I roll my eyes, but get to work scrubbing the dirt and grime off the car. Every once in a while, I’ll glance up and find Xander watching me from inside. His eyes alternate between my face, my hand that’s holding the sponge, my arms, and my chest. They roam, somehow being everywhere all at once. His full lips are parted, and he’s not even trying to hide the fact that he’s checking me out.
Biting the inside of my cheek to keep my smile from breaking free, I focus on cleaning the car in the most attractive way possible. Everyone in this parking lot fades into the background as I lean over the hood of the car, internally smirking at the fact that my t-shirt rides up, giving Xander a view of my bare skin. Using the sponge, I rub wide circles onto the car, ensuring I get every inch. His window is rolled up for obvious reasons, and how I desperately wish I could hear him. Hear the way his breath probably hitches, or how it speeds up the more he watches me, hopefully enjoying the view. Or better yet, I wish I could hear the thoughts streaming through his mind as his eyes take me in.
Does he like what he sees?
Does he want to watch me do this with less clothing on?
Maybe he wants to watch me do something else entirely…maybe to him.
For the most part, I was pretty good about not allowing my mind to wander toward inappropriate and intimate thoughts regarding Xander—and Xander and me—since I knew he had a boyfriend. But ever since he told me last week that he broke up with him, my mind has been on overdrive. The images filtering through, the desires clutching at me, are intense. At first, Iwondered if it would be weird, since Xander is a guy, and my only experience is with women.
The more I think about it—which, I’m not kidding, isa lot—the more I don’t think it’ll be just fine. Everything with Xander is different. From the moment I met him, I was enthralled with him in a way I’ve never been before. The easiness that comes from being around him, the comfortable way I feel when we hang out, the voracious attraction I feel toward him, and the way it feels like I might perish if I’m not near him, close enough to feel his body heat at all times…it’s all new. I’ve had feelings for other people before, sure, but they’ve all felt, I don’t know, surface level, maybe? They all pale in comparison to him. I think being with him intimately would feel right.
“Bro, hurry the fuck up,” Shooter hisses at me, pulling me out of my thoughts. “The line is damn near wrapped around the fucking building. I think the car is clean enough.”
Groaning, I roll my eyes, and begrudgingly finish up the wash before Shooter rinses the car off. Once we’re done, Xander drives down and grabs the lemonade and cookies from the girls before he parks. I smile to myself, knowing he’s staying. The next car pulls up, and like we have every other time, we work in a system, washing, rinsing, and then repeating with the next car. And the next. Until finally, they’re all finished.
The temperature has dropped significantly the later in the afternoon it’s gotten. It’ll be dark soon, so we all hustle to put everything away before we all head inside. Each year, the owner of the arena hosts a barbecue for all the volunteers who help with the fundraiser. It’s a thank you for spending our entire day doing this. Since it’s freezing and nearly dark this year, they’re doing a buffet style meal inside the arena. Xander climbs out of his car, crossing over the parking lot until he’s standing right in front of me.
“Is it okay that I’m still here? I can go.”
“You’re not going anywhere, city boy,” I tell him, nudging him with my arm, and loving the electricity that flows between us at the small touch. “You hungry?”
He nods, lips tugging into a grin. “I could eat.”
Inside the arena, there’s a vast array of food laid out on several different folding tables. Whit and his entire veterinary clinic staff are here, making sure the food is out, silverware and plates are available, and they’re helping direct people on where to go. Xander and I each fix ourselves a plate, sneaking the occasional glance at each other, before heading over to the bleachers and take a seat. Scarfing down a bite of the pulled pork sandwich, I groan, the flavor smoky and delicious. I had a half-ass breakfast before coming here this morning, so I could easily eat another four of these.
Xander breathes out a laugh as he takes me in. “You got a little…” Instead of finishing his sentence, he reaches over, and with the pad of his thumb, wipes away a glob of barbeque sauce left on the corner of my mouth. My heart stutters in my chest and a lick of heat swims through my veins as I watch him bring the sauce-covered thumb up to his own mouth and suck it clean. His eyes meet mine, and he must see the heat in my gaze, and it’s as if he just realized what he did and what it did to me, because his cheeks flame a bright pink and he looks away quickly, shoving a bite of sandwich into his mouth.
Good God…now is not the time for my dick to give an appreciative twitch.
Shooter and Sterling come up and sit beside us once they have their food, and given the look Shooter sends my way, I know that fucker caught what just happened. I swear, he never misses anything. Eventually Colt and Boone come and sit down, too. Suzy, Boone’s daughter, is right on his heel, carrying her own little plate full of food. Instead of sitting beside her dad, she positions herself right in between Shooter and Sterling, settingher plate on top of Shooter’s thigh. She’s always been his biggest fan, and he has a soft spot for her. It’s cute. I’ve never seen Shooter interact with little kids the way he does Suzy. Older kids, sure, he’s great with them, especially if they show an interest in rodeo and bronc riding.
“Petition to never do a car wash in the winter ever again,” Sterling says right as a shiver wracks through him. We’re all still dressed in our wet clothes, and even with the heat of the arena, we’re all probably chilled down to the bone.
“Amen,” I mutter before taking another bite. “That was fucking cold.”
“Maybe Xan-man, here, can warm you up after,” Shooter drawls, waggling his brows. “I know I plan to bury myself so deep?—”
“Don’t even think of finishing that sentence in front of my daughter, man,” Boone cuts in, and we all laugh as Shooter glances down at Suzy, who’s already watching him, and he shrugs.
“I was going to say bury myself so deep under my covers.” He rolls his eyes dramatically, and Suzy copies the act.
“Mmhmm, sure you were,” Boone quips.
“Tough crowd,” he whispers to Suzy, loud enough for everybody to hear. She giggles and nods.
Boone shakes his head, rubbing a hand over his mouth to hide the smirk there. He glances over at Xander and says, “So, Cope says you’re coming to Vegas?”
“Yeah, I think I am.” He smiles. “Just for a few days, probably.”
“It’s a fun time,” Boone offers. “I think you’ll enjoy yourself. Have you been to any rodeos before?”
Xander shakes his head. “This will be my first.”
His eyes skirt over to mine, and we share a quick look before he smirks and looks away again. My entire body is hyped upfrom having him here, anticipation and what I can only describe asneedfor him vibrating inside of me.
“Well, this’ll be quite the rodeo to pop your cherry,” Shooter chimes in. “NFR is a fucking wild time. It’s my favorite event of the year.”
