Charisma
THE AIR HAD a life of its own.
A pulse.
A living breathing feeling that washed over everything energizing whatever it touched.
I was on a natural high that I would probably never come down from.
Nate had been spectacular during the rodeo.
I understood why the women attached to professional athletes kept somewhat low profiles because I couldn’t keep my excitement contained once he was on the bull.
I thought I’d be too nervous to speak a word but as soon as that chute opened; I was on my feet hanging with him through each bump, thrust and jerk as the bull tried to knock him off his back.
He’d lasted on the bull long enough to qualify for first place and when he finally dismounted off the bull he had the nerve to stand in the middle of the pen, pull off his hat and bow toward me.
If that wasn’t enough, he blew me a kiss before he got out of the way of danger.
Sampson was calling him all kinds of crazy and I think Mrs. Maureen wanted to cuss him out but I stood there like I had been serenaded by an R&B group in the rain.
I was so in love with this man.
It wasn’t a realization but more like a truth that soaked into my being like water being soaked up into a sponge.
Nate asking me to join him as his parent’s presented him with the buckle for being the bull-riding winner was a public declaration.
With his arm around my waist, he proudly kissed me as the cameras flashed.
I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to react to it but instead of overthinking I acted the way I always did around him.
Our chemistry was natural and it was clear that we were together since my outfit was similar to his.
He’d gotten me a hat that was the female version of his and the black denim jeans, boots and vest made us look like the couple we were.
I went back to my seat and watched him and the rest of his team sweep up individual accolades including the lone woman on their team a woman named Zephyr that everyone referred to as ZZ.
It had been a beautiful first experience and after exchanging numbers with Vashti I rode home with Nate.
He took a second to get his horses settled and then he needed to get himself changed.
It was apparently tradition to go for a trail ride and party after a big win.
His entire team, extended family members and friends had gathered on Nate’s property.
Since Pistol had competed we were on Riot’s back trotting among the rest of the people who’d come out to celebrate.
I’d never experienced a trail ride but it was enjoying company with people you cared about.
I sat with my thighs spread on his saddle halfway sitting on his lap.
The cadence that he set was easy and I guess it was to ensure I was comfortable.
I watched as people on either side of us rode by with four wheelers, kicking up dust and playing music.
When I’d asked Nate the point of the ride he told me it was community.
A way to get together to celebrate the season and for those who won to extend the feeling of the day.
I was surprised that Sampson and Yzabel were riding in one of the off-road golf carts that had the seatbelts in them instead of riding or on a four wheeler.
Yzzy explained it was because she wasn’t as good on a horse yet but I still didn’t get why she just didn’t ride with Sampson.
Terrence was here with some girl that was clearly just along for the ride because of how she clearly kept eyeing every man that was around.
Terrence didn’t care because it was clear he only saw her as something to do for the night.
Damn, Nate was really a bird out here flocking with his feather fellas. Thank God for molting.
“You good?”
His lips were right next to my ear and even with my hat and my hair I heard him over all the commotion around us.
“I’m perfect.”
“Damn, I like the sound of that.”
I smiled even more broadly and settled more comfortably against him.
These milestones strengthened our bond and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.
He was allowing me into the most intimate parts of his world, wanting me to be as heavily involved in it as he was.
It was so beautiful when a man wanted to have you present in every part of his life.
After we rode around Nate’s property, which was far larger than I’d realized, we came back to the entertainment pavilion with the music going and men grilling food.
We ate, danced and chatted with everyone and now the night was winding down.
I knew Nate was on a high from his win so despite being tired I wasn’t about to rush him.
I was extremely comfortable here and tonight we would stay here together.
It was a big deal because Nate hadn’t spent the night in this house but he was going to with me.
“Samp, you not gone come up here and show out for your girl?” Nate had been dancing for a minute but I’d sat down once they started line dancing. My feet were tired and I wanted a plate of food and a good nap.
