Chapter 32
Turns out that even when I’m so busy I barely have time to eat or sleep, there’s still enough brain space left to obsess over a certain cow man.
It doesn’t help that every time I see Cal now, I remember what it felt like to have his tongue on me. How he moved me around with ease and honed in on giving me what felt best, like he’s been waiting his whole life to eat me out.
Meanwhile, I’m not sure he’s thinking about me at all.
When we’re in the same room, he’s friendly enough, but if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Cal was wholly disinterested in me.
That maybe I hallucinated him coming in his pants just from going down on me.
And to make things worse, August and Remy keep giving me worried looks whenever they see me and Cal together, like they’ve noticed Cal’s change in demeanor around me and feel bad for the poor human girl pining after a minotaur who isn’t into her.
It’s an act.
It has to be.
But when I wake up with a sour feeling in my stomach—nerves that I can’t attribute solely to the reopening tomorrow—I forgo wearing Cal’s hat when I head out to do my final preparations.
I’m waiting in the dining hall for our staff meeting to start, chatting with August about his most recent viral video of him with his ladies, when Cal arrives. He freezes when he notices me sans hat, and a stormy look crosses his face.
“What happened to my hat?” he asks, the roughness of his voice taking me aback.
I shrug, trying to ignore how half the people waiting for the meeting to start are now watching our exchange. Way to keep things under wraps, Cal.
“I didn’t think it went with my outfit.”
August releases an amused snort, and Cal shoots him a withering glare.
“If you don’t want it, you should give it back.”
God, this minotaur is so confusing. He sounds genuinely upset that I’m not wearing it. He hasn’t minded when I’m working around the ranch without the oversized hat, but something has him agitated today.
“Do you want me to give it back?” I ask, my brow furrowing.
“No! I want you…” He sighs, trailing off as he notices we have an audience. Which is a shame because now that he’s already dragged our business out in front of them, I’d really like to know what he was going to say. “I’ll need it back tomorrow for the opening, but I don’t want it back.”
His pointed look sets my worries at ease, a smile twisting my lips at his acknowledgement that he’s still interested.
“Alright, cowboy. I’ll go grab it and wear it once we’re done with the meeting.”
Cal gives me a curt nod and awkwardly walks a few steps further into the room to address the staff. I barely catch a word of what he’s saying, too busy smiling to myself and watching the way his tail flicks back and forth as he speaks, showing he’s flustered.
After the meeting, I do as promised and get Cal’s hat. And when he sees me in passing later that day, the grin on his face makes the embarrassment of his public callout more than worth it.
It also makes me want to tease him a bit.
Late that night, when I’m done with all the prep I had left, my bed calls to me, but I grab Cal’s hat before heading upstairs.
I slip off my clothes, put on the hat, and step in front of the full-length mirror.
After adjusting my hair and shifting the hat down so it obscures most of my face, I take a few pictures.
They’re from the waist up, and I’m covering my nipples with my arm, but they should get my point across.
I grin to myself as I make a few adjustments to the photo, then send the best one to Cal.
Putting my phone on the bedside charger, I head into the bathroom to take a shower. Incoming message notifications buzzing from the other room make me laugh, my stomach fluttering wondering what Cal’s saying and arousal spreading through my tired limbs.
The huge pink toy is still sitting on the edge of the tub from where I left it to dry, and though it’s late and tomorrow is going to be an exhausting day, I grab it and suction it to the wall of the shower as I step under the warm stream of water.
Thoughts of what Cal might be doing with the photo I sent him fill my mind as I tease myself with the tip of the toy, pretending that he’s here standing behind me, hands exploring my body and filthy encouragement spilling from his lips as he works the tip inside me.
The stretch is intense without proper lube, but I’ve been getting slowly better at taking it.
I’m so wet that I manage to get the tip of the toy inside me, bracing my hands on the opposite shower wall as water cascades down my back.
I press myself back on the impossibly thick dildo, reminding myself that if everything goes well, Cal really could be the one working his way inside me.
It doesn’t take long for pleasure to build. It never does when I think about Cal.
My orgasm hits me unexpectedly as the toy brushes against my g-spot, and I’m really thankful for the non-slip mat because my limbs turn into jelly at the rush of pleasure. The last thing I need is an orgasm-induced shower injury, or to explain what I was doing when it happened.
Languid and sleepy, I wash up and do the rest of my nightly routine, then slip under the covers. Part of me wants to wait until tomorrow to see what Cal said, worried it’ll get me too worked up to sleep, but the need to know is irresistible.
My phone screen lights up when I grab it, and there’s a stream of incoming texts from Cal.
Grumpy Jerkface: What the hell, Belle?
I snort at his nickname, which I haven’t changed since he first gave me his number.
Grumpy Jerkface: Are you trying to kill me?
Grumpy Jerkface: You can’t send me something like that with no warning.
Grumpy Jerkface: Fuck, if it wasn’t so late, I’d come over and show you what you’ve done to me. But that’s why you sent this, isn’t it? You wanted to torture me.
Grumpy Jerkface: You’re so beautiful. I’m going to worship every inch of you. Staying away from you, pretending I don’t think about kissing and touching you every time I see you, has been hell.
Grumpy Jerkface: You better be ready, because when this weekend is over, I’m going to show you all the things I’ve been imagining.
Wow. Mission accomplished. I’m breathless when I finish reading his replies, aching for him again.
Belle: Sorry, I was in the shower.
Belle: Hope you were able to take care of any problems that arose from my message.
Belle: And I’m more than ready.
A minute passes, and I assume he’s gone to sleep, so I cut the lights and set my phone back down. But right as I go to roll over, my phone screen illuminates.
When I see what he’s sent, I let out an undignified squeak.
