16. Jackson
sixteen
Jackson
R iley opens the door to his hotel room and after we’re both inside, the reality of tonight slams into me like the ground when I miss a steer.
He wants this.
It feels like forever since the day I first met him in the park, to the day I finally asked him out and he said he doesn’t date cowboys.
“Hey.” His soft voice brings me back to the present. “If this makes you uncomfortable, Jackson, don’t stay.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just…did you know rodents can’t vomit? I kind of wish I was a rodent right now.”
Oh, for god’s sake.
“Do you not feel well? What can I do?”
Riley’s face is a mask of concern as he takes my hand in his.
“I’m fine. I’m just…” With a swallow, I kiss the back of Riley’s hand. “I’m overwhelmed in all the best ways to be here with you, but I also sort of feel sick. Not about you! I like you. Probably more than a honeybee likes pollen to be fair. But what if, I mean, what if you’re with me and you change your mind? What if I don’t meet your expectations?”
As much as I’ve wished for this day, I know he has more experience than me. I’m no blushing virgin by any means but… “No disrespect, Rye, but you have far more experience than me here.”
“Is this about the escort thing?”
I nod, and when his smile falls, I wish it wasn’t because of me.
“That was just sex, Jackson. It’s not like this. Those men didn’t get all of me. With you…I want more than that. I want what nobody has ever given me from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Romance. Love. Friendship. Hope for a future. Someone to share my deepest fears with.”
“Riley…”
Reaching for him, I cup his face in my hands and kiss him, soft and slow, as I walk us backwards towards the bed. When his legs hit the edge of the bed, I pull away from his lips. “You’re safe with me. I promise.”
“And you with me, Jackson. Don’t let what I did in the past affect how you feel when we’re together. Please.”
I can’t possibly feel anything other than a desire to please him in every way I can. To prove to him I’m the one and it’s forever.
“I’ve always wanted you. But you know I don’t like casual. I was just, I guess I’m worried I might not be good enough.”
Knowing Riley was an escort never bothered me. Like he said, it’s just sex. But he’s had far more sex than I have because once I cross the line and sleep with someone, my feelings always get involved. It’s why I can’t do casual relationships. It’s too hard for me to separate the two. If we get naked, my heart gets involved no matter how hard I try to keep it out of it.
We’ve never talked about it because I wasn’t about to bring it up if I never had a shot with him. Is this the best time to mention it? Probably not, but I can’t get physically naked with him until I’m naked with my intentions.
“You’re already the best man I’ve ever allowed this close to me. Believe me, I’m just as worried as you that I won’t measure up.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you’re so kind and pure, Jackson. You’re real and I fucking love that about you. You’ve been nothing but honest with me right from the day we met.”
Fuck, he’s my person. I know it. Sliding my hands under his shirt, his warm skin under my fingers pulls a sigh from my lips. “I want to feel you against me. Every inch of you pressed against me.” Dropping my mouth to his neck, I graze the skin with my teeth. Riley’s moans tear the rest of my resolve away.
“Yes,” he sighs and sags against me. “Please, Jackson.”
With the tender care he deserves, I pull his shirt over his head before unzipping his jeans and pushing them to the floor. The bright red lace boyshort-style underwear is a surprise. Not unwelcome, but still a surprise.
Riley watches me as he steps out of his jeans while I kneel at his feet. His hard cock presses against the fabric and I lean forward to press a kiss through the lace.
“Red is a good colour on you.” My voice is thick as I stand and Riley’s hands immediately fly to the buttons on my shirt.
“Thank you. I bet it looks even better on the floor.”
Despite my nervousness, I laugh. Riley rewards me with a smile before sliding my shirt off my shoulders and running his hands down my chest. “Good lord, Jackson. You’ve been hiding all this under clothes.” His fingers dust down my abs before reaching for my belt buckle. “You’re incredibly fit. ”
“Must be the hummus.”
Riley snorts as he releases my belt. “Or all those baby carrots.”
With my pants falling under the weight of my belt, Riley moves to lower himself to his knees, but I grab his arm. “I don’t want you to do that. Let me.”
