Epilogue Ryder
Two Months Later
I leaned against the fence, watching Connor swing a lasso over his head. I couldn’t help but be just a little jealous of the cow he was around to rope with it. But I figured I could just ask him to tie me up later. He never said no to that.
“Get him, Connor!” Joey called from a few feet away, letting out a whoop of excitement. “Show that heifer who’s boss!”
“It’s a steer, Joey,” Kyle groaned. “You see any tits on that cow? Hell no.”
Cole just shook his head with a sigh. “My god,” he said, looking at me. “These guys wouldn’t know a cow titty if it hit them in the face.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Cole’s exasperation. The guys had been working at the Nelson Ranch for almost two months now, but their cattle knowledge was still... developing. Connor, though—he was a natural, like he’d been born to this life.
“You know,” I said to Cole, “maybe we should have Joey work the chickens instead.”
“Don’t you dare,” Joey called back, somehow hearing me despite the distance. “I’m allergic to those little bastards.”
Connor’s lasso sailed through the air with perfect form, catching the steer around the neck.
He pulled it tight with a practiced jerk of his wrist, then wrapped the rope around the fence post to secure it.
His muscles flexed beneath his t-shirt, and I felt that familiar flutter in my stomach.
Even after two months, watching him work still took my breath away.
“Damn, you’re good at that,” I called out, not bothering to hide the admiration in my voice.
Connor glanced over his shoulder at me, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Had a lot of practice lately.” The look in his eyes told me he wasn’t just talking about roping cattle.
Cole cleared his throat loudly. “If you two are done making eyes at each other, we’ve got twenty more head to process before sundown.”
I felt my cheeks flush but didn’t look away from Connor. We didn’t hide what we were to each other anymore. Not from Cole, not from Jesse, not from anyone. After everything we’d been through, we’d earned that much.
“Sorry, boss,” Connor said, though he didn’t sound sorry at all. “I’ll get back to work.”
Cole shook his head, but I could see the smile he was trying to hide.
In the two months since Connor had been released and my father’s ranch had been shut down, Cole and Jesse had given us both a home, jobs, and something I’d never really had before.
Acceptance. No judgment, no conditions, just support.
The guys had settled in well too. Joey, Kyle, Greg, and Darius had moved into the bunkhouse on the Nelson property, continuing their parole under Cole’s supervision.
It was everything my father’s program should have been but never was.
Everything was focused on rehabilitation rather than cheap labor and humiliation. And they were blooming because of it.
I pushed off from the fence and headed toward the barn.
We had a big shipment of hay coming in, and I needed to make sure we had room for it.
As I walked, I found myself smiling for no particular reason.
Just happiness, I guess. The kind that sneaks up on you when you’re not looking, when you realize your life has somehow transformed into something you never thought possible.
My father’s trial was set to begin next month.
Larry’s testimony would be crucial, along with the mountain of evidence they’d found about his treatment of parolees over the years.
I tried not to think about it too much. That chapter of my life was closed, even if the legal proceedings were still ongoing.
I heard boots on the gravel behind me and turned to find Connor following me, his new black cowboy hat tipped low over his eyes to shield them from the sun.
“Everything okay?” he asked, falling into step beside me.
“Perfect,” I replied, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my chest whenever he was near. “Just checking on the barn space for that hay delivery.”
He nodded, glancing back toward the cattle pens where the others were still working. “Cole’s got them handled for a few minutes. Thought I’d see if you needed help.”
The way he said “help” made my skin tingle. Two months together, and he still had that effect on me. Like I was seventeen with my first crush instead of a grown man.
“I always need your kind of help,” I said with a smirk.
Connor’s eyes darkened as he moved closer, his hand brushing against mine. “Careful what you wish for, pup.”
The pet name still sent shivers down my spine. I loved how easily it rolled off his tongue now, how comfortable he’d become showing affection both in private and, increasingly, in public too.
We reached the barn and stepped inside, the sudden dimness making me blink. The sweet smell of hay and leather filled my nose, along with the earthier scents of the ranch. Connor closed the door behind us, and suddenly the space felt much smaller.
“How much time do we have?” he asked, his voice dropping to that low register that made my knees weak.
“Not enough for what you’re thinking,” I laughed, though I didn’t move away when he stepped closer. “Cole will send a search party if we’re gone too long.”
“Cole can wait,” Connor murmured, his hands finding my hips and backing me against the wall. “I’ve been watching you all morning in those jeans.”
I grinned up at him, looping my arms around his neck. “Just the jeans? And here I thought you liked what was in them.”
“Smartass,” he growled before capturing my lips with his.
The kiss was hungry, desperate almost, like we hadn’t just woken up in the same bed that morning. Like we hadn’t spent the night tangled in each other’s arms. I melted into him, my body responding instantly to his touch.
His hands slid under my shirt, calloused fingers tracing patterns on my skin. I arched into his touch, wanting more, always more.
“We shouldn’t,” I gasped as his lips moved to my neck. “Not here.”
“Why not?” he asked, teeth grazing my pulse point. “Afraid of getting caught?”
“No,” I lied, even as I tilted my head to give him better access. “Just being practical.”
Connor chuckled against my skin. “I won’t take long.”
His hands were already working at the button of my jeans, and I found myself unable to resist, despite the very real possibility of someone walking in on us.
