Embracing Hope (Cowboys of Sagebrush Rose #5)

Chapter Thirteen

Isaac swore he wouldn’t leave Hope’s side, especially after Billy’s attack.

Hope was in her bathroom while he waited for her in her bedroom. At this point, he didn’t care if Sam was aware of Isaac and Hope’s relationship. His priority was her safety. No way in hell would he leave her alone until there were answers as to who attacked her and Billy. The last he heard, Billy was doing well. After receiving stitches on his wound, Doc Lafferty advised that he stay at the clinic for observation, which was likely the best option.

Isaac’s mind wandered to Hope. The incident could have easily happened to her when the intruder broke in. There was a madman on the loose wanting to rake the Rose family through the coals. He was even more convinced that a hand was the one wreaking havoc.

With each passing day spent together, Isaac came to understand that he desired her more than anything. He wanted to explore where their relationship could go. Realistically, that meant he’d have to learn to be vulnerable and better at communication.

He could fail her. He could fail himself.

But not being with her might kill him.

The bathroom door opened, and she came out wearing only a thin white T-shirt that clung to her body in ways that should be criminal. The shadow of her nipples and the apex of her thighs made his mouth water.

The woman had a hold of him, unlike anything he’d ever felt.

Her wavy hair rippled down her shoulders and back, and she wore no makeup—not even a stitch—which made the freckles across her nose more prominent.

She stopped next to the bed, staring down at him with those observant pristine blue eyes that sent him spiraling.

“Can I help you?” he asked, trying his best to keep his gaze locked with hers instead of journeying to her hardened nipples that pressed against the T-shirt.

“You’re sleeping in my spot,” she said sassily.

“But I always sleep closer to the door,” he said grumpily.

“Why? Because you have a penis?” One corner of her mouth tangoed with a smile.

“Years spent in the military instilled in me the importance of monitoring the door and any potential dangers.”

“Fine. You can sleep there.” She sighed, and instead of going around to the other side to climb in, she crawled across him and, he guessed, deliberately rubbed her knee across his groin. He almost choked on his saliva when her rounded bottom popped up close to his face. She smelled good. Good enough to eat and tonight he might have to dine until his belly was full.

The bed shifted as she bounced onto her side of the bed. She leaned against the headboard, tucking her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs. “Sheriff Dussan is going to investigate the attack and the break-in.”

“It’s a good idea to get the law involved.”

“If you say so. I never trusted the sheriff. Can you pass me the lotion?”

Something told him she’d already lathered up her beautiful body after her shower, but she had every intention of twisting him into a thousand knots.

He picked up a tube from the nightstand. “This?”

“Yes.” She took the bottle and squirted some into her palm.

He had every intention of ignoring her, but the hell if he had enough control. She smoothed her hands over her legs, along the outside of her thighs, and when she got to the inside, his mouth went dry. He liked everything about her and thought she was perfect.

Isaac couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than to have her long legs wrapped around his hips.

“Please put this back.” She laid the tube on his chest where his heart beat so fast he thought it might scream to a stop.

He replaced the tube and hoped she’d go to sleep.

Of course, his hopes were aimed too high.

“I feel like I’m going stir crazy,” she whined.

He gave her a side glance. “Go to sleep. That’ll help.”

“My mind won’t shut down that easy.” She played with the hem of her shirt.

He closed his eyes. As much as he would have liked to entertain her, he couldn’t allow himself to be sucked in. One thing was staying with her to protect her but to have sex with her father downstairs was where Isaac needed to draw the line.

Flicking his eyes open, Hope had moved closer and she watched him.

The neckline of the T-shirt had fallen over one shoulder, grazing the tops of her bare breasts.

His breath caught in his lungs. She was the most stunning woman he’d had the privilege of meeting.

As if she knew she tugged at his strings, she smiled—a smile that warned him he wouldn’t get out of this unscathed.

He still wore his shirt and jeans, and suddenly, both felt two sizes too small. As much as he wanted to strip down, he’d be ridding his body of the last wall of protection.

She flipped onto her stomach, giving him a view of her bare bottom because her shirt had ridden up to her waist. His dick shot up like a missile and he had to suppress a groan.

He couldn’t put all the blame on her. He could roll over and go to sleep, but it’d be easier to pull his own teeth out one by one. He was concreted in place and didn’t want to miss one second.

In restless torment, she flipped around onto her side. This time, the hem skimmed her flared hip and grazed the apex of her thighs. At this point, his brain and his cock were in a battle to see who won the tug of war.

The points of her nipples were enticing. She had an amazing body, nearly perfect.

She threaded her fingers through her hair and the sight of her groomed cleft between her slender thighs knocked him for a loop. He could still taste her pussy on his tongue.

Although he knew exactly what she was doing, he still couldn’t cut off his desire. Here in her bedroom, they were alone and could explore each other. He could lay her down on the soft blanket and explore every inch of her, sample her. They could hold each other; naked bodies pressed together while she arched under him.

He wanted to brand her so that she’d no longer want another man. He wanted his name to fall from her tongue in the throes of orgasm. He wanted to press her into the mattress, sink his cock deeply into her body while he suckled her big breasts that would bounce with each thrust. He was so hard he'd fill her, touch places within her that were like secret abysses.

But sluicing through his fantasies came questions he couldn’t ignore. Would he ever be good enough for her? Could he overcome his traumatic past to be loving and caring? After all that he’d witnessed in battles, did he have what it took to be a giving partner? He wanted to believe he did. He wanted to believe he could be a good husband like his brother, who put his wife on a pedestal. He’d also be a good father, no doubt. Isaac had never thought too far ahead in his future to consider the possibility of kids. He’d skipped some bases. But now, the dream of a family, wife, and kids was starting to take shape in his mind’s eye. When he ventured to go there, to the possibility, an image of Hope formed clearly.

Had he lost his mind?

Or was he finally healing?

Maybe the woman next to him played a role in that. She made him feel things that he’d never felt before. Exposed feelings within him he didn’t even know existed until he met her.

“Hope?”

“Isaac?”

“Go to sleep. I won’t have sex with you while your father is in the house.”

She lifted her chin. “We’re adults. I’m sure he’s had sex in this house with someone other than my mother.”

“Go to sleep.” He turned over and pulled the pillow over his head.

God, grant me the strength to resist her.