Author: Kristbethke

**This week’s prompt: a cowboy hat, a country music concert, and a kiss. Enjoy!**

If it weren’t for the cowboy hat, I wouldn’t be here.

No amount of pleading could have gotten me to come to this concert. No matter that Luke was my best friend in the world. Even the fact that I was harboring a pretty serious crush couldn’t have made me agree. He loved it, loved Florida Georgia Line, and had been looking forward to the show for months. Bought the tickets the moment they’d gone on sale, and had never wasted an opportunity to mention it. But it wasn’t my thing–I basically hated country music–and I refused every time he asked me to go with him.

“Please Jonah! I want you to come with me,” he repeated over again and again.

But I wouldn’t be swayed and kept refusing.

And then he walked into the living room, wearing a straw cowboy hat. The sides curled up, and he’d pulled the brim low. And that hat, combined with his tight-ass jeans and swagger, and I was sold. I couldn’t let him go out in public looking like that. Someone was sure to snap him up, touch him, and ….no. I couldn’t go there.

Luke in that hat was lethal and I needed to go with him to protect his virtue.

An hour in, and I had to admit it wasn’t so bad. The band had a bit of a rock/pop feel that blunted the worst of the twangier edges. I could deal with it. And Luke’s enjoyment was infectious. He was singing at the top of his lungs, and rocking out with the rest of the crowd.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

Suddenly he turned, that huge grin on his face, and he caught sight of me. I tried to look away, but I couldn’t make myself. And he didn’t seem to mind. Instead, his entire expression softened, and then, he reached up and pulled the hat off his head. The loud music wound down, and I barely caught the lyrics, something about being holy, when Luke leaned in. He was so close I could feel his body heat.

“Perfect song for this moment,” Luke said, his eyes blazing, and then he closed the distance between us. His mouth met mine, and I gasped. I could feel his grin as he kissed me.

Right there in the middle of a country music concert, with said music swelling around us, thousands of people singing along, Luke took me in his arms and kissed me until I couldn’t breathe.

Then he pulled back, smiled, and put his hat on my head.

“I’m keeping it,” I rumbled, edging closer, not wanting any distance between us.

“You know what they say about keeping a man’s hat, right?”

I shook my head, but my stomach swooped in anticipation.

“Means you’re his.”

“Works for me.”

The song ended and the crowd screamed and clapped. And as I stood there staring into Luke’s eyes, wearing Luke’s hat, it felt like they were cheering just for us.

**This week’s prompt is the vacation from hell. Hope you enjoy!**

“This is the shittiest vacation in the history of vacations.”

The amused chuckle behind me made me scowl. I frowned even harder when my boyfriend spoke. “It’s not as bad as all that, Drew.”

I whirled around. “Are you kidding me? The rental car broke down thirty miles from our destination, and the only replacement they had was a station wagon that doesn’t go over fifty miles per hour!”

Jonah’s eyes were sparkling with restrained laughter. “Well yeah, but so what?”

I squinted. “The hotel lost our reservation, and wouldn’t honor it even though I showed them the confirmation email, so we ended up not in a bungalow, but in this crappy room.”

“It’s not exactly crappy–”

“I got bit by a bug the first day out and my leg is still swollen. I couldn’t walk on it for two days!”

“That was unfortunate, sure but–”

“And!” I spun back around and gestured wildly at the window. “Torrential downpour for the past forty-eight hours. And it’s predicted for at least the next twenty four!”

“We’re in Hawaii. During the wet season.”

I sighed, fogging the window for a moment, before I leaned my forehead against it. I let my shoulders sag. “How can you be so amused while we’re on the vacation from hell?”

“Because I’m with you.” Jonah’s voice dropped an octave, and it sent a shiver down my spine. Three years together, and when he said sweet things in that low voice, never failed to melt my bones and heat my blood.

“Caring for me when I was sick and now trapped inside with me while I’m grumpy. Real treat.” My voice had lost it’s edge, but I was giving it one last ditch effort to hang on to my anger.

“Nothing else I’d rather do, and nowhere else I’d rather be. Now turn around, take off your clothes and join me in bed. Or else,” he paused and I heard the distinct pop of the cap on the lube. “I’m going to take care of things myself. And wouldn’t that be a shame? You and me and nothing to do but fuck each other silly–omph!”

