Page 91 of Silas's Sweetheart

Hours later, stretched out on the too small bed in the cabin, waiting for Ziggy to get his ass back from the bar, Silas griped to himself about how he couldn’t use his big bed in the ranch house. Jupiter had taken up residence in the spare room next to his.

Popi had messaged Silas asking him not to question Jupiter’s decision and not to make a big deal of it. So, he hadn’t, but Ethan had. He had no amusement about the situation. Silas figured it was because Jupiter was more than a match for his friend and as attractive as Jupiter was, he wasn’t what Ethan picked to spar with in the bedroom. Jupiter was also the biggest wind-up merchant there was and as Ethan was the same, he could only imagine the sparks flying when they were in close quarters.

Booker had filled him in on what had happened the day before, when he’d been with Ziggy. It seemed Jupiter had more of an affinity with the animals than anyone had given him credit for. Especially Ethan, who had challenged Jupiter to touch Goliath after he’d mouthed off repeatedly. Shock of shocks, Goliath had allowed Jupiter to touch him and from all accounts, left Ethan speechless for a good half hour after.

A part of Silas would have liked to have seen that. Not that he would give up any of the precious time he’d had alone with Ziggy. Time he was missing out on right now.

Silas checked his wristwatch. “Where the hell are they?”

He flipped over onto his belly in frustration and hugged Ziggy’s pillow into his chest, sniffing the corner, smelling coconut and Ziggy’s unique scent.

His heartbeat slowed and his breathing evened out as he imagined the press of his snake against his body. It was fast becoming his favorite way to sleep, the weight of the snake pinning him to the bed. It made him feel… secure? Safe? Loved? Treasured? All of them?

He grinned into the pillow, then a thought hit. What would happen when they returned to Hazardville? How quick having Ziggy in his bed became habit was fucking scary. The idea of not having him close… yeah, they needed to talk about that. Like now! He just needed Ziggy to get his ass back here so that conversation could happen.

Go get him,his wolf encouraged.Why do we need to wait?

Out of the bed, dressed and glasses on, Silas headed out of the cabin. He made it off the porch when he heard giggles in the darkness and a voice whisper, “Shush, we don’t wanna wake up the grumps.”

Silas squinted into the darkness, trying to figure out if that was Wilder or Lennon talking.

“It would be nice if Jupiter were more grumpy and less friendly.”

That was most definitely Wilder and Silas debated how fast he could get back in the cabin to avoid being seen, but then Ziggy’s voice carried through the quiet of the night. “You weren’t complaining when he was dancin’ with us. Fuck, he’s got some moves—”

“Is that so?” Silas drawled, in the direction of where the voices were coming from, though he still couldn’t see.

There were more giggles and a squeal while he cursed not putting on a light in the cabin. The moon was shielded by clouds, giving him no chance of searching the darkness with his night blindness.

“Busted,” Ziggy muttered, not sounding upset at all as he appeared from behind the cabin next to theirs with Wilder, Lennon, and Isley in tow.

“Did you have a good time?” Silas asked when none of the men shuffling from foot to foot appeared to want to say anything.

“It was great. Cass and the guy who worked behind the bar got into it after Jupiter was wiggling all over him.”

“Wilder, stop exaggerating. Jupiter only placed his hands on Cass’s hips and that got the guy vaulting the bar and hauling Cass out of there,” Isley explained huffily.

“That’s what I said,” Wilder argued back in a voice that suggested he’d had one-to-many drinks.

Ziggy stared at Silas throughout, but he couldn’t read him. “I think y’all should hit the sack. Morning will come around quickly and there’ll be chores to be done.”

“Yeah,” Wilder muttered half-heartedly. “Lennon, you wanna share my cabin tonight?”

They walked off, Isley chasing them, asking if he could share too. As Silas walked to Ziggy, he noted the mismatched buttonsand got a whiff of Jupiter’s scent. His wolf prowled, feelings of possessiveness driving right through his control.

“Now what was that you were sayin’ ‘bout Jupiter?”

Chapter Forty-Two

Ziggy

Seeing Silas wearing dark, horn-rimmed glasses was the first shock. How fucking sexy he looked was the second. The third was how turned on Ziggy was at how growly and possessive his alpha was being.

He grinned unrepentantly at Silas, recalling exactly what he’d said before they’d gotten caught sneaking back to the cabins after one of the other ranch hands had let them ride to the ranch in the back of his truck. He ran his hands up the front of Silas’s shirt to tug on the collar and bring him closer.

“Do you know you look hot as fuck in those glasses?” Tugging to bring Silas in for a kiss, he met resistance.

“You didn’t answer my question,” he rasped, warm air brushing Ziggy’s lips as he stared, eyes narrowing.

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