Testing the Cowboy's Resolve by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Author:Vicki Lewis Thompson [Thompson, Vicki Lewis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ocean Dance Press LLC

Chapter Sixteen

Ella gulped as her insides turned into a pinball machine and she got the shakes. “Marsh, that’s not an adventure. That’s a disaster in the making.”

He pressed a hand to his chest. “You wound me, madam. I have it on good authority that I’m a fairly decent partner.”

Darn him, now she was tingling. “That’s not the point! Sex would wreck everything.”

“Why assume that? Why couldn’t we dive into it like any other physical activity and come out smiling?”

“Because it’s not like any other physical activity and you know it.”

“Okay, I’ll agree with you that we’ve never tried a sport where we’re naked, but that’s part of the adventure, part of the challenge.”

“You’re insane.” She couldn’t stop quivering. Was it from stress or excitement? Couldn’t tell the difference. Especially when he stood so close she could see the little gold flecks in his brown eyes. And the tempting shape of his mouth.

“Hear me out. It’s made to order for our current situation. We’re temporarily living together. Nobody has to know what we’re up to.”

A secret liaison. Her breath hitched. “You think they wouldn’t guess?”

“Not if we play it cool when we’re with the family. I know you have a game face. Use it.”

The clandestine nature of his suggestion appealed to her. He knew which buttons to push. But she would resist. Had to, for both their sakes. “There’s no good reason to take such a reckless chance with our friendship.”

“I can think of two.” He held up one finger. “I want you.” He put up a second finger. “And you want me.”

“You’re making a big assumption on that second part, buster.”

“Am not. I know you better than almost anyone does. You want me bad.”

He was right. She began to panic. “Look, Marsh. We’ve kept that promise we made to each other for—”

“Time to break it.”

“Just like that?” She stepped back, dislodging his grip. “After twenty years?”

“You just made my point. The timing is perfect. If we’d tried this when we were younger, we wouldn’t have had the maturity to handle it. We’d let messy emotions get in the way.”

“Are you saying you could have sex with me just for the fun of it?”

“Yes. I’ll have more fun sex with you than I’ve ever had with anyone because I know you so well. We’ve been preparing for this adventure for years.”

As her resistance ebbed, she took another step back. “Stop talking like this. We’re best friends. Best friends! I’m not endangering that special relationship for some silly old sex.”

He smiled. “Now you’re getting the idea. We’ll have silly sex, but it won’t be old. It’ll be totally new, something we’ve never experienced together.”

“What we have is a bone-deep loyalty that will last forever.” She glared at him. “Unless you ruin it.”

“We won’t ruin it. We’ll enhance it, add a new level of understanding. Let me be clear. I’m not suggesting we have a romantic relationship. We’ll be exploring our sexual selves within the safe confines of a deep and abiding friendship. What could be better?”

“Maintaining our current celibate status.

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