Page 25 of What the Cowboy Wants (The Westons of Montana #3)

I t was close to daybreak by the time Cooper parked his truck in front of Rose’s house. He couldn’t go home before he’d seen her again. Willow was looking after his pets.

The front door opened before he reached it. His heart sighed. Rose stood waiting for him. She’d changed and was wearing soft pants and a loose top that dropped down off one shoulder, giving him a glimpse of her soft skin. Her gorgeous hair hung over her shoulders and back.

“How’s your mom?” she asked.

“She’s okay. They also want to do an MRI but that can only happen later today. Hayden is with her at the moment.”

“And you? How are you holding up?” Her voice was a mere whisper.

“We all had a fright last night, but I’m okay.”

“Did you… I mean your mother asked for you, I was wondering…?”

“…whether I’ve healed her?”

She nodded.

“I did what I could. She will need to take something for her blood pressure in the future, though.” He waited a beat. “Does what I do freak you out?”

“Yeah, it’s…” she closed her mouth.

“Weird? Strange?”

“All of those,” she smiled. “What I do know is, you feel deeply. I love that about you. And I’m getting used to the strangeness of it all.” She hesitated for another second. “Do you want to come in?”

He waited a heartbeat. “If I do, I’m staying for a while.”

Her eyes darkened. “What about the dogs and Ebony?”

“Willow is with them.”

She opened the door wider. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

He stepped inside and put down his hat. “We need to talk.”

“It’s nearly five o’clock in the morning. Talking is so not what I have in mind.” Sashaying closer, she pulled the top over her head.

The groan that slipped over his lips came from a place deep inside him. The midnight-blue lace and satin covering her breasts nearly brought him to his knees then and there.

“Damn, Red, you’re killing me,” he murmured as he stepped closer. With their eyes locked, he covered her breasts with his hands. “Beautiful. I’ve waited forever to be here with you, like this.”

Lowering his mouth, he stopped an inch before their lips met. Her breath hitched in her throat, and as he moved down her face, she exhaled slowly. He waited, his blood rushing through his veins, waited until with a guttural groan, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him in.

He captured her lips, swallowing her whimper and pulled her close. It wasn’t a gentle exploration this time, the heat and hunger, passion and need rushing through his blood, made that impossible.

Her mouth was everything he remembered and more. The need to become a part of her pounded through him, making him weak in the knees.

She pulled at his shirt and without taking his mouth from hers, he helped her to open the buttons. As he dropped his shirt with his jacked to the floor, she eagerly slipped her hands around his body, up his back, pressing her breasts against his naked skin.

He lifted his head, gulped in some much-needed air. “You sure about this?”

Her eyes glittered. “Oh, yes.” Her hands quickly disappeared behind her back and the blue bra fell to the floor.

“I want to go slow, to savor every moment,” he whispered as he cupped her again, teasing the hard beads of her breasts.

“Slow?” she smiled as her hands slipped around his neck. “Really? We’ll have to see about that, cowboy. I think we’re way past slow, don’t you?” Biting his bottom lip, she stepped between his legs and kissed him.

As red haze of desire moved in front of his eyes, he desperately tried to keep a tight hold on the reins of his self-control. He needed time to show her how deeply he loved her.

Without taking his mouth from hers, he picked her up, staggering in the direction of her bedroom.

*

While still ravaging her mouth, Cooper slowly slid her down against every inch of his body. He was hard and ready for her. Just the thought nearly sent her over the edge. She’d been ready for him since the day she’d first seen him.

His lips left her mouth, sliding hungrily over her face, down her neck where they hovered over the soft spot just below her ear before they continued their journey. He grasped a handful of hair and gently pulled, a silent request.

Of course, she knew what he wanted. With a sigh, she dropped her head all the way back, giving him full access while her hands slipped into his hair.

Slowly, ever so slowly, his mouth followed the curve of her breast, teasing her, driving her to the brink of madness.

By the time his warm mouth finally closed over a hardened nipple, she was trembling with need.

As he turned to her other breast, her knees buckled and she fell backward on the bed, taking him with her. Without missing a beat, he continued his onslaught, torturing her with his mouth and hands, inflaming her already overstimulated senses until she was ready to burst.