Sampson who had Yzzy on his lap on one of the large sectionals looked up lazily from where he’d been solely focused on his wife. “I already got mine, you should want to solidify yours.” He nodded toward me and Nate walked over giving me a kiss ignoring his brother’s teasing.
“I did that. Why you think she’s here smiling like that? Was at the rodeo wearing my colors.” He winked at me and I could only grin because I planned to do that shit again.
“I don’t know why you playing with me. Why would I even want to do this shit?
” From the way he spoke I knew Bucky was winning him over.
Despite being adults, Sampson was still the big brother and he clearly was used to appeasing Nate.
Their dynamic was sweet and had me missing my older brother, Tony.
I loved watching them interact and they never stopped joking with one another.
“For social media. Just think of all the views we could get if our asses started dancing.” Nate actually looked excited and this was the first time I’d heard him mention trying to thirst trap for likes.
I was fairly sure that he was lying to manipulate his brother but you could never be too sure with Nate.
“That ain’t the type of marketing I’m trying to do, Bucky.” He pulled Yzzy closer to him who was having just as much fun watching the two of them banter as I was.
“Oh, I see what it is.”
Being brothers, Sampson heard the unspoken words in Nate’s comment. He sat up straight slightly displacing Yzzy off his lap. “What the hell do you mean by that?”
“I keep forgetting that you just got your dick dipped so you might not have all the moves down and shit.”
Yzzy busted out laughing and I couldn’t help but do the same. Sampson glanced around like she betrayed him, while trying to understand what the hell was going on.
“Have you met me?”
Nate shrugged and it was clear he was only doing this to get his brother up out of his seat. He hooked his thumbs through his belt loops as he rocked back on his heels. “I’m just saying you might not know what to do and—”
Sampson stood up abruptly cutting Nate off and making Yzzy laugh even harder. “Cue that gotdamn music, Bucky.”
Nate’s hands went up and the waning sun was supplemented by the lights strategically placed around the pavilion. “Now hold on, ol’ timer. You might not know what the fuck to do.”
“I’ve seen that damn dance. You seem to forget how good my memory is. Stop acting like you don’t know who I am, Nathaniel.” He said Nate’s name just like Doc did and now I was laughing right along with Yzzy.
“Not the whole name, Sampson. Aye, put on that one song. Apparently we about to have a dance off and shit.” The brothers were dressed so similarly it was hard to miss they were related.
Of course, there seemed to be a uniform for men in this part of Texas.
Jeans that were fitted but sagged enough to show off whatever boxer briefs they had on beneath said jeans.
A pair of boots that looked lived in but not ragged.
A hat, always with a brim of some sort. And Nate, of course took the cake with the diamond fangs in his mouth, with a giant CL chain and steer holding the letters together.
His chest was bare while Sampson wore an a-shirt.
They were both muscular as hell and it was something that was so attractive about strength built from working instead of strength built in a gym.
The music started flowing from the speakers that were built into the pavilion.
Everyone started dancing when the beat started since the song had been viral but Nate and Sampson didn’t pay them any attention.
They were focused on us. Nothing about this song should’ve been provocative but it was.
Well, maybe not the song. Yzabel and I sat next to each other giggling like schoolgirls over crushes when the brothers started to dance but it immediately cut off when they got further into it.
The way Nate’s body rolled his hands simulating hitting it from the back with his eyes trained on me, I felt like the world fell away.
I was ready for these people to get the fuck out of here right now.
I wasn’t even sure when the song ended but it apparently had because Nate was getting closer to me.
“You gone let me dance for you when everybody leaves, Charmy?” He bent down to kiss me again and I let him because I didn’t give a damn who was watching.
“That kiss tells me everything I need to know. I’ve been hard as fuck thinking about sliding back between your thighs tonight. You gone be my lil freaky fairy?”
“As soon as everybody leaves.”
Nate grinned and then stood up straight. When I looked around Yzzy and Sampson were waving goodbye and it was obvious that the Chisholm-Love brothers had that effect on women.