Chapter 7
Winter
The sunlight dapples through the trees as Caden steers us beneath the jasper canopy, his horse pacing steadily up the valley as we finally enter the sun-kissed forest.
Today is Caden’s last day back home, and he’s flying back to Carter Ridge early tomorrow morning, so we’ve switched up the routine that we’ve effortlessly fallen into, and we’re finally having a day for just the two of us.
This past week, Caden split his time between my parents’ place and the ranch, working with my dad at the church, before doing cattle check-ups with Ade and the ranch-hands.
And as soon as my riding lessons began, he came down to the pen to watch me teach, a handsome smile tugging at his mouth whenever I glanced over in his direction.
He even helped out in a couple of the classes, and he was so naturally gentle with the kids.
And seeing him interact with my pupils was the cutest thing ever.
Maverick and Ade are hosting a Texas barbeque for him down at the ranch tonight, so we’ve spent the morning riding the valley, with Caden’s large chest pressed against my back.
I lean contentedly into his hold, his strong fists resting on my thighs as he works the reins, and he presses a kiss against my jaw, hugging me closer as he slows our pace.
“Wanna stop here?” he asks, his deep Southern drawl giving me butterflies, and I peek up at him over my shoulder, unable to hide my dimpled smile.
“Yeah,” I nod my head. “And Sunset can rest for a bit.”
A smile plays on Caden’s lips before he nods, straightening his posture, and then his gaze moves through the clearing as he steers Sunset through the illuminated trees.
This area of our hideaway is warm and shimmering like a golden sun-trap, and Caden manoeuvres us toward the edge of the trees, halting Sunset before he prepares to dismount.
The enormous stallion comes to a stop and Caden transfers me the reins while kissing my neck.
“One second,” he rumbles, and in the next moment his boots are on the ground, his large frame planted beside me as he reaches up to grip my hips. His warm palms squeeze me firmly as he eases me into a side-saddle position.
And once my knees are brushing his chest, Caden easily scoops me up from my seat on the saddle, hoisting me around his side with one strong forearm as he helps settle his stallion on the sun-streaked grass.
Then he takes the blanket that he’d rolled up behind us, and holds me a little tighter as he shakes it out, tossing it unceremoniously into a sparkling patch of sunlight and smirking down at me when I breathe out a laugh.
Each year in Kentucky comprises of, like, fifty weeks of summer, and we’re making the most of it by having a picnic in the golden valley.
“Hungry?” Caden asks, as he sets me down on the thick blanket, and I beam up at him with a naughty smile, reaching up to his shoulders as he drops to his knees.
“So hungry,” I tell him teasingly, subtly nudging my thigh against the tent in his jeans.
He groans, chuckling quietly, and restrains my thigh in one of his hands, his strong cheekbones blushing crimson as he rearranges himself with the other.
Having spent so many weeks apart, and knowing that we’re probably going to have another month of not seeing each other, means that these past few days have been really special, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to that intimacy yet.
“I thought that you wanted to stop here so that we could rest,” he teases, a playful smirk tugging at his mouth as he finally gives up on adjusting his pants.
I caress his jaw in both of my hands and bring his handsome face down to mine.
Caden kisses me slow and steady, grunting softly under the sun-kissed pines.
“Sunset can rest, and you can rest, but I don’t have to,” I whisper, keeping the offer both loud-and-clear and secretly unspoken at the same time.
Caden inhales as his pupils flare, his jaw muscles flexing as he towers over me. Then his gaze lowers down to my lips, his palm rubbing my waist as he swallows roughly.
“You don’t… you don’t have to…” he says, his voice quiet and deep, and I can’t help but laugh as I drag him down again, kissing him eagerly as the sun warms my skin.
He smiles against my lips and my heart sparkles, overflowing with happiness.
I unfurl my legs against the blanket as Caden kneels between my thighs, and he caresses them firmly as he kisses me, making me pull back with a little smile.
“So,” I say gently, leaning back on my elbows as I search his eyes, and untangling my legs from his body so that he can get more comfortable and move to my side. “I know that your brothers are hosting the barbeque, but are you going to the rink before dinner tonight?”
Caden stretches out his muscular legs, which are way too long for the large blanket, and he looks down at me with a contented smile as I trace the dark tattoos on his forearms.
“No,” he murmurs softly, watching me trail my fingertips over the ink. “I’ll have ice-time tomorrow morning when I arrive back in Carter Ridge. Then we’ll be on the road for the afternoon game, so it all works out fine.”
