“Did I pass the riding lesson?”
He traces circles on my thigh. “You’re like a dream come true,” he finally says, and I almost laugh because I believe him. I inch closer to his lips, and he kisses me. Not the hungry, frantic kisses from before, but slow and sweet in a way that unnerves me. Something inside me is breaking open.
I invite him to stay the night, but he has to get an early start in the morning. When he rises and starts getting dressed, I hate it.
I don’t want him to go, but I have no idea how this—lesson? Hook-up? Situation? Whatever we’re supposed to call it—works. But I do know he isn’t mine to keep, and it’s not my place to make any demands.
“We have one more date,” I remind him and myself of our agreement.
“We do.” He cocks his head and smiles as he buttons his shirt. A few brown strands of his tousled thick hair fall across his forehead. I have to fight the urge to get up, brush them off his face and kiss the hell out of him. Instead, I stay where I am and sadly watch as he tugs his boots on, wishing there was something I could do to make him stay.
He strolls back to me with a sexy swagger and reaches down, brushing his fingers over my cheek gently, as though I was made of antique glass.
“Thank you for trusting me sweetheart.” Brecken bends, kissing me tenderly, and I melt into him, hoping he’ll claim me as his all over again. “Sweet dreams, Maisie.”
Reluctantly, he pulls back and straightens, staring down at me on the bed with a mysterious smile. I have no idea what he’s thinking, but I grin too. It’s impossible not to, and we just stare at each other like goofballs who can’t believe their luck.
“Same time tomorrow?”
Chapter four
Brecken
A warm Montana breeze slips through the high upper windows, carrying the scent of jasmine. It reminds me of her. Everything makes me think of Maisie. She’s been in my thoughts from the moment we met.
After tonight, I’m supposed to walk away from her big blue eyes, from the way her body has learned to respond to mine so quickly, from the soft sounds she makes when she comes.
I’ve been volunteering as an escort here for three years and haven’t had an issue. I know how to keep dates professional, with clean, clear boundaries.
Simple.
Safe.
Maisie has shattered every single rule.
I stop outside room 221 and flex my hands with my cock already half-hard from the memory of her riding me last night.
Walking away after two nights would have been the smart thing. This third date feels like dropping off a cliff with no parachute.
I knock twice, and the door opens immediately.
Maisie’s dark hair is loose around her shoulders; her intense sapphire eyes lock onto mine, turning me into a puppy. My heart forgets how to be a heart and starts throwing itself at my ribs like it’s trying to break out and hand itself to her.
“Brecken,” she grins, taking a step back to let me inside. Her sheer white slip skims the tops of her thighs; one thin strap is already sliding off her shoulder. My cock twitches at the sight, but I remind myself to slow down and stick to the plan.
As I move further into the room, I breathe in the scent of vanilla, warm skin, and the faint tangerine of one of the resort’s signature lotions. “It smells like you in here.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.” She meets my eyes with a shy smile.
“It’s the best.” I set the bottle of wine I brought on the side table. “I thought we could start slow tonight, make it feel real.”
“Like we’re married?”
“Exactly,” I lie. Pretending with Maisie stopped feeling like pretend somewhere around the second time I kissed her.
Maisie brings me two glasses from the minibar. After I pour the wine, we step out onto the balcony. I peer up at the stars, because looking at her pretty face, knowing she’ll never be mine, hurts. “The sky is clear tonight.” I point. “There’s the Little Dipper.”
“I think I prefer the Big Dipper.” She giggles, taking another sip, glancing at me sideways.
