Chapter Twenty–Two – Mackenzie
MACKENZIE
I placed my hand over my heart as I watched Bradly climb onto the bull. He had on a black vest, jeans, and black chaps that made him look even sexier, if that was at all possible. Ty was with him, along with Dirk.
He’s going to be okay. He’s going to be okay.
Closing my eyes, I thought back to just a few minutes ago when he’d looked through the crowd and our eyes met. The way he smiled made me nearly melt into a puddle right there on the spot. Then he’d slipped his helmet on and made his way over to the chute.
Merit told me that the bull he’d drawn had yet to be ridden for the full eight seconds. And to top it off, his name was Mac’s Monster. Who names a bull monster?
“Bradly will be fine!” Avery shouted over the loud music and cheering crowd. “This is like a walk in the park for him.”
I ran my sweaty hands up and down my thighs as I nodded. I’d only seen him ride that one day after Christmas, and he’d made it look so easy. This? This was entirely different. Bulls were trying to jump over the chutes, some slipped on their way out of the pens and landed right on the riders. They even kicked and stomped on the riders and bullfighters. My anxiety was on overload.
Merit reached for my hand and held onto it as they started to play AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” and the crowd really went wild. Apparently, each rider had their own song for competitions.
Then the gate opened and Mac’s Monster tore from the chute. He bucked so hard and so high that I felt Merit grip my hand tighter, as Avery grabbed my arm and dug her nails into my skin.
The three of us watched as Bradly seemed to move right along with the bull, perfectly in sync. If the bull turned one way, Bradly was ready. If he twisted and jumped, my man seemed to float along for the ride.
“He’s going to do it!” I heard Merit cry out. “Do it, Bradly! Cover that bastard!”
My head snapped right to gape at Merit before I turned back to watch Bradly. Avery was yelling out as well, but all I could do was hold my breath as I watched.
Then the buzzer came, and Mac’s Monster tossed Bradly into the air. I screamed and prepared for him to hit the ground hard. When he landed on his feet, the crowd erupted in a roar of applause and cheers.
I jumped and screamed along with Merit and Avery, before we started hugging each other. Turning to look back at the arena, I watched as Bradly was congratulated by the bullfighter. He took off his helmet and held it up, then turned to look up at us. He pointed to me, and I couldn’t help the smile on my face. I was so incredibly proud of him that I felt like I was going to burst.
Then the announcer said his score, and everyone erupted again.
“That is Bradly Littlewood’s third qualifying ride, and he’s your new leader with a 90.50 ride!”
Merit and Avery jumped as they shouted something I couldn’t hear. All I could focus on was the man I loved.
“That’s a good score, right?” I asked Merit as she laughed and nodded her head.
“It’s an amazing score!” she replied with a hug. “Come on, let’s head on back.”
We had passes to go in the back with all the bull riders and stock contractors. As we made our way, I felt my heart rate pick up. It always did that when I knew I’d be seeing Bradly. Back behind the scenes, everything seemed chaotic. Bulls were ushered to and from the arena in little chutes that took them this way and that. I would never have guessed we were in Manhattan instead of a ranch in Montana.
His uncle told me that Bradly had a couple of interviews he needed to do before they’d let him go. I stood off to the side with Ty, Dirk, Merit, and Avery as a female reporter got ready to speak. Bradly looked completely at ease with a camera right in front of him.
“Bradly, congratulations. I know you’re used to winning such big-stage events in bull riding, and this particular event isn’t new for you, winning in the Madison Square Garden arena. How are you feeling?”
With that dimpled smile, Bradly replied, “I’m so blessed and happy, especially since I took a few weeks off to spend some time with my family in Montana beforehand. I have no complaints.”
“Were you at all nervous to get back onto a bull? Much less one that hadn’t kept a rider on its back for the full eight seconds?”
He laughed slightly. “Nah, when you grow up around retired professional bull riders, and one of them is a stock contractor, there’s always some bulls needing to be ridden. Trust me, I rode plenty of times. And ones just as ornery as Mac’s Monster.”
When he glanced over toward all of us, my cheeks instantly heated and Avery snort-laughed.
“You just missed winning the world title last year, what does this year look like for you?”
He paused for a moment before he replied. “Right now, I’m just living in this moment. It’s great to be around all these amazing fans, and the people who love this sport as much as I do.”
“You’re coming back from an injury to your ribs, so give us a sense of where you’re at with your riding.”
