Page 63 of Paper Horses

I was two blinks from falling asleep an hour into the thing and surprised I’d made it this far when the door opened and Hudson came in, shaking himself like a dog.

“That’s cute,” I said. “You want me to give you a treat and call you a good boy?”

He shoved his hood down, his hair soaked even with it in place. “You can give me a treat, but leave the good boy. I’m the only one who uses that term.”

“Don’t you dare call me a good boy.”

The scolding frown he gave me was enough to make my insides tumble. I watched as he pulled his boots off, followed by his soaked socks after hanging his coat up. He unhooked his buckle, turning his eyes to mine, and my cheeks warmed. Rain soaked his pants almost as much as his hair, and from the way he popped his button and unzipped them, hunger shading his eyes, I knew they’d be off before he even made his way over to me. He shoved them down, his boxers not hiding how ready he was to follow through on his earlier promise.

Yanking his shirt over his head and tossing it in the pile, he stalked over to me, saying, “I thought I told you I wanted you in bed when I got back.”

“Well, I didn’t want to lie around in bed, so I put this boring movie on instead.”

He looked over at the television. “I like that movie.”

“You would.”

Arms caging me, he leaned over, his wet hair dripping on me. I ran my fingers through it and ruffled it.

“You’ve got too many clothes on,” he complained, biting at my lip.

He grabbed my waist and, in one swift move, had me sitting on his lap, straddling him. His thick length pulsed against me, and I ground into it as he lifted the shirt from my body.

“That’s better,” he said, smothering my reply with a kiss that left my words scattered like fall leaves on a windy day.

Every touch was like a brand on my skin, scorching me with its heat until I could no longer contain my climax, and it tumbled, sending me into an abyss only he could reach. And as he met my writhing body with fevered thrusts, he chased my release, tunneling down that abyss, sweeping me up and encapsulating me until it felt as if our souls had merged.

Steady and calming, Hudson’s chest rose with his breaths. My hand rested on it, moving with the rhythm as his fingers played in my hair.

“Why did you move to Montana?” I asked, my voice a lazy drawl.

“It seemed far enough from my mother to annoy her.”

I peeked up at him, my hair falling into my eyes. He swept it back, leaning in to give my forehead a kiss before he flopped his head back on the pillow. With a sigh, he stared up at the ceiling.

“After we broke up, I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t ready to run the company with my mother, so I told her I needed time to travel, to get my head on straight. She relented. I think she could tell how wounded I was, and my mother may be a bitch most times, but she still loves us. She told me to go but made it clear that when I returned, I would take my place by her side. She’d already given me the year after college when I’d insisted on staying near campus until you graduated. This was the last she’d give.”

His hand drifted over my waist as he spoke, a move that seemed as natural as breathing.

“I drove across the country, staying in cities at first, but the small towns drew me in. When I was heading back home, I went north, and as I drove into Montana, I knew it was where I needed to be. Like a feeling that hit me square in the chest.” He peered down at me again. “Same as the day I met you. It was like everything aligned and the world was perfect.”

I scooted up and turned his face to mine, rubbing my hand over his rough stubble.

“So you stayed,” I said as his hand circled my back.

“No, but I knew I was coming back. I spent a week here in Valley Knoll and met the Rittons, who owned this ranch, before I returned to New York. I spent two years working for my mother and hated every minute. When I took time off, I returned here, stayed with the Rittons, and it was like returning home each time.” He took a moment, and I gave it to him, wondering what he was thinking about. “I got a call from their son, John, telling me his father had passed unexpectedly and they were moving his mother in with his sister in Colorado. Neither of the kids had any interest in the ranch, and since I loved it so much, he called to see if I wanted to buy it.” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “It was impulsive and foolish. I knew nothing about running a ranch or cattle. I knew horses and thought the rest would come.” Rich chocolate irises looked back at me when he opened his eyes. “I gave him a verbal agreement and told my mother that day.”

“I bet that went over well.” Although it must have gone better than when Gabe had told our father he was choosing Tori and the bastard had threatened her and her family. Not that I wouldn’t have cut off ties with him if he’d done it after all I’d given up.

He took my hand and kissed it before lacing his fingers through mine.

“Not really. She handed me a check to buy the ranch, but it came with her disinheriting me. Like I said, she gave me time to fail, and when I didn’t return home, she cut me off. That was the last cent she ever gave me. I haven’t talked to her since the day I walked out of her office.”

Stunned, I couldn’t stop my gasp.

“And your father? Your brother?”

He shrugged. “Dad and I talk maybe once a month. You know how my mother is. She runs the house, and he tiptoes around her moods.”