Page 116 of Saddle Storm

I shrug. “So what if I did? I was always better at everything than you.”

He shakes his head, his expression warm. “Not at this you won’t be.”

My stomach bubbles but I can still feel the anger simmering in him. He’s stiff, jaw tight even as he tries to contain it. I bite my bottom lip, my eyes feeling heavy. “Can we go to bed now?”

He inhales deeply, then steps back to grab his duffle bag. “You go ahead. I need a shower first.”

I take my chances here. “I can join you.” I press my palm against his abs.

He grins, gripping my wrist and setting it down. “Nice try.”

I purse my lips. “Is this our first fight?”

“Course not. It’s like our fortieth.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Be right out, Bumble Bee.”

My shoulders fall as he disappears into the bathroom.

Silas is right. He needs more time. He doesn’t blame me—he said so himself. It’s the situation I need him to forgive. To accept.

The same one that took me years to.

His shower seems to last forever—either that or I’m too exhausted, or too blissfully content to stay awake and wait for him. Because regardless of how long it takes us to get past this, Silas loves me and I have to believe that’s all we need.

I groan from the light invading my bedroom. It can’t be morning. I slept like . . . four minutes. But man, it was the deepest four minutes I’ve ever slept. I knocked out cold last night.

I twist into Silas’s chest. His arm a welcome weight around me and it feels like neither of us have moved all night.

I stroke his arm, his lashes fluttering, and he looks comically grumpy. He grunts and closes his eyes. Then snaps them open. “Am I dreaming or did you tell me you loved me last night?”

I shove against his chest. “You told me you loved me first.”

He shuts them again with a yawn, abandoning this conversation. “I did no such thing.”

I laugh. “Did too. And I’ll remember it forever.”

His eyes open wide and he flips me back onto the bed, hovering over me. “You’d better.”

I lift my head to kiss him, but he backs up, teasing me, like I’m still being punished for something.

“Silas!”

He presses his lips to mine briefly. “That should hold you.”

“You jerk. I’ll start crying,” I warn.

His face falls. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Closing my eyes, I inhale deep, biting down a giggle. But his lips crash over mine in a hard, deep, claiming kiss. I feel everything in this kiss, possession, love, a hint of anger, and desperation, before he releases me for a breath, looking at me like I’ve wrecked him. “Good God, woman, you’re going to win this stupid fight.”

Silas took Max to school while I got ready for work. Morning routine has been life-changing living on the ranch—and with Silas’s never-ending help. Since he’s been back it’s like every time I turn around—he’s there. Looking for ways to be my hero. Even if it’s just an afternoon caffeine kick.

I know it won’t always be this way.

Hell, he could decide next week this whole thing with Jasper is too much and he can’t deal with it.

Somehow I don’t see him doing that. I don’t see him giving up on us. I trust him. He came through for me. Between the team’s devastating loss and then finding out about Jasper—he remembered our simple exchange from earlier that night. And he chose me.

God I could have melted in his arms. I feel like I did—all night, pressed right up against his chest.