Page 124 of Cowboy Daddies

“We used to ride out to the far side of the creek and sit on a log and talk about nothing… those long summer nights when the moon was bright and the stars would shoot across the sky…”

“I know, I remember. Those nights never lasted long enough.”

“Did you ever think about kissing me?” She tilted her chin up, staring at me.

Had I thought about kissing her? All the time. But I already knew that I was leaving for college. I’d told myself that things would be different once I was settled. That I’d come back home. Things hadn’t played out the way I’d wanted. Instead of talking to her, I kept my distance. “Yes, babygirl.”

“Yes, you wanted to kiss me or yes you wanted me the way I wanted you?”

“There are lots of things I regret. Leaving isn’t one of them. Not coming home? Absolutely. But as I told you before, I’m here now. I’ll keep showing up until it’s drilled into your brain, spitfire.” I stroked her cheekbone with my fingers.

“Mmm. I could have reached out too, but I didn’t. It was easier to place the blame solely on you instead of taking my share. But there was a lot going on.”

Understatement of the year. Her father passed away unexpectedly just before high school. Nana and Tuts were given custody. She’d lost her only living parent and her home in the span of a week. Grief wasn’t linear and facing everything after that had taken a toll on her. “We can talk about ifs and ands until the sun comes up, but it won’t change the past. Let’s focus on the now, Quinn. You don’t have to shoulder it all alone.”

Sliding her off my lap, I got to my feet and helped her to stand. “Tonight is about us.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her.

“You taste like garlic knots,” she said giggling.

“I’ll brush my teeth. Come on, I’m not done with our plans.”

We walked inside and I stopped to lock the door behind us. She’d given me glimpses of her inner thoughts, agreed to be with me, but we hadn’t had sex. I wanted her melting underneath me, breath ragged from the pleasure coursing through her body. My fingers buried in her hair, against her scalp, pressing her against me while she floated away from the stress. Something tangible for her to feel to ease her abandonment wounds.

“Callum?” She paused on the stairs.

“Sorry, baby. I was thinking about shutting off your brain and drowning you in pleasure.”

“It’s only fair since you ignored me.” Quinn shook her ass as she climbed the steps.

Her denim short-shorts teased me with a glimpse of her skin. I swatted her ass. “You better be careful, spitfire. We’re almost to the bedroom.”

Instead of a smart comeback she increased her speed, reaching the platform first. She braced a hand against the wall, practically daring me to respond. Her mouth curled up into a smile. “We aren’t in the bedroom yet.”

“Oh, yeah? Do you really think teasing Daddy is a good idea right now?” I joined her, grabbing one of her belt loops and tugging her to me.

“I think it’s the best idea.”

“Mmhmm.” I squeezed one of her asscheeks hard enough that she groaned. Leaning into her, I licked a long line from her earlobe to her collarbone. “Go get undressed and sit on the bed. I’ll be right there.”

“I’m impatient,” she whined.

“My girl told me I had stinky breath, so I can't seduce her properly until I fix that.”

“Pretty sure you’ve already accomplished it. Spanking. Dinner. Cuddles.” Quinn traced a finger along my chest and down to my hip. She kept her head down.

“Don’t get in your head, I can see those wheels turning,” I warned, lifting her chin with my index finger. Her ass couldn’t handle any more corrections tonight.

“Don’t take too long, Sir,” she said quietly before spinning on her heels and striding up the hallway.

“I won’t baby. I’ll be right there.” I wanted to reassure her over and over again verbally as much as with my actions that I wasn’t leaving.

Quinn

Callum had taken care of everything, like he’d promised. All that was left was me. Sex had been moved to my back burner. Not a priority. Managing the ranch capitalized so much of my time that I barely found room for my friends. Dating, intimacy and sex didn’t hold as much importance as everything else.

Stripping my clothes off, I laid on the bed on my stomach, legs in the air, my ankles crossed. Facing the doorway, I appreciated the long glance Callum gave me as he entered, drinking me in.

“Aren’t you the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen?”