Page 80 of On Cloud Nine

The world continued spinning without us.

I have no desire to rejoin reality at all.

She giggles, swiping her thumb across my forehead. “You have a little dirt, just right here.”

I plant my lips on hers again, savoring the warmth of her mouth. Then I will myself to sit up. “We should get going before it gets too dark.”

The sky is a riot of dull blues and purples, with the last few rays of sunlight casting long shadows across the canyon floor.

“Thank you for such a lovely rendezvous.” Molly bats her lashes at me, and I help her up, lifting her to my chest.

“My pleasure.”

* * *

As we arrive backat the stables, the sky is peppered with glistening stars.

These last two weeks have been the first time in a long time I felt alive.Truly alive.

“I’m gonna give Honey a little snack, and then we can head back to our suite,” she says nervously, walking the mare to her stall. “I really need to take a shower; I feel like I’m drowning in dust.” Molly shakes out her hair, and red sprinkles collapse from the tresses.

I want to invite myself in the shower with her, but I smother the idea. “I’ll meet you up front.”

I carefully place my saddle next to the one I already took off her horse.

My thoughts refuse to cool. I’m already counting down the minutes until I can touch her again. Cover her body with slow, agonizing strokes. Listen to her hypnotic laughter and moans because of something I’m doing.

Molly’s like a damn battery, charging me up.

Sure, our time at On Cloud Nine is ending, but we’ll still have to be around each other when we’re married. Hopefully?

Take it easy, man.

As much as I want to feel her mouth again—or, let’s be honest, make her come with my fingers, my tongue, and my cock—Molly’s calling the shots here.

She wasn’t even given the gift of picking out her own wedding dress. I’m not going to trample over this situation. Until Molly tells me she wants more than just kissing, that she wants to cry out my name until her voice goes hoarse, I’ll practice every ounce of restraint I can muster.

“Ahh!” Molly’s scream pierces through the barn.

Something in my chest collapses. I sprint toward her.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” I shout. She’s sitting on a smattering of hay on the barn floor. “Molly?”

“Ow!” She winces as she grasps her right hand with her left. A thick tear slides down her face.

She’s injured.

“What happened?” I drop to my knees beside her and carefully reach for her hands.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” Molly tries to put on a strong face. I despise the wall she still tries to shield herself with, especially after today. “I slammed my hand in the stall door. It was an accident.”

“Can you show me?” She nods and gives me her palm. She bites her lip as I inspect the damage, but she doesn’t flinch. Her knuckles are scraped raw and red. “It doesn’t seem to be broken or fractured. I bet the impact was painful. Let’s head back to our suite and get you some ice.”

Instead of responding, she sneezes once, then again. Her eyes begin to water. Of course; she’s sitting on the hay.

I need to get her out of the stables. Full-on evacuation mode.

My lips leave a soft kiss on her forehead. Without another word, I lift her up into my arms. Her body is small against my chest. I hold her tightly.

---