Page 44 of September’s Cowboy Travis

“You could've led with that.”

“And miss this?” Her smile widened. “Not a chance.”

I stepped closer.

Kaycee put one hand against my chest before I could kiss her. “I'm not giving up my place in Bozeman.”

“I didn't ask you to.”

“And I'm not promising exactly what this looks like six months from now.”

I covered her hand with mine. “Anything else?”

“Yes.” She looked straight at me. “I’m choosing this, Travis. I want you, too.”

The tightness in my chest gave way to relief. Kaycee grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer, and I backed her against the counter before remembering the sharp corner she'd nearly hit the first time.

She laughed when I moved her sideways. “You're still worried about the counter?”

“Yeah. Let’s go upstairs.”

Her fingers tightened in my shirt. “You’re pretty bossy.”

“You started it.”

She kissed me again before taking my hand and leading me toward the stairs.

The second time wasn't like the first. I already knew how she liked to be kissed when I wanted her to stop talking. I knew the spot behind her ear that made her grip my shoulders, and she knew exactly what to do with her mouth to make me forget whatever smart-ass comment I'd been planning to say.

We lost clothes between the bedroom door and the bed without either of us paying much attention to where they landed. Kaycee pushed me back onto the mattress and climbed over me, her hair falling around her face as she kissed me.

I ran both hands along her thighs. “I thought I was being the bossy one.”

“Seems like you're adaptable.”

“Apparently.”

She smiled against my mouth, then shifted over me in a way that wiped out anything else I might've said.

There was no hesitation between us now. I didn't have to ask what every change in her breathing meant because I remembered. She didn't wait for me to take the lead when she wanted something different.

When I rolled her underneath me, she hooked a leg around my hip and pulled me close.

“Condom,” she said.

“Yes, ma’am.” I laughed and reached for the drawer.

A minute later I was back between her thighs, and the first slow push inside her made her fingers close around my shoulders. Her eyes stayed on mine. I kissed her before moving again.

This time we found our rhythm faster. She knew when to pull me closer and when to tell me to go harder. She also knew exactly how much I liked hearing my name when she was close.

I wasn't thinking about slowing down to savor it because this might not happen again. I also wasn't thinking about what might happen when morning came. She'd told me she was coming back Thursday, and I believed her enough to stay right where I was.

After, she sprawled across my chest while I ran my hand slowly along her back. Her breathing had settled, and one of her legs was tangled with mine under the sheet.

“You got quiet,” she said.

I looked down at her. “Just thinking.”