Page 28 of Untamed

“Yeah, well, that shit’s gonna catch up to him if he’s not careful,” I mutter, turning away and heading for my bed.

“I agree.” Leroy joins the conversation. And he’s one of those men, that when he talks you listen. Even if I want to punch his face in for dancing with Mila. “I've been here a long time, Colter, and I can tell you—boss is getting really tired of his antics. Won’t be long until Garret fucks up on the circuit and everythingcomes crashing down. The boy’s young,” he continues, calling him a boy even though Garrett’s in his twenties. “Thinks he is invincible. But people like us? We know better.”

His words make me pause. Though I haven’t gotten to know him or the others, there’s more behind his words. More to what he is saying.

“You were on the circuit, too?” I ask, reading between the lines.

He nods, rising from the couch and moving toward his bed which is on the opposite side of the large, shared bedroom to mine.

“Since I was a teenager.” His voice is mixed with pride and regret. “Spent ten years on the rodeo circuit. Would’ve done ten more if an accident hadn’t screwed it all up. I wanted to get back to it, hell, I wanted it more than anything. But the doctors said if I had one more serious fall, I wouldn’t walk again.” He pauses, his gaze glassy. “I was lucky to walk that time. And that was only after months of rehab. It was hard but the risk was too heavy, ya know?”

I stare at him, seeing him in a new light. Leroy is probably in his mid-forties, with light chestnut hair and brown eyes. Until now, I assumed he was no more than a ranch hand. But I was wrong. He’s just like me. A rodeo king, living for the thrill, the adrenaline until it was all taken away from him.

And now we are here. Two washed up cowboys just trying to find our place in a life that we no longer recognize.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, though like me, he probably doesn’t want my pity.

Leroy shakes his head, huffing a humorless laugh. “I don’t need or want your pity, Colter.” His voice is firm, but there’s no spite in it. “I’m telling you this because I don’t want you thinking you’re the only one robbed.” I tilt my head, my defenses rising. “You know, I followed your career. Best fucking bronco rider Iever saw. Not just because you could stick to the damn animal like you were made for it, but because you were disciplined. It’s always given you the edge. Set you apart from the rest.”

The awe in his voice makes my skin crawl but before I can speak, the bathroom door opens and Tex steps out. He glances at us through the bedroom entryway, before moving over to the couch where Austin and now Rory sits.

Leroy sighs, running a hand across his mouth before he settles against the wall his bed is positioned against. “My point is, Garrett doesn’t have that. I mean, I’m sure back in the day you partied as much as the rest of them, but Garrett is on a slippery slope. He will end up losing it all and for what? A couple more drinks?” He shakes his head, his hard gaze on me. “You’re not done yet, Colter. Hang in there. You don’t know when your luck will turn around.”

His words linger between us, heavy in the air. Leroy doesn’t say anything else, just strips out of his clothes, climbs into bed, and pulls the covers over himself. I let out a long breath, my mind racing with everything that was just said. For a moment, I allow myself to imagine the thrill of the rodeo. The roar of the crowd. The adrenaline… and I wonder if it’s possible to get back on the circuit.

The hope that blooms in my chest is quickly extinguished when I think of Mila.

Because if Lincoln gets even an inkling of what is happening.

I can kiss everything goodbye.

Which is why I have to stay away.

Because it’s one or the other.

I can’t have both.

Chapter Twenty-One

MILA

As I make my way back to the house, my mind is a mess, as I try to process everything that just happened. I’m in a daze. Was it real? Or was it some sort of vivid dream?

The unmistakable evidence soaking my panties is all the proof I need. It wasn’t just a fantasy, it did happen. Colter held me, pinned me against that door and consumed me with his mouth pressed to mine. The way he kissed me, devoured me, like I was the air he needed to breathe. The way he encouraged me to roll my hips against him until I came... My breath catches in my throat, heat burning my cheeks. I orgasmed. Against his six pack. I’m not stupid enough to think it means anything to him. But the desire inside me, the emotions he evoked in me…I want to do it all again. I want more.

More of him.

More of that feeling.

“Where have you been?” I nearly jump out of my skin at the deep unexpected voice that breaks through the silence.

My heart pounds in my chest as I look up, to find my brother’s best friend leaning casually against one of the brick pillars on the porch. Despite the smile on his face, his gaze is hard, narrowed on me in suspicion as he watches me closely. Asudden wave of self-consciousness slithers through me. Does he know? Can he sense what just happened?

“Jesus, Brandon, you scared me,” I snap, irritation clear in my voice as I cross my arms over my chest defensively.

His sharp gaze narrows further, if that’s even possible, and his voice takes on a biting edge. “That didn’t answer my question. Where were you?”

The hostility in his tone makes me pause and my hackles immediately rise. I make my way up the porch steps, and stop just in front of him, holding my head high and meeting his gaze head on. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I was checking on Clover.”

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