CHAPTER 11
FORD
I keep glancing at my watch, not caring that my guys keep chuckling at me. They can laugh if they want because they have no idea why I’m so impatient.
Believe me, I wanted to stay in bed with Arden all day and map every curve of her, but there is always work to be done.
None of the animals care about the wants and desires of the humans who take care of them.
They’re going to live their lives, and we have an obligation to them.
The whole business is built on them; it’s the least I can do.
When I woke up this morning, Arden was draped over my chest like she belonged there. I think she does.
I can’t even explain what a good night’s sleep I had. My entire being felt rested for the first time in a long time. And it’s all because of her.
Arden stirred when I did and I hated that I woke her up, especially since I had slipped inside of her sometime in the night and interrupted her sleep. I couldn’t help myself and she didn’t mind at all. No, the way she creamed my cock told me just how much she enjoyed it.
“I need to get up and get the day started,” I whispered against her hairline, my body begging me to stay and soak up more of her warmth.”
“Okay,” she mumbled absently, “I’ll get up and get moving.”
“No,” my voice was strained, earnest in a way I don’t usually feel, “please stay. I know you’re off today,” I reminded her, my hand stroking up and down her spine. “You stay and sleep. I’ll be back for lunch.”
She relaxed against me, a small smile lifting her lips. “If that’s what you want,” her words were slurring slightly as sleep tugged her back into dreamland.
When I kissed her forehead, my name slipped from her lips and I felt like nothing could touch me, nothing could bring me down.
And it hasn’t all day.
“I think it’s about lunch time, Boss,” Bo says, his voice filled with amusement.
Without looking at the man, I wave and head toward the house. I don’t look back, my entire focus on getting to my Sunflower.
I’ve missed her.
It’s a wild feeling considering I haven’t known her exceptionally long.
You’ve known her for a year.
True. I nod and my steps quicken. The need to get to her, to see her and make sure she didn’t leave, is riding me hard.
By the time I burst through the backdoor, I’m on the edge of frantic and practically running. Arden spins around, her hand pressed to her chest above her heart, when I slam into the kitchen like I’m one of my bulls and not a man with some damn sense.
“Ford,” she admonishes me as her hand drops and she relaxes, “you scared me.”
“Sorry, Sunflower,” I sound properly sheepish while taking my hat off and setting it on the counter.
When I look back at her, there’s a soft smile on her lips, but I can’t enjoy soaking it in.
Not when I notice that she’s wearing one of my shirts.
She’s buttoned the middle half which keeps it loose around her shoulders and her legs are tantalizingly bare.
The sleeves are rolled up and the whole thing almost swallows her.
My gaze keeps sliding down her legs, and I can’t help but wonder what she has on underneath. If it’s nothing, I’m liable to come in my jeans before I ever get the chance to bury myself inside her.
“Wow,” the word bursts out of me as I stand in place and look her over.
It’s like I can’t get enough. My feet bring me closer to her and when I hook an arm around her waist and pull her against my chest, she melts against me. She doesn’t care that I’ve been working all morning and probably aren’t smelling the best.
“Is this okay?” She touches the shirt she has on and for a moment all I can do is nod dumbly.
Her cheeks turn a soft pink and if I weren’t already gone for this woman, that would do it. Nothing about her is fake.
When she’s coy, it’s real.
When she’s scared, it’s real.
When she’s confident, it’s real.
And all of those sides of her feel like a blessing.
“Yeah, Sunflower,” my voice is rough, like a cowboy who spent too many years smoking even though I never have. “You look good in my clothes. Consider the entire closet yours now.”
“Ford,” the way she says my name is full of amused embarrassment.
Her fingers twiddle with the buttons on the flannel I’m wearing, and she gnaws on her lip for a moment. I’m fucking entranced.
Unable to help myself, I swoop down and kiss her hard. She opens for me immediately. It’s almost hard to believe we had our first kiss yesterday. Only yesterday. It feels like I already know how to kiss her just how she likes, how she needs.
The kiss turns rougher and I’m gripping her ass to lift her onto the huge island Rosalie insisted on when it was remodeled not long before Dad passed.
Thoughts of what Rosalie would think right now should make me pause and carry my woman back to my room, but then I remember Arden saying this is my house.
She lets out a small gasp when her ass hits the counter. Now, I’m even more curious about if she has anything on under my shirt. Could her hot little pussy be pressed against our kitchen counter right now?
“Damn it, Sunflower,” I groan against her lips, “you taste good. I’ve been thinking about kissing you all day.”
“Hopefully you weren’t too distracted, Cowboy,” the tease in her voice, the sly knowing, has my cock throbbing behind the fly of my jeans. “Gotta keep you safe.”
“Uh-huh,” I grunt and slide the bottom of my shirt up her thighs, almost close enough for me to find out if she’s bare.
Wanting to hold out the moment, I start unbuttoning it. The moment I spread the shirt open, her naked body is on display for me. The shirt falls down her arms and pools around her like it can’t help but worship her. Just like me.
I just about drop to my knees. I breathe out, “Fuck me.”
Arden giggles, pink spreading between her collarbones. My gaze is pulled to where her skin is decorated with the sweetest constellation of freckles. I lean down and kiss her there, a mark that is all her. Special.
“I made lunch,” her voice is breathless and it’s clear she doesn’t really want me to stop.
“What’d ya make?” The words are muffled against her skin as I kiss and nip down her chest.
“PB I’m not a caveman.
Just when it comes to my woman, it seems.
I’m a little disappointed to see her back in her uniform. If it were up to me, she’d be in another one of my shirts, but I get it.
She slides the plate which is piled high with sandwiches toward me. The smile on her face lights me up from the inside out. When she’s smiling it’s as like everything is right in the world.
I want this.
All the time.
The realization hits me right in the chest, but it doesn’t make me want to run. It makes me want to pull her closer.
And never let her go.
“So,” she reaches over and grabs a sandwich, “what’s the plan?”
What I don’t say is the plan is to make her fall in love with me and never want to leave Sagebrush, but we do come up with a way to spend time together.
The other part will be my private plan.