Epilogue Eli
My new office window overlooked the training arena on the Baker Ranch. Well, it was Caroline’s office, but she let me use it when I balanced the books at the end of every week for their operation. I liked it up there because I could watch Colt teach while I crunched numbers. He was so cute to watch, and he was good with the kids. Not that I wanted any, but it was nice to know that he had that kind of patience and gentleness about him.
I couldn’t believe we’d been together nearly five months now. It was nice to have someone to spend each night with and wake up in his arms every morning. And when I was working at home through my list of accounting clients, he was right there, stealing kisses whenever he wasn’t teaching at the ranch. I wouldn’t have had it any other way either. Sagebrush had quickly become my own personal heaven on earth.
As I watched Colt guide a young girl through the proper stance on a mechanical bull, I couldn't help but smile. His red hair caught the sunlight, and even from this distance, I could see the sparkle in his green eyes as he encouraged his student. He glanced up, catching my gaze, and winked. My heart fluttered, just like it had that first time he kissed me.
A knock on the door startled me from my reverie. Caroline strode in, her long braid swinging behind her, a smudge of dirt on her cheek.
“How're those numbers lookin', Eli?” she drawled, leaning against the desk.
“Everything's in order,” I replied, turning back to the computer. “The rodeo school is really taking off. Y’all are making some good profit already.”
Caroline grinned, her brown eyes twinkling. “Sure is. And a lot of that's thanks to that boyfriend of yours.”
I couldn't help but smile at Caroline's words. She was right - Colt had breathed new life into the rodeo school, attracting students from all over Texas with his reputation and charisma.
“Speaking of Colt,” Caroline continued, her tone shifting slightly, “have you noticed anything... off about him the past couple of weeks?”
I frowned, turning to face her fully. “Off? What do you mean?”
Caroline sighed, running a hand through her messy bangs. “I dunno, just... he seems distracted sometimes. Like he's tryin’ to hide somethin’.”
My stomach clenched. I hadn’t noticed Colt wincing or anything when he thought I wasn't looking, but he was a master at hiding things like that. “You think it's his old injuries are acting up?”
“Could be,” Caroline nodded. “But you know how he is. Stubborn?—”
“Stubborn as a mule,” I finished for her, sighing. “Yeah, I know.”
Caroline nodded, her expression serious. “Look, Eli, I know you two are all lovey-dovey and whatnot, but someone's gotta keep an eye on that boy. He's liable to ride himself into the ground if we let him. You know how he is.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of concern and frustration. Colt's dedication to the rodeo students was one of the things I loved about him, but he liked to overwork himself. And after all those close calls before, I was always a bit cautious when it came to his work ethic.
“I'll talk to him,” I promised Caroline. “See if I can get him to open up.”
She clapped me on the shoulder, a rare show of affection. “Good man. Now, I gotta get back out there before Logan sets the barn on fire or somethin’. I swear, what little ranch sense he had left his brain when he moved to New York.” She headed for the door but paused for a moment. “Why don’t you and Colt go out tonight? Just the two of you? I’m sure he could use the break and you’ve been workin’ real hard too.”
I nodded, liking the sound of that. “Yeah. That’s a good idea. We’ll do that.”
As Caroline left, I turned back to the window, my eyes seeking out Colt once more. He was helping another student now, his movements fluid and confident. But I watched more closely, trying to spot any sign of discomfort or pain. Was Caroline right? Was he hiding something?
I finished up the books and shut down the computer, my mind already planning our evening out. Maybe I could coax the truth out of him over a nice dinner and a few drinks out under the stars. He always seemed the most open out away from everyone.
When I finally descended the stairs from the office out into the arena, I caught sight of Colt wrapping up his last lesson of the day. He was all smiles and encouragement as he high-fived the young boy dismounting the mechanical bull. He looked just as fit as ever. There was no sign of discomfort. Still, I knew we both needed a break anyway, so we were gonna have that date no matter what.
