Chapter 6 Reece
Reece.
Igroaned and rolled over in bed, pulling the cover closer. With my fist balled under my chin, I squeezed my eyes tighter to ease the throbbing of my head.
Mixing alcohol had definitely been a bad idea.
Shots with Wren, beer and bourbon with, shit…
My eyes popped open and I did a mental inventory of last night leading up to the last thing I remembered. Leaving with him…
I lifted my head, confirming where I was—in the foreman’s cabin and not home in my bed—but I was also alone.
That explained the spiced wood and citrus scent I smelled in the pillow and sheets.
I frowned, flipping onto my back, rubbing my hands over my face before I did a body survey.
I threw the covers back and realized I was still in my clothes from last night but my feet were covered in my holiday wool socks, void of my boots.
“Well, shit,” I mumbled, pushing out a sigh of disappointment.
No man in history that I was aware of had amazing sex with a woman then dressed her in the clothes he’d gotten her out of.
The thought of what hadn’t happened frustrated me but then my eyes rolled because did I truly want to have sex with a man and not remember how great it was?
There was no doubt in my mind sex with Ro would be great.
Better than great. That kiss was a preview of what he could do with his mouth and I had not missed the impression in his jeans.
He was definitely working with something impressive.
I groaned in frustration, balled my hands into fists, and threw them down beside my body, with my arms locked tightly.
Prime opportunity and I’d missed out. Surely he would assume last night was about the alcohol and brush it off as not a big deal.
Yep, totally missed opportunity.
I sighed and eased to the side of the bed, careful with my movements because my head was still pounding and I felt a bit nauseous from all the liquor I’d consumed last night.
With quiet, careful steps I left the room and eased into the bathroom, emptying my bladder before washing my hands and face.
I turned the faucet on and uncapped a miniature tube of toothpaste.
While I utilized one of the toothbrushes I kept stocked under the sink, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
I looked just like the night I had. Fun, but a disappointing finish.
I spat toothpaste into the sink and rinsed it down the drain, frowning at the mass of hair on my head.
My hair was a chaotic mess but I still grinned as I raked my fingers through one side because Ro seemed fascinated with my chaotic mess.
Feeling his fingers gripping it while he kissed me had definitely been a good time.
I rinsed once more, tucked the toothbrush in the holder on the counter, then did my best to fluff my hair. I didn’t have a comb or hair ties, so my fingers would have to do.
Once I was done, I peeked into the hallway and stifled a laugh, throwing my hand over my mouth, because why the hell was I creeping?
I listened for a minute and relaxed. The coast was clear so I left the bathroom, heading back to the bedroom where I glanced around the open space.
My eyes landed on the duffle with clothes half folded but rifled through.
I walked over, shook a thermal free, and pulled it over my head.
My hands barely reached the cuffs because of the size difference so I dragged the sleeves up enough to push my hands through then clasped the edge of one and brought it to my face.
I inhaled and smiled. It was clean but still carried the faint smell of spiced wood and citrus that was in the sheets, likely from mingling with the other items in his bag.
After fluffing my hair once more, I left the room, peeking into the second bedroom, assuming that was where my cowboy was located.
If he wasn’t in bed with me, the only thing left was the second room or the sofa.
Ro was stretched out on his stomach, beneath the covers twisted around his body, exposing most of his back.
He was nice on the eyes fully clothed, but a shirtless, sleeping Ro was exquisite.
I scanned his back and shoulder, admiring the ink that moved from his collarbone down his left shoulder and arm.
Then my eyes landed on the raised scarring mid spine.
The scars looked bad and, although healed, they still appeared fairly new.
This discoloration and different shades of brown—some with a slightly tannish hue that contrasted his brown skin—had me frowning with the memories of his confession about being trampled by a bronco.
I wanted to climb into the bed and wrap my arms around him before I kissed every single imperfection.
He’d lost something, the one thing that defined him as a man, and that couldn’t have been easy.
My next thought was anger for the woman who’d walked away from him.
She had to be stupid or selfish, shit probably both.
Her loss…
Wait, what? Implying it was her loss insinuated I somehow considered it my gain.
