Page 56 of Untamed

MILA

My stomach somersaults with nerves as I stand on the porch, waiting for Colter.

It was reckless to ask him here, I know that—but for one night I want to feel like we don’t have the odds stacked against us, that we’re a normal couple.

Not that I actually think we’re acouplein any way. We’ve never had that conversation, and I’m aware I’m jumping the gun, but still, I want to spend time with Colter in my own home. What better chance than now? With my family conveniently out of the way.

My father’s trip was a last-minute thing. Normally, he’d have Maverick stay behind to take care of things at the ranch, but this time, he needed him to go along. He wants my brother to learn all sides of the business and that includes attending auctions. Meanwhile, Mamaw’s bingo night took care of the rest, leaving me the luxury of having the lodge to myself. My lovesick heart wants to call it fate; believe it’s meant to be. It’s naïve of me and I’d never say it out loud, but I can’t help the silly part of me that wants it to be true.

The faint sound of music drifts up from the bunkhouse, where the staff are clearly having another party. Who’s downthere, I couldn’t say, but I hope Colter manages to slip away without drawing attention. Anxiety churns me in the gut. What if someone notices? What if someone follows him? What if we get caught…?

My thoughts spiral into a series of worst-case scenarios, each worse than the last. Checking my phone for what must be the tenth time, I see it’s long past the twenty minutes Colter said he’d need. Maybe this is a sign? Maybe he shouldn’t come.

Sighing, I start to pace the wooden porch, thumb hovering over our text chain as I debate texting him to call it off. Before I can type a single word, the sound of heavy footsteps crunching the gravel draws my attention.

My pulse spikes, fear snaking up my spine as my wide eyes search the dark. For a moment I brace myself for the worst, but then Colter steps out of the shadows and all the tension leaves my body. A smile curves my lips.

“That was a long twenty minutes. Thought you weren’t going to show,” I call out to him softly.

Colter doesn’t answer and my breath hitches in my throat at the look on his face. He climbs the porch steps, takes my hand and tugs me toward the front door. There’s an urgency in his movements. I frown, pulling back slightly. “What’s wrong?”

“Brandon’s at the bunkhouse,” he finally speaks, his voice low.

The moment the words are out of his mouth, the earlier terror slams back into me, tenfold. I freeze on the spot. There’s no way Brandon wouldn’t notice Colter slipping away, no way he wouldn’t ask questions. Tugging my hand out of Colter’s I spin, scanning the darkness as if I can see. My eyes dart from shadow to shadow, searching for any sign of movement, any hint that Brandon might’ve followed. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t out there. Watching…

“Maybe this was a bad idea,” I whisper, my eyes still scanning our surroundings.

I hear Colter’s sigh before he takes my hand and turns me to face him. “Maybe. But I’m here now and I’m not leaving. Let’s not worry about Brandon, okay?” he pauses, reaching up with his free hand and running it across my bottom lip. “The reason I took longer to get here is because I drove my truck part way down the drive, pulled off into the empty pasture and left it there. So, if he did see me leave, he’ll think I left the ranch.”

His words ease the anxiety in my body and I can’t help but smile. Rising onto my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his lips. “You think of everything.”

His lips quirk into a half smile, one that sends a shot of liquid lust through my veins. “I do. Now take me inside. I want to fuck you inyourbed.”

His blunt words send a thrill through me, my stomach dipping with need. Without hesitation, I take his hand and push the door open, pulling him inside the lodge. The lock clicks into place behind us and I waste no time, dragging him down the hall to my bedroom. Excitement and arousal snake through me, electrifying every nerve.

Colter and I should never have happened in the first place, and now in my father’s house, we’re practically playing with fire and begging to get burnt. But instead of extinguishing the flames, I want to pour gasoline on them, to watch them blaze brighter; hotter. It’s wrong, so undeniably wrong. But for right now, I’m going to forget the immorality of it all and bask in the only part of my life I have control over. I’m going to live in this moment. I deserve that much.

When I push open my bedroom door and step inside, I suddenly pause. My heart thunders in my chest as the reality of what I’m about to do washes over me. Colter’s in my room. This is happening.

When I came home to my father’s ranch for the summer, I never expected anything like this to happen. Especially not with the warnings my dad drilled into me about getting involved with the staff. But here I am, in my bedroom, about to fuck a man I was warned to stay away from.

The thought sends a jolt of adrenaline rushing through me as muscular arms wrap around me from behind. Colter pulls me against his hard body, as hot breath fans my ear and sends a shot of arousal straight between my thighs.

“Everything okay?” His deep timbre tightens my stomach.

I swallow hard, my voice a breathless whisper. “Yeah. Better than okay.”

“I like the sunflowers,” he murmurs.

I smile, my gaze darting to the collection of sunflowers in the vase on my nightstand. He leaves me one every morning. And it’s the highlight of my day. “I love them,” I whisper.

“Good.” His head drops to the crook of my neck, his warm, wet tongue tracing a deliberate path along my skin. I shiver, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Colter,” I moan, grinding my ass into his hard length.

He chuckles, low and husky. The sound is so rare, so intimate, my chest constricts. “I know, baby. I’m going to take good care of you. Play with your pussy just the way you like.”

The quiet sound of the door closing behind us barely registers as Colter moves us toward my queen size bed. His dirty words wrap around me. I’m so desperate for him, my head spins.

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