Page 95 of Buckled in Barbwire

Without taking my eyes off my husband, I mumble to his sister beside me. “More carefree, huh?”

“Trust me, it’s a vast improvement.” Bianca doesn’t sound the least bit concerned as her brother storms at us like a cyclone.

I lift my brows at his hasty incoming. “What are—?”

The rest of that question becomes a whoosh of shock when he hauls me off the seat in an urgent upheaval. I’m crushed against him and his wall of muscle before the breath returns to my lungs. He inhales my sputter when our mouths collide in a punishing kiss. Thunder pounds in my ears from the thrashing in his chest. A muffled groan parts his lips over mine. Manic hands roam over my body, squeezing too tight. I become lax against him, waving a white flag.

Brody pulls away at my surrender. Our foreheads touch while his gaze searches mine. Tense silence consumes us, his ragged exhales puffing against my face. I’m stunned again when his eyes pinch shut like he’s trying to unsee an uncertain horror.

“You’re okay.” The relief in his voice clenches my heart.

I lift a palm to cradle his scruffy cheek. “Um, yeah? Why wouldn’t I be?”

“What if something happened to you?” Anguish drips from his guttural tone.

It’s like a punch to my heart. I think of his mom, and how she collapsed suddenly. But that was a rare occurrence. The scar still leaves a haunting mark on those left behindto pick up the pieces. Maybe that’s not what’s causing his drastic reaction, but I should’ve considered the possibility.

“I’m okay,” I reassure again.

He nods against me, but then his expression steels into unbridled fury. His fingers clutch at the nape of my neck as if tempted to throttle me. “What were you thinking?”

My empathy leaps into the backseat, whistling like she took the wheel prematurely. I rear my head but don’t get far with his grip on my nape. “Excuse you?”

“Why did you leave without telling me where you’re going?”

“Listen, old man.” The name is used on purpose and he stiffens in recognition. I struggle until he releases me to stand on my own feet. “You’re not actually the boss of me. I don’t answer to you. If I want to go somewhere, I’m going to go. Besides, I left you a note.”

Green anger gleams in his gaze. “That scrap of paper said nothing other than you were grateful for the endless orgasms and you’d see me later.”

“Nasty.” Bianca gags from her front row seat to our shit show.

That has Brody swinging his glare to her. “And you didn’t answer my calls.”

She blinks innocently. “How does it feel?”

“Real shitty. You took my wife and didn’t have the decency to pick up the phone. I’ve been going out of my mind.” He rips at his hair, disheveling the mess even more.

“First of all,” his sister cuts into his mental breakdown. “Paisley drove. It was her idea. Screw you and your assumption I snatched her from you very much. Second, we’re grown women capable of taking care of ourselves.”

“That doesn’t mean you disappear without a trace!” he shouts.

My friend inspects her manicure, not bothered by his tone. “Oh, please. You found us safe and sound. Who ratted us out?”

“Nobody in particular. The entire town is in my pocket.”

I cluck my tongue. “We’ve got nowhere to hide, sis.”

Which takes a slight edge off Brody’s scowl. “That’s true. Once I got my shit together, I realized several horses were gone. Your trailer and truck too. It was a process of elimination after that.”

“Left entirely too many clues,” Bianca mutters.

Brody’s wrath narrows on her before swinging to me. That blistering ferocity snuffs out, collapsing in defeat. A wounded noise rips from him as he gathers me back in his arms. He pulls until our chests are flush. Only then does the tension loosen from his muscles. I wrap myself around him, understanding he needs the comfort of my touch. The pained rumble that spills from him guts me. His face dips into the crook of my neck where he breathes me in.

“Please don’t do that again,” Brody rasps.

My nose buries in his hair, drawing in woodsy spice and an irrational attitude adjustment. “I didn’t think you’d care.”

“How can you say that?”

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