I approached Colt as he was wiping down the mechanical bull, his muscles flexing under his sweat-soaked shirt. He turned and grinned when he saw me, his green eyes lighting up.
“Hey there, handsome,” he drawled, pulling me in for a quick kiss. “Come to watch the master at work?”
I chuckled, running my hand down his arm. “Always. But I also came to kidnap you for the evening. What do you say we head into town to pick up dinner and take it out onto the back pasture? Just the two of us.”
Colt's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “On a Tuesday? What's the occasion?”
I shrugged, trying to keep my tone casual. “No occasion. Just thought we could use a night out. Unless you're too tired...?”
I watched him carefully, looking for any sign of hesitation or discomfort. But Colt just grinned wider. “I’m never too tired for a date with you, darlin’.” He pulled me in closer, his hands getting awfully friendly considering there were still people in the parking lot.
“Hold your horses there, cowboy,” I laughed, giving him another kiss. “Save it for the date.”
“Yes, sir,” he nodded, tipping his hat.
An hour later we were driving into town in Colt's beat-up pickup, I couldn't help but glance over at him every few minutes. He seemed relaxed, one hand on the wheel and the other resting on my thigh, but I was still on high alert for any signs of discomfort.
“You okay there, Eli?” Colt asked, catching me staring. “You're awfully quiet tonight.”
I forced a smile. “Just thinking about how lucky I am to have you,” I said, which wasn't entirely a lie.
Colt's face softened. “Aw, darlin', you're gonna make me blush.” He squeezed my thigh gently. “I'm the lucky one.”
We picked up some barbecue from our favorite joint in town, Dolly’s Diner of course, and headed out to the back pasture of my family’s farm. The sun was just starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink as we spread out a blanket under an old oak tree. The sweet scent of wildflowers mixed with the aroma of barbecue as we settled in to eat.
Colt dug into his food with gusto, and I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. He caught me watching him and grinned, a smear of sauce on his beard.
“What?” he asked, his green eyes twinkling.
I leaned over and wiped the sauce away with my thumb. “Nothing. Just admiring the view.”
Colt's grin widened, and he caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. “Right back at ya, darlin'.”
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun sink lower on the horizon. I tried to work up the courage to broach the subject Caroline had mentioned, but every time I opened my mouth, I found myself hesitating. Colt seemed so relaxed and happy - I didn't want to ruin the moment.
As if sensing my inner turmoil, Colt set down his empty plate and turned to face me fully. “Alright, out with it,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “What's on your mind, Eli?”
I sighed, realizing I couldn't hide anything from him. “Caroline mentioned... she thought you might be hiding something. That maybe you've been in pain and not telling anyone.”
Colt's expression flickered for a moment before settling into a rueful smile. “Should've known Caroline would notice,” he muttered.
My heart sank. “So, it's true? You're hurting?”
Colt reached out, taking my hand in his. “No, Eli. I’m not hurtin’. But I am hidin’ something.”
Anxiety gripped my chest. “What? What’s wrong? You can talk to me about anything, you know. I’m here to listen.”
“Woah there,” he grinned. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong at all. But you’ll have to wait a little longer before I tell you.”
I furrowed my brow. “You aren’t going to propose to me, are you?”
Colt laughed, his eyes bright. “I might one day, but it won’t be tonight, I can promise you that. I’m happy with where we are right now.”
“You sure you’re okay, Colt?” I asked again, still not convinced.
His eyes darkened and he reached out, grabbing a hold of me and pulling me close. My heart raced as his lips crashed against mine, wrapping me up in a dozen blissful sensations all at once.
“Let me show you just how okay I am, darlin’,” he growled, pulling me down into the grass on top of him.
I, for one, didn’t have the kind of strength required to argue about that kind of advance. Not that I wanted to anyway. The moment I was straddling his hips, my lips pressed against his, I was in heaven. My cock quickly filled out my jeans, and I felt his below me do the same. His hips ground upward searching for friction as his hand gripped my ass. So, it was going to be that sort of night.
