Page 57 of The Cowboy's Cabaret

“There is no messing up, there is no perfection either. This is us. Complicated, anxious, chaotic humans. The beauty of being together is we’ll get through it all. Together. I need you to know, I’m in love with you. Fuck, I’m so in love with you, baby. You’re every dream I never knew I had come true. I love you more than I can put into words. There is not a thing you could do to drive me away. You’re it for me, you’re who I want. Sweaty hands and all.”

The giggles bursting out of me are contagious because Wes lays his head in my lap, shaking with laughter too. “Sweaty hands? I was hoping you just never noticed.”

“I don’t mind it at all. It’s like your signature.” He’s standing now, smiling down at me as I try to push him away.

“So, you love me? Even if I’m a mess?” Vulnerability laces my tone.

“Every version of you owns my heart.”

“I love you,” I say softly, “I really, really love you too.”

Wes leans down to press a chaste kiss to my mouth, but I need more. Grabbing him by the collar of his flannel, I haul him down to me. The solid pressure of the man I love against me grounds me to the moment and I can’t stop kissing him.

As he lifts up on his forearms over me, he kisses my mouth, my tear-stained cheeks, my eyelids. “I love you. I love you. I love you so fucking much.” We fall into each other again and again, soft kisses and roaming hands.

Quickly, our kisses turn heated and I feel his rigid length grinding against my core. “Make love to me, Wesley.”

“As you wish.”

FORTY-FOUR

making love and making moves

Dahlia

Despite our plans toshare the good news with Jasper and the family, Wes and I take our time plying each other with kisses. My nipples tighten as he slowly peels my leggings down my body. A change from our typical heated intimacy, I know this is what we need to connect right now.

Wes kisses back up my legs, pressing kisses to my ankles before trailing his tongue up my calves. In a display of pure eroticism, he reaches behind his head to pull his shirt off. His broad chest flexes with the movement and I don’t even realize I’m licking my lips.

“I like when you look at me like that, my horny girl.”

“I like you,” I reply.

He resumes his path up my body, cupping my sex with a strong hand. “Fuck, you’re so wet.” My mouth falls open with lust as he slowly enters me with one thick finger. He thrusts with lazy strokes as he kisses the softness below my belly button. “Every inch of you is pure heaven. So, so perfect.”

With the telltale signs of my orgasm beginning, I reach down grabbing at his hair with an erotic whine. When his mouthsuctions over my clit, my vision blurs and I come in waves of pleasure.

I can’t get enough, pulling him up towards me—kissing him, tasting myself on his lips, the smell of me coating his beard. He bends my knee, opening me to him before he pushes forward, the man I love filling me with every inch of himself.

“Wes,” I say his name like a prayer as he pushes into me with long, brutal strokes. His hands bracket my head and he whispers the sweet promise of forever until I feel him spill into me, hot and heavy. He begins to pull out of me, but I stop him. “Just a little bit longer. I want to stay like this a little bit longer.” He’s happy to oblige and cradles me against him in our post-sex haze.

Emergingfrom our lovemaking takes far longer than we planned, so Jasper sits in the living room like a cornered animal while Daphne is perched on a nearby barstool.

“Fucking hell, any day now. What’s the point of telling us to meet for dinner if you two aren’t gonna come up for air?” Jasper grumbles before standing up, brushing his hands down his legs.

“What, Jasper? You mad you’re not getting laid by the love of your life on the regular? I’m sure your right hand is getting mighty strong.” Daphne attempts to grab Jasper’s hand but he nearly falls over getting away from her before stomping out of the house. “It’s too easy to fuck with him. Truly, it’s a pleasure.”

“Daph, we’re here to share good news, not incite a hostile takeover. Reel it in, queen.” The walk to Lorraine and Stone’s cabin isn’t long, but the weather is quickly turning bitter. Leaves crunch underfoot as we plod along the hardened dirt. Jasper is head down a few paces ahead of us, silent and stoic as ever.

“My babies! Hello, hello, come in. It’s freezing, isn’t it? I made turkey chili. Come sit.” Ever the kind soul, Stone is a ray of happiness welcoming us in. Lorraine finishes the place settings and Amber comes behind her with cornbread muffins. On the floor beside the fireplace, Liam and Emmett are playing with monster trucks. Notably, Dale is missing, and thank god.

The peace surrounding the table feels like a safety blanket and I didn’t realize how badly I needed to be around a healthy family.

Lorraine passes bowls around the table and speaks first. “So, Wes said you had news.” I can tell she’s trying to temper her expectation, the illusion of a cool indifference.

“We do. We heard back from the grant program, and—” I look to Wes and around the table at the hopeful faces looking at me. “We were selected to receive the grant reward!” My voice cracks with emotion as I watch Lorraine’s face break into a massive grin and Stone stands up so fast his chair falls backwards.

“Holy—oh my, mother of god!” Stone is pacing now, eyes wild. “Shit. Well what do we do now? When do we get the money, how the hell does this work?” His giddiness is contagious and Lorraine is somewhere between a laugh and a cry as she gets up and stops his pacing with a hand to his shoulder. Amber is smiling at me with those tired eyes and her boys have no clue what’s going on, but they’re along for the ride.