Page 21 of Aisle Be The Groom (Bristlecone Springs #1)

GRAY

S hit. I’d fallen asleep in Ozzie’s bed.

I jerked my head upright and let out a deep sigh of relief that it was still dark outside. Dropping my head back onto the pillow, I breathed in and out slowly to control my racing heartbeat.

For the past week, I’d been sneaking into Ozzie’s room every single night. A couple of times we had sex, but mostly we kissed, we touched, and we talked. He listened to me ramble on about the ranch, while he shared his fears about our relationship, the way people would treat him, and his uncertainty about what to do with his life.

Yesterday had been a rough day. We had lost two calves and a mare. Although common, it didn’t sting any less to lose livestock. I’d been dead on my feet when I slipped into Ozzie’s bed. He’d spooned me for a change, and I must have fallen asleep almost instantly. I couldn’t remember talking much.

I rolled over onto my side to face him. We’d drifted apart during the night. He lay on his stomach, his face turned toward me, his blond hair mussed against the white of the pillow. His closed eyes gave him an air of innocence that contrasted with the way he’d been moaning the night before.

What kind of dream was he having? Was I in it? Or did he dream about my son, given how long they’d been together? A gnawing jealousy twisted in my stomach. I didn’t like the thought of him being with Carter, even in his dreams. Before, I could have hidden my desire for Ozzie and given him and Carter my best wishes, but not anymore. If the past week had taught me anything, it was that Ozzie’s place in my life would be as mine or not at all. There was no way I could have him call me father-in-law after all I’d experienced with him.

The sheet was hanging off the bed, which left Ozzie exposed. Moonlight cast a glow over his pale skin and beautiful curves. The black silk baby doll with the lace trimmings had ridden up almost to his waist. His thong did nothing to hide the perfect round shape of his ass. He’d said men had used him solely for his body, and I could see that happening.

Sex with him was amazing, especially because of the connection we’d built over the past week. I had come harder than I had in a long time. He made me feel like I was in my twenties again, but it was his beautiful smile, his kind heart, and his gentle personality that had won me over.

I ran my fingers down his thigh, my touch featherlight so as not to disturb his sleep. The smoothness of his skin under my fingertips sent a shiver down my spine. As I trailed my fingers up, he stirred, snuggling deeper into the pillow. The sight brought a smile to my lips.

He must have worn the baby doll for me, but I’d been too exhausted to appreciate it. To ignore him would be rude, wouldn’t it?

I rolled to the side of the bed, clicked the bedside lamp on, and got the lube from the drawer. I kicked off my pajama bottoms, then returned to Ozzie’s side. Lightly straddling his thighs, I smoothed lube over my cock, stroking myself and admiring his ass. I loved his backside, but I quickly shoved the twinge of guilt aside. Ozzie enjoyed how obsessed I was with his body, and as long as I didn’t treat him like prime beef, he encouraged it. It made him feel sexy, he’d said. The kicker was that he didn’t need me to feel that way. He was sexy. Period.

Hooking the string of the thong to one side, I nudged my thickened length between his cheeks. A low moan escaped my lips as I found his hole and pushed inside him. Beneath me, he stirred, a soft murmur escaping into the pillow.

Holding his cheeks apart, I pulled out and slowly slid back inside him. His pliant body yielded to my thrusts, warm and welcoming. Each stroke made it difficult to be gentle as I fought the urge to fuck him mercilessly into the mattress.

I picked up my pace, finding a cadence that matched the rise and fall of Ozzie’s sleeping breath. His muscles occasionally twitched around me, yet he remained in his dream-laden slumber.

I threaded my fingers through his tousled hair as I leaned over him, pressing my chest against the soft silk of his nightdress.

“Oz…” I whispered into his ear, an inexplicable lump forming in my throat. Dammit, did he realize how much he’d come to mean to me in such a short time?

Ozzie stirred from his sleep. He raised his head and looked over his shoulder. “Ooh,” he moaned softly. “I thought I was dreaming…”

“It’s real, darlin’.” I kissed his neck and suckled on his flesh a little. “I’ll make it a reality. Did you like waking up like this?”