“I take it you’d like to fuck me?” I said, grinning as I kissed him more and more.
“Yes please,” he grunted.
“You gonna last longer than eight seconds this time, cowboy?” I couldn’t help teasing him.
He paused, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe.”
“Tell you what, darlin’,” he sneered. “You ride me as bad as you usually do, and I’ll go all night.”
I smirked down at Colt, my heart racing with excitement. “Oh, you're on, cowboy.”
I crashed my lips against his once more, kissing him deeply as my hands roamed over his muscular chest. Colt's strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me flush against him as he bucked his hips upward. I could feel how hard he was through our jeans.
“Mmm, eager, aren't we?” I teased, nipping at his lower lip.
“Can you blame me?” Colt growled, his green eyes dark with lust. “Got the sexiest man in Texas on top of me.”
I chuckled, sitting up to pull my shirt off. Colt's hands immediately went to my bare chest, tracing the lines of my abs.
“God, you're gorgeous,” he breathed.
I leaned down to kiss along Colt's jawline, relishing the scratch of his ginger beard against my lips. My hands worked their way under his shirt, pushing it up to reveal his toned stomach. Colt sat up just enough to let me pull the garment over his head before falling back onto the blanket, his red hair splayed out around him like a fiery halo.
“You're not so bad yourself, cowboy,” I murmured, trailing kisses down his neck and chest.
Colt's breath hitched as I swirled my tongue around one of his nipples. His hands tangled in my hair, urging me lower. I obliged, kissing my way down his abs until I reached the waistband of his jeans. I looked up at him through my lashes as I slowly undid his belt buckle.
“Eli,” Colt groaned, his hips lifting slightly as I unbuttoned his jeans. “Stop teasin' me.”
I smirked, slowly pulling down his zipper. “Patience, cowboy. We've got all night, remember?”
Colt groaned again, but there was a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I tugged his jeans and underwear down in one swift motion, freeing his hard cock. Without hesitation, I took him into my mouth, relishing the way Colt gasped and arched his back.
“Fuck, Eli,” he moaned, one hand gripping my hair while the other fisted in the blanket beneath us.
I worked him with my mouth and tongue, alternating between long, slow strokes and quick, teasing licks. Colt's breathing grew ragged, his hips jerking up to meet my mouth. Just when I could tell he was getting close, I pulled off with a wet pop.
Colt let out a frustrated groan. “Eli, darlin', you're killin' me here.”
I chuckled, crawling back up his body to capture his lips in a heated kiss. “Can't have you finishing too soon, cowboy. We've got a challenge to meet, remember?”
Colt growled playfully, flipping us over so I was pinned beneath him. “Oh, I remember alright. And I intend to win.”
His hands made quick work of my jeans, pulling them off along with my underwear. I gasped as my cock sprung free, already hard and leaking. Colt's eyes darkened with lust as he took in the sight of me spread out beneath him.
“God, you're beautiful,” he murmured, running his hands up my thighs.
I shivered at his touch, arching into him. “Colt, please...”
He smirked, lowering his head to press kisses along my inner thigh. “Please what, darlin'? Tell me what you want.”
“You know what I want,” I groaned, tangling my fingers in his red hair.
Colt chuckled, his breath hot against my skin. “Maybe I wanna hear you say it.”
I tugged lightly on his hair, making him look up at me. “I want you inside me, Colt. Now.”
“You’re not gonna ride?”
“You pinned me down here!” I grunted. “Now fuck me before I change my mind!”
His green eyes flashed with hunger, a crooked smile filling his face. “Don’t you worry, darlin’. I’m gonna take real good care of you.”
Colt kissed his way back up my body, capturing my lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His strong hands gripped my thighs, spreading them wider as he settled between them. I could feel the hot, hard length of him pressing against me, making me shiver with anticipation.
