“We don’t have a lot of time before we have to get back or someone realizes we’re gone.”
“Well, I’ll have to make this quick so we make sure that no one ever finds out,” Tristan says against my lips before kissing me.
It’s good that we’re both committed to the same thing. Because if they do find out, we’ll really be fucked—without the benefit of an orgasm.
“Lark?” My mother’s voice is calling from outside the door. “Lark, honey, are you in there?”
I groan, rolling over and covering my face with the pillow. I’m half dead.
Between the multiple orgasms and the ride back from the ridge—which is a lot of work in the sun, but was really interesting at night and while a little sore from the sex—I really need sleep.
Another soft knock.
“I’m sleeping, Momma,” I call out.
She takes the answer as an invitation to enter. “Lark? What are you doing in bed? You have chores to do. You missed breakfast, and we have to go into town today.”
The chores part I knew, but I sent a text to Ryan telling him I was cashing in on one of my favors and to make sure all the horses were fed. I followed it up with an assurance that I’d make sure to do all my other duties later in the morning.
He was all too happy to have one less thing to owe me.
As for breakfast, I really could not care less.
But the part about going into town? Yeah, I have no clue what she’s talking about.
I lower the pillow. “Why do we have to go anywhere?” I ask, my throat scratchy from only—I look at the clock—three hours of sleep.
Someone please punch me until I’m unconscious.
“Well,” Momma says as she walks to the bed, sitting down. “Ifsomeonehadn’t been a sleepyhead and missed breakfast,someonewould know that Carter is coming home this month.”
Oh, goodie.
Another brother who will inevitably piss me off.
I love my brothers. I really do, but Carter isthatbrother. You know, the one sibling you’re not really sure fits with the family. He’s smarter than all of us, which—whatever. But he acts like it makes him superior. It’s annoying. I really hate how pompous he is.
He also loves to tell us about all the amazing things he does that we’re just “not trained” to do. As if Deacon couldn’t kick his ass in shooting, running, jumping, and pretty much anything athletic.
I clear my throat and sit up a little. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why is he coming home?”
Her eyes widen. “Because he misses us, that’s why. He said he’s taking some leave and wanted to come home.”
The hell he did.
Carter only comes back if it’s to benefit him. He wants something, or to gloat.
“That’s nice, Momma. Can I go back to sleep now?”
She scoffs. “Didn’t you hear me, Miss Sleepyhead? We need to go to town.”
I’m missing something. “Why do we need to go to town right now? If he’s not coming home for a few weeks, we have time. I didn’t sleep at all. I’m exhausted. I just…need to sleep.”
Also, I told Tristan to meet me again tonight at the ridge, which means another night of no sleep. So, yeah, I need the rest.
