Page 28 of Ropers Can’t Tie Knots (Kissing Ridge Cowboys #3)

seventeen

Gabe

F or two full days, Hunter worked around the clock clearing snow.

First, he dug us out, and then the barn.

Then he showed me how to feed the horses and make sure their water doesn’t freeze and said he’d be back late.

Stupidly, I let him go alone, not realizing he was visiting farms in the area with older couples who might need help after the snow.

If I’d known that, I would have gone with him to help, too.

Our road is long and rural. With storms like these, Hunter said, it takes several days sometimes for plows to get this far. After pulling out my car and cleaning the driveway, he made his first non-negotiable rule as a husband.

“You’re getting something bigger, with 4x4 capabilities to drive in the winter, Gabe. I don’t feel comfortable with you driving this. I know you love your car, but I’m going to have an ulcer if I know you’re out in the snow driving this. This probably sounds bossy, but —”

“Okay. I’ll look for something to take in the winter.”

His mouth drops. “Just like that? You’re going to get a new car because I said so? ”

Chuckling, I throw my feet onto his lap as he sets his crossword aside. “No, not because you said so. Because I don’t want you to always worry about me. If that’s what it takes to save you from an ulcer, then I’ll do it.”

Clearly not used to this kind of discussion, he nods and picks up his crossword book again. I suppress my smile and return to my book, the crackle of the fire in the background something I’ve grown to love in this far too early cold snap.

“Hunter?”

“Hmm?”

“Relationships work when you communicate. I’m not offended and you’re not being an ass. I love you, and if you worry, I’ll help you worry less.”

He squeezes my foot, and I return to my book. “What if I worry you’ll never suck me off like you did the other morning again? Will you fix that right away, too?”

This time, when I put my book down, Hunter’s eyes sparkle with laughter and my heart skips. As a man who always wears a serious mask, seeing him with a playful smile like this will always have me count my blessings. “I’ll take it into consideration and assure you that won’t be the last time.”

“So not a man of immediate action, then. Got it.”

A few beats pass and he moves my foot to his crotch, so it touches his semi-hard cock. “Do you need something, doll?”

He clears his throat and hides a smile as I press my foot into his bulge.

“Yeah, actually. I need an eleven-letter word that refers to buttocks. Starts with a C. ”

“Are you being serious, or is this your way of getting me on my knees?”

“Depends if it’s working, I guess.”

I snort-laugh and sit up, motioning for him to show me the clue. After a moment, the word comes to me.

“Try callipygian. It’s a Greek word. Basically, it means nice ass.”

I spell it out, and Hunter raises an eyebrow. “Are you bullshitting right now? How do you know that?”

Moving my foot along his dick, I chuckle. “I dated a guy who was super into art and Greek mythology. It was a word he always used to say, and I’ve never forgotten it.”

Hunter sets his crossword aside, and his eyes darken. “Just how did this guy use it?”

“Are you jealous because someone told me I was a very callipygian guy?” My smile is full-blown as he moves my feet and kneels over me on the couch. Unzipping his pants, his cock springs free before his hands move to my sweatpants.

“I’m not jealous. I’m…territorial.”

He manhandles me, but I let him, and he shoves my pants down enough to take both our lengths together in his hand. “Callipygian,” he mutters as I slide my hands into the back of his pants to squeeze his ass.

“ Mhm …do you have a better word?” I pant.

Hunter spits in his palm before resuming his strokes. “Husband,” he groans and bends to smash his lips to mine. I arch into his hand and let him consume me in whatever way he wants. Whatever words or actions he needs, because I’m the lucky one here .

He strokes us together, hard and frantic. Like he’s afraid that if it’s not over quickly, I might disappear.

“I like that word better, too. Only you can call me that, doll,” I whisper against his lips, and he shatters. The warmth of his release coats my cock, and I follow him over.

He buries his face in my neck. “Sorry. I don’t know where the caveman thing came from, but I never thought about you being with someone else before and it…Well, I didn’t like thinking of you with another person.”

Hunter sits back, and with a shrug, he whips off his shirt and wipes us up with it. He doesn’t make eye contact even when he cleans me off and tucks me back in. There’s a shake to his hands that causes me to sit up and grab his face, forcing him to look at me.

“Hunter…” It takes a moment, but he finally meets my gaze. “I don’t want anyone else. You’re stuck with me.”