“You got any...?” Colt murmured against my lips.
I nodded, reaching for my discarded jeans and fumbling in the pocket. I always came prepared these days. I pressed the small bottle of lube into Colt's hand.
He grinned, nipping at my lower lip. “Good boy.”
I gasped as Colt's slick fingers circled my entrance, teasing me before slowly pushing inside. He took his time, working me open with careful, deliberate movements. By the time he had three fingers inside me, I was a writhing mess beneath him.
“Colt, please,” I moaned, my hips rocking against his hand. “I'm ready.”
He kissed me deeply as he withdrew his fingers. “Alright darlin', I've got you.”
I felt the blunt pressure of his cock against my entrance. Colt pushed forward slowly, giving me time to adjust as he filled me inch by inch. When he was fully sheathed inside me, we both groaned at the sensation.
“God, Eli,” Colt panted, his forehead resting against mine. “You feel amazing. Every single time.”
I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him even deeper. “Move, Colt. Please. I need it so fuckin bad.”
He started with slow, deep thrusts that had me gasping with each roll of his hips. My hands roamed over his broad back, feeling his muscles flex as he moved above me. Colt gradually picked up the pace, his hips snapping forward with increasing force. I clung to him, my nails digging into his shoulders as waves of pleasure coursed through me. The sound of his balls slapping against my ass mingled with our moans and the chirping of crickets in the twilight.
“Fuck, Eli,” Colt groaned. “You feel so good, darlin'.”
I arched my back, meeting his thrusts with equal fervor. “Harder,” I demanded, my voice breathy. “Give it to me harder, cowboy.”
Colt's eyes flashed with hunger. He hitched my legs higher, changing the angle of his thrusts. The new position had him hitting my prostate with every stroke, sending sparks of pleasure shooting up my spine. Despite his usual position as bottom in the relationship, he was a fucking amazing top.
“Like that?”
“Yes, fuck yes!” I cried out, my head thrown back in ecstasy. “Just like that, don't stop!”
Colt kept up his relentless pace, pounding into me with a force that had me seeing stars. His muscular body glistened with sweat in the fading light, his red hair wild and tousled. He looked like some kind of pagan god, powerful and primal.
I could feel my orgasm building, a white-hot pressure coiling in my core. Colt must have sensed it too, because he reached between us to wrap a calloused hand around my cock, my piercing already dripping with pre-cum.
“Cum for me, darlin',” he growled, stroking me in time with his thrusts. “Let me feel you.”
It only took a few more strokes before I was coming undone, crying out Colt's name as waves of pleasure crashed over me. My body tensed and shuddered as I spilled between us, coating Colt's hand and both our stomachs.
Colt groaned at the feeling of me clenching around him. His thrusts became erratic as he chased his own release.
“Fuck, Eli, I'm gonna—” he gasped out.
“Do it,” I urged, pulling him down for a searing kiss. “Cum inside me, cowboy.”
With a final thrust and a guttural moan, Colt found his release. I could feel the hot pulse of him inside me as his hips jerked erratically. He collapsed on top of me, both of us breathing heavily.
For a long moment, we just lay there, tangled together as our heartbeats slowly returned to normal. I ran my fingers through Colt's sweat-damp hair, savoring the warm weight of him on top of me. The stars were starting to come out overhead, twinkling in the deepening twilight.
Colt lifted his head, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “How was that for lasting longer than eight seconds?” he murmured, a hint of smugness in his voice.
I chuckled, nipping at his lower lip. “Not bad, cowboy. Not bad at all.”
He grinned, rolling off me but keeping an arm draped across my chest. We lay side by side, catching our breath and gazing up at the emerging constellations.
“So,” I said after a while, turning my head to look at him. “You gonna tell me what you've been hiding now?”
Colt's expression softened, a mix of excitement and nervousness flitting across his face. “Well, I was gonna wait until tomorrow mornin’. But I guess we can go back to the barn now.”
