Page 45 of Kentucky Nights (Dead Man’s Ranch #1)

Three days later

I stare at Romeo’s statue in his stall. I hate the fear frozen on his face.

His head his reared back, his eyes are wide, and his fangs are lengthened.

Instead of being in the front like mine, his fangs are more towards the sides of his mouth.

His lips are peeled back, preparing for an attack, but he never stood a chance against Louisville.

Speaking of, his ashes are currently floating down the river.

I decided that even though he was my son, he had no business on my property.

I had a few days of grief to work through my emotions, and the more I came down to normal, I realized keeping him around was like a slap in the face to Dru after what he put her through.

Rubbing my hands down my face, I let out a sigh burdened with guilt for not being able to save him right away. Yesterday, I bought every horse, pig, cow, mule, and donkey that was at the slaughterhouse. I’ve saved them, and they will be brought to the ranch today.

All I can do is hope one of those horses is Romeo’s Beloved. I need my best friend back. A man isn’t a cowboy without the horse he trusts most.

“Don’t worry, Romeo. I’ll search every end of this earth for your mate, and if I have to look in other dimensions, then I will. I’ll go to every nook and cranny in the universe.” I pat his neck, and it’s still warm as if he is alive under the sheet of stone. “I promise.”

Locking his stall door, I walk back to the house with my head confounded with the hopelessness of not finding Romeo’s mate. What are the chances that I can?

The sound of the rocking chair squeaking has me lifting my head to see my Beloved sitting down in one of them. She sips her coffee, then smiles at me with a big wave.

The heaviness in my chest lightens when her happiness soaks into me. All that happiness from seeing me. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.

“Hey, Beloved,” she calls me, and right away, it brings a smile to my face.

I love that she calls me by that term of endearment.

Climbing the steps two at a time to be at her side, I bend down and place a quick kiss on her cheek. “Mornin’, Darlin’. How are my girls doing?”

She giggles while shaking her head. “Kentucky, it’s too soon to know if they are a girl or a boy.”

“I think our baby is a little cowgirl. Imagine. We can get little pink boots to match yours. Oh, god. She’ll be so damn cute in a little hat.” Ever since I’ve found out Dru is pregnant, I’ve been daydreaming.

Imagining teaching our kid to ride a horse, to lasso, to barrel race, to do anything and everything on the ranch. Then my dreams turned into me being a girl dad. Protecting her, showing her how she deserves to be treated, and never settling for less than what she deserves.

And to teach her how to deal with the night when it enters her mind. No one should be alone in learning about this hard fucking world.

“Plus, I want her to have your eyes, your hair, your everything. Why wouldn’t I want to bring another you into this world? Do you know how much better it would be?”

“You keep talking like that, we’ll have to go back for round two today, Mr. Jones,” she taunts, hiding her luscious lips behind the rim of her coffee mug.

I growl, thinking about how I woke her up this morning with my cock in her mouth. I’d love to toss her on the bed and have my way. I am sad about one thing when it comes to her pregnancy.

She won’t have her period.

At least I got a little bit of a taste. I don’t know when I’ll get to experience that again. It all depends on how much time Dru wants in between having kids. Whatever she wants. I’m on board. Her wants, her needs, they all come first.

I find that my wants? My needs?

They take the shape of the woman sitting in the rocking chair. As long as I have her, I have everything I need.

“I got you a present. Stay right there. Don’t move.”

She cozies into the blanket she has thrown over her body. It’s a cool, foggy day, perfect for cuddling outside. If we are lucky, the fog will clear, and we can go outside to stargaze.

I’ll have to end our date just like that. Tonight, I plan on reclaiming her the way she deserves. Not in some dirt arena with holes in my body and a bull charging at us. I refuse to not try to make it right.

Instead of wishing I were part of the constellations, I can sit back and appreciate their beauty with the woman who saved my life by my side.

“I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’m excited. What is it?”

“Close your eyes.”

“Kentucky.”

“Do it. Do it. Close them!”

She’s skeptical, eyeing me with curiosity. Dru closes her eyes and holds out her hand.

“I’ll be right back.” I dash inside and swing open the closet door where I hid her gift. She probably won’t be stunned or love it because it’s more of a necessity these days.

That reminds me that I need to replace the screen door Dru tumbled through the other day. Actually, I need to install a security system too. I wonder if there is a paranormal one. I’m more worried about that now that I want to submerge myself into this life at last.

