30. Lennox #2
Brandings took a lot out of a crew. There were a lot of moving parts, and making sure the herds didn’t get too anxious being cooped up.
Mama cows didn’t like to be separated from their babies, and sometimes that could cause trouble.
We’d seen one knock down our makeshift pens like it was nothing before.
On average, it was a minimum of a ten-hour day, but there’d been plenty of times we could go up to twelve, depending on the number of calves we had to go through or if there’d been any mishaps throughout the day.
Dad never liked to rush things just for the sake of getting them done.
We switched from using a hot iron to freeze branding about five years ago, which meant it took a bit longer than before. There was a bit of a learning curve, but it was worth it in the long run to ensure we didn’t unnecessarily harm our animals.
As we finished, Mom wiped her hands on the towel over her shoulder. “Let’s go see what those boys are up to,” she said.
“I’m going out to the garage to grab a drink. Y’all want anything?” I asked, backing out of the kitchen. I’d only taken a few steps when I slammed into a rigid body. A sharp exhale followed as rough hands landed on my arms and squeezed lightly.
I turned, seeing Bishop staring down at me with an amused smirk. “I’ve heard that walking forward can help eliminate the whole running into someone thing.”
“You were clearly walking forward, yet you still ran into me, so I would say there’s some fault in that argument.” Stepping out of his touch felt wrong, especially when it’d been all I thought about over dinner.
Bishop was an expert at teasing me. More than once tonight, I found myself holding my breath as he squeezed past me in the kitchen.
At first, I thought it was a complete accident, but then he’d kick up the corner of his lips in that same stupid little smile that had me wishing he was looking up at me from between my legs.
But we were still figuring things out, and until he’d given me the green light, I had to act like I hated him because that was what we were supposed to do. That’s what everyone expected from us.
So, I crossed my arms and popped my hip out. “Are you going to move, or are you just going to stand there with your thumb up your ass? ”
There was a wicked spark in his eye, one that told me I was going to be in a lot of trouble when he got ahold of me next, but I loved bratting him. That would never change.
Especially now that I knew what punishments lay in store for me when we were alone.
Bishop widened his stance. “You gonna make me move, or are you all talk?”
I heard a giggle behind me and turned to find Mom and my sisters staring at us. The moment my gaze locked with Josie, she smacked the counter. “Yeah, are you still going to get those beers?” she asked, subtly nudging Cleo next to her.
“Oh yeah, I want one!”
I nearly died inside when my mom giggled and said, “Yes, me too! You might need someone to help you out. Bishop, be a dear, won’t you?”
Bishop sighed, exaggerated and long like it was some great inconvenience.
When I turned around, I expected to find a scowl, but he was smiling.
It was softer than before, a little subdued, but the emotion in his eyes gave him away.
Like this not so subtle nudge from the women behind me soothed a worry I hadn’t known about.
He dipped his chin. “Yeah, sure. Come on, killer. Just don’t murder me when I turn around.” He turned and called out to Lincoln and my dad. “Y’all want a beer or anything from the garage?”
“Hell yes I do!” Dad called, rubbing his hands together. “Make it a double. I got two hands for a reason.”
“You’ll get water, and you’ll like it,” Mom said, coming around with her hands on her hips.
He huffed, looking down at the bright red water bottle Mom had gotten him. The doctor had said he needed to up his water intake, but Dad claimed it was hard since he didn’t have anything to carry around with him. “Then I guess I don’t need anything,” he grumbled .
Lincoln looked down at his beer. “Yeah, I’ll take two. By the time you guys are done, this’ll be empty anyway,” he said, chuckling.
“Done with what?” Dad asked, brows furrowing.
Josie’s soon-to-be-dead boyfriend burrowed into his seat, smiling like a devil. “Sorry! Did I say when they were done? I meant when they’re back.”
My whole family was dead to me at this point.
Their only saving grace was that Dad seemed to accept Lincoln’s bullshit answer and run with it.
