Chapter 29
More Than Words - Extreme
Tally
Iknew it wasn’t Christmas morning, or my birthday. The new stallion had already arrived and Dreamy’s future had already been decided, so what the hell had me waking with a stomach full of excited butterflies?
Rolling onto my side, I knew instantly. It had skipped my mind during a night of blissful sleep, probably thinking it had been a dream. But it wasn’t.
He was there, Wilder, lying on his side, head propped on his hand, watching me.
We were both fully clothed, having fallen asleep in the early hours after we’d talked a little, kissed a little and listened to music sharing my earbuds.
My hand went to my ear, but it was gone.
“I took it out when you fell asleep,” he whispered before dropping a kiss to my forehead. “Did you sleep okay?” He grinned. “Actually, scrub that. I know you did because you were snoring.”
“I was not.” I slapped his chest playfully. “I do not snore.”
“’Fraid so, Brownie. In fact, if I’d known I might not have suggested I start staying over.” He paused and when I smiled, he chuckled. “Seriously, it was kinda cute. Like a little puppy after it’s been fed.”
“I’m seriously considering not letting you stay over.” Yawning, I stretched and felt the satisfying pull on my muscles. “What time is it?”
“Seven.”
Before I had time to panic, Wilder placed his large hand on my stomach. “I cleared it with Gun. You’ve got the day off. Drink your coffee before it gets cold.”
I could feel my eyes bug out and my mouth went dry as I shot a glance at my nightstand. “Th-thanks, for the coffee.”
“Just how you like it, although you’re out of hazelnut syrup.”
My heart stalled at the fact that he remembered. I thought the one from Missy May’s had been a fluke, or maybe Missy May had told him what my usual order was, but…he knew.
My coffee was suddenly forgotten. “You told Gunner? My boss!”
“Come on, Brownie, he picked the girls up, he heard it from the whole bar how I got you out of there. And you really think they didn’t guess when I didn’t go home all night?”
“No. But. He’ll think—”
“He’ll think what I told him, that we need to spend some time together. That I need to know what you think about the whole dating thing. I mean I know you threw yourself at me, but you didn’t actually say how you felt.”
As I moved closer the bed creaked and the comforter dropped from him. He was wearing his jeans but nothing on top, and the soft sheen of his tanned skin in the morning light that slotted through the shutters, made me glad we had all day.
“I thought by kissing you it was obvious.”
“You kiss me a lot, Brownie. To be fair you fuck me a lot, so it wasn’t really a clue.”
His damn crooked grin got me every time.
It was cute and sexy all at the same time and the idea that it was now only for me was…
invigorating. Made me want to run around the ranch singing one of Bertie’s favorite songs about it being a beautiful morning—it seemed she’d ventured to Oklahoma as well as Seven Brides.
That girl clearly had a thing for Howard Keel.
“I want us to date, too,” I told him in a deep breath. “I want it to be exclusive. I want the sleepovers, the hair holding when I puke, the foot rubs and maybe some long rides into the mountains for a picnic, and definitely some dates.”
Wilder’s eyes were soft as he ran his rough fingertip down the profile of my face. “What about the sex?” he asked. “Do you still want the sex as well?”
“Duh, of course.”
Both of us laughing, Wilder pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in warmth and the smell of bed linen, sleep and safety. His chin rested on my head as he stroked my back, and I didn’t think I’d ever felt more content.
“You know it didn’t even feel this good the day after my wedding.” I surprised myself at the confession. I didn’t even second guess whether it was too much, too soon. I just wanted him to know.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t stiffen. Didn’t pull away.
“That’s because deep in your heart you knew it wasn’t right.
You knew he wasn’t the man you needed him to be.
Whereas I,” he pulled back so that I could see his face, could look into his eyes.
“I will make sure everything is right for you. I’ll be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had. ”
We’d gone from dating to him being my boyfriend, but who the hell was I to argue.
Maybe I was being foolish. Maybe I wasn’t.
Deep down I knew he wasn’t Declan. It wasn’t like I was sworn off men because of my ex-husband, I was simply more cautious who I gave my heart to.
The problem was I wasn’t sure I had a choice where Wilder Miller was concerned.
The morning had been blissful. A long, lazy one, tangled together talking and napping. Now I was alone, as Wilder had gone back to the house to get a change of clothes. It had given me an opportunity to call my brothers and now I was having a quick call with my mom, which was always interesting.
“And where’s Dad?”
“I told you. He went to the grocery store but ended up paragliding.”
“Yeah, I heard the part about the grocery store, it’s the paragliding I wasn’t sure I heard.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Mom, he’s sixty-eight. He has arthritis.”
“Which is so much better since we moved here. That was why we moved here. I can hear you rolling your eyes, Tallulah.” She was right, I was. “Anyways, how’s your sex life since you ditched the little weasel?”
