Bought by the Lone Cowboy

by E. Walsh

  Although she’d always been a fan of dressing androgynously, her bow-shaped lips and heart-shaped face were too feminine for her to have been mistaken for anything other than a girl, even without a trace of makeup.

  Not a woman mind, just a girl.

  She had started to grow weary of being carded at every club and bar she tried to walk into. Her friends laughed every time it happened and told her to be grateful.

  She felt she looked childish compared to some of the curvier and more voluptuous women who were here.

  Perhaps dressing a little older, or wearing a little more makeup would help, she wondered to herself, trying-as she so often did-to study the women from the corner of her eye, torn somewhere between envy and attraction.

  “Don’t worry,” she head Noah say.

  “About what?”

  “About tomorrow. You look nervous. Don’t be, we’ve got this.”

  “Yeah, I know we do.”

  Whether it was the heat or the stress that strengthened their thirsts, their first beers were finished way too quickly.

  So were their second beers… And their second shots of tequila.

  They were on their third round of drinks, talking conspiratorially about funny childhood experiences when Emma noticed that their knees had become interlocked beneath the heavily carved, graffiti-covered wood of their table.

  “God, that’s so awkward… so your mom actually walked in on your first kiss?” Emma asked in response to a particularly humiliating anecdote.

  “Yeah, pretty much, but I was eighteen.”

  “Eighteen? So you had never kissed anyone before then? Did you think you were gay or something?” Emma heard the words before she was able to stop herself.

  She knew immediately that she’d crossed a line.

  That was way too personal. Even the forced, off-hand tone of her voice didn’t do anything to hide the over-familiarity of the question. Emma opened her mouth to apologize, but Noah cut her off with a deep guffaw.

  “I was just a late bloomer that’s all.” Noah took a deep swig of his beer, finishing it.

  “Yeah, but eighteen?” Emma commiserated.

  Noah shrugged, “I was kind of a geek growing up, still am actually,” he admitted with a smile that was anything but geeky.

  “I was a total bookworm growing up,” Emma said. “And I’m sort of a geek myself.”

  Noah tossed his head back and laughed, a deep throaty chuckle, but then he checked his watch, and Emma felt her heart sink a little.

  “I’m going to be so horribly hung over tomorrow, so I think we’d better call it a night. You ready to head home?”

  Emma finished her beer and followed him back down the stairs, past the dwindling bar patrons, and Emma felt ridiculously disappointed that it wasn’t more crowded so that she could hold Noah’s hand as she pulled her through the throng again.

  They emerged into the cool, clean air of the night, and Noah shoved his hands in his pocket before checking his jacket for something.

  Checking her own phone, Emma realized, slightly irked, that she had missed the last bus of the night and would have to take a cab.

  If she’d had more self-control, and self-respect, she would have turned down the last two beers (and probably the tequila) and gotten home at a decent time.

  “You want to share a cab?” she asked Noah.

  Noah grimaced, “Ugh, I’ve left the keys to my apartment back at the office. I’m going to have to go back and get them. Shit.”

  “You could… never mind.” Emma stopped herself too late though, and Noah’s curiosity was piqued.

  “What? What were you going to say?”

  “You could crash at my place. In the morning, we could go get our laptops and your keys, and review the presentation. Then you take a detour home to change, get your car and come to the meeting. But that’s so complicated… I mean, you probably want your own bed and shower, and-”

  “I actually don’t mind, but only if it’s okay with you.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. Lead the way.”

  Emma felt her lips quirk at the corners with a smile of pure joy that threatened to overtake her expression.

  She’d never thought of being good at planning as something that would ever serve her outside of a production management environment, and was delighted that it meant she’d be able to spend a few more hours with Noah.

  Maybe they’d grow to be more than just work friends.

  More than just friends even.

  * * *

  Chapter Five

  As Emma tried to carefully, and quietly, open the door to her apartment without making a sound, she speculated for a moment about how just the presence of a sober Uber driver could make you realize how drunk you really were.

  Noah, as always, managed to look composed through the whole trip, while Emma could feel her cheeks and chest burning red with the effects of the drink.

  She was grateful to be back in the sanctuary of her apartment building no matter how strange it felt to have tall, gorgeous Noah trailing behind her.

  “The bathroom’s down the hall. Do you want some coffee or anything else?” Emma offered.

  “How about some water?”

  “Sure.”

  Emma tried not to watch Noah as he appraised the books and DVDs on Emma’s shelves, earning her a few sounds of approval when he obviously saw something he also liked.

  Emma took two glasses of cold water over to where Noah was standing, in her living room, next to her tatty, second-hand couch, which she’d covered with a crocheted throw that fooled no one.

  Noah took his glass, gratefully, and drained it in what looked like one long swallow. Emma sipped hers while Noah watched.

  She tried not to make a surprised squeal when she felt Noah’s strong hard hand curl around her own and set the glass down.

  She watched her hand move to the counter top as though it was an alien thing, not attached to her, and felt Noah’s other hand come to rest gently on her cheek.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Is this okay?”

