Garrett chuckled as he brushed her hair away from her face.
“Most first times feel awkward and clumsy. If your partner knows, it certainly helps the situation.”
“I’m older than most women who do it for the first time,” she admitted, covering her breasts. “When Mom died, I took over the ranch. Dad drank himself into oblivion, and I didn’t dare trust him alone with Tara. Living on a ranch with a bunch of cowboys gave me plenty of opportunities, but Iacted as their boss. The men respected me. I didn’t want to chance losing a good worker when I needed them all. Then, when I fled with Tara, I didn’t have time to date,” she babbled.
“Riley,” he said softly.
“Now I’ve made everything weird and can you turn around? I need to dress,” she said, trying to hold back the humiliating tears.
“Riley,” he said, turning her to straddle him.
“It’s not like I don’t know about sex, I lived on a ranch for Pete’s sake.”
“Look at me,” he whispered.
Her gaze slowly met his. She held her breath, waiting for him to laugh at her.
“I think it’s special. Giving yourself for the first time and trusting me with it means something. I’m falling for you, Riley.”
“You are?” she asked, relieved he didn’t find her weird.
“Yeah,” he said, putting his forehead to hers. “There’s nothing embarrassing about making love with someone you care about.” His hands roamed to her butt. “You’re beautiful.”
Riley wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Don’t be. I don’t mean this to sound condescending, but I respect the hell out of you for waiting. You gave me a very special gift. Didn’t you have a friend to talk to about this stuff?”
Riley played with the hair on his chest. “Mom died two weeks after my sixteenth birthday. My dad started drinking the night before her funeral. The hands continued to work the ranch, but things needed tending and Dad never stayed sober enough to handle anything. I got him to sign theinvoices for the first few months but finally gave up and did it myself. Everyone in town knew I ran the place. At eighteen, my best friend went off to college like everyone else my age and I stayed for Tara. I dropped out of school and received my GED because I didn’t need it to do what I loved. I already knew how.”
Garrett kissed her shoulder. Stretching, he picked up her dress and threw it over her head. “Let’s go back to the cabin.” His hand lingered on her breasts, and he tied the ribbon to hold them in the bodice. Riley gazed disappointedly at the bales of hay before they left the barn.
Entering the cabin, Riley headed to her room. Her body felt restless. Garrett made her feel better, but it didn’t stop the racing thoughts going through her mind. Surprised to hear him following her and entering the bathroom, he filled the tub with hot water. He returned to her and placed the sweater on the chair next to the bed.
“What are you doing?” she said, as he untied the dress.
Lifting it from her body, he tossed it beside the sweater. “I’m taking care of you. Before you tell me, ‘you’re not the boss of me,’ give me a chance to show you what making love feels like when you’re not impaled,” he chuckled.
“What if I’m terrible at it? I usually catch on once I’ve done things a few times,” she said, before realizing she said it out loud.
Garrett laughed. “You’re killing me, Riley. My cock is already stiff and you’re making it hurt.”
“Don’t complain to me. You’re not the one who will be walking funny tomorrow,” she grumbled.
He picked her up and carried her into the bathroom, sitting her on the edge of the tub. Garrett tied up her hair. Removing his clothes, he stepped into the water. He heldout his hand to her. “I’ll lift you and keep your arm over the rim.”
She nodded as he lifted her and set her in his lap. Riley sighed as the hot water soothed her lady parts. Garrett took the sponge and soaped her shoulders and her good arm. He trailed the suds dripping between her breasts and washed them thoroughly.
“You’ll smell like my honeysuckle soap,” Riley warned. “I like it when you smell like leather and horses.”
“When we’re done, I’ll shower in the hall bathroom,” he said, while his fingers played with her nipples. “Lie against me and relax,” he murmured.
“It doesn’t seem fair when I can’t play with you,” she said slowly as his hands traveled down between her legs. His finger gently circled around her nub. Her head fell back against his broad shoulder.
“You can explore me later. I’ll even let you get in your practice,” he teased. “Do you know how to relax?”
“You mean not do anything? You know what they say about idle hands…”
Garrett kissed her shoulder and nibbled along her neck, gently biting her ear. Riley trembled under his touch and her body craved more.
