Page 18 of Saddles and Snowstorms (Sagebrush Cowboys #4)

Brooks

M y lips crashed against Rowan’s before I could stop myself.

I knew I shouldn’t be giving in, shouldn’t be kissing him like I was drowning, and he was a breath of fresh air.

But with the blizzard raging outside and his earthy cologne filling my senses, there was no way I could resist him any longer.

I’d wanted him from the moment I’d met him and now, with the two of us trapped together and separated from the rest of the world, I couldn’t stop myself from taking what I wanted.

And Rowan was more than happy to provide.

My senses were overwhelmed the moment we started.

It had been years since I’d given into my desires and even more since I’d touched another man.

I’d told myself I never would again, that I’d never let anyone in.

But there I was, my lips locked with Rowans, his tongue swirling deliciously around my own as my passion took over.

Rowan’s hands found my waist, strong and sure, pulling me closer until our bodies pressed together. The heat between us could have melted the snow piling against the windows of my cabin. His fingers dug into my hips possessively, and I groaned against his mouth.

“I’ve wanted this,” he murmured, his voice deeper than I’d ever heard it. “Since that first day you called me out to check on that calf.”

I pulled back just enough to look up at him, taking in the flush on his tanned cheeks, the way his dark green eyes had gone nearly black with desire. The scar along his jaw seemed to beg for my touch. I traced it with my thumb again, feeling the slight ridge beneath my calloused skin.

“City boy like you,” I teased, though my voice trembled. “Didn’t think you’d want a rough old cowboy like me.”

Rowan’s laugh was low and dangerous as he settled into my lap, his ass pressing against my rock-hard cock through the quilt. “There’s a lot you don’t know about what I want.”

His mouth found my neck, teeth grazing sensitive skin, and I let out a soft moan. I clutched at his waist, feeling the muscles flex beneath his shirt.

“Then show me,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with need. “Show me what a city boy like you wants.”

Rowan’s smile was wicked as he pulled back, his fingers working at the buttons of my flannel shirt with surprising dexterity. For a man who spent his days treating animals, his hands moved with deliberate precision that made my breath catch.

“I want to see if cowboys are as rugged underneath all these layers as everyone says,” he murmured, pushing my shirt open to reveal my chest. His eyes darkened further as he ran his palms over my skin, fingers tangling in the coarse hair there. “Mmm, they weren’t lying.”

I couldn’t help the shiver that ran through me as the cool air hit my exposed skin, though it was quickly replaced by heat when Rowan lowered his head and dragged his tongue across my nipple.

My hips bucked involuntarily, grinding against him as he continued his torturous exploration.

Anxiety flared in my chest alongside the pleasure.

“Fuck,” I hissed, my hands finding their way under his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine.

Rowan must’ve heard my hesitation because he pulled away, his green eyes searching mine. “Sorry,” he murmured. “You wanted me to take it slow.”

“I…” I paused for a moment, turning my head away after a few seconds. “I’m being stupid.”

Rowan’s hand grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look back up at him. “No, you’re not. It’s okay to be nervous, especially if you’re not used to doing things like this. ”

My cheeks burned as I stared at him, the anxiety making my fingertips go cold. “I want this… I’m just…”

“Just what?”

A long sigh escaped my lips. “I don’t know what I’m doing. The last time I did this… I was younger than you.”

Realization dawned on his face as my words sank in. His expression softened, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my cheek. Even with desire clouding his eyes, there was something tender there now, understanding that made my chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with lust.

“We don’t have to do anything,” he whispered, though I could feel him still hard against me. “We can just?—”

I silenced him with another kiss, slower this time, pouring years of buried longing into it. When I pulled back, I pressed my forehead against his. “I want this. I want you. I just... might need a little guidance.”

The smile that spread across his face was nothing short of sinful. “How about I just take care of you?”

“But what about you?”

“Don’t worry about me,” he smiled. “I’ll be right there with you.”

I nodded silently, my heart pounding as his hands slid down my chest, mapping every contour with careful attention.

For a vet who spent his days with livestock, Rowan had a gentleness to his touch that made me shiver.

