Page 76 of Saddles and Snowstorms
“What about the opening today?”
“That’s not until noon.” My hand slipped between his legs, my fingers grazing over his spent and cum-smeared hole. “We’ve got time.”
Brooks shivered at my touch, his eyes darkening again despite his recent release. “We’re gonna be late if you keep that up.” His protest was weak, contradicted by the way he shifted his hips to press against my exploring fingers.
“Would that be so terrible?” I leaned in, nipping at his bottom lip. “Being a little late to our own opening?”
He huffed a laugh against my mouth. “Eli would have my hide. He’s been advertising this for weeks.” His hand came up to cup my jaw, thumb tracing my cheekbone with surprising tenderness. “First time I’ve ever had to manage somethin’ like that, and I wanna do it right. I want your new clinic to be a success.”
I knew what this meant to him—how much courage it had taken for Brooks to put himself out there and not only become my business partner, but my boyfriend at the same time. Not to mention, this clinic was on his land. It belonged to us both. And it was everything both of us had ever dreamed of, so I guessed we probably shouldn’t be late.
“Alright, cowboy.” I pressed one last kiss to his lips before rolling away. “Let’s get you cleaned up and presentable. Can’t have Sagebrush’s finest rancher showing up looking like he’s been thoroughly fucked and bred all morning.”
Brooks’ ears reddened at my words, a sight I’d grown to cherish overthese past months. For all his stoicism, the man blushed like a teenager when I talked dirty to him. I lived for it.
“You’re awful,” he muttered, but there was no heat behind it. He swung his long legs over the edge of the bed, giving me a perfect view of his muscular back and the red marks my fingers had left there. “Shower with me?”
“Thought you were worried about being late,” I teased, but I was already getting up to follow him. I couldn’t resist running my hand down the curve of his spine as he stood, feeling him shiver under my touch.
The bathroom was small, barely big enough for the two of us, but that was part of the appeal. Brooks turned on the water, steam quickly filling the space as I pressed myself against his back, my arms wrapping around his waist.
“You know,” I said, my lips against his shoulder, “I never thought I’d be here.”
He turned in my arms, brown eyes searching mine. “In my shower?”
“In your life,” I clarified, suddenly serious. “You were always this... mystery. The quiet rancher who wouldn’t let anyone in. I still can’t believe you let me in.”
Brooks stepped into the shower, pulling me with him. The warm water cascaded over us both as he pressed his forehead to mine, hands settling on my hips.
“Never thought I would,” he admitted, voice barely audible over the spray. “Spent so long convincin’ myself I was better off alone. Safer that way.”
I ran my fingers through his wet hair, pushing it back from his face. “And now?”
“Now I’m standin’ naked in my shower with the town vet, about to open a goddamn animal clinic on my property.” A rare, full smile spread across his face. “Guess I’ve changed my mind about a few things.”
We washed quickly after that, hands lingering but not starting anything we didn’t have time to finish. When we stepped out, I watched Brooks transform back into the man Sagebrush knew—methodical movements as he combed his hair, trimmed his beard just so, and pulled on his clothes with practiced efficiency. The onlydifference was the occasional glance he’d throw my way, a softness in his eyes that nobody else got to see.
“You gonna wear that hat today?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as he reached for his wrinkled leather cowboy hat. It looked like it had been run over a couple times by both cattle and trucks.
“Of course,” he grinned. “I ain’t never gonna give up that hat.”
“It looks like shit, Brooks.”
He shook his head. “No, it’s my story.” He picked it up, dusting it off gently, reverently. “Every wrinkle in this hat represents my struggles in life, how I became who I am.” He looked up at me, giving me a wink. “More than a few of these are from you, ya know?”
I laughed, stepping closer to adjust the hat on his head. “Yeah? Which ones specifically?”
“This dent here,” he said, pointing to a crease on the side, “was from when you convinced me to go riding at sunset and we ended up against that oak tree with your cock in my mouth.”
“Worth it,” I murmured, kissing him softly. “And that one?” I pointed to another worn spot near the brim.
“That was from the blizzard. When I fell, it got pretty crunched in the snow. Good thing you saved me, or it might’ve been the last time I wore it.” His voice deepened with the memory, eyes filling with warmth.
I couldn’t help the surge of pride that went through me. It was still hard to believe sometimes that this man—this strong, stubborn, beautiful man—had chosen me. That the same Brooks Callahan who’d barely spoken three words to anyone in town for years now whispered my name in the dark like a prayer.
“Come on,” he said, breaking me from my thoughts. “We should get going.”
Outside, the Texas sun beat down mercilessly, the late May heat already oppressive despite the early hour. Brooks’ ranch stretched out before us, a hundred acres of good land that he’d poured his heart and soul into. And at the edge of the property, nestled between a stand of oak trees and a small creek, stood our new large animal clinic, a labor of love that had taken the better part of two months to complete.
