Page 203 of Giddy Up, Daddy

Her wiggling felt damn good, all that sweet flesh squirming against my back, but I wasn’t about to say so at the moment.

Instead, I told her, “You may be right about that, but you still know your safe word is the way for me to really listen to you if something is completely amiss. You’ve used it before outside of a scene.”

She had safeworded out when we were trying to make Randy’s funeral arrangement, and one time when we were discussing finances and I was being a pig-headed dickhead. I knew she knew she could use it, and now that she’d been reminded, the ball was in her court.

“This is bullshit. Put me down right now!” She squealed and kicked her legs.

“I will as soon as I have you where I want you.” I adressed Travis as I turned in the direction of the Ranch. “Okay if I borrow this rope a while? I’ll return it as soon as I’m finished.”

“That’s fine, I’ve got plenty should I need one while you have it.”

Travis was obviously trying not to laugh at the scene in front of him. Wren had apparently disappeared into the barn with Destiny at some point. I wasn’t sure when, as my focus had been on the bratty pink-haired hellion who was determined to push every single one of my buttons during this trip.

Chapter Five

Ripley

I’d struggled and kicked all the way back to the lodge and through the lobby. A few heads turned in our direction, much to my horror, and I’d spotted a few wide grins. I was still kicking and muttering all the way down the hall until Cade opened the door to our suite.

“What the fuck has gotten into you?” I yelled as soon as he put my feet on the floor and I was able to begin to shimmy out of the rough rope.

“Me? What about you? What’s with all the baiting and sass and name-calling? You’ve been acting strange since we got here.”

I knew all that, but I’d hoped I’d done a better job of hiding it.

“That’s no excuse for you to revert back to caveman days!” I answered defensively. I didn’t know why I was so out of sorts. Well… okay, maybe I did, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it. Not with him, of all people.

“That’s not going to fly, Rip. I’m not going to just back down and let you evade my questions. You know me way better than that.”

I did, unfortunately. I knew him better than anyone, and the same could be said for how well he knew me. He was my best friend, my partner, my everything. Only he wasn’t, and he didn’t want to be. Cade Wyatt would never have romantic feelings for me.

He sighed heavily, and the sound unnerved me. “You know what? You’re right. I’m completely out of line, and I have no right to demand anything from you. You don’t answer to me. I’m sorry, honey.”

Wait. What? No.

This was not what I wanted. Not in the slightest. I wanted him to be stubborn and pig headed and spar with me. I needed him to. Why was he backing down so easily? I opened and closed my mouth, trying to form words, only my brain wouldn’t tell my mouth what words to form.

“I’m going to go for a run or something. Unless… you need me for anything?”

Yes, I need you to man the fuck up and handle me like I know you can,I screamed internally, but what I didn't do was say anything to him. Just stood staring like I could telepathically tell him everything I so desperately needed to without having to say it out loud.

He gave me a minute to get my shit together before he gave a nod of his head. “Alright then. I guess I’ll see you later. Or whenever.”

He sounded so defeated. The only time I’d ever heard him like that was when we’d gotten Randy’s diagnosis.

“I’m going to the dungeon later,” I announced randomly.

Cade clenched his jaw and his face hardened.

That’s right. Get mad. Tell me you don’t want me to play with anyone but you.

“I’ve been told everyone here is vetted.” His voice was tight and his words clipped. “It’s been a long time since you played.Just make sure anyone you negotiate with is aware of that, please?”

He didn’t wait for me to respond, just walked out the door and left.

Sighing in frustration, I fell into the love seat behind me and laid my head back and stared up at the ceiling.

“Why are men so dense?” I asked the empty room.

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