I want my little girl or boy to know everything there is about being a vampire. They shouldn’t have to question anything because their father didn’t know.

My boots pound on the porch when I rush outside, placing the box in her hand. “Open.”

I hold my breath when she does.

“Oh my god, Kentucky. Is this a phone?”

Taking the chair next to her, I grab the mug from her hand to set it aside so I can take her hand. “I told you when you arrived that you could borrow the phone I had to call Carmen or your job. You’ve had no contact with your previous life, and that’s not fair.”

“Kentucky—”

I hold up my hand to stop her. “Let me finish.” I kiss her fingertips one by one. “I know we had a lot going on lately, but I should have tried harder to get you what you needed. I was terrified that if you called your friend, you’d leave me. That wasn’t right of me. Apologies, Dru. Forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” Her hand is gentle as it rests against my cheek, then begins to stroke her fingers through my beard.

I love it when she does that.

“I tried to charge my old phone, but it wouldn’t work. I threw it away. It was a flip phone with an antenna.”

“Oh, wow. An antenna. No wonder it didn’t work.”

“Careful.” I nip at her knuckles. “I’ll take that phone back.” She knows I’m teasing. There isn’t anything I would ever take from her.

Besides her virginity. That is mine and mine alone.

The thought of her only being mine has a drape of burgundy igniting my vision.

“Your thoughts are in the gutter,” she points out, waiting for her phone to turn on.

“With you around, it stays there, Darlin’. You know, I still haven’t been able to count all those freckles on your body. I think I’ll do that soon. Take my time. I don’t want to miss one.”

She blushes, nibbling on her bottom lip to the point the flesh turns white from pressure. I tug it free, rubbing my thumb over the spot.

“Don’t make those pretty lips bleed. I’d hate to have to do something about that.”

An aromatic dose of lust drenches the air, sweet and warm, just like her pretty pussy when I’m sinking into it.

“My home and lockscreen need pictures of you,” she says. “You’ll have to send me some.” She looks me up and down, pretending to bite her nail, and flutters those hazel eyes at me. “Shirtless. Definitely shirtless.”

“Shirtless?” This time it’s me who blushes. “I ain’t ever done anything like that, Dru.”

Her hand drifts up the innermost part of my thigh, and I catch my breath.

“You’ll do it for me, though. Won’t you?” She stops before she grabs my aching cock pressing against my jeans.

God, it’s a good thing I bought the same phone at the store this morning. I have no idea how to work a touchscreen, but I’ll fucking figure it out if it means she sends pictures to me too.

Fuck everyone else needing to get a hold of me.

I lick my lips, nearly panting with need. All she has to do is lower the zipper and free me. She lights a growl within my chest, and all I want to do is reach for her phone to throw…somewhere. I need to have my way with her.

The squeaks of metal have me turn my head to listen. Tires roll onto the driveway, followed by the loud roar of mufflers.

Of course, we are interrupted.

Standing in front of Dru, I extend my black claws, readying myself for a fight. The first truck comes into view, and a trailer is attached.

Then another.

And another.

They line up behind each other, reaching the end of my driveway.

“It’s the animals from the slaughterhouse, Dru. Think any of them will be for Romeo?”

She stands, clutching the blanket to her chest. Her head leans against my shoulder, watching as the first person climbs out of the driver’s side of the brand new, deep green truck.

“Hey there,” the guy shouts. “I’m looking for Kentucky Jones. I have the animals from the slaughterhouse. I think I have the right address.” He flips a few pages on his clipboard to find it.

“Go inside, Darlin’. He’s a vampire. I can smell it on him. Lock the door.”

“Kentucky, he’s delivering animals for goodness sake. I’m sure he is harmless. Stop being a man. Go up to him so he isn’t shouting across the damn lawn.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I grumble with a pout of my lips.

She smacks my ass as I head down the steps. I look over my shoulder, brow raised, a sly smirk on my face.

“You wait until later, Darlin’.”

“Can’t wait.” She forms her hand into a gun, kisses her index finger, aims it at me, and pulls the trigger.

I catch it, pressing it against my lips. I don’t give a damn if I’m in front of another man, witnessing me paying attention to my mate.

“Are you Kentucky Jones?” he asks when I get close enough.

Wait a damn minute.

I know the driver. He was at the rodeo.

“I know you. You’re Oklahoma Richards. Your partner, Cal, got terrorized by that bull. How’s your friend?”