“Is that so?” I sit up, my legs falling to either side of his hips.
“You told me once you were a country girl through and through, so it’s time you prove it to me…” His words trail off as his hands move down my body, his thumbs brushing against my hard nipples before skimming my sides and his thumbs roaming my stomach. When Gavin reaches my hips, one of his thumbs reaches down and barely touches my clit. Anticipating it, my body is already on fire. Feeling him touch me spikes the heat in my veins.
“So, what do you say? Ready to ride your cowboy?” He lifts an eyebrow, a crooked grin on his handsome face.
Wordlessly, I reach for the condom box and tear one open before scooting down. I cover his length and position myself over him.
“Hold on, cowboy,” I whisper as I lower myself, groaning as the sensation of him filling me in this position. Once Gavin is completely inside of me, we both still, staring into each other’s eyes.
The only sound is our heavy breathing. I place my hand over his heart and bring his hand over mine.
“It’s yours,” he says deeply. I lean down and kiss him, showing him exactly how a cowgirl rides.
…
After a long shower, together, Gavin and I finally sit on the floor in my living room wearing only our underwear and tee shirts with a competitive game of Go Fish and empty cupcake liners.
“Go fish,” I yell, snickering.
Gavin narrows his eyes and grabs a card from the deck, smiling when he places two cards down on his stack.
“Darn it,” I mumble.
We continue to play, teasing each other back and forth until he beats me.
“Are you sure you hadn’t played recently?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Positive. It was just luck.” I give him a skeptical look, and he laughs. “Come ‘ere.” He calls me over with his head.
I walk over to him and land on his lap when he commands me to sit. I place my arms around his neck and smile. “This has been fun.”
“It has been.” He brushes his lips against mine. “Abbie wrote to me and told me Penny wants to sleep over her house.” He waggles his eyebrows.
“Ohhh, does that mean you want to sleep over mine?” I wink.
“Yeah.” He nods. “I know my living situation is a little tricky. I moved in with my parents so I could have help with Penny. Maybe it’s time for my own place.”
I frame his face. “You do what’s best for you. Don’t make a choice based on what you think I want.” I shake my head. “Regardless of where you live, you have a place in my life.”
Gavin nods and kisses me, his tongue seeking mine as his lips possess me. I kiss him back as passionately, pouring every emotion into this kiss, so he knows how much I love him. I may have never thought I’d date a single father, but labels mean nothing when it comes to love.
Gavin has made me feel everything I always dreamed I’d find in a man someday. He’s the muse I’ve written about when I’d only hoped to have the real version in my life. He’s got some jagged edges from the pain he’s lived—a few scars on his heart—but I know that every wound heals, and what’s left is the memory that inspires a better life, a better outcome.
This careful, reserved man is better than any I could’ve come up with. I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll live a happy life.
“I’ll make you a deal.” I break away from the kiss.
“Tell me.” His arms tighten around me in a hug.
“You sleep over tonight,” my eyebrows dance on my face, “and tomorrow we pick up Penny and take her to church. I believe I have some makin’ up to do.”
The tenderness in his eyes is a punch to my heart. The way he looks at me in this moment captivates me.
“You’ve got yourself a deal, although there will be plenty of Sundays where you’ll be sitting next to her at church. The forever amount.” The promise in his response lights up my body and soothes my soul.
“Or however many before she wants to sit next to the boy she likes,” I tease.
“Not funny,” Gavin growls.
I giggle and shake my head as he starts to tickle me. “Forever,” I say on a snort.
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “Forever.”
Gavin
Nine months later…
My legs bounce as I sit in my truck and wait for the bus to pull up. It’s been a month since Sutton left on her short tour, and although I saw her for two days in between, it feels like an eternity since I last held her, tasted her, made love to her.
These last nine months have been amazing. Sutton’s family even came to Everton for Christmas, and I got to meet her parents and siblings. Seeing her with her family only solidified my feelings for her.
After her tour last summer, she was actually in Everton most of the time working on her second album and growing her fanbase with local shows and giving us time to grow our love. Penny and I have even gone to a couple of her shows, which Penny loves.
However, no matter how much time Sutton and I have had together, I still missed her while she was away this month. Penny missed her, too. Sutton completes our family, and I’m grateful I got a chance to get to know the spunky woman who’s shown me real love and stolen my heart.
I smile, thinking about Penny and the welcome home sign she created for Sutton. She’ll give it to her tomorrow. Tonight, it’s Sutton and me.
The heater warms my truck as impatience rocks through me. I check the time, and as if cursing me, only two minutes have passed since I last checked.
A tap on my window startles me, and I look to see who’s knocking. Poppy smiles and waves at me. Turning