He puffs a shaky breath, and I wait him out. How did he go from claiming me one minute to being so hesitant the next? He’s never been anything less than straightforward, and while it’s stung a few times with his bluntness, he’s never been so conflicted about choosing words.

“I know this is stupid…”

“No, it’s not. You can say it, doll.”

That gets him raising his eyes, and my lips lift in a small smile.

“I went to therapy for a while when I was younger. I kept it a secret. My grandfather would’ve called me weak and made me feel even worse, so I just went on my own twice a month.

” He swallows hard. “It was two hours each way, so when I had days off, I’d go.

The woman told me…she told me I had attachment avoidance, and it was most likely caused by my childhood.

I’ve worked at being better for years. Jackson has been…

he’s my best friend for a reason, you know? ”

“He’s a great man and friend.” My thumb strokes his chin, and Hunter lets his eyes close.

“You’re the first man I’ve allowed myself to get attached to like this.

To love again since…since Alec, and I just…

” He huffs, frustrated, but he’s so achingly vulnerable I want to wrap him in bubble wrap and never let him leave my side.

I wish he didn’t have to feel like this his whole life.

So many people have missed an opportunity to get to know him, and that hurts me.

“I heard you talk about someone else, and it just made me scared that I’d lose you like everyone else I’ve ever cared about. ”

His voice trails off, and for a moment, I can’t find words that are adequate.

Do I know what that feels like? Absolutely, I do.

But I never carried the same fear Hunter does.

If I loved and lost, by death or break up or whatever, I grieved it and moved on until I could hide in my job.

I made excuses to not look for love, not out of fear of losing, but because I blamed myself for losing them all.

If I’d have listened or lived closer, I would’ve seen the signs that my sister didn’t want to stay on this earth.

If I’d have been a better son, maybe my dad wouldn’t have left, and I don’t know what I did to end the few serious relationships I had.

I’d likely put my job first too many times, but I was the common denominator in all the losses.

Perhaps not forming more bonds would save us all from hurt. So I just kept to myself.

Until I met Hunter.

“Thank you for telling me. I’m honoured you trust me, Hunter.

I know I can’t predict the future entirely and say I’ll never leave you, but while my heart beats, just know it beats only for you.

Even after I’m gone, if you remain, it will always be yours.

” Bringing my forehead to his, I let my hands cradle his face.

“I said it before, and I will again, forever. That’s how long you have me, doll. ”

His arms wrap around me, and we hold each other with the fire still crackling and our hearts laid bare for one another. An unspoken promise that it’s more than I love you, but an oath to cherish and protect these fragile emotions we keep buried from the world.

“I’ll never stop falling for you, Gabe,” he whispers before brushing his lips on my temple.

“I’ll always be here to catch you, doll.”

“Mr. Handsome!” Diamond greets when we enter the Thirsty Cow, and his smile grows when he notices Hunter behind me. “Oh, it’s tall, dark, and hunky.” Diamond fans his face. “Both of you, together again. Welcome.”

“Did you have any problems getting home the other night?”

Diamond shakes his head with a sunny smile. “My legs hurt from walking through the snow, but I made it home just fine.”

“You didn’t offer him a ride?” Hunter shoots me a glare.

“I did, and he declined because he said he lived close. ”

Hunter grunts, an unimpressed noise, and I slap at his chest. We share a silent conversation over it that he seems not to want to drop. Diamond slaps the counter for our attention. “If you two keep arguing over me, I might think you care,” Diamond jokes, but his cheeks flush.

“We care. In fact…” I look towards Hunter, and he nods. “You’re on our guest list for the wedding. Not to cater it, but to be there as a friend if you can make it.”

“I thought you were already married?” Diamond looks between us as another group sends a blast of cold air into the building behind us.

“We are. It’s complicated, but…” I reach out and squeeze Diamond’s hand. “You’re a friend and we want you there.”

“Consider me absolutely honoured, sugar.” His voice hitches, and he launches himself into me for a hug before quickly doing the same with Hunter. “I’ll get your usuals to you, and if you’re celebrating, I’ll bring a treat. Actually, I’ll just bring a treat, anyway.”

He bustles off, and Hunter laughs softly. “I like him. He’s a good guy.”

“He definitely is.”

We head to the back corner where Jackson and Riley have already rearranged some seating for everyone we asked to join us later. Riley pops off the sofa as soon as Jackson nods to signal our arrival.