Page 2 of Big Tex

“Colt… Colt Garcia?” She stutters.

I nod and grin before pointing to Layla’s room and making my escape. I hear her shout at my retreating back, “go Ranchers!”, and turn back to give her a two-finger salute without breaking my stride.

Standing at the door to room five, I inhale deeply in an effort to calm my nerves before knocking.Fucking get yourself together, Garcia! You take massive hits from fucking giants on the field, but you can’t fucking hold it together with this girl? Yeah, like calling her a girl can magically make her power over me fucking go away.I roll my shoulders, lean my neck from side to side, and shake my hands like I’m about to get on the field.It’s fucking showtime!

I hear a faint voice inviting me to come in and push the door open. I barely sneak my head and upper body inside the room that I’m assaulted by the vision of Layla Wilson snuggled into a hospital bed, looking pale even with her light-brown skin, eyes sunken behind her eye-glasses, looking sofuckingsmall!What the fuck happened to my girl?! She must have lost at least ten pounds!She still looks fucking magnificent with her big brown eyes, full lips, that cute button nose, and the fucking dimple in her chin -the same as her brother. But my girl hasn’t been taking care of herself. It’s clear as day. It’s no wonder she fucking fainted.

I feel a rage like I’ve never known swell inside me. It’s wild, strong, immense, and will not be muzzled. I’m fucking mad at Layla for taking such poor care of herself, at her family for letting her do whatever the fuck she wants, and let’s be honest, at myself for not stepping up and claiming my woman. But this shit ends now, today. I’m done fucking around with this girl. She fucking needs me. I need her. And there’s nothing her brother or anyone else, for that matter, can say or do to change that.

I close the distance between us in two long strides, leaning into Layla to hug her with the caution reserved for newborns.

She’s stiff in my arms when she asks in a croaky voice, “Tex? What are you doing here?”

The fuck?! Zach didn’t tell her?

I pull my face out of the warm, soft crook of her neck, and the heady mix of her sweet vanilla perfume and own bewitching scent.

“I’m here to take you home, doll.”

Her gorgeous eyes widen.

“You’re flying with me to California?”

My heart squeezes with the pain of seeing her like this, but I push through and manage a brief chuckle.

“No, darlin’. I’m taking you to my home. My ranch.”

Her fucking perfect lips form a ‘o’ that in any other circumstance I’d imagine sliding my hard dick into, but I instantly smother the thought.

Panic invades her eyes, and Layla starts flailing around, trying to get off the bed. “Your… ranch? No, I can’t go to your place… I…”

I cup her face between my large hands and pin her with an intense gaze, effectively holding her captive.

“Calm down, doll. Zach called me to come look after you. It’s the after-season. I’m free. Just hanging out with the horses and doing some work on the property. I’m not busy, and you know I always wanted you to come visit.”

Her worried gaze bounces between my eyes. Layla studies my face with a look charged with a billion questions.

Finally she shakes her head and starts, “Colt, I don’t think…”

I don’t let her finish. I lean down and press my lips to hers. It’s barely a kiss, a brief brush of my chapped lips on her soft, plump ones. But it’s fucking everything! Everything I’ve craved for months. Everything I want every single day of my life. What I’ve been denying myself. What I’m no longer willing to give up.

And when Layla moans softly, her mouth parting open to let me in, I don’t fucking hesitate for a second. My tongue sweeps in and takes all I’ve been dying for. The taste of her explodes into my mouth.Fresh, clean, sweet, and so fucking good. The best.

I drink her intoxicating nectar, suck and bite on her lips. My hands gently cradling her beautiful face, her soft hair that’s braided to her scalp, her delicate body that’s lost some of its amazing curves. My anger rises again at that thought, but I push it down. Later. Much later. Once she’s fed, claimed, thoroughly fucked, has been made love to a thousand times, and there’s not a single doubt about who she belongs to. Then I will tan her ass and exhort her promise this will never happen again. Ever.

“Tex, what are you…?”

Layla’s mumbled question against my lips is interrupted by a loud throat-clearing. Without letting go of her, I turn my attention to the door and see a tall, blond, buff guy standing there watching us with a huge smile. He walks to me and extends a hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Garcia. I’m Dr Carmichael.”

I shake his hand, studying him for any sign he may be pulling all this charm for my girl.Yep, I’ve reverted to a total caveman. But Carmichael seems more enamored with me than Layla.

“I’m a huge fan, sir. Didn’t know Miss Wilson had such prestigious fr-”

“Fiancé,” I interrupt him.

And both Layla and him sputter in unison, “fiancé?…”

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