Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(72)

*

Dirk was sitting on the edge of the bed lost in his thoughts and staring at his boots when Janice emerged from the bathroom. She left the light on and the door open, he guessed intentionally. She scooped up her dress from the floor with a look of uncertainty. “What now?” she asked softly, a tiny frown wrinkling her brow.

He didn’t immediately answer, mainly because his brain still wasn’t fully functioning yet. He’d been so lost in the moment…in her…that he hadn’t given any thought to the aftermath. Her brown gaze continued to search his. Her question had caught him off guard. Staying together the whole night seemed a huge step…but then again…maybe it was time to get off the fence.

“Bed looks real comfortable.” He bounced lightly a couple of times. “Feels comfortable too. Seems a shame to waste it.”

Her brows scrunched together. “You saying you want to stay?”

“The room’s ours for the night,” he replied, “but the choice is yours, Red.”

She chewed her lip. “I would like to stay, but I’d need to be home before Cody gets up for school.”

“OK with me, as long as you don’t mind getting up at a hellacious hour to drive back.”

She smiled. “I don’t mind as long as you’re planning to join me in that bed.”

“I don’t intend to sleep in the chair.”

“But you’re still dressed,” she observed.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m well aware of that.”

“You gonna undress?”

The idea had him feeling twitchy. “I’d rather not.”

“Time to cowboy up, Dirk. I’m not giving you a choice.”

“Why are you pushing it?” he asked.

“I told you your injuries don’t bother me, but I know you don’t believe me. I need you to know that I can handle it. This is about trust, Dirk. Now lie down.” She pushed him backward onto the bed.

He was uncomfortable as hell with the idea but still too dazed and spent to make much protest when Janice knelt and pried off his left boot. She then grabbed the heel of the right.

“No,” he said. “The right one stays on with the prosthesis.”

“Then how do I do this?” she asked.

“I take the jeans down first and then off with the leg.”

“Oh. Then you’ll need to lift your hips,” she commanded, already tugging at his jeans.

Dirk sighed and then lay back, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling, grim-faced, letting her draw them down over his thighs to just above the knee—or where his knee used to be. He didn’t want to see her expression when she got a good look at his stump. He shut his eyes, forcing himself to relax, but held his breath, acutely attuned to every movement and every sound. It was a major struggle to lie there, to just give himself up to her.

“How do I remove this?” Her hands stroked down his thigh to the top of the silicone sleeve that attached his prosthesis.

He reached down to roll the sleeve off his thigh, but she laid her hands over his.

“Please. Let me do it. Just tell me how it works.”

“The leg’s held on by suction. Roll down the silicone sleeve and it’ll detach.”

She did as he instructed, and the device came free. A moment later, his jeans were off and then his boxers followed. He released the air from his lungs on a long hiss, but was almost afraid to open his eyes. His chest was tight and his heartbeat pounded in his ears. Other than what little was still covered by his unbuttoned shirt, his entire scarred and mutilated body was now bared to her view. He’d never felt more exposed…or more vulnerable.

He sat up abruptly, tore off the shirt, and threw it at her. “Satisfied?” he growled. His gaze darted to her face, but rather than the disgust he’d expected and had prepared himself for, she was grinning back at him.

“Hardly,” she replied. “But I’m hoping you’ll take care of that as soon as you’ve had enough time to recover. Maybe I can help you with that?” She cocked a brow.

Her suggestive look had his spent dick stirring instantly back to life.

“No need,” he replied. “C’mere.” He beckoned her closer, drew her down to him, and kissed her passionately. He cupped her ass in both hands. “Straddle me.”

She dropped the dress and climbed onto the bed. His erection reared up rock-hard between them as her knees sank into the mattress on either side of his hips. She pitched forward, raising up to mount him, but he stopped her. Although he wanted inside her something fierce, he held her back. “Not yet,” he said.

“What’s wrong?” Her brown eyes widened in surprise.

“Nothing’s wrong. I want you to touch yourself. I want to watch you get off.”

“Why?” Her brow wrinkled.

He knew he was pushing her comfort zone, but she’d already blasted clean through his.

“Because it excites the hell out of me, Red…because I asked you to. Does that make you uncomfortable?” He knew Grady had put her through a lot of shit. It made him wonder where her limits were. How far she trusted him.

It was a moment before she answered. “No, Dirk, it doesn’t as long as this is just between you and me. No cameras. No videos.”

“No, Red. I’m not into that kinda shit,” he reassured her, breathing easier as the uncertainty passed from her eyes. “This is only about us. It’s all just between you and me.”