Phoenix Rising

She'd just smile and sigh and kiss me, wrapping those long, gorgeous legs of hers around me. And that would be it. She’d be promised to me, and I to her. A done deal.

It would be easy. She'd say yes, in between her sighs of pleasure. And we'd get hitched.

Then I could have my own little wildcat in my bed, each and every night.

There was only one little problem with that plan… The one issue I'd been trying to avoid thinking about too much. Three of 'em actually.

Her cousins. I knew the Delanceys had taken Phee under their wings when her daddy died. So she had three protectors. Four, if you counted JJ.

And now she had five. She had me.

I was more than convinced they would object to a cowboy laying claim to their innocent little cousin. Not that they would stop me. Not even if they all tried to take me on at once. Hell, I would walk through fire for the woman. But I didn’t relish the thought of conflict with my future in-laws. Especially not if it upset Phee.

I drove into the sunset, deciding that they'd just have to deal with it. We were nearly to the hotel and I had other things to worry about. Like how to get as much love making in before Phee's curfew.

She'd been so wild in the tack room… I'd never seen or heard a woman with that much passion. It was intoxicating, to say the least. And it was all for me.

I swore then and there that I'd do anything to make sure I got to keep her.

This little ginger kitty cat was mine.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Phoenyx

Game face, Phee, I could hear Clint’s gravelly and reassuring voice in my head. He’d told me to walk in like a winner, stay classy, and make sure nobody saw a sliver of doubt in my eyes.

I stretched calmly, warming up in the tent they set up for competitors. 'The Talent Tent' it was informally called. Clint was with Apollo, checking my gear for the hundredth time. The man was obsessed with my safety. And my happiness.

Okay, and my body. Especially my body when it wasn’t wearing any clothes.

He looked after me. Not because it was his job. I knew he was doing it because he cared.

He'd shown me over and over again with his lips and hands and his, um, manhood. I blushed a little, glad no one could hear my thoughts. He had such amazing equipment… and it seemed to be hard all the time!

He said that it was because of me.

I thought it was some sort of magic. Sex magic. My man was something else, alright. And he was mine. I hoped so anyway. He didn’t seem bored by my lack of experience. Or disinterested in spending as much time together as humanly possible, which I was craving. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to chase after him. That he was right there, showing me he wanted to be with me.

For now anyway. I decided not to worry about the future. I was happy now. It didn’t matter if he didn’t love me the way I loved him. Maybe there was a chance he would eventually. I could be patient. I’d show him how good I could be. Maybe he would love me back.

Last night he'd fed me dinner while I sat in his lap. He'd brought me breakfast in bed. And I'd spent the night curled up in his arms.

Well, after we'd made love on the bed… and the chair. Then the couch and in the shower. I was pretty sure the shower was my favorite. Hotel sex in general seemed like a lot of fun. In fact, I’d never had so much fun in my life. Being with Clint was even better than winning a blue ribbon. Every. Single. Time.

I was still smiling as I walked over to meet him. I wasn't competing for another hour. It seemed silly but I wanted to be near him, as much as I could.

He lit up when he saw me, grinning as I walked towards him. The frank male appreciation in his eyes nearly knocked me over. He did care for me– and more than a little. Suddenly, I didn't have a doubt in my mind.

Well, except for the L world. I couldn't seem to stop worrying about that. He hadn't said it, but I was on the brink of blurting it out.

I'd nearly said it last night. But my mama had told me never to say it first. Not that it had ever been an issue before now. I’d never felt it, or anything close to it. Thanks to my cousins, most of the men in the county and horsing world were afraid to come near me.

Well, until Clint. He didn’t seem to care about any of that. He didn’t care about anything except for horses. And me.