Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MORGAN
I get back to the table, take the beer from Beau’s hand, and down the remainder of it.
“Hey!” He protests, but I ignore him. I’m too flustered and too turned on. What the fuck was that? I eye Davis’s beer, I need something to cool me down. He notices and wordlessly offers it to me. I down it, and just as I put the beer bottle down, I feel Rhys approach. “Who knew you could sing?”
“Sing? They made me fucking horny.”
Rhys sidles up to my side, downing his own beer, “Princess.”
“Cowboy.” I try not look at him. But when I do, the moment our eyes connect, the world ceases to exist; it’s just the two of us.
“Oh my god.” Beau is quickly shut up by Davis.
That snaps me back to reality. We’re flirting with the rules; the rules I was insistent on. Tensions are high, and feelings are getting involved while rules are getting blurred.
“Right. Well, who wants another beer?” Davis asks .
“Beer sounds good,” I reply. “I’ll come with you.”
I don’t hesitate, turning on my heel and walking to the bar. I need space. I need fresh air. I need Ethan found, so I can go home to protect my heart.
Davis meets me at the bar. “So...”
“I don’t want to hear it.” I’m still leaving, that hasn’t changed, and Rhys is happy here. I know he doesn’t want to go back to our crappy town. So, I’m not risking opening up and getting hurt. For something that might not even be anything.
“He likes you” He says it so quietly, I don’t think I’m meant to hear him.
“It’s just sex.”
“Okay...”
And he drops it. We collect the beers and walk back to the table.
Beau and Rhys aren’t talking.
“What happened?” I ask, but I’m not sure I want the answer.
All I get from Rhys is, “Someone needs to learn to shut the fuck up.”
I hand out the beers, I don’t think I have the mental capacity for this at the moment.
We watch the last of the karaoke in silence.
I feel Rhys’s eyes on me from time to time, and when I turn to face him, he makes no effort to pretend he wasn’t looking.
I move closer to him. And at some point, his arm is around my shoulders pulling me into him, kissing the top of my head, a gesture I have quickly fallen in love with.
I’ll give myself tonight.
I can pretend he is mine and I can be just his.
The longer the night grows on, the drunker everyone becomes, and the crowd has thinned out.
So eventually the karaoke is turned off, and they just play random music through speakers.
Whatever was said or done between Rhys and Beau, is weighing heavily on the table, they’ve barely spoken to one another.
So, we call it a night and head towards the camp site.
Bed, that’ll put an end to tonight, and in the morning, we’ll go about the day as if nothing happened.
When we get back to our camp site, there is an old truck tyre rim someone found and obviously dragged over to the clearing between our tents and swags, lighting a fire.
Miles and Brent are still awake, sitting around talking low while Molly and Dani sleep. When they see us approach, they nod and hand out beers.
They talk about the rodeo and the events I didn’t see, too busy on the rides with Molly.
“Any of you guys’ rodeo?” I ask. But I second-guess the question. Did I ask that correctly?
Miles laughs, and shakes his head.
Brent says, “Horses are a waste of time and money.”
Right.
I know Rhys never did.
Davis said he actually grew up more in the suburbs, than in the country.
“Yeah, I used to bull ride,” Beau say s
I don’t know why that surprises me, but it does. “Why stop?”
“Found more fun things to ride.” He throws a wink to Davis, who rolls his eyes in response. Rhys snorts despite still not uttering a word to Beau, and Miles chokes on his beer.
Brent tells us he’s calling it.
“Ever notice that when you open your mouth, Brent seems to scold us or just leaves?”
Beau just shrugs. “He just needs a root.”
And that’s when Miles follows Brent, calling it a night. They have tents, and the four of us have swags.
“So we’re the only ones roughing it?” I chuckle while asking.
“Don’t go all Princess now.” Rhys smirks. “I know you enjoyed the last time you were in a swag.” He winks while my cheeks blush with embarrassment.
I glare at him through narrowed eyes, while Davis asks, “What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” I quickly reply. Maybe a little too quickly.
Eventually the fire dulls, and Beau and Davis are calling it a night.
