Chapter 9
COLT
“You ever miss it?” I ask.
Her voice is quiet. “Every single day.”
Something in my chest cracks because I feel like I'm seeing myself at this moment. This will be me once I finally give in, or once my knee finally gives out. And where does that leave me? Not doing PR, that’s for sure.
“Was it a bronco?”
She nods, and I reach for the extra blanket I spot sitting on the chair.
I hand it to her, giving her the opportunity to cover up.
She takes it from me and drapes it haphazardly across herself.
“Scout was my favorite. He had been with me since I was a kid. We grew up racing and knew each other inside and out.” She sighs.
“It was my fault. I knew he was skittish around storms, but I took him out to run one last lap anyway. We were supposed to compete the next day, and I wanted to beat the storm, get one last practice run in.”
Her jumping at the lightning and thunder today sits at the forefront of my mind.
“It wasn’t your fault. It was just–”
“A hard fall.” She shrugs. “I let myself mourn what could have been, and then life had to move on.”
I’m quiet as I take it all in. I know she’s not trying to dig me right now, but it kind of feels like she’s trying to give me a lesson.
“Anyway, that was nine years ago, and as you can see, it has not affected my stunning personality one bit.” She laughs, and I smile.
I smooth my hand over her knee again. “I’d never know if I didn’t see it. Does it bother you?”
She shakes her head. “In extreme weather, it will ache. But the storms bother me more. Even though it’s been so long, they still catch me off guard sometimes.”
“Like tonight?”
“Like tonight.”
I pull her close to me and kiss her. She deepens it after a moment, and I breathe her in.
“I know this is a bad idea, and it’s messy. I’m not easy, and simple is not in my vocabulary.” I lean closer. “But I can’t stay away from you any longer.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
We start out soft, but it becomes desperate quickly, as if we’re both afraid this is the only night we’re going to get. Our breathing is heavy, and when she pulls me on top of her, I let her. I don’t rush her, kissing at her pace, before sliding a finger inside her, then two.
“You’re so soft,” I murmur against her skin as I nibble and bite along her ribs. She squirms under me, and it makes my cock stand at attention.
I look into her eyes. “Are you sure?”
She nods and reaches for me, stroking me before positioning me at her entrance. I slide inside as I take her mouth, our tongues stroking in rhythm with our hips. She swirls her body under me, matching me thrust for thrust.
“Ever ride bareback?” she asks, and I huff out a laugh.
“I should have known that question was coming.” She giggles and slaps my ass, as if she’s urging me on faster. I slow my hips and look her in the eyes. “But, no, I haven’t.”
She gasps at my answer, then gasps again as I lean back on my thighs and begin to pound into her. A steady, hard beat, stroke after stroke. Her tits bounce with each strike, and when I tease her clit, her moans carry around the room.
“Colt, I’m close,” she breathes out as she squeezes her breasts.
“Me, too.” I’m beginning to sweat, trying to keep my composure. “Show me what you like. Get there, sunshine. You’re too wet for me to hold off much longer.”
She grabs my hand, sucks on my pointer finger, her tongue swirling around my tip, and then places it on her clit. “Touch me, Colt.” I stroke her clit with the same rhythm, and then she’s grabbing the sheets and calling my name.
“Colt! Yes!”
“Lily, oh my God!” I come with an explosion, that electrical sizzle climbing my spine is too much to hold off. I continue stroking, bringing us down slowly, never wanting this feeling to end.
I collapse on her chest, her hands in my hair, and I feel an overwhelming closeness to her. This is new, and I let myself daydream for just a moment about what comes after riding.
~~
Later, when the storm is quieter and the outside world feels far away, she lies curled against my chest.
My arm is around her, and her head is on my shoulder.
“You okay?” I ask quietly.
She hums. “More than okay.”
I stare at the ceiling. And for the first time in a long time, I smile, feeling like I don't have to do it all. I’m not alone in the weight of the ranch, the rodeo, and most of all, myself. I don’t feel like I’m running.
Lily isn’t trying to take from me; she’s giving. She’s my mirror. She lost her ride, too, her identity, but she found a way to come back. Maybe she’s here to teach me that. And honestly, what scares me the most is that I want her to.