"Move with the bumps, Beauty," Jett calls out from behind me. I throw him a sarcastic glare and a thumbs-up. To which he simply returns with a laugh.
"Jett!" I scream his name with a surprised yelp and a laugh when he and his devil horse speed past us, now leading the way.
He laughs, turning to look back at me. "Better keep up, or you'll get lost."
"I— I can't go that fast! The poor wizard over here can barely move as it is. I don't want to break him!"
Jett slows down until we're riding at the same speed next to one another. "Yes, you can. Let him do the work. He can sense your tension. Trust him. Let go." His voice is caring and sweet, and a smile pulls at the corners of my mouth.
I look him over and nod. His smile widens.
The man is beautiful. Although I'm still mildly terrified of what we're doing, seeing him in his element isn't only sexy but also wholesome. Jett is always talking about his life on the ranch. He managed to paint a picture of it in my mind, and I fell in love with this place before seeing it. Seeing him here, on his horse and in the zone, I get it. This isn't just something he does and loves. It's a part of who he is.
"We'll stay together and pick up the pace a little at a time," he says, positioning himself closer to me and flashing me another panty-dropping smile.
"Wherever we’re going, it sure as hell better be worth it," I say under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear, as Harry Trotter and I pick up pace to stay next to Jett and Bullet.
"If I know you as well as I think I do, I say you'll love it." He chuckles, not sparing me a glance. "Almost there. It's at the end of this trail."
We ride on the trail through the trees for a few more minutes before I see a clearing.
Holy shit.
As we turn right into the clearing, all the colors come into view, and the sound of rushing water fills the air surrounding us.
"It's... Th-this is stunning," I mutter breathlessly, taking in the sight before me.
A meadow of wildflowers, with a large creek that runs through it. The flowers are gorgeous and unexpected, especially for November. There aren’t wildflowers anywhere on the ranch.These had to be purposefully grown. I look closer and notice the butterflies swarming, and my heart does a little backflip.
I’ve always loved butterflies. If I actually had a spirit animal, they would be mine. There’s something beautiful about going through the trenches and coming out on the other end, even more beautiful and free.
Harry Trotter and I come to a stop next to Jett and Bullet. Jett hops off effortlessly and makes his way over to me. He reaches out his hands, and I take them. Instead of helping me down, he lifts me, holding me to him. I wrap myself around him, my cheesy smile on full display as I gaze into his eyes.
When Jett sets me down, I catch my bearings and adjust my pants that slid up my ass on the ride here. I take in the scenery before me. You'd only imagine seeing it in a picture or a movie.
Entranced, I take a few steps toward the path in the field of wildflowers while Jett ties up the horses to a nearby tree.
Everyone knows that I love wildflowers just as much as butterflies, including him. For him to plan this out is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. I know how I should feel—excited, likemostgirls would.
Unfortunately, I'm not like most girls.
It's too much. Too personal. Too intimate.
"Are you trying to get in my pants?" I call over my shoulder, looking back at him with a quirked eyebrow in a weak attempt to deflect from the overwhelming feeling deep in my gut. "Because if you are, it may just work." The alarm bells are ringing in my head, screaming for me to flee, but I don't.Because it’s Jett.
"Beauty, if I wanted to get in your pants, all I had to do was take them off you myself." His voice is even, sexy, and deep as usual. In three quick strides, he catches up to me.
My laugh blurts out of me before I can rein it in. "Touche', motherfucker. So if you didn't take me to this gorgeous place tofuck my ever-loving brains out, then what do you have planned for us, Beast?"
"You know, believe it or not, I like more than just fucking you. I love just beingwith you, Iz."
Run. Run. Run. Run. Run.
It's the chant my brain is screaming on repeat.
"Well, that's sappy as fuck. Even for you, Lover Boy," I joke, looking away, but I don't miss the annoyance growing on Jett's face before I do.
He doesn't speak. He doesn't have to. His face says everything.
