Page 31 of Wrangled and Tangled (Raven Peak Ranch #1)
T alking about my parents, even though I’ve found healing, feels right with Spencer. He’s looking at me like he’s actually listening, absorbing everything I have to say. His eyes are inviting and soft. It makes me want to open up and tell him everything.
“Dad wanted things for me that I didn’t want, and we fought about it. But he loved me, and I loved him.”
A lone tear escapes my eyes, and Spencer leans over. My breath catches in my throat, thinking he might kiss me. The rough pad of his thumb catches the tear and wipes it away, and that simple act of kindness threatens to send me to my knees.
I’ve never felt the rush of blood through my body like this, the way my stomach flips, and how the hair on my body stands. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced, a high greater than the rodeo, and all I want right now is to feel it again.
He leans back against the couch, eyes still on mine.
“What about your parents?” I ask, noticing how he calls Maxine Mawmaw .
He sighs, looks toward Briar’s room then back to me. “They died a few years ago in a car accident, right before Lucy graduated from college with her master's degree in food science. They were drivin’ down to surprise her. It was a freak accident on the highway.”
My heart pinches in my chest. I shouldn’t have asked. His eyes are glassy, but he doesn’t cry.
“I’m sorry,” I start, “that had to have been hard.”
“It was hard, especially explainin’ it to Briar,” he admits, and I can almost see the memories replaying in his head. “But our family’s been through a lot, and we’ve gotten through a lot. I can’t tell you how important they are to me.”
“I think anyone can see it,” I agree. Watching them all interact with each other, it’s clear how much love they share.
He smiles, rubbing his chest with his tattooed arm. Moving to speak, he looks up and says, “It’s late, and we’ve got a lot of drivin’ to do tomorrow.”
Shaking off the abrupt change in his tone, I nod.
“I’ll stay on the couch,” Spencer says, standing and heading to a closet I’d not noticed before. Pulling a few blankets out, along with a pillow, he tosses them to the couch, and I blink up at him.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” I begin, standing up to look him in the eye. “I thought–”
He’s shaking his head with a small smile, “It’s a lot, I’ll admit, but you didn’t ask anything I wasn’t willin’ to tell you.”
“Then why do I get the feelin’ you’re pullin’ back?” I whisper. Apprehension and worry travel through my system.
“Go easy on me, Cowboy,” his shoulders roll in, and his gaze hits the floor. “I really want to try, but it’s going to be slow.”
Crouching down so I can catch his gaze, I grip his hands in mine. “Slow and easy, Daddy.”
His smile spreads wider, and he chuckles, “Go to bed.”
I don’t want to argue with him or push him any further, so I do as he asks and head to his bedroom.
Stripping down to my boxer briefs and slipping into his bed, I stare at the ceiling, attempting to close my eyes.
I lay there for what feels like ages, and I can’t get settled.
Continuing to toss and turn, snuggling into his sheets, which are starting to lose his smell, I huff.
The clock on his nightstand says it’s only been thirty or so minutes, but I still can’t sleep. My eyes won’t stay shut, and all I can think about is the way Spencer held me in the bed of his truck.
Giving up on sleep, I sit up on the edge of the bed, throwing my legs over the side. Looking back at the empty bed, my mind won’t turn off with thoughts and wants of being embraced in Spencer’s arms.
A floorboard outside of the door creaks, and I stand, crossing the space and throwing the door open.
Spencer’s there, eyes trained on mine with his hands buried in his hair.
“Fuck it,” he mutters under his breath as his hands land on my cheeks, cupping my jaw like I’m something breakable as his lips land on mine.
They’re smooth and sure, leading the kiss in bold moves. His fingers tighten, and he rumbles deep in his chest. A groan that matches my own fervor. His tongue slips through my lips, and I surrender to him, letting him take the kiss as far as he wants.
By the time I’m breathless and floating on cloud nine, he pulls away, resting his forehead on mine.
“What are you doin’ to me?” He whispers against my lips, nipping at the bottom one and pulling away. I’m dizzy, absolutely incoherent with want. His beard’s wiry, scratching against mine as his lips move over mine. He swipes his tongue across my lips and chuckles.
“Stay,” I whisper against his lips, “tell me that wasn’t the last time.”
Waking up engulfed in Spencer’s warm, soft body, I smile ear to ear. He’s snoring, breath puffing against the top of my head. Our half-naked bodies are smashed together, sheets tangled between our legs.
I don’t want to move and risk waking him. His heart beats in my ear, and I nestle back in, closing my eyes and basking in the lazy comfort I’ve been craving since all of this Levi stuff started.
Movement outside the door reaches my ears, and I worry Briar might open it.
I know Spencer said he wants to take things slow, and Briar’s thoughts and feelings were a big part of that, so I doubt he’d appreciate his daughter finding us tangled in his bed together before he has the chance to tell her about us.
Reaching down, I try pulling the covers up, but they’re stuck between our legs. The movement makes Spencer stretch and pull me in closer. My chest burst with elation, and I want to scream from the rooftops that he’s mine .
His eyes pop open, and he looks around, settling on me snuggled against his chest.
“Good morning,” I smile, and he jerks a bit, arms loosening around me.
After a few breaths, he settles back into the mattress and rubs his eyes. Noise in the kitchen captures his attention, and he sighs. “What am I going to tell Briar?”
With a laugh, I kiss his cheek and roll out of the bed. I know he needs to get to the garage, and I also know Briar's probably coming out of her skin with excitement to see her cousin.
“We’ve got to tell her at some point,” I chuckle, getting dressed.
He groans and sits up, looking over me with a sleepy smile. “We do.”