anna threw herself into the movement with reckless abandon, swept away by the music and the lyrics. She ended the dance out of breath and grinning.
Her three friends converged on her as they all exchanged high-fives. Millie yelled out shimmy power before Jake grabbed her around the waist and hustled her off the floor.
“We’ll do this again, soon.” Kate gave her a hug and strolled over to link her arm through Rafe’s. Isabel left with CJ, alternately waving and doing fist pumps.
“That was something.”
She turned and gazed into Garrett’s eyes. “It was supposed to be.”
“I just about swallowed my tongue.”
She smiled, her heart still beating fast. He had the bluest eyes in the world, especially when they flashed with fire, like now. “That was the idea.”
“Ready to leave?”
She swallowed. “Yes.”
He held up their coats and her purse. “I took a chance you would be. Let’s go.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Garrett figured he and Anna must have talked about something on the way back to her cabin. But he had no clue what had been said. She’d fried his brain with that shimmy routine.
One dance had told him who she was when she allowed the burden of her responsibilities to slip from her slender shoulders. That sensual woman had captured his heart, a heart that ached for all she’d suffered in the selfish grip of a bastard, a heart that yearned to make up for it a hundred times over.
He pulled in as close to the steps as he dared and switched off the engine. “Let me get you out.”
“That would be lovely.”
Her soft voice flowed over him like warm honey.
“In fact, can I have your key?”
She dug in her little purse and handed it over without question.
Climbing out, he grabbed his duffle and his hat from the back seat. “Be right back.” Closing the door, he rounded the front of the truck, took the steps two at a time and crossed the porch in three strides. He let himself in and carried his duffle back to her bedroom.
She’d set the scene—low light, covers turned back. He left his coat on a chair over by the dresser, took the condoms out of the duffle and laid them on the bedside table. Once she was in his arms, he wouldn’t want to let go.
Hurrying back outside, he left the door open, clattered down the steps and opened the passenger door.
She glanced at him. “Aren’t you freezing?”
“No, ma’am.” When she started to get down, he scooped her into his arms. “Let’s do it this way.”
“Garrett, I can—”
“I know.” He nudged the door shut. “I want to.”
Her voice gentled. “Okay.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her up the steps. “This is unnecessary, but very romantic.”
“That’s what I’m going for.” Once they cleared the door, he gave it a shove with his boot and it swung closed with a muted click. He started down the hall.
“Just so you know, you don’t have to woo me. I’ll give you anything and everything you want.”
His groin tightened as he stepped into her bedroom and slowly lowered her to her feet. “How about you let me do the giving?”
She gazed up at him and her breath hitched. “I don’t… I don’t know what that looks like.”
Her hesitant confession stole the last piece of his heart. “I’ll show you.”
After divesting her of her coat, he had her sit on the bed so he could take off her boots.
“You’ll laugh when you see what’s underneath. I wore them in case we needed some comic relief.”
He tugged off both boots at once and grinned. “Spiderman socks.”
“Got them when I bought Georgie’s last summer. He was so excited when they had them in my size, too.”
“They look great on you.” He slowly peeled them off. Laying them aside, he crouched in front of her, took one foot in both hands and began a slow massage.
“Thanks.”
“Not as great as your red top, though.” Lowering her foot to the carpet, he lifted the other one, massaging with a firm touch, his attention on the pace of her breathing as it slowly picked up speed.
“I’ve had it a while. Left it in the closet, waiting for the right time. This was it.”
“I’m glad I was there.” He slid his hands up her calf and his massage shifted to a gentle caress.
“You were the reason I wore it.”
“I’m honored.” Easing up the hem of her skirt, he rested his hands on her knees. “I’ll never forget watching you shimmy in that red top.”
“I’ll never forget it, either. I felt like Captain Marvel—flying through the air and giving off sparks.”
“You sure set me on fire.” Using gentle pressure, he urged her knees apart.
She sucked in a breath. “What are you doing?”
“Getting to the good stuff.” He leaned in and placed a kiss on her inner thigh.
“Shouldn’t we start taking off—”
“Not yet.” The denim was stretchy, allowing him to push it up some more. He continued his leisurely journey, placing soft kisses first on one thigh, then moving over to the other. He breathed in the sweet scent of arousal. “I think you like this.” He added a swipe of his tongue to the mix.
“You’re giving me the shivers.”
“That’s only the beginning of the giving train.” He pushed her skirt high enough that he could hook his thumbs into the waistband of her panties. “Lift up.”
“I still think we should take off more clothes.” But she did it.
“If we take off more clothes, I might forget to serve the appetizer.” He pulled her panties off and left them next to her socks. “Let me know how you like it.” Slipping his hands under her deliciously bare tush, he lowered his head and flicked his tongue over the sensitive rosebud begging for his attention.
She gasped and sank back onto the bed.
“Good?” He repeated the move.
“Very…” She gulped as he did it one more time. “Very good.”
