Oneshots - Kayce Dutton

You're Cute When You're Jealous

Request - Kayce gets jealous/overprotected because of reader's relationships with someone else on the ranch.

"You need to call your dog down," Walker joked with you as you both walked along the fence.

"My dog?" You questioned, glancing at him.

You met Walker about a month ago when he arrived at the Yellowstone ranch. He had spent time in prison and for some reason you took a liking to him because he reminded you of your brother. It had been two years since you had seen your brother since he had been arrested in North Carolina for drug smuggling incident gone wrong. He took the fall for a friend and now was going to spend ten years of his life behind bars. Since you worked in Montana as an environmental specialist, you didn't have many opportunities to see him. With Walker though, from his attitude to his morals, it was almost a splitting image. So, it was only a matter of time until you both developed a sad friendship. You called it sad because it was, created on the foundation that life can be cruel and sometimes the good guys don't win.

There was nothing romantic about your friendship though. The thought never even crossed your mind that it could be...because of Kayce Dutton. The two of you have been together for a couple of years now and you lived with him in the foreman's cabin on the ranch. Kayce was pretty understanding about most things in your life, except Walker. He had noticed early on the friendship between you both and the amount of time you spent with the wrangler. You lost count how many times you had told Kayce to stop worrying, and while he had backed off some, there were other times his temper got he best of him.

"Yeah," Walker laughed, nodding his head behind you.

You turned and saw Kayce standing with Rip, staring directly at you. Giving a deep sigh you looked back at Walker with an apologetic smile.

"I've told him he needs to calm down," You shrugged.

"Don't mean he will," Walker shook his head. "You're a pretty girl, and that's just your foundation. So, I don't blame him for being like that. But when he's like that round him...well that makes me nervous."

The "him" Walker was referring to was Rip. You knew their history already and sometimes the only reason Walker was breathing was because Kayce had stepped in front of Rip.

"Let me go talk to him one more time," You sighed before walking over to where the two cowboys were standing. Rip cleared his throat and made to turn around. "Oh no...you can stay here for this as well."

Rip turned back around and gave you an awkward smile. Kayce's eyes were still behind you, trained on Walker. It irritated you more that while he didn't listen to your words when you defended your relationship with him, he also didn't seem to want to believe you.

"I'm right here," You snapped at Kayce. His caramel eyes darted down to yours instantly. "You've got some nerve."

"Don't start with me," Kayce rolled his eyes.

"No, I think I will start with you," You reached out, having reached both men, and pressed your palms into Kayce's chest, pushing him back. Now, he hardly moved at all but the physicality of you pushing him surprised him. It also made Rip snort. "Leave Walker alone!"

"I ain't done anything to him!" Kayce argued. "In fact, I've saved his ass more than a few times...you're welcome."

"From something stupid he did!" You pointed at Rip whose eyes widened slightly. You were not one to raise your voice to anyone on the ranch. You were the epitome of calm and peaceful. Everyone loved you for it.

"You don't understand," Kayce mumbled, looking at his feet.

"Then explain it to me," You growled. "Because all I see is you being an ass to someone who I'm able to connect with on a level I haven't gotten to before now. He's like my brother, whom I haven't seen in years, and it's nice to have that space in my life filled in for once!"

Kayce slowly looked back up to you while Rip quietly retreated away from you both. Your eyes weren't angry anymore, they were hurt.

"There is nothing going on between me and Walker," You sighed. "Kayce, I love you."

"I know you do... but why are you letting him fill your space?" His voice wasn't as harsh as it was before.

You didn't answer right away, but it dawned on you. Kayce wasn't angry because he didn't like Walker for some reason. He was jealous of Walker. Everything clicked at once as Kayce waited for your answer.

"Kayce," You took a deep breath and offered him a small smile. "You're cute when you're jealous."

"What?"

You took another step but instead of pushing him you grabbed hold of his button down and pulled him closer. Kayce was forced to step into you, holding onto your waist tightly.

"I talk to Rip, I talk to Jake and Ryan..." You giggled. "I even talk to Carter. Hell baby, I talk to your dad and Jamie even!"

"So?" Kayce's eyes danced across your face, confused.

"You don't act like this when I talk to them," You pointed out. "So, what's got you so worked up about Walker?"

"You tell him things you don't tell me," Kayce frowned.

"About my brother?" You asked and Kayce nodded his head. "Because you've never been to prison, baby."

"Don't mean I can't talk to you about it."

"That's true," You nodded, threading your hands around his back, hugging him. "But we do talk. Kayce, there isn't anything I've told Walker that I haven't told you. But trust me, there are loads of things I haven't told Walker, or anyone, that you know."

Kayce just looked down at you, analyzing your words. You continued with your plan.

"You think anyone on this ranch knows what I say to you when we're like this?" You squeezed him softly. "Do you think anyone else knows what I whisper to you in the mornings when you leave me in your bed for work?"

Kayce tightened his hold against your waist.

"Or how about when we're in the bath together?" You leaned up and pressed your lips to his jaw. "Or when we're in bed, tangled up and naked?"

Kayce reached up with one hand and tangled it in your long hair, pulling gently so he had access to kiss your lips. His kiss was warm and soothing as you pressed your chest into his and melted into him.

"M'Sorry," He murmured against your lips. "I don't like sharing. I just want to be everything for you."

"And you are," You gave him another lazy kiss before pulling back some for air. "But you can't tell me that you talk to me about everything in your life."

"You know most of it," Kayce tried to stay serious, but you could see his smile coming through his lips.

"Bullshit," You laughed. "There are things you don't tell me, Kayce Dutton."

"To protect you," Kayce rolled his eyes. "You don't need that shit in your life."

"Mmhmm," You smirked at him.

"I mean it," Kayce sighed. "I don't want you involved because usually it's something stupid and a mistake that I need to take care of."

"Doesn't mean I don't want to hear it," You smiled, wiggling your shoulders. "I want all of you baby, the good, bad, and ugly."

"Same for me... though there ain't nothing ugly about you," Kayce kissed you again.

"We okay?" You asked after the kiss ended.

"Yeah," Kayce sighed, smiling.

"And you'll leave Walker alone?" You raised an eyebrow.

Kayce's jaw tightened slightly but there wasn't anymore anger on his face. "As long as he stays in his lane."

"Well, look at it this way," You giggled, untangling yourself from Kayce and walking backwards to where you were earlier. "I may be walking along the fence with him now. But here in a few hours, I'll be naked in your tub, pressed against you."

"You're evil to give me that picture and just walk away," Kayce called out to you, smiling.

"Love you baby!" You laughed out, turning around.