Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"Yeah? I thought we already established that I make the rules around here," I say, climbing to my feet. I have to adjust my dick, which draws her attention. "Besides, we just did a whole helluva lot more than talk about sex in this kitchen."
"You're breaking the rule."
I grin, shaking my head. Fuck, I'm so in love with her it's ridiculous. I prowl across the kitchen toward her and drag her into my arms to kiss the shit out of her. "Don't you ever change, Cassia Murphy, you hear me?"
"You're getting a little out of control with these rules of yours, cowboy," she mutters, snuggling up against my chest. "I'll change if I want to change."
"Don't you dare."
"Fine. But only if you'll go get a shower. You honestly smell like a barn."
"I'll go shower in a minute," I promise, scooping her up to carry her back to the table. "We need to talk about something first."
She groans, faceplanting into my chest when I set her on top of the table. "I'm already sure I don't want to hear whatever you're about to say."
"I just want to know why you lied to me today," I murmur, gently tilting her head back until she looks at me. "Why didn't you want me to know who you are?"
"Um, because stalking is illegal in all fifty states?" she says, rolling her eyes.
"It's not stalking when I invited you here."
"Can I put clothes on for this conversation?"
I want to tell her no, but I can tell by the look in her eyes that she's feeling exposed and vulnerable, so I snag her shirt off the back of the chair and help her pull it on over her head. Once she's covered, she expels a sharp breath.
"I guess I was worried that if you saw me, you'd regret asking me to come," she says with a shrug, her gaze on the table. "So I thought I'd just do a little bit of research from afar and then leave, and you'd never know I was here. Except your bull is Satan and had other plans."
"The only part of that I like is the fact you recognize that the bull is a bastard," I say, frowning. "I don't want you out in the pastures by yourself. Even the younger bulls can be dangerous. We're coming into calving season."
"Trust me, the last place I plan to be is out there with Hamburger," she grumbles. "I hate running, especially if it involves being chased."
"As for the rest of what you said…what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Everything according to my mother." She rolls her eyes. "She's a former pageant queen. She never lets me forget that I'm not like her. I try not to let it bother me, but then I saw you and I guess it just…" She shrugs helplessly. "I was expecting someone more like me, not like, well, you. It made me a little crazy."
"You're not like me," I agree, sending up a little prayer for that. "You're too goddamn beautiful for a motherfucker like me. I'm a crusty old bastard. Ask anyone here, they'll tell you. I'm a grouchy motherfucker most of the time. I don't deserve to kiss your little toes, let alone lick that juicy cunt."
"Cord!" she cries.
"You're beautiful. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn't worth a goddamn minute of your time, Cassia," I growl, dead serious. If her mom doesn't treat her with the respect she deserves, fuck her mom. I'll be putting a stop to that shit real quick.
"It's not just the way I look," she says, her voice soft. "She's spent most of my life picking apart everything I do from the way I talk to the things I say to the way I dress to the books I write. As far as she's concerned, the only way I'll ever find a good man is by changing everything about me. I guess when I saw you and realized that not only are you this rugged, sexy cowboy, but you also own the biggest ranch in California, all of that came flooding in and I freaked out a little. I expected you to be like every other hot, successful man I've ever met. But you are not what I expected, Cord Decker."
"I might have lied about knitting for kittens," I say, grinning.
"You're a good man," she whispers, swallowing hard. Her gaze drifts across my face, soft and open. "Maybe one of the best I've ever met."
"You think so?" I trace my thumb across her bottom lip, just staring at her. I could get used to this, holding her, talking to her. There's something intimate about it, more intimate even than eating her to orgasm while she's screaming my name. Maybe there's a little softness in me after all. For her, there certainly seems to be.