Page 63 of Rewrite Our Story

MARE - AGE NINETEEN

Butterflies soarin my stomach as I utilize the mirror above my dresser to fix my hair. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve changed my hairstyle and my clothes. I even changed the color of my nails twice because of nerves.

Luckily, my dad isn’t here to watch me fuss over my appearance. Not that he really pays much attention these days anyway. He went with Jasper to go pick up some new horses from a few towns over, meaning I have the cabin all to myself.

Well,almostall to myself. I’d invited Cade to sneak away from the main house and come stay the night with me.

We’d shared the same bed hundreds of times. But tonight felt different. It was the reason I’d spent so long obsessing over what I looked like. I’d always snuck into Cade’s bed with others in the rooms next to us. Tonight, no one will be around. It’ll just be him and me. No distractions. No fear of being caught.

I want it to be the night we go all the way.

A knock rattles on the door, echoing through the halls of the small cabin. I rush down the stairs, not wanting to make Cade wait long. Stopping at the door, I take a deep breath. My heart beats wildly against my chest as I wonder if I’d picked the right outfit. Is it weird to have my hair down and straightened when we aren’t going anywhere?

I puff out my cheeks, taking one last deep breath before pulling the door open.

The way Cade looks standing on the other side of the door disarms me. He stares at me, a whisper of a smile on his lips as our eyes meet.

“Goldie,” he says, his voice low. The deepness of it feels like an intimate touch along my entire body.

“Cade,” I answer back. I should step out of the doorway and let him in, but my feet don’t move. I’m stuck staring at him—appreciating him—my tongue wetting my lips as I think about finally getting to touch all of the man standing in front of me.

A T-shirt with a zip-up jacket isn’t supposed to look this good. I know Cade well enough to know that he probably didn’t think long about what to wear, yet both pieces of clothing fit him so perfectly. He has the hood pulled over his head, for once missing a hat. He looks good with the sharp edges of his face shadowed in darkness.

The slim fit pair of joggers he’s wearing also have no business molding to his perfect body so well.God. Cade Jennings looks hot as hell, but he’d be hotter if he’d finally let me strip him naked like he’s stripped me numerous times before.

I only look back at his face when I hear him let out a low chuckle. My eyes snap to him, finding one corner of his lips lifting up in a smirk. “Are you going to leave me out here to freeze?”

Rolling my eyes, I grab his hand and pull him through the doorway. The moment I shut the door, he’s pulling me into his arms. His lips press to my forehead as I tuck my hands between the fabric of his jacket and his t-shirt.

“Missed you, Goldie,” he mutters against my skin.

“Missed you more.”

He cups my face between his large hands, softly pulling my chin so our eyes meet. “Not possible.”

I smile, lifting to my tiptoes so I can feel the press of his lips against mine. The kiss is tender and sweet. We aren’t rushing to have an intimate moment like we usually do. It’s hard to find a second alone together between our friends and family, so most of our kisses are late at night under the moonlight or in his bed. Sometimes we manage to sneak some in the stalls, or in one of the barns, or in the trees on a ride. But those kisses are rushed. This one isn’t.

I love knowing that I’ll have him all to myself for the night. There are so many things I want to do. The biggest thing? Finally having sex with him. There’s no one else I’d rather take my virginity than the man I’ve been in love with for years.

Our lips pull apart, but the rest of us stay pressed against one another. “For the record”—I begin, nipping at his thumb brushing over my lip—“I definitely missed you more.”

Cade lifts an eyebrow. “And what makes you think that?”

“Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Even as Pippa and I went out to get milkshakes at Pop’s, all I thought about was you.”

“It took me twice as long to get the nightly chores done because I kept getting distracted with the anticipation of spending all night with you.”

“You spend almost every night with me.”

“Not quite like this. I get you all to myself. It’s like a date.”

I pull him toward the kitchen. I’d spent an hour trying to come up with something to make the two of us for dinner, but there weren’t a lot of options. Most nights I eat dinner with Cade’s family. Linda always sends something back with me to give Dad. But tonight, even though it’s technically a late dinner, I wanted to make something, to pretend for a moment that we live together and I’ve made him a meal after a long day of work.

Pointing at the small table in the corner, I tell him to sit. He surprisingly follows my direction. Cade falls into the chair, his eyebrows raised as he watches me closely.

I pull out a pot from the cabinet next to the stove. “You know, if you want to take me on a real date, all you have to do is ask.”

“I’d love nothing more than to take you on a real date.”

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