Page 32 of Roped in Rawhide
She stares at me for six painfully long seconds. Each one that passes is a loud tick, minimizing my odds of winning her over.
“You’re a virgin,” she repeats robotically.
“Yes.”
Her mouth opens and closes twice, but no sound escapes. I don’t blame her for appearing baffled. My reputation is more filthy than most accounts on OnlyFans.
She glances around, clearly looking for something. “Is this some strange prank? Are you recording my reaction?”
I scrub a palm over my mouth to hide my grin. “I wish I was so we could laugh about it later.”
Her scoff isn’t amused. “There’s not a manwhore’s luck at a sex club that you’re a virgin.”
“How do I prove it?”
“Don’t ask me. You’re the one pretending to be innocent.”
My flinch is reflexive, whether or not I deserve her accusation. “I’m not pretending.”
“How do you explain the buckle bunny club singing your praises? Their membership list is miles long and always appears satisfied.”
I nod, fully expecting the question. “That’s tricky to explain, seeing as I don’t understand it myself. Shortly after the disaster with Marie, I realized the attention girls were all too eager to give me.”
Gemma groans. “Oh, please. You’ve never had a shortage of admirers.”
“I didn’t notice them before. It was only you for me, from the instant we bonded in middle school. You captured my sole focus and I never wanted it back.”
“Until you broke my heart.”
“Right.” I clear the tar from my throat. “Which I’ve already mentioned gravely regretting. I should’ve been at your side all along. That’s one reason I couldn’t stray. Not truly.”
“You never did anything with any of them?” Disbelief clangs like a gong in her tone.
“I’m not completely inexperienced, but I haven’t slept with anyone. I also haven’t so much as looked at another woman since you moved back to Cloverleaf Meadows.”
“How is that possible?”
I pluck a prairie clover, drifting the small cluster along her cheek. “It’s always been you, Wildflower.”
“Such a cliche.” But she doesn’t shy away from the gentle touch.
My shoulders lift and fall. “That’s the truth. I’ll admit that when you moved on, I tried to do the same. A bronc bucked me off that night and damn near broke my arm. It was the worst fall I’ve ever had. The superstition stopped me from ever trying again. In this case, it did me a favor. I took it as a sign that I was supposed to be saving myself for you.”
Gemma folds her arms across her chest. “That sounds like a very tall tale.”
“Trust me, I know. I’ve never told anyone because it sounds outrageous, even to me. Who does that?”
Her gaze skitters off mine, roaming across the meadow. “You, apparently.”
“For good reason,” I murmur softly. “If you’ll have me, I want you to be my one and only.”
“And if I won’t?”
It almost sounds like mocking laughter is carrying through the wind. “That’s for me to worry about.”
There’s still a heavy dose of doubt lingering in her expression. “You’re seriously a virgin?”
“I’m seriously a virgin,” I confirm. “I let the rumors redefine my character, fake as it was. Nobody ever questioned it. They assumed I was a stallion in the sack and couldn’t wait for their turn. It’s a role I was playing. The real me hasn’t had a girlfriend of any kind other than you. I’ve never even gone out on an actual date, unless we’re counting this as one.”
