Page 140 of Roulette Rodeo
"Oh my god, Duke, no!" I shriek, but I'm laughing. "That's disgusting!"
Corwin laughs too, the tension breaking.
"Welcome to ranch life, city girl. Dead animals are considered gifts."
"That's horrible!"
"That's nature."
Duke barks, clearly proud of himself, and I can't help but reach down to pet him, carefully avoiding the squirrel situation.
"You're lucky you're cute," I tell him, and he licks my hand in response.
I settle back against Corwin's chest, feeling more grounded than I have all day.
The overwhelm from earlier seems manageable now, the pile of purchases waiting inside just things rather than monuments to my inability to function.
"Thank you," I say softly. "For telling me about Sophia. For understanding my emotions and comforting me."
His arms tighten around me slightly.
"Anything for you, Red. We mean that."
I nod, believing him, and wonder what other secrets this pack is hiding.
What other wounds need healing versus what stories need telling.
The sun is starting to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange that would look fake if I wasn't seeing them myself. The pumpkin spice latte is cool now, but I don't care.
I'm warm and safe and slowly starting to understand the complicated dynamics of these men who've claimed me.
I nod and wonder if I'll learn the lore of the Lucky Ace pack.
BLOSSOM LITTLE CHERRY
~CORWIN~
Red gasps in awe, holding the phone up like it's the crown jewels rather than the latest iPhone model.
She's been decorating it for the past forty-five minutes while perched on my lap, and I lost feeling in my left leg about twenty minutes ago. The right one's heading in the same direction, pins and needles creeping up from where her weight has cut off circulation.
But I'd sit here until my legs fell off completely if it meant keeping that expression on her face.
She's applied the case—cherry red, because of course it is—with the precision of a surgeon. The screen protector took three attempts because she kept finding microscopic bubbles that "ruined the aesthetic." The little charm Talon bought her, a tiny boxing glove, dangles from the corner. She's even arranged the stick-on grip in the exact center of the back, measuring it twice with her fingers to ensure perfect placement.
"It's beautiful," she breathes, turning it over in her hands to admire it from every angle. The late afternoon sun catches the glossy surface, making it gleam like candy. "It's really mine?"
"All yours," I confirm, shifting slightly to try to restore some blood flow without dislodging her. "Latest model, unlimitedeverything. Talon made sure to get the one with the most storage so you can take as many photos as you want."
She looks up at me with those garnet eyes, and the joy in them makes my chest tight. Then something shifts, uncertainty creeping in.
"I don't know what to do next."
It takes me a moment, my brain still foggy from her proximity and the way she's been unconsciously wiggling in my lap for the past hour.
Then it clicks.
"Red," I say carefully, "have you ever owned a phone before?"
