Page 76 of The Stallion
Just as I approached the front door of our perfect home, my suitcase in hand, Dallas crept up from behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me close to his chest as he buried his face in the crook of my neck.
“Come back to me…” He murmured into my hair, and I leaned back into his warm embrace.
“Hm… Where else would I go?” I hummed, reaching an arm around to play with his hair as I nuzzled the side of his head.
“Doesn’t matter… There is nowhere you could go that I wouldn’t find you and bring you back home myself.”
“That sounds like a threat.” I giggled playfully as he released his hold, and I turned around in his arms to face him, his soft hands finding their way to caress my cheeks.
“It’s a promise. You’re mine to love and protect, sweet girl. As long as I live and breathe, your home is with me, in my heart and soul, and mine is with yours.”
“I hate when you go all sentimental on me… You make it so hard to leave.” I whined, leaning forward to press my lips against his with a longing sigh.
Another reason why I delayed my inevitable return to Asher and the Sirens…
He made me want to stay.
“You’re not leaving… I’ll see you soon. Drive safe, my darling wifey.”
The nickname gave me butterflies every time he used it.
Every pet name that once angered and irritated me now made my heart swell and beat harder against my chest—all for him.
“I love you, Ponyboy.” I breathed against his lips before stepping away and gripping the handle of my suitcase.
“And I love you, sweet girl.” My cheeky husband huffed a light chuckle before smacking my ass on my way out the door, a smirk plastered across his smug and handsome face.
That man… once a problem, always a problem.
A problem that I loved having to deal with.
OverthetimeIspent away, I noticed a stark difference in my personality.
There was now the version of me when I was with Dallas—the one who would do anything and break all moral codes to be with him—and the old version that resided here with Asher and the team.
Eventually, I’d have to pick between the two and decide who I truly was once and for all. I couldn’t keep up with the back and forth, not anymore.
Pulling up to the curb of my old apartment, I braced myself for an attention-starved Asher.
While we had a pretty wide social circle, nothing ever compared to the conversations and time spent together. Our talks were sisterly, and our gossip was exactly what you’d expect from two women raised together since diapers—juicy and intense.
I exited my Jeep and approached the back to grab my suitcase just as I heard my best friend from over my shoulder.
“My baby’s home!” Asher screamed, and I rolled my eyes with pursed lips.
I could feel my face flush with embarrassment as I glanced around to see if anyone had heard her outcry.I swear she had to have been just staring out the window like a lurking cat, waiting for me to arrive, given how quickly she got out here.
“Was that necessary?” I hissed through clenched teeth as I crossed my arms over my chest and rested my hip against the liftgate of my SUV.
“Entirely. You abandoned me forweeks—not that I minded it because I knew that whatever you weredoingwas some form of emotional therapy or trauma healing, howeverrisquéit may have been.”
“Risqué? You’re acting as if I were committing adultery.”
“I would never!” Asher placed her palm over her chest, pretending to be offended with a fake, exaggerated gasp. “After all, we both know a man that looks likethatmust be exceptional in bed—and let’s be real for a second here; you two are married, so adultery is completely off the table.” She gestured to the ring on my finger and smirked with a wink. “Well done, by the way—and can wepleasetalk about your fucking hair?!”
This woman gave me whiplash sometimes with her rapid subject changes…
“I wanted something… different.” I shrugged, pursing my lips and letting my eyes roll to the sky.
