Page 128 of Ride the Sky

I pat the saddle, tugging the length of leather. “I made the stirrups extra-long for support. We’ll start with a walk. Aslowwalk.”

Doubt and desire warring in her expression, she runs a hand over Lawless’s caramel flank.

I nod at the horse. “You can do it, Trouble.”

She glances over her shoulder at me. A smile. So soft, so trusting, it nearly brings me to my knees.

I hold my breath as she readies herself to mount.

I move behind her, gripping the saddle horn to steady Lawless, our bodies close. When she turns to face me, I grip her chin. “You won’t fall. Never again. I won’t let you.”

She shivers, her hazel gaze racing over my face. “I go first,” she says, a teasing challenge in her eyes.

I grin.

With flourish, Fallon sticks her foot in the stirrup and mounts Lawless perfectly. Fucking perfect. All her weight kept on her good leg as she swings the right leg over quickly. And then she’s in the saddle.

Her body shakes with an exhale as she grips the reins.

I stare at Fallon, drinking in her beauty, all the sharp, fierce angles of her face. Happiness radiates from her, brighter than the sun overhead. Tears shine in her eyes.

She glances down at me, arches a brow. “You comin’ up, or you plan to make me wait all day?”

I chuckle then swing myself easily up behind her.

“Showoff,” she says.

I press a kiss to her crown. “C’mon, cowgirl. Show me you still got it.”

With trembling hands, Fallon snaps the reins and uses her good leg to nudge Lawless into a walk.

The slow gait gently rocks us back and forth. “Does it hurt?”

She keeps her gaze straight ahead. “No.” Even if it did, she’d never admit it.

We walk Lawless far out into the pasture. The crisp morning wind ruffles Fallon’s hair. Then we stop, taking in the sunrise. I could watch a million sunrises for the rest of my life, but the sky’s only pretty because Fallon’s around to show me its light.

I wrap an arm around her waist, splaying my hand possessively over her stomach. On a sigh, she leans back, her body soft and warm against me. The steady beat of her heart thrums against my bones.

“It’s beautiful,” she says.

“It is,” I tell her, but I’m looking at her. I drop my mouth to her ear. “You’re that sky there, Trouble. Blue.”

She scoffs. “So, I’m sad.”

“Shut up and listen to me.” I kiss her shoulder. “Blue and boundless. Ceaseless and amazing. You never stop. You never end, cowgirl.”

She smiles. “Nine lives.”

“Nine lives, baby.”

Fallon sighs. “I like the sky.” Her mouth opens, closes. “I like…I like you, Wyatt.”

“About goddamn time,” I mutter.

Fallon’s shoulders rotate back as she twists, catching my mouth on hers. Her kiss makes my chest ache. Our breath comes in sharp gasps, each one pulling us down deeper.

No one but her. No one but this woman.

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