  Instead of answering, Emma took a deep breath and leaned forward, capturing Noah’s lips with her own. Noah’s free hand came to wrap around Emma’s back and Emma pushed herself closer, tilting her chin up to make up for the slight height difference as they deepened their kiss.

  Noah may have looked like he was well mannered and behaved, but he certainly wasn’t reticent when it came to kissing.

  Emma melted into him as his deft tongue explored her mouth and his fingers tugged deliciously on the hairs at the back of her neck.

  She felt Noah’s fingers creep beneath her shirt and her breath hitched. Was this a terrible idea? Probably. She decided she didn’t care anymore. Noah pulled his face back a little.

  “I think I’ll take a shower,” he said in a husky voice that did delicious things to her.

  “ A shower? Now?”

  Noah watched her reaction carefully as he slipped off his shirt to reveal his well-toned physique. The muscles over his abdomen flexed as he tossed his shirt on the couch.

  He unbuttoned his pants and let them and his boxers slide to the floor. He stepped out of them and stood before her naked with an erection that seemed to be growing before her eyes. He held out his hand. “Care to join me?”

  Emma didn’t hesitate. Her clothes quickly joined Noah’s on the floor. She took his hand and led him to the bathroom. She reached in and turned on the shower.

  She couldn’t help but stare as Noah stepped into the shower . His skin was tan and practically flawless with the exception of a dusting of freckles across his shoulders and down the bones of his spine.

  Emma suddenly felt very self-conscious. She knew she didn’t have a willowy physique like the bartender or other women Noah had probably been with, but none of her other lovers had complained about her pert, compact curves.

  Noah held the shower curtain back and Emma joined him in the shower. She immediately began kissing
his neck. He groaned and wrapped his arms around her, running his hands through her short, blonde hair as she sucked on his neck.

  She let her hands slide down his sides until her fingers closed around his stiff cock.

  Noah let out a low throaty growl deep in his throat and pulled Emma’s face up to his to kiss her again as her hand began to gently tug his cock back and forth.

  Noah groaned and gently bit her lip, and her startled gasp gave him time to plunge his tongue deep into her mouth as their mouths began a wild battle for dominance.

  Noah flipped her around, so her back was facing the wall, and he pressed himself flush against her, so there was not an inch of space between them.

  Emma moaned as she felt his cock rub against her bush, and her hips began to press against him. Noah tore his mouth away from hers and began biting on her neck.

  Noah moved one hand to her breast and began massaging gently while the other hand trailed down. He slipped his index finger into her, stroking in and out, while using his thumb to gently-and then not so gently-massage her clit.

  He added a second finger and increased the pressure as his mouth moved from her neck to her breast. He took one rosy nipple and began to gently bite and suck while the other hand kneaded the other breast. The other hand continued as Emma began to pant and clutch his back.

  Noah felt Emma tightening around his fingers and decided to raise the stakes. He removed his fingers from her gently, and-ignoring the slightly disappointed and confused expression on her facelifted her up so she could put her arms around his neck and wrap her legs around his torso.

  He captured her lips deftly with his, and with one quick thrust he was inside her. Emma cried out in pleasure as they began moving slowly at first and then faster and faster. Emma’s strangled gasps were soon joined by Noah’s moans of pleasure.

  They came together with a great release that sent them falling against the shower wall. Noah somehow kept his balance as he arched his back to drive his cock all the way inside her.

  As Emma sighed and went limp in his arms, Noah placed a soft kiss on her shoulder and gently set her down.

  Emma stared at him through hooded eyes and transitioned from boneless repose to feral determination.

  She reached behind her to shut off the water before aggressively kissing and leading him backwards, out of the shower and into the bedroom.

  Emma fell backwards onto the bed. Noah straddled her and ran his hands down her arms and intertwined his fingers in Emma’s, pulling her arms up and over his head.

  They kissed like that for a while, but Noah let Emma take the lead as she ran her hands through his hair, down his back and over his butt.

  Emma moaned and felt her hips tilt up, seeking closeness and friction yet again.

  They stoked one another’s sides and kissed each other’s open mouths as their hips tilted, canted and quickly slipped into the same rhythm as they grinded against one another.

  Noah tangled his fingers into Emma’s hair, and felt Emma push herself up and gently push him, so he was the one laying down. She straddled Noah and began peppering his neck with kisses. His cock was hard again. It pressed against her pussy as she slid her hips back and forth.

  Suddenly without warning, Emma impaled herself on to him.

  Noah groaned as the air rushed from his lungs. He clutched at her sides and told her not to stop.

  Emma set the motion of her hips in a slow steady rhythm as his hands came up to massage her breasts. She tossed her head back and began to moan.

  When Emma was sure she was on the verge of orgasm, Noah flipped her over and placed one leg over his shoulder as he drove into her.

  Emma felt sensitized almost to the point of pain, and the orgasm that eventually racked her breath out of nowhere took her by surprise.

  Noah’s own orgasm followed soon after.

  He pulled out of her and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

  Noah came up to lie alongside her, holding her tenderly as she tried desperately to steady her breathing and her heart rate.

