Page 34 of One Last Rodeo

His grin deepens. “Lead the way,Catalina.”

Chapter 9 – Jensen

Catalina suggested we go to my hotel room instead of hers, which is interesting as hell because I’m the one staying in the block of rooms with the rest of the riders. The staff rooms are on the other side of the building. Maybe that’s why she chose mine. Maybe she doesn’t want anyone seeing her bring me back to her room. Or maybe she just likes having the option to walk away whenever she wants.

Either way, my pulse hasn’t settled since she agreed to come upstairs with me, and I’m not sure it ever will. I still can’t believe she said yes. That she’s here. In my space. Giving me her time and attention.

She looks looser standing in the warm golden light of my hotel room. There’s a faint flush softening the angles of her face from the two drinks she didn't need but had anyway. I counted herdrinks to make sure she wouldn't be drunk for this. But even if she isn't, I'll put a stop to it the second I think the alcohol is affecting her judgment.

I may be a lot of things to Catalina, but I never want to be a regret.

“You’re not drunk, right?” I ask. The last thing I want is to take advantage of her. If we’re doing this, I want her to want it.

She throws one of those scorching, warning glares at me while she scans my room. “No. There was hardly any alcohol in those drinks, and I'd never be that reckless.”

I give a nod. “Had to check. Didn’t think you’d willingly come up here with me, that’s all.”

“Maybe stop talking before I change my mind.”

I grin. I love it when she's mean.

I step up behind her, not touching yet, but close enough that she knows I'm there and waiting for her. It's close enough to smell her sweet scent. The lotion she probably carefully rubbed into her skin before coming to dinner tonight. The dab of perfume on her neck that she placed strategically to make a man go wild.

She smells so damn good. I bet she tastes even better. It feels like I might have permission to touch her now, but my hands still twitch at my sides like I’m not sure I deserve it. I don't want to make assumptions with Catalina. She’s going to have to spell it out clearly for me.

No woman has ever intimidated me this way. Catalina terrifies me in a way that I'm not used to. She feels completely unattainable. So far out of my league our paths should have never crossed outside of the OR. I wonder if she'll be able to feel just how grateful I am to be in her presence again once her pussy’s pressed to my face. Once I lick her until she comes.

She turns and looks up at me, eyes flicking briefly to the bed.

“So, how do we do this?”

My thumb drags across my bottom lip as heat surges down low. I’m already painfully aware of how hard I am in my jeans.

“You ever had a one-night stand before?”

“No.” There’s no embarrassment in her response. Just pure honesty. She told me she doesn’t like lying, and I believe her. “If you must know, the only person I’ve ever had sex with was my ex.”

I pause. “What?”

She shrugs like it’s an old fact she no longer cares about. “I'm not a prude. I just haven't had the opportunity or desire to go out and have casual sex since we separated. June signed me up for that dating app tonight at dinner, so I guess I should figure out how casual sex works. Might as well start learning tonight.”

Then she reaches for the hem of that warm, crimson-colored shirt—the color of blood, the color of firelight, the exact color I imagine my heart would be if she cracked my chest open again—and tugs it off before tossing it to the ground.

And holyhell.

Smooth skin, rich as hazelnut toffee, and a bright red lace bra barely containing the full swell of her breasts and her light brown nipples.

“Wait—” The word escapes me before I can catch it. My brain short-circuits. “Why are you wearing that?”

She glances down at herself. “I like to wear lingerie under my work clothes. It just makes me feel better. I don’t know why. Oh,” she brightens a little. “There's another secret that only you and one other man know.”

I think my heart flatlines for a full five seconds. We should have stolen the defibrillator from the bar because I’m going to need it after sex with Catalina.

A small part of me is wildly jealous that her ex knows she wears lingerie around like a secret. That he didn't take better advantage of the fact that she walks around wearing that underneath her regular clothing just waiting to be bent over the nearest chair and fucked properly.

Fuck that guy.Don’t know him, but I know he sucks.

She has no idea what she looks like to me. How irresistible she is. That’s the thing about Catalina: she hides everything except the things she thinks don’t matter. She doesn’t lie. She doesn’t embellish. She just… exists without embarrassment or shame. And she shouldn't be ashamed. I mean,fuck,look at her. She’s smart and sexy. It’s a lethal combination.