Chapter 25

After adjusting the stirrups, I adjust my baseball hat, watching the black Mustang GT cruise down the driveway. Gravel crunches under the tires, and dust kicks up in the distance.

The car parks, and I meet her at the barn’s entryway as her door closes. I loop my arm around her waist, and she glances at Apollo, a red Quarter horse I ride in my free time. He’s saddled and tied to a post, standing in the late evening shade. Golden hour is approaching, and soon, it will be dark.

I adjust my baseball hat, trying to hide my excitement as she approaches me. Knowing she left work and came straight to me puts a damn smile on my face. The past two weeks have been a dream come true, being with her and openly loving her. No one even bats an eye.

“Surprise,” I say.

Her eyes slide over my T-shirt, jeans, and running shoes.

“It reminds me of old times, with the hat and all.” Her tone is nostalgic as she meets my gaze. I’ll never forget the time we spent together.

When she’s close, I brush my thumb across her cheek, enjoying the closeness as I kiss her. She tastes like chocolate, coffee, and desire. “I missed you. How was your day?”

“Perfect now,” she admits. “I missed you, too. So much.”

Remi worked the morning shift at the BB, and I asked her to meet me at my parent’s barn after her shift. I’ve been mucking stalls and oiling saddles all afternoon, waiting for her. Now that Melody and I are rotating emergency calls on the weekends, I’ve had zero interruptions. It’s been nice, something I haven’t experienced in far too long, and I can’t wait to spend more time with my girl.

“Thought we could go for a ride and watch the sunset at the outlook,” I tell her. This is how we used to escape the noise of everyone. “Before we go, I wanted to show you something.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulder and lead her through the barn. It’s an ample space because my father is a horse breeder. Sometimes, when she looks at me, I wonder if I’m stuck in a perpetual dream where she’s mine. I never want to fucking wake up.

As soon as her eyes land on the foal trotting in the pasture after a butterfly, she awws.

“What a cutie,” she says, looking over his light brown coat and dark mane.

“This is Dakota.” I laugh. He’s a show-off asshole and has tried to kick me a few times. When I’m done, he’ll be the best damn horse in the state. Remi holds out her hand, and he curiously approaches her. Eventually, her finger brushes the tip of his nose and then tries to nibble on her hand before backing away. He trots and bounces on his feet like a puppy but then moves closer to her.

“Dakota, you’re perfect,” she says as he paws the ground.

I lean against the fence, watching her. “He’s yours, Rem. Same bloodline as Majesty.”

Her mouth falls open, and I can see the emotions pooling in her eyes.

“I tracked down his lineage and found this little jerk. He’s eight months old and rowdy. But he has the same spirit, ya know. From what I remember,” I say, holding her tight and wiping tears away from her cheeks.

“Why are you so good to me?” she whispers.

I place my hand on her shoulder. “I thought we could start our farm early. And maybe I could train him for you so you can start riding again. I know you gave it up and loved it.”

“I don’t deserve you.” Remi wraps her arms around me.

“And that’s where you’re wrong, Valentine.” I brush my nose against hers, kissing her.

When he whinnies, she laughs. He trots away, bucking and even farts. She snorts. “I can’t believe he’s mine. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.” I hook her finger with mine, then check the time, knowing the sun will be setting soon. “Ready to go?”

“Hell, yes,” she says, and we return to Apollo. My hand is on the small of her back as her ponytail swings with each step. When we walk up, I untie the lead rope and climb on, sitting behind the saddle on the pad.

I look down at her, holding out my hand as she places a foot in the stirrup and correctly mounts. I scoot forward until my chest is against her back, grab the reins, and place soft kisses on her neck with my opposite arm wrapped around her stomach. “There’s gonna be a lot more of me and you time, Rem. Weekends just for us.”

“You promise?” she whispers as my hand glides up to her breast. My thumb gently grazes her nipple over the thin material of her shirt. She didn’t wear a bra, and I’d guess she’s pantiless too.

“You’ve got my word.”

I click my mouth, giving Apollo a slight nudge. The trail leads to a lookout on the property, with the perfect open field for stargazing. My opposite hand rests on her upper thigh.