Bishop put his hand on my back, giving me a little shove to keep up our pretense.
The moment I cleared Dad’s view, I turned and flipped Lincoln off.
He gave me a little salute before turning back to the TV.
Bishop kept his hand on my back until the door to the garage was closed. All the air was knocked from my lungs as he pushed me up against the wall and pressed his mouth to mine. One hand slid around my hip, and the other landed at my throat, squeezing lightly as he took what he wanted.
I couldn’t breathe, everything about his kiss and his touch consumed me until I felt dizzy. As he pulled away, we were both breathing heavily—our need for one another all consuming.
“You’re such a fucking brat, killer. You love using that smart mouth to rile me up, don’t you?”
I nodded, biting my lip and staring up at him innocently. “Yes, daddy,” I breathed, pushing against his hold to try and kiss him again. He held me back, forcing me to stay put.
“I should turn your ass fucking red for what you said in there, but I don’t have time for that,” he said through gritted teeth.
I wanted him to make time for it. I wanted him to lose control just a little bit because his touch was the only thing that could take care of the ache between my legs. I wiggled in his hold as he kissed me again, picking me up and pinning me back against the wall .
Shamelessly, I rolled my hips, grinding myself against his thickening cock. My toes curled as he groaned, the sound rumbling impossibly low and sending little shocks to my core. But I didn’t care, not as he met my movements with desperate ones of his own.
Bishop rested his forehead against mine, his forest green gaze heated as we moved together. “That feel good?”
I nodded, whimpering as his next thrust rubbed against my clit. “Yes, daddy, please…” God, I was so close. It wouldn’t take anything at all to?—
Suddenly, my stomach lurched as Bishop loosened his grip and set me on shaky feet. He backed away, leaning against my mom’s car. I could see the outline of his cock straining against his zipper. “What the fuck?”
“What?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. “Oh, you didn’t think I was going to let you come, did you?”
“Obviously! I was so close,” I pouted.
Bishop stepped forward. Slowly. Calculating.
Like a predator approaching his prey. His faint cologne filled the space, making me a little weak in my knees.
“You should know by now,” he said, leaning forward and whispering in my ear.
“Bad girls don’t get to come, and you, killer, have been a very bad girl. ”
And then he walked over to the fridge, adjusting his dick before he grabbed seven beers out of the refrigerator.
“Are you freaking kidding me, Bishop Bryant?”
He handed me three beers. “Not at all, killer. But we had better join the family before you throw a real tantrum and I have to spank you in front of them.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I said, keeping my voice low.
Bishop paused, grabbing my hand. His brows furrowed, expression growing serious. “I think you’ll find that there isn’t much I wouldn’t do when it comes to you. I’m in the palm of your hand, sweetheart,” he said, pressing a kiss to the center. “Don’t crush me. ”
“I think you’ve got that backward, baby,” I whispered, pausing only long enough for him to hear the words. “I’m the one who is waiting on pins and needles for you to decide if you’re all in or not.”
I heard his footsteps fall into step with mine as I entered the living room. The girls were still in the kitchen, gossiping in hushed tones around the kitchen island. I’d just handed them their drinks when I heard Lincoln say, “What? You’re done already?”
I slid up next to my sister, handing her a beer. “I don’t know who I’m going to kill first,” I whispered. “You or your boyfriend.”
She waved me off, pushing the drink my way. I looked down in question. "I thought you wanted one?"
Josie shook her head. "I was just giving you a few minutes of alone time," she said, dropping her voice. "You're welcome, sis."
"Is this payback for pushing you about Lincoln once upon a time?" I asked.
There was something different about her tonight, something I couldn't quite place. She'd been moping around the ranch since Lincoln had been gone, but now that he was back, there was a lightness that hadn't been there earlier.
I couldn't stay mad at her if I tried.
Josie raised her hands. "All I'm saying is that if you and Cleo hadn't, my life wouldn't be nearly as amazing as it is now. So, maybe one day you'll be thanking me for the beer."