Chapter 15
Bentley
My heart cramps as I listen to Tav tell me all the reasons why he’s going to break us, but I keep my trap shut. My omega isn’t ready to hear all the reasons why he’s perfect for me, or why I see his broken pieces and they don’t scare me.
My concern is for him, always. The cutting, the voices that tell him he’s not good enough, those are all ways he copes with how unfair life has been to him. We all have different ways of doing things.
Mine is to scorch the earth of those who hurt the people I love, which is exactly what I plan to do. These twins aren’t safe from my wrath, and their obsession with Octavian is really unnerving. I don’t want to tell him what my plans are because his feelings are so volatile, but it will happen.
It’s not my place to tell him everything is going to be alright, not until I can prove it will be, so I drive in silence the rest of the way to our destination.
“We’re here,” I say, putting my truck in park as I gaze around my soon to be home. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I hate that I have to wait so long to move in.”
“What’s the hold up?” Tav asks absently, unbuckling his seatbelt as he looks around. There are fields for miles, and it reminds me of my family’s ranch without all the work involved.
“Paperwork that seems to go on forever,” I groan, opening my door. “I’m asking the realtor to insist the owner update the well water supply while we’re forced to wait. I was willing to take the property as is, but now they’re irritating. I’m willing to play hardball for my patience.”
“God, why is that so sexy?” Tav mumbles, getting out of the truck quickly.
Too late, baby. I heard you.
Hiding my smile, I catch up to him and grab his hand to keep him from moving too fast. His cuts are nowhere near healed, which means walking isn’t comfortable for him. I don’t want him to push too hard and hurt himself.
“The house reminds me of a rambling ranch home,” I explain to him, pointing it out. “I have the code to show you around. Watch your step here, baby. Do you see the vaulted ceilings?”
Tav’s eyes widen as he walks. His eyes are directed toward the porch, and he almost misses the step since he’s not paying attention. Smirking, I pick him up while he’s completely enthralled by the architecture.
Tav barely notices once his feet are back on the ground, which makes me happy because I fully plan to take advantage of how spacy he is. I’m going to show him this beautiful ranch to make him dream about joining me here one day, and then I’m going to announce I’m moving in with him in the interim.
Sneaky? Perhaps. I don’t want him to live alone anymore. I hate how mean the voices in his head are to him, and I want to point out they’re fucking lying to him by staying.
Bending down, I enter the code my realtor gave me and push open the door.
Tav moves in a dazed state as he walks into the house, and I let him wander while I follow behind him.
The kitchen is a dream, the living room and open floor plan perfect for not feeling closed in. It reminds me a lot of his loft.
This house is airy without feeling as if a draft is coming through.
It also holds heat well when winter inevitably comes through, and I can plant a garden beyond the covered wraparound porch out back in the spring.
I fell in love with it for a reason, and it appears that Tav is obsessed with this house too.
“It’s so big,” he whispers. “What are you going to do with all the space?”
“I’m going to start with moving you in,” I reply. “As soon as the ink is dry, it’s ours.”
“You…excuse me?” Tav gasps. He doesn’t understand he’s mine in every way but my bite, and that’s an inevitable thing.
I want to have time to court him so he can understand I’m perfectly happy with exactly who he is. It’s very important to me.
“I didn’t stutter,” I growl, deciding he’s too far from me.
Stalking the distance between us, I cup the back of his head and kiss him until he’s breathless and clinging to me.
“This doesn’t make sense,” he says breathlessly. His beautiful eyes tell me he believes that.
“Sometimes, it doesn’t have to,” I say, scent marking his cheek with mine. Tav groans as he perfumes for me and I breathe him in with a happy sigh.
My cock is getting hard, but I can’t do anything about it. I have another surprise for Tav after I finish the house tour.
“How did you find this place?” he asks, following beside me as I walk through what will be our home soon.
“I gave my realtor a list of things I wanted. I know it’s just outside the city, but I miss the country. This way, I get the best of both worlds. I can enjoy having pigs and chickens while still being able to go into the city with you,” I explain.
“Chickens?” Tav asks, chuckling as we finish the tour and step outside.
Oh good, he’s not worried about the pigs. This will work out very well…
“They’re adorable,” I reassure him. “I’ll make them a chicken coop.”
“Wait,” he murmurs, watching me lock up. “What do you mean by ‘make it’?”
“I changed your door, didn’t I? I’m very handy.”
I pitch my voice just right so it’s between a growl and a purr.
