35. Romy
35
romy
I was vibrating like a live wire while the crowd milled around me. A warm breeze flitted across my skin, lifting the hair from my neck. The beads of sweat cooled at its touch.
I tipped my face, holding Jude’s hat to my head, and closed my eyes. Even though my body hummed, I felt light and airy. And hot! It wasn’t just from the evening temperature or the stadium lights.
Still descending from the unbelievable orgasm Jude gave me, the high of knowing he was mine, and the liquor coursing through my veins, I was floating like a feather on the wind while I buzzed like a bee. Jude’s release still leaked from me, and I squeezed my legs together, feeling a primal need to keep it there.
I lifted a hand to my cheek. It ached; I was smiling so big. People were probably thinking, “Let’s go around the drunk girl.”
I giggled to myself.
Yep, crazy in love and very drunk.
I felt the air shift around me as people brushed past to the exit.
“Romy Miller.”
Warm, moist, sour breath whiffed across my nose. My eyes popped open.
Junior. I cringed.
Where was Jude? I hadn’t noticed him exit the restrooms yet.
I scanned the crowd before returning my glare to Junior, who stood in front of me. Dirty-blond whiskers coated his jaw, and his cowboy hat shadowed his pale eyes.
Acrid heat washed over me. Bitter saliva filled the back of my throat.
I stepped back, clenching my fists. Readying myself to knee him in the balls if I had to.
“You’re a moron to approach me here, Junior.”
He gave me a smile that he probably thought was cute, but it said more like creep . “Just saying a friendly hello to the local girl.”
“You better leave before Jude gets here.”
“Nah. I’m not worried about him.”
“Then you are more insane than I thought.”
“Not as insane as your sister, it seems.”
My jaw clenched and my eyes narrowed. “Did you have anything to do with her being put on suicide watch?”
Junior shrugged. “I might’ve paid her a visit.”
“What? How? There was no way in hell she would ever put you on her visitor’s list.” I was getting the spins.
“She did.”
“Why the hell would she do that?”
“Maybe because I knew what she was planning, and she wanted to make sure I wouldn’t talk.”
I took a steadying breath, trying to refocus. Attempting to halt the sway of intoxication.
“What was she planning?”
“Oh, I think you already have your suspicions. Probably why you agreed to stay quiet, not just because of Jude Larsen.”
“You’re a fucking asshole,” I seethed.
Junior looked over my shoulder, his face going suddenly stoic before turning away. “Nice talking with ya.”
I turned. Jude was marching toward us, his face stormy.
“What the fuck did he want?” Jude’s voice sounded as though it had gravel in it.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw popping on a swallow while he clenched his fists.
The alcohol started to evaporate, rolling in my stomach. I wasn’t about to see another fight, and I wasn’t about to lose it in the bushes again, either. Jude’s biceps were like cement under my hands. I cast a glance over my shoulder where Jude’s eyes narrowed, but Junior was already lost in the crowd.
Rubbing my hands down his coiled muscles, I attempted to soothe him. It was as much for him as it was for me. Junior terrified me, but there was no way I would admit it. I skimmed over his balled fists until they relaxed enough for me to intertwine my fingers. His breath slowed and his tension lifted.
“Nothing.” I pushed on my tiptoes to kiss his jaw. “Let’s just go home.”
He leaned down, nudging my nose with his. Releasing one of my hands, he threaded his fingers through my hair. “Yeah, okay, but I can tell it’s not nothing. This conversation is far from over, but we can discuss it at home.”
“I’m tired, Jude. Can we just go home and go to bed? We can talk tomorrow.”
He pulled me into him, my chest pressing against his.
“Honey.” He tipped back the hat to catch my eyes peering beneath the brim. He waited for my lashes to flutter up, capturing my gaze. “This is me chasing after you. I need you to trust me, but you need to give me a chance first. You know you can tell me anything.”
I grimaced. Not anything . I still couldn’t tell him about what happened with Junior. It killed me not to tell him, but it would hurt more if he knew the truth.
He dropped a soft peck on my nose, followed by a defeated inhale. “All right. We’re both tipsy anyway. But we are talking tomorrow.”
I reluctantly nodded. “Tomorrow, I promise.”
My mouth felt like cotton, and the light was so bright it shined through my eyelids. I groaned, reaching for the other side of the bed, but Jude was already gone for the morning. A dull ache between my legs and a sting at my lower back told me that we might have been a little too rough last night.
