Page 61 of Swallow Your Fear
In Booker’s arms, I was safe, but in the way that kept my heart racing and my mind on the edge of its seat. He was fear itself and a warm blanket wrapped in one.
And though what we had was new and uncertain, I had no doubt that he’d never let another person put their hands on me again. We were an unlikely pairing, but we were right for each other.
And that was all that mattered.
Epilogue
Brynne
Two weeks later…
“Do I get to have my own horse one day?” I asked, glancing over at Booker where he rode beside me on his horse, Onyx.
“That what you want, Darlin’?” His voice was gruff from being up way too late with me, but regardless, he still got out of our bed at four a.m. sharp to start work on the ranch.
I looked down at the gray under me, admiring her long mane and speckled coat. I let out a thoughtful hum. “Maybe.”
Booker adjusted his gloved hand on the rein as the sun set in the distance, casting a warm orange glow over the yellowing grass surrounding us for miles. “Whatever you want, just say the words, and I’ll make it happen.”
I cocked a brow in his direction, peeling my eyes away from the mare as she stepped over cow pies. “This side of youis weird.”
He let out a hoarse chuckle, turning that dark gaze on me. Instantly, I was starving for the taste of him. “What side?”
I waved a hand at him. “This…caring side.”
Under his full beard, he smiled. “Don’t like when I spoil you, huh?”
I shook my head.
“What do you like, then?”
I fought the urge to curl the sides of my lips up, but there was no way to stop the heat that crept up my neck. “That’s a loaded question.”
He studied me, then reached a hand over to gently tug my reins back to stop the horse. Onyx followed suit, and Booker had him sidestep so his stirrup was touching my leg. He released the rein, moving to grab the back of my neck. The bruises had faded completely in the last couple weeks, and Booker had somewhat kept his promise of staying away for one week. He’d taken to giving me orgasms in his bed only, and after seven days, he finally gave me what I craved behind the barn. He’d sunk his cock so deep inside me, my body had taken forever to adjust to the size of him again. He’d been so gentle, too. Like he was scared I might shatter to pieces in his arms if he tore his eyes away from mine for merely a second.
That night stuck with him the same it did with me, but I was convinced he was more affected by my disappearance than I was. I’d gone through my share of waking from nightmares, but so did he. When my gaze found him in the parking lot that night, I’d never seen the man look so…petrified. Like his world was chipping away piece bypiece, threatening to crumble completely if I stopped breathing life into it.
Since then, we’d declared that would never be a possibility. We’d be together through this life—no matter how quickly things progressed.
Sometimes, you just knew. And with Booker, it felt right.
“I’ve got all the time in the world to listen, Darlin’,” he said.
I nearly laughed. “I want my broody rancher back. You’re starting to freak me out.”
The ghost of a smirk crested his lips, and then he was sliding a hand into the saddle bag on the opposite side of the saddle right as a cloud floated in front of the dimming sun.
“Your wish is my command.”
My eyes fell to the mask in his hand as he lifted it. Removing his cowboy hat, he adjusted the mask over his face, then set the hat back on his head.
“Much better,” I teased as a crack of thunder rolled in the distance.
He reached out, threading his fingers through my hair. “Which do you prefer more?” He gave a small tug, sending goosebumps up my arms as his fingertips ghosted my scalp. “Gentle?” Then, his grip changed, and he was pulling my head back by my hair, exposing my neck. “Or rough?”
A gasp escaped me as he brought his face closer to my neck, inhaling deeply. “Both,” I replied.
“And which do you want right now?”
