I circled my clit faster, pleasure rushing through my body. My heart pounded as I got closer and closer, all of my thoughts and fantasies building up until I felt the pressure rolling down my spine.
I was so close. So damn close.
My imagination was far too vivid for my own good. I thought about Beau—our strong, stubborn, sweet cowboy. And then I thought about Sky—our charming, brave, shy storm chaser.
Ineededthem.
The very thought of being with those two together sent me over the edge, my toes curling as my orgasm rushed through me. Shock waves sparked across my skin, and I rode out the high of it until I collapsed against the wall, breathing hard.
I needed that relief.
I stayed like that for a few seconds, catching my breath. Letting myself enjoy the euphoric cloud that followed after coming so hard.
“Just a fantasy,” I whispered to myself.
But it would be a dream come true if it were real.
7
beau
It’d beena week since the storm had brought Sky to our doorstep, and I was certain that I’d never wanted anyone more.
Well . . .
Except for the person Icouldn’thave.
Priscilla stood outside in the garden working with Sky, showing them the ropes. For all the storms we’d had over the last couple weeks, there were moments like this where sunshine was like a thousand crushed diamonds haloing the ranch in its sparkly warmth.
From my office, I could see a good bit. The stables, the garden, the compost, the fields that stretched in the distance with our crops. My office itself was simple but functional. Rustic and reminiscent of how Pa had it, although I’d changed a few things around. What had stayed the same for as long as I could remember was the faded yellow landline phone that sat on the edge of the wooden desk, the stacks of notebooks and papers that covered everything else, and the pictures on the walls. Faded photographs of the ranch, our family. Pictures of when Boone and I were kids, or of Benny and Billie from when they were babies.
Occasionally, I’d catch a whiff of Pa’s cologne or Ma’s perfume, as if they’d melted into the wooden floors to stay. Ghosts of two people I missed every single day.
Seven years. It’d been seven years since the wreck. Seven years since the four of us lost our parents and inherited an entire ranch to run.
Seven years since I’d taken the reins and had become the one who always had the answers.
I was disassociating again. I raked my fingers through my hair and tore my gaze away from Pris and Sky, only for it to immediately wander back. Pris was standing next to them, her hand settling on Sky’s lower back in a way that had my brows raising.
Suddenly, I felt very thirsty. Parched, even.
Dammit. I needed to focus on work. I needed to get my thoughts back in order. There was so much planning to do, and we were hosting the Y’all Pride Picnic this weekend. Fingers crossed we didn’t have any other tornadoes blow through. For the most part, everything was ready to go for that, but we’d be up at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning to set up a few tents, roll out blankets, and set up tables. It would be a lot of work, but we all pulled together easily. Right now, it was looking like we’d have about two-hundred people coming to the ranch, and all the money raised would help a charity to support trans youth in Oklahoma.
I checked my emails quickly, rubbing my temples as I read one from Doc Evans, the veterinarian out of Johnson Springs. We’d known Doc for years and had a good deal with him. He gave us a break on medical expenses for our horses, and we helped him out with some of the rougher cases he saw.
Such as Noodles, a blood bay gelding who Wylie was working magic with. He’d come out of a bad hoarding situation outside of Stillwater, and when he’d first come to the ranch, he’d beenso incredibly wary of humans that it hurt to see. But slowly, we were gaining his trust. It would take months, if not years, to get him to where we wanted—but the progress we were already seeing was incredible.
Doc’s email was just a recap of the expenses from Noodles’ little cake eating adventure a few weeks ago. I winced when I saw the numbers, but we’d make it work. We always made it work.
A knock at the door startled me. My head whipped up, and I was surprised to see Billie standing there. Normally, she was out with the horses at this time of day.
“Abilene,” I greeted, chuckling as her nose scrunched.
“Why you gotta use my full name like that?”
“Because you’re my little sister,” I said. “I have to do that, or else the world tips out of balance.”
She grinned, but then something flickered in her brown eyes. I frowned in response.