I groaned quietly and enjoyed one last peek at the man who had my mind consumed with crazy thoughts.
I headed to the kitchen to make coffee because I wasn’t quite ready to tackle the cold yet, even if I only had to travel a couple hundred yards.
Once the coffee finished brewing, I grabbed the individual creamer packs and hopped on the counter to video call my girl.
I needed to share this disappointment with somebody and hopefully live vicariously through her.
Based on how cozy Wren’s conversation looked when I was leaving, she might have been the one getting her walls knocked down.
I found her contact and hit the icon to make the call. As soon as her beautiful face was on screen, I grinned, because she looked stressed.
“You don’t have a freshly fucked kind of glow, Wren?”
She rolled her eyes. “Why would I?”
“Um, because of that fine ass man you were booed up with last night.”
The way she frowned made me concerned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Where the hell do I start? I have a man in my attic. A fine ass man but still a stranger and Amara’s here. I’m trying to decide what to do. I really didn’t think this through. Should I make him breakfast, hide him away until she’s gone, or…”
“Wren, chill. I know you’re stressing but you’re smart and have good instincts. You love your sister and would never let dick play a factor in her safety. If he’s there, it’s because you trust that he’s not a threat to anything but your coochie.”
She laughed and I was grateful that I could help shift her brain out of overdrive.
“The door is bolted from the inside, so he doesn’t have access to the house.
I let him in through the outside entrance, but honestly, he’s a good guy.
I don’t have to worry about any of that.
Regardless, my priority is always Amara. ”
“See, you’re a good big sister. So calm all that down and feed that man. Either from your table or your bed because I’m assuming you didn’t last night.”
“Girl no, which brings me to you…” She narrowed her eyes at the screen when I lifted my mug.
She tilted her head to the side then arched a brow in question before she spoke.
“You’re in his clothes and in the foreman’s cabin.
Let me get the details, Reece. The way that man tongued you down definitely means he was willing to let you ride ’em cowboy. ”
“You saw that?”
“Yes, I did, and so did everyone else at Forty Acres last night.”
I smiled and huffed in annoyance. “He was but I fucked it up.”
“How?”
“Too many shots. They took me down and apparently he’s a gentleman. I woke up this morning in bed, alone. He slept in the room next to me and I could kick my own ass for dropping the ball on that.”
“Then take your ass in there and hop on his dick.”
“Yeah, no. How awkward would it be to hit him with a ‘so I crashed on you last night but I’m up, refreshed and ready to try again. Fuck me please, sir’.”
Wren laughed, bringing a smile to my face. “Maybe don’t present it like that. Just casually walk in there, get naked, and when he notices you can just be like, I’d like a do-over if you’re game.”
“Pretty much the same as fuck me please.”
“It is but that’s what you want, right? When have you ever been afraid to ask for what you want?”
“I definitely want to sit on his dick but it’s going to have to wait until the opportunity presents itself again and…”
I smiled, scanning the text that popped up on the top of my screen.
“And what?”
“Shit, sorry. I just got a text from Phoxes Den reminding me that I missed my tree appointment yesterday.”
“You going today?”
“Hell yeah. No dick last night and no tree today will equal a very unhappy Reece.” A weird feeling washed over me and I lifted my eyes just in time to catch the cocky smile on Ro’s face as he reached the kitchen.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I had been so focused on the call I hadn’t seen him heading my way. He was privy to our conversation but oh well.
“Mugs?” he mumbled in a sexy, morning tinged rumble that had my body very aware of him in the room.
Well, that and the very distracting print in his pants.
I pointed to the cabinet next to me and he opened it and grabbed one before reaching around me to get to the coffee pot when he could have clearly stepped to the other side to not reach over me.
“Okay, there’s now a shirtless man in your kitchen. Call me later, friend,” Wren said then ended the video call.
I locked my phone and placed it next to me on the counter. Ro leaned beside me and I waited, not saying anything, electing to see what he would go with.
“Good morning,” he mumbled.
That was safe…
I lifted my mug and sipped my coffee, turning my head in his direction. “Good morning.”
He turned his head and met my gaze. “Figured you’d be gone by now.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
He smiled arrogantly. “I can’t rightfully put you out of a house you own.”