A smile flickered across my lips remembering how Jude overpowered me—owned me—while a whole damn rodeo was happening. I giggled to myself. That was the hottest moment of my life. I had a feeling this was the start of many moments like that with Jude around.
“What’s so funny?” came a husky voice as he walked into the bedroom.
I think I’m in love. My mouth watered at the sight of him. And it was not just because he looked sexy as hell, all sweaty from his morning workout, double-fisting a steaming mug of coffee and iced water, but because this man knew just how to take care of me. He was right. I really needed to start trusting him.
Even if I had to push him past his breaking point. Even if my own fears and triggers tried to sabotage what was obviously growing between us. I told him I needed him to fight for me—for us—and he more than proved he could last night.
I propped myself on my elbows, biting my lip, and attempted to give him the sexiest look. Even though I probably appeared a little rough this morning. I’m pretty sure mascara was smudged under my eyes and lipstick smeared across my face. After another round when we got home, we passed out.
“Just thinking about how you plowed me against the barn last night.”
The bed dipped when Jude sat down on the edge beside me.
“Oh, yeah?” His lopsided grin came out to play this morning. “Like it a little rough, do you? The risk of being caught?”
I lowered my lashes, feeling my cheeks heat. “I think it may be my kink.”
He leaned down, dragging his tongue across my lower lip. I opened for him, but he didn’t connect. Instead, his lips fluttered over mine while he said, “I like my girl a little wild and untamed.”
I bit his lower lip, sucking it into my mouth. His breath hitched. I liked him calling me his girl .
“Kiss me and give me that coffee, Jude.”
“Bossy as well.” He chuckled, dropping a quick peck before placing the mug in my hands and setting the water down on the bedside table.
I breathed in the aroma. Sweet nectar of the gods!
I eyed him suspiciously over the rim of the coffee. “You’re wanting to talk now, aren’t you?”
He gave me a soft smile. “Hydrate and let yourself wake up. We’ll talk after my shower.”
Jude popped a kiss on my head before heading to the bathroom.
I could follow him in there, but then I’d just be delaying the inevitable. I took a big gulp of coffee. Some of the things we said were a little fuzzy, but Junior’s creepy face and Jude claiming me were very vivid in my mind. If we belonged to each other now, he needed to know what was going on.
By the time I emptied my mug and drained my water, Jude walked back in, a towel slung low around his hips. The man was delectable. He had to know it. That sexy V showing me right where to look.
“I’m going to put some clothes on. Otherwise, you’re going to be way too distracted, and I’ve been known to give you what you want.” He winked.
“Ah, you’re no fun.”
He chuckled, pulling on a pair of Wranglers and a charcoal-gray T-shirt. He ruffled his wet hair, giving it a sexy, messy look.
“One second.” He grabbed my empty water glass, padded back down the hall, and returned with it refilled.
“I’m not going to get out of this, am I?”
“Nope. No excuses.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?”
He rolled his eyes. “Better go now.”
I slowly heaved out of bed, stretching like a cat so my tits were in his face.
“Better put some clothes on, too.” Jude fell back on the bed, rubbing his closed eyes.
“Like I said, no fun.”
“Go.”
I screeched when a hand smacked me on the ass cheek.
I left him laughing into the pillow. I took my time using the bathroom—washing my face, running a brush through my hair—before returning to the bedroom to grab a pair of jeans and a tank top.
“Okay.” I heaved a sigh, settling cross-legged on the mattress beside him. “Where should I start?”
“If you want, we can start with how you feel after what I said last night?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “What part? When you told me to be quiet so you could fuck me in public, or when you asked me if I liked being fucked against the wall while my panties rubbed against my clit?”
“ Jesus , Romy.” Jude ran a hand down his face.
“For the record, I liked it very much.”
“I gathered as much.” He guffawed. “I meant when I said I wanted you to be mine.”
I pressed my lips together, nodding. “I liked that, too.”
His eyes shuddered, searching for patience. I knew I had to be exasperating. “Maybe I’ll start.” He sat up and took my hands in his. The rough pads of his thumbs scraping across my knuckles. “I want us to be together. To make a real go at this. I want to date you and tell everyone that this incredibly gorgeous woman belongs to me. I want you to be mine and no one else’s.”
My heart pounded. It felt as if it may fly right out of my rib cage. “I don’t want anyone else, Jude. Only you. When I asked you to be patient with me, I meant that I needed time to figure out what I really wanted and if it was even possible to have it. And I’ve decided. I want you. I’d love nothing more than to go on dates with you and call you mine.”
