Page 116 of Dark Horse

Well, fuck. The idea has me wet again already. I moan my enthusiasm over his cock, and he fucks my mouth faster, the tip teasing the back of my throat as he uses his free hand to stroke the base.

“But for now, we’re gonna fill up this pretty mouth together.” His fingers tighten against my scalp, and I can feel him start to come on my tongue. “That’s my girl. Take it all. Swallow me down. I love watching that throat work to take everything I give you. So-fucking-perfect.” He’s cursing and murmuring soft broken praise as he fucks my mouth until he’s spent, slowly pulling away and watching with wonder as he spills out over my lips.

“You’re fucking gorgeous, you know…” He studies my face for a moment.

His thumb rubs over my lower lip, spreading his come like he’s marking me before he leans down to kiss me. He takes his time, his tongue exploring mine as he reaches above me to untie the belt from my hands. He scoops me up after I’m loose, carrying me into the bathroom and setting me down on the counter. He grabs a washcloth, letting the water warm before he runs it underneath.

“Do you know what you want for dinner? We can eat downstairs, or I can take you into town or even the city,” he offers as he wipes my lips, careful not to smear the rest of my makeup.

“Downstairs. As good as the city sounds, I’m too excited about getting to play after.” I grin at him, and he slips thewashcloth between my legs as his lips brush softly over mine. He cleans me up gently and then helps me down from the counter.

“I love the way your mind works.” He presses his forehead to mine, and he plants another kiss on my lips and smiles.

“Good, because I happen to like yours a lot too.” I’m madly in love with this man with no hope of recovery.

EPILOGUE

GRANT

A few weeks later

The sky is stilla brilliant blue as I walk across the meadow, the crop of aspens holding court around the small family cemetery. I kiss my fingertips and press them to the top of my mother’s grave as I walk by and brush my palm over the top of my father’s, clearing a couple of leaves that have gathered before I reach the man I’m here to visit.

It still hurts every time I see the stone facade with his name etched in it, the short span of years reminding me he didn’t even make it to thirty. I settle down next to it, pulling out my flask and the two shot glasses I brought with me.

“Hey, old friend,” I greet him as I set one on top of the stone. “I brought your favorite today because I have to tell yousome things I don’t think you’re gonna want to hear. But I’d be a shit fucking friend if I didn’t come talk to you first. Figure the good whisky might make it go down easier.”

I pour his glass of Scotch and fill mine as well before I cap the flask and tuck it back into my pocket. I clink the edge against his and down the whole thing like it’s the cheap stuff you shoot. I need the courage right now.

“I know it’s been a minute since I’ve been out here. I hope you can forgive me. It’s been a mess lately. So ugly there for a minute that I thought I might lose Dakota too. Things haven’t been easy for her lately either. But she’s a fighter, you know. Never lets anything get in her way, not for long anyway. You’d be so proud of her if you could see everything she accomplishes on her own.” I chuckle. “She and Vendetta could take on the whole world all by themselves, I think.”

There’s no reply, but the whistle of a bird in one of the trees draws my attention skyward, and the way the leaves move, it feels like maybe he could be listening.

“She’s what I need to talk to you about. The thing you’re not gonna like much. Because I went and fucked up.” I laugh at how I got here and bow my head, staring at a small outcropping of wildflowers starting to bloom on the edge of his grave. “I fell in love with her. I swear to you I did my best not to. I tried to stop it when I realized it was happening. But when she figured it out, well… you know how she is. She’s still the same. If she wants it, she gets it… and for some stupid fucking reason I’ll never understand, she wants me too.”

I can almost see him sitting across from me. Laughing at me for getting myself into this situation. Telling me she’ll have me by the balls for the rest of my life.

“That bit about the rest of my life? That’s the part I’m here about. Figure you need to hear it from me first because I know you’ll be the first person she runs to tell.” I run mythumb over the edge of my empty glass. “I’m gonna ask her if she wants to try forever. Got a whole proposal planned out and everything. You’d be laughing your ass off at what a fool I’m gonna look like if you were still around.

“And before you say anything—I know damn well I don’t deserve her. It would take my whole life to even come close to earning an ounce of her brand of love, but you know now, like you knew then, that I’ll do anything for her. So I hope you can forgive me if you hate it. I’m hoping like hell you would have given us your blessing if you were here.” I scrub my hand over my mouth, doing my best not to cry and failing. “I love her so damn much it hurts, and I just wish you could be here to see how hard I’m gonna work to make her happy.”

I take a deep breath when I finally feel like I’ve let enough loose to recompose myself.

“Fuck. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so emotional on you. I just… wanted you to know.” I grab his glass and pour it out in the grass in front of his headstone. “Cheers, old friend. I hope wherever you are, you know how much we miss you.”

I tuck the glass into the other and start my long walk back to the house. Taking the chance to recite everything I want to say to her—all the things that’ll probably go straight out of my head when I need them.

I’manxious as we get to the top of the trail I’ve taken her to and tie off the horses. I throw the makeshift picnic bag Kit gave me over my shoulder, and I can’t help but smile at the memory of how she squealed when I asked her to put it together for me. I didn’t even tell her what it was for, but she knew anyway because she’s known me well enough for years that picnics to romantic locations by trail ride aren’t a thing I usually do.Scratch that—it’s not a thing I have ever or would ever do for anyone except Dakota.

“Thought we’d go up to the top of the tower. There’s a nice view up there,” I announce as I lead her in that direction.

“What’s all this?” She looks at the bag, smiling.

“A picnic Kit put together for us.”

“Oh my god. I love her food. How’d you talk her into that? Isn’t she busy this week with all the guests?” Dakota’s eyes drift over me.

“She is, but she makes time when it’s someone she likes.”

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