Page 8 of Marked by my Protector (Inked and Possessive. Rugged Mountain Ink #3)

Sloane

Delilah is in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hand, a wide smile plastered onto her face. “Hey, girl. You look relaxed.”

I’m pleasantly surprised to see her this morning. I wasn’t sure I’d get a chance again before I left. “It was a good night.” I glance toward Tank and smirk before redirecting my gaze back toward our guest. “Your brother showed me the farm.”

“Oh,” her brow and voice rise, “did he? I thought he hated the farm and everything about it.”

“I don’t hate the farm,” Tank groans. “I hated the assumption that this is what I wanted for my life. I’ve gotten used to it.”

Delilah rolls her eyes and draws her hair to her shoulder. “God wouldn’t bless a man with shoulders that wide if he didn’t intend on you using ‘em. So, I’d say your destiny here was written in the stars, big bro.”

Tank hands me a cup of steaming coffee, his massive body brushing mine gently as he moves past, and I’m brought straight back to last night by the creek. Hell, I’m not sure I’ll ever stop thinking about it. It’s all I dreamt about last night.

“So, what did you think of the place?” Delilah continues, biting into a slice of toast.

“It’s gorgeous. I mean, this is a whole new world from what I’m used to. I’d never even touched a horse until last night, and I’d never sat by a creek either.”

“Really?” Delilah grins. “Well, you should have Tank take you out to chase lightning bugs tonight. You ever done that?”

I shake my head and smile wide. “Is that where you get a jar and chase the flies around?”

“Yup! It’s super fun, and tonight’s a new moon, so it’ll be extra dark. You guys should make a day of it and check out Fall-Fest too.”

“Headed there today.” Tank shakes his head, and I get the feeling he’s a little annoyed by his sister planning his every move. “What about you? How are you feeling this morning? The baby kicking?”

“Baby?” The word alone sends that familiar twist to my stomach. The one that confuses the hell out of me and makes me feel like a terrible person.

It’s not that I’m not happy for people with kids. I am. It’s just hard to see women thriving in bodies that work when mine doesn’t. “Congratulations! I had no idea you were pregnant!”

“Nine months yesterday.” She runs her hand over her stomach, exposing a bump she’s hiding really well with an oversized tunic. “I have a doctor’s appointment after this, then I have work. I promised Beau I’d pick up another shift tonight.”

“He’s got you working late a lot. Does he not see your pregnant?” Tank sips his coffee as he talks.

“Yeah.” She nods and diverts her gaze toward her bacon.

“Well, I figured while Dave is still out of town, I’d pick up some extra shifts.

We could use the money.” She sighs and I get the feeling she’s stressed.

“Anyway, I should probably get moving. Everything takes me three times longer these days.” She leans into me for a hug and smirks playfully.

“You and Mr. Romantic Cowboy have a good time today. I see he saddled the horses so I’m guessing you’re going on a ride. ”

I blink at Tank, surprised. “You saddled the horses?”

Tank shrugs, eyes steady on mine. “It’s practical. The horses get us to Fall-Fest through places cars can’t go. We’ll avoid any run-ins with your parents if they’re in town. I’m assuming you ditched your phone?”

“Oh yeah. Tore the battery the second I got back to my room, but,” I glance down at the plate in front of me, the smell of bacon mingling with the scent of fresh coffee and cedar, “they’ll still find me. Are you sure you want all this drama?”

“If your parents try anything, there’ll be consequences,” Tank says simply.

I’m used to people talking about consequences. My dad loves to tell everyone about the penalties they’ll face if he’s disappointed, but it’s different sounding when Tank says it. It’s rough and raw, like there are teeth in his words.

Delilah nods, her expression softening. “You’ve got people here now, Sloane, and us mountain folk ain’t scared of a little drama.”

I swallow hard, the knot in my chest loosening just a little. “I appreciate you guys. Truely.”

Delilah leans into me for another hug and I feel her bump against my stomach, sending another odd pang of pain to my heart. I hate that I’m like this. I hate that it bothers me so much. What kind of person is hurt every time they see a pregnant belly or a baby on someone’s hip?

“Of course,” Delilah says sweetly. “As long as you’re here, you’re family.” She squeezes my hand, nods toward Tank, and slips out the front door and into the morning sun.

“Sorry about that. She usually stops over for breakfast Friday mornings.”

“Don’t be sorry! I like her. She’s funny and nice. I mean, I’d still be stuck on my bench at the airport if it weren’t for her kindness.”

He nods slowly, taking another sip of coffee. “She’s relentless, but she means well.”

“I know this is a lot.” I glance down at the ground. “You really don’t have to take me to Fall-Fest. I can call an Uber or something.”

