taking a deep breath. “All these men of my mother’s … it’s not gonna stop. And their sole purpose is to possess one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“My innocence. It’s like a fucking beacon for pedophiles and perverts. And if I weren’t so innocent, they wouldn’t want shit to do with me. I know it.”
“I’ll do anything. What can I do?”
He’s going to hate what I need. I know it. He’s so good. I just pray he doesn’t hate me. “I need you to take my virginity.”
He sucks in a breath and his eyes go wide. “No,” he says, sounding final and definite.
“Yes, and you wouldn’t be taking it anyway. I’m giving it to you.”
“No, Denver, not like that. I love you. You know that. I want you. You know that too. But not like this. Not because you feel backed into a corner. That’s not right.”
Crawling over him and kneeling between his knees, I take our drink and set it down beside us. I fit my hands around his face and pull his mouth to mine, kissing him deeply and tenderly. Our being together wouldn’t be wrong, right? I just have to show him that.
I straighten up on my knees and he comes with me, our kiss exploding. I move my hands to his shirt and fist my hands in it, fitting him to me. His hands move down to my backside, grabbing and kneading. I groan. Reaching up to my shirt, I start unbuttoning it, and he freezes.
I move my mouth down his neck, kissing and sucking. “Come on, Greer.”
Suddenly, I’m on my rear, and he’s up and moving away. “I can’t, Denver. I’m sorry. I just can’t.”
Tears fill my eyes, and rage floods my veins. “If you won’t have it, I’ll find someone else who will!” I shout. He freezes at the top of the ladder. Would I really do that? I think I would. I’m that desperate to rid myself of this burden, this curse.
“Please, don’t do that,” he begs, staring straight ahead like he can’t even look at me. “Don’t even think like that.”
“I don’t have a choice, Greer. If these sleazebags think I’m yours in that sense, they’ll back off. They don’t bother with girls who aren’t innocent. I know. I’ve watched and observed. And if I’m with you, they won’t try to make me exactly like my mother. Are you going to help me or not?”
His head drops to his heaving chest. I wait patiently for his answer. Does he understand I’ve spent years trying to figure out why I am targeted, and now that I know I’ll stop at nothing to remove the threat?
Finally, he turns back to look at me, and I smile at the look he gives me. It says I love you and I’ll do anything for you. “Denver … I’m sorry,” he murmurs, as he propels himself down the ladder. I don’t start crying until I hear his vehicle crank up and him peel off down the driveway.
Chapter Ten
Then
“ S O, K EITH, WHAT do you think of our little town?” I ask, leaning in and running my hand up his arm for a second. I’m an impostor, but I’ve made my decision, and I need to stick with it. I’m nothing if not determined.
“Uh, it’s nice. You have a real nice place here. How long have y’all been ranching?” he asks, nerves reigning supreme in his voice. Maybe I’m laying it on a little thick. OK … so don’t act like a slut. Guys came after you the way you were. Remember that. I lean back against the doorjamb and clasp my hands in front of myself, hoping to strike a more demure pose. Keith seems to relax a bit.
“Oh, I’ll be the fifth generation to run this ranch,” I tell him. I wonder now if he’s a good choice. Keith starts rambling about farm life and how wonderful it can be, so I survey the guests here for my mom and Blake’s little anniversary party. I guess he’ll have to do since I don’t see any other options that don’t repulse me. A bored sigh escapes my lips.
Just as I’m about to direct my attention back to Keith, I see himenter. Oh, and he looks so good. He’s sporting his black Stetson, the one with the band of
“What’s that?”
“My innocence. It’s like a fucking beacon for pedophiles and perverts. And if I weren’t so innocent, they wouldn’t want shit to do with me. I know it.”
“I’ll do anything. What can I do?”
He’s going to hate what I need. I know it. He’s so good. I just pray he doesn’t hate me. “I need you to take my virginity.”
He sucks in a breath and his eyes go wide. “No,” he says, sounding final and definite.
“Yes, and you wouldn’t be taking it anyway. I’m giving it to you.”
“No, Denver, not like that. I love you. You know that. I want you. You know that too. But not like this. Not because you feel backed into a corner. That’s not right.”
Crawling over him and kneeling between his knees, I take our drink and set it down beside us. I fit my hands around his face and pull his mouth to mine, kissing him deeply and tenderly. Our being together wouldn’t be wrong, right? I just have to show him that.
I straighten up on my knees and he comes with me, our kiss exploding. I move my hands to his shirt and fist my hands in it, fitting him to me. His hands move down to my backside, grabbing and kneading. I groan. Reaching up to my shirt, I start unbuttoning it, and he freezes.
I move my mouth down his neck, kissing and sucking. “Come on, Greer.”
Suddenly, I’m on my rear, and he’s up and moving away. “I can’t, Denver. I’m sorry. I just can’t.”
Tears fill my eyes, and rage floods my veins. “If you won’t have it, I’ll find someone else who will!” I shout. He freezes at the top of the ladder. Would I really do that? I think I would. I’m that desperate to rid myself of this burden, this curse.
“Please, don’t do that,” he begs, staring straight ahead like he can’t even look at me. “Don’t even think like that.”
“I don’t have a choice, Greer. If these sleazebags think I’m yours in that sense, they’ll back off. They don’t bother with girls who aren’t innocent. I know. I’ve watched and observed. And if I’m with you, they won’t try to make me exactly like my mother. Are you going to help me or not?”
His head drops to his heaving chest. I wait patiently for his answer. Does he understand I’ve spent years trying to figure out why I am targeted, and now that I know I’ll stop at nothing to remove the threat?
Finally, he turns back to look at me, and I smile at the look he gives me. It says I love you and I’ll do anything for you. “Denver … I’m sorry,” he murmurs, as he propels himself down the ladder. I don’t start crying until I hear his vehicle crank up and him peel off down the driveway.
Chapter Ten
Then
“ S O, K EITH, WHAT do you think of our little town?” I ask, leaning in and running my hand up his arm for a second. I’m an impostor, but I’ve made my decision, and I need to stick with it. I’m nothing if not determined.
“Uh, it’s nice. You have a real nice place here. How long have y’all been ranching?” he asks, nerves reigning supreme in his voice. Maybe I’m laying it on a little thick. OK … so don’t act like a slut. Guys came after you the way you were. Remember that. I lean back against the doorjamb and clasp my hands in front of myself, hoping to strike a more demure pose. Keith seems to relax a bit.
“Oh, I’ll be the fifth generation to run this ranch,” I tell him. I wonder now if he’s a good choice. Keith starts rambling about farm life and how wonderful it can be, so I survey the guests here for my mom and Blake’s little anniversary party. I guess he’ll have to do since I don’t see any other options that don’t repulse me. A bored sigh escapes my lips.
Just as I’m about to direct my attention back to Keith, I see himenter. Oh, and he looks so good. He’s sporting his black Stetson, the one with the band of
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