58. Bull

58

Bull

Lily was still asleep , but I’d gotten up early to make her breakfast. I had bacon sizzling on a skillet over the fire and coffee brewing in a metal jug.

The real reason I’d risen early, though, was because I couldn’t sleep.

I couldn’t lose her. I’d never felt this way about anyone. What if, when we got back to town, she ran again?

I was scared of saying the wrong thing and driving her away. I was scared of not saying anything and losing her because she didn’t know how I felt.

I rubbed my hand over my face and went over to Caliope. I needed to practice this. And if I was going to practice on a horse, I figured it should be the female.

“Hey,” I said softly. I glanced over at Lily, but she was still fast asleep. “You and I need to talk.”

Caliope blinked at me expectantly.

“Look. I know I’m not much good at stuff like this.” I scratched the back of my neck. My stomach felt like a nest of rattlesnakes. “But I gotta tell you how I feel.”

Caliope gave a little snort. But I plowed on.

“Ever since I saw you, I wanted to bang the—I wanted to fuck you like—I wanted you. But I never said—” I swallowed. “I never said that I—”