Page 30 of Destry

“I guess that means I’ll have to take full advantage of you being here tonight since you’re pretending this is the last time you’ll be in my bed.” He grinned and walked away from the bed and my eyes shifted to the condoms because I had a feeling that was my warning that we would be using every single one and I was looking forward to it.

CHAPTER

TWELVE

Destry.

The past couple of days I had fallen into a comfortable rhythm with Savvy. One I hadn’t seen coming.

Days at the rodeo, watching her work and catching moments where she let her guard down just enough to remind me I wasn’t the only one feeling this pull between us.

Nights at my ranch, where she practiced until her legs burned, pushing herself hard. When she was done, we’d sit out under the stars, sometimes talking, sometimes not, and eventually, she’d end up at my house in my bed. The space between us disappeared more and more.

She fit into my world too damn easily, like she had been meant to be there all along, but today I was back in competition mode, standing near the chutes, preparing for my next qualifying ride.

I adjusted my glove and kept my breath even as I focused on the bull in the pen ahead of me.

The crowd was loud as hell and the energy was pulsing, but I tuned it out. I had one goal. Stay on the damn bull, make the time, move forward. That was the plan, or at least it was until I saw her.

Savvy walked past, completely in her own world, focused on whatever task she was doing but I reached out, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her in close, grinning as she squealed in surprise.

“You coming to see me ride?” I asked, keeping her firmly against me.

“No.”

I lifted a brow. “No?”

She shrugged playfully. “I haven’t watched any of your qualifying rides. Why start now?”

I leaned in just enough to brush my lips against her ear. “Because I want you to.”

“Maybe,” she mumbled, slipped out of my grip and walked off, leaving me standing there grinning like a damn fool.

Unfortunately I couldn’t chase her. I had a bull to ride. I headed back to the arena and I climbed into the chute. Everything else faded away and my focus was locked in. The bull beneath me, Iron Fist, was already restless. I could feel his muscles twitching as his nostrils flared and he kept digging his hooves into the dirt.

I adjusted my grip on the rope and tightened my hold. I flexed my fingers and shifted. My heartbeat slowed and my body settled into that familiar pre-ride calm.

Then I saw her.

Savvy.

She walked up to the fence and casually leaned against the gate with her arms crossed and eyes on me. I smirked, tipped my hat and winked, but quickly let my focus snap back to the ride.

The gate opened.

The world narrowed.

Iron Fist kicked hard, launching forward, and I moved with him, allowing my body to jerk with control, anticipating his shifts before he made them.

Two seconds.

He made a sharp twist to the left and I adjusted.

Four seconds.

The bull reared back with his legs shooting up, but I stayed firm and my muscles locked, keeping my weight balanced.

Six seconds.

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