"I'm okay with you being selfish if it leads you back to my bed."

She snickers and bites down on her lip. "That depends on how good you can cook a steak."

Chapter 16.

Callie There's one thing I can't stand. It's when people make decisions for me, because they think they know what's best.

Cob made the same mistake, but I was quick to correct him.

After showing up at his house just to rea.s.sure myself that he wasn't lying, I've discovered a bigger problem. Cob's current a.s.signment threatens the Mitch.e.l.l ranch, and I'm not sure he can do anything to prevent the inevitable from happening. My uncle is a popular man in his town. He donates to community organizations, has friends within the government, and shares his faith at his local church. He's a powerful man, though I doubt he's ever had to deal with something this threatening to his family.

In a lot of ways Cob is right. He has thousands of acres of land, some he's only acquired in recent years, but that doesn't change the fact that he's worked his a.s.s off to ensure his family is taken care of for years to come. The fact that people are coming in and threatening to take some of that away has to be difficult.

I now understand what he and Noah had been arguing about when I first arrived. It's better if I stay out of it and go about my life. Cob is the first guy to make me feel wanted. I'm not about to give that up because of his occupation.

We sit at his small kitchen table eating steaks and corn. After we've finished we remain and spend several hours talking about life and our past. I learn more about his family, and even some interesting facts about how to run a hotel. He tells me about college experiences, some of which I'm shocked he admits to. We laugh a lot, and when we start to tire he insists on leaving the dishes until morning.

I suspect Cob wants to take me to bed like the previous night, but instead leads me into the living room where we cuddle up together and watch a movie. He holds my hand and keeps me close, every once in a while taking a break from the screen to kiss me. I can feel my eyes getting heavy, but fight to remain awake. It's been a rough evening, and stress has left me undeniably exhausted, not to mention the night before where we stayed up half the night having s.e.x.

Before I know it I awake in the arms of Cob. He's carrying me to his bed and placing me gently down on his soft mattress. He brings his lips down and presses them over mine. "Get some rest."

"I'm sorry," I offer.

"Don't be. I'm about to join you. Wake me up later if you get an itch that you can't scratch alone. I'll be sure to take care of it for you."

I manage a smile before everything goes black.

It's still dark when I open my eyes and realize where I am and who is next to me. Instead of dwelling on our little disagreement, I choose to nestle my body over his and appreciate that we're becoming closer.

I suppose some would say I'm doing this because I'm desperate to have even a hint of what my sister does. Maybe they're right. I do envy her life, but my interest in Cob has changed. Two days ago I would have said he was an a.s.shole I hoped I'd never see again. Now I'm fighting to keep dating him, because he makes me forget that I've left home. I'm comfortable with him, and it scares me, because I know I'll let my guard down and fall victim to my inability to move slow.

I have a terrible track record with men, albeit Cob has the same with women. Maybe we're doomed to fail. Maybe this is just a temporary fix we both need to get through a tough part of our life. He can be my anchor, while I provide him with the company he longs to have. Whatever the case, I feel I'm where I want to be.

I make the decision to pretend I don't know about the proposed road. It's better if I keep my distance from my uncle's business and focus on my new life, including a blooming relationship with Cob.

We have s.e.x in the middle of the night. Cob takes his time, as if he isn't tired at all. He makes it a point to use protection, and falls back asleep soon after we've finished. Since I'm not used to spending the night with a man, I find it soothing to hear his light snoring. For a while I lay and listen, wondering if my mother finds the same comfort. Does she miss it when he's not in bed with her? Is it something she's gotten used to with time?

Thinking about her makes me feel guilty. She's worried about me, and it's not fair. She doesn't deserve to hurt. I know most children are expected to leave once they turn adults, but I've never felt like they wanted me to. Even my dad seemed distant after I announced I'd be moving away.

Silent tears begin to fall down my cheeks. It's been a couple of days and I'm already homesick. I'm afraid I'm not making good choices already.

My sniffling awakens Cob. He sits up and turns on the lamp next to his bed. "Callie, you all right?"

I wipe my eyes to prevent him from seeing the tears I really won't be able to hide. "Yeah, just having a moment."

"Of regret?"

"No. It's not about you."

"Earlier when you told me about your sister and how you made the decision to leave, I gathered you were still upset. Are you homesick?"

