I glanced over at Emmy, still dead to the world beside me. I'd never met anyone who slept so heavily; I doubted even a bomb could wake her. Her legs were tangled with mine, her mouth hung slightly open, and her hair was a tousled chaos. A soft snore escaped her lips. She looked damn good in one of my old t-shirts.
This woman was the love of my life.
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, and she leaned into my touch instinctively. I pressed a soft kiss to her temple, and she stirred, wrapping herself tighter around me.
And she thought I was the boa constrictor.
"Good morning," she murmured, yawning.
"Morning, sugar. Sleep okay?"
"Mmmhmm. What time is it?"
"A little after six."
Emmy groaned at that. Mornings were not her thing. "You've gotta get to the ranch, sugar."
It was the first day of indoor riding lessons at Rebel Blue. Emmy had taken over all the classes. I'd handed them over gladly. Gus still asked me to help out at the stables during the week, but not teaching lessons freed up a lot of my time. That meant I could focus on the bar.
Things between Gus and me weren't perfect, but they were getting there. He'd stopped visibly flinching every time I touched Emmy in his presence, which I took as a win.
"Is there coffee?" Emmy asked, burying her face in my chest.
"Always," I said, placing another kiss in her hair. I loved waking up to her. She usually spent at least a few nights a week at my place, and they were my favorite.
Emmy started kissing her way up my chest to my neck, and I hardened instantly. This woman.
"Emmy." There was a warning in my voice.
Emmy just giggled, and I felt her breath against my skin. When it came to my girl, I couldn't help myself. I slipped my hands under the t-shirt she was wearing, dragging my palms up and down her body as she brought her mouth to mine.
I rolled us so I was on top of her. "You can't be late on your first day," I said against her lips. Even as I said it, my fingers were already moving her panties to the side and slipping inside her, because I didn't actually care if she was late.
"You better be quick, then." Her voice was breathy.
I pulled back and gave her a pointed look.
"Is that a challenge?" I asked as I slid two fingers inside her. She arched her back, letting out a small moan. "Answer me, sugar. Are you challenging me to make you come?"
"Yes," she breathed. "Please."
I pumped my fingers in and out of her, using my thumb to circle and press down on her clit. When I brought my mouth to her nipple and bit down gently, she gasped.
"You're already wet. I bet you were having dirty dreams about me," I teased before licking my way up her neck. Emmy started grinding herself against my hand with abandon.
That meant she was close. I knew her body inside and out. I continued to tease her clit, applying pressure as she moved against my hand. I knew she needed it, along with the friction.
Her body started to tense, and I knew she was careening toward the edge. I pushed myself up so I could look at her. Watching her come was more beautiful than a Wyoming sunset. Her mouth was open, her eyes rolling back into her head. Normally, I'd make her look at me.
But not today.
Today, I just wanted to watch her come apart.
And she did.
I stroked her through her orgasm, my own cock aching for her. As she came down, I haphazardly pulled her underwear down her legs and threw them across the room. I positioned myself at her entrance before thrusting inside her. Both of us moaned, and I lowered to my forearms so I could kiss her again before rolling us so she was on top of me.
Her head fell back, and I could feel her long hair skimming my thighs as she moved on me.
What a fucking view.
"Ride me, sugar."
I made a quick breakfast while Emmy was in the shower—eggs and toast. I was a whole wheat kind of guy, but sourdough was Emmy's favorite. While I was cooking, my phone buzzed. It was a text from my mom.
*John came home a few days after we'd visited. Apparently, he went off route and couldn't find a safe place to turn around. I'm sure the fact that his truck's tracker turned back on outside a strip of casinos in Reno had nothing to do with him going off the grid for a few days.*
My mom and I still didn't really have a relationship, but now that she had my number, we talked a little bit more. I wasn't sure how to feel about it, but I couldn't deny it was nice to feel like she cared.
When Emmy walked into the kitchen after her shower, my heart sped up.
She was so fucking beautiful in her tight jeans and long-sleeved white t-shirt. I loved her messy hair, but I also loved it when she pulled it away from her face like she did today.
"It smells so good in here," she said, grabbing the pill holder I'd got for her off the counter. She'd been trying to be better at taking her ADHD medication consistently, and I'd figured she wouldn't forget if she didn't have to worry about bringing it with her every time she stayed the night.
She went to a cabinet and pulled two mugs out—one for each of us—and filled them. I was by the fridge, so I took out the half-and-half and pushed it across the counter to her. I didn't like cream in my coffee, but I'd started buying it for Emmy.
She set the cups of coffee on the table, and I followed with our breakfast. We sat across from each other. When Emmy started to eat, I dug around in my pocket until I found the small piece of metal I was looking for.
I set it on the table and slid it toward her.
She paused mid-bite, and my heart hammered in my chest. Was this a mistake?
"Is that what I think it is?" she asked, setting her fork down. She looked at the key on the table, then back to me. I just nodded, unable to get any words out.
Her gaze shifted back to the key and stayed there for a while. Shit. I really fucked this up, didn't I? Of course she didn't want a key to my house. That was fucking crazy.
My thoughts continued to spiral until Emmy looked back at me and smiled. That smile stopped my heart dead in its tracks.
She picked the key up off the table and stood from her chair, then rounded the table and positioned herself on my lap.
"We can start slow," I said quickly. For a man who couldn't speak less than a minute ago, I sure was fucking vomiting words now. "N-no pressure or anything. Like I said, we can start slow. I cleared out a drawer for you in our room and the bathro—"
I didn't get to finish because Emmy kissed me then.
"Shut up, Luke," she said when she pulled back. Our foreheads were pressed together.
"Is… is that a yes?" I asked. My voice was a low whisper. I was afraid anything more than that would scare her off, but Emmy nodded. I took one of her hands in mine and brought it up to my lips so I could place a kiss on her palm.
"I love you," she said.
It didn't matter how many times she told me. Those words still warmed me all the way through, just like they had the first time.
Emmy coming back to Meadowlark was the best thing that ever happened to me. When she came back home, I never expected to become her friend, let alone fall for her. We'd spent most of our lives in each other's periphery, but now she was front and center.
I thought back to the first night I saw her at The Devil's Boot. I didn't know it then, but my girl was struggling. Back then, she was the shell of the woman who I now loved more than anything. All she'd needed was a little fire.
"I love you, too, Clementine Ryder."