I stripped in record time, pouncing on the bed, trapping him beneath me and kissing him stupid until neither one of us could think, let alone talk.

***

The next day the rain had finally stopped, and I was sore enough from the near constant sex that I was walking a little bowlegged. Jonah smirked at me from where he was reclining on the bed, and I returned it. Looking at him, seeing how pleased he was, the warmth and love in his gaze, made my heart swell. He quirked his eyebrow in question, and my smirk grew into a grin.

“Best. Vacation. Ever.”

**The prompt this week: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. This is what I came up with. Enjoy!**

It had been the kind of day that made a person long for a reset button. Everything had gone wrong, and I’d spent my entire day putting out fires and fixing disasters. But it was done, and I was home, and that was the best feeling. I pushed into the house, dropped my bag and toed off my shoes right there at the door, and then sighed in relief as the scent of warm, spicy soup permeated the air. My man was home, and he’d cooked his mother’s laksa. That was the best news after the day, hell the week, I’d had. It was my favorite dish.

I was so focused on that, for a minute I didn’t realize the lights were off and the flickering illumination came from dozens of candles lining the hallway.

“Kevin?” I called, not too loudly, as I walked further into the house.

As I turned the corner, I saw the easel holding a poster board. Even more curious, I walked closer. There was a picture of a bookstore, the one where Kevin and I had met three years ago, and underneath in his precise block lettering.

“The first time ever I saw your face

on this day, exactly three years ago, we met by accident at the bookstore, and I knew I was looking at the man who would capture my heart.”

Speaking of hearts, mine thumped, and adrenaline rushed through my veins. I couldn’t stop the grin. We’d never celebrated anniversaries, but it was wonderful that he remembered.

The line of candles continued, and I followed them into the dining room, where another poster made my breath catch. This picture was of the Willamette River, and our favorite place to stop and enjoy the scenery along the river walk.

“The first time ever I kissed your mouth

the next night we went on our first date, and I couldn’t get enough of you. I knew I was falling in love, no matter how improbable that seemed.”

I’d known it that night too, but it took me a lot longer to even acknowledge it, let alone admit it out loud. Kevin had been better about that then me.

Eager now, I followed the candles into the living room and burst out laughing. This board was sitting righto on the couch, no picture attached.

“The first time ever I lay with you

right here on this couch, even though you made me wait until the third date, I knew I was making love to the last man I ever would.”

It had been magic, and for the first time, I knew what people meant when they said it was different with someone you were made to be with, with someone you loved.

Not stopping, the candles led me into the kitchen, where Kevin waited. On bended knee. With a rose in one hand, a huge smile on his face, and soup simmering on the stove. It was the perfect picture. It was the best thing I’d ever seen and what I wanted for the rest of my live.

“Marry me?”

I grinned, even wider, and nodded. I pulled him up and into my arms, clutching him to me. Kevin fit perfectly into my arms, always had. And always would.

“Yes.”

**The prompt for both Ivan and me this week is simple. “Will you have sex with me?” Enjoy!**

“Ben! Beeeeeeeen!” Jesse flopped down on the couch beside me, making the whole thing shake. “Ben baby! Will you have sex with me?”

I rolled my head to the side, peering at him. “Are you drunk?”

He nodded happily, grin both goofy and kind of sexy at the same time. I didn’t know how he did it, but it never failed. I didn’t actually know if it was that way for other people, if they saw the sexy when they looked at him. I loved him, so it was probably different for me.

“Please tell me Carlos didn’t make sangria.”

Jesse popped up straight, grin growing wider, and then held out a hand to steady himself as he nearly slid right off the couch. “The white wine kind! It was sooooooo good.”

Heaven save me from childhood friends left to their own devices. I often went to “game night” right alongside my boyfriend, but not always. Sometimes I let them do their own thing, and I stayed home. But I should have known something was up when Danny picked Jesse up on his way through. Danny didn’t drink, but he sure loved to instigate his other friends.

“Did you do anything stupid?” I asked, indulgently. He was flushed and smiling, happy and relaxed. And if he wasn’t three sheets to the wind, I’d have pinned him beneath me. But he was just a little too far gone, and even though I knew I always had his consent, he’d probably fall asleep halfway through and that would be no fun for anyone.

