Chapter 22
Alex
I can't get the image of Rosie in that damn silk pajama out of my head. I try to focus on milking, but my mind keeps going back to that moment in front of her door.
My mind is a terrible place right now.
I need a distraction, and fast. The tightness in my jeans has been unbearable for a while now… Thank God Rosie didn’t catch a glimpse of the situation earlier. But now, I have to deal with this before she gets here..
I certainly didn't expect to find her so... exposed. The tank top was so thin that I didn't have to imagine anything, the short pants showing off those toned legs. And the silk... God, that silk sliding over her body like a caress.
"Focus, idiot," I mutter to myself, trying to concentrate on the cow in front of me.
But it's useless. I keep seeing the way her messy hair framed her face, that sleepy and confused expression that made her even more adorable. And then, when she realized the situation, the blush that rose to her cheeks...
I sigh, running a hand over my face.
I can't afford to develop feelings for her.
My brain won’t quit. I can’t stop imagining what it would feel like to run my hands over that soft, bare skin, tracing the curve of her hips, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. Her breath hitching under my touch. Her body trembling.
Would her skin taste as sweet as her perfume smells?
"Damn it, Alex!" I exclaim out loud, startling the cow.
I apologize to the animal, stroking its side to calm it down. I need to regain control of myself.
Last night, she had me wrapped around her little finger. The way she moved—confident, sensual, fiery—it was impossible to look away. She knew exactly what she was doing, too. And then to realize it was all part of her revenge? That stung.
But it didn’t matter. I couldn’t stop watching her.
Even after the dance, when she ignored me completely, keeping to the girls. Even when we all gathered around the fire and roasted marshmallows, she wouldn’t look my way. I sat across from her like a lovesick fool, still hypnotized.
And then she disappeared.
Back in my room, I did what I’ve done every night since she got here—let out some of that pent-up frustration, thinking about her. But it wasn’t enough. Not even close.
Damn city princess. She’s scrambled my brain, and instead of trying to sort myself out, I keep looking for more excuses to be near her.
She’s a drug, and I’m hooked.
That’s why I sent those messages. I was a little buzzed, sure, but I won’t blame the whiskey for this one. It just gave me the nerve to say what I wanted without overthinking it.
Rory handed over her number without hesitation, grinning like a cat who caught the mouse.
When Rosie answered, I felt like I’d won the lottery. We texted for a while, and yeah, I was vague about this morning’s chores. A little mischief never hurt anyone, right? But inviting her on the camping trip… That was a gamble.
Just the two of us, alone in the middle of nowhere.
What the hell was I thinking?
But the thought of being with her out there, away from everything, has me counting the hours until the weekend.
I’m still lost in my thoughts when I see her walking toward me. My pulse skips.
If I thought the silk pajamas were bad, this… this is pure torture.
Rosie approaches with an uncertain step, wearing overalls that look incredibly good on her. They're short, and the straps hug her curves in an almost indecent way. But it's her face that strikes me the most. She's done two little braids, giving her such an innocent and adorable air that contrasts absurdly with her natural sensuality.
"Good morning again," she says, a slight blush still on her cheeks.
I swallow hard. “‘Morning”
I manage to say, desperately trying not to stare at her for too long.
I turn towards the cow, trying to focus on the task ahead of us. "So, princess, ready for your first milking lesson?"
Rosie comes closer, the smell of her vanilla shampoo mixing with that of hay and animals. It's a combination that shouldn't be so seductive, yet it is.
"More than ready," she responds with a determined smile. "Where do we start?"
I try to maintain a professional tone as I explain the procedure, but it's difficult when all I can think about is how easy it would be to slide those straps down her shoulders...
"Alex?" Rosie's voice brings me back to reality. "Are you okay? You seem... distracted."
"I'm fine," I respond too quickly. "Now, let's see how you do with milking."
I guide her through the steps, trying to focus on the task and not on how close she is, on how her hands brush against mine as I show her the correct technique.
Rosie tries hard, but it's clear she's never done anything like this before. I should be amused by her clumsy attempts, should tease her as I normally would. But all I can think about is how adorable her concentrated expression is, how much I want to kiss that frustrated pout from her lips.
"Come on, princess," I say, trying to sound playful and not as desperate as I feel. "Don't tell me a simple cow is too much for you."
Rosie gives me a challenging look that makes my knees weak. "Never underestimate me, cowboy. I'll show you."
And as I watch her determined to master this new skill, I realize I'm in trouble. Serious trouble. Because it's not just physical attraction. It's something more, something dangerous and unfamiliar, yet decidedly and unmistakably clear. And the thought of camping on the weekend, of having her all to myself under the stars...
I watch Rosie, her tongue sticking out slightly between her lips with effort. It's such an innocent gesture, yet it makes me have thoughts that are anything but pure.
