1109 Cowboy Way

Hadley

I wake up slowly and unhurried for the first time in so long I can’t remember. My body’s sore but a good kind of sore. There’s a peace, a calm of sorts, over me I hardly recognize as my eyes flutter open. I breathe out slowly, my eyes on the picture window that faces the back of the homestead. Then I remember.

The storm.

The tornado watch.

Grayson.

Grayson and me. We came back, and he made love to me. There was no other word for it. When the power returned, I was ready to hide, but he didn’t let me. His hands and mouth kissed and explored every inch of me.

We do this, you’re mine. His voice plays in my head, and I worry my lower lip. But before I can think too much about it, the mattress dips, and I freeze. He’s still here. My breath catches in my chest, and I don’t know what to do. Do I kiss him? Should I pretend to be asleep?

I feel his body turn in the bed, and his strong arm wraps around my waist, forcing me to snuggle my back into his front as we spoon. His beard tickles as his lips drop to kiss my shoulder.

“Mornin’.” His deep voice is scratchy with sleep, and I want to melt into it. But I’m suddenly very aware of my nudity and—well, by the feel of the long thick rod poking my back, his too.

“Good morning,” I whisper, and he turns me in bed. I have no idea how. I’m not a tiny woman. He has such strength, but when I look into his dark browns, I don't have it in me to complain.

“There's that smile.”

My hand moves to my lips, and I am. I’m smiling.

“Hi.” I sigh happily, and his eyes go warm. Melty. I love when they do that. Without skipping a beat, he leans his face down and kisses me. And for a moment, I freeze, unsure of what to do, but my body lets go, and I relax into his kiss. It's soft and sweet but so passionate and wet I can feel my arousal start to waken.

“Jesus. You’re too tempting.” He groans against my mouth, and something comes over me. I lick his lower lip before biting it. He growls, and I moan.

“I am?” I mumble before pulling away, and smile lines form at the end of his eyes. My hands stroke his shoulders and biceps. “You’re pretty tempting yourself,” he growls before pressing his lips hard against mine. “Stay in bed and relax,” he orders, kissing me again.

“What?” I ask in a haze as I open my eyes. God. The way he’s looking at me makes me want to believe in fairy tales and sugar plum fairies. Holding my face in his hands, he rubs his nose against mine, and I lean into his palm. Into the safety of his touch.

“Waking up next to you is a helluva privilege and honor, Hadley. I could do this for the rest of my life.” The depth of his tone makes me want to believe in everything he's saying. “Sleep in and rest. I got the ranch,” he demands gently.

“You sure? I can get up and help,” I offer, but all he does is shake his head and give me a look as if daring me to challenge him. “Fine!” I playfully roll my eyes. “If that's what you want.”

“Hell yeah, that’s what I want. I’ll be out there working, thinking of you just like this. Naked and waiting for me.” He kisses the tip of my nose before rolling out of bed.

I watch his large nude body stand and look around, grabbing a throw blanket to wrap around his waist. His clothes are wet and in a puddle on the floor God only knows where in the house. He smiles at me, and I smile back. His hair is disheveled from sleep, and my hands and face heat up when I notice a love mark on his chest. Oops! I left a hickey! I’m not sorry, though. A weird part of me, one I’m not familiar with, really loves that I left my mark on him.

“Jesus, baby. You’re fucking beautiful!” He groans, and my eyes meet his. I’d been so busy checking out his body that I hadn’t noticed him checking me out. I shake my head with a smile.

“I’ll see you in a bit?”

“I promise. Wild horses couldn’t keep me. Now rest!” He points at me with a stern look, and I laugh.

I fall back in bed and smile up at the ceiling. I hear the front door close, and I cover my face and squeal.

“Did that really just happen?” I ask myself out loud before rolling in bed. My eyes close, and I drift off to sleep for a little bit.

When I wake up an hour later, everything replays in my mind, and I realize I never tried to hide my face from him. In fact, I had leaned into his touch. With a pep to my step, I get out of bed and get ready for the day. I head down to the kitchen and grab some biscuits I'd frozen and pop them into the oven. I quickly whip up a breakfast scramble with eggs, sausage, and cheese, and stuff it into the biscuits, making some breakfast sandwiches. I wrap them up in foil and head out to look for Grayson.

I find him in the barn, and he pulls me in the moment I'm within his reach and kisses me. I love it. He pulls away, and I look at him. He’s in a faded pair of Wranglers with rips at his knees he got from working and not as a fashion statement with an olive green and black buffalo plaid flannel shirt. It's soft and smells like him and sunshine.

“You're supposed to be naked in bed waiting for me.”

“I can't lie in bed all day, and you need to eat something.”

“What did you think I was going to do when I got back to your room?” He wags his brows, and I giggle.