His brows knit together as I step away and shuck my jeans aside before pulling him back against me. “One day, yeah. I want to see what you look like on your knees, but tonight it’s about you.”
“You really are a romantic, aren’t you?”
“More than you know.”
Riley isn’t small. He’s roughly the same height as me and while he’s thinner, he has a sleek and toned body. But I wrestle four-hundred-pound steers for a living. I know I can scoop him up easily for what I want to do next.
He squeaks when I sweep him into my arms bridal style and lay him down on the bed before blanketing myself over him.
“That’s hot. And unexpected.”
Riley’s arms wrap around my neck, and he pulls me down to his lips.
“Everything about this is unexpected, Rye.”
I’ve never felt so keyed up before to have a lover touch me. Every soft touch and kiss is like gasoline to a fire. I want to bottle every moan and sigh so I can listen whenever I’m away from him.
“I haven’t had a make-out session like this since I was a teenager,” Riley gasps and I go for the little space along his collarbone that he seems to enjoy having kissed.
“Get used to it. It’s one of my favourite things to do.” My hand skims up his side and he shivers .
“But you’re gonna let me come, right? This isn’t—oh, hell Jackson, don’t stop.” He arches into my palm once I slide my hand over his cock in his now very sticky, lacy shorts.
“Isn’t what, Rye?”
“Isn’t going to end in frustration like when the parents come home and we have to pretend we were only watching a movie.”
Slipping my hand under the band of his shorts, I grip his length as I whisper near his ear. “No frustration. I want to see how beautiful you really are when you come because of me. Show me how good you feel right now.”
Riley’s hand grips the back of my neck as he presses his lips to mine. His other hand plunges into my boxers like he’s desperate to touch me. Maybe he is.
“We should have got completely naked,” he breathes as he wraps his fingers around my length. My breath hitches as I press my forehead against his.
“God, Riley…”
I give myself over to him instead of making myself wait like I planned. I just wanted to see him come undone under me and make a mess of his usually put-together self. Riley kisses me with heat I feel to the soles of my feet, and in one white flash of a moment, my body uncoils, and I come in his hand.
Fuck, I’ve never come that fast in my life, and I should be embarrassed, but Riley… lord. He jacks his hips up into my fist and I get back into the game. Stroking across the tip of his dick, I’m in awe at how he gives his body to me for his pleasure.
“Yessss, I’m so close, Jack. Make me…” With my free hand, I cup his balls with a small squeeze. His mouth quivers with an O as his gaze locks on mine. “God…Jackson…”
He’s already twitching and shivering and I stroke him through his orgasm with his hand still holding my softening cock.
“Why did I keep you away for so long?” he breathes as I lean closer to kiss his swollen lips.
“Because you were just as scared as I was, I imagine.”
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
“I’d love to. But I have to ride to the next rodeo with Hunter tomorrow. It’s early, if that’s still okay?”
“Of course. I don’t want to upset your routine.” He finally lets go of my spent dick and removes his cum-covered hand. “I can’t believe I jerked you off like that. Seriously. That was…” Riley’s eyes search my face, and he whispers, “That was extremely intimate, Jackson.”
“It was. And was it…okay?”
I feel like a kid seeking approval. Asking a partner if they were satisfied is something I’ve never done before, but it’s Riley. I don’t want to disappoint him. Ever.
“More than okay.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “You turned me into a spineless jellyfish. A+, cowboy.”
“They don’t have spines because they contract their whole bodies to move themselves forward.”
Riley snorts. “Of course you would know that.” He kisses me again. “Don’t change. I love that about you. Now let’s get cleaned up so I can fall asleep wrapped in your arms.”
Riley heads to the bathroom, and before I follow him, I pinch myself.
“Yep. Still awake. That happened. Holy shit.”
“You coming?” Riley’s voice calls over the sound of running water .
“Be right there!”
Am I coming? If I had bells, I’d be wearing them.
I don’t want to leave this bed or let go of Riley, but I need to meet Hunter early to start our drive. When I messaged him last night to tell him what happened, his compromise was that I’d drive today since he didn’t plan on sleeping. He also added that since he had to feed and load the horses first, it was a generous deal for me.
I guess Sam and his friend gave Hunter what he wanted last night if he hadn’t planned on sleeping.
