Saddle up

Chapter Thirty-Six : Darkness

3 Months Later

Brant's POV

I had just finished feeding the last horse when the speakers in the barn crackled to life, playing a slow country song that filled the quiet air. I smiled to myself, enjoying the peaceful moment. I made my way to the barn office where Jess stood by the radio, taking a sip from a glass of wine. She was wearing a beautiful floor-length sun dress covered in delicate sunflowers. The playful smile on her face made my heart skip a beat.

There was something about the way she looked at me—like she knew exactly how to make me feel. The moment her eyes met mine, all I wanted was to be close to her.

I walked toward her, a sense of urgency growing in my chest. I reached for her, gently pulling her into my arms and kissing her deeply. As I did, I lifted the wine glass from her hand and set it on top of the radio stand, not caring where it landed. She gasped slightly, but the sound was followed by a soft laugh as I scooped her up effortlessly.

Carrying her to the small round dining table in the corner of the room, I couldn't ignore the overwhelming desire coursing through me. We were so close, so connected in this moment. I felt like nothing else mattered.

I carefully placed her on the table and stepped between her legs, my hands moving quickly to unbuckle my belt. As I reached for her, I was surprised to find she wasn't wearing any panties. The realization made my pulse quicken, and I couldn't help but groan at the feeling of her skin against mine. She was already so responsive to my touch, and it only made me want her more.

Just as I moved closer, my phone rang. I cursed under my breath, the buzz breaking through the heat of the moment. Jess tilted her head up, her lips brushing against mine as if she was urging me to ignore it. Her fingers threaded through my hair, pulling me back toward her. But the phone kept ringing.

I sighed in frustration and pulled it out of my pocket, seeing that it was Chase calling. I groaned internally. Of course, now wasn't the time.

"Hold on, baby," I muttered, already knowing what I had to do. "It's Chase. Just need to make sure everything's okay."

I put the phone on speaker so Jess could hear, hoping I could resolve this quickly. "Chase, what's up?"

"Hey man, I need your help. I got stuck in a mud pit."

I rubbed my face in irritation. "Where are you?"

"Back on Pine Log Road."

"Alright, I'll be there soon. I'll get you out."

I ended the call before he could respond, looking back at Jess. Disappointment clouded her face, and I could tell she was frustrated too. I wanted to stay with her. I needed to be with her.

She gave me a soft, understanding smile. "It's okay," she said, her voice a little teasing. "We can pick up where we left off when you come back."

I smiled at her, the warmth in her eyes helping to ease my frustration. "You want to come with me, or stay here?"

She looked at the wine glass, raising an eyebrow with a playful smirk. "I think I'll stay here... maybe finish that wine."

I chuckled, the tension between us still palpable. "You're making it hard to leave, you know that? I'll be back as soon as I can."

I carefully zipped up my jeans and gave her one last kiss, lingering for a moment before heading out toward my truck.

As I reached the threshold, I paused and rushed back to her. I kissed her deeply one more time, unwilling to leave without one last taste of her. "I love you," I whispered against her lips.