16. Wyatt
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
wyatt
I thought I reached the pinnacle of my life when Juliette Callahan agreed that we were giving this courting thing a go.
I was wrong.
It’s this moment, right here. When she’s staring at me from atop the mechanical bull, one hand on her hat and the other tippin’ back her glass of whiskey like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
No matter how fast the bull bucks, she doesn’t spill a single drop.
That’s God-given talent right there, and I’m appreciating it immensely .
The way her hips are movin’, her thighs gripping the sides so tightly…
She’s so fuckin’ sexy right now, I might come in my pants like a teenage boy.
Never thought I’d be jealous of a fake goddamn bull, but here we are.
Now all I can think about is how I can get her to ride me like that.
The crowd cheers her on, hoots and hollers coming from the few men in the bar that are getting an up-close-and-personal look at how well my girl can work a fuckin’ steer.
Not sure how I feel about that to be honest—them leering at her like she’s a prize to be won.
But then she winks at me, and I remember…
She’s ours now.
“We are lucky sons o’ bitches,” Beck murmurs.
His pheromones are so damn potent right now, I’m surprised he hasn’t sparked an orgy right here in the bar.
“Hell yes, we are. And Kash is a dumbfuck.” My brother hasn’t taken his eyes off her for a second.
It’s like she’s the only thing in this world that matters.
Of course, it’s been that way for years, but I need to hear him say it because, despite what we said, nothing about this situation is simple.
“Beck, I need your word that no matter what happens, we stick by her.”
His eyes meet mine. “You know that there is literally nothing that will tear me away from her or my daughter. My life, from this point forward, is theirs and only theirs.”
“And if Kash?—”
“He won’t.” He shakes his head, then his gaze finds its way back to Jules. “But if he does, then you have my word. I meant what I said. I’m all in. There’s no me without her.”
With that handled, I return my focus back to the Omega slipping off the bull and strutting toward us with a sway to her hips that, from any other woman, I’d chalk up to an attempt at seduction. But this is Jules. There are no false pretenses here. What you see is what you get, and I want it all.
“Hotshot, you really know how to ride. Might need to start taking some private lessons of my own.”
“Is that so, pretty boy?” She steps into me, a smile curving her lips as she reaches out and runs her fingers down my chest. “Think you could handle a one-on-one session with JJ Wilde? I hear she can be a little… rough. ”
I damn near choke on my tongue.
Beck laughs, but I don’t miss the way his hand drops to adjust his dick in his jeans. Lucky bastard has already had her and probably knows exactly how to tame that so-called roughness . I refuse to be envious of my brother. Just want my chance to do the same, is all.
“I can handle you,” I murmur, gripping her hips and tugging her into my chest. “But the real question is… Can you handle me ?”
The little hitch in her breathing and spike of sweetness in her scent has me smiling.
“What do you?—”
I dip slightly, my arms banding around her upper thighs as I lift her off the ground and stride over to the dance floor. Her laughter rings through the room, her arms loosely thrown around my neck.
When I go to set her down, I make sure the descent is nice and slow-like, so her soft body slides down the hard planes of mine.
Brown eyes twinkle up at me. “You think I’m scared of a lil’ dancin’?”
“I don’t think you’re scared of anything. I just wanted an excuse to hold you close.”
Delicate fingers tangle into the hair at the nape of my neck. “Hate to break it to ya, pretty boy, but this is line dancin’ music.”
I raise my brow and, as if on cue, the song ends and the band breaks into the first notes of a slow song. “Worst Way” by Riley Green starts playing, and I silently say hallelujah . Gotta tip the guys later for the assist.
“You were sayin’?”
“Well then, better show me what ya got.”
Once we start moving together, it’s as if our bodies have done this a million times.
I lose all sense of time and place; the only thought in my mind is how perfectly she fits against me.
Her scent pulls me under, this sweetness that makes my gut yearn for a taste of her.
That will come. I can be a patient man when the need arises.
For now, I’m gonna enjoy having her like this.
We spend the rest of the night dancing, Beck and I switching off in between short rounds of two-steppin’. There’s so much laughter, my cheeks are gonna be sore for days, but it’s worth it to see the woman in our arms enjoying herself.
“What do you guys think?” Beck’s arm is slung around Jules’ lower back as she leans into his side after a trip around the dance floor. “Should we get out of here?”
