Page 28 of Branded By Bishop

I love this cowboy, all the way to my damn soul.

"Songbird." Bishop's rough hand drifts through my hair, his soft voice calling to me in the dark. "I need you to wake up."

I groan, burying my face deeper into his shoulder. I'm comfortable and warm. Waking up is the last thing I want to do right now. Also…I'm pretty sure we only just went to sleep five minutes ago. Once Bishop starts, he doesn't really stop. Oh, he tries to behave, but he's too greedy. He keeps going until he's too exhausted to move.

This isn't a complaint. I had the best night of my life for the second night in a row. But every muscle in my body is deliciously sore. I'm exhausted. And at some point today, I have soundcheck and a rehearsal.

I'm so fucked.

"Wake up just for a minute, baby," he says through a chuckle. "Then you can sleep again."

I crack one eye open with a wordless grumble to find the bedside lamp already on. "You need sleeping pills."

His body shakes against mine. "I slept."

"For five minutes."

"I've gotta go."

My stomach sinks. This is my least favorite part of him sleeping in my bed. It ends far too soon. "It's time?"

"Yeah, baby. It's after four." He tips my head back, brushing a sweet kiss across my lips. "What time do you have to be at the bar for soundcheck?"

"At three. Then the show starts at seven." I peek up at him. "Um…will I see you there?"

"You think I'd miss it, Callie?" he asks, meeting my gaze.

"I…" I shrug helplessly. "I know you have issues with this kind of thing because of your mom. You don't have to come if it's going to bring up a bunch of stuff. I understand."

"Hey." He forces me to meet his gaze again, his expression somehow stern and soft at the same time. "You aren't my mom, songbird. My issues are with her, not you. Besides, I'm your bodyguard. I'm not letting you do a show alone."

"I'll be fine."

"Yeah, you will be." He grins at me. "Because I'll be right there to make damn sure everyone knows what'll happen if they step out of line."

My heart flutters, more pieces of it falling into his hands. But he doesn't give me a chance to say anything before he kisses me again and then rolls from the bed.

My core clenches when I see his firm ass and the scratch marks I left all over his back. "You might want to wear a shirt," I mutter, pretty sure I'm bright red. "Otherwise, you're going to be answering a lot of questions about what you were doing all night."

"Yeah?" He snags his jeans from the floor before shooting me a wicked grin. "You left your marks on me?"

"Just a few."

He chuckles, tugging his jeans on. And damn, watching him dress should be a crime. As soon as his hat is on, he leans down to kiss me breathless again.

"Leaving you alone in this bed ought to be a crime, Callie," he groans when he pulls back, his eyes wild. "I've never missed work, but you've got me wishing I was the kind of man who played hooky."

"You can do that later," I whisper, a little breathlessly. "Go wrestle bulls or fight giants or something."

"You have no idea what cowboys do, do you?"

"I was born and raised in Texas, Bishop."

"You didn't answer the question."

"I know what cowboys do," I smirk up at him. "I just prefer my version."

He laughs and then kisses me again. "Get some sleep, songbird. I'll see you later."