Flawless (Chestnut Springs #1) (70)

But it’s not a completely unselfish gift. I’m dying to see her in them.

“Why?”

“Where else would you find a nice pair of child-sized chaps?”

She rolls her eyes.

“I got them because I saw you staring at them. I saw the look on your face. And then you told me you had to quit riding when you got sick. I thought you’d want to start again at some point. Maybe out here. With me. Then I saw you on my horse—a fucking natural—and I knew I’d made the right call.”

She blinks at me, eyes shinier than they were seconds ago. Her smile is watery as she stares down and runs her dainty fingers over the polished silver studs. “I thought you hated me then.”

I shake my head, a little sheepish over what a growly prick I’d been to her. “The only thing I hated was how badly I wanted you, Princess.”

“Thank you.” She says it so earnestly, it tugs on strings I didn’t know exist. Those big brown soulful eyes—fuck—I’d do anything she wants me to. I’m an absolute goner for this girl, and I never even saw her coming.

“You’re welcome.” My voice is gruff, and I know I need to tell her what this is too. To tell her things I’ve been thinking about. Like that once the season is over, once I’m not a client to her, I’m going to commit my entire off-season to convincing her to give me a shot. A real shot.

A shot to be everything.

But I chicken out, not sure I can handle a rejection, or another person leaving me. Especially not one who’s rapidly become as important to me as Summer is. So instead, I just say, “Put them on, then you can thank me on your knees.”





Summer grumbles as I lead her up the stairs, her hand wrapped in mine so damn perfectly. Her grumbles are half-hearted and done with a small smile. Something about if the press found out I’m a sex addict, they’d have a field day.

When we get to my room, I shut the door and give her a little push into the sprawling space. Wood beam ceilings boast an antler chandelier hanging over a four-poster pine bed. Big sliding doors open onto a spacious second-floor patio, which holds a small wrought iron bistro set looking out over the range, pointed right at the Rocky Mountains.

“Wow,” she breathes, struck by the view. She stops and stares. “Why the hell do you have your coffee downstairs with a view like that?”

I watch her as she admires the scenery—the slender column of her neck, the sharp angle of her jaw, dainty ear adorned with an understated gold stud. Summer is all class. All shiny and proper and well-educated.

It’s fucking hot. It also makes me want to dirty her up a bit.

“The view downstairs has been better lately.”

She shoots me a playful look, pursing her lips and shaking her head.

“Show me the chaps.” I take a step back and point at the custom leather in her hand.

Summer turns to face me. “I’m wearing workout clothes. These need jeans.” She holds them up in my direction.

“They need nothing. Lose the clothes. Let me see.” I jut my chin in her direction.

Her dark eyes flare. “You want me to put them on with nothing under them?”

“Fuck yeah, I do.”

Her cheeks turn pink right before my eyes. “I haven’t had a shower. I’m all sweaty.”

“Don’t much care, Princess.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Fully intend to get you all sweaty right now anyway.”

Her cheeks twitch as she glances away momentarily. Shy but . . . eager.

She drops the chaps on the wooden floor with a heavy thud, rolling her lips together. The pink stain on the apples of her cheeks deepens to match the rose color of her lips.

She undresses, and I watch her like a total voyeur. She’s literally just undressing and not even trying to be sexy. It’s just that it’s her, and everything she does is sexy to me.

Work out tank top and bra, gone. Perky golden tits pop out with a playful bounce. A sprinkling of freckles dust the tops of them, and I’d like to trace every one. Write mine on each of her tits.

She peels off the tight-as-fuck leggings, bending over to clear her ankles and toes, and tosses them toward the pile of gym clothes beside her before straightening and looking at me. All curves, soft lines, and toned muscle.

“Like this?” she breathes out, puffy lips parted, eyes a little hooded.

“No panties? Yeah. I agree with you about the view up here. Far superior.”

She gives me a shy smile in return, and I stride forward, needing to be close to her. Needing contact. I slide my hands over her hips and the globes of her round ass as I drop to my knees in front of her. “You’re too fucking much. Too pretty. Too good.”

"No, you are." Her hand cups my cheek, fingernails rasping over my stubble. “I think I’ve wasted enough time with men who aren’t good enough to know that you are better than good. More than enough.”

I close my eyes and soak that up for a moment. Hearing that I’m enough for someone like Summer. I didn’t know how badly I needed to hear that.

All I can do is shake my head, press a kiss to her stomach, and reach for the chaps beside her. I hitch them around her waist, feeding the soft leather strap through the buckle, watching the silver detailing glint beneath her hip bones.

Wrapping one loose piece of leather around her leg, I start the zipper at the top and pull it down, careful not to catch any bare skin as I go. When I move to the opposite side, I notice a light tremor in my hand and shake my head again.