It’s a photo. The muscled expanse of his torso with a thicker thatch of hair trailing down to where the blanket covers his hips, his thick, erect cock clearly outlined by the fabric.
Grumpy Jerkface: Sweet dreams.
As if I’m going to get any sleep now. Touché, cowboy.
I’m running on four hours of sleep, three extra-strong cups of coffee, and enough anxiety to power an entire city as guests start to arrive for the reopening weekend.
I’m on check-in desk duty with Marcie, while Rhett and Remy assist guests with their bags. Everything is going smoothly. That is until I step out of the office after grabbing more of the adorable ranch map postcards we had made, and see someone I recognize.
Two someones, to be precise.
What in the world are some of my old friends doing here? Maggie leans on Jace, whispering something in his ear, and when they see me, she lets out a squeal of delight.
“Oh my gosh, Belle, hi!!”
“Maggie? Jace? What are you doing here?” I try to return her enthusiasm, but it’s hard to do when my brain is short-circuiting at the last people I’d expect to show up standing right in front of me.
“It’s crazy, right? We ran into Gretchen a few weeks ago, and she mentioned that you’d gotten a new job out here, on a dude ranch of all places! We didn’t even know you’d moved away! We just thought you were busy doing your usual thing.”
I force a laugh, pretending that I’m not insulted by them caring so little about me that they didn’t know I’d left months ago, or referring to me inheriting half a ranch as a “new job”.
“Well, as I’m sure Gretchen told you, my grandmother passed, and when I found out she’d left me the family ranch, I came out here and make a go of it.”
“You certainly have. Nice outfit, by the way,” Jace says sardonically, giving me a once-over that lingers too long on my tits.
Maggie places a French-manicured hand on Jace’s chest and laughs. “Oh honey, you know Belle! She’s always chasing some weird project.”
If I didn’t have to keep my polite business owner face on, I’d glare at her.
Why did I ever think these assholes were my friends? They didn’t even acknowledge that I said my grandmother died, and now they’re insulting me and all the work I’ve put into the ranch like it’s a joke.
I clear my throat. “So, is this a social visit? Because it’s awfully far to travel just to tease me about my fashion choices.
” I laugh to soften my words. “Which Gretchen made for me, by the way, so they’re custom designer clothes.
But that polo and your sundress are cute,” I add, standing taller in my pink cowboy boots and savoring the way Maggie’s smug smile flickers.
“Of course we didn’t come just for that, silly! We’re here to stay for the weekend. After Jace found Taurus Ranch on socials and we saw how much buzz there was, we knew we needed to come see what all the fuss was about.”
“And say hi,” Jace adds as a clear afterthought.
God, they’re such assholes. They flew across the country so they could feel superior and prove to themselves that they’re still more successful than me. Well, jokes on them.
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you! But I don’t remember seeing you in our bookings.”
“We didn’t make a reservation,” Jace says with a shrug.
“But I’m sure you have rooms available, right?” Maggie grins at me, and I can’t help the matching smirk that rises on my lips.
“Oh, no, we’re completely booked. Have been for weeks. You didn’t check the website beforehand?”
Maggie’s cheeks go red. “No, we didn’t. We thought…”
I wait silently for her to tell me what she thought and make her insults and assumptions blatantly clear, and her face gets even redder.
“You can’t find a room for your friends?” Jace frowns, redirecting things to place the blame on me for their rudeness. Like he always did when we dated. Why did I ever like this guy? “Come on, Belle. We flew all this way to see you.”
“Well, maybe next time you’ll be a little more responsible with your travel decisions,” I say, my tone light and friendly despite the jab.
I glance over at Marcie, who is watching this entire exchange like she wishes she had some popcorn to enjoy with the scene unfolding. “Marcie, is there anything we can do for them?”
She brings up our list of reservations and frowns apologetically. “There’s nothing available. They could hang out and wait to see if anyone cancels last minute, but I don’t think that’s likely since almost all of the guests are already here.”
I tap my chin, and an idea comes to me. “What about the honeymoon cabin?”
“Oh, that sounds perfect! Doesn’t it, sugar buns?” Maggie snuggles against Jace and I fight a laugh at the pet name. The man’s ass is flat as a pancake.
“It’s not booked because it’s still in the middle of refurbishments, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?”
Maggie’s happiness dims. “Right.”
“That’s fine. We’ll take it.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, pretending as if I’m concerned. “Because you can always come back another time when we’re not sold out! And then we could make plans to hang out. I’ll be too busy this weekend to see much of you, sadly.”
“No, no, that’s okay. We’re already here.” Maggie flaps her hand dismissively, but is obviously seething on the inside.
“Perfect. The honeymoon cabin, at the friends and family discounted rate, is $900 a night. Does that work for you?” Marcie supplies helpfully. That’s not actually a discount, but she says it so sweetly that no one would ever guess. I could kiss her when Jace sputters and Maggie smacks his arm.
“Yes, of course, that’s fine! Anything to support our friend,” Maggie says with a saccharine smile. “It’s not like we’re hurting for money, right?” She laughs and hands over her card, and Jace grunts in weak affirmation, the color draining from his face.
“Perfect! Marcie will get that all set for you. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go check on something, but hopefully I’ll see you around sometime this weekend.
” I smile and wave, opening the office door and stepping back inside, shutting it behind me and pretending I don’t hear Maggie calling my name.
I cover my mouth to muffle the burst of laughter as I lean my back against the door.
God, I hate that they’re here, but it’s worth it to see the smug looks wiped off their faces. Serves them right for planning a trip with the sole purpose of shitting on me. Screw those losers.
This weekend is going to be amazing. I’m a successful ranch owner, with an amazing wardrobe, awesome new friends who actually care about me, and a sexy minotaur business partner who has promised to be so much more very soon.