Page 65 of Shielded Hearts

“Sounds nice.”

On their way out of the kitchen, he saw his family exchange looks and had no doubt that after he and Aspen left, they’d become the topic of conversation. For once, Colt didn’t mind.This time, they wouldn’t be exchanging concerns about his mental wellbeing between them.

Outside, he swung his head left and right, checking on their surroundings. The ranch was probably the safest place in the state. Between the siblings who were all trained bodyguards as well as trained by the US military, there was little chance of a threat getting past. Add in the veterans on the premises who were still willing and able to fight for what they believed in, and the Black Heart Ranch was a stronghold.

He still wasn’t taking any chances with Aspen. As he took her hand and led her down the wide porch steps, he tuned in to the world using his other senses. In the distance, horses nickered in the paddock. The breeze freshened, carrying the scent of mountain snow and the hay that the workers had put out for the horses.

“This way.” He led Aspen across the yard to the big barn.

“I love that the barn’s painted black. Goes with the name of the ranch.”

He cast her a smile as they reached the door and he pushed it open.

The space was like a homecoming. No wonder too—it was where he slept.

Dust swirled in the air. The place was pristinely clean according to Willow’s standards, and they all did their best to uphold that.

At the rear of the barn was a staircase leading to the loft. When Aspen tipped her head to look up at the steps, she gave a soft shake of her head. “Is that your room up there?”

“Yeah. I want you to see it.”

“I expected one of those ladders going vertically up the wall.”

“There was one, but I built the stairs. Easier to navigate, especially in the dark.” He waved a hand toward the wood steps,and she began to climb them, giving him an amazing view of her round backside and toned thighs.

His cock twitched, eager to be buried between those thighs all day and all night long.

When they reached the top, she turned in a slow circle. He tried to see the place through her eyes. What must she be learning about his personal sleeping quarters? About his life?

A humble wooden twin bedframe took up one wall. A thick navy-blue quilt and simple sheets neatly covered the mattress that Willow wanted to replace but wasn’t too uncomfortable in his opinion. Of course, he’d slept rough in dangerous enemy territory. Compared to that, the loft looked like a king’s lodgings.

Beside the bed was an old wooden crate packed with books. On top was a lamp with a naked lightbulb.

Aspen migrated to the crate and crouched to read the titles. She ran her fingertip along the spines of classics and espionage thrillers.

“Do you read a lot?”

“Every night. Except the week I’ve been with you.”

She twisted to pierce him in her gaze.

Not knowing what to do with himself, he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “What do you think?”

She gained her feet and turned to him. “It looks…lonely.”

He filled his lungs with a big breath of hay-scented air. “I don’t know if it fits me anymore.”

She stepped up to him, looping her arms around his neck. The feel of her body brushing against his made him feel like he finally could catch a breath. With a shudder, he pulled her into his arms and buried his face against her neck.

“I thought I lost you.”

She stilled in his hold, probably shocked by his confession that was more of an admission of those feelings he’d joked about being icky back at breakfast.

“I was scared too.” Aspen tilted her beautiful face up to his.

He swooped in and captured her mouth. The soft, seeking kiss they shared felt like turning a corner, flipping a page in his life and coming up for air all at the same time.

Slanting his mouth over hers, he drank in her sweet sounds and delicious flavor he might be addicted to.

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