Hang Tough(73)
He nuzzled her temple. “This wasn’t a onetime thing for you? Crossing ‘banging a cowboy’ off your list on your Wild West adventure?”
Jade scooted up and got in his face. “It’s not a onetime thing for me, any more than it is for you. We can at least be honest that neither of us is into casual one-offs. Or at least not very often.”
“More often than I’d like in my younger years.”
“Recently?”
He shook his head. Then he curled his hand around her jaw. “This didn’t happen because you were convenient. This didn’t happen because I’m tryin’ to manipulate you around to my way of thinking with Miz G. This happened because you’ve fired my blood since the moment I set eyes on you. And I like you.” He stroked the corner of her mouth with his thumb. “We clear on that?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” He pressed his mouth to hers. “Be right back.”
In the bathroom Tobin ditched the condom. He took a leak. He washed his hands and face and wet a washcloth with cold water. Exiting the bathroom, he found Jade beneath the sheet.
She eyed the washcloth suspiciously. “What’s that?”
“How sore are you now?”
“A little.”
Which probably meant a lot. “This will help.” Tobin pulled back the sheet and said, “Spread ’em.”
“You’re joking.”
“Nope.” He waited.
Finally she slid her heels out and said, “Whatever.”
He placed the cloth between her legs and muffled her shriek with his mouth. When he was relatively sure she wouldn’t take a swing at him, he ended the kiss and looked into her eyes. “Better?”
“Yes, but it’s cold.”
Tobin crawled in bed, gathering her into his arms. It surprised him how quickly and easily she snuggled into him. “If it gets too cold, I’d be more than happy to warm you up with my mouth.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Jade drew circles on his chest. “How many condoms did you bring tonight?”
“Just one.”
She lifted her head and looked at him. “Really?”
He grinned. “Nope. Got another one in my wallet.”
“Boy Scout,” she teased.
“Optimistic,” he volleyed back. “As much as I’d love to spend the night over you, under you, behind you, seeing how many times I can make you come, it’d kill the mood to see you wincing.”
“Has that happened before?”
Even as he wondered how honest he should be, Jade said, “Truth between us always, Tobin.”
“All right. I’ve had a few women only want me for my cock; that never lasted long. But one time I stripped down and the chick I was with looked at my groin with complete horror and told me to get my ‘meat club’ the hell away from her.”
“Meat club? Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Meat club,” Jade repeated. Then she started to giggle.
He loved to hear her giggle; it might’ve been one of the happiest sounds in the entire world.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing,” she said, still laughing. “I’ll pipe down before you club me with your—”
Tobin put his hand over her mouth. “Don’t even think about sayin’ it.”
She snickered off and on for the next little bit. Then she yawned.
“Want me to shut off the light?”
“Mmm. But come right back where you were. I’m so comfy like this.”
Once they were twined together in the darkness, Jade said, “This didn’t happen because I wanted a wild cowboy sex tale to brag about to my friends in New York. It didn’t happen because I was bored and lonely—I live with that every day so that’s nothing new. It happened because something about you sucked me in, Tobin. The more time I spend with you, the more I like you.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks.”
As he drifted off she whispered, “And now I’m pretty fond of your meat club too.”
“Now you’re in for it.” Tobin tickled her until she shrieked.
Then he kissed her until she twined herself around him again.
Sleep didn’t come as easily the second time when she said, “How will we explain this to GG? Or is this something we keep to ourselves for a little longer?”
“I don’t know, darlin’. I truly don’t. Can we talk about it in the morning?”
“I suppose. But I’m not really tired anymore.”
“Me neither.”
“Do you want to watch TV?”
“We haven’t done that, have we?”
“That’s because we’re not allowed in the same room.” Jade snickered.