“Yeah, I should probably be gettin’ home. It’s late.”
Beck and I share a look.
Grabbing her hand, I softly kiss the back. “Or you could come home with us. Extend this night a bit longer.”
“But y’all are staying at Hudson’s and?—”
Beck angles his body toward hers, his hand trailing up her neck. “We’re in the guest house.”
Her mouth snaps shut.
“Neither of us will push for more than you’re willing to give, but we’d also love to keep you at our sides just a little longer.”
She stares at me, her expression unreadable.
“What’s it gonna be, little mama?” Beck whispers in the quiet space between us.
“You know, I barely even held hands with the Alphas of Pack Latham, let alone spent more than a ruined dinner at their house.”
Just their name slipping from her lips has me wanting to do violent things to those assholes. Then again, she’s here with us now because they were too stupid to know what they had within their reach. Maybe I’ll write them a thank you letter instead.
“But you’ve let me kiss you. Twice .”
Beck growls when she bites her bottom lip, pink flooding her cheeks.
“You didn’t really give me a choice.”
“Maybe not at first, you’re right. However—correct me if I’m wrong—you made the distinct choice to kiss me back,” I remind her.
She straightens her shoulders, tipping her head as she fights a grin. “You’re right. I did.”
“Well then.” Beck rubs his palms together.
“Seems to me like we’re already well ahead of your previous courtship in more ways than one.
So what do you say to some more firsts? Come back to the estate and have another drink with us.
I’ll start a fire, and we can spend a little more time together someplace where we can hold a conversation without shouting.
You’ll be close to home if you decide to call it a night.
Otherwise, there’s an empty room that’s not in use. You’re welcome to either.”
My brother’s a goddamn genius. I owe him one.
There’s indecision written across her face, and for a split second, I think she might decide she's had enough of us for one night. Then one corner of her plump lips quirks up.
“Okay. That sounds nice.”
Relief rushes through me. “Then c’mon, hotshot. The night is still young.”
In a matter of minutes, we’ve made it to the car and are pulling up to the Ford estate.
While Beck stays back to get the fire going, Jules and I put together a small tray of snacks and drinks—namely a bottle of whiskey and three glasses already filled.
The entire time, we move around the kitchen with ease, making small talk and chatting about her upcoming events and my brief time in the arena.
“You used to be involved in the rodeo circuit?”
I grimace, adjusting my hat. “I was, but it never really went anywhere. Then my brother met Kash, and life sorta got in the way. I took over the ranch, managing the ranch hands, tending the horses, mending the fences, you name it. It suits me better, I think. Lets me keep my cowboy roots, rather than having to don a business suit to fit into the stuffier side of things.”
“Sounds like you keep yourself pretty busy. I’m just surprised our paths never crossed until now.”
“Honestly, me too, but I was gettin’ started around the same time you were already hitting records. Right around nineteen, twenty, I think. I was always hoping to catch a glimpse of you, but they kept you under wraps.”
“Well, I’d been on horses since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and Gran made sure I learned how to rope and ride despite my daddy wantin’ different things for me.
That was his stipulation, ya know? I could have my rodeo career if I kept my name out of the media, so we did our best to keep my real identity hidden.
Hudson agreed to keep our secret and do what he could to help.
Him and Gran go way back, before she was a champion herself. ”
“I had no idea. Kash never talked much about anyone in Darling.”
She rolls her eyes. “Not surprised. So, how old are you now?”
“Twenty-eight. Beck and Kash are both thirty.”
“Huh. So we’re the same age.” She lifts the tray, but I’m quick to take it from her.
“Lead the way, hotshot.”
“You know I’m perfectly capable of carrying drinks.”
I give her what I hope is my sexiest grin. “Of course. But why should you when you’ve got me?”
Her laughter rings out into the dark of night, and my eyes cut to her because they can’t seem to help themselves.
We’re walking side by side, the flames from the firepit out on the stone patio casting shadows across the yard.
When Beck turns, his gaze trails over her, then he pins me with a knowing look.
Fuck yes, she’s gorgeous. But something about the firelight and the glint off her hair and the flecks of gold sparkling in her eyes makes her goddamn magical.
I’m glad she agreed to join us because getting time with her like this is what we needed—away from prying eyes and out where only the stars can judge us.