Bradly nodded. “Well, I think the last few rounds have answered that question for me.”
The crowd went wild, and Avery smirked. “What an arrogant answer.”
“He knows what they want to hear, and he’s playing into it,” Dirk stated.
The reporter laughed as she wrapped up the interview. “Well deserved, no doubt about that. Congratulations, Bradly, good luck in the championship round.”
He nodded and said, “Thank you, Julie.”
When he turned and walked over to us, the camera followed him. He kissed his mother on the cheek, shook his dad’s hand, hugged his sister, then drew me to him and kissed me long and hard. The crowd erupted once again.
When he drew back, he gave me that boyish smile. “I wanted the world to know you’re mine.”
I felt my cheeks turn hot as he put his arm around me, and we followed his family through the back and out to a waiting car. He didn’t even bother to change.
Once we were back at our hotel, the beautiful Four Seasons, we made plans to meet Bradly’s parents and his sister for a late dinner in the hotel restaurant. I had messaged Emily and Doug to see if they could meet us, and she said they would be there.
The door to our room shut and Bradly drew me to him. “Take a shower with me.”
“Okay,” I said softly as he placed sweet kisses down my neck. “But you should maybe rest before dinner.”
He chuckled and moved his mouth to my ear. “The only thing I want is to be inside of you, Kenzie.”
My breath caught in my throat and my knees went weak. “I think I can get on board with that.”
“Let me rinse all this shit off me. Give me five minutes, then join me?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Watching Bradly strip out of his clothes, I had to hold myself back from touching him. He was so beautiful. When he glanced back at me and winked, I suppressed a moan. The door to the bathroom shut and I sank down onto the large sofa and placed my hand over my stomach that was tumbling all over the place.
My phone buzzed, and I jumped. Digging through my purse, I saw I had a text from Avery. I opened it and felt my jaw fall open. It was a lede.
“Pbr superstar Bradly Littlewood off the market? One of the Pbr’s most popular bull riders, and most eligible bachelors, sent a clear message when he kissed the mysterious woman who’d been seen sitting with Littlewood’s mother and model sister, Avery Littlewood, during all of the events this weekend in Madison Square. Who is she? Where is she from? And can you hear all the hearts breaking?”
My hand covered my mouth as I stared at the two pictures included. One of me in the stands with Merit and Avery, and the other of Bradly kissing me after his ride.
Getting out of Avery’s message, I called Emily.
“Hey! Has there been a change of plans?”
“No, but Avery just sent me an article, and it has two pictures of me!”
“Where?” Emily asked.
“Um,” I said as I put her on speaker. “Hold on. The Pbr website, I guess.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about Mom or dickhead seeing it.”
My heart free-fell to my stomach. I shook my head. “I’m not sure. I hope they don’t see it and put two and two together and figure out where I am.”
“They won’t,” she said with confidence.
“I just hope people don’t blame me for Bradly leaving the Pbr.”
Emily gasped. “He’s quitting? Oh my God! When did this happen? Why? Because of you! Holy shit, this is huge!”
Groaning, I dropped back against the sofa. “Can you forget I just said that. Please?”
“Ugh. Are you serious right now?”
“Em, please?”
She sighed. “Fine! But you are going to tell me everything tonight at dinner when I excuse myself to go to the bathroom and you say you have to go too. Maybe we can find a supply closet to hide in. Then I want all the deets.”
I laughed. “Deal. It is kind of weird that so many people know we’re dating now.”
Emily started to laugh. “Oh, poor you, dating a handsome-as-hell cowboy with a body to die for. I feel so, so sorry for you.”
Rolling my eyes, I exhaled. “Em, I wasn’t thinking about this part of Bradly’s career.”
“Well, according to the bomb you just dropped, you won’t have to much longer.”
I sat up and started to chew on my thumbnail. “That’s true. I won’t, will I?”
“You’re dating a guy who is well known in his career field, sis. You had to know something would happen.”
Nodding, I replied, “I know. And I’m okay with it. I guess I just never thought about it.”
“Talk to Bradly if you’re worried. Or better yet, Avery. She’s in the spotlight more than I think her brother, possibly. As a matter of fact, you might have your picture posted simply because you’re seen with her.”
I started to laugh. “That’s true.” Glancing at the bathroom door, I said, “Thanks for letting me have that little mini freakout. I need to go. I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Okay, see you then.”
