Chapter 40

That night, we get to settle down around a nice campfire that Levi builds. Wiley brought marshmallows—because of course he did—and so we each get to pick out a stick and roast them. I’m happy to roast the marshmallows, looking forward to the graham crackers and chocolate Naomi brought out to us with our dinner.

“A little birdie told me you’ve never had smores,” she’d teased me. “Seems like everyone should experience a smore at least once.”

She’s right. I deserve to experience smores. I want it with a vengeance. So I’m cooking my marshmallow and preparing myself to dig in.

Levi doesn’t seem nearly as interested in roasting marshmallows as I am. He grabbed a stick, but he doesn’t actually roast anything. Instead, he just sits watching the fire.

Most of the other cowboys head home at night like the rest of ours do. The cattle will be here in the morning and won’t stand up until the sun starts to shine or we encourage them to, so they have plenty of time to go get some shut eye and come back. Only a few other people camp like we do, but they’re far enough away, we all have our privacy.

“I think one of y’all needs to start spilling secrets,” I say after we’ve all been silent for a few minutes. The only sounds come from the crackling fire and the cattle behind us. Every now and then, one of them makes a soft moo, but for the most part, they rest. Two days of walking is a lot, but it’s nothing compared to how much more we have to go.

“Oh yeah?” Dakota asks, his eyes on the fire.

“You all know mine now,” I point out. “It’s only fair.”

Dakota glances at me with a raised brow. “What makes you think we planned to be fair, Kate?”

“You told me I belong here,” I counter aggressively. “That I’m not going anywhere, and yet I can’t know exactly who the three of you are?” There’s no answer, each of them sitting silently. “Are you in some sort of government agency you can’t tell me about?”

Levi snorts. “The only one with any affiliation to the government is Wiley. And only because he was in the Army for a while.”

“So then what is it?” I growl. “You’re all secretly aliens? This no answer stuff is bullshit!”

Dakota laughs. “It’s not something to worry about, Kate. The past is the past. There’s no use digging up skeletons.”

“Like hell there isn’t,” I growl. “You either tell me or I’m leaving.” He doesn’t answer, his gaze leveled on me, his expression as stoic as ever. “You calling my bluff?” I ask when he doesn’t move or say a damn thing.

“I am,” he says, watching me. “Go on and leave, city girl. Let’s see how far you get without us.”

His words are like an ice-cold bath. Part of me wants to prove him wrong, to run away and give the Crows a run for their money, but if they found me out here, it’s only a matter of time before they find me anywhere. He’s right about that, but I’m not so helpless as he just made me sound. I could leave if I want to, even if something tells me they wouldn’t let me.

Anger at his words has me wanting to react, but my attention pulls to the marshmallow on my stick where it’s now on fire. I hadn’t paid attention to it during our conversation so it’s black now and I scowl in annoyance. I was going for a perfect golden brown and the damn thing is burnt now. I pluck it off and fling it at Dakota, hoping it sticks to him. Sadly, it only plops against his shirt and falls away.

“I really dislike you right now,” I spit.

He has me around the back of the neck before I even realize he’s moved. His large hand wraps around my neck and forces me back, until my eyes meet his, until his face is in mine.

“Dislike me all you want, Kate, but poking the nest isn’t any way to go,” he warns, his expression hard. This shouldn’t be sexy, but my thighs can’t help but rub together with arousal despite the achiness between them from the long hours riding. “When we’re ready to tell you our secrets, we will. So be a good girl and stop asking questions,” he growls.

I sneer at him despite his hold. “Hate might be a better word than dislike.”

He grins. “You don’t hate me, Kate. We both know that.” He leans closer and presses a kiss to my cheek, making my heart flutter in my chest. “We both know you’re thinking about fucking me right here beneath the stars while Wiley and Levi watch.” My breath hitches and he grins, his eyes flickering with pleasure. “Good girl,” he purrs and touches his nose to mine. “Now stop asking questions.”

He releases my neck and I jerk back, annoyed that I’m so turned on by his dominant display.

“Fucking cowboys,” I spit before flinging my stick into the fire. I don’t even want a smore now. “I’m going to sleep. Y’all sit out here with your secrets and your bullshit.”

I storm into the tent they’d set up for me, and only once I’m out of sight do I give into the urge to touch myself. I close my eyes and imagine Dakota grabbing me around the back of the neck the same way he’d just done before he pushes my mouth down on Wiley’s cock. All the while, he’d tell me what a good girl I am.

I come so hard, I have to bite the leather of my belt to keep from crying out. I don’t want Dakota to have that satisfaction.

The fucking bastard.