“All I need to know.” He tasted, nibbled and licked until the woman who’d shimmied to that Shania Twain song emerged, crying out for more, her body throbbing with promise.
She came in a glorious rush of moist pleasure. With her nectar on his tongue, he rose to his feet, leaned down, and gave her a deep, sensual kiss that nearly made him come, too.
Grasping his head, she sucked on his tongue while he fought the climax that demanded to join with hers. If he hadn’t left his clothes on… but he’d meant to do that, meant to use that as a barrier to keep him from taking her the second they were alone in this bedroom.
Slow and easy. That was his intention. But a red haze of lust sabotaged his noble goal. Pulling her red top from the waistband of her skirt, he slid his hand underneath the soft knit and found—hallelujah—the front clasp of her bra. A flick of his wrist and it gave way.
He eagerly stroked the tempting breasts that had participated in a shimmy that would live forever in his fevered brain.
She broke away from the kiss. “I want you naked.”
He laughed. “I want you naked.”
“Then let’s get to it, cowboy. Take off your clothes and I’ll finish taking off mine.”
“Deal.” He pushed himself upright and made short work of the job. Boots got tossed aside, socks thrown somewhere, shirt left where it fell, jeans and briefs in a crumpled pile he stepped out of.
“Oh, wow.” She stood by the bed, surveying him from head to toe.
He gave himself the same privilege. “Wow, yourself.” He drank in the sight of creamy breasts blushing pink from h
is fondling and burgundy nipples taut with arousal. Her slim waist and curvy hips showcased the treasure he’d recently discovered between her satin thighs.
He craved her with a persistent ache that had begun the day they’d met and might never go away. She was the one. He’d never been so sure of anything in his life.
She came toward him, her dark eyes alight. “Make love to me, Garrett. I want to fly through the air and give off sparks.”
He drew her into his arms. “If I can make that happen, I’ll be the happiest man on Earth.”
“My money’s on you.” She rubbed both hands over his pecs. “I was hoping you had chest hair. I like that.”
“Why?”
“It makes us different.”
He chuckled. “That’s not the most obvious thing that makes us different.”
“No, but every guy has one of these.” She gripped his cock. “Although not every guy has one like yours.”
His balls tightened, ready for action. “As I said, at your service.”
“I’m liking this idea of being naked.”
He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss, one completely at odds with the inferno raging inside him. But he’d hang onto his civilized side as long as possible. “Me, too.” He walked her backward until they tumbled onto the bed.
What the move lacked in gracefulness it made up for in expediency. The moment they were horizontal, the fun began. She explored his body with a spirit of adventure, toying with his cock, plucking at his nipples, running her fingers through his chest hair.
He couldn’t keep his hands off her, either. Her breasts provided an endless source of pleasure, but he loved touching every part of her he could reach, from her sleek backside to the hollow of her throat, to the erotic zone between her thighs.
During one of his adventures there, as he’d stroked a finger into her cleft, she’d uttered a low, throaty groan. “It’s time.”
Way past time for him, but he wasn’t opposed to playing around until she was ready. “Yes, ma’am.” Swinging his feet to the floor, he stood and made use of the condoms he’d left on the bedside table.
As he rolled it on, he gazed at her lying on the bed, watching him. Had any woman ever looked that beautiful? He had his doubts. “Do you have a favorite?”
“Favorite what?”
“Position.”
“I do, and if that makes me boring, I apologize in advance.”
He laughed. “You could never be boring. Missionary, right?”
“Right.”
He climbed onto the bed and moved between her thighs. “My favorite, too.”
“Wait.” She grasped his face in both hands. “I didn’t mean to put pressure on you by saying I wanted to fly and give off sparks.”
He smiled. “It’s not pressure. It’s a challenge.”
“But if that doesn’t happen, it’s okay.”
Balanced on one hand, he stroked her moist channel. She was wet and ready. He eased forward. She hadn’t figured it out yet, but they were a dynamite combination. Flying and giving off sparks was a no brainer. He smiled. “It’ll happen.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Anna held her breath as Garrett pushed gently inside. Fooling around was one thing, but would they match up when… oh, yes, they most certainly would. Perfect fit. Epic, in fact. She’d never… oh, dear God, he felt amazing.
“Well?”
She gazed up at him. “This works.”
He grinned. “Not going to make me pack up and go home?”
“No.” She cupped his firm buns. “Stay. Please.”
“Can I move a little? I don’t have to, but usually it makes for a nicer—”
“Moving would be good.”
“Glad to hear it.” He began a subtle rocking motion.
“This way we can see…” She gasped as the gentle friction put her senses on high alert.
“How’re you doing, Anna?”
She dug her fingers into his glutes. “I feel like I’m—”
“Flying and giving off sparks?” He bore down and increased the pace.
“Oh, Garrett, this is… I’ve never…”
“Should I keep going?”
“Yes!” She clung to him, rising to meet each thrust, her body singing with joy as the delicious tension built deep in her core.
