Page 3 of Love Thief

And he doesn’t let up. I sit stiff most of the way to Devon. I have to. If I let my guard down one millimetre, he’ll take everything and more.

With every conscious touch, brush, shift of his body position, my body follows suit. I know it’s doing it, I just can’t seem to stop it. I relish the next onslaught. His scent is constantly invading my senses, lowering my defences with every divine masculine note. My heart and my nerve endings resemble a furnace, with molten iron pouring into the inferno. Every pass of his fingers on my skin feels like the sparks of metal burning as they react with him. He is the oxygen. He is the catalyst. But if I let him know how much I love it, crave it, he’ll give me everything. And I’m worried we both might not survive it. Him.

The nearer we get to Devon, the more I relax. I swear the air changes and it’s as if it’s drugged just for me. I smile at everyone, my shoulders dropping, my whole body softening.

“You’ll love it here. It’s really beautiful,” I tell Xander and Kellen.

James butts in with, “I can show you a studio nearby. It’s really good. A German guy came over and put it in. The owners spared no expense.” James smirks. I don’t know why he’s not telling his dad it's ours, but whatever. He wants to play games, I won’t spoil his fun.

As we pull into the stone gates and go up the winding drive, I sit back, finally feeling like I’m home.

Kellen touches my hand to get my attention, turning his face fully towards me. “Will Marshall remember me, do you think?” he asks quietly. If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he was nervous.

“Definitely. You’re not easily forgotten, trust me. And Marshall knew about you being James’s dad, so,” I shrug at him.

“Well, he’ll definitely remember me.” Xander’s confidence knows no bounds. “I’m actually more memorable than Kellen.” He laughs and punches Kell’s arm.

“Fuck off, Xan,” Kell retorts, rubbing his arm and grinning at him.

“I bet Pinky remembers me. She loved me.” Xander side-eyes Bucky, waiting for the reaction he knows will come.

“You know Pinky?” Bucky looks at him with amazement.

”Of course. She was a foal last time I saw her. So lovely, beautiful blonde mane and tail, pink body, she was in love with me.”

“Whatever. Pinky only loves Tubbs, but I’m a close second.” Bucky scowls, completely taking the bait.

“I’m sure when she sees me, she’ll remember that I’m actually her favourite,” Xander volleys back, just to piss Bucky off totally.

“Well, we’ll find out, because there she is.” I point to the Palomino pony in the field. She looks up at the sound of the car and waits to see which of her fan club have arrived.

Kellen is smirking at Xander winding up Bucky, but before he can join in the torture, he does a double take at the house gleaming in the sunshine. “Wow, that sure is a house!” he breathes out, smiling proudly at me.

Jesus I need to stop him doing that, stop the smiles, stop the niceties, stop being Kellen from my childhood dreams. Can’t he continue to be an arsehole? It’s much easier to deal with. I can swat him like a fly when he’s being a pain. But the alter ego nice Kellen? Him I might need protection from.

Xander and Bucky jump out of the car together and start to shout out Pinky’s name as they move towards the fence, elbowing each other to be the first to the pony. She ignores them both, looking beyond them towards James, Kellen, and now Marshall.

“Midarlins, how are you doin’?” Marshall hugs me and then pulls James in for a hug. Turning to Kellen with a genuine smile on his lips, he holds out his hand to be shook. “Young Russell, good to see you again.”

“It’s Kellen, Marshall.” He tilts his head and smiles as he takes Marshall's proffered hand. “I remember you now. I wasn’t sure, but now I see your face, I remember you.”

We hear a whinny and Pinky runs towards the fence, going up and down the fence line continuing to whinny at us.

“What’s up with her?” Marshall asks as Bucky and Xander try to catch the pony’s eye. But she only has eyes for one man.

I can’t believe my eyes, and splutter out. “Oh My God. Is she…? She’s?—”

“A great judge,” Kellen answers for me, and strides towards the pink pony. “Ahhh my baby, so long, and still the most beautiful lady in the world.” That treacherous pony rubs her head up and down his body and then puts her head on his shoulder and sniffs at him. They both look ecstatic, and my heart misses a beat or two at the gentleness I see on his face.

“You’re a dead man, Dad,” Bucky hisses at him. “Mr. Tubbs will kill you, and so will Crockett.”

Kellen just laughs and continues to pet and kiss Pinky. Blowing in her nostrils so she can smell him back, rubbing her neck up and down.

“Well I hate to break up this reunion,” I finally get out as I realise I’ve been staring at him with awe, my mouth agape. “But the Greystones are here.” I point to the arriving truck. My nerves are starting to jangle. Oh my, how am I going to explain this?

“Time for tea and whiskey I think,” says Marshall as he peers over at me. I swear the man can read me like a book. I nod and take his hand.

“I think the good stuff, Marsh. You may all need it.”

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