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Now, he was giving another woman an orgasm in front of me, wanting me to witness it.
Something inside me cracked, splintering so fast and so deep I felt it in my bones.
I forced myself to stand still, to keep my breath even. It shouldn’t hurt—not after everything, not after years of knowing better. But it did. It hurt so much.
Fiona came shuddering, and her head fell on his shoulder.
My ears were ringing, blood rushing loudly.
Finally, Fiona said, “Duke, I love you.”
Duke looked away from me.
He smiled at her.
I couldn’t stand hearing him say the words back to her, so I ran into the stable and through it, out to the paddock, where I knew a couple of horses were already saddled.
By the time I swung into Stormchaser’s saddle, my hands were shaking.
I kicked the ranch horse into a gallop.
The night air stung against my cheeks as we tore across the open pasture, the familiar rhythm of hoofbeats pounding beneath me. I didn’t stop until we reached my destination—ourplace: Duke’s and mine.
It was a clearing by the river, where the water ran jagged over rocks in angry, fast swirls. Soon, the spring melt would make it rougher and angrier.
The trees swayed just enough to let the moonlight through, silvering the grass and quieting the world. I slid off my horse, boots hitting the damp earth.
My breath hitched, my chest tightening so hard I had to press a hand against it. I sank onto the grass, curling my arms around my knees like I could hold myself together.
Duke kissed me here for the first time.
We made love here for the first time on a blanket he’d brought along for a picnic.
Here, once a long time ago, I’d let myself believe for a short while that I was someone worth choosing.
And then…I broke. The tears came fast, hot, silent.
For all my toughness, for all the deals I closed and orders I gave, I was stillthatgirl, the one who got hurt too easily. The one who wanted to be loved, to be chosen for once in her life.
CHAPTER 10
duke
Iwanted a reaction out of her, and I got it. She looked stricken, and then she’d run. I heard hoofbeats not long after as Fiona nuzzled against me. I hurt her. I knew that, and a part of me felt triumphant, but another, the one that loved Elena, hated me for causing her pain.
“Come, Duke, let’s go to bed,” Fiona purred.
“Baby, why don’t you go along? I…I’ll be with you in a little bit.” I walked to the stable.
She crossed her arms. “I can’t wait to get out of here after the funeral. You’re different here. You’re no fun.”
“Different?” I peeked into the stable to confirm Elena wasn’t there.
“You’re so serious and…just…notmyDuke.”
I looked at her then and knew why she felt that way: Here, in Wildflower Canyon, I was Elena’s Duke.
“Te amo, my Duke.”