Page 24 of Her Royal Cowboy Billionaire

He lifted her easily onto his chest, cupped her face with both hands, lifted his head until his lips met hers and kissed her. With their lips still locked to each other, he rolled them until he was on top. Alex deepened the kiss, urging her to grant him entrance. At the same time, he lifted his weight, so he didn’t crush her.

She missed his weight and returned his kiss wholeheartedly. Michele wrapped her arms around his neck. She put all her love in the kiss, for she loved him with a fire she’d never experienced before.

Alex pulled back. “Sweetheart, if we do not stop now, I cannot. Let us go back to me holding you and catch our breaths.”

Out of breath, she nodded. “I agree, but I promise you, soon I won’t let you stop me.”

“That is a promise I intend for you to keep.”

She smiled and kissed his chin before cuddling back against his side. “I always keep my promises.”

His arm snugged her closer. “Tell me about your family.”

Here was a subject she loved to share. “My parents live in a suburb of Denver called Arvada. It’s a quiet city, not as big as some of the other suburbs. They’ve been there forever. I have a sister, Rebecca, who is married and has three children. She lives close to my parents. I also have two brothers, Larry and Tom. They are married and live in New Hampshire and New Mexico, respectively. Each of them has two children.”

“What about you? Are your sisters married?”

“Catherine is married. Her husband is the head of the palace guard. His name is Airk, and he has been with the family for about ten years. Catherine and Airk have no children yet. My two youngest sisters are not married.”

“Do you want children, Alex?”

He put his left hand behind his head. “Yes, I do. What about you? Do you want more children?”

She nodded. “I do. I’ve always wanted four or five.” Relieved at his answer, she unhooked the button directly over the middle of his chest. Then she slid her fingers in and felt strands of soft hair curl around her fingers. “My brothers and sister and I always had someone to play with. But it was like my parents raised two families. I am the second to youngest at twenty-six. Larry is twenty-five, Tom is thirty-four and Rebecca is forty. Rebecca married the year I turned seven. My parents used to tease me that I was an accident, but Larry was planned, so I’d have someone to play with. And all my siblings are great parents. My parents love having everyone together at Christmas, when that can happen. Usually, every other year. Sometimes, that’s when I miss Joey the most. When all the family gets together and I know we are not complete.”

“I am sorry he is gone.” He removed her hand from inside his shirt and laced his fingers with hers. “You will get into trouble that way. I am hanging on by a thread, but it is a sturdy thread, as long as you do not test it…too much.”

She giggled. “What if I want to test your thread?”

He chuckled, and his fingers tightened on hers. “I would ask that you do not. Not yet.”

She kept their fingers locked and brought the back of his hand to her lips for a kiss. “Thank you for being such a gentleman.”

“Always for you, my lady.”

“Your lady?”

“Yes, if you will allow it. I would very much like for you to be my lady.”

“I would like that as well. I want us to date exclusively. Is that what you are saying, too?”

“Yes, my darling, that is what I am saying. But that does not change our plans for this evening. You are not ready to go further and that is fine.”

“But you’re ready for a more intimate relationship?”

“My dear, I am a man. I am always ready.”

She laughed.

So did he. When she quieted, he turned her head toward him, lifting her chin with a knuckle.

Then he took her lips in a searing kiss she felt deep in her soul.

“This is the way I want us to always be. I’ve never met anyone as attractive, as beautiful inside and out, as you are.”

She looked down at her hand, that had so recently been locked in his grasp. “You don’t know me. We’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”

He placed two fingers over her lips. “Stop. We’ve seen each other every day for those few weeks, at either your place or mine. Working with the horses and going to dinner. We’ve had lunch together and tea in the afternoon every day. If we were dating as a normal couple, it would have taken us months to spend this much time together, remember? Tell me this is not true.”