Page 19 of Tusks & Saddles
She let him guide her to the riverside, saddle plopped behind them. He wrestled her out of her boots and they both rolled up their pant legs just to stick their poor heels in the running water. There was nothing like cooling off the little piggies after a long day. Boone reached behind him into their sack, something that surprisingly didn’t get stomped to death in the stampede of skeletons, and rummaged around for their food bag. It took a little grumbling and mumbling, Will staring blankly across the river the whole time, but he got the sack out. Fishing out two beers, he popped the top on them with the tip of his tusks and handed her one.
Will didn’t even question it, which is how he knew she was devastated.
“Baby, we’re gonna find her—”
“I’m a pessimist at heart. If I always think something’s gonna break or go wrong, then I’m never shocked when it happens. It hurts less that way,” she blurted out before glancing his way.
Boone blinked once, at a loss for words. It took him a minute to connect the dots, but when he did, he nodded. “That’s alright, I’ll make sure not to let you drown in your dark clouds, my little ostrich.”
“Fuck you! I’m not an ostrich.”
“Standing in the rain, mouth open, drowning in it, sounds like an ostrich to me.” He smirked before tossing back a sip.
“Fine, but I’m mean too.”
“You already said that,” he laughed, drying his lips on the back of his sleeve, “and I already said I like you mean.”
“I'm not a princess. I’m not dainty or demure.” Willamina took a long, heavy sip before she finally looked his way again. “I’m not delicate.”
“And when did I even make you consider that’s what I wanted in a partner?” Boone raised a brow at her. Will scowled, but he knew he’d won when she spun toward him and slugged him right in the chest. He let out a pained wheeze, cackling the whole way down. Thankfully, he spared the beer, setting it onto the steady ground nearby as Will leaned over him staring down at him.
“I guess it’s not much of a list, huh?” she exhaled.
“I didn’t reckon there’d be much on it,” Boone teased, reaching up a hand to brush her hair back behind her ears. “Seeing as you were pretty much handmade by the Sun Bringer for me.”
Will stared at him hard. He could see the cogs spinning in her head and they were likely to catch fire with all the thinking she was doing. He knew she was trying to find a reason, any reason to rationalize not letting herself have an ounce of happiness. It’s what Will did best. She gave and gave and gave, because the moment she asked for anything in return, she could get rejected. Torn down.Or left behind.It was easier to accept disappointment if you’re not used to a single endorphin.
“Get in the river with me, baby.” He plucked the beer from her hands and immediately ripped his shirt off.
“What? What about Roger?”
“So? He’s absolutely seen my ass a few times, thanks to Jacobus. And I’ll put my big back in between you and him. Pull those rotten clothes off and let me get the blood out of your hair.” Boone didn’t let her question it, pulling her up onto her feet on the riverbank. He was already halfway out of his pants and boxers when he caught sight of her skin.Goddess save me.Boone froze down to the bone as she peeled her shirt fully off her torso. Those glowing eyes of hers snapped to him and his stomach clenched.
Will smirked at him before her hand snapped out toward him. She flicked him across the nipple, causing him to jump back, slapping a hand to his chest. Cackling wildly, she shoved her pants off her hips. “Now we’re even.”
“Not even close,” he growled. Hooking his thumb in his boxers, he shoved everything off his body. In the three seconds it took her to fling off her bra, he had her by the waist. Will let out a surprised yelp over his shoulder as he hoisted her up onto it and waded into the river. At its bank, the river was maybe a foot, maybe two. The center of the river, however, was over five feet, coming up to his armpits. Boone chucked his Enriyes like a sack of flour into the water and watched her splash about. She sank down underneath the water for only a moment. Boone followed her, watching through lazily moving, mostly-clear water as she shook out her hair vigorously.
He broke the surface with a gasp and only three seconds to brace as she kicked off the riverbed. Her arms shot out of the water and grabbed him by the shoulders. Like he’d taken the broad side of acow to the chest, she threw herself into him and knocked the two of them back under the water. Boone hooked an arm around his flopping trout of a woman, and fished them both back out of the river. If Roger thought maybe they were drowning, he didn’t seem interested in saving them. Not as Boone broke back through the surface, booming with laughter.
“Woman, you trying to drown me?”
“I told you not to ‘woman’ me!” she roared, kicking and thrashing trying to get out of his arms. His cock hardened at the feel of her slick body sliding across his chest. Boone cupped the back of her head, forcing her still.
“Then what should I call you?” he teased.
“I’ll accept ‘baby’, ‘honey’, my fucking name,” she huffed.
“Mine?” He arched a brow.
“Obviously, you won’t let me convince you otherwise.” She tossed her arms out to the side. For a moment, while she was panting for air and he was marveling of how pretty she was, there was only the rush of water and a light, sweet moo floating around them. Then her hands found his cheeks and he felt her legs wrap around him. And finally, without another complaint, she pulled his mouth to hers. He kissed her hard.I love you, spitfire. I want you, Willamina Jones. I have always wanted you.He wanted the kiss to say everything that she wouldn’t allow him to say. Not just yet, at least.
There would come a time when Will was ready to hear it. For the moment, he’d take what she was willing to give. One hand moving to cup the nape of her neck, the other finding purchase against her round ass, he couldn’t help squeezing. Her hips rutted against him and he would apologize for any stray glimpse Roger caught later. He wasn’t about to let her get away again. Boone walked them to the other side, attempting to put a little space between the herd and them.
Breaking the kiss, he trailed it down her cheek, then her throat as he laid her down into the damp moss decorating the riverbank. Her fingers trailed his broad back, tracing every curve and line. He shivered.More, please, don’t stop touching me.Hard not to buck at every little brush of her fingertips when one is touch starved. His kiss grew frenzied, hungry, and desperate against her throat as she tugged on him. Knees hitting the riverbed, he nestled himself between her thick thighs.
“Goddess preserve me,” he breathed against her collarbone.
“I don’t think she can save you here,” Will laughed playfully, spearing a hand between them. She wrapped those damn fingers around his cock, and he saw stars. The only thing keeping him from spilling on her right then and there was the desperation to be inside her.It’s been a while and it’s…well it’s her. Anyone else I wouldn’t even be at half-mast right now.
