Two hours later,I sit atop the top beam of the large corral, watching some of the cowboys’ roping cattle when I feel a hand on the small of my back. I look down to see Levi lean beside me, his eyes staring up into mine.
“Hello there, beautiful,” he greets me with a smile. “You enjoy your afternoon?”
“Oh, absolutely,” I tell him. “I got to break a horse, take part in cowboy poker, and some of the cowboys were very, very helpful.”
Levi’s face falls and a flash of anger appears in his eyes, causing me to laugh as I swing my legs over and climb down to stand in front of him. I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his lips down to mine in a brief kiss.
“I’m kidding, baby,” I tell him softly, and he immediately sags in relief, shaking his head before pressing his forehead against mine. “I watched Stevie ride and got to brush some of the horses, then Colt told me a little about what he and the others do before Lane claimed he could rope better. I’ve been watching them ever since. Apparently, I’m the judge even though I know nothing about what makes someone better at roping than another.”
“Well, the guest house is ready,” he says before lowering his voice. “I can show you, if you like.”
My cheeks flush and I bite my lip, the image now flashing in my mind and I catch myself squeezing my legs together. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
“You never cease to surprise me,” he tells me, tracing his finger slowly down my jawline and the side of my neck before his hand gently lands on my throat. “What else do you have for me?”
“Get me alone and find out.”
Wordlessly, Levi takes a step back and bends, resting his shoulder against my waist and stands. I laugh as my hands push against his back, his hand firmly on the back of my thighs so I can’t move.
“Levi, I can walk,” I say through my laughter.
“I like my view better this way,” he responds, giving my butt a smack. I hear some of the cowboys’ whistle and my cheeks heat more than I thought possible. “It’s your birthday, baby. I’m going to make it your best one yet.”
My entire skin ignites in anticipation. Up to now, we have done everything we can without actually having sex. If it wasn’t my work interrupting us, it was his. If it wasn’t picking up Claire, it was having to bake for her school fundraiser. If it wasn’t a busted pipe at Levi’s condo, it was our friends insisting that we go grab a drink. But now here, in Montana, with nothing but the two of us in a small cabin, we are finally free from distractions and outside factors—and I’m eager for him to show me exactly what I’ve been missing.
CHAPTER TWENTY
THAT NIGHT
We arrive at the guest house about ten minutes later, Levi having taken his time on the four-wheeler, unlike Stevie, to let me take in more of my surroundings. The guest house is much like the main house, but smaller without a wraparound porch.
“Welcome to our home for the next few days,” he says as he rolls to a stop a few feet away from the front steps. He climbs off and reaches over, looping his arm under my legs while his other rests on my back. He hoists me up, causing me to chuckle and wrap my arms around his neck. “Hopefully it’ll suffice.”
Levi carries me up the front steps and pushes open the front door, taking us inside and kicking the door shut with his foot. He slowly sets me down, and my eyes scan the space.
To my left is a small sitting area with a couch, a single chair, and a coffee table in front of a fireplace. To the right is a small kitchen. Enough counter space to cook a small meal and a moveable island that was clearly bought to add more surfaces to the kitchen. In the corner, there’s a built-in breakfast nook against a large window.
The back wall is made of a large glass sliding door leading to a small deck off the back and beside it is a black door,presumably leading to the bedroom. I walk through the space and head toward the door, sliding it open and stepping onto the deck.
The sun has begun to set, the sky a mirage of pinks and purples making a halo behind the mountains in the distance. There’s a small stream in the backyard that’s reflecting the sky, shimmering with the light breeze.
Levi comes up behind me, his arms wrapping around my midsection, and he rests his head in the crook of my neck. He places soft kisses against my skin, and I sigh involuntarily.
“I can get used to this,” I tell him, resting my hands over the top of his. “I wouldn’t mind living here one day.”
He hums, kissing up to the sensitive spot behind my ear before whispering, “You should see the bedroom before you make that kind of claim, Lowe.”
“I don’t need to,” I whisper back, spinning around in his arms so I can face him. “Who says we were going to make it to the bedroom?”
“That greedy, huh?” He presses his lips to my forehead, then down my cheeks, and either side of my lips.
I shrug. “I guess I just want to see if you can get me off. You know, since you failed last time.”
A surprised laugh escapes me as he hoists me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as he holds me under my thighs. He turns and begins walking us into the house, heading straight for the built in breakfast nook and setting me down on the table.
“Last time I checked, I was interrupted. I wouldn’t call that a failure.” Levi slowly sinks to his knees in front of me, slipping my shoes off my feet and my eyebrows shoot up. “But I’m not one to leave things unfinished.”
“Levi.” I lean forward as he looks up at me, his eyes hooded with promise. “Is this really a good idea?”
