Page 31

“I didn’t do anything except holler.”

“You helped me contain the fire: without that, the whole place would’ve been up in flames. The fire department even said so.”

I kiss her nose, cupping her pretty face. “What’s wrong?”

“He won’t stop,” she whispers. “Our home is under threat, and we just have to wait like sitting ducks for the next move.”

I shake my head. “Not if Diamond has anything to do with it. You know she’ll be scheming to find a way in. We can count on Drifter. He knows his head is on the line if he doesn’t find out what’s goin’ on inside.”

“It’s ridiculous that we have to live like this,” she goes on. And I agree completely. “Looking over our shoulders. We could’ve died in our bed, Dust.”

“I know that. And trust me, he’s gonna pay for what he did. But that’s what they want. They’re tryin’ to wear us down so we’ll give in. That’s not gonna happen.”

My girl. I don’t like her being upset, but we all have plenty to be mad about. We moved the horses to the far side of the barn—lucky for us, it’s huge—and that’s where they’ll stay until we rebuild. Leroy, Nash, Diamond’s dad, Gus, plus Deputy Sheriff Duncan, and a handful of locals are all pitching in. It takes a village, after all.

“You’re right.” She sighs. “The most important thing is us sticking together.”

“You don’t have to be brave all the time,” I tell her. “Not for me, or for anyone⁠—”

“I know that.” She reaches onto her tiptoes to kiss me. “And I love you for it, but I’m fine. I think this whole situation has made me a stronger person. I want to fight. I don’t want to let Lanzetti win.”

“He won’t.” I kiss her back. “Nobody is gonna take what we have, that I promise.”

She swings her arms around my neck. Things with Tilly have been better than ever, despite all this shit going on. I’m lucky I still have my cabin, but I can’t put into words how fucking angry I am about what happened to us. She’s right; we could’ve been killed.

“Diamond said Wrath has offered to put a hit out on their prez,” Tilly says, pulling back. “I’m not one for violence, but they didn’t exactly care when the barn went up in flames.”

“Agreed. Diamond knows the only way to fight fire is with fire. I wouldn’t like to be any of the Crows with the connections the Stilettos have.”

“I love it when you talk dirty.” She smiles slyly. “Let’s call it a day. I’d like to enjoy my man tonight without any interruptions.”

“Your man, huh?”

“Yup.”

We haven’t kept it a secret. When everyone realized we’re a thing now, nobody batted an eyelid. Well, except maybe Onyx, but we’d expect that from her.

I raise a brow. “What did you have in mind?”

She taps her nose, backing away from me. “I guess you’ll have to bring that pretty mouth with you and find out.”

She takes off, and I grin, loving the chase.

“Lucky I love you!” I call after her. “I’ll give you a three-second start.”

This woman, she’s it for me, and I don’t care who fucking knows it.

Jade

I groan as Dusty puts his money where his mouth is. I’m on my back, naked, and his head is between my legs. He works his tongue over my clit, swirling as I buck off the bed, but this man doesn’t back down. Eating my pussy is his forte, and I’m loving every second of it.

I grip the sheets in my fists as he keeps me right on the edge. We may have only just proclaimed our love for one another, but this feeling I have deep in my chest? I know that’s real.

Dustin is my hero. The one I look up to. The man who was there for me when I was at my lowest.

He nursed me until I was healthy again, taught me how to ride—something I’d done previously, but was nervous about—and brought me back to myself. I’ll never be able to thank him enough for his friendship, and now I get his love, too. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

“Right there,” I cry “Oh, Dusty… That feels so good, I can’t⁠—”