The Country Duet(39)

“Why is there a seat thing on his back?”

There’ll be no walking down to the pond tonight or driving my truck out with a case of beer and country music. No, tonight we are riding horseback.

I can tell it’s going to take me a long time to convince Teale to jump up on the horse.

“Do you trust me?” I hold my hand out to her.

Teale flinches at the question, but then begins to slowly move her head up and down.

“Then ride with me.” I keep my hand outstretched to her and pat Remi on the shoulder. “Have had this ol’ horse since I was old enough to walk. He’s slower in his old age. We’ll take care of you.”

She begins to tremble, not reaching for my hand, then tears spill down her face.

“Baby.” I grab her by the hips and back up until I’m sitting on a bale of straw. Teale tumbles down into my lap, straddling my thighs. She fights to look away, but I don’t let her. My hands cup the apples of her cheeks and force her to look at me. “Talk. You can tell me anything.”

Her bottom lip trembles as her tears roll faster. “I love it here. I love your mom and your dad, and your sisters. I love the damn dining room table. I love it all.”

“Okay,” I soothe my thumb over her skin, trying to catch all of her tears. “That’s good.”

“It’s too much. Everything is too much. I’m drowning.” She sniffles and a piece of me breaks on the inside.

“Want me to take you home?”

It’s an easy nine-hour drive, but I’d do it for her.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I don’t deserve you.”

“C’mon, baby.”

“I love you, Hunter. I love you so damn much. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. I shouldn’t even be in one, but you stole my heart the day you fixed my tire, then yelled at me for driving too fast. It’s all your fault.”

“Yeah?” I smirk. “Here’s the gig, Teale, I love you, too. Wasn’t looking for it either. I have more than a full plate with school and Dave, but I fucking love you so much it hurts. You make my days better.”

I kiss her and force myself to pull away quickly.

“Remember it’s just about our future, not our pasts.”

Teale runs her hands over my arms then advances on me. Our kiss is repeating both of our words as our tongues search each other’s mouths. She pulls back for a beat.

“Make me forget.”

Our clothes tumble to the ground with the only sound of the condom wrapper ripping. Our moans tangle together as our bodies fight for a release and our silent promise of forever is being forged. Teale drops her forehead to the top of my shoulder, crying out her pleasure while her nails dig into my back.

“I love you,” I whisper over and over into her ear, hoping like hell she never forgets.

I hold her for a long time before either of us moves. The silence of the barn is our only comfort. I keep my hands tight on her ass, not wanting her to move or for this to end. Teale stands up and begins to dress, pulling on one piece at a time. I can’t help but sit here studying her every single move.

“Are we seriously going to ride that?” she asks, pointing at Remi.

“Like I asked you earlier…Do you trust me?”

This time she is sure, with no hesitation or tears as she steps up to the horse.

“Pretty sure the straw pierced my ass cheeks.” I pull up my pants. “And we probably just scarred Remi here.”

“Nothing that beautiful leaves scars,” she responds, slowly sticking out her hand, letting Remi sniff it.

“If you say so, beautiful girl.” I tuck in my shirt. “But sometimes the nastiest of wounds turn out to be the prettiest scars.”

Teale was a bigger talker about riding, but it was a different story when it came to hopping up. I know she was trying to talk herself up. After she’d danced circles in the dirt trying to psyche herself up, I decided to get a bucket.

“I’m going to get up on Remi. I’ll hold down a hand to you. Step on the bucket, and I’ll help you up.”

I keep the directions simple and precise, hoping to ease away some of her worries. I’ve been around horses my whole life, and they can be intimidating as hell. I’ve bonded over the years with Remi and know he’d never break the trust we’ve built up.

Teale claps her hands together and jerks her chin in confidence. I slip one boot in the stirrup then hoist myself up and over. Teale slapped my ass as I went up on the horse.

“Your turn, pretty girl.” I hold down my hand.

She takes her time stepping up on the bucket and then stops my heart when the bucket wobbles from side-to-side. Teale reaches out in a flash, taking my hand.

“Now place your boot in the stirrup, putting all your weight in it and come on up.” I slip my boot from the stirrup, showing her how comfortable and sturdy it is. In a quick flash, she follows each of my instructions.

She squeals in delight then wraps her arms tight around my waist.

“I did it.” She squeezes tighter around my waist. “Giddy up, Cowboy. Yee-haw and all that shit.”

I nudge Remi into a walk, pulling the reins to the right, walking him out of the barn.

“You like speed, right, Gordon?” I ask her, turning my head slightly.

“Don’t you dare,” she warns.