Page 32 of Promise Me Never

I’m not sure what to say, so I stay quiet. As much as I want to push for more, to dig deeper into her life, it feels like something that she should tell me. The more I know about her, though, the more likely my attachment will grow. I already feel the seeds of obsession taking root within me.

“Anyway, I just came out here to let you know Jo and I will be gone next week. We have a few meetings up in Billings. Can you keep an eye on Eli while we’re away? She’s responsible, so I doubt you’ll have much to do.”

“No problem.”

He helps close up the stable and get all the horses squared away for the night. If I could have chosen a father, I would have picked Paul over my own, hands down. In so many ways he’s been a more stable guiding figure in my life.

My dad took off when Janey was a baby. Mom never divorced him, but even when she received her cancer diagnosis, he didn’t come back. Now he inserts himself into my life as if he has the right. And because I’ve lost too many people, I let him. Even when he pisses me off, which is almost all the time.

Paul, on the other hand, gives me space but is always ready to lend an open ear. His steady guidance both on the ranch and in life have led me to becoming a successful rancher. I know he worries about who will take over once he’s gone or can no longer run things, especially with his only child being so anti-ranching. He’s mentioned a few times leaving everything to Eli because of her natural affinity for this lifestyle even though she thinks she wants to go into business.

I’m also aware that he’s considered leaving it all to me. It would be incredibly generous, but I would feel guilty taking it and leaving Eli’s family with nothing. Even though her parents seem so uninvolved in anything that’s not rocks.

I stay in my office long after Paul leaves. There’s plenty of work for me to do, and I’m not ready to go back to my cabin yet. It feels emptier than ever now. I’m just finishing placing all the orders for supplies when I hear the crunch of Jo’s car pulling in the drive and my phone beeps with a notification.

I’m back

Come to the stables

Okay, let me tell Grandpa and Grandma goodnight

I lean back in my rickety wooden chair and look at the walls around me. Aged saddles hang on the walls as decor along with photos of my time here at the ranch. In fact, these are the only photos I have displayed where Amy isn’t front and center. She was never much for ranch life, more geared toward extremes where she could chase the high of a good adrenaline rush.

The sound of Eli’s soft footsteps pulls me out of my head, and just as she enters the doorway, I look up at her. She’s wearing jean shorts that are so short I’m sure I could see half her ass when she turns around and a tiny black tank top that clings to her curves. And, of course, she’s wearing her damn flip flops.

“Hey,” she says shyly, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe.

“Have a good night with Jo?”

“I did.” She holds a foot out and wiggles her toes, painted a pretty light blue. “Got my nails done.”

“Pretty color, but you have to stop wearing those out here. They give your feet no protection.”

She rolls her eyes with a shake of her head. “Okay, Dad.” Her voice is laced with sarcasm.

“I thought we decided on Daddy.”

Her gaze meets mine, pupils blown wide. “Only when you’re a good boy.”

“I’ll show you how good I can be.” I reach for her, grabbing her belt loops and pulling her between my spread legs and the desk. “But it’ll cost you.”

“What?”

“These fucking shorts.” I wrap my hands around the back of her thighs and move them slowly up the expanse of smooth skin. “Turn around for me.”

She turns and looks over her shoulder. Just as I thought, the bottom of her cheeks hang out the hem of the shorts. I slide my fingers up the openings and cup the firm globes of her ass. Just when I think I know my favorite part of her body, I discover a new one. She gives me one of her sexy gasps as I run my thumbs along the edge of her thong.

“I can’t believe you walked around town letting everyone see this beautiful ass.” I tease her clit over her panties. “Bend down, Sunbeam. Chest to the desk.”

I fucking love the way she always does what I ask in moments like these because her sassy comebacks all the other times drive me crazy in the best way. She’s pretty as a picture like this, half her cute ass exposed for me, her panties already wet. My dick is hard as a fucking rock, aching for her.

Her breath catches as I press my lips to the soft skin covering the swells of her ass. I kiss all over one side and cross to the other, all while gently running my finger in small circles over her clit. She arches back against me, wanting more, but not yet. Right as she’s about to beg for my mouth, I bite down on her cheek, low and hard enough to leave a visible mark if she wears shorts of this length anytime soon.

A half groan, half gasp escapes her lips as she looks back at me over her shoulder. Her bottom lip is swollen from being chewed on, and her eyes are glazed and a little wild.

“Did you just bite me?”

I sit back, running my thumb soothingly over the impression of my teeth. “I did.”

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