Trust the Cowboy

Chapter Twenty-Two

I woke up the next morning with Tatum's chest pressed up against my back and his arms wrapped around me.  A little bit of sunlight was shining through the curtains and I glanced up at the small clock hanging on the wall. 6:40 AM. I don't normally sleep in this late. But twenty more minutes sounded nice. 

Tatum's breath fanned the back of my neck and it sent chills down my body. I twisted over so I was facing him, and I was lucky to not have woken him up. 

There were slight freckles on his nose and cheekbones, and he looked so peaceful. His brow drew together and his face went into his pillow. Then suddenly he turned to face me and his vibrant green eyes welcomed me, making eye contact with my blue-green ones.

"Good morning," he said, his voice rough from just waking up. He smiled slightly and my heart melted.

"Good morning," I replied back, my own voice sounding gruff.

"Did you sleep good?" He asked me and I nodded.

"What about you?" I ask. He hums is response and I feel his hand drift toward my lower back and I stiffen. He stops and he sets his hand in the middle of my back. To avoid his questioning gaze, I glance and notice the time once again. 7:07 AM. Oh shit. 

I leap out of the warm and comfy bed. Charging towards my clothes from yesterday and quickly change in the bathroom. It was slightly chilly and my jeans made me even colder. 

When I exited the bathroom and headed towards my boots next to the door, I notice Tatum putting a sweatshirt on and his shirt lifted slightly at the motion. And oh boy were my eyes pleased. He had a well-toned torso and I could see the muscles working. Before I could drool at the sight and fantasize, I pulled my reluctant eyes away and snatched my worn out boots. 

"Where are you going?" Tatum asked me.

"I-I have to go feed horses and then see Jordan. Then tell the rodeo committee that I can't compete and shit..." My face drained of color as I realized something. 

"What?" Tatum asks coming to stand in front of me. 

"I have to call Jordan's parents. And when they find out, all hell is gonna break loose. Especially with her mom." My mind wandered off to all of the crazy scenarios that could happen with Jordan's mom and I. I quickly pulled my boots on. 

"Hey, don't leave. I'm going to have to drive you there since your truck is at the hospital and you have to eat something." Tatum said, blocking me in between his arms with my back pressed against the counter. I was huffing slightly from my panic attack and my brain finally caught up to the position that I was in.

"Y-you're right," I stumbled," But I have already troubled you enough." 

It was like my confidence flew out the window when I looked into those green eyes. Their color seeming to not make up their mind. One moment they're a dark, forest green and the next they're an electrifying brighter green, nearly blue. His eyes held emotion behind a wall and I yearned to know what was going on inside his head.

"Stop saying that Amber. You being in my presence makes me happy and helping you makes me ecstatic. So stop saying that you're troubling me because you're not." He said, slowing inching toward me in the process, his breath fanned my face. I nodded, since I seemed to have lost my words.

No one. I mean no one has ever said anything like that to me and I could tell that he meant it. Before I knew it his lips were on mine. We kissed slowly and cautiously, but then we became more sure of each other. His hands grabbed my hips and brought me impossibly closer. My arms wrapped around his neck, one hand tangled in his slightly curly hair.