Page 28 of Rekindling Little River (Littles of Rawhide Ranch #14)

Dave

The week passed in a blur of activities and memorable moments.

Dave took River to the sapphire mine, exploring in the woods, and they went for a hike and horseback riding.

Each new aspect of River that he got to know fascinated him more than the last. Their conversations were never boring, the bond between them ever growing.

Dave was sure to give River plenty of time with their new friends.

It was a dream week, the only downside being that ticking clock on their time together.

With each passing hour Dave’s feelings for River grew and with those feelings came the certainty that if this ended, when their time at Rawhide Ranch was done, his heart would be decimated.

He tried not to focus on how quickly time was passing though.

Instead, he focused on his plans for the last night at the Ranch.

Dave had everything arranged with Master Derek.

He’d chosen the location, it had been taped off to give them privacy, and monitors had been chosen to be close by.

If anything went wrong, all they’d have to do was call out and, in moments, help would be there.

He’d even gotten masks made for them. His was a wolf and River’s was a bunny.

Though he’d been dreading their last day at the Ranch, now that it had arrived, he found himself anxious for nightfall. He’d helped River spend the entire week being Little. They’d barely come out of the headspace at all, but tonight they’d be Big River and Dave was ready to play their big game.

As the time for their games approached, he took River to dinner, ordering them a big, calorie-packed meal.

They’d need their strength. Then, he’d taken River back to their room and helped them change into comfy, durable, and warm clothing.

The evenings weren’t too cool yet and their activity was sure to keep River warm, but it was better to be overdressed than underprepared.

After all, one could shed layers easier than adding them.

The sun was a low, blazing-red ball sinking behind the distant mountains when he led River outside and to the trees surrounding the Ranch.

They took their time strolling toward their destination, the sky becoming a watercolor canvas of purples, pinks, oranges, and navy.

It was a gorgeous sight, and both were silent as they took in the beauty of nature.

As they entered beneath the canopy of the trees, Dave lifted River’s hand and kissed it.

“Ready for our game, baby?” Big River was quieter and more reserved than Little River, so Dave asked just to be sure.

But as he watched, River’s pupils dilated when he mentioned the evening’s activities and Dave knew River was just as excited as he was.

“So ready.” Their voice was a barely-there whisper of sound, but Dave heard it and couldn’t agree more.

They approached the taped-off area where their game was taking place and, even though they’d previously discussed everything, Dave did a quick overview of what to expect.

“Okay, you’ll get a five-minute head start.

Use the time to gain distance or hide, whichever strategy works best for you.

After five minutes, I’m coming after you and if I catch you, you’re mine to do with as I please. ”

River was dancing in place, unable to keep still.

Dave knew how they felt. He felt the urge to fidget too.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the eye mask with bunny ears on the sides, put it over River’s eyes and tied the string at the back of River’s head.

Next, he donned his own wolf mask. Then he set a five-minute timer on his phone.

“Better run, little rabbit,” he growled. “This big, bad wolf is coming for you and if I catch you, I might never let you go.” With that, he started the timer and watched River race deeper into the trees.

River

River ran through the woods, their heart racing and breathing labored. Their blood pumped so hard they could hear the whooshing in their ears. They didn’t chance looking behind them. They needed to keep moving.

Branches whipped past them as they dodged this way and that around tree trunks, making their way further into the woods. At one point they reached a taped-off boundary and paused, deciding which way to go.

“Oh, little bunny,” sang their pursuer, “where could you be?”

Their heart leapt at the words and they made a mad dash to the right, further from the sound of his voice.

“If I catch you, I might never let you go.”

The words played on a loop inside their head as they ran.

Somehow, the words didn’t seem much like a threat.

More like a promise. One River hoped he kept.

This had been the best week of River’s life.

They’d never felt more cared for and treasured.

They’d never felt more loved . Dave had never said the words but he didn’t have to. River felt it in everything he did.

Their breath sawed in and out of their lungs as they once again encountered tape boundaries.

Pausing for a moment, River decided to take a different approach.

Looking around, they found a cluster of bushes big enough for them to hide in and crouched down.

Crawling into the space took some finagling, but once they managed it, they found it to be worth the effort.

Sitting on the ground to keep themself hidden by the leaves, they caught their breath and watched as the wolf prowled by.

He looked this way and that as if he expected them to pop out any moment, but he never spotted them in their hiding place.

They held their breath as he went until finally he was out of sight.

They crawled out of their hiding place, and, deciding that going back the way the wolf came from was the best course of action, they sprinted off in that direction.

They hadn’t even gotten three feet when a hand snaked around their waist and a squeak left their lips. How had he snuck up on them like that?

“Gotcha, little bunny,” he whispered in their ear. “Now, what should I do with you? Hmmm?”

Shivers raced down River’s spine and their core tingled at the promise in his tone.

“Don’t count your eggs before they hatch.

” The words were heavy with arousal. River dropped, going limp in Dave’s arms and causing him to lose his hold on them.

Before he could recover, River was up and sprinting into the trees.

They didn’t expect to get far, and they were right, but they couldn’t make it too easy.

Dave caught them again in record time, but this time he was prepared and held them in a more secure hold as he nipped at the spot where their neck met their shoulder. “Think you can get away from me that easily?”

His dark tone shot through River like an arrow, hitting a bullseye, and igniting River’s blood. Dave turned River in his arms and backed them against a tree trunk.

“Hmmmm, I think this little rabbit is going to get… eaten.”

Dave’s lips crashed into River’s and they didn’t even try to resist. They were too worked up.

They met his kiss with just as much ferocity, nipping his lips and dueling his tongue with their own.

When Dave grabbed a fistful of River’s hair and pulled their head back, baring their throat, River whimpered.

Not in fear, but with pure need. If they didn’t get Dave inside them soon they might literally combust.

Dave kissed, nipped, and sucked at their neck, surely leaving marks behind. Brands of his ownership. River couldn’t find it in them to be even slightly upset about that. They wanted to wear his marks.

Dave held their wrists secured behind them in one hand, while he had their hair gripped in his other fist. Yet River found they were held captive even more strongly by the feel of Dave's lips pressing on theirs, and Dave's hips pressing against their own.

River arched their back, trying to get closer, trying to increase their contact with him in any way they could.

“Fuck, River,” he mumbled into their neck, “you’re mine now. All mine .”

The hand in their hair loosened and he ran it down their back, around their hip, and under their top. His touch on their skin left a trail of fire and they lifted one leg and wrapped it around his hip, pulling him closer in the only way they could.

The move pressed them more firmly into Dave’s erection and they took full advantage, rubbing themself against him and grinding into him. Dave’s groan of pleasure vibrated against their skin as he released their wrists and held their thigh, helping them get impossibly closer.

“Too many clothes,” River panted, desperately.

Dave needed no more encouragement. He backed up just enough to rid River of their shirt and hoodie, groaning at the sight of their naked chest. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.

” Dropping to his knees, Dave went to work on the button of their jeans, and the laces of their hiking boots.

“You led me on a merry chase, baby, and now I’m fucking starving . ”