“You’re a bad influence,” I whispered, my breath hitching as his fingers dipped below my waistband.
“And you love it,” he replied, his voice filled with desire.
I couldn’t argue with that. Since Connor had been freed and we’d moved to the Nelson Ranch, we’d been insatiable.
Something about nearly losing each other had made us desperate to reaffirm our connection at every opportunity.
The barn had become a favorite spot for our stolen moments, and the risk only added to the thrill.
Connor spun me around suddenly, pressing me face-first against the rough wooden wall. The abrupt movement knocked my cowboy hat to the ground, but I couldn’t have cared less. His body pressed against mine from behind, his growing cock evident against my ass.
“Two months,” he growled in my ear, “and I still can’t get enough of you.”
His hands worked my jeans down just enough, and I heard the sound of his zipper behind me. The anticipation made me dizzy with lust.
“Connor,” I gasped as his fingers teased me, “we really don’t have time for—”
“We always have time for this,” he interrupted, his lips against my ear. “I need you, pup. Right now.”
I felt him spit into his hand, and then his slick fingers were preparing me with practiced efficiency. It wasn’t our usual careful routine, but the urgency of it had my cock straining painfully against my boxers.
“Please,” I begged, pushing back against his fingers.
He chuckled darkly. “Always so impatient.”
Before I could respond, the blunt head of his cock was pushing inside me, the familiar stretch making me bite my lip to keep from crying out. His hand came around to cover my mouth, sensing my struggle to stay quiet.
“Shhh,” he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. “Don’t want the whole ranch to hear how much you love my cock, do you, pup?”
I shook my head, though part of me didn’t care who heard. I was proud of what we had, proud to be his.
“Good boy.”
Those were all the words I needed to melt in his arms.
He started moving, setting a pace that was just shy of punishing. Each thrust pushed me against the wall, the rough wood scraping against my palms where I braced myself. The slight pain only heightened my pleasure, making everything more intense.
His free hand snaked around to grip my cock, stroking in time with his thrusts. I was already embarrassingly close, the combination of the risk, his commanding presence, and the feeling of him grinding against my prostate was pushing me rapidly toward the edge.
“Connor,” I managed to gasp against his palm, “I’m going to—”
“Not yet,” he commanded, his grip tightening at the base of my cock. “Not until I say so.”
I whimpered, my body trembling in his grasp.
Then I nodded frantically, desperate to obey but struggling against the overwhelming pleasure.
My entire body was on fire, caught between the delicious torture of being denied release and the mind-numbing ecstasy of Connor’s cock hitting that perfect spot inside me.
“You feel so fucking good,” Connor growled, his voice strained as he maintained his punishing rhythm. “You’re always so tight and perfect.”
His words sent a fresh wave of arousal through me. No matter how many times we did this, his praise never failed to make me dizzy. I pushed back against him, taking him deeper, wanting to please him as much as he pleased me.
The sound of voices outside the barn made us both freeze. Connor’s hand pressed harder against my mouth, his body going completely still inside mine. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure whoever was approaching could hear it.
“Ryder? Connor? You guys in there?” It was Jesse, his voice getting closer.
Connor leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. “Not a sound,” he whispered, then slowly, deliberately, rolled his hips.
I bit down on his palm to keep from moaning as he continued to move inside me, his thrusts shallower now but no less intense. The danger of discovery only heightened everything, making me tremble with both fear and desire.
The barn door creaked, and a sliver of sunlight cut through the dimness. I held my breath, my body tensing around Connor’s cock.
“Huh, must’ve gone back to the house,” Jesse muttered to himself. The door closed again, footsteps receding.
As soon as the sound faded, Connor resumed his previous pace, his hand sliding from my mouth to grip my hip with bruising force.
“That was close,” he chuckled, his voice husky with arousal. “But I’m not done with you yet.”
His hand returned to my cock, stroking with newfound urgency. “Now you can cum for me, pup. Show me how good I make you feel.”
The permission was the only thing holding me back. With a few more strokes, I was spilling over his fist, biting my own forearm to muffle my cries as pleasure tore through me. My orgasm triggered his, and I felt Connor stiffen behind me, his cock pulsing as he filled me with his seed.
For a moment, we stayed like that, both breathing hard, his forehead pressed against my shoulder. Then he carefully withdrew, helping me adjust my clothing before fixing his own.
“You’re such a good boy,” he murmured, turning me around to face him. His eyes were soft now, the earlier intensity replaced by something tender that made my heart ache in the best possible way.
I smiled up at him, still feeling slightly dazed. “Not so bad yourself, sir.”
He bent down to retrieve my hat, dusting it off before placing it back on my head. His fingers lingered, adjusting it to just the right angle.
“I love you so much,” he said, cupping my face and pulling me in for a soft kiss. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I love you too,” I replied, leaning into his touch. I paused for just a moment before adding. “So… do you think it’s time we moved into that cabin together? Had a space for just you and me instead of that old bunkhouse?”
He smiled, looking happier than I’d ever seen him. “I thought you’d never ask.”
“Meet me there tonight?”
“On one condition.”
“Name it.”
He held me a little tighter, that desire filling his gaze once more. “I want to fuck you under the stars.”
Heat filled my belly and my cock began to rise once more. “Anything for you.”
Connor grinned. “Good boy.”
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