Page 110 of Saddles

“April,” he whispers between heavy breaths. “I’m never going to fail you again.” He lets himself slip out, then bends to pull up my snow-soaked leggings.

When I turn around, he’s already buckling his belt and pulling his hat off the ground.

“You haven’t, though.” My knees are still weak, but all of my limbs are light as the air.

“I have. But I swear I’m going to get rid of all of your demons, one way or another.” He holds out his palm for me, leading me back to the truck.

His lips purse watching me wiggle in the seat to get comfortable.

Yep, I’m going to feel this tomorrow.

Chapter 35

Ford

I don’t want to move. Staying here wrapped in her supple body is where I want to stay.

For the last two days since the sheriff’s office we’ve hidden away, baring our souls and pretending the rest of the world doesn’t exist.

Every moment I spend with her makes me crave her more.

Her laugh, her smell, the idle way she spins her wrist when she’s excited about a story.

When I stroke her cheek lightly, a lazy smile pulls up the corner of her full lips and she turns towards my palm.

“Five more minutes?” she murmurs, then threads her fingers through mine and pulls them close to her neck.

I can’t argue, so nestle my thighs against hers, holding her as her breathing levels and spills down my arm.

My dark tattoos are a stark contrast to her pale skin.

I almost feel guilty now, the ink a reminder of the brutal past.

Maybe I should have them covered? Removed? What would I get?

As I mull over ideas, my bladder begins to get the best of me. Slowly easing my way out of bed, I tug the blanket up to cover her naked beauty and slide on a pair of sweatpants.

The obsession I harbor for her makes my chest ache to even leave the room. How am I going to survive going back to that cabin without her?

I won’t.

I’ll quit the ranch before I leave her alone again. Mason will just have to understand.

Roscoe stretches, then follows me to the door. The glare of the snow is too damn bright for me this early, but the sun has a little warmth on my bare belly.

It’ll be a nice day for the drive to Missoula. On one hand, I’m not looking forward to meeting her father and step-mother after what April has told me about them.

On the other, the scabs on my knuckles itch to pummel his face in for putting April in the position he did.

Coffee should soothe the rolling in my guts.

As I pour her a cup, her cool arms circle my waist, and I feel the press of her breasts into the middle of my back before her lips touch just above them.

Heat rushes through me at the comfort of her embrace.

“‘Morning, handsome.” Her voice is husky as her cheek nuzzles between my shoulder blades.

Probably from all the screaming I made her do last night.

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