Page 189 of Ride the Sky

He tucks a piece of loose hair behind my ear. “Yeah. You were.”

“Thank you.” I palm his cheek. “For being here.”

Wyatt’s handsome face goes soft. “Always.”

I go fluid against him as he captures my mouth against his. My moans mingle with his. I can’t wait to get this man home and have my way with him.

The crunch of rocks have us pulling apart. The boom of a familiar, disgruntled voice has us both stiffening. “Now what’s all this about, Tripp? I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for pit stops.”

“I think you do, Pappy,” Tripp says as he and Pappy round the corner into the barn.

Pappy and I freeze at the same time.

Tripp grins at me. I grin back.

Wyatt’s eyes slice to mine.

Before I can step forward, Wyatt lunges at Pappy.

“You motherfucker,” he growls, and then he smashes a fist into Pappy’s face.

Pappy slams into the side of a stall, breathing hard and clutching at his nose.

I shoot Wyatt a glare. “I wanted to do that.”

“Tough shit, baby.” Wyatt’s gaze burns as he stares at Pappy. “Now we get some answers from this piece of shit.”

Pappy wipes blood off his mouth. “I don’t—”

Wyatt grabs Pappy’s shirt and shoves him back against the wall. “Shut the fuck up and tell me what you did.” Voice turning deadly, he leans in. “Tell me what you did to her.”

I catch Tripp’s eyes. He looks uncomfortable, keeping a lookout in the door of the barn, but he’s with us.

“We know, asshole.” I stare down at Pappy. My pulse, my rage thrums in my veins. “You drugged my drink. You rigged the ride.”

“No, I—”

“Fucking talk!” Tripp walks to my side, his eyes wild. “We know you did it. Tell her about the bull.”

“Talk,” I order. “Before I grab a pair of scissors and cut your balls off.”

“Okay, okay, fine. I did it,” says Pappy. His voice is low, but not apologetic. He licks his lips, eyes on me. “I wanted to make you a star.”

I move forward, placing my right hand on Pappy’s neck and shoving him back against the stall. “How does almost killing me make me a star?”

Pappy’s eyes bulge. “It was all the same in the end,” he gasps. His nose is bleeding. “If you rode the biggest bull in the world and won, you’re a star. If you got hurt and went on to ride another day, you’re still a star.” Swallowing, he looks at the ground. “I didn’t count on you getting as hurt as you did.”

I scoff. “Collateral damage, right?”

He doesn’t answer.

Wyatt snaps. “You could have fucking killed her,” he shouts. He swings again. Pappy’s head snaps back. He punches and punches and punches and only stops when I rest a hand on his shoulder.

Breathing hard, he drops his arm and steps back to my side. His knuckles are bleeding.

Pappy slides down the stall, moaning.

“Say your prayers, pack your fucking bags.” Wyatt grins. “Cole Weston plans to personally bury you after today.”

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