How was it possible to want someone this much? This intensely? With a groan, he captured her lips again while his hands pushed at her jeans.

“Let me…” she gasped and helped him.

His eyes were nearly feverish with want as he threw the jeans aside and looked down at her.

He picked up one of her legs. “These, Red, have been driving me steadily crazy since the first moment I saw you.” Bending his head, he kissed the inside of her foot, sending another wave of heat through her body.

Closing her eyes, she gave herself up to his lovemaking.

While his warm hand slid down her leg, his teeth scraped over her flesh before his lips took over again. Her body moved restlessly, urgently, the need to have him inside her became almost unbearable.

But he was taking his sweet time, damn him, and he continued his exploration until he was about to reach where she needed him most. And then he retreated. Her eyes flew open. “Cooper, damn it,” she groaned, her hips lifting in anguish.

Grinning, he dropped the leg. “Told you I want to go slow.” With his eyes on her, he picked up her other leg. “I’m not nearly done, Red.” And painstakingly thorough, his hand traveled over every inch of her other leg as well.

With every stroke of his hand, the air became heavier, making breathing almost impossible and still those clever fingers continued to torture her. Just when she was ready to weep, his fingers found her.

She whimpered, and as if that was what he’d been waiting for, he dropped down next to her and captured her lips with his again. As his tongue met hers in a joyous dance, his fingers continued to stroke and tease until a strong wind simply picked her up and threw her up and up a high mountain.

As she crested with his scent surrounding her, his voice egging her on, his name was on her lips.

*

In awe, Cooper looked down at the beautiful sight below of him. The hand he slipped down her shuddering body wasn’t very steady either. Ignoring his own pulsating need, he continued to stroke and fondle her until her breathing slowed and she opened her eyes.

She smiled. A beautiful one, lighting up her eyes. “Am I still alive?”

“I don’t know,” he grinned, covering her breast with his hand. “Let me check. Oh, dear, I can’t hear anything. Let me try this way.” Lowering his head to her breast, he turned his ear toward her heart. It was thundering away at an alarming speed.

“Cooper,” she groaned as her long legs wrapped around him.

His mouth had no other option but to close over her breast again and gathering her close, he buried his face in her softness.

“You’re still wearing way too many clothes,” she breathed. “I think it’s my turn to torture you.”

“You’ve been torturing me since the day you arrived, Red,” he chuckled as he got off the bed to take off the last of his clothes.

Eagerly she scooted closer, keen to help. As he dropped his jeans to the ground, her eyes widened. “Wow, cowboy,” she breathed.

Feeling ten feet tall, he joined her on the bed again.

Lifting herself on her elbow, she touched him. “Mmm, it’s growing,” she said seriously, but the twinkle in her eyes gave her away. “Does it mean he’s happy?”

Laughing, he turned so that she was lying under him. “Oh, he’s very happy and you’ll get your turn, but if you touch me now, this will be over before I’ve had my fill of you. I ache for you, Red.”

She opened her arms and welcomed him home. Her red hair was spread out over the bed and with a groan, he gathered her close and kissed her.

The moment their lips touched, the fire was back, burning brighter and higher than before.

Her flesh was smooth and hot, tempting him to give her more than he’d ever given anyone before.

He’d been determined to show her slow and tender, but the need to become one with her refused to be kept in check any longer.

He slipped his hand down her body to make sure she was ready for him. Her hips moved restlessly under his fingers.

With a satisfied grin, he hoisted himself above her. “Look at me?”

As her eyes opened, he connected with her. His heart soared. Nothing had ever felt so right and in that instant, he knew she felt something for him. Something powerful and unique that frightened her. He would know, he’d felt it too. Don’t be scared , he communicated wordlessly.

“Making love to you…” she whispered. “…is something entirely different. I need you. Now.”

His body nearly exploded right there and then.

“Ditto,” he growled as he slowly slid into her, giving her a chance to get used to him.

As she welcomed him home, he finally let go of the reins and moved inside her.

