Page 50 of Live, Ranch, Love

I have no idea what my plan is, but I need to see her. Need to speak to her. I rap my knuckles on the door and lean against the frame, waiting. There’s a period of silence before I hear the shuffle of Aurora’s feet coming down the stairs. She opens the door, a phone in her hand, eyes widening as she takes me in, dropping down my body and slowly back up. Her tongue darts over her lips, wetting them.

Aurora’s dressed in a pair of silky purple pyjamas, with an oversized, chunky white cardigan hanging off her shoulders, bringing out the pink of her strawberry lips and flushed cheeks. The pyjamas do nothing to hide her figure, hugging every soft curve, and I can faintly see the peak of her nipples through the fabric. I have to rip my eyes away.

Her hair is slightly wet, making her waves all frizzy, but it looks exactly like I imagined when I thought of her in the bath.

She’s goddamn delicious.

“Wyatt?” Aurora asks, bringing me back from eye-fucking her.

I take in a deep breath, jaw tight as I struggle to keep my gaze just on her face. “You said Pinky was a teddy bear.”

Aurora bites her lip, cheeks reddening more intensely, realisation hitting her. But her honey eyes are wild. I can’t stop myself from glancing down to where her chest is heaving, her breaths coming out louder, faster.

“No, I didn’t,” she counters, glancing at my lips. “I said it was my bedroom toy.”

Her eyes rake over me shamelessly, and it burns. It’s like she’s daring me to do the same to her again, because she’s so obviously less clothed, and the way she’s now smirking makes me feel far too vulnerable—

“Are you going to carry on talking about your sex toys or are you planning on introducing us?” A woman’s voice suddenly rings from her phone. Aurora’s gaze snaps back to the screen, the blush spreading up her neck now too.

“Sorry, Sofia!” Aurora grimaces, then looks at me. “I’m on FaceTime to my friend from home.”

The phone coughs and corrects her, “Best friend, actually. Now, spin me around so I can see if he’s as hot as you said he was.”

“Sofia!” Aurora squeals, pulling the phone to her chest as if that would stop me from hearing what had already been said. Her eyes shoot heavenward in a plea. I don’t even try to suppress my proud smile, letting the thought of Aurora finding me attractive bolster my ego.

Eventually, she mouths to me, sorry, and turns the phone around so I’m faced with a girl who has curly black hair and knowing eyes that are too eager to meet me.

“Hey, Wyatt, I’m Sofia. Hope you’re taking care of my girl whilst she’s out there.” Her raised eyebrows make me feel like I’m suddenly being interrogated, and I have to remind myself that she’s just a face on a phone screen.

“Nice to meet you, Sofia. Don’t worry, if you should be concerned about anyone, it’s me. Your girl’s a feisty one.”

Aurora sneers at me and yanks the phone back, but I catch a glimpse of Sofia’s approving grin before she’s gone.

“Well, it’s the middle of the night here, Rory,” Sofia adds with a yawn. “And I only love you a little bit more than I love my sleep, so now Wyatt’s here, he can keep you company instead. Bye, love you.”

“Wait, Sofia!” Aurora’s shaking her head, but it seems Sofia hangs up before she can argue. She sighs, and rolls her lips together—they’re shiny, and I bet she’s got that strawberry flavoured lip gloss on like the other night. The one I’m craving another taste of.

Once Aurora pockets her phone, those hazel eyes glance up at me, seeking. “Did you… want to come in for a drink, Wyatt?”

God, why does the way she says my name make me want to get down on my knees for her? What the hell is happening to me?

I’ve already had a drink tonight. I probably shouldn’t have another. My parents are coming over tomorrow. I’ve got a lot to do. And she’s got that meeting tomorrow. She probably needs to sleep.

I should leave.

There’s no reason for me to be here.

Still, I say, “Sure.”

***

We’re sat on the swing, sipping on our drinks, staring out at the sun setting between the peaks. These views would usually make me feel peaceful, but right now I feel like I’m drowning under the palpable tension that’s thickened the air around us.

We had a brief conversation about her meeting tomorrow over some old, cheap whiskey I assume belonged to Grace, before we dropped into the silence that’s hit for the last couple of minutes.

All I can think about is the way that Aurora’s knee is resting against my thigh, where she’s pulled her legs up onto the swing. My whole thigh is tingling, begging for my sweatpants to go so that I can feel that skin-on-skin contact. And although I know I’ve never exactly been much of a talker, that feeling coupled with the vibrator picture flashing in my mind, has me speechless.

I’m just about to down the rest of my drink and announce I need to go home when the song playing on the speaker changes to one of my favourites by Zach Bryan—Shivers Down Spines. It’s one of his older ones, so I’m surprised she’s been listening to it.

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