Page 24 of Ropers Can’t Tie Knots (Kissing Ridge Cowboys #3)
fifteen
Gabe
T he howling wind outside draws me from my restful sleep.
The bone-tired exhaustion that hit me like a tonne of bricks after Hunter rocked my world slowly slides away, and I recount the happenings of last night.
His strong arm rests across my chest, and I let my fingers trail across his skin.
I’m snuggled up to the man as the little spoon and I wiggle my ass back into him, perfectly content in this cocoon of post-sex bliss.
The bedroom still carries the scent of our recent passion, and his arm, heavy around my body, is the only thing that makes me believe I’m actually sharing Hunter’s bed with him.
Last night was scary with Mack, but what happened in this room, hell, even in the barn, breathes new hope into this turning out how I want.
His arm tightens around my chest, and sleepy words leave his lips in the stillness of the dark room.
“Counsellor…do you need something?”
I didn’t before, but now that his warm breath caresses my skin and his arm flexes across my chest, I want him again with a longing that feels displaced since he’s right next to me.
“Can you fuck me like this?” My voice sounds hoarse and unused. “Just…slow? ”
His hand moves under the blankets to my ass with a soft caress. Hunter’s hands are capable of great strength, but when he puts them on me, there’s nothing but a gentleness that makes my heart ache. “You’re not sore?” The blankets rustle in the darkness. “I’m getting hard just thinking about it.”
Hunter’s voice is rough with sleep, but his fingers at my entrance are tender as he tests my request.
“I’m okay,” I whisper. The warmth of his body twists away from me briefly. The click of the lube cap sounds, and I moan with anticipation.
Neither of us says anything else. Like we’ve practiced this under-the-covers dance for years, he slicks himself and my ass and positions himself with a gentle kiss to the back of my neck.
I push back into him, ignoring the discomfort of going too fast, and take him all the way.
Harsh breaths sound in my ear as he pulls me into his chest again.
Hunter kisses my shoulder as we do this wordlessly in the dark.
He’s remarkably tender. So much so that I need to swallow the emotions building in my chest. This is what I’ve wanted from him.
This isn’t just sex on the living room floor that leaves me craving his arms around me during the night.
He’s careful and holding me like I’m the most precious piece of treasure in the universe.
Waking up in his arms, I felt cherished and now I feel…
fuck, like maybe we could make his thing work.
Hunter slides his hand up my throat and grips my chin.
“Gabe…” his hot breath on my ear sends a shiver through my body.
“You bring me to the edge so fucking fast, baby. Jerk yourself to get there.” He twists my neck and contorts his upper half to kiss me, and I’m gone.
Floating on a cloud of the most incredible bliss .
I gasp into his mouth as I spill over my hand, and Hunter groans into my neck as he fills me for the second time tonight.
“You sure know how to wake a guy up,” Hunter pants before dropping a kiss to my shoulder.
“It can’t be morning yet,” I groan.
“Not for you, but it is for me. I need to deal with the horses and check on Mack before meeting the lawyer this morning.”
My stomach drops at the mention of the lawyer.
A reminder that this arrangement still has an end date, despite my hope for it to be real.
“Is there something wrong? Do you need me there?” The silence stretches too long for my liking, and I ease away from him under the covers.
“It’s not my business to ask. Sorry. I’ll get cleaned up and try to sleep a little longer before work. ”
“Gabe, it’s not —”
“It’s okay, Hunter. I trust you to tell me if there’s anything I need to know.”
I don’t let him answer and head to the bathroom. If he doesn’t tell me, then I won’t know. If I don’t know, it won’t break my heart either, and I can continue living with the man I’m one hundred percent in love with.
What’s a bit of denial alongside all the pretending?
“Hey, beautiful girl.”
It’s been several weeks since Mack’s scare with colic, but I still can’t bring myself to stop checking on her every night.
With the winter weather closing in far too quickly, Hunter closed the gates, and the horses now have a much smaller pasture to roam during the day.
They stay closer to shelter, and I like it because it’s faster to see them, and I can have my visits in the barn and out of the biting cold winds.
There’s one thing about Alberta I despise, and it’s the icy winds that just show up to piss you off when you forget a hat.
Mack trots towards me. At least I think that’s what you call it, and I reach out to pet her.
It’s funny how when I got here, I didn’t think I could do the whole animal thing.
Lewis hibernates, and I almost cried when Hunter told me he’s gone until the spring…
if he survives. He rushed on to assure me that constantly feeding him vegetables helped him prepare, so he was confident Lewis would be back.
