Page 35 of Cowboy Mountain Man

“This still what you want?” My voice sounds gruff, scraped from some truth at the center of me.

“Yes, Harlan. More than anything.”

Her hands tighten around my waist, pulling me closer. A puff of air escapes her lips when my firmness presses against her enticing curves.

She looks up at me, tongue darting out to wet her lips. “Just so you know, I’m not…” Her voice trails off.

“You’re not?” I ask in lazy tones, inching my head back and pushing a stray lock of mahogany hair off her flushed pink cheeks.

“I’m not…” There it is again. Her stalling out on something that has her eyes swirling with doubt.

“Hope?”

She shrugs. “I’m not very good-looking with my clothes off.” She looks down, patting her stomach with an exasperated sigh. “Meh at best. So maybe don’t look too much?”

Her words are a branding iron to my heart.

“You’re fucking gorgeous,” I say too quickly. I can’t even process her words or what they mean.

“You don’t⁠—”

I cut her off with another kiss, arms pulling her hard against me. My arousal digs into her stomach. She has to know how much I fucking want her.

I pull back and palm her cheek, staring deeply into her warm eyes. “I’m gonna look,” I say.

Her eyes widen.

“And I’m gonna feel and I’m gonna taste, and I’m gonna take my goddamn time with you. Because I don’t think I could ever get enough of you… in case you haven’t figured that out yet.”

“But Harlan…”

I wait. I have to know what’s running through that pretty little head of hers.

“I…” It hangs in the air. She shakes her head, looking down. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Because you’ve never⁠—”

“Not that.” Her eyes find mine. “I’ve”—she swallows hard—“done that and all. But we never made it a thing. It just kind of happened. Quick. Over before it started. So, yeah, I’m not sure what to do.”

My chest aches. Never thought I’d see this brave, confident woman so insecure. My gaze fixes on her. “Here’s what you’re going to do, darlin’.”

Her pupils blow wide, her lips half-parted.

“You’re going to feel everything. That’s all. No judgments. No right or wrong. No expectations. Just feel. Can you do that for me?”

Her bottom lip trembles. “I… I think I can.”

“And in case you didn’t know, and at the risk of sounding like a sentimental bastard, I fucking want you.”

Her breath hitches in her throat.

“You’re perfection.”

“Harlan…”

“I mean it.” I kiss her again, my pulse stuttering. “But if there’s something you don’t want… or you don’t like. You tell me. Understand?”

“Yes, Harlan.” It comes out breathless, hungry, desperate as my need for her.