Within seconds, she’d caught on to his rhythm and kept up as he increased the speed, those green eyes never leaving his face.

Mindlessly, he forced her over the edge again before he continued the mad race up the mountain. Just before they slipped over the edge, he crushed his mouth to hers again. And together, they soared.

*

A noise woke up Rose. It was still dark outside, but Cooper was getting dressed.

“What time is it?” she asked.

With his jeans in his hand, he bent down and kissed her forehead. “I didn’t want to wake you; we didn’t get much sleep last night, or rather this morning, did we?” He grinned.

Cupping his face, she smiled. “Are you complaining?

“Not at all, I just thought you would like to sleep in.”

“Do you have to go back right now?”

Stepping back, he pulled on his jeans. “Unfortunately. Becket’s with Mom. Work on a ranch never stops and I have to check on the animals.”

As she sat up, the sheet moved down. Cooper’s eyes dropped and he stopped what he was doing.

“Of course I understand, it’s just I miss you…”

That was how far she got. He’d kicked his jeans aside and joined her before she’d finished speaking. “I woke up ready for you again,” he growled as he buried his face between her breasts.

*

Wrapping her arms and legs around him, Rose slipped her fingers in his hair. Need exploded in his body and with a groan, he rolled so that she was on top of him. “Just looking at you, is enough to drop me over the edge.”

Throwing her hair back and lacing their fingers, she slid down over his body. He fought back the haze of desire blurring is vision, he wanted to memorize every moment, but the emotion was too big, too overwhelming and he surrendered.

As they tumbled over the top again, she was the only thing he could hear, feel, touch.

Half an hour later, she walked him to the door. Dressed in only a loose top scarcely reaching her very sexy bottom, she had him aching for her again long before they reached the door.

His phone rang, but he ignored it. “Damn it, Rose, I’m never going to get enough of you. We have to…” His phone rang again. Irritated he checked who was calling him. “It’s Hayden.”

“Of course. Just go.”

But taking her hand, he listened to his brother. Work on a ranch didn’t stop because it was Saturday or Sunday, and Hayden needed all of them this morning.

Ending the call, he put the phone back in his pocket and pulled her close. “I hate to leave you.”

“I know. Any news about your mom?”

“She looks better this morning, but need to stay a little longer so that they can do more tests. Nothing new.”

“I’ll pop in a little bit later to see how she’s doing.”

“Thank you, she’d appreciate it.” Slipping his hands under the short top she was wearing, he cupped her breasts. “Think of me?” he asked before he claimed her lips again.

Her body was warm and soft and within seconds he was ready for her again.

“Damn it, Red,” he gasped, trying to rein in his galloping libido, but she hooked one of those long legs around his and he was lost.

Before his next breath, his jeans were around his ankles and he was inside her. Burying his face in her hair while they raced up that mountain again, he lost himself in her scent, her softness, all that glorious hair. He was never going to get enough of her. Never.

It took another few minutes before he was ready to leave.

“May I pick you up tonight?” he asked as he opened the door. Maybe the cool air would help cool him down.

Her eyes twinkled. “Nope. I already have a date with your sister.”

“You’re going to do that to me again?”

“You snooze, you lose,” she teased.

“Okay, have it your way. But you’ll save me a dance?”

She chewed her lip.

“What?”

“I’ve promised Nash Johnson a dance.”

He frowned. “Why the hell would you do that?”

“You were angry with me at the time, remember? Came to Seattle, jumped to wild conclusions without talking to me.”

He cupped her face. “Everything has changed, now, surely you know that? I wanted to talk to you last night…”

“You don’t have anything to explain. I’ll see you tonight.”

Frustrated, he pulled her close and kissed her again. Her lips were soft and wet and still swollen from minutes before. Somewhere a car hooted. He lifted his head. Rose’s eyes were deep green pools of desire. “I hate to go like this, we need to talk but I need time to explain…”

“I’m here whenever you want me. Now go, otherwise I’m taking you back to bed.”

Before he could react, she pushed him out and closed the door.

“I’ll get you for that!” he shouted as he ran toward his truck.

He was so late. Her giggle, her scent, her softness followed him all the way back to the ranch.