“It was a conversation, Brooks. I’m allowed to talk to anyone I see fit. I do not belong to you,” I declare. His slow smile tells me he believes those words about as much as I do.Of courseI belong to him. I just don’t want to.
“Don’t you? If you were doubting things, I most definitely belong to you, Dove,” he hums, closing the distance between us to tower over me. Usually, he makes himself smaller; he comes down to my level. Not this time. He is angry, his body humming with it and I can’t help how my body responds to that. I want to reach out to feel him vibrate, but I hold back. “You sure as hell will know you belong to me by the time I am done here,” he grates, his eyes eating me up as he rubs his hands together.
Jesus, hell, he is hot. Hot and frustrating as hell. My bodyadoreshim. Maybe even loves him. It definitely agrees that it belongs to him. My pride and the sobriety that hangs by a thread? Not so much. I am defiant if nothing else, so I sit up, to reach for his buckle as if I can give him enough pleasure to make him forget what he said and how I reacted.
“Calm down, stud,” I whisper as I pull at his zipper. “I was teasing.”
“Teasing who?” He growls, reaching down to grip my jaw, yanking my head back. “That poor prick who probably has his dick in his hand right now, wishing it was in that pretty mouth of yours? What were you thinking?”
“Brooks, I just...I do not want to do this. I told you I could not...”
“Bullshit. You can and you do. You can tell yourself you don’t feel what I do, but we both know better. I’ve been inside you, darlin’, I’ve felt you inside out. I know what you’re feeling when you come on my cock. How needy you get for me in themiddle of the night when I sneak in here to hold you. How you take your coffee and how you love to laugh as often and as loud as you can. know what you need even if you are too goddamn coward to ask for it.”
The wordcowardhits me harder than any physical blow.
“Get out,” I whisper, tears blurring my vision.
“No,” he counters, dropping my jaw to back up despite his refusal. “I said I was taking up just enough space, baby, and I fucking meant it. I fill all the parts of you that were empty. That might scare you, Dove, but it doesn’t make it untrue. I said what I said because I fucking meant it. You know what, let me make it very clear.... let’s not let any of this happen again,” he declares before he turns and stalks right out of the bunkhouse, leaving me staring after him.
I am not sure what he is up to, but I rush after him so I don’t miss it.
Chapter Eight
Brooks
I am not a big fan of romance books or chick flicks.
No one could ever live up to the men in those tales. Men without error who make the grand gesture when his lady love needs it most. They know what to say and when to say it. They’re always tall and broad with the right color eyes and the right size cock. I might not be any of those things, but I am a man in love, so I am going to give it a shot.
Standing on the wraparound porch of the main house, I take a trembling breath. This is either going to fix it orca fuck it up. A distinct, tinning clang fills the air as I start ringing the ancient bell hanging on the corner post. We got it from Sterling’s pop’s farm and hung it more for show than actual use. Still, we’ve used it from time to time to corral the crew when something important has hit the ranch.
This feels awful damn important to me.
“What the hell has happened now?” Sienna is the first to show because she hates the cattle call manner of the bell. I grin, nodding at the bunkhouses where any man not working starts flooding our way. Only, my gaze is locked on the lone woman in the crowd as she shoots daggers at me. Good, it’s a grand enough gesture she cannot ignore it.
“That right there, is what happened,” I offer with a wink. Sienna has seen me sneak out of Blake’s at least twice. Her knowing smile makes me blush.
“Oh, I see. Good. I do not want to miss this,” she teases, settling on the rocking chair she often sits in to watch our shenanigans.
“What do I not want to miss?” Sterling calls as he joins us on the porch.
Shooting my cousin a look, I hesitate. All the important folks have gathered at the sound of the bell. I don’t much care about Gunner or even Caleb. I think that boy got this message loud and clear earlier. Clearing my throat, I wait for the murmurs and wondering to quiet down.
“Hey folks. This won’t take long. We’re feeding you animals this weekend—old-fashioned barbecue style.” I ignore the stunned expressions from Sterling and Sienna; I will figure out the details later. “The more the merrier. One more thing before you get back to it—most of you know Blake Gray,” I hesitate as all eyes swing towards her. I almost laugh because it is clear she hates the attention. Good. I’ll make certain she never gets their attention again.
“What you don't know yet is this: I fully intend to put a ring on that woman’s finger and give her my name. I’m going to spend every spare moment of every single day proving I love her—if she lets me. But let's be clear. If any of you randy fucks so much as looks at her wrong, I won’t just fire you. I’ll find a spot on this ranch to bury the body.Comprende?”
Hoots and hollers ring out from the entire crew. Well, save for one of them. Blake storms up the steps of the front porch, advancing on me fast. I can’t help it—I laugh. Fuck, I love her. I am sure the entire crew is loving the way she makes me react because this pretty little bird backs me up with ease.
“Since we’re making declarations,” she shouts above the din, turning to face the crowd. Suddenly, I fear I made a big mistake. “I am Blake and I am an alcoholic. I met your stupid foreman here,” she turns to shoot me a glare that would wither lesser men, but then she winks.Thank Christ. “On a night I was doing my damndest to fall off the wagon,” her voice wavers before I more behind her, wanting to hold her, to support her, to be there.
“Oh, Dove...” I trail off as she steps away, shaking her head.
“Your foreman here was there that night, saving me before I could. I came here to be safe again because being on a ranch, working with horses, it was the last time I was sober, the last time I felt solid. Thank you for giving me a place to find that again, and for putting up with this idgit. I give you permission to kick my ass if I try to fall off the wagon again. Oh, I also give permission for you to ignore Brooks’ orders for the rest of the day.”
Now the crew really lets loose, and I turn to Sterling with a silent apology. He just laughs and shakes his head, giving a jerk of his head. He is on board with a holiday in the middle of the day, it seems. I do not miss the smile he aims at Sienna, so I figure it has more to do with her than with us.
Going up behind her, I wave the crowd off as I slip an arm around her waist. I am tentative. My girl is still a firecracker so she could try to take me out at the knees. Dipping my head, I press my face against her throat when she lets me draw her back against my chest.Thank Christ, I think again.