Somewhere in the distance, music is softly playing.
“Come on Princess, I think we should call it a night as well.” He stands, and walks over to me, offering his hand. Normally I’m a strong independent woman, but right now, though? I let him help me, taking his hand effortlessly.
I love the way my hand looks in his.
The song playing is slow, and when I stand, he intertwines our fingers together, and he holds our joined hands to his chest, while his free hand takes his brimmed cowboy hat off and places it on my head. I don’t even try to hide the smile. His hand then rounds my back and pulls me closer to him.
We sway to the music. “…I think I just better show you…”
Rhys hums along. He must know the song, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it. We continue to sway to the rhythm.
Rhys places a gentle kiss on my lips before spinning me. “…Let's see how much love we can make…” he dips me, and I squeal in laughter, holding his hat on my head.
He lifts me back up into his embrace and sings the line, “I want you in the worst way.”
I feel my face hurting from the way I’m smiling.
I rest my head on his shoulder, the hat getting knocked off in the process, but we ignore it.
He clasps my hand with his, holding them to his chest again, his other hand is on the small of my back.
Our foreheads meet, and Rhys continues to hum along.
I close my eyes and take it all in. And that’s when I feel everything shift.
I’m falling for my brother’s best friend.
I can’t stop it.
And I’m not sure I want to.
When the song nears the ending, he pulls back just enough to place a finger under my chin, lifting so my eyes meet his. He kisses my forehead and spins me out, and again I laugh. When our arms are stretched out, he spins me back. “I want you in the worst way…”
The air has shifted and there’s electricity sparking between us, which I’ve noticed happens a lot with us.
“…The worst way.”
The song fades and we’re left standing there in silence still holding each other .
Rhys cups my cheek. I close my eyes and lean into his touch, “Morgan.”
I look at him. Something dances in his forest green eyes, something I’m sure is mirrored in my own.
We meet halfway. Our lips gently press together, before turning into a firmer kiss, filled with promises that I’m scared will break my heart.
Pulling apart, we catch our breaths. Silently, Rhys leads me to his swag, helping me onto the thin mattress.
He holds himself up, keeping the weight of his body off me.
Tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear, he runs his hand along my jaw to my chin, then his thumb brushes my bottom lip.
I let my lip get pulled down by his thumb.
“You’re so beautiful, Morgan.”
He doesn’t allow me to answer because once again, he claims my lips. Gently, as if I’m made from glass. Being tender and sweet; words I wouldn’t use to describe Rhys Donovan.
Rhys runs his tongue along the seam of my lips, silently asking for permission. I part my lips allowing his tongue to slip into my mouth.
I love the way he kisses me. Possessive and claiming, but reassuring and safe.
His hand lightly trails my pulse and circles my throat. When I don’t freak out, he adds a little pressure, “You’re mine, Morgan.”
“Yours.”
I roll my hips up his erection nudging at my swollen clit, I moan not caring if anyone can hear me.
Slowly he gets to his knees, reaches behind his head, and pulls his shirt off in one swift motion, showcasing his body and tattoos.
The light from the dying flames from the fire dance over his tan skin.
I take a deep breath in when his hands reach for the hem of my shirt.
I lift my torso up and he frees me of my shirt.
I unclasp my bra, and he immediately shows my breasts attention, cupping them, sucking on one nipple at a time.
I rake my fingers through his hair, pushing my chest forward.
With my breast in his mouth, his hand leaves my other and trails down my body, and into my jeans. “I love how you’re always so ready for me Princess.”
He gathers my arousal with a finger and circles my clit.
I shift my hips at the contact, and he makes quick work of removing my jeans.
I unbuckle his belt and then his jeans, lowering them just enough to free his cock.
Then without hesitation, I wrap my hand around the base and work my hand up and down his length while sucking the velvet head of his cock into my mouth.
He groans and pushes forward causing my hand to drop from his length. When he reaches the back of my throat, I gag. A sound I think he loves, because he does it again. But then he withdraws from my mouth to take his jeans off completely.
