Page 126 of Knot Her Cowboys
“Not especially. The horses would let us know if something got close.”
“I’ll be fine.” I nibbled my toasty, gooey confection, content as hell tucked into Dakota’s arms.
Levi scooted closer and I rotated as he scooped my legs over his. “I just want to make sure you feel safe. The woods at night aren’t for everyone.”
“I’ve marched through them in the dark a thousand times. Sometimes the woods were safer than home.”
I caught Levi’s frown and the tension in Dakota’s body.
“It’s better now. Not that the ranch isn’t safe, but I know Darlene isn’t going to pop up out here. I’m not going to leavebecause of her, but she did kinda wig me out, showing up like that.”
“The electric fencing is getting installed tomorrow,” Levi said. “It won’t be around the entire property, but it’ll cover enough of the areas off the roads to deter people. We can get a restraining order too, or at least petition for one.”
“Probably easier to petition for the Deckers to just let her in.” I sighed.
Levi winced. “Not wrong about that. Wearegoing to protect you, though.”
I nestled deeper in Dakota’s embrace. “I know. If Cooper got Morgan and himself successfully off the Harris ranch, I’m pretty sure he can do anything, and you’re all close so I’m assuming that superpower is something you share. Plus, Darlene is stubborn as fuck, but she’s also a coward. Cooper scared her, so it’ll take her time to build up the courage to try again.”
“Do you think the Deckers would still try something if they knew you were our omega?” Dakota asked.
“Hard to say. They’ve got some pretty fucked-up ideas about omegas.”
“Like what?” Levi asked.
“Theylikethe fact that omegas are in pain during their heats if they’re not tended to. They think we deserve it, that it’s some sort of divine suffering that will cleanse us.”
“What the fuck?” Dakota whispered.
“Most of what I know is bits and pieces from when Maisie and I were still at the same school. They don’t know who all is going to present as an omega, so they teach that to all of the children, no matter what their designation might be. Then they all accept that if an alpha gives in and spares an omega suffering during their heat, they’re actually doing them a disservice.”
“Thank the gods your mother has such a terrible personality they didn’t want her in there.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “I’ve thought that a lot. Maisie’s mom is the reason I didn’t grow up there. I’m grateful now, even if I didn’t understand it all back then. Not that I ever wanted to be in the cult, but sometimes I figured anything would be better than facing Darlene alone.”
“I wish there was a way we could stop any of them from ever hurting you again,” Dakota said softly.
“It’ll all balance out,” I insisted. “You guys all treat me so well, it makes the prospect of Darlene and the Deckers loom a lot smaller. The future here seems a lot less scary when I’m with you.”
Levi’s hand snaked up to rest on my thigh and I laid my palm over it. “You really see a life with us?”
“Hard not to when you’re all basically angels in human form. Cooper was definitely my guardian angel growing up.” I took a slow breath, my throat tight. “Ialwayssaw a future with Cooper, and then when I bonded Cash, it was so easy to see a future with him too. You guys fight for me just as hard as they do, and you barely even know me. I don’t think I’d have been able to come around to things without the two of you being exactly who you are.”
Dakota purred quietly, tucking me even closer, resting his cheek against my hair. “You know, I didn’t quite understand their obsession with you until we met, but I already feel like I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if you left.”
I lifted my face and he threaded his fingers into my hair, offering me a kiss that melted every lingering bit of ice inside me. Levi inched closer, and when I took a moment to breathe, he stole me away for his own kiss. They were both so sweet with me. Even though they were gentle now, I knew they were fully capable of indulging my baser instincts.
I wanted to be taken care of. Each time it happened, it healed some broken piece of me that had been neglected through my childhood. They deserved that too, though.
“So, I know what you guys bring to the table. What exactly am I bringing for you?”
Dakota laced his fingers with mine. “Peace, chaos, fun.”
“Humor,” Levi added, “and sweetness, all wrapped up in the prettiest package.”
My cheeks warmed.
“We don’t need you to protect us,” said Dakota. “We just need you to want to be with us.”
