Page 54 of Beneath the Midnight Sky
Wyatt’s eyes widened for a moment. “Well damn, bro, glad you didn’t. That’s more of a Theo level of nuts, ya know?”
I laughed. “You’re not wrong.”
My brother and I rummaged through Aspen’s apartment for a little bit longer before calling it quits and shooting Ivy a text for help getting her some clothes for the next couple of days. I’d been able to save her favorite combat boots that she basically lived in—they’d been kicked under the bed, so they fucker must’ve missed them.
The rest of her clothes? No such luck.
Art supplies? Not even close.
I felt defeated, but at the same time, I knew she’d be okay because I would be here to pick her up if she stumbled.
26
I HAVE A SURPRISE
Aspen
The last few days,staying at Rowans, had been some of the most peaceful I’d ever experienced. He’d gotten a small bag of clothes from Ivy that I could wear while I waited for new stuff that I’d ordered online to come in. I don’t know why I hadn’t thought to ask—he just made it happen with her, and she handed it over, no big deal.
I wasn’t sure when I’d become surrounded by people I could depend onthismuch, but it was everything I needed. If I were alone…I didn’t even want to think about how I’d be handling the Sam situation.
Every single night since I’d arrived, Rowan gave me space to go to bed and spend some time alone, only for him to sneak in once the clock hit midnight and curl up with me, pulling my body tight against him. I woke up every single morning with him. He went off to work with his brother and then was back by the time I had to work. He’d drive me in and was there to pick me up the moment I was finished.
When I’d asked if I was ruining his work schedule, he promised me that his brothers were helping him and Oliver get things finished until we got everything under control with my apartment.
Honestly, it was perfect, and if I was being completely real with myself…I’d be fine if it never ended. Not that I had any intention of telling him that. I had full intentions of continuing to force him to grovel at my feet. But it was a truth that I’d keep close to my heart in case the other shoe dropped and ripped away this perfect scenario I’d built up in my head and before my eyes.
Shaking off the anxiety I could feel building in my brain as I started to overthink my entire life, I turned off the shower knobs and stepped out. Wrapping myself in a fluffy white towel and using another to twirl my hair atop my head, I walked out into Rowan’s room to get dressed.
He was seated on the side of his bed, a relaxed smile on his face. It was Tuesday, my day off this week, and he was heading off to work any moment now.
“I have a surprise for you before I go, little angel,” he said, pulling my hips so I was standing between his thighs.
“Oh yeah? I don’t think we have time for that sort of surprise, cowboy. You have to be at work soon.”
He chuckled. “That surprise is for later. This one is here, now. Something for you to keep busy with on your day off until I come back for you this afternoon.”
I arched a brow at him. “And this surprise is?” I questioned.
“Get dressed and meet me downstairs,” he said. He pressed a quick kiss to my lips and walked out of the room.
I smiled and quickly dressed. Black leggings and an off-the-shoulder olive-green t-shirt that I’d ordered from an online thrift store. Thankfully, it was a local Colorado spot, so the shipping was quicker than I thought it would be. Their bandtee selection wasn’t the best, but it was fine. Just something for me to work in, I guess. I hung my wet towels back up in the bathroom and quickly ran a brush through my hair. I snagged a hair band and braided my long hair into one simple braid over my shoulder and then headed downstairs to find out what my cowboy had been up to.
When I got downstairs, he was leaning against the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee in his hands. He handed it over to me once I reached him, and I took a small sip. It was perfect—just like it had been since the moment he watched me make it.
“Ready?” he asked, his tone filled with an excitement he was clearly trying to hide from me. He looked like a big brother on Christmas morning, excited to see his siblings open their gifts because he helped wrap them all. Not that I knew much about it, but it’s what I imagined I would’ve been like if I had siblings growing up.
I nodded. “Let’s see whatever it may be.”
He chuckled and took my other hand in his. I’m glad he knew I wasn’t parting with the coffee anytime soon. The sun wasn’t even up yet for fuck’s sake. I don’t know why anyone purposely ran a ranch if they had to get up this early.
He guided me down the hall toward another door. I think he said this was his gym before, but I’d never actually been inside it. Nothing about a gym interested me, so I hadn’t made any move to open this door before now.
“Ro, baby, if your surprise is that you got me a treadmill or something, I’m likely to kick you. Hard,” I grumpily mumbled.
He stopped before he could open the door and looked back at me, brows scrunched. “In case I hadn’t made it incredibly clear to you yet, I think you’re fucking perfect. No treadmill needed unless you just want one for your own enjoyment.”
He took a step closer to me and another, forcing me to back up until I was pressed against the hallway wall behind us. Hetook my coffee, set it on the floor, and then wrapped his arms around me, picking me up and pressing me against the wall again. I slowly slid down the wall, his hands cupping my ass, until I was pressed against his length, which I could clearly feel beneath his jeans.