Once they are off, he is back over me, forearms either side of my head. His knees rest between my legs, and I effortlessly wrap them around his waist. He thrusts forward, his cock gliding along my slit. I moan and raise my hips to meet his movements.
Then he pulls back, lines up the head of his cock with my entrance and slowly pushes forward. My pussy stretches around him taking all of it, until he is buried to the hilt.
He continues to fuck me in slow, measured thrusts, peppering my face in small kisses, until he finds my lips and kisses me long enough to take my breath.
My orgasm slowly builds.
Rhys moves one of his hands to cup my face, and I lean into his touch; a touch I’m becoming too addicted to. He lowers his forehead to mine as his hips pick up pace, driving harder into me.
“Do you want me to pull out?”
“No, I want all of you.”
I don't have time to think about what any of this means because his hand moves between us and circles my clit. My muscles start to spam around his length, the metal balls glide over nerves that have my toes curling.
“Come Princess, come all over my cock. Make me yours.”
I need to tell him to not say words like that, but I find myself not wanting to.
With two more thrusts of his hips and flicks of his finger over my clit, my back arches up off the mattress. Rhys quickly covers my mouth with his hand, and I come with his name on my lips.
My orgasm must trigger his, because his movements stutter and with one final thrust, he holds himself deep in my cunt, filling me with his cum.
He rests his forehead to mine again, his eyes searching. He stays between my legs until he goes soft, and even then, he doesn’t move.
Rhys then kisses me one more time before rolling off me and pulling me to his chest. My favourite place to sleep. I rest my hand where his heart lays, feeling it beat under my palm.
With a kiss on top of my head he whispers, “Goodnight Princess.” He hesitates at the end like he wants to say more but ultimately, he doesn’t. I don't question it .
“Goodnight Cowboy.”
Before I let sleep pull me under with one thought on my mind, I don’t know if I can leave.
It’s the day after we got back. We got back to the station around lunch time, and all took yesterday afternoon to relax.
Some of us were still hung over, some of us just tired.
But even with the afternoon to try recuperating, when the guys got ready for work this morning, I told Rhys I would help Dani out today.
He told me okay and kissed my head. Since the night at the rodeo, things are different, and we’re both not talking about it.
Dani and I are laughing. “I still can’t believe I got up and sang with Rhys on stage!”
“I can’t believe I missed it!”
My head is in the freezer looking for an ice-cream, I have a rebuttal about how drunk she was when a sinister feeling washes over me.
The bell for the shop dings, the hairs on the back of my neck stand tall, but everything else ceases to move.
It can’t be.
Slowly I stand and turn. My heart freezes as the air in my lungs is expelled. “Ethan?”
“Hey babe, thought you could run? Play house with another man, and I wouldn’t find you?”
I audibly swallow, taking steps back until I’m flush with the shelving. Dani makes a move, but Ethan catches it.
“I fucking wouldn’t if I was you.” Then he holds up a handgun in her face. Just what his unpredictable, unhinged ass needed, a fucking gun.
“Where did you get that?”
He simply shrugs. “I have my ways.”
“How did you find me?” I don’t want to know the answer. Please don’t answer.
“Babe, you should know by now I would never let you get away.” He steps closer, “You left me little crumbs, like you wanted me to find you.” He makes fast work of closing the distance. “My little Gretel.” Then he bops my nose.
A shiver runs through my body from his touch, but then I notice the way Dani’s eyes widen, and she subtly shakes her head. She isn’t looking this way, so I assume she is telling whoever is out there to stay away.
Ethan goes to turn, catching her movement. I can’t risk her life, so I get his attention. “Ethan, why are you here?”
“Simple, really. I’m taking you back home.”
I stand tall, pull my shoulders back and hold my head high while looking him in the eyes, “No.”
The gun that was once facing Dani, is now facing me.
I look down the barrel of the gun, and my breathing hitches, but when he twists his hold, trying to intimidate me, I harshly swallow, letting the fear show, something he loves and gets off on.
Not being around him has dulled my reflexes because I don’t register that his hand has moved, until the classic back hand comes down on my face.
“Oh, look who found her voice.”