Page 71 of Drifter’s Heart

Nothing else matters, only her. Winnie’s all curves, warm in my arms as she presses to me, thigh to thigh. A soft sound slips from her mouth to mine as I tease the seam of her lips with my tongue.

The single breath she gifts me is pure pleasure that drips along my spine, hardening my cock in an instant. I swing us around, pushing her back against the veranda railing, and grind against her softness. Every whimper is stunning, and I’m a selfish, greedy asshole who wants to collect everything she’ll give me.

“This is how I’m gonna spend my night, is it?” Cord’s amused voice brings us both back to reality with brutal force and clarity.

I slide a hand to Winnie’s hip, squeezing gently where I know she really feels it, just because I can. Her cry is muffled against my shirt as she buries her head into my chest. “You can go inside,” I say over my shoulder.

“Yeah, I could. Or I can remind my sister that she’s got a bedroom to stay in and you can keep your dick to yourself for a night.” Cord keeps his tone pleasant, even if his words aren’t.

I grit my teeth and take his point. “Looks like we keep this for later. But we’re getting a place of our own.” I kiss her mouth again, ignoring Cord’s disgruntled mutter in the background. When I pull away from Winnie, I turn to face him. “I had to put up with you and Lanie climbing each other. You were a baby-making factory for the first few months, and now, just because you’re bored and she’s not here, you’re taking your frustrations out on us? Thanks for that.”

Winnie snorts so hard that she hiccups and bumps my hip with her own.

“Jesus.” Cord shakes his head. “This is what happens when you have caffeine after midnight, you little gremlin.”

Her snorts aren’t done. “Same gene pool, big bro.”

I back up, refusing to get between them when they’re like this. “You two knock this one out. I was having a nice quiet night to myself and you pair are lighting it up like a freaking Sunday carnival.”

“Don’t you dare.” Winnie clings to my side. “You’re warm.”

I grab her thermos and sniff. “Fuck me, Winnie. That’s⁠—”

“Wine for Winnie.” She grins up at me and presses closer.

“You’ll be hypothermic by the end of the night.”

“Meh.” She snuggles in as I shrug my jacket off and wrap it around her shoulders. Cord discreetly disappears the way he should have done ten minutes ago. This time, when I kiss her, I don’t stop until the sun rises over Coyote Falls.

And I’m not sure if it’s telling me goodbye or welcome back.

Sally stares at Applethorn, and Applethorn stares back. Or whatever the damn bull’s name is; she’s changed it a dozen times in the last hour. We’re currently up to version twelve and that is what we’re sticking with. They’re on either side of the wire fence and not allowed to ride. Winnie’s rules, not mine, and both look damn woeful in my opinion.

“Okay. Listen to Uncle Cord for me while I’m not here, okay? He’s not going to let you ride the baby bull—” Winnie throws a glance at her brother.

“The feeder calf,” Cord corrects her.

“—and neither is Billy. Are you?”

Billy straightens, seemingly surprised to be included in the plan, but takes it in stride, which is a damn good thing or we’d be having words. “Yes, ma’am.” He even doffs his hat at my girl as I stow the freaking picnic basket that Levi packed for us into the back of my truck bed and secure it. “You’ll be good for me, wontcha, Sally?”

Sally smiles, her hands clasped in front of her and sways, a picture-perfect angel. “Of course, Billy. Hey, Uncle Cord?”

“See?” Billy grins like he’s got her wrapped around his little finger.

Winnie snorts. We both know better.

“Yeah?” Cord’s both smarter and warier.

“Can I get the paintball gun, please?” Sally asks. “Billy’s a great target.”

Billy’s face is fucking perfect as his mouth pops open. “Wait a minute—” he protests.

Sally leans forward and cups her hands around her mouth. “Run,” she stage-whispers.

To his credit, Billy hightails it across the yard, his knees lifted toward his chest in a comical dash, with Sally in pursuit, which leaves us in tears.

I kiss the top of Winnie’s head. “She’ll be fine,” I say, pulling her toward my truck. “We have a picnic to go on.”