15. Heath

Chapter 15

Heath

“ T hanks for looking in on Jeff. I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone.”

Zane eyes Jeff in his enclosure.

“It’s not a problem. You deserve to have a life too, Heath.” Jeff pecks the mesh and Zane jumps back. “I like animals. He just doesn’t like me.”

“Yeah. He’s pretty fierce when it concerns me. I don’t know why he won’t be friendly to other people. I really need to find other peacocks for him, but it’s been hard.”

Zane clears his throat as we step outside the small barn. I’ve stabled Jeff two hours earlier than he’s used to in order to meet up with Marko. It broke my heart to do so, but I’d only worry about him out here without me to round him up. He has a tendency to not listen. And he can sometimes attack. So, yeah, it’s a bit of a pain in the ass to anyone else here. But Marko deserves to not be second place to a bird. As much as I love Jeff, he can’t kiss me the way Marko does.

Not that I’ve tried. Birds don’t even have lips, so that’s just weird all around.

“So… we’re hoping you’ll invite Marko over tomorrow for the bonfire.” Zane stuffs his hands in his pockets. “Will you? We’d all like to spend some time with him and get to know the guy who has you asking to take time off.”

Zane chuckles, and I do too. He’s not wrong. Since I’ve started dating Marko, I’ve found it easier to step away from the ranch more often. I’ve trusted others to my job and, like tonight, I’m asking for help with Jeff. He’s always been my responsibility and I’m fine with that, but actually stepping away here and there has been…eye-opening.

But the fear of them not approving of Marko claws at me more than when I told them I’m bi.

Puffing out a breath, I scuff at the ground with the toe of my boot before meeting Zane’s gaze.

“I want to bring him for that, but I’m nervous. I really like Marko and it scares me to think you might not like him. I don’t know how anyone can’t like him but also…what if you don’t?”

“If you vouch for him and like him, I think that’s all we really need. We all care about you and want to know the man who makes you happy.” He chuckles and runs a hand through his hair. “That, and we want to know if he has what it takes to be part of the ranch.”

Wagging a finger at him, I let a laugh slip. “See! That’s why I’m nervous, Zane. It’s just like you guys to put on the whole dad act and scare him off.”

He holds up his hands. “Never. I promise to behave. Besides, I’m more of a big brother and less of a dad.” We both laugh at that because it’s true, and he softens his voice. “But please invite him. If he comes here, then Jeff doesn’t have to be in his pen so early, either.”

“I’ll talk to him and let you know. ”

Zane smiles. “It’s all we ask. Now get going. I’ll check on Jeff later. He’ll be fine.”

“Thanks Zane. I trust you. Now I need to get going!”

He waves me off and I almost add that I have tattoos to lick and a dick to suck, but that’s probably too far.

But it’s not a lie and I can’t get there fast enough.

***

After parking my car in Marko’s driveway and carefully closing the door, I frown at the sizeable chunk of rusted metal that falls at my feet.

“Well, that’s not good.”

With my toe, I push it under the car and hope Marko doesn’t notice, but when I spin around, he’s leaning in the doorway of his house watching me. With his arms crossed across his chest and a small smile on his lips, I know I’m busted.

“You’re right, dragi . That’s not good.”

My skin warms whenever he calls me anything in Croatian, and I meet him at the doorway.

“Can we not discuss it now?”

Marko closes the door behind us and gathers me into his arms. He’s such a large man that he makes me feel small in his embrace. But he also makes me feel safe and cherished; something that’s new to me and I very much like it.

“We won’t talk about it now. I want us to enjoy the afternoon planned. But Heath,” Marko pulls back and his warm brown eyes radiate concern. “You really need to address the car situation. It’s serious.”

Stretching up on my toes, I kiss his lips.

“Let’s talk later. Promise.”

Marko nods in agreement, and I puff a breath of relief. My car is a sensitive subject and most people don’t get it. Just like they don’t understand how I have a peacock. But Marko deserves his say in it… just not right now.

He presses his forehead to mine with a soft sigh.

“I spoke to a client today who said if we want to watch the sunset, then we should drive towards Rosevale and take the route closer to the lake and stop at a rest stop. I have it marked down. Could we do that tonight and go to your market another night?” Marko places a kiss on my forehead before moving to his living room and picks a leather jacket off the couch.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Dante probably went by himself, anyway. The market sometimes has the mini donut truck, though, and I wanted that more than to spy on the goat soap lady.”

Which is kind of true. I always want donuts.

“Um, it’s going to be colder on the bike near the water and later in the day. You should wear my other jacket.”

“You want me to wear your jacket?”

He shrugs, likes it no big deal, but I’ve heard the teenagers talk at the ranch. If someone you’re dating gives you a jacket to wear or even a hoodie, it’s a big deal. I don’t know why, but if the flush on Marko’s neck shows how he feels, I think he agrees.

“I don’t want you to get cold.”

Taking the worn leather coat, I meet his gaze. “Thank you. I bet it’s the next best thing to having you hug me to keep me warm. ”

“Make sure you hold on tight.”

“Always.”

Slipping into Marko’s coat, I inhale the scent of him that lingers in its fibres. Thankfully, he doesn’t see me as he’s already moved to the door to slip on his boots.

Following him out, he turns when we reach his bike. Rather than handing me my helmet, he places it on me instead. Tenderly, he tucks the hair under the sides and clips the buckle into place.

Then he boops my nose.

