Page 68 of The Pieces We've Lost

“All right, well my answer has changed,” I stated.

“To what?” Of course, curiosity got the better of her; it always did.

“Right now, here. Next week, Houston.”

“What do you mean? Why?” She was looking at mewith intrigue now, even if it was mixed with confusion and a little suspicion.

“Because, Ellison, my favorite place is wherever you are.” For a moment, there was silence, and I worried I had said something wrong.

“Oh my God, you’re so cheesy.” She drew out the words and rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face was all I needed.

We rode a little further, down into a valley of wildflowers. When we reached the bottom of the hill, I dismounted Bullet and reached my hand out for her to grab.

“C’mon.” I beckoned for her to follow me.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

So many questions.

“Just trust me, come on. The horses will be fine, they won’t go anywhere.” I pushed, still not giving her details. She took my hand, and I helped her down from her horse, even though I knew she didn’t need it.

I pulled her close to me and pressed my lips to her forehead before putting her hand on my shoulder and intertwining her other hand with mine. We didn’t have music, just the breeze blowing in the grass and the birds chirping in the background, but I still pulled her in to dance in the middle of the open field.

“What are you doing to me?” she whispered.

“Whatever it takes to make you mine,” I murmured back.

“I’m already yours.” The three words that came out of her mouth were simple, but they made all the difference. I pulled her in and pressed my lips to hers, savoring her sweet taste, wanting to memorize her, etch her into my mind permanently like a tattoo.

We stumbled through the front door after we had taken care of the horses, hands already on each other, desperate and hungry for each other’s touch.

I’m already yours.Her words reverberated off my brain, bouncing around my head as I moved over to the couch and pulled her down onto me. I wanted to hear her say it again and again, like a broken record. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of hearing her claim me.

She straddled my legs, her hands moving up my chest as she rocked her hips. Our lips locked, tongues fighting for dominance.

She grasped my shirt, stripping it over my head, so I returned the favor, taking off her shirt and unclasping her bra, freeing her breasts. I pulled away for a moment to look at her.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she protested and placed her hand on the back of my neck to pull me back to her.

“I want you to say it again.” I smirked, not letting her move me toward her.

“Say what?”

“That you’re mine.”

She sighed, looking away for a moment, but then she was back, her eyes staring into mine. “I’m yours, Colter.”

I grabbed her thighs then, flipping her so our spots were reversed, her with her back against the couch and me above her. Before she could move, I pulled her legs toward me and lowered myself to the ground so that I was kneeling in front of her.

“W-what are you doing?” she stammered, cheeks flushed and lust clouding her eyes.

I didn’t say a word as I reached for the buttons on her jeans, undoing them and pulling them down her legs. Her eyes widened as I started to kiss my way up her leg, not stopping until I had reached the soft skin on the inside of her thigh.

I blew air on the cotton fabric of her underwear and watched as she sucked in a breath. I could feel myself getting hard, my jeans noticeably tighter. She tried to sit up, but I stopped her, squeezing her breast and holding her against the couch at the same time.

“I want to make you feel good, baby.” I pushed aside her panties and plunged a finger inside her.Fuck.She was already soaked. I pulled my finger out, her arousal coating it, as I grabbed the sides of her underwear and pulled them all the way down her legs, baring her to me.

“Please,” she whined.

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