“Oh god, yes.” He tilted his hips at the same time I thrust, driving my length fully inside him.

“Fuck.” I nudged his legs wider apart and settled in the middle of them. Buried inside him, I ground against his ass. His inner muscles clamped around me, and I cursed under my breath. I held him close, pressing against him, bucking my hips.

“Yes, Gray,” he groaned out in a half plea, half demand. “Just like that. Work my ass out with your cock.”

Smack. Smack. Smack .

With slow, deliberate thrusts, I attacked his P-spot with a precision that had him crying out and writhing beneath me. Each rutting motion pulled his body taut, and his gasps became erratic and desperate. He reached back to clutch my hip, his nails digging into my skin.

“Gray… Gray,” he whimpered. His voice was hoarse, loaded with pleasure and a hint of urgency.

He was getting loud. I pushed his head down into the pillow to muffle his cries and met his pleading with a resounding thrust. My limit loomed dangerously close.

“Oz.” I breathed out against his neck, laved at it with my tongue, and sank my teeth lightly into the tender flesh. “You feel so good. I couldn’t leave without finishing inside you. Want you to remember the feel of me being inside you, even when I’m gone.”

Whatever he said was muffled in the pillow. His body shook, and his muscles tightened around me. Dammit. Just once. I cracked my palm on his ass. Ozzie’s body jerked beneath mine, and a long moan left him as he came, shuddering and whimpering.

Gritting my teeth, I buried myself deep inside him, holding him in place as my body spasmed and I released myself inside him. Smaller waves of pleasure left my muscles twitching and aching. A shiver ran down my spine as he clenched around me, milking me for every last drop.

Slowly I pulled out and collapsed next to Ozzie on the bed. His breathing was ragged but evened out as the minutes ticked by. He turned his head toward me, his eyes glazed with satisfaction but brimming with tenderness. A soft smile played on his lips.

“Gray…” He brushed my cheek. “That was…incredible. You’re incredible.”

He looked at me like I’d invented sex, and my heart fluttered. I kissed his nose, then his lips. “I fell asleep last night. Sorry about that. I was exhausted.”

“Don’t worry about it. I loved sleeping next to you.”

“Soon we will. Every night. Then I’ll get to wake you up like that all the time.”

“I can’t wait.” But his eyes conveyed the same worry he got whenever we brought up the future.

“It’ll all work out, Oz. I don’t want you to stress about anything. Just think about the future, and I’ll handle the rest.”

He shook his head with a lazy smile. “Be careful. If you keep insisting I don’t have to think or do anything, I’ll start seeing myself as a trophy wife.”

I chuckled. “You can be that too if you want.” I kissed him slow and sweet—the kind of kiss that should remind him I saw all of him. I pulled back and stroked his cheek. “Go back to sleep. I have to return to my room and get ready for work. The ranch will need to thrive if I’m to keep a trophy wife.”

He threw the pillow at me. “I was just kidding.”

“I’m not.” I leaned over him, covering his face in kisses while he giggled. Seeing him this happy made me smile. “I’m going to pamper you and give you everything your heart desires.”

“Gray, you know I don’t need anything. Just you.”

“I know. And that’s exactly why.” I hastily pulled my clothes back on while Ozzie watched me, shamelessly displaying his body. He knew damn well I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. Lying on his side with one knee pulled up, he leisurely rubbed his hole with his fingers.

Oh god.

His fingers were wet from my cum, and I wanted to suck them into my mouth.

“Temptress.” I rushed to the door. It was either that or return to the bed.

He stroked a hand over his hip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Fuck. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be back in that bed with you. I’ll be seeing you like this all day.”

Every day his confidence grew, and I hadn’t prepared for how much that would make me want him even more. He blew me a kiss as I slipped out the door, closing it behind me.

“Dad?”

Fuck.

Matty approached me, frowning. “What’s going on? That’s Carter’s room.”

