Princess and the Cowboy (Justice)

CHAPTER 18

MARIA

“These Justice men are no joke.” I say to Franklin, Cam’s mom. I still can’t get over the shock of Tucker riding in here on a horse and scooping Cam up.

I mean, I know the man is head over heels for her, but that was crazy. And one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen. I want that. I know I’m young, but I can’t help but long for that kind of love. The more time I spend around all the Justice men, the more I realize that I’ll never be able to let my father pick some random husband for me.

Not only because I see how these men are with the woman they love, but I’m starting to understand what love really is when it comes to having a partner in life. The things I feel for Sterling are so unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced in life. And now that I’ve had a taste of him, I could never be in some loveless marriage.

“They aren’t,” Franklin agrees. “And you got yourself one already, don’t you?” Franklin lifts one of her perfect eyebrows at me, knowing I already told her my father is trying to promise me to someone else.

“I think I do.” I bite down into my bottom lip. There is no way I could marry anyone but Sterling now.

My body still aches from the things Sterling has done to me over the past few days. The man is insatiable. I’ve never felt more desired in my whole life. He can’t keep his hands off me. I’ve been enjoying every second of it.

Nothing turns me on more than when he starts to lose a bit of control and gets rougher than he means to. I love that I bring out that side of him. That even though apologies fall from his lips, he takes me harder with uncontrollable lust.

He wants to treat me like spun glass until my clothes start to come off. Then he snaps in the best of ways, and damn do I love that I’m the one that makes him do that. That I can make him take his princess harder than he means to.

“Think?” Franklin laughs. I don’t want to get my hopes up.

“We’re young,” I point out.

As much as I want this, I’m not sure it’s possible. We really are from two different worlds. We both may have money, but our cultures and lifestyles are night and day. None of that matters to me, but I know my father won’t be so accepting.

“You know Tucker has been in love with my Cam since they were kids. He thought he couldn’t have her and waited all these years to finally say the hell with it and go for her. So many years wasted, if you ask me.”

“Really?” I ask, surprised.

I’m shocked Tucker could hold back. The man doesn’t even want to be away from her for more than a few hours. He’s always sneaking in to steal a kiss from her or check on her when we’re at the ranch.

“Yep, and Tucker didn’t even date around or anything. I guess he figured if he couldn’t have Cam then he didn’t want anyone.” My heart flutters. I didn’t know that kind of love was real. “When these Justice men fall in love, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I think it makes them a bit mad, to be honest. It’s as if something gets switched on when they meet their true love.”

“They really are perfect for each other.” At first glance, you’d think Cam and Tucker would never fit. They are so opposite in a lot of ways. But once you spend a few hours with them, you see how perfectly they actually do fit. There is no mistaking their love.

Even as I think the words, I wonder if maybe that could be Sterling and me. Could we fit the same way? While it might look impossible, could we actually be the perfect fit?

“And you? Do you think Sterling and you could be the same?”

“I swear you can pluck my thoughts from my head.” Cam’s mother is so perceptive. Being here today with her has made me miss my mom. I wish she were here to have these conversations with. Maybe even to talk some sense into my dad.

“I’m only saying what everyone else is thinking.”

“Thank you.” I reach out to give Franklin’s hand a squeeze. I’m happy that I came into Dallas for the day with Cam to meet her. Now I’m not so sure how I’m going to get back. We took the helicopter from the ranch, but it looks like Cam is going to be a bit preoccupied with Tucker for the near future.

My thoughts are interrupted when my phone starts to go off over and over. At first I thought it might be Sterling, but then I remembered I’ve never given him my number. Crap.