“That was a hell of a ride, cowboy,” I said, settling at his side, wrapping an arm around his waist.
He snaked a hand through my hair, dragging my mouth to his. I melted at the fierce intensity of his kiss. The possessiveness in his touch.
“You were…magnificent,” I said, trying and failing to convey just how amazed I was by him.
“I don’t know how I looked, but it sure as hell felt fuckin’ good,” he said, a wide grin pulling on his mouth.
I think in that moment, seeing the happiness and hope and warmth on his face was when I fell completely for him. This had to be love, right? The elation I felt just thinking about him was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It wasn’t just butterflies or excitement. It wasn’t lust or infatuation.
When I closed my eyes, when I thought of my life in a year, five, fifteen from now all, I could see was him. He was like a shining beacon in the dark, promising warmth and safety and love.
“You looked good, cowboy. Really fucking good,” I said a bit breathlessly.
A low, appreciative hum rumbled in his chest as he captured my mouth in the whisper of a kiss. “Oh, yeah? How good?”
I giggled, wrapping my arms around his neck. It’s like I had a second-hand high from his happiness. It was infectious. And I was greedy and wanted more. “Like fuckable good.”
“Well, damn. If I looked that good on a fake one, I wonder what you’ll think of me when I ride a real one.”
“Wait, what?” I pulled away and searched his face. He wanted to ride a real bull now?
“Yep, I’m comin’ back.” His voice picked up in volume as he shouted over the crowd. “‘Y’all heard it first. Huxson Lane is comin’ outta retirement.”
The crowd erupted into more cheers, Cash going so far as to rip the mic from the DJ’s hands as he shouted, “Y’all here that?Two time World Champion bull rider, Huxson Lane is comin’ back!”
My heart thumped in my chest and knots coiled tight in my stomach like a dozen snakes. I was all for him chasing his dreams. I was all for him riding again, but wasn’t this a bit quick? Rash? He’d just told me the other night the doctors said one bad fall could literally kill him.
Hux squeezed me tight, his deep voice breaking through the fog of worry in my mind. “What’dya think, darlin’?”
I bit my lip, glancing around at all the excitement and buzz from his statement. I wanted him to ride, I really did, but somehow the words tumbling out of my mouth were, “Are you sure?”
He stilled against me, and when I looked up at him, anger flickered to life in his whiskey colored gaze. “Of course, I’m fuckin’ sure. You don't want me to ride?”
The knots in my chest constricted tighter somehow, making it hurt to breathe. “No! No, that’s not it at all. I do. I just—maybe this is a decision to make sober?”
Hux pulled out of my grip fully, barely restrained fury rippling across his face. Holy God, he was pissed. “I ain’t drunk, Quinn.”
The way he said my name was like a stab to the heart.
Oh God, why had I said anything? It wasn’t that I didn’t want him to ride. It truly, honestly wasn’t. I was allowed to be worried for him, right? I mean, riding a mechanical bull and a real one were similar, but the danger was infinitely more with the latter. Was that wrong of me to think that maybe this revelation was just a bit preemptive?
“I’m sorry,” I croaked out. “I want you to ride, I just—”
“You what?” His tone was clipped, hinting at the anger lurking just beneath the surface. Any warmth or light orhappiness he’d worn on his features moments ago had vanished, cold, wild fury replacing it.
Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m just a little surprised and scared, okay? I want you to ride again. I really do. But am I not allowed to also be a bit worried that you made this decision after I don’t even know how many drinks in?”
“You’re just scared I can’t do it because I’m blind, right?” It was phrased like a question, but I heard it for the statement, the accusation it was. And it broke my heart. Broke my heart because I knew that at the root of it, this washisinsecurity.
A tear leaked down my cheek. “What? No. No, Hux. You’re—”
“You are. You think I can’t do it cuz I can’t see.”
Anger rippled to life in me, fueled by the alcohol and adrenaline pumping through my veins. I didn’t think he couldn’t do it because he was blind. He’d proven time and time andtimeagain that he was fully capable of anything he set his mind to even without his vision. Iknewhe could ride. But I just wanted him to be smart about this. To think it through. Was that so much to ask?
“I know you can do it without your vision, Hux. That isn’t even the issue. I—”
“Then what is it?” he all but growled at me.
