6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
River
A long groan leaves me as I stretch in bed. A bed that doesn’t feel or smell like mine. With sheets that are black and a thick comforter that isn’t the soft cream I’m used to.
Peeking underneath, I’m still naked.
Of course you are. You screwed that bull-riding god last night .
Sitting up with the soft sheets covering my chest, I finally take a minute to look around the room. Much like the outside, the interior is dark. Gray walls and blackish brown furniture. But there are small pops of admiral blue. An interesting color to pick as an accent, but somehow perfect for Gray.
The spot next to me is cool beneath my touch, with the sun already shining through the large windows on the far side of the room.
Shifting the sheets again, a piece of paper shakes free.
Hey Boss,
Morning chores. Make yourself at home. I’ll be back inside soon.
Love,
Gray
I swallow loudly, rereading his signature. If this man doesn’t make my heart hammer. Checking my watch, it’s only just past seven. The latest I’ve slept since college.
A glass of apple juice and some Advil sit on the nightstand beside my phone, plugged into a charger that isn’t mine.
Chugging the juice, I hop out of bed.
I’d prefer not to put my clothes back on yet, so the next best choice is to rifle through his drawers.
The dresser directly across from the bed has everything I need: boxer briefs, sweats, T-shirts, and a hoodie.
Shuffling into the bathroom, I dig through those drawers, too, finding a spare toothbrush and a comb. I’m quick to freshen up and then tame my hair into a messy bun. My reflection appearing flushed despite just rolling out of bed.
It was just sex, River. Get over it.
With a shake of my head, I make my way downstairs to the kitchen. There had been French doors just off of it that led onto what looked like a patio. Since he said chores, I assume he has animals. I met those massive dogs last night, but no doubt there are others.
I couldn’t see the land in the dark, but it was clear there was a lot of it.
Stepping out onto the back patio, a deep inhale fills my lungs.
Spring has always been my favorite season. The scent of rain is the reset I feel I so often need. It’s suspiciously absent today, but this time of year in Cole County, that can change at the drop of a hat.
Venturing out into the grass, turning around the side of the house, I catch a view of a barn and stables in the distance to the right. I have no idea if that’s where Gray is, but many of us grew up out here in farm country. Chores don’t refer to taking out the trash or washing the dishes like our parents ordered us to as children.
A soft breeze blows as I make my way to the barn. The walk seems further than it appeared from his massive house. A house that seems way too large for a bachelor. No doubt, it’s also fairly new. The modern farmhouses that look like these always are.
“Gray!”
He doesn’t answer, but heavy footfalls still come my way. Those massive dogs of his charge out of the barn, panting loudly. The bigger of the two immediately jumps up, his paws finding my shoulders, while that massive tongue licks up my cheek.
“Okay. Hi,” I giggle, scratching behind his ears.
“Bronc! Get down! Now!” Gray bellows, running from around the opposite edge of the barn. “River, I’m so sorry. He’s—”
His gaze darts down to where I now squat, rubbing behind the ears of both dogs. “It’s fine. What’s the other one’s name?”
“Bull.”
“You and Tate.” Gray is silent as I stand to face him. His jaw works, those eyes darkening, but he says nothing. “Right, well. Can I help?”
He throws me a wry look. A dark brow rises high while he tucks his gloves in the back pocket of his jeans. “You want to help?”
“Yeah, why not?” Stepping closer to him, my arms twitch, wanting to pull him to me, but I hold back. I’m not the heavy PDA type. And despite Gray being such a nice guy this morning, I’m not expecting this to be more than a one-time thing.
“Don’t you have to work or something?”
Taking a step back, my hands sink into the front pocket of his hoodie. I should have just bolted instead of trying to stick around.
“Yeah, later. Sorry, I can go.” My thumb points behind me, my shoulder already turning so I can sprint the hell out of here. The season sure to be awkward as fuck now that we’ve slept together, and it was the best sex I’ve ever had.
An arm snakes around my waist, pulling me back into his front. “What if I don’t want you to go?”
My heart hammers in my chest. I’m not this woman. I don’t get worked up over men. Most of the time, I’m too busy reminding them I am just as good as they are.
Gray spins me in his hold, my palms finding his chest as our eyes lock. “Look. We had fun.” Cliche .
The awkwardness seems to churn in my stomach, and I’m rather attached to what little dignity I can preserve. It’s time to bolt.
“Yes, we did.”
“And I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.”
“Or steal my clothes.” A crooked grin quirks at the corner of his mouth.
“Borrow.” My finger rises. “You wrote chores in your note, so I figured I would see if you needed help.”
“You really want to help me?”
“I offered, didn’t I?”
His face lowers to mine, mouth hovering so close that all we’d have to do is pucker our lips to touch. So I do, my hand snaking into the curls at the nape of his neck. His mouth slants over mine, tongue sweeping across the seam of my lips, demanding entrance. Entrance, I’m happy to give him.
The kiss is brief but enough to soak my panties—well, borrowed boxers.
“I’m going to stop kissing you now,” he breathes. “Not because I want to, but if I don’t stop, I’m going to take you right here in this field.”
My core throbs. My insides heating in anticipation of him doing just that.
“Then maybe you should show me what I can do to help.”
His hold loosens only for his fingers to weave with mine, leading me to the stables.
“Mind brushing these babies for me?”
The stables appeared large from far away, but up close, it’s clear they are massive. Just like everything else here, it seems. As far as I can tell, each stall holds a unique beauty.
“How many horses do you have?”
“Twenty-four.”
My eyes go wide. I mean, this is farm country out here, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve lived in this area my whole life. But somehow, I hadn’t expected Gray to have so many on his property.
“Why so many?”
He leads me to the first stall. “This is Rocket. He was a ten-time champion barrel racer. When he was retired, the racer wasn’t. It wasn’t his lack of fight that took him out; he had some medical problems, so I took him in.”
“Are all of these…” I can’t finish the question as I look into the eyes of the horses staring back at me.
“Except for Chocolate and Bunny down at the end, yes. They are all retired competition horses or rescues that I saved from being killed. Like people, sometimes animals need a place to go.” His hand slides up the powerful neck of Rocket, the horse huffing loudly but leaning into his touch.
“Gray.” My hand finds his chest again. “You’re amazing. You know that?”
A sheepish smile stretches across his face, head shaking so those dark curls move at the nape of his neck. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s everything,” I smile up at him. “Don’t downplay what you’ve done.”
He removes his backward ball cap, scratching his head. “I’ve got a few other things to do. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”
“I can handle it.”
There’s no time to react when he pulls me into him, a hard kiss crushed against my mouth. A kiss that feels like a silent thank you. A reminder of the gratitude that soars through me when someone acknowledges the good I’ve done.
Kindred spirits. That’s what we are.
Still, I can’t help but blurt out my question with a giggle on my lips. “What was that for?”
“So I could hear that.”
Then he’s gone, strutting out of the barn with those tight Wranglers hugging his perfect ass.
I just might be a goner.