“The barn?” I scoffed. “You get me a bicycle or something?”
He just grinned. “Or something.”
Colt's grin widened as he pushed himself up, extending a hand to help me to my feet. “C'mon, darlin'. Let's go see your surprise.”
We quickly cleaned up and got dressed, stealing kisses and playful touches as we did. The night air had cooled considerably, and I shivered slightly as we made our way back over the hills. He noticed immediately, draping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close as we walked.
“So, no hints about this surprise?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Colt chuckled, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Patience, Eli. We're almost there.”
The walk back to the ranch was short, filled with comfortable silence and the occasional shared glance. As we approached the barn, I noticed a soft glow emanating from inside. My heart rate picked up with anticipation. Colt squeezed my hand reassuringly as he pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The interior was bathed in the warm light of several bulbs still glowing from the ceiling. My father stood near one of the horse stalls, leaning over the edge toward something inside. He looked up as we stepped inside, a big smile on his face.
“We’re doin’ this a bit early,” Colt said. “Someone’s impatient.”
Dad just shook his head. “Sounds about right.” He walked over, patting me on the back. “You picked a good one son.” Then he gave a wink to Colt and was gone.
With bated breath, I allowed Colt to guide me over to the horse stall. For a moment I was half expecting to find a horse in there or a foal. But when I heard a tiny sound from inside, I knew it was no horse.
“Colt,” I breathed, taking a step closer. “What is this?”
He grinned, pride evident in his voice as he said, “This here is something you’ve always wanted. And she's all yours, darlin'.”
He grabbed the gate to the stall and slid it open. The moment he did, a yellow bundle of fur darted out, heading right for me. I knelt down just in time to catch the little monster only to feel a wet tongue on my cheek and a tail wagging a hundred miles an hour against my arm.
It was a puppy.
I turned to him, eyes wide with shock as I stood up. “Mine? But... how? When?”
Colt chuckled, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Remember that trip I took down to Amarillo a couple days ago for riding gear?” he grinned. “Well, I didn’t buy any gear. Instead, I picked up this little lady.”
My heart swelled with emotion as I held the squirming puppy close. She was absolutely perfect - a fluffy yellow Labrador with big brown eyes and oversized paws she hadn't quite grown into yet.
“Colt,” I breathed, struggling to find words. “I can't believe you did this. She's amazing.”
He beamed at me, clearly thrilled by my reaction. “I know you've been wantin' a dog for your whole damn life. Figured it was about time we made it happen.”
I set the puppy down gently, watching as she immediately started exploring the barn, sniffing everything in sight. Then I turned and threw my arms around Colt, pulling him into a tight embrace.
“Thank you,” I murmured into his neck. “This is... God, Colt, this is incredible.”
He hugged me back. “And I have one more surprise.”
“Another puppy?!” I asked hopefully.
He shook his head, laughing. “No. But now that we have her… well, maybe we should start lookin’ for our own place. Or build one here on the farm.”
I pulled back slightly, looking into Colt's eyes with surprise. “Our own place? You mean... moving in together?”
Colt nodded, a mix of hope and nervousness in his expression. “Yeah, darlin'. I was thinkin'... well, we've been together for a while now, and I love wakin' up next to you every mornin'. Figured it might be nice to make it official, you know? And I love your parents, but a little privacy would be nice too. Plus, that bed of yours is just too damn small for both of us.”
My heart swelled with emotion. “Colt, are you asking me to live with you?”
He grinned, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “I reckon I am. What do you say, Eli? You want to build a home with me?”
I couldn't contain my smile as I pulled him in for a deep, passionate kiss. When we finally broke apart, both a little breathless, I rested my forehead against his, just breathing him in.
“Yes,” I said at last. “A million times yes.”
He smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“I love you so much, Colt.”
“I love you too, Eli,” he said softly, kissing me again. “More than anything else in this world.”
***
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