I look up at him as he plays with my curls, loving how pragmatic he is. I don’t think that he even realises how attractive his self-assuredness is.
“Unless,” he adds, those sparkling irises searching mine. “Unless you want to, you know… unless you want to join me.”
A slow blush spreads up my cheeks, and then I’m laughing shyly as he tugs me closer, my fingers stilling for a brief moment until Caden nudges them back into action.
When I glance up to meet his eyes, he’s watching my hand expectantly, with this tiny smile.
And I feel as though my heart could freaking burst when he exhales contentedly as I restart my stroking.
“To skate with me,” he murmurs, still watching my fingers. “Not to watch in the stands.”
“Caden,” I whisper softly.
“I would do anything to see you skate again.”
“I’m not sure,” I whisper, shaking my head. “I just… I don’t know…”
But then his large palm is cupping my cheek and his mouth is on mine, kissing me firmly.
I can hardly breathe as I pull him closer, his quiet groan shooting heat up my spine.
“I can’t,” I whisper breathlessly, his rough stubble rasping against my cheeks.
“You can,” he growls back to me. “I know you can, baby. You can do anything.”
“I’m not sure,” I whisper nervously, and he drops his gaze, swallowing hard.
“Okay,” he whispers deeply, nodding in understanding. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push it.”
“You didn’t,” I tell him honestly. “And I’m grateful that you want to encourage me.”
I’m just not sure that I’m ready to take that first step onto the ice.
His broad chest heaves up and down, his breathing unsteady as he shoves his hair back.
“No, it’s too soon,” he murmurs gruffly. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“It’s not too soon,” I laugh softly, my heart clenching at the guilty expression on his beautiful face. “It’s been years, Caden,” I whisper. “I’m just being a little baby.”
He exhales quietly as he massages my nape. “You aren’t being a baby. I mean… you’re my baby. But, like… in terms of being nervous, you’re not that kind of baby. You’re… you’re the good kind of baby.”
“Caden,” I laugh, and he touches my dimple, fighting a smile of his own.
“My baby,” he rumbles, and then I’m giggling as he kisses me again.
“But maybe,” I whisper, and his shoulders swell in anticipation. “Maybe the next time that you’re home… maybe when you come back here at Christmas, I will.”
It takes him a couple of seconds to understand, but then he’s cupping my jaw and looking into my eyes, his tan cheeks heating with pleasure as he slowly twines his other hand with mine.
“Are you serious?” he murmurs, and when I nod my head, he hauls me closer, shifting his large body on the blanket as he kisses me again, so unbelievably handsome.
Then his hand slowly travels down, caressing behind my knees before he lifts them, and he settles them possessively over his lap, before wrapping his palm around my boot.
Specifically, my left boot.
And my cheeks burn crimson as I meet his eyes.
His gaze holds mine as he eases it off, his touch heating my skin as he rolls up my jeans, and he slips his thumb down the band of my sock, tugging it lower, until he can see.
I exhale nervously, even though I’ve never felt safer, as he runs his thumb over the length of my scar.
It’s faded well but it’s surprisingly long, the clean pink line a contrast to my skin.
Caden strokes my scar protectively, his touch warm and soft, his irises molten.
“Nothing like this will ever happen to you again,” he says, the rough certainty in his deep voice rumbling through the golden clearing.
“You can’t promise that,” I whisper back to him.
“While I’m beside you, I promise I can.”
I scrunch my nose to veil my feelings, the little surge of painful emotions, but Caden reads me like a book and pulls me against him, holding me protectively.
“I don’t want to be nervous,” I whisper, and Caden’s chest swells as he rubs his palm down my back. “I want to get over my fear,” I continue, “but it’s something that I’ve never really let myself think about.”
And it’s not as if I want to skate competitively ever again… but it might feel good to get a boot back on the rink. To feel the ice beneath my blades and the air whooshing against my cheeks.
“I won’t let you out of my arms,” Caden says, his warm palms gently squeezing my waist.
“Okay then,” I whisper. “When the winter comes, we can give it a go.”
“Yeah?” he asks softly.
I nod my head and breathe, “Yeah.”
Then he lowers his sun-kissed shoulders and presses a stubbled kiss against my ankle.
“Caden,” I laugh gently, my heart racing as he meets my eyes, and he smiles innocently as he kisses my scar, massaging my calf as he hunches down.
