Page 82 of Bedroom Rodeo
He dropped the pebble.
“Ash and I are ready to move on. We want Sylvee.”
Riggs appraised him with those sharp eyes of his that missed nothing, just like one of the birds of prey wheeling above them in the sky. “That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know if you could stay, would you?”
He eyed his former boss. “The land’s beautiful.”
“And the ranch? It’s home?”
Heaving a sigh, he nodded.
Riggs tugged the brim of his hat lower over his eyes. “Thought you might say that. It’s exactly how Hugh and I felt when we found Sybill.”
Piers stilled. He’d only heard rumors about how the pair went from serving women to taking control of the entire Boot Knockers Ranch in Texas, and then setting up the ones in Montana and Alaska too.
“Difference is you already had a bond with Sylvee. We fell hard and fast for Sybill. But in the end, we were in the same boat. Which is why what I’m about to offer you comes with a high level of respect for you and Ash.”
His heart gave a sharp flip and took off at a high-speed gallop.
He squared up to his former boss. “I’m listening.”
* * * * *
Ash smoothed his hand over Sylvee’s hair, trailing down to where it fell across her breast. She sucked in a breath and leaned into his touch.
Sweeping his thumb over the crest caused the tip to pebble. He groaned at how responsive she was to him and leaned in to taste her.
“Give me those sumptuous lips.”
She moaned and tipped her face up.
The buzz of his phone stopped him short of taking this from first base to third.
“There’s only one person that could be.” He straightened and pulled the phone from his back pocket.
He and Sylvee stared at the screen. She was always the faster reader and her head snapped up before he’d finished skimming the message that Piers, Hugh and Riggs were waiting for them outside the paddock.
She latched on to Ash’s arm, steadying herself. “What do you think is happening?”
He shook his head. “No idea.” He didn’t like being left out of the loop, though he wouldn’t admit that to Sylvee.
Cupping her face, he drew her near to brush his lips tenderly across hers. “Whatever it is, we face it together. The three of us.”
She nodded, her nose brushing his. “Let’s go.”
On the way out of the bungalow, he shot a longing look at the sofa where he’d intended to bend her over and fuck her nice and slow until Piers walked in and joined them.
Later. They had the rest of their lives for loving.
Outside, she slipped her hand into his. The easy gesture brought a new warmth to his chest, one he’d never felt before Sylvee. It made their walk to the paddock pass quicker, and by the time they spotted the three men leaning against the fence, watching the horses graze, some of Ash’s annoyance about his moment with Sylvee being interrupted fled.
He stared at Piers’s back. A lot could be read in that man’s body language. If his shoulders were straight across, he was holding himself stiffly, which meant he was feeling some anger.
If his shoulders were locked in place, the muscles would bulge, which indicated he was close to throwing a punch.
Neither was the case now. In fact, the way Ash read it…his lover looked at ease.
Strange, considering who he was speaking with. Not a day ago, Piers had been more hotheaded than anyone at what Hugh and Riggs had intended for them and the ranch.