I had to tell him to warn a guy next time before he dumps that kind of information. I never got to give Lewis that one last carrot, and if I lose that chance, it might break my heart.
Now I’m talking to horses daily and mentally preparing myself that this might not be my life forever, as much as I want it to be.
“If you see your dad, tell him…Well, I don’t know.” Mack headbutts me, searching for more carrots. “But be good for him.”
Hunter dropped the info that he was meeting with his lawyer the night I felt like our relationship shifted, and I never gave him a chance to explain. Despite feeling like we were closer, I couldn’t bear hearing anything negative. I ignored the information, and neither of us has brought it up since.
But it’s festering, and I need to be an adult and face the music .
With a final pat to my favourite horse, I pull my coat tight around me and head to my car.
Snow arrived by Halloween, and with it, the cold Alberta winds I despise.
I’ve always hated winter. It’s hard for me to shake a chill once it sets in, and I spend the entire season wrapped in sweaters and scarves, feeling like a coloured marshmallow with legs.
My car doesn’t like the country roads to the ranch either. Winter has only just begun, and I’ve had to find the ruts until the plows finally showed up more than once. I’ve already called Hunter once when I got stuck at the end of the driveway, too.
He just kissed me on the cheek, got his tractor, and pulled me out before cleaning the end of the driveway in a few quick passes. Until then, I didn’t know I liked a man who knew how to operate heavy equipment so expertly. Not that I need to be rescued, but it was nice to watch all the same.
No snow at the end of the driveway to get stuck in this time as I make my way to the Thirsty Cow for a long overdue meet up with Riley. Just me stuck in my head about why Hunter hasn’t talked about the lawyer, and I need a best friend rant.
After parking and cursing the bitter wind because it’s what I do, I stomp into the Thirsty Cow, and my slightly sour mood disappears when the bubbly Diamond greets me.
“Mr. Handsome!” he shouts, and I can’t help the smile that forms. “You’ve come back!” He looks behind me with a raised eyebrow. “No hunky husband today?”
“No, just me. Sorry to disappoint.”
He clicks his tongue. “Not a disappointment at all. One tall, dark, and handsome is better than none.” He points to the corner. “Riley is who you’re meeting, I presume? ”
“You presume right. Could you —”
“Bring you an Americano with hazelnut and a slice of apple crumble?”
Diamond smiles because he knows my weakness is apple anything and it sounds perfect.
“Oh, man…you have crumble today?”
“Sure do, sugar. Go sit and I’ll get that to you in a jiff.”
Riley stands when I reach him in the cozy corner at the back, and we share a long hug. Summer was busy for us both, and we didn’t get together as much as I hoped.
“Still not liking cold weather, I see.” Riley laughs as he returns to his seat, and I remove a few layers.
“It’s the fucking worst. And the dryness! Static and dry skin.” I flop onto the couch next to him. “Sometimes I wonder why I live in Canada. Then I remember I don’t like poisonous animals, and I feel better about it.”
Seriously. I’d rather deal with dry skin and a wardrobe of sweaters than worry about the spider in my bathroom trying to kill me.
“Do you have plans for Christmas?” Riley asks.
“Shit. I haven’t thought about it much. What are you doing?”
Riley and I have spent many holidays together, often with his Aunt Agnes. We missed a few years when I worked, but since my sisters died, Christmas was just another day. I like the food and, of course, I loved giving gifts to Riley and Agnes, but other than that, it was never top of mind.
Riley bites at his lip, and I pat his knee.
“Say it, Rye. I get it if you and Jackson want to be on your own. ”
“Are you sure, Gabe? I hate not being with you over the holidays.”
“I’m an adult. Maybe I’ll see what Agnes is up to.”
“Yeah… she’s got plans, too. Me and Jackson are going to his parents’ in Arizona this year.
The dogs are coming, too, and Aunt Agnes has a ‘ friend .’” He uses air quotes and rolls his eyes.
“She’s spending Christmas Day with this friend.
They met at the retirement home, and there’s some kind of party going on. ”
I laugh, thinking of the party at the old folks’ home, but happy Agnes has found someone to fill that void for her.
“I’ll be okay, Riley. Honestly.”
“Hunter doesn’t have family either…”
I meet Riley’s gaze and just as I’m about to open my mouth, Diamond shows up with my coffee and apple crumble and perches on the arm of the couch.