He worked my shirt off my shoulders completely, letting it fall to the floor beside the chair.

“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured, studying me like I was something precious. “All this time under those flannel shirts...”

I laughed, feeling self-conscious under his scrutiny. Still, it felt good to be seen.

“Let me help you to the couch,” he said, his ass sliding across my cock as he got up from the chair. He held out a hand. “Come on.”

I took his hand, allowing him to pull me toward the worn leather couch that sat across from the fireplace.

My good leg felt weak beneath me, desire and nervousness battling for dominance in my veins.

The storm outside howled, rattling the windows, but inside my cabin, the only sounds were our ragged breathing and the crackle of the fire.

Rowan guided me down onto the couch, careful of my sprained ankle, then stood before me, his eyes never leaving mine as he slowly unbuttoned his own shirt.

I watched, transfixed, as each inch of tanned skin was revealed.

The city boy was built like he’d spent his life on a ranch instead of in a veterinary clinic.

Broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist, his chest and abdomen defined with lean muscle that flexed as he shrugged the shirt from his shoulders.

With slow and deliberate movements, he unbuttoned his jeans.

Hooking his thumbs in the waistband of his underwear, he pushed both down revealing a tuft of dark brown hair before it gave way to a thick, gorgeous cock.

It sprang upward as his pants fell away, throbbing gently in time with his heartbeat.

Already I could see a small bead of pre-cum gathering at the tip.

A thick vein snaked around his cock, giving it a sculptured perfection that I couldn’t look away from.

“There,” he said, grinning down at me with a cocky confidence that told me he knew how gorgeous he was. “That’s a lot more comfortable.”

Rowan stepped closer, leaning over me as he grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch.

His cock bobbed inches from my face, my mouth hanging open like a cartoon character.

I was practically drooling. But Rowan took his time, letting me get a good look before he leaned back and threw the blanket over the end cushions of the couch.

Then, he flopped down, spreading his legs wide so I could continue to stare.

“Come here,” he said, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me easily into his lap. He adjusted me so my head was lying against his abdomen. “Is it okay if I touch you?”

I nodded stupidly, knowing his cock was only a few inches to my right, warmth rolling off of it. His cologne was replaced with the musky scent of his arousal, making my dick twitch with excitement.

Rowan cradled me against his body as his fingers slid down my torso and slipped below the waistband of my sweatpants. I gasped as his fingers brushed against my cock, his touch feather-light yet confident. My hips jerked forward instinctively, seeking more pressure.

“Eager,” he murmured into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “I like that.”

His hand wrapped around my shaft fully now, and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped me.

It had been so damn long since anyone but myself had touched me this way.

The sensation was almost overwhelming. The feeling of his slightly calloused palm was still softer than my own work-roughened hands, but so much more intense.

“God, Rowan,” I breathed, my head falling back against his shoulder as he began to stroke me with agonizing slowness.

“I’ve imagined this,” he confessed, his voice rough and low.

“Every time I’d see you on your ranch, the way your jeans hugged your ass when you’d stand there watching me work…

” His grip tightened slightly, thumb swiping over my tip and spreading the pre-cum he found there.

“Drove me crazy wondering what you’d feel like in my hand. ”

I turned my head, seeking his mouth blindly, needing the connection.

Our lips met in a messy, desperate kiss as his hand worked me steadily.

I reached back, tangling my fingers in his short brown hair, pulling him closer, deeper into the kiss.

His tongue swept into my mouth as his hand quickened its pace, and I felt myself already edging toward release.

“Wait,” I gasped, breaking the kiss. “I don’t want to... not yet.”

Rowan slowed his movements, his lips curving into a smile against my neck. “Whatever you want, cowboy. We’ve got all night.” His teeth grazed my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine. “This blizzard isn’t letting up anytime soon.”

I shifted in his arms, turning to face him despite the twinge in my ankle. His eyes, those deep green pools that had caught my attention the first day he’d arrived in Sagebrush, watched me with a mixture of hunger and patience.

“I want to touch you too,” I admitted, my voice rougher than I’d intended.