“When you touch me like that,” she whispers as we travel into the woods. “It does things to me. Always has.”

“I know,” I say, whispering against her ear as leaves crunch below Apollo’s hooves. Sunlight reflects through the branches, and I want to lose control with her. I kiss her shoulder and taste the summer breeze on her skin.

“All I can think about is having you,” she says, repositioning herself on the saddle, and I notice how she rocks against the leather.

Carefully, I wrap my arm around her waist, sliding my hands between her folds. “Always wet for me.”

She gasps, gripping my arm as I tease her greedy little clit while we ride. With her feet in the stirrups, she rocks against me, and I whisper in her ear. “My filthy fucking girl.”

“Yes,” she says, leaning her back against my chest and her head against my shoulder, giving me access to her ear and neck. Thankfully, Apollo continues down the trail with zero guidance.

“I want your fingers. Make me come, cowboy,” she whispers, and I give her what she needs. A hiss releases from her as I work her perfect little pussy how she likes with two digits and plenty of clit play. Right before she comes, I pull away.

“Don’t make me finish myself,” she warns.

“You’re so fucking greedy,” I say, but I love to see it.

Not wanting to play any longer, I give her what she wants. She holds the saddle’s horn and spills over, coming so hard I think she might collapse. Her guttural moans echo through the trees as I laugh against her ear.

“Mm, I love that for you. Did it feel as good as it looked?”

“Sure fucking did,” she whispers.

I hold my arm around her stomach as we ride to the trail’s end. It opens into a clearing, and she gasps when Remi notices the firepit and air mattress I set up for us.

Apollo walks straight to the small pond and drinks. Then, I pull the reins over to the holding post. I slide off his back as Remi dismounts. After I tie Apollo, I start the fire, and we sit on the mattress, holding one another as the sun sets. Neither of us speaks as the sky grows dark. The wood pops and cracks as the flame licks up the side.

Remi moves toward me, painting her mouth across mine. “I love you. Thank you for this. Needed it bad.”

I study her. “Love you, babe. Anytime.”

Her eyes darken with desire. “Make love to me under the stars,” she says, noticing the bulge in my jeans. “Please.”

“You never have to beg.” I lay her onto her back, and I grin, climbing between her legs, settling there, pressing my hardness between her. “Well, maybe just a little,” I say, smirking.

We’re still clothed, but she rocks against me, creating just enough friction to drive me wild. She digs her heels into my ass, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Then fuck me.”

I kiss and lick up her neck to her ear. “How about both?”

“God yes,” she says, tugging my hair and gasping. “Oh, shooting star!”

“Make a wish,” I tell her.

She meets my eyes and grins. “I made a good one.”

“How good?”

“The best,” she whispers.

I push off of her and stand, holding out my hand to her.

As I pull her to her feet, fireflies dance in the distance.

She laughs, her hair messy and her lips swollen. “What are we doing?”

Then I dig into my pocket and drop to one knee.

“Cash.”

I grab her hand, staring into her bright blue eyes, admiring just how fucking pretty she is as the warm summer breeze surrounds us.

“I’ve had this ring for you for seven years, Rem, waiting for the perfect time to do this. It’s only ever been you and will only ever be you. I’m so fucking in love with you. I would’ve never given up on you, on us, and the future we could have together. We’ll have a big house, a picket fence, and a tree house for us to make love in during the summers. There will be plenty of horses and countless love letters, but most of all, we’ll be together. And to be honest, you’re all I’ve ever wanted. Please make me the happiest man alive and be my forever, Valentine. Be my wife.”

“Yes, yes,” she whispers, her arms wrapping around my neck, and she pulls me onto the air mattress with her, pouring herself into every kiss we exchange. “I choose you, Cash.”

We laugh, kiss, and cry as I slide the ring on her finger.

“You told me to tell you when my wish came true,” I whisper against her mouth. “It just did.”

“My fiancé,” she whispers against my mouth.

“And soon my wife,” I confirm. She lies on my chest, and I run my fingers through her hair, elated.

I place my hand under her chin, tilting her head upward. “You were made for me, Valentine.”

“I was.”