Chapter Fourteen
Sydney couldn’t stop the tears rolling down her face. She jerked when Caysen handed her a tissue from above the visor. She took it and blew her nose.
“I feel so awful.”
“Why? Sydney, you had no way of knowing any of this.”
“I know, but I know what Kelsey meant about Rachel being so taken with the horse. I’m the same way. I love my horses. Every time I sell one, I cry.”
Caysen chuckled. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”
Sydney grinned. “Billy and Ezra tease me every time.”
“What do you want to do now?”
“I’ll call Rachel and see if she wants to go horseback riding tomorrow.”
“Alright. You can call her once we get home.”
“I will. I hope she’s open to the idea. She seems so sweet.”
“I thought she was nice, but she really hates her stepmother.”
“I would too if I had a stepmother who beat one of my horses. I think she did it on purpose, so she’d have a reason to surrender the horse.”
“That’s possible.”
“When can you talk with the judge?”
“I’ll call him Monday. I’m sure one of them will be picking up trash along the roads. It’s probably best to have Tillman at your ranch.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s a ranch hand and knows what he’s doing. I’m not sure Gibbs ever mucked out a stall.”
“Okay. Tillman will be fine.”
“I’ll get with the judge as soon as I can.”
“Do you have another case?”
“I do. I’m still working on the one I was doing at the same time as yours.”
Sydney nodded, then watched the scenery pass by as Caysen drove back to his house.
When he pulled up to the porch, he shut the truck off, stepped out, and walked around to her side, but she’d already stepped out. He took her hand in his, led her inside, then they removed their hats and coats, and hung them up.
“I’m going to call Rachel.”
“Alright. I’ll be in the living room.”
Sydney nodded but knew he didn’t see her. She scrolled through her contacts and hit send when she saw Rachel’s name.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Rachel, this is Sydney Wright. I was wondering if you’d like to come to my place tomorrow and go horseback riding.”
“Yes, I’d love that.”
“You can even ride Whisper if you’d like.”
“I would,” Rachel said, her voice catching, and it broke Sydney’s heart.
“Great. How about around eleven?”
“That sounds good. I’ll see you then.”
“See you then.”
Sydney placed the phone on the kitchen counter and plugged the charger in, then she walked to the living room to see Caysen stretched out on the sofa.
“Where am I supposed to sit?” she asked as she put her hands on her hips.
“Just stretch out here beside me.”
Sydney got on the sofa and snuggled back against him, then she kicked off her boots.
“You should have done that first,” Caysen teased.
“Yep, but I got it now.” She laid back down beside him. He wrapped his arm around her and put his cheek on the top of her head. She sat up and stared at him, then leaned down to kiss his lips.
His fingers slid into her hair as he deepened the kiss. Sydney moaned as he kissed her with a deep passion. How was it possible to want this man so much? Caysen sat up, stood, picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
Setting her on her feet, he lifted her T-shirt over her head, dropped it to the floor, then unsnapped and unzipped her jeans. He pushed them down, getting on his knees in front of her to help her step out of them. He looked up at her and the heat in his eyes made her shiver.
When he kissed her belly, she moaned, but when he slid her panties down, she held her breath.
Caysen looked up at her again, then slid his tongue through her slit as their eyes held.
He didn’t stop until she came, then he stood, removed his clothes, and rolled on a condom.
He picked her up, carried her to the bed and stared at her.
Then he got on the bed, crawling up between her legs.
As soon as Caysen pressed his naked body against her, Sydney’s heart raced.
She moaned, feeling his muscular chest against her breasts.
Her nipples hardened. Their lips fused together in a feverishly tender kiss as their hands roamed over each other’s bodies, indulging in a sensual exploration.
With every caress and stroke, they revealed new secrets through physical language, the curve of her hip or the firmness of Caysen’s biceps.
Goosebumps spread over their skin like wildfire as each caress ignited another hidden desire within.
Their fingers intertwined and held hostage to that fleeting moment when passion was about to overflow its banks. Caysen slowly inched into her, testing her readiness with slow thrusts, as she responded to his touch.
In this breathless respite between waves of ecstasy, they locked eyes, sharing those questions that words could never convey. Only languid caresses or trembling sighs of pleasure. As they lay entwined, Sydney nuzzled against Caysen, her gentle breath brushing his chest.
