Page 39 of Sudden Summer

“But I’m just a cowboy.”

Her hand squeezed my arms. “You’re not just a cowboy. You’re my cowboy.”

That possessiveness sent a jolt right to my heart. “But you dated that doctor…What was his name?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know his name.”

“Micah…I always hated him.” I pressed my lips to the spot just under her ear.

“Is that why you slept with Rosa? Because you thought I was doing the same with him?”

Her quiet question shredded my heart.

“No…” I ran my hand over my face. “Yes? Hayes and I were drinking like we were still in our twenties, and I was sulking about you being with him. I should have fucking known better. I should have done better. By you, and by Rosa. I spent all these years thinking you and I weren’t ever going to cross the line, and I was so fucking jealous of him…I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you, Birdie. I’m so fucking sorry. The hookups I’ve had didn’t mean anything to me. I should have waited for you.”

“Beau. You had nothing to ever be jealous about, and you’ve done nothing that you need to apologize to me for. When I was with Micah, I thought maybe things would be different with him because he was nice, and we were friendly at work. But he wasn’t you. I’ve always known you had experiences that we didn’t talk about, and we don’t need to bring them up now, because I would never hold that against you. Just like I know you wouldn’t hold it against me if Micah had turned out to be something more for me. And now that we’ve talked about it, what I’d love to focus on is the fact that he never made it past second base. And you’re about to score a home run.”

I couldn’t stop the vibrations rumbling through my chest. “I hate that he ever even held your hand,” I admitted. “That he had the chance to kiss you. It should have been me.”

“Don’t ask about my toys, then. You’ll hate to know where they’ve been.” I saw the challenge in her eyes, and I folded.

“Toys are tools, Chickadee.” I leaned down, pressing my chest against hers. Her breathing sped up. “Do you have any here?”

“What?” Her mouth popped open. “No! Of course I don’t!”

“That’s too bad. I’d love to watch you get yourself off, learn what you like.”

“Oh, I⁠—”

“The next time we’re in town, we’ll stop at your house and get your special little friends.”

“Who said they’re little?” Her eyebrow quirked up as she bit her bottom lip.

“Damn,” I groaned. “Promise me you’ll bring them out here, Birdie. Or you’ll tell me what you like and we can shop together…”

“You’re something else. You know that?”

I leaned in, nipping at her ear. “I’ve been told a time or two.”

“Mm. I don’t want my toys. I want this, Beau. I want you. Please,” she whimpered as her hand came to rest on my chest.

My lips pressed to her neck, kissing her skin over and over again until I reached her shoulder. “Not here. Not like this.” My fingers slid under the strap of her sun dress, sliding it down her shoulder. “I don’t have any condoms. Are you on birth control?”

“No. I never needed it,” she sighed. “Call your brothers.”

I knew she was teasing me. The red flush of her ears told me she’d actually be beyond mortified if I did that.

“I want to scream that you’re mine from the roof right this fucking minute, baby. But I’m not about to let my brothers ever think about you and me that way. Those thoughts are only for me.”

I groaned as I stood, not hiding the fact I needed to adjust my dick so it didn’t fucking break off from the tension alone.

“Where are you going?”

“We’re going up to bed.”

“Oh.” Her eyes lit up.

“To sleep.”