No shit. And Ozzie was staying in there.

“Uh, yeah. Ozzie—you see, he wasn’t feeling well. Must have been something he ate. I just brought him some medicine.”

Even to my ears, the excuse didn’t ring true, but Matty nodded absentmindedly. Oddly, he was still wearing the same clothes he had on when he’d left the house yesterday evening. He wasn’t the kind of guy who stayed out all night at a bar. I didn’t smell any liquor on him either.

“You just getting in?” I asked.

“Yeah. I was out…with a friend. Don’t worry. I’ll still be able to work the ranch.”

“Take the day off. We can survive for a day without you, Matty. No need to push yourself so much.”

“I’ll feel better after a couple of hours of sleep. Don’t worry about it.”

Matty disappeared into his bedroom. How lucky was I that he seemed distracted, so he wouldn’t think too much of me coming out of Ozzie’s room or the fact that I smelled of sex. I climbed into bed and set the alarm to wake me up in an hour, but it wasn’t needed. I twisted and turned, my thoughts pingponging from Ozzie to Matty. I needed to sit Matty down one of these days. He was way too serious and needed to lighten up, get a hobby, date a little.

Shit, this was useless. I flung off the sheets and hit the showers. When I was dressed, I scribbled a note for Ozzie to make himself available in the evening and slipped it under his door. When I peeked in on Matty, he was still asleep, so I turned his alarm off. Poor kid deserved to sleep in. He worked enough for two men.

The early morning sun cast a gentle glow across the ranch as I pulled on my boots and stepped outside. The air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of dew-covered grass. As I walked toward the barn, more ranch hands emerged, their silhouettes gradually becoming defined against the brightening sky.

In the stables, the horses whinnied softly. Today’s task was to check the fences along the north pasture—a tedious but necessary job. I grabbed a heavy hammer, a coil of sturdy wire, and a bundle of fresh wooden posts and dropped them in the back of the old pickup.

As I was about to climb into the driver’s seat, footsteps crunched on the gravel. Hudson approached with a black eye and a somber expression on his weathered face. He was another one who worked enough for two men.

“Morning, Hudson. Everything all right?”

He stopped a few feet away, removing his hat and wiping the sweat from his brow. “Not exactly, I’m afraid. I need to talk to you about something personal.”

I leaned against the truck. “Sure, what’s up?”

“It’s about my little girl, Ivy.” He scratched the back of his head and wouldn’t meet my gaze. “My wife, well, she packed up and left us yesterday.”

“Jesus. I’m sorry to hear that.” But it wasn’t much of a surprise. In fact, it was a miracle their marriage lasted for this long. Before Hudson knocked her up, Heather had been hell-bent on leaving town. They got married at the courthouse, but everyone knew she’d gone home with another man on the same night. Because I’d stayed with my wife for my kids’ sake, I understood too well that he’d stuck around for that sweet little girl of his.

He gave a bitter laugh. “Everyone knew it would happen someday. She stayed longer than I thought she would.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier. Is there anything I can do?”

“I’m going to need to take a few days off, starting tomorrow, to figure out arrangements for Ivy.”

“Of course. Take all the time you need. But why don’t you drop Ivy off here? I’ll ask, but I’m sure Gertie won’t mind keeping an eye on her for you.”

“Gertie has her hands full taking care of the meals. Wouldn’t feel right putting that kind of responsibility on her.”

“Well, the offer is there if you don’t find another solution, and don’t worry about me docking your pay. You help your little girl to adjust as best as possible.”

Hudson blinked several times. “Thanks. I appreciate it. With it being just me, I’ll need every dollar I can earn. I don’t want her to lack anything.”

“I get it.” And why should he be punished for being a damn good father? “Listen, Clayton and I were supposed to work on the fencing along the north pasture, but he ain’t here yet. Why don’t you join me? We’ll get the job done faster with the two of us. I need an early day today.”

“Sure. I can do that.”

“Good. Let’s get to it, then.”