“You can change your mind at any time,” he murmurs, the promise rumbled huskily against my skin, and then he rolls us over so that we’re laying down, ranging his muscular body between my thighs.
He rests his bodyweight on one elbow, and reaches down to caress my ankle.
“Caden,” I laugh, shaking my head in amusement as he starts massaging my skin. “You don’t have to be so nice about it,” I whisper. “I know that it isn’t… pretty.”
Flames immediately flicker in his irises, his biceps flexing as he towers over me.
“Never say that,” he says quietly. “There isn’t a single inch of you that isn’t beautiful.”
I lower my gaze, twisting my lips, and, feather-soft, he lifts my chin.
“I mean it, Winter,” he says honestly. “I’m in love with every inch of you.”
I shake my head as I stroke his chest. “I’m in love with every inch of you, too.”
The sunlight beats down against his broad back, and his quad muscles shift as he drops his weight to his elbow, leaning to the side so that he can pull off his top, illuminating his tan in the golden sun.
My gaze trails down his muscular abdomen, and back up to his swollen biceps as he tosses his shirt to the grass, and I can’t hide my little smile as he bears down on me, so handsome and patiently waiting.
“My baby,” I whisper teasingly, and he breathes out a laugh as his cheekbones heat.
“I got you something,” he rasps at last, and my eyebrows rise, not expecting him to say that.
“You got me something? What do you mean?”
“Because I’m leaving again, and I feel bad about it.”
I trail my fingers over his tattoos. “Caden…” But he kisses the tip of my nose and squeezes my hip.
“One sec,” he rumbles, and then he’s jogging effortlessly toward Sunset, who lifts his head in sudden curiosity, before dipping it again, totally unbothered.
Caden leans down near the saddle, retrieving something from the attached pack, and then he’s smoothing his hair away from his forehead as he makes his way back to me, broad and beautiful.
I prop my body on my elbows and beam up at his handsome face.
“You look like you fight bears for a living,” I say teasingly.
He snickers at that. “For you, I would.”
Then he settles down onto his haunches, and my eyes widen in surprise at what he’s got.
“Caden!” I say softly, and he smiles down at me. “How did you know?!”
“The other night,” he says, his voice deep and velvety. “When we were in our room, and you let me have a look at what you were drawing.”
And he moves beside me as I accept what he’s offering, his arms a warm band as I stroke the front page.
He bought me a new sketchbook.
I didn’t even know that he knew I needed one.
“You were near the end of your other one,” he says, “so I thought I better get you a new one, before you ran out of paper…”
I look up at him in wonder as he rubs his palm around my waist, before I flip open the cover and see the first page.
There’s a neatly drawn heart, right in the centre.
And inside of it he’s written Caden loves Winter.
I drop the sketchpad to the blanket and cover my face with my palms, trying to hide my welling emotions as tears prick behind my eyes.
Nothing has ever come close to being loved by Caden Hart.
Caden doesn’t even draw, so the fact that he tried to make the first page look so sweet… the page which every artist knows is the hardest to attempt to draw on…
I laugh shakily as my breathing hitches, scrubbing my tear-stained cheeks as I meet his eyes.
“Hey, hey,” Caden murmurs, tugging me protectively against his warm chest. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought you’d like a new sketchpad for while I’m gone.”
“You’re perfect,” I whimper quietly, and he breathes out a laugh, stroking my hair.
“No way,” he says gently. Then he smiles. “I guess I’m okay.”
And then he’s grinning as I shake with laughter, kissing me chastely until we fall to the blanket, and his large body presses against mine as I stroke his biceps, so grateful and blessed.
“I’ll try to draw something in it, every night,” I promise, and his irises sparkle as he towers over me.
“If you do that, I’ll end up getting more ink,” he rumbles, and then he lifts one of his forearms, making me blush as he shows me his tattoos.
His tattoos that are all of my artwork.
I look up at him from under my lashes and he pulls me in for a deeper kiss.
“I can’t believe that I have to wait until the winter to see you again,” he whispers, and I push my body firmly against his, not wanting him to ever let me go.
He groans and tugs at my tank top, squeezing me roughly as he kisses my throat.
“It’s only a little over a month,” I whisper, closing my eyes as I stroke his hair.
“Too long,” he rumbles against me, and then he bites playfully into my neck.
I gasp happily, my lashes fluttering open. “It’ll be over in no time,” I pant.
And he smirks softly as he looks up at me. “Better be the fastest month of my life.”