Riley stirred immediately when I shifted to leave the bed and mumbled something that sounded like, ‘ I love your carrots ,’ but I could be wrong. His hair is sleep-rumpled, and in the dim light filtering through the hotel curtains, he’s stunning.
My heart skips triple time just watching him sleep.
“Staring is creepy, Jackson.”
Riley’s voice is thick and rumbling, but it carries a hint of a smile.
“Sorry. You’re so beautiful asleep like that. I couldn’t look away.”
Riley still hasn’t opened his eyes, but a grin spreads across his face. “How did I ever resist your sweet talk?”
“Stubbornness, if I had to guess.”
He laughs and cracks an eye open. “You’re probably right. Kiss me before you leave?”
“Of course. I stayed here with you as long as I could. Hunter will be by shortly and I have to meet him on the corner. The trailer is too big for this parking lot.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
I kiss him softly before rolling out of bed and finding my clothes still all over his floor. After we showered, there was a lot of talking and touching long into the early morning hours. I couldn’t get enough of everything Riley. His kisses, his secret smiles, and his hands on me.
Even the way he had a snore that sounded like a broken kazoo.
“I’ll miss you. Maybe more than I did before.” Leaning down, I kiss him as I button my shirt.
“One more stop before you’re home?”
I cup his cheek with my palm. “Yeah. It’s a last-minute thing. We weren’t going to, but Hunter wants one more for practice before the big Kissing Ridge rodeo. I’ll be home in three more days.”
Riley turns his head to kiss the palm of my hand.
“Call me when you get there?”
“Absolutely I will. Drive home safe, Rye.”
Fuck if I don’t want to tell him I love him already. It’s too soon and I don’t want to freak him out. But it’s true. I know it as sure as I know Hunter will be over-sharing about his threesome as soon as I’m in the truck.
After pulling on my clothes and going commando for the first time in my life—there was no way I was wearing cum-crusted underwear for a few hours—I turn back to find Riley still snuggled under the covers watching me with a sleepy gaze. He’s like a cute little burrito with eyes .
My phone buzzes with a text that Hunter is waiting and after making sure I have my hat, I drop to the floor next to Riley in bed.
“One more for the road?”
He laughs softly and puckers his lips in jest, but I grip his chin and kiss him until he’s breathless.
“Fuck…I could get used to that every morning.”
“Good. Because I want to kiss you like this every damn day of my life.”
He swallows hard.
“Don’t keep Hunter waiting.”
Standing before I change my mind and get back into bed, I walk to the door.
“Jackson?”
Turning to look over my shoulder, Riley hasn’t moved from his burrito.
“I want that too.”
I blow him a last kiss and step out into the quiet hallway of the hotel. Once outside, I jog to the end of the street where Hunter sits in the truck waiting for me. When I’m close enough, he steps out from behind the wheel.
“So…when’s the wedding?”
“Fuck off and get in. Did you make us coffee?”
“You know I did. I can’t be in a truck for three hours with you not properly caffeinated.”
“You’re gonna sleep the whole way?” I take a gulp of the campfire-made coffee and adjust the truck’s mirrors before pulling us away and heading back to the highway.
“After I tell you how fucking epic it was to have those two blow me at the same time, I will. ”
Hunter launches into his sex-capades, and I listen. I make the appropriate nods and exclamations as needed, but my mind is back on Riley and how my entire life is about to change.
“…and that’s why I need to stop at a pharmacy for more condoms.”
“At least you’re safe. I’m glad you’ve paid attention to all those safe sex talks we’ve had.”
“Are you even gonna spill a little about what happened with you last night? How did Riley get here? I have so many questions.”
Hunter yawns and covers his mouth.
“The only thing I’ll say is that he’s everything I hoped he would be, and it’s going to be a very long three days.”
Hunter groans and leans his head against the window.
“You and your damn romance.”
My smile is so wide it hurts my face.
“Me and my damn romance found the man of my dreams. Get some sleep or I won’t find a place to stop so you can get condoms.”
With a mutter, he pulls his hat down over his eyes and leaves me to the hum of the tires and the low country music on the radio.
And thoughts of Riley.