I nod. "It's crazy. I used to come here to Kentucky in the summers for weeks at a time and never thought about going home. What's wrong with me?"

"You know this isn't a visit. Before you knew you could go home, that you would eventually go there. It's different now. You've made a decision to move here permanently. Those feelings could pa.s.s with time. I know I hated when I first moved away. I wanted to be strong, but it sucked. I started partying, just so I wouldn't miss them. I slept with random chicks, because the idea of being alone was terrifying. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed every minute of it, but it wasn't a wise choice."

I appreciate that he's trying to comfort me, so I manage a smile. "I didn't mean to wake you."

He strokes my hair. "It's fine. It's nice to be reminded that you showed up on my door tonight demanding an explanation, that led us back to this bed."

I rest my head against his chest and cry like a baby, and not once does he try to push me away. We're still unfamiliar, yet I feel close to him. Our undeniable connection allows me to open up to him; to feel comfortable confessing my worries. He's giving me more reason to want to be near him, and I wonder if it's some kind of desperate plea for me to reevaluate my current predicament.

Cob rubs my back until I'm able to calm down. He places soft kisses on my forehead and waits until I'm collected to speak to me. "You're going to be okay."

"I hope you're right."

"Date me."

I giggle. "What?"

"Date me. Be my girlfriend. Spend time with me."

"Isn't that what we're doing?"

He smiles. "Yeah, but let's do this the right way instead of a.s.sbackwards. It's been a while since I asked this of anyone. I don't even know if this is what the cool kids are calling it these days, but I'd like to date you."

"You understand that would require us to go places other than your house. We'd have to be seen in public together, and you'd be taking the chance of my family discovering who I'm involved with."

He rubs the leftover tears from my cheeks. "I don't want to see you cry anymore, Callie."

"If I agree to date you, what will it entail?"

"We'll be exclusive for starters. I know that's important to you."

"Well, yeah. I'm not into multiple partners."

He clicks his fingers. "d.a.m.n, I was hoping for an orgy or at the least a threesome."

I shove him playfully. "Shut up. You were not."

"Okay, I wasn't. Been there, done that. It was fun."

"Let me make this perfectly clear. There are certain things about your past that I may never want to know."

He's cackling. "Good point."

I kiss him quickly on the lips. "I'll date you."

"So what do normal new couples do?"

"Sleep when it's night, I think."

He yawns. "But I'm not tired."

I reach over and turn off the lamp, coming back down to rest my head over his bare chest. I run my fingers across the small patch of hair in the center. "Have you ever been in a committed relationship?"

"Not since high school."

"So you're capable?" I a.s.sume.

"If it's what I want, I make it happen."

"I don't want to let my guard down and end up hurt. I hope you can appreciate that and understand that I have issues with trust."

"Oh really, I hadn't noticed when you practically beat down my door to prove I had another woman over in your place."

I smack him lightly. "Okay, that was a little compulsive. I admit it wasn't the right move, but you can't complain about where we ended up tonight."

"I think it's morning, actually. I mean, the frogs have stopped and the birds are singing. That usually means the sun is about to rise."

"No matter the time, I'm in your bed, agreeing to date you."

"Yeah, you certainly are. And you're naked. That's always a plus."

Cob seems harmless, unlike the predator my friend has made him out to be. I'm trying to be defensive, but every time he says something witty, or does something charming, I fall victim to his persuasion, forgetting all about the warnings I've been given.

The idea of being involved with a man is exciting. I feel renewed, but a little leery. I'm afraid. It's easy to agree to a relationship, but difficult to keep the fire burning long term. My fear is that Cob will get bored, while I begin to feel settled. What will happen then? Am I thinking too far ahead? Should I take one day at a time and be thankful that a man actually wants to spend time with me? Maybe I should be more appreciative, considering I have absolutely nothing left to lose.

Right before we fall back asleep I say what's on my mind. "If you hurt me I'll rip off your d.i.c.k and feed it to the hogs at my uncle's ranch."

"That seems fair," he replies. "Shall I sleep with one eye open?"

We kiss again. "Probably."

He laughs against my lips. "You're pretty d.a.m.n awesome. I'm glad you hunted me down tonight and forced me to date you."

"Forced you?" He thinks he's funny.

His arms hold me tighter. "Before I saw you in that bar I was ready to quit my job and move back to Pennsylvania."

"And now?"

