Page 86 of Something Tangled Something True (Rosa Ranch #1)
brEEDING & FEEDING
THREE MONTHS LATER
“I know you said you’ve never ridden a horse, but look at you now! You’re a natural,” Ryder tells Keeva, helping her dismount Penny.
She lands on her feet, dust kicking up around her boots.
She unclips her helmet, and long tendrils of deep red frame her face.
“Thanks, Ryder,” she says with a smile. Her eyes grow wide when she sees me, hurrying to my side and throwing her arms out for a hug.
I pull her close to me, rocking side to side a bit as we laugh into the embrace.
“When did you get back?” she asks, breaking away from me.
“You act as if I’ve been gone for a month.
” I chuckle. “It’s been three days, and you saw me last week!
” Keeva and I met at one of my dance lessons, and after watching her flail her body unnaturally across the dance floor, I knew I had to help.
She was a bit embarrassed at first, having grown up with a Latina stepmom, but she’s just an all-around uncoordinated person, and living with dysautonomia doesn’t help.
Once Ryder got his equine therapy lessons set up with a licensed animal therapist, he was ready for anyone willing to give it a shot.
Keeva was one of many, utilizing riding lessons to strengthen her muscles and lessen the pooling of fluid in her legs that leads to her losing consciousness.
She swears it’s been life-changing for her already, and she has improved tremendously in our weekly dance classes.
“I know, but I missed you! Mayte invited me over to play Uno and Domino with her, keep her company. I got freaking annihilated, Lola! You should’ve warned me she plays so dirty!”
My shoulders shake with laughter, and my heart feels full knowing Mayte has more than just me to spend time with, though she might be in desperate need of some alone time come next week, when her cousin moves in. “She is the absolute worst,” I agree.
Ryder sidles up to us after he’s said his goodbyes to everyone. He winds an arm around my waist, tugging me into his side and pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “You about ready to get out of here?” he asks. “I have a little surprise planned for you.” He winks, and my insides melt, cheeks flushing.
Keeva glances between us, rolling her lips into her mouth to hide her grin. “ Well , thank you for a wonderful lesson, Ryder. I’ll just be going now,” she says, hurrying away and leaving my husband and me alone.
I twist in his arms, planting my hands on his chest. Glittering blue eyes meet mine, and those soft, kissable lips call to me.
I press onto my tiptoes, hovering my lips just over his. “Does this surprise involve your dick in my mouth?”
A growl rips from his throat, and in an instant, his lips meet mine, taking over all my senses.
His mouth takes my breath away as he nips at my bottom lip.
I open for him, our tongues tangling and heat pooling low in my belly.
Sweet mint floods my mouth, his hands skimming over my waist down to my ass.
He clutches me tightly against him, his thick length already ready for me, pressing against my belly.
I have to tear my mouth away from his before I climb him like a tree, right here in the open, with all the squirrels watching. He gives my ass a firm squeeze before turning me around and swatting my bottom. “Come on, Lols. Let’s go see that surprise.”
I pull my keys out, climbing into the driver’s side of the massive, hot-pink GMC Sierra I bought myself two weeks ago.
Being able to afford it on my own from the money I’ve made from the studio feels so freeing—I’ll never have to rely on anyone else ever again.
Ryder teaching me how to drive has been the icing on the cake, and the sprinkles are the hot-and-heavy make-out sessions after a job well done on my part.
Which is apparently pretty easy to do, seeing as a “good job” to Ryder means not running us into a tree.
He slams the door behind him, buckling himself in and checking that I am too before I pull out onto the dirt road, kicking up plumes of dust. “Where should I be driving?”
“To the watering hole,” he murmurs, placing his hand on my thigh and trailing his pinky indecently high. The tip of his finger smooths over the seam of my denim shorts, and he can probably feel my wetness through the thick fabric.
“If you want to make it there, you should keep your hands to yourself,” I grit out as heat threatens to swallow me whole.
He releases a low rumbling chuckle, but his palm only climbs higher. My thighs part for him, and I accidentally press down on the brake, rocking us forward. “Ry! I’m seriou—” The word breaks off on a moan, and my eyes are rolling. “Is this how men feel about road head?”
