Chapter 9 - Nicole
I'm wearing Boone's flannel again.
After our shower, which turned into another round against the tile wall that left my legs shaking, he insisted I put it back on. Said he loved seeing me in his clothes. That it made something primal in him satisfied to have me marked with his scent.
I didn't argue. Mostly because I love wearing it too.
We're in the kitchen now. He's making scrambled eggs and bacon while I sit on the counter. The same spot I sat last night when everything was uncertain and terrifying and hopeful all at once. Except now everything's different.
Now I know what his cock feels like inside me. Know what it sounds like when he comes. Know that he loves me and wants a future with me and isn't afraid to fight for us.
"Stop looking at me like that," Boone says without turning around.
"Like what?"
"Like you want me to fuck you on this counter."
Heat floods my face. "I wasn't—"
"Yes, you were." He glances over his shoulder, smirking. "And if you keep it up, these eggs are going to burn and I'm going to bend you over this counter and make you scream my name again."
My pussy clenches. "That's not exactly a deterrent."
He laughs. "Eat first. Fuck later. You need energy, sweetheart. I plan on keeping you in bed all afternoon."
God, I love him. Love this playful side of him I've never seen before. Love that he's comfortable enough with me to be dirty and sweet and everything in between.
The eggs are almost done when I hear it- The sound of truck tires on gravel. Two trucks, from the sound of it.
Boone hears it too. His shoulders tense slightly.
"Expecting someone?" I ask.
"No." He turns off the stove and moves to the window, looking out. "It's Colt. And Mason."
My stomach drops. "Should I… Do you want me to hide or—"
"Absolutely not." He turns to face me, expression firm. "You're not hiding. We're not hiding. This is happening, and everyone's going to have to deal with it."
"But what if Mason—"
"Mason's going to be fine. They're all going to be fine." He crosses to me and cups my face. "We're not doing anything wrong, Nicole. You're an adult. I'm an adult. We care about each other. That's all that matters."
I nod, but my heart is racing. One thing to have Colt's blessing. He's my best friend, he knows me. But the other ranch owners? They might see this differently. Might think I'm too young, or that Boone's making a mistake, or—
The front door opens without a knock. Because of course it does. This is a ranch. Nobody knocks.
"Boone?" Colt's voice carries through the cottage. "You here?"
"Kitchen," Boone calls back, not moving from his position in front of me. Protective. Claiming me without saying a word.
Footsteps. Then Colt appears in the doorway, Mason right behind him.
Colt's eyes immediately find me sitting on the counter in Boone's flannel, and a grin spreads across his face. "Well, well, well. Looks like my meddling worked."
Mason looks between me and Boone, confused. "What's going on?"
"Boone and Nikky finally got their heads out of their asses," Colt announces proudly. "And judging by the fact that she's wearing his clothes and they both look thoroughly fucked, I'd say it went well."
"Colt!" I bury my face in my hands, mortified.
Mason's eyebrows shoot up. "Wait. You and Boone?"
"Yes," Boone says firmly, moving to stand beside me. His hand finds mine, fingers lacing together. "Me and Nicole. We're together."
"Since when?"
"Since this morning. Officially." Boone squeezes my hand. "But I've wanted her for three years."
"Jesus Christ." Mason runs a hand through his hair. "I did not see that coming."
"Really?" Colt snorts. "Because it was painfully obvious to anyone with eyes. He's been mooning over her for years."
"I have not been mooning," Boone protests.
"You absolutely have." Colt grins. "Remember last summer when she came by to drop off cookies and you walked into a fence post because you were too busy staring at her ass?"
I laugh despite my embarrassment. "You did?"
"No." Boone's ears turn red. "That was unrelated."
"Sure it was." Colt turns to Mason. "And she's been just as bad. Asks about him constantly. Gets this dreamy look whenever someone mentions his name. It's been nauseating."
"It has not!" I protest.
"It really has," Colt confirms. "But I'm happy for you both. Seriously. You're two of my favorite people. If this works out, that's amazing. And if it doesn't—" His expression hardens slightly. "—I'll kick both your asses for making things weird."
"It's going to work out," Boone says with absolute certainty.
Mason is still processing, looking between us like we're a puzzle he can't quite solve. "So, you're dating? Like, seriously dating?"
"Yes," we say in unison.
"Huh." Mason's expression is unreadable. Then, slowly, he smiles. "Good for you, man. About damn time you found someone."