Tav rewards me with his lashes fluttering, and I can see goosebumps on his forearms. No matter how cold it is out, he tends to push his sweater up his arms. Since I love the musical notes dancing over his skin, I’ll always enjoy the view.
“Maybe I need more examples of your handyman skills,” Tav mumbles. “Can you lose the shirt while you do it?”
“Are you objectifying me?” I tease him. “‘Cause I like it.”
I make sure I add that part because I don’t want him to think I don’t enjoy it. Tav’s anxiety is an asshole, and it doesn’t need any more fodder to feed his racing thoughts.
“I need to chat with the neighbors next door,” I tell him, wrapping my arm around his shoulders to hug him to my body. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
“How do you know your neighbors already?” he asks. “I barely know mine and I’ve lived in my loft for years.”
“Your neighbors are in another building and you hate people. My reasons for introducing myself to the neighbors are completely selfish,” I say, kissing his temple. “I’ll be right back.”
I already told the Hendersons I’d be coming by today. They’re by their pig pen when I cross their large yard, smiling from ear to ear when they see me.
“Are you ready for your sweet girl?” Mr. Henderson asks.
“I’m so excited,” I admit. “How has she been?”
They had baby piglets born five weeks ago, and I met them when I came out to see the house for the first time. I fell in love with Bella, made arrangements to come pick her up, and it happened to collide with showing Tav the house.
Sometimes, the universe isn’t trying to fuck me with a rusty pole, and I thank her dearly for that.
“She’s being her typical self,” Mrs. Henderson laughs. “She bit my son for bugging her, escaped her pen yesterday and had us all chasing her, and then jumped into a gigantic puddle.”
“Sounds about right,” I shrug, smirking.
Pigs are mischievous creatures, even when they are adorable.
“I’ll hose her off again so she doesn’t get your nice clothes dirty,” Mrs. Henderson says.
Reaching in, she scoops Bella up as she squeals, and brings her over to a galvanized steel tub to do just that. The baby pig complains loudly during her bath, and I chat with Mr. Henderson before Bella is returned to me in a fluffy towel.
“Take the towel with you,” Mrs. Henderson chuckles. “Let it be the beginning of her soft life. I can tell you’re going to spoil her.”
“With this face, I don’t think I’ll be able to help myself,” I admit, helping Bella get comfortable in my arms.
I’m the son of a rancher. I know the steep difference between animals meant for food, guarding my livestock, and the family pet. Bella is firmly in the family position. She will never be bacon.
“I have cash for you. How much did you want for her?” I ask.
I can’t remember if they ever told me. I simply couldn’t say no when I saw they had adorable piglets.
“Nothing,” Mr. Henderson says, his eyes on Bella. “She’s a sweet baby angel that needs you. I knew it the second you saw her. We’re going to be neighbors. I’m sure my wife will pop by for a cup of tea or something when you’re all moved in.”
“Thank you,” I say appreciatively, rubbing Bella’s snout. My baby piglet snorts, and I can’t stop grinning at how happy she makes me. “Hopefully, the guys in suits do their thing faster than they are now and I can move in soon.”
“Good luck with that,” Mrs. Henderson laughs. “They enjoy dragging their feet right up until the end.”
“Don’t I know it,” I groan. “Have a good day, folks.”
As I cross the field, I can see Tav pacing. As much as I attempted to keep the pick up short and sweet, small talk is still a part of life. Oh well, I suppose this is just as good as any to break the news to him that Bella and I are moving in.
“I’m here,” I say loudly. His eyes are slightly unfocused, and his curls are standing up on his head in a mess. He’s definitely been fucking with it while waiting for me. “Look who I found.”
Tav shakes himself as he blinks until he sees me, but his eyes immediately find the bundle in my arms.
“Who? That’s a pig,” he says, confused.
“Bella,” I correct, holding her like a football while I link my fingers with Tav’s to tug him toward the truck. “That’s her name. She’s a sweet little baby pig and she’s going to be Floyd’s best friend.”
“Oh is she?” he asks, his lips twitching at my words.
“You betcha,” I reply. “I’m very excited to watch their friendship grow. Hold her while I drive back?”
“Ho…hold her?” he asks. “Don’t pigs play in the mud?”
“She’s very clean,” I reassure him, climbing into the truck. I wait patiently as I stroke Bella’s soft head, my brow raised as I wait for Tav to settle into his seat. “I watched her get a bath. That’s why she’s wrapped up in the towel.”