His breathing grew ragged as he pumped faster. “That’s it, Anna. Shimmy for me.”
With a wild cry, she let go, arching into the climax as her world exploded into a shower of sparks and sent her flying, flying…
With a deep groan, Garrett pushed in once more, burying his cock as far as it would go as he shuddered in her arms. She held him close, gasping for breath, wrapped in wonder.
Garrett nuzzled the tender spot behind her ear. “Can’t speak for you, but I was giving off sparks.”
“Me, too.” She ran her hands up and down his back, relishing the tactile pleasure of firm muscles under her fingertips. Strength was baked into this man. “Best ever.”
He stilled. Slowly he raised his head and gazed into her eyes. “You mean that?”
“Yes.” The words had slipped out, surprising her. But they were true. “What just happened feels…right.”
“Sure does.” The glow in his eyes intensified. “Best ever.”
She stared at him. “What are we talking about?”
“I think we’re talking about something… that might last.”
Significant words. Her chest tightened. “Or maybe we had a great time at the Moose and that spilled over onto—”
“No.” He sucked in a breath. “There’s something going on here, Anna. Something important.”
She reached up and stroked his cheek. “I swore I wouldn’t get involved with anyone until Georgie was much older.”
“I know.”
“But I’m involved with you. You’re always on my mind, and I—”
“Same here. Always thinking of you.” Leaning down, he feathered a kiss over her mouth. “Always wanting you.”
“You have me now.”
“And I’m not wasting a single second of this night. Stay right here while I take care of the condom. When I come back, we’ll talk.”
“I’m too blissed out to go anywhere.”
“I love hearing that.” He kissed her again and climbed out of bed.
“Do you know where the bathroom is?”
He laughed. “It’s a relatively small house. I can figure it out.” He left the room. Seconds later his voice drifted from the hallway. “Nope. Closet.”
“Far end!” she called out, laughing. He might not know where everything was located, but he filled a void in this cabin, one she hadn’t admitted was there until now.
She could manage as a single mom. Plenty of women had done fine with it. And the wrong man was worse than no man. But Garrett wasn’t the wrong man. He was the guy she’d dreamed of all her life. When she’d given up on finding him, she’d settled for Brad.
Complications still existed. Just because Georgie liked Garrett’s boots and mimicked his two-fingers-to-the-hat gesture didn’t mean he was ready to accept him as a part of their lives. But he might, someday.
Garrett walked back into the bedroom with an ease he hadn’t had in this cabin until now.
“I feel like we just passed a milestone.”
“Because we made love?”
“Well, that, but more because we both agree this isn’t just a casual fling.”
“I knew it wouldn’t be. Not with the considerate way you’ve treated Georgie. Or the way—” Her phone pinged, signaling a text. She bolted out of bed. “Where’s my phone? I don’t remember—”
“Here.” He pulled her small purse out of the pocket of her coat.
“God, I hope everything’s okay.” Her hand shook as she extracted the phone and tapped the screen.
Just letting you know Georgie and Claire are fast asleep. All is well. Have fun.
The breath whooshed out of her lungs. “Henri wanted me to know everythin
g’s fine.”
“That was nice of her.”
“It was, but she gave me a heart attack.”
“I get that. Logically, though, she’d call if she had a big problem. We could easily miss a text.”
She glanced at him. “You’re right. If she’d texted while we were—”
“Exactly.”
“I’m putting the phone by the bed. Just in case.” She laid it beside the condoms. So many condoms. She started to laugh. “I see you came prepared.”
“Better to have too many than not enough.”
“I’d agree with that.” She climbed back into bed and propped a pillow behind her back. Then she patted the spot next to her. “You were ready for a chat.”
His gaze roamed the length of her, lingering on her breasts and her thighs before returning to her face. “I thought I was.”
Her breath hitched as desire flared, bringing a hot flush to her skin. “We could postpone that discussion.”
“Yes, we could.” He approached the bed.
Her womb clenched in response to his aroused body. The proud jut of his cock promised another shattering release, a renewal of their magical connection.
They could talk later. Sliding down and turning on her side, she held out her hand. “Make love to me, Garrett.”
Chapter Thirty
Panting and satisfied beyond his wildest dreams, Garrett lay on his back and held hands with Anna, who was breathing just as hard as he was.
The covers lay on the floor at the end of the bed. The room was cool, just the right temperature for wild lovemaking. No better way to work up a sweat than their recent activity.
He gave her hand a squeeze. “You okay?”
“Never better.”
“Me, either. Cold yet?”
She chuckled. “Not yet. Want me to grab the covers?”
“No, I’ll do it.” He released her hand. “Have to get up, anyway.” He swung his legs over the bed. “I have an idea. How about a nice warm shower?”
“I’m too boneless to make it in there. You go ahead.”
“Okay.” He started to pull the covers up to keep her warm. Then he changed his mind and left them the way they were.
Stand-Up Cowboy Page 17