"There, like that," I guide her, placing my hands on hers to show her the correct movement. The contact sends an electric shock through my entire body.
Rosie looks up, her eyes meeting mine. For a moment, time seems to stand still. We're so close that I can count the freckles on her nose, feel her light breath on my skin.
"I... I think I got it," she says softly, without moving away though.
I clear my throat, trying to regain control. Trying to push away the lingering thoughts of the ambiguous gestures we just shared. "Good, then... try on your own."
I step back, suddenly feeling cold without her body close to mine. I watch her as she resumes milking, this time with more confidence.
"I did it!" she exclaims after a few minutes, a radiant smile on her face. "Look, Alex! I really did it!"
Her enthusiasm is contagious and I find myself smiling too. "Well done princess, maybe there's hope for you after all."
Rosie gives me a light punch on the shoulder, leaving a milk stain on my shirt. "Oops," she says, not looking sorry at all.
"Oh, you want to play it like that?" I respond, dipping my fingers in the milk bucket and splashing her lightly.
Rosie jumps, looking at me with wide eyes. For a moment I fear I've gone too far, but then I see a flash of mischief in her eyes.
"You..." she starts, but doesn't finish the sentence.
She takes a handful of milk from the bucket and splashes it on my chest, leaving a white trail on my shirt.
Her laughter is full of joy, yet there's something different in the air, something more subtle and intense. "Now you've really done it," I say in a low voice, my eyes shining with an unspoken promise. Without thinking too much, I take some milk again and splash her neck.
The liquid slides down her smooth skin, creating an almost hypnotic contrast with her complexion.
She looks up and, for a moment, we're alone in this universe made of glances and sighs. Her eyes meet mine, and the world seems to stop. There's a spark in that look, something dark and inviting, and I know she feels it too. The game has taken a turn that neither of us had foreseen, but now we're trapped, and neither of us wants to get out.
Her chest rises in a deep breath, and I can clearly see the effect all this is having on her. Her heartbeat accelerates, visible in the way her throat contracts, as if trying to control the wave of sensations coursing through her body. But there's no control, not anymore.
Without a word, her gaze lowers to the milk dripping down her skin, then slowly rises back to me, and that slow and deliberate gesture hits me like a shock. I feel an irresistible urge to move closer, but I hold back. The tension building between us is almost unbearable, as if every second we're walking on a very thin wire.
Her lips part again, and I wish she would say something, but at the same time I don't want to break the silence.
She raises a hand and, with a slow and almost uncertain gesture, touches her neck where the milk has left a shiny trail. Her fingers move lightly, tracing the path of the liquid on her skin, and I'm completely hypnotized by that gesture. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from doing something rash, like moving closer and taking her place, letting my hands explore that smooth, warm skin.
"Rosie," I murmur, her name coming out like a prayer from my lips.
I see her eyes lower to my lips, her breath becoming quicker. I'm about to do something stupid, I know it. I'm about to ruin everything. But right now, with Rosie in front of me, covered in milk and more beautiful than ever, I can't think of anything else but how much I want to kiss her.
I lean slightly forward, my heart racing in my chest...
I lean towards Rosie, the world around us seeming to vanish. I can feel her breath mingling with mine, I see her eyelids lower slightly in anticipation...
"Hey, Alex! Are you done with the milking? We need help with... oh!"
Diego's voice makes us startle, abruptly separating us. I turn to see my friend standing at the barn door, his eyes moving from me to Rosie with obvious surprise.
"Am I... interrupting something?" he asks, a smirk forming on his lips.
"No!" Rosie and I respond in unison, perhaps too quickly to be convincing.
But even if we had been the most convincing people in the world... well, the scene was unequivocal.
Diego raises an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on our milk-soaked clothes. "Sure, and I suppose the milk bath is a new milking technique I don't know about?"
I feel my cheeks warm with embarrassment.
"There was a... small accident," I mutter, running a hand through my damp hair.
Rosie nods vigorously beside me but doesn't say a word. Diego looks at us for a long moment, clearly unconvinced. Then he shrugs. "If you say so. Anyway, when you're done... um, cleaning up, we need help with the horses."
"I'll be right there," I respond, trying to sound as normal as possible.
Diego nods and turns to leave, but not before giving us one last amused look. Then with a laugh he disappears, leaving us alone again.
Silence falls in the barn, loaded with unresolved tension and unspoken words. I glance at Rosie, who is staring intently at the floor.
"I... maybe we should go change," I say finally, my voice slightly hoarse.
Rosie nods, finally looking up. There's something in her eyes - confusion, desire, maybe a little fear - that makes me want to take her in my arms and never let her go.
Instead, I take a step back. "I'll see you... I'll see you later?"
"Yes," she responds softly. "Later."
I watch her walk away, my heart still racing in my chest. What just happened, or what was about to happen...