Jesse squinted one eye at me, then shook his head so hard he slipped down a few inches. “Nope. Don’t think so. Drank. Gamed. Droved home.”

I chuckled, then stood up,holding out a hand for him. It took him two tries to get his fingers connected with mine. He purred, his eyes drifting half shut.”Sex time?”

I snorted out another laugh, pulling him up and into my arms. “Yeah, babe. If you can stay awake long enough, I’ll totally have sex with you.”

Water first, then a trip to the bathroom. I left him sitting on the bed so I could find him some sleep shorts and he could get out of the jeans. But when I turned back around, he was passed out face down, snoring into the pillows. I smiled, stripped him out of the jeans and T-shirt during which he didn’t even stir, and then crawled into bed behind him. He immediately snuggled back against me. I kissed the top of his head.

We’d have sex in the morning.

**This week’s prompt is a car breaking down, a bickering couple, and a hot tow truck driver. Enjoy!**

“When the check engine light comes on, that means you’re supposed to check the engine.”

Clenching my jaw, I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead at the white smoke billowing from the hood of the car. I did not turn and look at the man who had shared my heart, bed, and body for the past nine years. If I did, I would probably claw his eyes out just for the patronizing tone. I took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, then closed my eyes as the smoke seemingly got thicker.

“This is not my fault.”

Sam snorted out a derisive laugh. “This is exactly your fault. Jeremy, you didn’t service your car when it told you it needed it.”

“Don’t snipe at me,” I ground out. “The light came on when I was driving home yesterday, but then it was gone this morning when I started the car. How was I to know the car would start belching steam half way to your parents house?”

“You should have called the garage as soon as–” Sam’s words were cut off when a flashing yellow light cut through the darkness. His parents lived twenty-five miles out of town, and we’d been stuck on a back road that only had intermittent lights.

Sam turned and looked behind us as the tow truck came into view, it’s huge headlights illuminating his face. I turned in time to see his scowl morph into one of relief. He’d called his father to come meet us after we’d called Triple A, and I knew he was worried about keeping his dad out in the cold. Now, once the man arrived, we’d already be in the process of getting the car taken care of.

A big bulk of muscle hopped down from the cab of the tow truck, and I exited the car at the same time as Sam. The moment the tow truck drive came into view, I sucked in a breath. He was gorgeous, all cut muscle and broad shoulders. His face was a study in carved perfection, and his grin was blinding even in the dark. I had to lean against my sedan as my knees went a little weak.

“Hey there,” he called in a jovial sort of voice. “Looks like you’ve got problems. Can you pop the hood for me?”

I leaned back in to do as he asked, but when I straightened, Sam was right there, standing between us. He’d crossed his arms over his chest, puffed up even, and he was glowering at the tow truck driver. I tried to peer around Sam as the man leaned over to look at the engine, but Sam stepped back into me, pushing me back a step. I jabbed at his shoulder, but he didn’t move. Sam was almost as big at the driver was, six foot tall and bulky. There was no moving him if he didn’t want to move.

“What is with you?” I hissed in his ear. But Sam didn’t respond.

The driver stood up, and gave us another grin. “Blown head gasket. You got a place you want me to tow her?”

Sam answered before I could, giving him the name of the garage, and then all but ordered me to get anything of value out of the car so that we didn’t have to worry about it when it was at the shop. I grumbled as I did it, constantly glancing at Sam and the way he stood glaring at the tow truck driver.

Fifteen minutes later, my car was hooked up to the tow truck, and Sam’s dad had arrived. I’d put all my belongings into his dad’s car trunk, and then turned to thank the driver, but saw he was already getting into his truck. A moment later, he trundled off, my sedan rolling along behind.

I whipped around to glare at Sam. “What the hell was that all about?”

Sam glared right back. “You’re mine. And he can’t have you.”

Possessiveness. My knees went weak again, but for an entirely different reason. Sam knew he had nothing to worry about where I was concerned. I’d never stray. But that didn’t stop Sam from staking his claim every now and again. And every time, it made my heart pound and my stomach swoop. I loved that he had to show the world I was his.

I grinned and threw my arms around his neck. Sam softened immediately.

“He wasn’t going to take me. Never would be able to.”

“Damn right.” Sam sounded smug.

My grin grew even wider. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. Once we get home, I’ll show you just how much I’m yours.”