Page 122 of Brim Over Boot
Noah fucking King.
“Jesus, Colt,” he says, sounding wrecked. “It’s too much.”
“It’s not. We would’ve handled her care. But if you want her, she’s yours. There’s no one better for her.”
He exhales shakily. “You got me a horse.”
“I mean…only kinda.”
“You got me a horse, Colt.”
“Okay, yeah. I guess I did? Are you accepting her?”
“Fuck,” he mutters, tugging my head back and claiming my lips.
I used to want to take my nippers to this man’s balls.
What a fool I was.
Noah smacks away from me, looking flustered as he greets Hazel. He holds out his hand, letting her snuffle his palm as his other roams over her head, her neck, her shoulders. The smile on his face breaks my heart, even as it heals something I didn’t even realize was fractured.
“Hey there, Hazel,” Noah says, his voice quiet. “I’m Noah. You’re a sweet thing, aren’t you?”
In answer, Hazel kisses Noah’s palm, her lips moving in a wiggle.
He lets out a soft laugh, the sound of it making me ache in the best way. “I think we’re gonna be good friends. Would you mind me visiting lots?”
Hazel leans her head over Noah’s shoulder, her approval clear as day. He holds her for long minutes, rubbing up and down her neck, speaking in a soft, soothing tone.
I step outside the stall, giving them a moment together. Noah finds me sometime later in the tack room, his arms crossing as he leans against the doorjamb. I finish straightening the row of bridles I was putting to rights.
“You realize this means I’ll be here quite often,” he says.
“Oh, really?” I mutter. “I hadn’t, uh, really considered that.”
“Uh-huh.”
“We could probably go riding together sometimes,” I point out. “Lotsa trails here.”
“Mhm.”
“And if you want, you’re welcome to stay for meals. Although I understand if you’d rather share those with Walter.”
Noah lets out a breath, walking closer. His hands settle to each side of my body as he braces himself against the table at my back.
“I will want to spend time with Walter,” he confirms, and I nod, having figured as much. Noah’s uncle is important to him, and I understand that fully. “And I hope you’ll join us sometimes?”
I nod again.
“But yes, Colt,” he adds. “I’ll stay for meals here, too. You know how possessive I am of you. You really thought I wouldn’t be all over you the minute you allowed it?”
As if needing to prove his words, he presses me into the table, his thigh wedging between my legs. My mind short-circuits as his hand slips under my waistband, unerringly finding the tattoo on my ass.Oh, God.
Noah’s lips settle close to my ear. “You’re mine, little Colt. Remember? You don’t get to run away from me ever again.”
“Like I’d want to,” I breathe.
“Finally done fighting?”
