Page 64 of Barbed Wire Hearts

“So then what is it?” I growl. “You’re all secretly aliens? This no answer stuff is bullshit!”

Dakota laughs. “It’s not something to worry about, Kate. The past is the past. There’s no use digging up skeletons.”

“Like hell there isn’t,” I growl. “You either tell me or I’m leaving.” He doesn’t answer, his gaze leveled on me, his expression as stoic as ever. “You calling my bluff?” I ask when he doesn’t move or say a damn thing.

“I am,” he says, watching me. “Go on and leave, city girl. Let’s see how far you get without us.”

His words are like an ice-cold bath. Part of me wants to prove him wrong, to run away and give the Crows a run for their money, but if they found me out here, it’s only a matter of time before they find me anywhere. He’s right about that, but I’m not so helpless as he just made me sound. I could leave if I want to, even if something tells me they wouldn’t let me.

Anger at his words has me wanting to react, but my attention pulls to the marshmallow on my stick where it’s now on fire. I hadn’t paid attention to it during our conversation so it’s black now and I scowl in annoyance. I was going for a perfect golden brown and the damn thing is burnt now. I pluck it off and fling it at Dakota, hoping it sticks to him. Sadly, it only plops against his shirt and falls away.

“I really dislike you right now,” I spit.

He has me around the back of the neck before I even realize he’s moved. His large hand wraps around my neck and forces me back, until my eyes meet his, until his face is in mine.

“Dislike me all you want, Kate, but poking the nest isn’t any way to go,” he warns, his expression hard. This shouldn’t be sexy, but my thighs can’t help but rub together with arousal despite the achiness between them from the long hours riding. “When we’re ready to tell you our secrets, we will. So be a good girl and stop asking questions,” he growls.

I sneer at him despite his hold. “Hate might be a better word than dislike.”

He grins. “You don’t hate me, Kate. We both know that.” He leans closer and presses a kiss to my cheek, making my heart flutter in my chest. “We both know you’re thinking about fucking me right here beneath the stars while Wiley and Levi watch.” My breath hitches and he grins, his eyes flickering with pleasure. “Good girl,” he purrs and touches his nose to mine. “Now stop asking questions.”

He releases my neck and I jerk back, annoyed that I’m so turned on by his dominant display.

“Fucking cowboys,” I spit before flinging my stick into the fire. I don’t even want a smore now. “I’m going to sleep. Y’all sit out here with your secrets and your bullshit.”

I storm into the tent they’d set up for me, and only once I’m out of sight do I give into the urge to touch myself. I close my eyes and imagine Dakota grabbing me around the back of the neck the same way he’d just done before he pushes my mouth down on Wiley’s cock. All the while, he’d tell me what a good girl I am.

I come so hard, I have to bite the leather of my belt to keep from crying out. I don’t want Dakota to have that satisfaction.

The fucking bastard.

ChapterForty-One

LEVI

“We should probably just tell her,” I say, watching her disappear into the tent. I watch as one of the cattle dogs, Jethro, slips in after her to cuddle up a while later. William sleeps in the camper and I don’t blame him for it. That thing is as fuzzy as a fucking sheep. But he meows for Kate the moment he hears noise outside and she makes it a point to come free him quickly. She’s always so kind to the animals and they flock to her in droves. It’s that detail that tells me she’s a good person. Animals always know. It’s why Dozer hates me. He knows the monster I really am.

“In due time,” Dakota answers, shaking his head at me. “She may have accepted that she’s not going anywhere, but that don’t mean she still ain’t made for runnin’.”

I nod in understanding, even if I’m not sure this is a good idea. “She does have a history of runnin’,” I admit, frowning. But would she really run away at this point if she knew? It’s not as if I’ve done a great job of making her feel welcome here. That’s Wiley’s job. My job is to be angry and sometimes tell her she’s a sunflower. She should know that.

“That’s not fair and you know it,” Wiley growls. “She ran because she had no other choice. If she hadn’t, we would’ve never found her.”

“I’m aware of that,” Dakota growls softly so she can’t hear in the tent. “But you’re telling me you’re ready to air out all your skeletons? Every single one?”

He opens his mouth and closes it, no answer on his tongue.

Dakota sighs. “That’s what I thought. We’ll tell her soon, but for now, let her live the fantasy. Our main focus is keeping her safe and getting these cattle up to the reserve.”

Wiley looks over at the tent longingly. “I don’t think she’ll run.”

“She’d be wise to,” I admit, following his gaze. “She deserves better.”

“She might,” Dakota nods. “But it’s too late now. She gets us. She’s ours, and she’s not going nowhere.”

His words are final, as if he’ll never let her go. And I don’t blame him despite how it sounds. Wiley may pretend he’s a good person still, but Dakota has accepted what he is just as I have. I know if she runs, I’ll chase her to the ends of the Earth just to witness her warmth.

My sunflower, always pointing toward the sun.

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