My family never liked Declan. Maybe because I married him without telling them. Well, that and the fact that he was a horrible piece of shit.
“Mom, please!”
“Well, Liam tells me that there is a free brother on that ranch you’re working on. Why don’t you see if he’s up for a little bow chicka wow wow.”
She actually made the electric guitar noise, and my heart sank. I hated the fact that my parents were no longer in our family home, but them being in Florida certainly had it’s benefits. My mother’s inappropriateness for one.
“Mom, I’m here to work.” It wasn’t a total lie.
“Yeah, but you need to be fulfilled sexually, sweetie. Orgasm’s give you those endorphin things. Look at Liam, who the hell knows when he last got laid.”
“I think it’s more than him not getting laid, Mom.”
My brother was the epitome of a broken man with the Great Wall of China around his heart. I hated that he was so sad, but he wouldn’t talk about it. None of us were allowed to talk about it.
“It would help. I know when I—”
“No, no, no,” I yelled. “Stop. Talking.”
She sighed heavily. “So, you’re not getting laid then?”
Thirty minutes later, I was walking across the yard to the stables.
Wilder had messaged me to meet him there.
Gunner waved to me as he led a horse toward the indoor pool, Poppy was giving Maverick a brush down and a host of other hands were busy doing their day to day work.
It was a hive of activity, and the warmth of a good life spread through me, like lying in the Summer sun with a long cocktail while Wilder rubbed sun lotion into my skin.
The image was perfect, but it was also distracting. I had the real Wilder to meet.
“How’s he doing?” I asked
Mikey was just locking the stall of the new stallion as I walked into the stables. He gave me a huge smile.
“He’s doing great. Eating well,” he chuckled, “shitting well. Even been introduced to Songbird.”
I joined him at the stall door and reached over to rub the beautiful stallion’s nose. “How was that?”
“Pretty good. She was a bit nervous at first because Gypsy was with her, but he gave the foal a sniff and then ignored her, so Songbird relaxed.” Mikey looked over his shoulder and groaned. “I think he must have a tracker on you or something.”
My heart sank when I saw Glenn coming toward us. I’d tried not to give him any encouragement, but he kept trying. Kept hanging around.
“How’s the beast doing?” he asked as he came up beside me. “He still looks dangerous.”
“Obi is doing fine.” I couldn’t help the bite in my tone. Call me whatever you liked, but diss a horse and I was not happy. “And he’s not dangerous, he just didn’t seem to like you.”
As he drew closer, the hay cracked under his tentative steps. “Everyone likes me.”
Mikey almost choked, spluttering into his hand. An amused smile lifted my lips; I was confident that they didn’t.
We all fell silent as Glenn reached out a tentative hand and just at that moment Obi lifted his tail and dropped a huge pile of crap. The smell of it mixed with hay and horses permeated through the air and I didn’t think there was anything better.
Obi lifted a regal head, looking at each of us in turn, before retreating to the back of his stall to take a drink of water.
“Maybe you should help me get to know him,” Glenn suggested.
“I think maybe you should get your own girl to show you how to deal with a horse.”
At the sound of his voice my heart jumped, waking the butterflies in my stomach. He looked devastatingly handsome, his jeans soft and worn hung perfectly from his hips, and that slow confident stroll of his sent heat straight to my groin. I wanted to drag him back to my cabin.
Standing beside me he looked pointedly at Glenn, chin strong and eyes narrowed on his victim, like a hawk about to swoop. Glenn was brave, I’d give him that because he didn’t move a muscle but took a step closer.
Wilder inhaled deeply, his jaw ticking as he slowly lifted his arm, wrapped it around my waist and pulled me against my side.
“You okay, Brownie?” He kissed the side of my head. “Ready for my surprise?”
“Surprise?”
“Yeah, surprise. We both have a day off, so as much as I'd have liked to stay in bed all day, we have things to do.”
Mikey cleared his throat and picked up the feed bucket at his feet. “I have things to do. See ya later folks.”
Glenn’s expression was a mixture of shock and what looked like…challenge. “When did this happen?” he asked, his voice tight. The air felt thick with tension as the two men stared at each other. My hands clenched at my sides,
“Not that it’s anyone’s business,” Wilder ground out, “but a couple of months. Now, if you don’t mind, we have somewhere to be.”
Without waiting for a response, he took my hand and led me out of the stables.
“Where are we going?” His hand wrapped around mine, warm and strong. Safe. Home.
“Dancing.”
“Dancing?” I pulled up short. “Dancing?”
Wilder winked at me. “Yep, Brownie, dancing.” He pulled me closer, his arm tight around my waist as he looked down at me, his eyes searching every inch of my face. “Told you I wanted to be able to dance with you whenever I liked, and I want to now.”
His mouth crashed to mine and I opened instantly, welcoming his kiss like I needed it to be able to breathe. “Let’s go dancing, Mr. Miller,” I whispered, wondering if the day could get any better.