Relief floods through me. "You're okay with this?"
"Why wouldn't I be? You're both adults. You clearly care about each other. And honestly, Boone's been miserable for years. Nice to see him smile for once."
"I haven't been miserable," Boone mutters.
"You've been a grumpy asshole that was clearly pining after a woman you thought you couldn't have," Mason corrects. "Same thing." He turns to me. "You good? He treating you right?"
"Very right."
"Good. Because if he doesn't, you tell me. I'll kick his ass."
"You can try," Boone says dryly.
"So," Colt interrupts, "now that we've established that my brother is getting laid and everyone's happy about it, can we talk about why we're actually here?"
Mason nods. "Right. We've got a situation with the north fence. Whole section came down last night. Need your help fixing it before the cattle get out."
Boone sighs. "How bad?"
"Bad enough that it's going to take all day. Maybe two." Mason glances at me apologetically. "Sorry to steal him away from you so soon."
"It's fine." I squeeze Boone's hand. "I understand. Ranch stuff comes first."
"Not always," Boone says firmly. He turns to me. "You okay here? Or do you want me to drive you home first?"
"I can drive her," Colt offers. "Her car's still at that party anyway. We can grab it on the way."
Right. My car. The party. Jason. All of that feels like it happened a lifetime ago, even though it was less than twenty-four hours.
"Actually," I say slowly, "would it be okay if I stayed here? Just until you get back? I don't really want to be alone right now."
Boone's expression softens. "Of course. Stay as long as you want. Make yourself at home."
"There's leftover eggs if you get hungry," he adds. "And help yourself to anything in the fridge. Books are in the living room if you want something to read. TV remote is—"
"Boone." I cup his face. "I'll be fine. Go fix the fence. I'll be here when you get back."
He leans down and kisses me. Not a quick peck, a real kiss. Deep and possessive and claiming. When he pulls back, both Colt and Mason are grinning.
"Okay, that's definitely new," Mason says. "Boone doesn't do PDA."
"He does now," Boone says, eyes still on me. "Because she's mine and I don't care who knows it."
I love when he gets possessive.
"Alright, let's go before I have to watch you two start fucking on the counter," Colt says, heading toward the door. "Come on, Mason. Let's leave the lovebirds alone."
Mason follows but pauses in the doorway. "Nicole?"
"Yeah?"
"Welcome to the family. Officially." He grins. "Hope you like chaos, because that's pretty much all we do here."
"I've been friends with Colt for years," I point out. "I'm very familiar with chaos."
"Fair point."
They leave, and suddenly it's just me and Boone again.
"I should go," he says reluctantly. "But I'll be back as soon as I can. Few hours, maybe."
"Take your time. Fix what needs fixing." I kiss him softly. "I'll still be here."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He kisses me once more, then grabs his work gloves and hat from the hook by the door. "Lock the door behind me. And if anyone shows up who's not one of the ranch owners, you don't answer. Got it?"
"Got it."
"And Nicole?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
My heart swells. "I love you too."
He leaves, and I watch from the window as all three of them pile into Mason's truck and drive off toward the north pasture.
Then I'm alone in Boone's cottage, wearing his flannel, smelling like his soap, still feeling the ache between my legs from how thoroughly he fucked me this morning.
I should probably feel weird about this. About how fast everything happened. About the fact that twelve hours ago I was locked in a bathroom at a shitty party, and now I'm in a relationship with the man I've loved for three years.
But I don't feel weird. I feel happy.
Like every choice, every moment, every scared decision led me exactly here. To this cottage. To this man. To this future we're building together.
I look around the cottage. At the books stacked everywhere. At the horse tack by the door. At the worn furniture that's seen years of use. This could be my home. Our home. If things work out. If we can navigate the complications and compromises and challenges ahead.
But looking around at this space that so perfectly reflects the man I love, I can't imagine wanting anything else.
I finish the eggs Boone made, wash the dishes, and curl up on his couch with one of his books. Something about horse training that I probably won't understand but want to try anyway.
And I wait for him to come home.
Because that's what this is now. Home.
Not my shitty apartment above the hardware store. Not my childhood house where my parents died. Not the abstract concept of someplace far away where dreams might come true.
Home is here. With Boone. Building something real.
And for the first time in years, I'm not scared of staying.
I'm excited about it.