Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
He cups my face in his hands, the intensity of what he’s saying burning in those deep brown eyes of his. “Because it fuckin’ hurts. It hurts to pretend year after year that I don’t look at you and see my whole world.”
My heart pounds at his words. This isn’t like last night. I can’t just sprint away. Well, not unless I wanted to jump from the sleigh, and I definitely don’t want to do that. Not with West holding me so gently, so reverently.
Under the blanket, he puts his hand on my knee. I open them, giving him access to the part of me that I want him touching. “I want to take you on a date. Lots of them.”
I hesitate. I want that. I want to be with West more than anything. But it can’t really be that easy, can it? I can’t just decide I want to be with him. There will be consequences and I can’t leave the farm.
He runs his hand higher, his fingertips brushing my thigh through the soft material of my leggings. It feels so good, so right to have his hands on me. “I know you like me back, but you’re scared. We can keep it a secret. No one has to know that we’re seeing each other.”
The idea of being with West is all I ever wanted. Micah and I would be safe if I could be careful. No one would make us leave if they didn’t know the truth. “Could we do that? Could we lie to your parents? Micah and Ledger too?”
“We’re not lying. We’re just protecting this thing between us while it’s still fragile and new.” His fingers stop just as he reaches the apex of my thighs, the place where I’m aching and wet and so in need of his touch. “Moment of truth, sweetheart. What do you want?”
Somehow, I know he’s asking me about more than this, about more than just wanting his body. He wants to know if I’m willing to be brave. “Touch me.”
He tucks a strand of my curly hair behind my ear before he reaches for the waistband of my skirt. It takes some shimmying, but he gets it down far enough that he can cram his big hand into my panties.
My body jolts the moment his calloused fingers connect with the soft skin of my pussy. I’ve never had a man touch me like this before and to get to share this with West is special.
“Fuck,” he breathes as he touches my wetness, swirling his fingers through it. “You know how many nights I’ve fantasized about touching you here, just like this?”
“All this time I thought I was the only one who felt anything,” I admit, closing my eyes to focus on the sensations he’s giving me. It feels so good to have him stroking me here.
His finger finds my channel, and he pushes inside. For a moment, I let myself imagine it’s his big cock. That he’s pumping it into me.
He presses a kiss to my neck, whispering, “I’ve been stroking my cock to you for years. Always to your thick hips and these thighs, imagining how they would feel around me.”
“West…” I call his name as my body tightens around his thick digit. His thumb finds my oversensitive nub and just like that, I detonate. He kisses me through the high, absorbing my cries and pleasure.
When it’s over, he pulls his hand from my panties and helps me to readjust my clothes before he sucks his fingers into his mouth. He makes the loudest growling noises as he sucks them clean. I think I could come again just watching how much he enjoys the taste of my juices.
Then he kisses me again. “Have dinner at my place tonight.”
I let out a soft breath, watching it hang like a puff of smoke in the air. This cowboy makes me feel brave. “Say when.”
4
WEST
“It smells good in here,” Cassie says as she follows me into my house. I live on the Kringle Ranch, but my place is separate. Micah and Ledger have places of their own too. Only Cassie is still at home with my parents. Probably a good thing I know they’ll be waiting up for her or I’d be tempted to keep her here all night long.
“I’m making sweet potato casserole.” It’s her favorite. I had to go over to mom’s house to grab the recipe today. When she caught me going through her recipes, she smiled.
She suspects I’m dating somebody. I don’t know what she’d say if she knew it was Cassie. My parents warned me away when I was eighteen and again a few years later. In their eyes, Cassie is delicate and fragile. But she’s not. She’s a strong woman who’s built a thriving business. She’s carved out a good life for herself. She’s incredible and I want to spend every day of the rest of my life showing her that.