Pushing each other to the brink of oblivion, Caysen captured Sydney’s lips once more, exploring her mouth with intimate strokes before delving deeper into their sensual dance.
With each thrust, her gasps harmonized with his groans, their bodies slick with exertion, hearts thundering in perfect rhythm.
Afterward, as they lay entangled, their bodies limp, Caysen and Sydney looked into each other’s eyes, a promise of what was to come.
Their bodies pulsed with shared intimacy, and the delicious weight of their journey seemed translucent beneath the dim lights in the room, beckoning them into an endless embrace.
He kissed her neck, nibbling and sucking on the delicate flesh, sending shivers down her spine. His hands roamed over her body, grabbing her ass and squeezing it as he ground his hips against hers, kissing her passionately.
Sydney groaned when he finally pulled away from the kiss and looked into her eyes with a hungry gaze.
She reached down between them and took his hard cock in her hand, stroking him slowly at first before speeding up that made him growl low in his throat. Caysen’s fingers explored every inch of her as she did the same to him, their moans mingling together.
As he continued to kiss her, his hand slid between them, and he moved his fingers to her slit. The more he touched her, the wetter she got. She needed him more than she needed her next breath.
She put her lips next to his ear and whispered his name, making him shudder. He reached for a condom, rolled it on, then slowly inched into her again.
“Please, Caysen,” she whispered.
He began moving his hips, taking her harder with each thrust. Sydney wrapped her legs around him and pulled him tighter against her and Caysen picked up the pace and slammed into her.
She dug her fingernails into his ass, urging him on.
He didn’t disappoint, he thrust harder now, and she moaned as she felt her orgasm approaching, then she cried out his name at the same time a low guttural groan tore from his chest as he came.
Caysen put his face against the crook of her neck as she sifted her fingers through his hair. He raised his head, kissed her lips, then looked into her eyes.
“I love you, Sydney.”
“I love you too.”
Caysen kissed her again, then rolled to his side, pulling her against him and they fell asleep.
****
The following morning, Case sank into the sofa cushions, mindlessly flipping channels while Sydney bustled around the kitchen.
His stomach twisted with hunger, a hollow ache that made the sizzle and pop of bacon almost unbearable.
The rich aroma of coffee drifted through the house, mingling with the buttery scent of toast.
“Breakfast is ready,” Sydney called, her voice cutting through the television’s drone.
Case dragged himself up and shuffled to the kitchen, where steam rose from a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs speckled with black pepper.
Beside them, strips of bacon glistened, perfectly crisp at the edges but still tender in the middle.
Golden-brown toast sat stacked in a neat triangle, butter melting into each slice.
He watched Sydney’s fingers wrap around a ceramic mug, placing it beside the plate.
The chair legs scraped against the floor as she pulled it out and settled in, tucking one bare foot beneath her.
Case followed suit, already reaching for the fork.
“I should go home after breakfast. I’m anxious for Rachel to show up.” She frowned. “I hope she does.”
“She will,” Case said as he put a forkful of eggs in his mouth, then groaned. “These are good.”
“Thank you. What will you do today?”
“I have dinner with my family every Sunday.”
“Really? That’s great to get together like that.”
“You should come with me next Sunday. I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”
“Do they know about me?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, really. Just what did you say about me?”
“That I am head over heels in love with you.” He shrugged.
“You did not!”
“Of course, I did. We don’t hide anything from each other. You’ll meet all of them. ”
“All of them?”
“My dad, Deke, Ava and Ellie too.”
“That would be nice. I’d love that.”
“Good. We’ll do that next week.” He picked up his mug and took a sip of his coffee.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’d like to stick around at your place so I can talk to Rachel.”
“Of course, you can. What time is your dinner with your family?”
“We eat around six. You could come today if you’d like.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know. I’m not sure how long Rachel will hang around, but I’d love to have dinner with your family.”
“We’ll plan on that, but if you two start talking and make a day of it, we can do it next weekend.”
“Alright.”
At ten thirty, they left Case’s sprawling ranch house, the snow crunching under the tires of his pickup as he drove them to Sydney’s ranch.
Inside, Sydney changed into a well-worn Grant Hunter T-shirt and soft, faded jeans that felt like an old friend against her skin.
As she was pulling on her scuffed leather boots, the sound of tires on the packed snow driveway caught her attention.