  They kissed softly, the passion from their earlier embrace having burnt away, leaving just the warmth of affection.

  They crept beneath the blanket, both of them still completely naked and covered in each other’s fluids, and fell asleep with their arms and legs entwined.

  * * *

  Chapter Six

  “Uh… morning,” Noah said. The light coming through Emma’s bedroom window was bright and made him wince.

  Emma opened her eyes just enough to see his face a few inches from hers. She put a hand over her lips to shield him from her morning breath and said, “Hi...”

  The moment could not have been more awkward. They exchanged quick, nervous smiles, then Noah rolled off the bed and stumbled to the bathroom without saying another word.

  Things were going to be weird between them now, thought Emma, immediately regretting their night of passion. She’d made things weird. She leaned back into the pillows of her bed with a pained sigh and covered her eyes with her hands.

  She’d taken a crush too far and now she’d gone and made things awkward and uncomfortable between them.

  She rolled out of bed, thankful at least that she didn’t seem to be suffering from the hangover she so surely deserved, and tried to get into the right frame of mind to take a look at their presentation. She couldn’t imagine anything she wanted to do less.

  Noah emerged from the bathroom with a towel around his waist, smelling of soap and shampoo and looking a little less flustered.

  He came to sit down next to Emma, his hand coming to rest on her knee. She looked from his hand back up to his face, where she was rewarded with a soft smile.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Oh… yeah…. I was just thinking we need to get you to the office to grab the laptops, and the keys, and then we need to-”

  “Yeah, we’ll get there. But I meant with us. Is everything okay? Is this okay? I mean, I like you, Emma, not just because you’re cute-although you are that…”

  Emma felt herself instinctively shrug and blush a little at the unexpected compliment.

  “You’re also hilarious, smart, and cool, you’re damn good at your job,” Noah paused and gave her a suggestive grin, “and you’re sexy as hell.”

  “Could you write that down for my performance appraisal?”

  Noah smiled at the joke, but suddenly his smile disappeared, and his face turned serious.

  “But if you don’t want a repeat of what happened last night, or you don’t want to even mention it again, then that’s okay. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable at the office. What happened last night was on me. I just couldn’t help myself. You’re so goddamn beautiful, and I had to kiss you.”

  Emma could feel the warning pricks of tears beginning to well in her eyes.

  Somehow, despite all the confidence, passion and dominance that had surprised her about Noah, the thing that had taken her most aback in the last twenty four hours was this sudden display of kindness and honesty.

  “I’m not uncomfortable,” she said, hearing the quiver in her own voice.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Noah leaned forward and Emma closed the distance between them, kissing him slowly, but deeply.

  Reluctantly, Noah pulled back from Emma, stroking down the side of her cheek and staring into her eyes.

  “You have no idea what you do to me, and as much as I’d love a repeat of last night right now especially as you’re sitting there pouting and looking hot as hell, we’ve got work to finish.”

  “Okay,” she said with a happy sigh. “I’ll grab a quick shower. You go make a pot of coffee.”

  He pecked her on the cheek and went off to do as he was told. Okay, she thought, so maybe things aren’t going to be that awkward, after all.

  * * *

  Chapter Seven

  To both of their surprise, Noah and Emma pulled it off. They left Emma’s apartment and ran by the o
ffice to pick up their laptops, then whizzed by Noah’s place so he could put on a fresh suit.

  They reviewed the presentation in Noah’s car on the way to the meeting. Emma felt herself fumble once or twice during the presentation, mostly because Noah was a major distraction sitting there smiling at her, but she quickly got back on point and impressed the client with her in-depth research.

  When it was Noah’s turn to present, Emma was quick to provide research credentials and statistics to back him up. They made a good team, she decided, in more ways than one.

  “I think that went about as well as it could have,” Emma said as they rode the elevator down after the meeting.

  “Are you kidding? That was incredible! You were incredible!” Noah beamed at her appreciatively. “I’ll even buy you lunch to celebrate. How do you feel about hot dogs?”

  “You mean from the stand down on the corner?” Emma teased back. “How romantic.”

  “Fine,” Noah said, taking her hand. “Some place nicer, then.”

  They managed to make it to Noah’s car before giving in to the euphoria of their recent success, and their desire for one another.

  Sitting in his car in the parking garage, Noah had his hands beneath Emma’s skirt, and his mouth latched on to her neck, while Emma’s hands remained firmly intertwined around his neck.

  “I thought you were buying me lunch,” Emma sighed, eyes half closed, smiling.

  “Or we could just go to my place,” Noah said, his fingers pushing aside the crotch of her panties.

  “What do you have to eat at your place?” she asked, breathlessly

  “What do you think?”

  Emma slid her hand up his thigh. She felt the hardness of him through his pants. She gave him a gentle squeeze and smiled. She knew exactly what they’d be having for lunch.

  And perhaps dinner, too.

  The End

  40. Sarah’s Heart

  By: Erin Walsh

  Sarah’s Heart

  © Erin Walsh, 2016 – All rights reserved