But watching Archer and Melody—it made me realize how unfair that had been. Our entire relationship was based on my success. I’d let him down personally after I’d made the decision to tell my mother about his affair all those years ago. I’d known in my gut that I couldn’t live with keeping a secret like that from her. She’d chosen to stay with him, and he’d never fully forgivenme for telling her. So our relationship had shifted to being fully dependent on how I performed at competitions. Maybe that was why I was so exhausted. This sport was pressure enough all on its own, but adding in the fact that it determined how my father felt about me—it had all grown very complicated.
“Wrenny, will you still be here to come to my special day at summer camp?”
I smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m here for a few more weeks, so I’ll get to be here for the famous Chadwick Fourth of July party this year too.”
“Yay!” Melody clapped her little hands together. “My Beefcake and Auntie Em and Uncle Nash will be here, too.”
We started talking about the Fourth of July party, and I looked up to find Axel watching me.
“What?” I whispered. “Is there something on my face?”
He chuckled. “No. I just like looking at you.”
My chest squeezed. How was I going to leave this man. We both knew how difficult it was going to be. I’d be living on the other side of the country. We wouldn’t be in the same time zone anymore. Yes, we could still talk daily, but it wouldn’t be the same.
We finished up dinner and dessert, and Axel and I climbed on Honey and Wrax and took the back path home.
We chatted all the way to the ranch before making our way up the driveway to his house.
“I wanted to tell you that I spoke to Brenner, and he’s found two guys that I think are going to be great additions to the team.”
“Yeah? That’s great. You’re working so much, and having good help will lighten your load,” I said as we jumped off our horses and walked them into the barn.
“Well, there’s a bit more motivation for me, if I’m being honest,” he said as we closed the doors to their stalls.
“What’s your motivation?” I asked as he pressed me up against the pile of hay.
“You’re my motivation, Wren. I know we didn’t put rules on this. I know we’re going to talk every day after you leave and see where things go. But I want to be there to support you. So I’m bringing on extra help so that I can get away more often. I know it won’t be perfect, but it’ll be better than going months without seeing you.” This sexy, lazy smile spread across his face.
“Anytime I get to see you is perfect.” I sighed.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I said, tangling my hands in his unruly hair and tugging his head down.
We sat there kissing for the longest time, both of us sprawled out on the hay bales as the wind bustled around outside the barn.
Axel pulled back. “You want me to take you inside?”
I shook my head no. “I want you right here, Cowboy.”
“You can have me anywhere you want me, Wren.” He sat up so his back was pressed up against the wall. I moved to straddle him, my knees pressing down on the blades of dried grass. I unbuckled his jeans and shoved them down enough to free his eager erection.
God, I loved this man.
I loved him so much that I felt it in every inch of my body.
I wanted to savor every minute we had together.
Because whether we liked it or not, everything was going to change soon. We’d be living on opposite sides of the country.
He’d live here and I’d live there.
I tugged my denim skirt up, and without warning, Axel tore my lace thong off and tossed the scrap of fabric beside him.
I pushed up, adjusting his tip at my entrance, before moving down slowly as my gaze locked with his. The dim lights in the barn allowed me to see every single one of his handsomefeatures. The sound of water dripping into a bucket in the distance was almost rhythmic.
“Damn, you feel good, baby,” he hissed as he slowly filled me.