There’s a pause and when I glance up, his heavy brows are wrinkled and he’s so close that his hand tucks beneath my chin. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do, little girl. I don’t saddle horses midday and ride into Fall-Fest for just anyone.”

A shot of something warm springs through me, and though I don’t know how serious any of this is, it feels really good to be touched, to hear sweet things, to pretend this is my life.

I don’t want it to be pretend. I want to be held like this forever in the arms of a man who smells, looks, and acts just like Tank. “I’m scared,” I finally say, not offering any context on what I’m thinking.

“I’ve spent a long time keeping things simple.

” His thumb brushes my jaw. “I don’t date.

I don’t socialize. I just work. Then you walked in with your city shoes and your pretty little dress, and I haven’t been able to think straight since.

And if I were a different man, I might tell you how scared all this makes me.

Instead, I think I might kiss you again. ”

I stare up at him, my lips desperate for his, my heart thumping.

He leans in slowly and his lips brush against mine with a growl low in his throat. “You’re trouble. You know that?”

I grin wider than I’ve ever grinned, my eyes opening slowly. “Yeah? You like trouble?”

“I like you. ”

My breath catches, tangled somewhere between disbelief and desire. His words settle into me like warmth after a long chill, and suddenly the morning feels brighter. “I like you, too,” I whisper, barely able to speak as I stare up at the massive man in front of me.

How did I get here?

He clears his throat and kisses my forehead as though he wants the emotion but he’s uncomfortable with it all at once. “Delilah grabbed you some clothes in town and left them in the bathroom for you. I’ll meet you down at the stables?”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll be down in five.”

His lips graze mine once more, his rough hand on the small of my back, pulling me in before he lets go and heads outside.

I stand there for a moment after the door shuts behind him, the echo of his touch still lingering like a whisper on my skin.

The air feels charged, like the room hasn’t quite exhaled yet.

I press my fingers to my lips, trying to steady the flutter in my chest, then make my way down the hall and toward the small bathroom to the left.

It’s been updated recently, though he’s leaned into the vintage charm again with a pedestal sink and a bright pink bathtub with green shower walls. On the counter next to the sink sits a plastic bag from a shop I saw in town yesterday on the way up the hill and a little note from Delilah.

‘Thought these might make you feel more at home. I’m so glad we met.’

I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this kind of treatment. In San Francisco, helping isn’t at the top of anyone’s list. At least not in the neighborhood where I’m living. Heck, I grew up in that neighborhood and I don’t think I’ve even met the neighbors.

I’ve only been here for twenty-four hours, and these people feel more like family than my own. God, I really shouldn’t feel that way so soon, especially when I know none of this is permanent.

I pull out the pair of leggings Delilah picked and slide them into place, then tug on the long sweater with the deep V-neck that she’s shopped for me.

It’s a cute burnt orange color that reminds me of fall.

She’s even slipped in a pair of socks, some boots that fit my feet, and a few other feminine things that I didn’t think to grab but will come in quite useful, like deodorant, a toothbrush, and a small sampler of perfume.

I make a note to do something to thank her, though I don’t know what yet.

I just know it has to be thoughtful. Maybe now is a good time to push past all the pain I’m feeling about my own drama and buy her some baby clothes or maybe some new bath soaps so she can do a bit of relaxing when the little one finally gets here.

Staring in the mirror, I smooth the sweater down over my waist, dab a bit of the fruity perfume on my wrists, and settle into the girl I’ve always wanted to be.

The girl who wears her hair in a high pony, sports cowboy boots, and goes on horseback into town for a festival midday.

The girl who takes rides from strangers, and falls for a rancher from the mountains. A girl who lets her heart be free.

It’s a luxury I’ve never had before, and I don’t want anything to ruin it.

Outside, the air is cool and fresh, tinged with the scent of hay and pine.

I spot Tank near the horses, adjusting the saddle on the white one he was brushing yesterday.

He moves with purpose like he knows exactly who he is and what he wants.

It’s not only confidence. It’s presence.

The kind that fills a space without trying to.

The kind that makes you feel like if everything else fell apart, he’d still be standing, calm and unshaken.

As I move toward him, the weight of the life I’m leaving behind lifts off my shoulders and drifts away into space. It’s scary how simple it is to forget, to move forward, to start something new without pain for what I’m leaving.

I mean, maybe I should feel sad that going against my parents means that the relationship is over.

Maybe I should be scared that I don’t know what I’m going to do for money or where I’ll stay.

Instead, I’m thinking about life one step at a time, and right now, I’m stepping toward Fall-Fest with a giant man who can’t stop kissing me.