Page 43 of Barbed Wire Hearts

I moan at his words because fuck if I don’t want that, too. I want anything he wants to give me. Fuck, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve come since we started this, every release feeling as if it just rolls into another one. My eyes have started to roll back in my head, and he fucks me like he hates me, and yet I know he doesn’t. He hates how I make him feel, sure, but he doesn’t hate me. He hates that he’s enjoying this as much as I am.

I scream, another large release slamming into me, and he picks up speed, fucking me so hard, I see stars. When he jerks from inside me and shoves me to the side, I don’t think much of it, not until he shoves me in the hay on my back and hovers over me. His cock jumps and his release spurts from the tip, covering my breasts and my neck as I tip my chin up.

“Oh, fuck yeah,” he grunts as he does so, as he strokes his cock and milks more. When he’s done, he reaches down and smears it into my skin, rubbing it in, tweaking my nipples as he passes them until I’m undulating beneath him. He doesn’t rub it in enough for it to disappear, only enough to spread it, until I feel as if I’m covered in it.

“Beautiful,” he murmurs, his face hard. “Fucking beautiful. Don’t wipe it off. It stays.”

I nod in understanding as I pant, trying to catch my breath, and his eyes heat again.

“I already want you again,” he snarls. “Fuck it!” He grips my hair and forces my mouth open again, his cock already hard. He fucks my throat for all of a minute before he’s coming again, adding to what’s already across my neck, painting me with his release.

It takes far longer to get our clothes back on than it took to get them somewhat off. In the end, Levi ties my button-down around my stomach since he fucked up the buttons and he doesn’t even bother putting his back on. The rain slows enough that we’re able to make a mad dash back to the truck and true to his word, he makes me wear his come across my chest and neck when we get back to the house. To my disappointment, he doesn’t follow me into my cabin, but he does kiss the ever-loving fuck out of me in front of Wiley.

The man only grins as Levi walks away without a word. His eyes dance down to the come across my chest and he chuckles. “Told you he liked you,” he teases.

I can’t help my own answering smile as I disappear into my cabin for a shower.

ChapterThirty

Kate

Levi and I haven’t talked again. I haven’t even seen him on the ranch. He’d driven me back in almost silence and disappeared. So now I’m pretty sure he’s avoiding me. It’s not entirely unexpected, but it still hurts a little. Lucky for me, there are plenty of things to distract myself with. Like hanging out with Wiley as he goes through paperwork. Apparently, Steele Mountain is now one of the top horse breeding ranches in Wyoming because of him. Which means he has to plan for shipments, meet ups, and a whole host of other things. It also means we have so many foals or yearlings on the ranch at any given time. Baby animals are my favorite so there’s no complaints from me when I get to go with him to check them all over.

I assumed I’d be spending today with Wiley like most days, but when Dakota pops in with his stern look and waves me over, I follow him out.

“What’s up?” I ask, tipping my hat back. I’ve grown used to wearing it now but when talking to any of the three men, I have to tip my hat back to be able to look up at them.

“I need to go into town. Figured you could help me,” he muses.

“Help you with what?” I ask, tilting my head. “Picking up orders?”

“Nope, something better. We gotta get a gift from the ranch for Jenny and George.”

He gestures for me to follow him to the truck, so I do after I wave to Wiley to let him know I’m taking off. He smiles and goes right back to his work, absorbed. There’s still no sight of Levi. Ole Red trails along behind us and when he bays at Dakota, he smiles down at the old dog and pats him on the head.

“Oh, alright, old man. Come on then.” He opens the back door of the truck and then helps the coon dog up into the back. He wags his tail with happy thumps as Dakota rolls down the windows so he can look out. He only hops into the driver seat once Ole Red is settled. At my look, he shrugs. “He’s always been my riding buddy and it’s a cool day. He can hang out in the back of the truck while we go into the store.”

“I thought Jenny said she didn’t wanna make a fuss and that they have everything they need?” I ask as I buckle my seatbelt.

Dakota nods. “Yes, but they had all boys before. Now they’re having two girls, and only have one crib. I think Jenny is saving up to buy a used one, but we can’t have that. I need your help to pick out a matching crib and some other items.”

I glance at Dakota, at the way he explains everything matter-of-factly. “Naomi might have been better at this. She actually has a kid.” I’d met her teenage daughter a few times and she’s an absolute sweetheart. The dad’s no longer in the picture so the two are often together once her daughter gets out of school.

“Yes, but I wanted to spend the day with you,” he shrugs. A quick glance at me is all I get before his eyes focus on the road.

Something in my heart warms at his admission and I settle into the seat. “Sure. I don’t mind helping.”

Surprisingly, there’s a baby store on Main Street in town, a small boutique-looking shopfront that seems like it supplies everything baby for anyone within fifty miles. It’s well-stocked, and though the girl behind the counter looks bored when we walk in, she immediately bounces up with a grin.

“Dakota Steele,” she muses with a grin. “You here for yourself finally or someone else?” Her eyes flick to my stomach as if to check and I laugh.

Dakota shifts uncomfortably. “No, sorry, Helen. I’m here for Jenny and George Holden. They’re having twins.”

“Oh, I heard! How exciting for them. I was so sad when they didn’t start a registry with me. What’s this? Their third?”

“Fourth and fifth,” Dakota corrects, glancing over at me. “We’re looking for a crib and then I’d like to fill it up with necessities for girls.”

The woman, Helen’s, eyes light when he says he wants to fill it up. That’s certainly generous so I can see why she gets excited. I’ve only been to a few baby showers in my life, but baby items are expensive. Diapers alone are ridiculous, so to fill up a crib with essentials is even crazier, I’m sure. But I’ve accepted that the men of Steele Mountain Ranch are nothing but kind to those they consider family. Jenny likely didn’t want to make a fuss to avoid this very situation, but she’ll be showered either way. I look up at Dakota appreciatively.

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