"And now, two days later, I'm reconsidering. Of all the women I've fooled around with, I never expected I'd see you again. You're the only one I haven't been able to move on from. When I ask you to date me, I want you to know it's a big leap for me. I don't usually date women. I've never been interested in it."

"I've already accepted your offer."

"I know. I'm trying to get used to being open with a woman. It's going to take patience and practice. Be gentle with me. I'd hate for my d.i.c.k to be fought over by a bunch of hogs. I don't particularly enjoy being muddy."

I keep my eyes closed as I respond. "I'm going to bed now, Cob. Tomorrow is a new day. We'll have plenty more to talk about."

"Okay fine. I'll go to sleep."

We laugh together. He's once again distracted me from my pain. "Goodnight, Cob, you big man child."

Now he's tickling me.

We're not going back to sleep.

Not for a while.

Chapter 17.

Callie He's like a wild animal, always hungry and waiting for the opportunity to feed. His s.e.xual desire doesn't cease, not even when he's sleep deprived.

He maneuvers his body over mine, a stealth rhythm set from the beginning. My nails dig deeply into the tender skin on his back, as the first waves of euphoria carry me into the abyss. I'm floating on a cloud, indestructible from pain and loneliness. He continues his stride, taking me to new heights with each savage thrust. His pace quickens, sweat trickling from his forehead as he comes close for a kiss. The walls of my p.u.s.s.y are being stretched by his girth and it pumps in and out, his thumb circling my c.l.i.t as if it's a duty. My a.s.s is in a spasm, lifting off the bed as another o.r.g.a.s.m tears through me. He's relentless. I'm withering away while he's contained to proceed. Parts of my body feel like they're on fire, while others are numb. We've been at this for what seems like hours. The sun has slowly come fully in through the sheer curtained window. My stomach growls from hunger, but first we must satiate the carnal parts that hunger for more.

I let my hands glide down to his firm a.s.s. I grip both cheeks and help slow his grinding. Loan groans vibrate from his lips to mine as we kiss. Our tongues dance as the embrace intensifies. He sits up and raises my legs to sit on his shoulders, so he can peer down and watch his c.o.c.k sliding in and out of me. I focus as his eyes are forced shut to prevent an early release. Cob strives to be the best, doing more work with each encounter. He's unforgiving when it comes to leaving any inch of my body unattended. It's like he's studied me, and perfected a map of every place he needs to tend to.

When he eats me I come unglued. That's how this started. My eyes were closed and I could feel my body falling asleep, only to have something warm running over my p.u.s.s.y, he licked me until I was soaked, and then continued until I was dry.

I happily returned the favor, sucking his c.o.c.k until he forced my mouth away. He stood off the bed and took me from behind until his legs weakened.

Now we've been at it in this position for a while. Since it's daytime, I'm able to look into his eyes and get carried away by how it makes me feel to see him so turned on. We lose ourselves in another bout of kissing, at the same time both of us tightening up and coming together.

Afterwards we lay naked in the bed beside each other. I'm staring at the ceiling listening to the sound of his heavy breathing.

The s.e.x between us is amazing. As we become familiar with each other, I can feel that pull to want to know everything there is to learn about Jacob Monroe. Right now we're having fun. We're exploring and taking a leap that neither of us expected. I know I'm risking a verbal lashing from my family if they ever discovered he's behind the road situation, but I'm willing to risk it for this chance of finding someone who makes me want to be happy again.

After that night we see each other often. I'm hired at a local salon seven days after arriving in Kentucky. When I'm not working I spend time on the ranch with my cousins. I help out when I can, and try not to listen when my uncle and his son get into it over the future of the land. It's hard knowing what I do and keeping silent about it. I see them struggling and wish there was something I could do to rectify the entire situation.

At night, when I know my family is asleep, especially my great-aunt who I live with, I hop in my car and visit with Cob. My cousins have a pretty good idea that I, at least, have something casual going on with him. They've heard me slip and talk about doing things together.

When we want to be in public we drive an hour to another town. We see movies, dine at different restaurants, and sometimes even hike in the beautiful mountains. It's funny how we'd originally come together because of s.e.x, and even though it's still a big part of the relationship, I'm more interested in spending time with him as his companion.

He holds my hand in public. He often kisses me for no reason. Cob tells me I'm special. He says I've changed him.

Getting to know him like I have and sneaking around to do it has shown me something important I've been unable to accept until now.