Page 83 of Knot Her Cowboys
“Do you want me to join you after you hose off all the horse yuck?”
“I’d love your company.” I shucked my rubber apron, rinsed it off with the hose, hung it to dry for now, and then turned the hose on my clothing. I’d run it through the washer as well, but I liked to make sure I didn’t have too much solid matter stuck to me.
Riley laughed and snuck her hands in for a rinse. “You’re not doing the full shower out here, are you? I only like cold water when I’m deliberately swimming in it and it’s hot as balls out.”
“Just rinsing. The staff are used to me sprinting around in my underwear after dealing with messy veterinary care.” I stripped down to my underlayers and gave my clothing a quick wring-out before draping them over my shoulder and gesturing for Riley to follow me to the big house.
The washer and dryer were right inside the door to the mudroom and I chucked everything in there until I was totally bare. Riley did the same and scampered ahead of me, pausing at the open door of the main floor bathroom.
“Here or your en suite?”
“Here,” I replied. We didn’t like to track ranch mess too deep into the house so the main floor bathroom got a lot of use.
Riley darted inside and I was treated with the spectacular view of her ass as she bent over to fiddle with the tap handle to get the water running. She squeaked as I got closer and cupped one of the ass cheeks.
Her eyes were full of fire when she looked at me over her shoulder. “Come on in here, cowboy.”
She nudged me to sit on the shower bench, scrubbed up her hands with some of the available soap, and rinsed them clean before snatching the wand to soak my hair.
“You’re bathing me?” I asked.
“You worked hard making sure Bluebell came safely into the world. You deserve a little rest.”
I wasn’t going to complain about that. I closed my eyes, letting her shampoo my curls, my purr rumbling as she scrubbed my scalp. She lulled me into a state of bliss, methodically cleaning me from head to toe before standing between my spread knees, allowing me to do the same for her.
I traced the length of flower tattoos on her sides and swept my thumb over the one nestled on her hip, a little barrel with lupines poking out the top. “Do they have any particular meaning, or just for the aesthetic?”
“The ones on the sides are mostly aesthetic and nostalgic. I got a different Montana wildflower each year I was gone.”
“And this one?” I asked, tapping the barrel and flowers.
She pressed her lips into a line, like she wasn’t ready to admit what that one meant.
“You don’t have to tell me. Want to sit on my lap?”
She obliged, putting her hands behind my neck and tucking my very awake cock between us. Her eyes closed slowly as I slipped soapy fingers over her skin.
“You were a very good vet assistant today.”
“I barely did anything.”
“You did. It’s always easier to care for animals if someone soothes them while I have to do all of the medical stuff. It’s not a small job, and you definitely have to be brave around horses.”
“They’re just big babies,” she said with a laugh.
“They definitely are, but a lot of people don’t view them like that. Thank you for caring enough to stick out all those hours with me.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for trusting me to help.” Her kiss that followed wasn’t a surprise, but it kicked my heart into gear nonetheless. She moved slow and easy, like we had all the time in the world.
The hot water would run out eventually, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to care.
Having her close soothed my nerves and had me craving her all at once. I’d always been envious of people who had found their scent-matched omega, absolutely certain some sort of magic was involved. Now that I’d found mine, I knew I was right.
I didn’t have a bond with her, not yet anyway, but I wanted one. I wanted to know Riley down to the depths of her soul and find a way to heal all of the trauma she carried so she never had to fear staying with us.
Maybe it wasn’t possible, but I was damn sure going to try.
Icozied up to Cash the next day while he worked on some ranch business as he minded reception. Everything was prepped for lunch, so I was being indulgent with myself and placating the bond’s demand that I be glued to Cash at all hours.
