Chapter Twenty-Two

Harper

It was a perfect night. One of those still, quiet nights that didn’t get ruined by wind or rain. The air was cool but not cold, and it was a welcome reprieve from the hot day that had passed. It was my favorite kind of weather. But it wasn’t the weather that made this night so perfect. It was the fact that I was out in the open air partaking in my new favorite pastime with a very handsome man. I thought of Jillian and chuckled to myself.

“What’s so funny?” Travis asked.

“All of this. Jillian would be delighted to hear that I was out in the middle of an open field with just you. I mean, I know it’s not meant to be, but the whole thing is almost ridiculously romantic. It’s one of those settings you would see in a movie or read about in a book. Especially Jillian. She loves those sorts of books. Anyway, she would be very happy if she could see this. You and I out here together. It would definitely make her day.” I knew that I was only bold with my speech because we were in the dark and he couldn’t see my facial expression. It was easier to talk frankly when he couldn’t really see me. He had no idea that even though I sounded confident that my face was probably bright red.

“She would be delighted? I don’t understand why. Are you telling me that Jillian wants the two of us to be together? Has she forgotten about me so easily?” he said with mock hurt in his voice.

I laughed. “Yeah, she’s already discarded you and moved onto the next guy.”

“She’d really be happy to see this?”

“Yeah, she would,” I said.

“How about you? Are you happy to be out here with me?”

I let the question linger in the air for a while before answering. “It’s okay,” I said finally.

“Harper, you know just how to hit a guy where it hurts. Jillian gave me such a nice ego boost, but you’ve just shot me down. My heart has shattered into a million pieces now.”

I laughed. “Sorry, Travis. I had to bring you back down to earth a little bit. I couldn’t have you getting a big head. You’re already this handsome cowboy living his dream; I can’t have you thinking that all the women are in love with you.” I couldn’t believe how much fun I was having with him. Talking, riding, flirting: there was nothing better. I was so glad now that Jillian had made me stay. If she had asked me to leave with her, I probably would’ve, but this would’ve been such a shame to miss out on.

“So you think I’m handsome?” he teased.

Instead of answering him, I just rode off into the distance. He followed me and we laughed, but we never got back to the topic. After a bit more riding, he asked if I was ready to go back and I reluctantly said yes. We made our way back to the stable and put the horses securely back. I gave Thunder a kiss and told him how much I loved him. I couldn’t believe how much I loved being around that horse. I wondered if I would’ve felt the same if I hadn’t gotten Thunder. Somehow, I wasn’t so sure.

“Lucky horse,” Travis said as he watched the kiss.

I looked at him and smiled. “Well, I just can’t help myself. He’s gorgeous.”

“I thought you said he was just a car with legs?”

I laughed at that. I was surprised he remembered that conversation. “Well, he’s more than that to me now. Also, don’t let him hear you say things like that. He’s going to be hurt. Oh, and Travis…”

“Yes?”

“I do think you’re handsome.” And then, before I could stop myself, I walked right up to him and kissed him.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would kiss a guy in a stable, surrounded by horses, dust, and hay. It was romantic in books but had you told me that a few days ago, I would’ve looked at you in disgust. I wanted candles, wine, and soft beds. Not this. And yet… now that it was actually happening, I forgot all about those things. Suddenly it really was the most romantic place in the world. And Travis was an incredible kisser. Suddenly, Thunder made a noise, and we pulled away and laughed.

“Someone is jealous,” he said.

“I’m sorry, Thunder,” I said to the horse. “I love you, but I’m not quite sure I want to put my lips on yours.”

“Uh… that was nice,” Travis said to me.

I nodded. “Yeah. So, uh… want to come back to my room?” I couldn’t believe it when the words were out my mouth. Jillian would be so proud of me. She was always encouraging me to take more risks in life, and this was certainly a major risk. At least, to me it was. I had no idea why I had even said the words. It probably was a mixture of knowing that Jillian wouldn’t be in the room and the immense feeling of joy that the moonlight ride had given me. Also, Travis had flirted with me while we were out there. I was sure of it.

“Do you think this is a good idea?” he asked.

“I have no idea.”

“Let’s go,” he said suddenly and took my hand.

The two of us rushed off to the room and closed the door behind us. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t wondered what kind of a lover Travis would be. Would he be rough and controlling or gentle and sweet? All of the above, as it turned out. It started off a bit rough, as he pushed me against the wall, pinning me in place as he kissed me. But the moment we were lying in bed, he became gentle with me, his strong, eager hands becoming gentle as they played across my skin, his kisses turning soft and exploratory. For all my confidence, I had never been all that sure of myself in bed. The last two guys I had been with had been so incompatible with me that I’d wondered if I would ever want to have sex again.

But this was nothing like that. We moved together like we were playing in an orchestra. Without his clothes on, Travis was even more gorgeous than I had imagined. He wasn’t as tanned or as toned as I expected a guy who worked outdoors all day would be, but he still looked good—still far better than any other guy I had ever been with. He was a big guy, and I liked the way he seemed to tower over me. He moved down my body with his tongue, starting from my nipples all the way down until he got in between my legs, gently parting my folds with his fingers to offer his hungry tongue better access to me. I opened up for him and stretched out across the bed to enjoy every minute of him, sighing contentedly. For the first time in a long time, I felt completely at ease with myself. I’d always felt good with my clothes on. I was a natural when it came to my style. But there was nowhere to hide when my clothes came off. It was nice to see how much Travis seemed to enjoy me this way. I pulled him off me because I was afraid I was going to come if he continued much longer, and the need to have him inside me could no longer be denied. He moved up, positioning himself between my parted legs with a smile. He leaned down and sealed his warm mouth against mine in a kiss. As he did so, he plunged himself inside me, and I gasped aloud, feeling as if my body was going to explode from sheer joy. So this was what it was like to have sex with a cowboy? I thought. No wonder they were so prevalent in romance stories. This was everything and more.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do that to you,” he said as soon as we were finished. His hands were trailing over my body as if he were trying to memorize every part of me. I hoped that meant that he thought we weren’t going to do that again. I wasn’t sure if I could stop now that we had started this.

“Really? Even when I got off the shuttle bus in my ridiculous outfit?”

He smiled. “Oh, especially then.”