Chapter 19 Forest
forest
Webber’s laughter made my chest tighten in happiness. It had been two weeks since we had come back from Denver and it was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He wasn’t as grumpy and glimpses of the man I had met in January were starting to come back.
He was getting stronger and even though he had completed his PT, he found someone to train with him in Monroe.
They were pushing him to exercise and keep up with some form of PT.
He said he had even skated a few times. The Webber laughing in front of me now was a completely different person than the one I had lifted off the floor in the summer.
“Just admit the ladies love me more and we can move on.” He grinned, as we rode back to the barn.
“I ain't admitting shit,” I grumbled.
Webber had started helping around the ranch when he wasn’t training and the heifers had taken a liking to him more than me. Now my girls weren't cooperating unless I had Webber with me, and he was loving it.
“Pretty soon, I’ll be the new ranch hand and you’ll just have to be a stay-at-home wife,” he cajoled.
“You wish, if anyone is staying home it's you, Peaches,” I said, slapping his ass.
“I could be persuaded.” He looked over his shoulder. “I could be a kept man by you and Jude.”
I chuckled. “You can’t cook for shit.”
“Yeah, but my mouth can bring you to your knees so that's gotta count for something.” He laughed.
“Your only saving grace,” I said, trying to keep a straight face.
“Shut up,” he chuckled.
We made it to the barn, and I was ready for the day to be over.
They had been long and grueling since Theo, Colt and Atlas had left for the auctions.
It was nice to be alone with the ranch, but there was also so much extra work I had to do.
If Webber wasn’t here, I don’t know how I would have managed without being dead tired by the end of the day.
Sadie greeted us, along with a few goats. I got off my horse, walking him the rest of the way to make sure we didn’t hurt anyone, especially the new kittens and goats. A few were brown and I had a fear we might hurt one of them by accident.
“The kids are so big already,” Webber said, following my lead and getting off his horse too.
He knelt down to pet the baby goats and then before he knew it most of the animals had gathered to receive love.
“Whoa, guys, there's enough love to go around,” he laughed, falling on his ass.
I watched him get overwhelmed with the animals, laughing as they all fought for his attention.
My chest tightened again as he looked so damn adorable with all the animals around him.
He got up dusting himself off, holding onto one of the kittens as I took our horses to the barn.
We got the barn ready for the night. Last week the temperatures had started to drop, so we had taken extra time to make sure all the animals were warm at night.
“Hello?” Webber answered his phone as he brushed Flynn Ryder. “Hey, Baby.”
My heart thumped a little faster when he said baby. It was Jude on the other line, and I had been dying to see him. With all of us busy, we had hardly seen each other, and I was getting grumpy that we hadn’t been able to all be together.
Fuck, who was I becoming?
A small part of me was starting to worry, but I was getting really good about ignoring that part of myself.
“Right now? I thought you had to cover for someone.”
I kissed Triton, giving him a carrot and apple before closing the door to his stall.
“Yeah, we—” Webber smiled. “Yeah, baby we will be right over. Need anything?”
I smiled, grateful we were finally going to see him. After we had gotten back from Denver, I liked this easiness we had with each other. The more we hung out, the more I felt like this was right. It had been so long since I felt like I belonged somewhere.
That thought terrified me. It had been too long since I had felt like this, or even let myself feel like this.
“Oh, ok. We’ll see you soon.” Webber hung up the phone smiling like a goof.
I was in dangerous territory. Every day I felt myself growing roots in Sterling and no matter how much I tried to stop myself from feeling like this, I was completely helpless.
These men were doing things to me. I didn’t know how to fight and sometimes I didn’t want to fight.
I had grown tired of fighting. Would it be so bad to finally have a place to call home?
“Come on, Cowboy. Jude said he’s cooking us dinner and it’s almost ready,” Webber said, pulling me by the loop of my belt.
“Do we have time for a shower?” I asked, throwing my arm around his shoulder.
“He sounded a little impatient, so grab some clothes and we can shower there with him,” he said, slapping my ass.
I raised a brow at him.
“You’ll pay for that,” I growled.
“I hope so,” he grinned. “My ass has been lonely.”
Webber winked at me walking to his car, leaving me with my cock half hard.
“Wait for me,” I yelled.
“Can’t! I said I would pick up dessert,” he yelled back.
