Protector Cowboy (Whiskey Valley Bryant Brothers)

She’s nodding and fidgeting. “Great. I can see it later. Put me to work.”

I stop walking, but she keeps going, and I have to jog to catch up. “Work? You just got off work. You should rest today and—"

She puts one hand on her hip and points at me with the other. “Now listen here, King Bryant. I’m not going to just sit around. I’m going to earn our keep while I’m here, so introduce me to Mia or let me talk to Paulina so I can get started.”

I can’t help but laugh. I intimidate most people, but obviously not Nat. “Okay. I’ll take you to Paulina, and then I’ll get back to work.”

I take her inside, and I swear I’ve never seen Paulina so happy to have some help. I leave them to it and go back out to the barn. My brothers have the campers working on pasture maintenance, and I go check on the prize bulls and to make some phone calls. By the time the day is over, and after another entertaining dinner with all the family, I sit down in the living room with Eli and Nat to watch some more Andy Griffith. At least this time, Nat is sitting next to me instead of on the other end of the couch.

We barely get through a show and a half and Eli is yawning, saying he’s going to bed.

“I’ll go up with you.” Nat says, and Eli shakes his head. “I’m fine, Mom. Stay up and don’t worry; I promise to brush my teeth before I go to bed.”

Nat hugs her son, and I get another fist bump before I’m left alone with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. “We’re alone, and I didn’t have any part of it.”

She giggles. “Yeah, it seems my son is trying to play matchmaker.”

Her laugh turns serious quickly, though. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I don’t want to cramp your style or anything. You can still do everything you did before we got here, and you don’t have to entertain us.”

It’s all in one sentence telling me that she’s been worried about this for a while. I cup her face. “I like spending time with you and your son. And you’re not cramping anything. This is what I want, Nat.”

She softens against me, sliding her arms around my neck. “Good, because you did promise me some alone time.”

I brush the hair off her face. “Well, my brothers can walk in here any minute. Want to see my office?”

She thinks about it for less than a second. “Yes.”

I show her my office and lock the door before sitting down next to her on the couch. She starts to fidget, and I know she’s nervous. “I didn’t bring you in here for that, Nat. I want to kiss you. The rest can wait.”

I pull her into my lap and kiss her until her body softens into mine. She has one hand at the nape of my neck, and the other is unbuttoning my shirt. When I feel her hand caress my chest, my whole body trembles and stiffens.

I try to laugh it off. “Honey, it’s been a while and well, too much more of that and I won’t be able to stop at just kissing.”

She doesn’t stop, though. She’s tugging at my shirt, trying to get closer, and I stop her with my hands. “Nat, honey. I didn’t bring you in here for this. You don’t owe me anything. I can just hold you and be satisfied,” I say, frustration filling my voice. I’m a man and it seems a weak one right now because she has me completely on edge.

She sits back and searches my face. “I want you. I don’t want to wait, King. I feel alive when I’m with you.”

My heart is racing in my chest. There’s no way I can deny her. With her laid back in my lap, I start to unbutton her blouse. When I open it, I can only stare at her perfect mounds covered in the white lacy bra. Her body arches, and I lift her up, pressing my mouth to her breasts through the soft material. I suckle her, and the sounds of yearning fill the room.

I undo the front clasp of her bra and inhale deeply as her rosy nipples pucker under my gaze. I release my hold on her and pull my shirt off. The need to have her skin to skin is overwhelming, and when I bring her to me, her breasts pressing against my chest, we both moan. I pull away, breathing heavily. “We can still stop, Nat. I can wait for you until you’re ready.”

She looks at me, unyielding. “Do you not want me, King?”

I grunt because that couldn’t be further from the truth. I rearrange her on my lap until the hard bulge between my legs presses against her bottom. “I want you. Don’t ever doubt that, Nat.”