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When I’m done, I sit back and watch Sally chat with my brothers about everything and nothing—her epic bluff during last night’s poker game, preparations for the upcoming calving season in January, that episode ofParks and Recreationthat had us howling.

I love that she’s here.

I love what a great team we make, working cattle.

I love how sweet she is with my niece, giving Ella her piece of Patsy’s famous Texas sheet cake after Ella polished off her own in three huge bites. Then Sally helps Sawyer wipe Ella down; we laugh when it takes almost half a pack of Huggies wipes to get her clean.

I love how Sally’s ass looks in those fucking jeans.

The ride calm her nerves? She seems relaxed enough.

She did say she wanted more practice quieting her mind. Surefire way to do that is to get her body talking, right? Watching her in the saddle—the athletic roll of her hips while we were cutting cattle, the way the wind tugged at her hair—was the world’s biggest cocktease.

I’m done waiting.

I still can’t believe this is happening. My fantasies—the ones I’ve relived over and over again for almost twenty years now—are finally about to come true.

I’m fuckingshaking.

We clean up lunch. Then Sawyer heads back to his place to put Ella down for her afternoon nap while Duke and Ryder head to the feed store in town.

Then it’s just me and Sally in the silent, soaring expanse of the New House’s kitchen.

Closing the dishwasher, I straighten. Wipe my hands on a towel while I watch Sally push the chairs in at the big farm table where we ate.

I drape the towel over the lip of the sink. “So…”

“So…” Sally tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. She looks windblown, her nose a little red from the sun. “I should probably get going.”

“There’s a horse I’d like you to check out first. Think she might be showing signs of colic.”

“Oh. Okay. Yeah, when it gets cold like this, sometimes the horses don’t drink enough water. I’ll grab my stethoscope. Meet you at the barn?”

“Yeah.”

Walking across the yard, I wonder if I should hop in an ATV and grab some condoms from my house. I wanna fuck Sally so bad my teeth ache.

I also wanna take my time with her. Edge her a little bit so when we do have sex, she’ll be wild with anticipation. If I gotcondoms in my pocket, that ain’t gonna happen. Not having them will force me to pump the brakes.

That’s a good thing—I think.

I hope.

I just wanna please this girl, plain and simple. She ain’t even been kissed properly. Not until last night anyway. Wonder what kinda nightmare she endured the last time someone put their fingers or tongue between her legs.

Yeah, we aren’t gonna need condoms today. But some rope? That could be fun. Don’t you need to have fun to experience the transcendence we talked about?

I hurry to the barn. Thankfully it’s deserted, and it should stay that way. Saturday afternoons are typically quiet on this part of the ranch.

It’s also warm inside.

My body feels wound tight, pulse drumming and skin hot as I grab a coil of rope from the tack room. I hesitate. Will this turn her off? Scare her?

Nah.If her enthusiasm last night was any indication, Sally’s gonna like her orgasm with a side of play. She’s braver than anyone gives her credit for.

I’m taking notes.

I position myself behind the open door so Sally won’t see me when she walks in. Leaning my back against the wall, I get my lariat ready. I run my fingertip over the smooth, almost-whip-like texture of the circle of rope. Its familiarity makes me feel slightly less shaky.