Page 29 of Goose

He finally unlocks the door, and we step inside. The lights come on and I’m pleasantly surprised.

Goose has a beautiful home that you would never suspect. It’s all very open and still looks like a barn inside. You can see all the beams in the ceiling all the way to the back of the home.

To the right, there is a large white kitchen. All the appliances are shiny silver and clean. A large kitchen island sits in the middle with three black chairs on the one side. Everything is so tidy.

To the left, his dark blue living room sits. A large L-shaped grey couch creates a separation from the kitchen. Rich wood furniture sits around the room; bookshelf, chair, coffee table. An enormous fireplace sits on one wall and the other has all windows. There are some small plants that I know Mama Crawford brought over.

Looking deeper into the living room, I can see the frames I bought for him filled with pictures of his family sitting on the shelves.

Goose pulls me from my thoughts as he leads me to the wood and metal stairs at the back of the house. We silently climb up and head down the small hallway.

I remember every detail from when he had me help decorate his house. He had let me have free rein and didn’t change a thing.

The pictures I took line the hallway walls as we pass by the barn doors to the other rooms.

The first door is his home office, the second door is a bathroom, the third door is his workout room. Coming to the end of the hallway, his bedroom door sits right in front of us.

Goose quietly opens the door and sets the lights on dim. His room is very masculine, but so comfortable. I look around, expecting the room to be different, but everything is just the same. From the framed pictures of the ranch I took to the small snake plant in the corner, everything's the same as I left it years ago.

Goose hasn’t changed a thing. Despite the way he treats me, I’m sensing he hides a lot of feelings beneath his gruff exterior.Maybe there’s hope for us...

His king-sized bed sits on the left wall that’s covered in wood. The large grey comforter sits neatly in place with the other blankets and pillows.

The opposite wall has a large barn door that opens up to his walk-in closet and master bathroom.

Goose guides me to the bed and gently takes my boots off. I don’t dare say a word, scared to break the peace.

He carefully takes my dress off as he slips his own shirt over my head. Smiling, he kisses my forehead and scoots me up and under the blankets.

“Get some rest, babe. I’ll be back up in a few.”

I nod as he walks toward the door and turns the lights off. I sigh as I snuggle down into the bed.

I should get up and talk to him.

The thoughts bounce around my head as his bed pulls me deeper into sleep. My eyelids get heavier as I struggle to stay awake.

Finally, I stop fighting and let sleep whisk me away into the dark.

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ISIT UP QUICKLY INbed, sweat dripping down my face, shaken awake from another nightmare. They’re coming more frequently and I can’t explain why. They’re all about the abuse and torture I experienced growing up.

Turning to the clock, I can see that I was only asleep for maybe half an hour. I try to close my eyes again, but it’s no use. I’m up now and my mind won’t let me go back to sleep from fear of the nightmares.

Stretching, I throw the blankets aside and climb out of bed. I quietly sneak out of the bedroom and down the stairs.

I can see Goose in the kitchen cooking, so I make my way toward him. I lean against one of the old support beams and watch as a shirtless Goose moves around.

His tattoos dance as he moves effortlessly through the kitchen. Something as simple as him rolling dough turns me on.

He’s like a drug I just can’t get enough of...

Sensing me here, Goose turns and smiles at me from behind the kitchen island.

“You gonna take a seat or keep staring at me like a creeper?”

I laugh as I plop myself down in one chair. Goose winks as he gets back to work on the dough.

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