The Cowboy's Baby(34)

Holy Christ.

The man might seem an angel, but he fucked like a demon.

Esme rested her forehead against his shoulder as her heart rate slowed. The only sounds were the soft breeze as grass and low tree branches rustled around them; and the young woman thought she couldn’t remember a moment when she’d been more at peace.

When Daniel finally spoke, it was in a low voice fraught with concern. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He lifted his head from her shoulder, his gaze worried as he hurriedly began to look over her from head to foot. When his softening erection slid from her, Esme emitted a low moan of loss and Daniel cupped her face with a deep frown. “Esme, I’m so sorry.” His tone held not the slightest iota of humor. “Do we need to go to the hospital?”

He looked so serious – so afraid, that Esme couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He thought he’d hurt her? The very idea was ludicrous, more ludicrous than any possibility of needing a hospital. The moment the first sounds of her mirth colored the air, Daniel’s face contorted in concerted confusion and she tried to calm herself enough to speak properly. “No, Daniel…I’m sorry. I don’t know what impression I gave you but you certainly didn’t hurt me. Quite the opposite, in fact.”

The man’s frown softened somewhat. “You’re sure?”

He looked so adorable sitting there, his expression screwed into one of complete perplex, that Esme didn’t know whether to feel sorry for him or to be intensely aroused by the man’s incomparable naked form.

Rising onto her elbows, she touched her lips to his in a soft peck, her gaze reassuring. “I’m sure. That was probably as far to the opposite end of the spectrum from pain as you can possibly go.”

Daniel’s smile was slow and crooked, igniting fire in her belly anew where she thought she had to be completely exhausted.

Apparently not. “I didn’t hurt you.”

She shook her head, flushing slightly as his eyes roamed over her naked form with renewed hunger. “Not in the slightest.”

Daniel drew her to him, molding his mouth to hers and kissing her until her body was putty in his hands. “Your breasts…” He murmured huskily against her mouth, “They’re going to grow more, aren’t they?”

Esme couldn’t help an uncharacteristically girlish giggle at his enthusiasm. “I’m going to get fat too. Don’t forget that.”

“It’s not fat.” The rancher nipped at her bottom lip, sending a spike of sensation to pool between her legs. “That’s my son you’re talking about.” He cupped a hand over her belly with quirk of his lips. “Watch your mouth.”

Esme could do little else, with the way the man was currently manipulating it. As he eased her onto her side on the blanket, spooning her against his renewed erection, the dark-haired woman reached back to wrap an arm around his neck and hold him closer.

Closing her eyes for an indulgent moment, she pretended that he loved her – that she’d cook new meals for him every day for the rest of their lives and the baby growing inside her belly would be theirs instead of his.

It was a lovely dream; and though it couldn’t last forever, in that moment, in the clearing by the pond, with Daniel sliding deep within her for the second time, she was content to pretend.





***





Chapter Seven: Entangled



She was pissed.

Even five months after she had walked out on the sorry son of a bitch, Alyssa was still angry as a hornet. She had given Daniel Hartsford everything. Her heart, her soul, and all of her patience. And then, what did he want of her? A complete and total commandeering of her independence. He wanted to be with her all the time. She couldn’t go a single place by herself. He wanted outings and a pretty little bauble for his arm, so she gave it to him.

At his expense of course.

Then he wanted all of the things she’d pretended to be at first but couldn’t maintain.

Men were such ridiculous creatures. Everyone knew that the first stages of a relationship didn’t show anyone’s true self. It was all about being who the other person wanted you to be. The challenge was staying in love after everything was said and done – after the true colors came out.

By this point, Daniel knew who she was. He knew what she needed.

And still, he asked the world of her. He wanted romance when he wanted it, and when she offered it up – when she needed something, he was always exasperated. Didn’t he understand how difficult it was for her to keep her looks up at her age? Hair, nails, facials, massages, waxes, mani-pedis – it was all necessary to maintain her image.

He wanted a gorgeous girlfriend? Well he had to pay for it. It was a given when someone worked as hard as her to be the perfect piece of arm candy. The designer clothes, bags, shoes and expensive jewelry – even the car she drove – he had no idea how well these things contributed to his image.