More laughter fills the suffocatingly tight space between us, his entire hand cupping me through my shorts.
I tentatively press on the gas, focusing on the road ahead, and the trees starting to turn to beautiful burnt shades of red and orange.
“I’m not sure, Lols. I’ve never experienced it before, but I’d be willing to if you are.” He grins at me mischievously, and I catch it from my periphery.
“Maybe later, but only if you don’t get us killed because you can’t keep your hands to yourself!”
“Okay, okay,” he says, removing his hand and putting both up in surrender.
A few minutes later, we’re at the furthest edge of the property, parked and walking hand in hand to the watering hole through the thick trees.
“You know I’ve seen this place before, right?” I tease. “In fact, I’ve become well acquainted with it over the last few months.” I waggle my brows at him suggestively, and he snorts a laugh, bringing my knuckles to his lips.
“Hold your horses. You’ll find out in just a minute.”
We continue walking in silence, nothing but the setting sun glinting through the treetops to keep us from tripping over the roots running along the ground. When we break through the brush, the moon is on our left, the sun setting on the horizon, creating beautiful rainbows over the smooth water.
“Do you trust me, darlin’?”
I answer without hesitation. “Implicitly.”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and he places his hands on my hips. “Then close your eyes,” he instructs.
I do as I’m told, listening closely for any signs of what the surprise might be.
Crickets sing in the distance, and Ryder’s warm scent wraps around me in whispers of vanilla and bourbon.
He hoists me up, and my legs wrap around his waist instinctively, my arms winding around his neck as he carries me over crunching leaves and closer to the water slowly running over smooth rocks.
A cool breeze whips past us, my hair flying around my face, but my eyes remain closed.
“For this next part, it’s probably better if you open your eyes.” I blink rapidly to clear my vision as he sets me on unsteady feet. He pushes my hair out of my face, and his surprise comes into view.
I stare at the structure in awe, mouth gaping as I crane my neck back to take in every detail.
A set of steps hangs from the platform base, leading up to a simple rectangular treehouse built into the side of the tall oak.
The canopy of leaves hovers over top, casting a large shadow.
“Go on up. I’ll give you a boost.” He steps to the side, giving me space to grip the smooth wooden planks.
He’s installed silicone grippers to the tops of each rung to make it easier for me to hold onto, I’m sure.
His fingers dig into my hips, supporting my weight as I climb to the top.
I wait for him to join me, hanging on to the sturdy railing at the edge of the tiny, uncovered porch. He tugs me inside, ducking his head as we enter through the small doorway. Everything was built to accommodate my full height, but at six-foot-four, Ryder looks like a giant here.
“What is all this?” I ask, my voice small as I take in the fluffy white carpet, full-size mattress, and all of the white, red, pink, and purple decorations littering the small room.
He’s got electricity running somehow, a small light flush against the ceiling illuminating the space, and a mini fridge so tiny it could probably only hold two or three cans of pop.
“Remember when we went for your appointment to remove the implant last month, and you said you’d need a place to hide away and relax when we have kids if ours turn out to be anything like Isabela?” he asks with a wide grin.
“Yes…”
He pulls me into his body, resting his forehead against mine.
“Well, here it is. Your place to escape,” he whispers, and my chest heaves, my vision going hazy behind a wall of tears.
Rough, calloused hands glide up my sides, over my breasts, causing my nipples to pebble and goosebumps to erupt along my neck as he raises his palms to cup my cheeks.
“How do you keep getting better each day?” I ask, my words sounding water-logged.
“I learn from the best,” he answers pointedly. “Now”—he lowers his mouth to hover over the shell of my ear—“is my gorgeous wife ready for me to breed her pretty pussy?”
White-hot heat flashes through me, and I let out a whimper, immediately sinking to my knees in the cramped space.
His eyes grow wide before narrowing on me.
He pushes a hand through my hair, grabbing hold of my roots as I make quick work of his belt, tugging his jeans and briefs down his thick thighs, the tattoo he got just for me on full display now.