Page 8 of Dust and Desire (Sagebrush Cowboys #5)
My heart stopped.
It wasn’t Logan or Dakota standing on my porch. It was Alex.
“Hey,” he said, his voice soft in the darkness. He held up a heavy-looking plate covered in tin foil. “Thought you might be hungry since you missed dinner.”
I stood frozen, unable to form words. The man I’d just been fantasizing about, the man whose naked body I’d seen only hours ago, was at my door, delivering me food. My face burned hot, and I prayed the porch light wasn’t bright enough for him to notice.
“Can I come in?” he asked when I didn’t respond.
“I—yeah, sure,” I stammered, stepping back to let him enter. My tiny cabin suddenly felt microscopic with him in it. “Sorry about the, uh...” I gestured vaguely at the yoga mat still on the floor.
Alex smiled, and damn if it didn’t light up his whole face. “You do yoga? Me too. Helps with the back pain from riding all day.”
The image of Alex in downward dog flashed through my mind, and I had to turn away, pretending to straighten some books on my shelf. “Yeah, it’s... uh… relaxing.”
“Beau made some of his famous brisket,” he said, setting the plate down on my small kitchen table. “And Lucas made corn bread too. He wanted to make sure you got some.”
I glanced down at the overloaded plate. “Just some? There’s enough food here for a family of four.”
Alex laughed, a beautiful sound that went straight to my heartstrings. “Yeah, Mrs. Baker went a little overboard, I think. She seems to think you’re too skinny.” He cocked his head to the side, giving me a good once over from head to toe. “You look good to me, though. ”
My face was on fire in an instant and I knew I must’ve turned beet red. But before I could say anything, Alex was clicking his tongue.
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I know you’re not used to that sort of thing. Or well, Caroline says you aren’t. I know I can come on a bit strong when I see somethin’ I like.” He clicked his tongue again, turning away. “Dammit, I did it again.”
“It… It’s okay,” I replied, my voice trembling despite my every effort. “I… uh… I’m just not sure how to respond.”
“A lawyer not knowing what to say?” Alex chuckled. “That’s a new one.”
“Corporate lawyer,” I corrected. “I did small talk on golf outings and that was it. My entire career was lived behind a desk and emails.”
Alex stuffed his hands in his denim jacket, cocking one hip to the side in what was probably a normal stance for him but looked incredibly sultry to me. “Did you like it? Big city life?”
“Not really,” I said, leaning against my bookshelf. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I picked up one of the books and began to thumb through it nervously. “I think I did once, but that was a long time ago.”
“Ever miss it?”
I thought for a moment, recalling my penthouse apartment, my ex-wife, the lavish dinner parties we attended, and the endless traffic.
“Sometimes,” I replied honestly. “Once it a while it feels too quiet out here, too remote. And I miss the food.” I glanced down at the plate. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the diner and home cooking, but sometimes you just need a good bagel, you know?”
Alex just shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. Only bagel I’ve ever eaten came from the grocery store in a bag.”
I glanced up at him, those brown eyes totally frying my brain. “Oh. ”
A long awkward pause fell over the room as both of us stared at one another.
“Well,” Alex said, patting his hands on his thighs which was the universal sign for it’s time to go . “I’ll leave you to your dinner.”
He turned back to the door, pulling it open in one smooth motion.
“Alex?”
He stopped, glancing back at me.
“I… uh… I just wanted to apologize,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He lifted an eyebrow. “For what?”
“It was me down by the creek today,” I continued, not really sure why I felt the need to confess. Maybe it was a vain attempt to ease my guilt for jerking off to him in the shower. “I didn’t realize you were… you know … and I felt too embarrassed to say anything so I just sorta… ran.”
His expression softened into something almost like… relief ?
“I was wondering about that,” he replied, his face breaking into a smile. “I hope I didn’t shock you or anything. I didn’t stop to think anyone might be out here. It won’t happen again.”
“Oh no,” I said quickly, worried I’d offended him. “Do what you need to! I don’t mind!” He smiled again and I realized how that must’ve sounded. My face burned with embarrassment. “I didn’t… I wasn’t trying to…”
“It’s alright,” he grinned. He started for the door again, pausing at the threshold.
“But if I could be so bold… the next time you catch me skinny dipping, you don’t have to run off.
I’m not shy and I don’t mind having someone to chat with.
” He gave me one more look from head to toe. “Or someone to swim with.”
My face was so hot I thought it was going to melt right off. Was he really suggesting what I thought he was? Could he be that bold? That blunt? Why were my pants getting tight again? That last question didn’t need an answer. I knew exactly why they were tight .
“Have a good night, Dustin,” Alex said, tipping his hat. “And don’t be a stranger. I won’t bite unless you ask nicely.”
And with that, he was gone. The door closed behind him and I let out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. I stood there panting, my palm on the front of my pants to keep my throbbing cock at bay.
Why was it every time Alex Reyes came near me, I was left a flustered mess with a leaking cock?