“Rise and shine, darlin’.”
I jolt awake with a sharp inhale, my entire body flinches as I snap my eyes open. It’s dark and way too fucking early, and there’s a massive figure standing over me, blocking what little light is coming in through the window.
I blink rapidly, my brain still clawing its way out of sleep, trying to process the absolute audacity of?—
Oh.Oh.
I suck in a breath, my heart skipping a beat before hammering against my chest. Carter’s standing next to my bed, arms crossed over his broad chest, looking way too chipper for someone who committed a felony against my beauty sleep.
My eyes adjust to the dim morning light barely touching his face, but I can make out the sharp angles of his jaw, the way his white t-shirt hugs his broad chest, and his biceps being strangled by the short sleeves of his shirt.
HOT.
“Are you serious right now?” I say, a yawn slipping out.
His brow furrows, scowl carved deep, and a lowgrowl escapes his throat, thick enough to vibrate in the heavy silence between us.
“What, you need me to spell it out for you?”
I groan, flopping back against my pillow, and throw my arm over my face. “Get away from me.”
“No can do, princess, your daddy sent you here to work, so that’s what you’re gonna do. So get up.” He says it slowly, and the deep baritone and southern drawl of his voice send shivers down my spine.
“It’s five in the morning, just like I promised. We’ve got shit to do.”
I glare at him, shoving the blanket over my face.
He scoffs. “Let’s go princess, shit needs to be cleaned up and horses need to be fed.”
I gasp, popping my head from underneath the blanket. “I told you, I am not cleaning up horse shit. Goodbyeeeeeeee.”
I nestle back underneath my blanket, hoping the nuisance will go away.
He reaches down, and before I can react, he grabs the edge of my blanket, yanking it clean off me.
A sharp gasp rips from my throat as the cold air rushes over my bare legs.
“What the FUCK?!” I manage to yell out.
He tosses the blanket onto the chair by the window, utterly unfazed by my outrage.
“Get up, get dressed, and meet me outside in ten minutes.” He bites out.
“Or what?” I snap, crossing my arms over my chest like the brat I am.
He leans down, so close I can feel the heat of his body emitting onto me, his voice low, sending heat straight down my thighs.
“Or I’ll fucking do it for you.”
My breath catches.
His gaze holds mine for a beat, long enough to drive me insane, making my stomach flutter with something entirely inappropriate, before he straightens up and strides out of the room.
I stare after him, admiring the way his back muscles flex against his shirt, or the way his ass hugs his jeans.
I’m fucked.
carter
