Page 83 of Stables

I have nothing.

“Char, are you hurt?” His hot hands work over my arms before he drops his jacket over my shoulders.

All I can do is shake my head.

“Come on, you need to get inside.” He works his calloused palms under my thighs and around my ribs to lift me to his chest.

“Leave me. I’m not worth the hassle, Dixon.” I’m a burden with no end in sight.

Useless.

A growl emanates from the depths of him. “Let me be the judge of that. What the hell happened?” His brisk walk carries me across the barnyard.

“He took—” My throat feels like it’s closing. Struggling, I manage to swallow down the lump that formed. “—Matt took them.” Weakly, I wave the wet paper against my knee.

“What did he take?” Dixon kicks the door closed after he carries me through. “You’re soaked, Char.”

The chill finally hits me and my teeth start chattering. “My horses. He has Whiskey.”

He cups my jaw, tilting my face so I can only see him. “You think because of some animals, I’m not going to want you?”

Fresh tears spill over my cheeks, following his thumbs down to collect in the corners of my mouth. “They’re all I have.”

Darkness flashes through his chestnut eyes. “They aren’t what’s important to me, Char. It’s you. It’s always been you.”

I need him to fill this hollow black hole that’s sucking my very will to go on.

“Dixon, please.” The paper flutters to the floor as my fingers curl behind his neck.

“Anything,” he breathes, pulling my body close against his.

“Please.” My head falls backwards into his palms. “Want me. Ruin me.”

His lips crash over mine with bruising force.

I embrace it, wrapping my arms behind his head and squeezing him so tightly against me I can’t tell where he stops and I begin.

More. I have to have all of him.

Make the world disappear.

The fire in his kiss begins to thaw the ice that clings to my heart. This time, he isn’t tentative, but owns my lips, explores every corner of my mouth with his tongue, and steals every exhale until I fall weakly into his grasp.

“Char, you’re so fucking cold. Come on.” He strips the heavy jacket from my shoulders and picks me up as he kicks off his boots.

He only sets me down once we’re in the narrow bathroom. Taking a seat on the toilet lid, he pulls me onto his lap as he starts the water.

While the tub fills, his burning lips trace my jaw, and his strong hands tug off my shoes.

He pauses over my blouse, tilting my chin up to look at him.

Those chocolate eyes, like my favorite truffles, meet mine with a naked gaze of caring.

“I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I’ll never hurt you.” His thumb traces my temple, leaving a scalding path over my cheek, then he skims the rough pad over my sensitive lips so lightly I can barely feel it.

“You need to trust me,” he husks over the running tap. “If I ever do anything you don’t like, or you need a break—” His jaw ticks making his mustache twitch.

My own palm brushes down his stubble. Why does the pain in his gaze make me want to cry again? I can see the emotion through his stoic facade, the raw intensity that makes me want to both cuddle and ravage him.

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