I hit End and stood. When I opened the bathroom door, Bradly was drying off.
“Hey. I heard you talking on the phone and I’ve got to say, I was a bit sad you didn’t join me.”
“I’m sorry. Avery sent me this picture of us that was posted in the media, and I had a slight freakout moment. Not a bad freakout. Just a small one.”
Something moved across his face. Worry, maybe?
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He wrapped the towel around his waist and said, “Let’s get out of the bathroom, it’s hot and muggy in here.”
He took my hand, and we made our way into the suite. The living room area was huge for a hotel, with a large sofa and oversized chair separated by a round glass coffee table. We even had a terrace. The bed was a king-size, and one of the most comfortable beds I’d ever slept in.
We sat down on the sofa and Bradly turned to face me. I was having one hell of a time concentrating on anything other than his massive bare chest. My fingers itched to touch him.
“You don’t think your mother or stepfather will see it, do you? I would feel terrible if they found out where you were because of me.”
“I’m not worried about them seeing me on the website of Pbr. I was more worried about people thinking I’m the reason you’re leaving the Pbr.”
He stared at me with a blank expression on his face before he burst out laughing.
I hit him on the chest. “Bradly! It’s not funny,” I said with a giggle.
He reached for my hand and pulled me closer to him. “I don’t think that will be the case. Besides, if they’re true fans of mine, they’ll be happy for me.”
I nodded.
“Kenzie, I know this has been a whirlwind of a relationship, and once this weekend is over, everything is going to change. If I’m not riding, people won’t give two shits about what I’m doing. Trust me.”
“You’re still going to do commercials.”
“And those will die down as well. I’m going to be moving into the cabin on the ranch, and you and I are going to start a new chapter in our lives. Together. The rest, I could not care less about, and neither should you. I promise, everything will slow down once this is over. We can go slow, spend time together, and just be a normal couple.”
I nodded. “I like the sound of that.”
A wide grin appeared on that handsome face. His dimples were so deep, I fought the urge to poke my finger into them.
“We love each other, that much I know from the depths of my heart, and that’s good enough for me right now.”
I nodded in agreement. “You’re right.”
“I mean, I’ll probably be staying at your place, and you can stay at mine, but I think it’s important that we each have our own space at first. You’ve made a huge move, and now I am as well.”
“I love this plan.”
He laughed and pulled me onto his lap. “I’m glad you do.”
I brushed a strand of his wet hair back away from his face. “I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that you’re not going to be leaving me all the time in the future.”
Rubbing his nose against mine, he whispered, “So am I, Kenzie.”
His hand moved up my thigh, and my entire body heated as an ache formed between my legs. Before I knew what was happening, Bradly had me sitting on the sofa, undressed and panting with desire.
“I’m going to taste you, Kenzie.”
A ragged breath slipped free from between my lips as I watched him spread my legs apart. His dark eyes turned darker as he stared at me and ran his tongue over his luscious lips.
Then his mouth was on me, and I felt my entire world tilt. My hands dove into his hair.
“Take what you want, Kenz,” he said, before he was back to licking and sucking. I moved my hips against his face, and before I knew it I was moaning in pleasure as my entire body shook.
Before I had a chance to come down from my orgasm, Bradly turned me and laid me down on the sofa.
“I want to feel you,” he whispered as he positioned himself at my entrance. Wrapping my legs around him, I drew him into me. Bradly filling my body was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever felt.
“Bradly,” I whispered before his mouth captured my own and he slowly made love to me. When we both came at the same time, Bradly rested his forehead against mine as we fought for breath.
“It keeps getting better,” I said, my fingers moving lazily over his back.
“Yes, it does,” he replied, kissing me gently.
I felt like a relaxed lump of mush. Making love with Bradly was one of my most favorite things to do. I’d never felt such a connection before. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t remember what sex was like before him.
“Come on, Kenz. We need to shower again now, then get ready for dinner.”
I somehow managed to get up from the sofa and followed him into the shower, where we both washed off. Before we got out, Bradly cupped my face and stared into my eyes. I swore I could see the stars in that black gaze of his.
“I love you.”
It was three simple words, spoken in such a way that my heart felt like it was growing bigger and could explode at any moment.
Placing my hands over his, I repeated the words back to him. “I love you.”
It was in that moment that I realized everything in my life, every path, every mistake, every bit of pain, and every single tear, had brought me to this moment. To him.
My happiness.
My everything.
My forever.