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She pulls back a touch, an inquisitive look on her gorgeous face. “I can ride a cowboy; that’s good enough.”

The bruising on her cheek is starting to turn purple, and inside, I’m murderous. I’d kill him again for touching my woman. My wife.

“And the natural next step is to then learn to ride a horse, once you’ve mastered the cowboy.”

She asked me before, and I never actually took her. Instead I made it all about sex. Something else I need to work on: showing her with real things how I feel.

She smiles, and the world stops turning. I’m fucking whipped for this woman, and I don’t care. I want to share something special with her, so I say, “See, when I feel like the world is closing in on me, the first thing I do is ride. It’s the best way to clear your head, to reset. To realize the world carries on, no matter how shit it may be at that moment. I wanna show you the beauty here, G. I want to give you a slice of freedom.”

My hands run down her sides, and she winces. Only a tiny bit, enough for me to pause. “How bad do you hurt, G? Don’t shrug it off. I need the truth. I ain’t putting you on a horse if you’re in agony.”

She rolls her eyes. I’ll let this one slide today.

“It’s a little bit of bruising; I’m good. I’ve had worse; I can still ride a horse, Colt.” She stops and places her hand on my cheek.

“Do you want to hear me beg? I will. I need to do something to stop my brain exploding in my skull.” The desperation is in her voice.

I chuckle. “Save the begging for my cock later.”

“Oh, I can do that.”

Dipping my head in, I claim her lips softly. Within a second, her fingers are in my hair, and she’s pulling me closer, her tongue slipping in my mouth. Her moans vibrating against me.

“Can you promise me something, Colt?”

“Anything,” I gruff out.

“That you won’t stop trying with me. I’m aware that I’m fucked up.” She taps her temple. “I don’t know how to do this. But I want to. I truly do. I kinda like you, cowboy.”

I grin. “Kinda?”

She nods, biting her lip. “Kinda a lot.”

“I promise, viper.”

Truest promise I’ve ever said.

Her eyes glass over, and I pull her closer, her face resting on my throat. “But I don’t have to try, G. Whatever this is between us, it’s not something I have to force. Wanting you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

I rest my head on top of hers, feeling the way her body melts against mine. And we sit here, on my kitchen floor with utter destruction and cookie fixings around us, in silence, cuddling. And that is one of the best moments of my life.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

Gianna

I ended up falling asleep on Colten's chest for half an hour before he carried me up to bed. And now we’re tangled up in the sheets, his fingers running through my hair as I listen to the steady beat of his heart against my ear.

“You’re awake,” he murmurs. He sounds like he had some sleep himself.

“Yeah. How long was I out?”

I feel like I jumped in front of a bus; the deep ache in my ribs makes me flinch as I reach my arm over his abs.

“G, it’s eight a.m.”

I blink. “Of the next day?”

He chuckles, gently running his fingers along my thigh. “Yes. Of the next day.”