Natalie had been waffling on that very subject all day, and frankly she was tired of her brain’s incessant yammering about doing the right thing. She wanted Coop in her bed. Decision made. Brain overruled. Jury dismissed.
“That depends,” she said.
“On what?”
“I want to help with your bandages and make sure you’re on the mend.”
He growled under his breath. “I don’t want pity sex.”
“Good, because I’m not giving out pity sex, you bozo.”
“Then what is it?”
She sighed. “Damn it, Coop. Don’t interrogate me. Just let me try to fix you tonight.”
“Fix me how?”
She frowned as they rolled over the bridge into the RV park. “Do I have to spell it out?”
“Yes, because the last time we talked about ‘us’ while we were both sober, you just wanted to be friends.”
Yes, she had.
She drove down the RV park’s gravel drive in silence, parking next to Harvey’s fifth wheel.
She killed the engine and turned to Coop. “S-E-X. That’s how I spell it. Plain and simple, no strings attached, no pity involved, just hot, wet, and wild sex.” She chewed her lower lip. “Although we’ll have to keep it somewhat quiet because my aunt is in the next camper over. She might be drunk, though, so we don’t have to be church mice.”
He stared at her in the semi-darkness, saying nothing.
Whispers of uncertainty started to trickle into her head.
“Listen, Coop, I’ve wanted you since that night at the Purple Door Saloon years ago. There’s no denying it. And you drove all of the way to Arizona to hook up with me, so let’s stop analyzing this and just do it.”
He sighed. “Nope. Not like this.”
Heat crept up her neck, humiliation constricting her chest. “What do you mean, ‘not like this’?”
“I didn’t drive to Arizona for a hookup, Natalie.”
“Then what are you doing down here? Why are you kissing me in the dark and flirting with me in the light?”
“I told you why.”
“No, you didn’t. Not really. How about you spell a word or two for me this time? A full sentence from you on the subject would be mind-bending.”
He cursed.
“What’s wrong, Coop? You don’t like playing the spelling game?”
His hand snaked across the cab, hauling her close. “Spell this, damn it,” he whispered and kissed her hard, his mouth punishing, his hold rigid. She didn’t fight him. She didn’t want to. This was what she’d wanted from him for years—to feel him lose his grip on that steely control because of her.
Natalie sank into him with a moan.
His kiss softened, deepened, slowed. His hand cupped the back of her head, his fingers entwining in her hair and holding her still as his tongue rubbed along hers and then pulled back, teasing her to follow.
She did, first with her tongue, and then with her body, only the dang steering wheel wouldn’t allow her much movement.
“Coop,” she panted when his mouth left hers.
“You taste like beer,” he said, licking and sucking on her neck. He chuckled deep in his chest. “I wanted to taste the whiskey on your lips earlier, but this will do.”
“Spend the night with me,” she said, pulling his face back up to hers. “Please.”
He stared into her eyes. “I want more than just plain and simple sex, Natalie.”
“Well, I’d offer up my virginity, but you’re a few years too late to that party.”
“Hold that thought.” He opened his door and eased out with a small grunt of pain.
He came around the pickup and opened her door for her, pocketing the keys when she handed them over. Taking her by the hand, he crunched along on the gravel drive next to her as they walked toward Gramps’s Winnebago.
A breeze rattled the dry grasses down by Jackrabbit Creek. It was too chilly for frogs or crickets, but the stars glittered in the heavens and Natalie’s fingers and toes tingled in anticipation of being alone with Coop again.
“I have one condition,” he said as they neared the Winnebago.
“Name it.”
“After you finish playing nurse, let me run the show.”
She pulled the key to the Winnebago from her pocket. “Will I like this show?”
“If I do it right.”
“Well, don’t let me get in your way.” She unlocked the door.
Same as last night, Coop went in first and made sure there were no boogeymen or diamond killers waiting for her. When he returned to collect her, she joined him inside and locked the door behind her.
They stared at each other for a couple of heartbeats.
Bandages, remember?
“First things first,” she said, her voice sounded husky. It probably had something to do with her heart huddling in her throat. “Take off your shirt so I can have a look at the patch job they did on you.”
He slid off his coat with a slight wince, allowing her to help with the sleeves. “I’d rather you take off your shirt.”
She chuckled. “You have to uphold your end of the deal.” She moved closer, reaching for the hem of his long-sleeve T-shirt. “Want me to help with this?”
He grabbed her hands, stopping her. “If you help me take off my shirt, Natalie, we’re not going to bother with looking at my injuries.”
That was a good point. “You’re right. I’ll just watch.”
He pulled off his shirt with only a few curses and a grunt of pain at the end.
Natalie stared at his bare chest, her fingers wanting to explore. The last time she’d seen Coop shirtless had been when he was babysitting Violet to keep her from going to jail. He’d been wearing pants and scars and that was it. Natalie’s retinas had nearly melted.
Her gaze lowered to the big swatch of white tape and cotton bandages rounding his side. “Does it hurt bad?”
“It stings. Thankfully, it was only birdshot. What’s really driving me nuts is the tape. It keeps sticking to some of the wounds.”
“Let’s go to the bedroom and take it off then.” She led the way, pointing at the bed. “Lie down on your stomach.”
Once he did, she climbed on the bed and straddled his hips. Carefully, she picked