“You’re so cute.” A bit of his accent comes through as he smiles at me. Boyish almost, and my heart flutters in my chest.

“I try.”

Marko laughs and his smile drops before he turns from me. I don’t get to ask him if anything is wrong because he fires up his bike and motions for me to climb behind him. Which I’ll always do. I love our weekly rides and tonight is extra special with a sunset. He backs us out of the driveway and as we travel down his road, I snuggle as close as I can and hold on tight.

***

Marko sits on a picnic table at a roadside stop. His sketch book and pencils out he’s been drawing for twenty minutes as I lay on the top of the table, taking in the last bit of sunshine before the sun starts its descent for the night.

Marko’s client was right. This will be a gorgeous sunset.

“What’s inspired you to sketch today? ”

He lifts his head with a start, like maybe he’d forgotten where he was.

“Um…a few things. It’s…” He clears his throat and motions for me to sit up. “I’ll show you.”

After sitting up and switching to sit beside him, I wait patiently. Marko is rarely nervous. He’s always confident and so in control. But now he’s a little fidgety.

“Heath…I want you to see how I see you.”

He slides the book to me and flips back the page. It’s me. Laying on the picnic table just now. My eyes are closed, but I’m smiling. It’s a black and white sketch, but I know the details are the sun shining around me, making me appear almost angelic, almost perfect, if I had to put words to it.

“This is beautiful, Marko. I love what you create. Paintings, tattoos, drawings. All of it. You’re so talented.” My gaze finds his, and that cloud I saw earlier passes, and an uneasiness settles. “Marko…is something wrong?”

He brings my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. How does he make me so loopy with one small kiss? It’s such a small gesture, but it says so much. “You make it easy. You’re beautiful, Heath. Inside and out. I’m so fortunate that you let me share my life with you.”

“Marko….”

God. My entire body breaks into a shiver and that weird ache blooms in my chest again. Setting his sketch aside carefully, I scramble off my seat and tug at him to stand. Looping my arms around his neck and pushing up, I meet his lips in a deep kiss.

“Is it weird that I feel like you’re the only one who gets me? The only one who…who…” I can’t think of the word because his lips are on my neck and his hands are under my shirt. Fingertips dance over my skin, setting it ablaze. “You’re the only one who has ever made me feel like I can’t breathe without them.”

This intense need to be next to him, to feel his skin on mine, is so overbearing it’s not until he steps back from me that I notice I’ve been undressing him.

“ Ljubavi …we can’t do this here. I want to, fuck I really want to, but I also don’t want to be interrupted.” He pulls me to him again and kisses me softly. “Let’s watch the sunset and continue this later.”

His smile still doesn’t quite meet his eyes and rather than poke again for him to tell me what’s wrong, I let it slide.

“You know, if you had a car, we could just make out in the back and nobody would see a thing.”

“But then I couldn’t feel you hold me so tight whenever we ride. I don’t want to give that up.” He spins me around and wraps his arms around my waist so we can both watch the sun. “Now that I have you, I want to have this for as long as I can.”

His words don’t sound right to me, and he tightens his arms so I can’t turn around. And even though we’re still as the sun dips below the horizon, bathing the water in a gorgeous glow of orange, a restlessness radiates from Marko.

“Do you know why I like sunsets?”

He drops a kiss on the top of my head. “Why?”

“It’s a reminder that even at the end of a shitty day, there’s still something beautiful at the end.”

Squirming around, I break from his arms and peer up into his warm eyes.

“Would you come to the ranch tonight? Will you stay with me? ”

He cups my cheek and smooths his thumb over my lower lip.

“Is that what you want?”

“Yeah. I want…” I swallow hard, not sure what I really want. Until now, he’s not been to the ranch except to ride a horse. I want him in my space and my routine. “I want you to be there in my bed when I wake up because I want you to…I just really like you and I want you there.”

Ugh. That was so lame.

Marko gazes at me and takes my face in his hands. His lips take mine and he slowly kisses me, turning my knees to mush and making me pant so hard I fear I might pass out.

“I want to be there for you, ljubavi. So much.”

“What’s that word mean?”

Marko hesitates.

“Love.”

My breath stops after hearing that word from his lips. Love. He called me love. Dammit. Is this what it’s about? Do I love him? I don’t know, but it’s something new and scary and so fucking thrilling I want to chase it.

“You always call me the sweetest things. I need something to call you. What word describes a handsome tattooed man who says all the sweetest things and makes me feel like someone important?”

“Yours. Just call me yours and it’s all I need.”

Fiddling with the hem of his shirt, I let my fingers dip under it and caress the smooth skin above his waist.

“Heath…”

“How long will it take to get home?”

“Don’t blink those lashes at me like that. ”

“Listen, I’ve been hot for you since we got here and I watched you sketch. That’s oddly arousing, by the way. I want to get you naked, and I’m not one bit shy about that.”

Marko's throat works as he swallows, and I know he's calculating the best answer.

“It’s about forty-five minutes until we can get to the ranch.”

“Is that going fast or the speed limit?”

He chuckles and kisses my neck again. “It’s driving at a safe speed. And I hope you hang on extra tight.”

Pushing away, I walk to the bike and put my helmet on. Marko still watches me with a darkness in his eyes I can’t place, and I pat the seat.

“Chop, chop Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome. There’s dick to be sucked, and I’m getting impatient.”

That makes him laugh and move, thank god.

I might have been trying to lighten the mood, but I’m not kidding.