Jude tipped his gaze to the ceiling, as if peering into the heavens, and gave an audible sigh of relief. “Thank, fuck!”
“But …”
“But what?” His gaze shot to mine.
“What about your life in Vegas? What about your career? What about my job in California? I don’t think I can do long distance.”
“Wait. Did you get a new job?”
“No, but I applied for a couple,” I said sheepishly.
I watched the color drain from his cheeks. He didn’t like that answer, but he didn’t chastise me for it. Instead, he asked, “Did you hear back?”
“Not yet.”
“I thought you were burned out from teaching.”
He wasn’t wrong. It didn’t feel as rewarding as it once did, and I wasn’t sure if it was totally worth all the energy I put into it. Why did I have to choose the most underappreciated profession for myself? Doing it for the kids just wasn’t enough anymore.
“I am, but if you’re going back to Vegas, I can’t stay here. My teaching license is in California. I’d have to make a living somehow.”
“You do realize I make enough money that you wouldn’t have to work.”
“I can’t take your money, Jude. And I don’t think I want to move to Vegas.”
“I’m selling my house anyway.”
That was news. I wondered when he’d made that decision. Apparently, we both had made decisions without each other.
“What? Why?”
He shrugged. “Didn’t feel like home anymore. I guess it hasn’t for a while. My real estate agent said I will make a nice profit on it after all the renovations I’ve done.”
“Then where do you plan on moving?”
“Truthfully?” he asked.
I nodded.
“I was hoping you and I could decide that together.”
My breath caught, and I could feel a blush creeping up my cheeks. He wanted a future together. Here I was, just doing my best to stop pushing him away and running, and he was making plans to include me. He had way more faith in me than I ever had in myself. It made me fall in love with him just a little bit more.
“I think I’d like that. Would you consider California?”
“If that’s where you needed to be, then I’m there.”
He couldn’t give up everything for me. I might have asked the question, but I couldn’t let him do that just for me. It had to be for him, too.
“ Jude . I don’t want you to drop everything for me. That wouldn’t be fair. I don’t think you’d really be happy doing that. You love fighting.”
“I love”—his teeth clicked on the word—“spending time with you more. I’m realizing I love this ranch. This is where I feel at home.”
“The ranch?”
That came as a surprise, given that we both ran away from here when we were eighteen and never looked back. But after the last few weeks, maybe it wasn’t a complete surprise. I was falling in love with the ranch again, too.
“Uncle Chuck needs the help, and maybe it’s been the years away and growing up, but I’ve come to appreciate the quiet life and physical labor that works you so hard, you fall fast asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow. It’s rewarding working with the land and the animals. Besides, you can’t get sunsets in Vegas like you can here.”
I knew what he meant. Of any place in the world, this place felt most like home to me. It spiked my happy endorphins every time I stepped outside. “I wouldn’t blame you if you chose to stay.”
“Would you consider staying?”
“I don’t know, Jude. I’d need a job?—”
“You have a job here. You’ve become as much a part of the ranch as I have this summer.”
I did feel as though I was part of the ranch now. Maybe I always had been, but I didn’t realize that as a confused and resentful kid. I was too self-absorbed to see what was right in front of me. I think I had to leave to discover that for myself. Thornbrush was home.
Would Jude give up everything for me? For the ranch? Could I join him?
“But wouldn’t you have to travel a lot for your fights and be gone for weeks at a time with training?”
Jude scratched the back of his neck. “Coach jokes that he should send everyone to train on a ranch.” He chuckled. “I feel stronger than I have in years, but I think everyone is right. This may be my last fight.”
This was the time to tell him, then. He might not even get to fight if Junior followed through with his threat.
“I have to tell you something.” I grimaced as soon as the words left my mouth. “But I need you to promise not to fly off the handle.”
“Okay … this can’t be good.”
I peered down at his hands holding mine. Strong and rough. Hands that could be so gentle yet pound someone’s face in without breaking a sweat. But he needed to know. I needed to trust him with this. He was a man of integrity. He was dependable. He was goodness. He was trustworthy. I just had to show him that I could put my faith in him. That it all started with me being honest.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “I didn’t fall off the horse the other day.” I clenched my jaw, waiting for his response.
His brow pinched with confusion. “What do you mean?”
I nervously rolled my lips together. “Well, what happened was …”
“Romy.”
“So while I was waiting for Reed, Junior found me on the trail …”
His eyes darkened like a sea in a hurricane.
“He threatened to press charges against you if I testified.”
Jude’s hands tightened on mine. His nostrils flared. “He fucking did what ?”