Cowboys & Horses

Chapter 21

I opened my eyes, momentarily breaking our kiss as I looked up at him. To see someone other than Ben above me in such a moment felt odd, but right. So right.

"Are you ok?" he asked, brushing his nose against mine.

I nodded, trying to ignore the scorching tingles racing all over me.

"It's ok, Sophie. Trust me."

I swallowed the apple sized lump in my throat. My mouth had gone dry, leaving me speechless and fumbling for words.

"Hey," he said, still whispering. He stroked my face, refocusing my attention on him. "You're in control. Remember that."

My thumping heart lessened slightly at those words. What was the matter with me? I'd been thinking of this, wanting this, for days. Now, I was like a rabbit caught in headlights, unsure of what to do for the best.

I smiled and nodded to him, resuming my place inside his enchanting world when he bonded our lips together again. The rush of delight he drove around my body was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Every time he touched me, I thought it couldn't get any better and every time he proved me wrong.

I wrapped my arms around him, wanting him as close as possible. My desire for him was becoming almost too much to bear. When he took his hand from my face and grazed it along my side, I gasped, unable to stop shivers sweeping over me.

He parted our lips, watching me intently as he tweaked up the bottom of my top. Panic began rising within me, my breaths coming in shallow rasps. A mixture of self-doubt and whether I would be classed as a cheat lingered at the forefront of my mind.

With my midriff now exposed, he kept our eyes locked together as he placed a hand on my bare skin. I froze. Sure, the past couple of days had been intimate in its own right but that was different. This was the moment, where we both knew we wanted to take things further.

"Don't worry," he said, skimming his lips over my nose. "Just trust me. I got you."

"But—"

"I've already worked it out, Sophie. You've spent ten years with one guy. You're only twenty-five." He smiled and pecked my lips. "Stop worrying. Remember, you're in control."

I let out a deep breath. I had to think of me and what I wanted, regardless of Ben. It's not like he gave me much of a second thought, if even at all.

Brady moved his fingers, lightly tickling his way over my stomach.

I giggled. "Stop tickling me."

"I'm not," he said, smiling.

The gentle scratching over my skin continued from one side of my belly to the other. "Yes, you are," I said.

I glanced down to see a huge brown mass picking its way over my body. Eight legs moved in a mechanical fashion as the hairy beast took a casual stroll across me. I froze for a brief second, not quite believing a tarantula was on me.

Brady told me to be quiet as he sat up. I stifled a squeal, kicking my feet in horror at the creepy creature crawling over my naked flesh. He held his hands out in front of it, allowing it to walk into his hands. The second it was away from me, I shot up, screaming. I scratched my itching skin, jumping all over the place and shivering. The more I thought about what had just happened, the more I rubbed at myself.

Brady walked over, chuckling. "It's gone."

I scrubbed at myself again. "I can still feel it on me."

"Sophie—" He grabbed hold of my arms, stilling my movements in an instant as his eyes captured my attention once again. "—It's gone, ok?"

I nodded with one final shudder.

He smiled before calming me with a delicious kiss. My fear dissipated in an instant under his comforting touch. My heart fluttered with joy at the breathless state he could so easily lure me into.

He raised a hand, stroking my hair from my face. "You're so beautiful."

I blushed, unsure how to respond to such a compliment. It had been a long time since I'd received anything of the sort from Ben.

"Shall we head back?" he asked, taking my hand.

I nodded, a little frustrated, but it was safe to say the moment had been ruined. He lifted me up onto Cody's broad back before clearing up the amazing scene he'd created. Carrying the picnic basket, he walked alongside Cody as we ambled back to the ranch. I couldn't help disappointment rising that he wasn't behind me, melting our bodies together.

We both remained silent for the walk back. The only sounds in the air were that of busy night time insects. I gazed up into the glorious dark sky, a surge of hope and happiness spreading through me as I relished in this moment. Home was such a long way away, yet I felt more at home here than I ever had in England.

Waltzing back into the barn, Brady took Cody back to his stall. I wandered down after them, wondering what other surprises this marvellous man could come up with. I fed Cody an apple as Brady disappeared with his bridle. The rhythmic chewing of his midnight snack almost lulled me into another world as I peered over the door at him. I sighed, totally relaxed and happy for the first time since I could remember.

"You ok?"

I turned to that husky voice, goosebumps covering me. I nodded.

He slid his arms around my back. "Shall I escort the lady back to her prison?"

I giggled, nodding.

A quick peck on the lips followed before he took my hand. All the way back to my chalet, I fought an internal battle with myself. Was this evening just a plight to get me into bed? Would he still stay after we'd been together, or would that be the last I saw of him? What about Ben?

As we approached my door, my heart pounded against my ribs, my wondering about the next step still unanswered. He unlocked the door, leading me through. My pulse throbbed in my ears, and for once, my heart overruled my head.

The setting was perfect, the whole evening had been perfect. Heck, even he was perfect. Why couldn't I indulge myself in the moment? Allow myself to be swept away by his romantic gestures? I was on holiday after all. As cliché as it may be, I deserved to be made to feel special, desired, wanted. Even if he did disappear in the morning. Right?

He turned to me, his eyes burning with lust. My breath caught in my throat as he closed the gap between us. The door clicked shut behind me and my heart raced to new speeds.

Lifting a hand, he skimmed it down my arm. His eyes never left mine, not even when his light touch left me nothing short of a trembling mess.

"Tell me what you want," he whispered, continuing to trace his fingers up and down my arm. "Don't think about anything else but what you want right now."

A new wave of heat flooded through me. "You." I licked my lips and tried to stop the quiver controlling my muscles. "I want you."

A beaming smile swept across his face, lighting his features up with joy. "Do you trust me?"

I nodded, no hesitation at all.

He interlaced our fingers, holding us together. Time seemed to slow down, everything moving in slow motion as he inched towards me with those succulent lips of his. Each millimetre closer he crept increased my heartbeat another level. This was happening, really happening.

"Just relax," he said, his mouth so close, his lips brushed mine when he spoke.

I closed my eyes and did just that.