“I don’t know where he lives,” I shouted.
“I’ll text you the address.” He opened his car, hopped in and left me.
I shook my head, getting on an ATV and heading home.
The urge to shower was strong, but I grabbed a bag and did what Webber said.
I was also impatient to see Jude. A few days without him and I was itching to see him again.
I had never been to his home and was curious where Jude laid his head at night.
Jude didn’t live too far from me, and I made it before Webber did.
I grabbed my bag from the backseat, feeling nervous as I walked up to the front door admiring the house.
It was bigger than I had imagined and felt like Jude in a way.
The lawn was well manicured, with flower boxes on the windows that now had fall decor on them. His porch had pumpkins and a haystack.
My heart warmed at his inviting home, so much like the owner. I knocked on the door, hearing a cat meow before the door was yanked open. Jude stood back letting me in and the moment he closed the door, I was on him pushing him against the wall, devouring his mouth.
A hiss had me yanking myself back.
“Barnaby, be nice,” Jude said, holding an ugly-ass cat who was wearing a sweater.
“Barnaby?” I eyed the cat warily.
“Yeah. Forest, meet Barnaby,” he said, kissing the cat's head. “I didn’t know I was going to be mauled when you came through the door or else I would have set him down.”
I chuckled. “I haven’t seen you in a few days, what did you expect?”
Jude’s cheeks grew red. “I missed you too. Come on, dinner is almost ready.”
He grabbed my hand, leading me into his home. The entryway led into an open concept floor plan. He had a large living room with a fireplace and a huge TV was mounted in the corner. The home was cozy, had a lived-in feel and his walls were filled with art and photos.
“It smells delicious in here,” I said, putting my bag down, watching Jude walk into the kitchen that overlooked the living room and dining room.
“I’m making ribs, with mashed potatoes and broccolini,” he said, lowering the heat on a pot after checking in on it. “Come on, let's get you showered and food should be ready.”
He let Barnaby down on the floor and I was able to admire him in grey sweats and a white henley. He looked mouth-watering.
“Long day at the ranch?” he asked, picking up my bag and leading me into his bedroom that looked like it was plucked out of a magazine.
“Kind of, having Webber there helps and Iris stopped by today too,” I said, looking around.
“He makes it less lonely and I didn’t realize how much shit your brother handles.
How they managed to take care of everything without extra help is beyond me.
Iris has been handling some office stuff for me or else I’d be extra screwed. ”
“We’ve been telling him for years to get help, but he always brushed it off,” Jude said, putting my bag down and turning the light on to the ensuite bathroom. “I’ve set towels out for you.”
I hugged him from behind, kissing his neck, not lingering since I was filthy.
“Thank you.” I turned him around for a kiss when a knock interrupted us.
“Let me get that and you can have a shower darlin’.” He grinned, giving me a quick peck before leaving. “But don't take too long!”
I chuckled, making my way into the bathroom that had a decent sized shower, but not big enough for all three of us. Turning it on, I stripped, wanting to take a quick shower because if Webber came in, we might take longer and I was starving for Jude and food.
“Sam!” Jude screeched as Webber laughed.
My heart thumped rapidly in my chest again, hearing them in the other room and I willed it to get a grip. I stepped under the hot water letting it wash the day away.
“Jesus Christ, Forest, you’re a man's wet dream come true.”
I turned around to see Webber getting out of his clothes.
“Peaches, don’t even think about it,” I said, grabbing the soap and washing myself quickly.
“What?” he asked so innocently, getting into the shower with me.
I shook my head and washed my hair quickly. “You don’t fool me.”
“I’m starving for food, I don’t know about you,” he said, grabbing the soap. “But you don’t want to miss your back.”
He lathered my back, kneading my muscles, making me groan. His hands traveled south, groping and kneading my ass before slipping in between my cheeks. He teased my hole as one hand reached around stroking my cock.
“Peaches,” I growled trying to stop him, but it felt so fucking good.
“If I wasn’t so hungry and Jude wasn’t in the next room, I'd make you come so hard,” Webber hissed as he kissed my neck.
I growled, turning around quickly, pinning Webber to the wall by the neck.
“Peaches, you better prepare for me to tan your hide later on,” I snapped.
Webber's nostrils flared. “Don’t make idle threats.”